This beer is so popular it has its own damn festival. more ›

Goose Island's purchase by inBev/Anheuser-Busch is still stirring some passionate debate. Indeed, it's made national news and, among craft brewers, it was a shot heard 'round the world. more ›

Today we follow up on yesterday's podcast with some timely Four Loko querying. What does one of the biggest craft brew leaders on the scene think of the FDA cracking down on alcoholic beverages? Will it affect brewers trying to make products featuring coffee or tea or chocolate? When was the last time Mr. Craft Beer Brewer had a macrobrew? And finally, three words: "Pond scum beer." more ›

In the first part of our conversation, Calagione and I talk about his take on Chicago as a craft beer community and whether or not the city is unfairly tagged as Old Style Central, how the Brewmaster show came about and whether or not it was one big research trip writeoff for him. more ›

We were at Green Eye lounge last night switching between Goose Island's Green Line Pale Ale and this week's selection, a long overdue look at one of our favorites from Dogfish Head. Rather than explain the beer ourselves, we'll let Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione describe 60 Minute IPA. Enjoy. more ›

We understand it can become an over-whelming experience when peering into a beer cooler or down a long line of tap-handles. There was once a time when your selection was limited to domestic and imported. Now, we have cult-craft breweries entering the market faster than Dark Lord Day tickets sell-out. How do you call one brewer your home? Your constant? For us, it’s a combination of taste and reliability and for these reasons Dogfish Head is high on our list. Disagree? more ›

Fans of craft beers know that Dogfish head's Sam Calagione is one of the more progressive brewers around. The man seems to live for coming up with a brew that's never been done. Calagione's research into the history of brewing nearly rivals that of the late Michael "the Beer Hunter" Jackson. Beginning with their "Midas Touch" ale in 1999, Dogfish Head has worked closely with Dr. Patrick McGovern of the University of Pennsylvania to recreate ancient ales using molecular evidence from archeological digs. Dogfish's "Ancient Ales" line has since grown to include Sah'tea (based on a 9th century Finnish recipe); Theobroma and Chateau Jihau, unearthed from a 9,000 year-old Chinese tomb. more ›

• Life & Limb, the highly anticipated brewing collaboration between Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione and Sierra Nevada's Ken Grossman, receives its official launch party at Sheffield's tonight at 7 p.m. Life & Limb is a 10 percent ABV dark ale brewed with barley grown by Grossman at Sierra Nevada's Chico, CA brewery, and pure maple syrup from Calagione's family farm in Massachusetts. The two breweries took the mash from that and brewed a 5 percent beer called "Limb & Life." Both will be available for tasting this evening, as will some of each breweries more experimental beers. this would be a great primer for our reader meetup Thursday.
• Binny's South Loop has a reserve champagne tasting this evening from 6-8:30 p.m. featuring luxury cuvees Roederer Cristal, Dom Perignon and more! Also included will be sparklers from the U.S., Spain and Italy. Gourmet cheeses will be paired with the champagnes.

Not all weizens are alike. A Berliner weisse is a sour take on the popular German style. The late Michael Jackson (beer historian, not the entertainer) traced the origins of the style back to the 16th century Hamburg. A brewer named Cord Broihan copied the style and brought it north. Berliner weisses are known for their extreme tartness and low alcohol content. The sourness is caused by bottle fermentation or by adding lactobacillus yeast bacteria. By the 19th century there were over 700 breweries in northern Germany specifically brewing Berliner weisse. Now, only a few breweries remain; 2 of those are in Berlin proper. The term "Berliner weisse" is protected in Germany. to combat the sourness, Berliner weisses are often served with raspberry syrup or woodruff. more ›

Years ago, we were witness as Miller, Anheuser-Busch, and Coors collected distribution rights or partial ownerships to craft breweries in a high-stakes chess game over control of the beer drinker's dollar. Now there's InBev/A-B, MillerCoors, and a bunch of craft breweries trying like hell to maintain their independence and run successful businesses. Director Anat Baron's "Beer Wars" is being called a "David and Goliath" story, Following Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione and Rhonda Kallman of New Century Brewing, "Beer Wars" takes the viewer into the boardrooms, brewhouses, and follows sales reps on their calls as they fight for space in an already saturated marketplace. more ›

The DarkLord Days of recent years have devolved into a litany of disappointed beer fans either leaving without bottles of Three Floyd's prized Russian Imperial Stout, or being so desperate for it that they purchase bottles from some of Northwest Indiana's brightest trade school dropouts for at least three times the $15 selling price set by the brewery. The golden ticket sale announced by the brewery was a step in the right direction to give those who truly wanted the beer an opportunity to buy it. Still, it was only a matter of time before golden tickets started popping up on Craigslist and online auctions. more ›

Last night Mindy Segal brought together some of the best chefs in the city to celebrate Hot Chocolate's fourth anniversary with a $100 per person dinner to benefit Share Our Strength, a non-profit that works with local food banks, restaurants and community groups to combat hunger at home. Segal is the chair of Share Our Strength's "Taste of the Nation" event, scheduled for August 13 at Ravenswood Billboard Factory (Full disclosure: this Chicagoist staffer is also on the event committee). more ›

We need to post some corrections to tomorrow's Dogfloydapalooza event at Bottom Lounge. Both Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione and Nick Floyd of Three Floyds will be on hand tomorrow night. Their collaborative ale, Popskull, however, will not. more ›

Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head and Three Floyds' Nick Floyd are two of the more extreme brewmasters working today. So when the two of them decided to collaborate on an experimental ale, the mind boggles at what they could create. more ›

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We've had a hard time warming up to Maryland's Delaware's Dogfish Head Brewery and have a hard time explaining why. They have everything we expect in a great brewery: a commitment to brewing inventive, high quality brews; a balance of hops and malt; wide selection and good word-of-mouth. For us the problem with some of Dogfish's signature selections is in the balance. Some of their brews are so overboard on both hops and sweetness that it makes our jaws ache. And don't even get us started on Raison D'Etre. more ›

While the fish-taco revolution is swimming across the area, there are plenty of other events happening this week. Before we list them, however, we should let you know that the cockroaches are taking over our downtown restaurants. This week's victim of the ultimate survivor, Bice. Cockroaches were the least of their problems, however. A Health Department inspection also found no hot running water in a kitchen sink and fruit flies in the bar. If you... more ›

Great. Another bar/restaurant with a funky name, overpriced menu, and hipster vibe in the Bucktown/Wicker Park corridor. That’s probably your first impression when you heard of the recently opened Bluebird Bistro and Winebar on Damen in Bucktown. In actuality, though, this casual, rustic spot from owner Tom MacDonald of the popular Webster’s Wine Bar in Lincoln Park will knock those stereotypes right out of the floor-to ceiling-glass window next to the front door. That’s... more ›

It's been nearly six months since Bell's Beer founder Larry Bell pulled his product from the Illinois market in a dispute with distributors over the Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act of 1982. Readers will remember that that specific law, enacted at the time to protect distributors from the loss of a giant beer account on the level of Anheuser-Busch or Miller should they decide to move to greener pastures, doesn't give mid-level craft breweries like... more ›

Tuesday night is International Night, featuring buffet items from various countries. Ordering two drinks gets you access to the feast. Chicagoist will be stopping by this evening for Greek night, catered by Greek Islands. The south Halsted eatery serves traditional and family-style entrees, and we’re hoping to help ourselves to some saganaki, dolmades and mousaka. International Night is so popular an event. Although it starts at 7, show up no later than 6:30 to be guaranteed a table. Next week is Philippines night. more ›