Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Ska Special ESB

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM

We had a scheduled softball with WBEZ called because of rain on successive Fridays. A shame, really: we were looking forward to hearing Carl Kasel do the play-by-play while we made Justin Kaufmann cry and slid with high spikes into "Sound Opinions" producer Jason Saldhana. Digressing, with the first game called we retreated to some shelter underneath a bridge like the blogger trolls we are and commenced to drinking. Which would have been the end result of the game, win or win by slaughter rule.

Think we didn't come prepared? Almost. Some of us work in Evanston during the day and In Fine Spirits (5418-20 N. Clark St.) and picked up some loose cans and bottles for the staff. We replaced the Budwesier in Kevin's hand with a can of Ska Special ESB. Unlike Budweiser, Ska Special ESB is hand-crafted, made in America by an American-owned brewery, which appealed to pro-union, made-in-america Kev. Like a good bitter, Special ESB has a wondrous amount of hoppy goodness, thanks to copious amounts of Galena hops. Combined with a pale ale malt that gives off some nice fruit notes and sweetness, Ska Special ESB is great for pretty much anything you can whip up on the grill this weekend. It was also nice to revisit Ska Brewing; April 2007 was "Ska Brewing Month" here at Beer of the Week HQ. Back then we couldn't find the Special ESB and it makes a welcome addition to store shelves and bars throughout the city.