Chicagoist's Beer Of The Week: Revolution Brewing's A Little Crazy

By Jason Baldacci in Food on Apr 12, 2013 8:30PM

It hasn't really felt a whole lot like Spring this week, but despite the weather, we're still seeing a lot of Spring seasonal beers pop up around town. Perhaps if we trade in the dark, heavy beers and pick up something a little bit more crisp, the weather will come around soon enough.

"A Little Crazy" is Revolution Brewing's Belgian-Style Pale Ale. The initial aroma is loaded with hefty tones of tropical citrus and grassy pine, which also dominate the palate. While those intense hop notes are right in the forefront, there's also a nice, toasty malt backbone that lends a touch of sweetness to balance out the hoppy acidity. The yeast really comes through on the finish though, leaving us with a little juicy citrus of its own, along with some other tropical hints of melon and pineapple. At 6.8% alcohol content, "A Little Crazy" is a beer we would be happy to enjoy several servings of on a delightful Spring afternoon. Now, if only Spring would stick around for more than a few days...

A lot of American breweries are making Belgian-style beers right now, but that can mean a number of different things. Generally speaking, Belgian beers tend to be richer, more robust, and have flavor profiles that are driven by fruity, zesty yeast notes. When an American brewery makes a Belgian-style beer, they are usually referring to the yeast strain used to ferment that beer, and oftentimes, they are trying to emulate a specific Belgian style. Since Belgian beer has a vast history, there are many different styles to play around with, so it can be easy for the casual beer drinker to get lost if there's an extensive list of choices in front of you. If you're trying to choose a new Belgian or Belgian-Style beer to drink, the best way to go about it is to have two or three go-to beers that you know you like already, and ask a savvy bartender or shop owner to recommend something similar.

"A Little Crazy" is available all over the city right now in 22-ounce bottles, 12-ounce cans, and on draft. Check beermenus.com to see who's carrying it near you.