"I'm a fan of less is more and balance," said Doug Hurst, Metropolitan brewer. "It's about subtlety rather than being hammered over the head."Right on, brother Doug!
Steven and I were kind of curious, though...how do you do a story on session beers in Chicago and not mention Goose Island Honkers Ale? It's 4.2%, it's a good drinker, it's everywhere, it's Chicago-brewed... (I forgot to mention Goose Island's equally good Green Line; not just session-strength, but ecologically sustainable, too!) Is it the "not a craft brewer" artificial stigma? Is it "too big"? Is it too well-known? Dunno, but here's my suggestion to folks in Chicagoland: go get some of all of these beers, and let us know what you think?!
Or Green Line from Goose Island, for that matter. Both it and Honkers are stellar.
ReplyDeleteWell, we're talking a new brewpub (Revolution), a relatively new brewery (Metropolitan), and a fairly new beer (Long Haul). So Honkers and 312 Urban Wheat are old news. Goose is a craft brewer by, apparently, everybody's definition but that of the Brewers Association, because, you know, apparently big-company investments somehow make the beer taste bad. The BA can't even do its math correctly -- less than 25% of the company is owned by the shunned, but still, Goose doesn't make the list. I hope you don't buy into their list as gospel!
ReplyDeleteBill: never believe I buy into anything from the BA as gospel. I'm merely speculating. If it is the "old news" issue, that's kind of funny when he says he's pointing up the sessions because the big beers get all the attention...
ReplyDeleteDoug's quote is definitely money for those of us who often defend the subtle brews.
ReplyDeleteDan -- I haven't had the chance to try Green Line yet, it's only available within the city limits, from what I've heard. Can't wait, though -- it gets little love from the hammered-heads, so I imagine it must be good!
Green Line is good drinking; I should have made mention of it myself. Oh wait: I can!
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