The year is 1897. In a city next to the Illinois River, the streets are bustling with life. The newly built Flemish renaissance-style city hall draws the eyes of each passerby. A short walk north, a uniquely imposing mansion boasts a solarium and multiple balconies. The owner, Joseph Greenhut, is a local distillery owner and … Read more

A decoction mash is classic, but a step infusion mash will also get you where you want to go. Start with a 10-minute protein rest at 137°F (58°C). Bump up the temperature, either by adding heat or boiling water, for a 40-minute beta amylase/maltose rest at 147°F (64°C). Raise the temperature for a 20-minute alpha … Read more

From Equilibrium Brewery: High elevation mountain peaks or a perfectly poured slow pilsner, we love all types of snow caps. Made with hops from a mountainous region often dusted with blankets of… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] Read More

Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40, a Mardi Gras-themed imperial stout returns as February winds down.  2022 seems to be flying by already. It’s Mardi Gras, Lent starts on Wednesday, and you can almost see summer from here. While Hi-Wire Brewing’s 10W-40 Imperial Stout evolves constantly throughout the year, a few favorites to make seasonal appearances – … Read more

Americans are glued to their newsfeeds right now, as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. For most of us, there’s not much we can do, unless you own a bar and have “Russian” vodka sitting on the shelf. Your instinct is to pour down the drain in protest.  Over the weekend bars did just that. Even … Read more

Jake Keyes, owner founder and brewmaster for Oklahoma City’s Skydance Brewing Company, has their best seller for What the Ale’s Beer of the Week. Fancy Dance, is their New England style IPA that … Read More

While the pandemic and its related challenges have lingered, there are some hopeful signs for beer enthusiasts and travelers in 2022. The Craft Brewers Conference is currently scheduled for an in-person event in Minneapolis in May, and the Great American Beer Festival is poised to celebrate its 40th anniversary October 6–8 in Denver. As states … Read more

Last week, Firestone Walker released a new beer called Hopnosis IPA. We received a press release and a few cans of the beer to try. Before I get into my thoughts on the new beer, it made me think… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and … Read more

The Brewers Association (BA)—the parent organization of the American Homebrewers Association—has supported diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts through the DEI Mini-Grants Program since 2019. The program provides funding for events, media production projects, and educational and training initiatives that work to create a more inclusive and diverse craft beer community for brewers, industry partners, … Read more

Every time I walk into a public bathroom with my autistic, preschool-aged son, I instinctively do a visual sweep. Are there paper towel dispensers, or do they have air dryers? Does the toilet flush automatically or manually? Is there anyone in a stall who might flush unexpectedly, which may trigger him to have an unpleasant … Read more