Sunday, August 30, 2015

Beer Review #93 New Belgium Long Table ( 6.2% ABV )


via IFTTT What's happening friends? Here I am tasting another beer, so that I can provide you with the 411 on how good it may be. Don't worry, I don't mind taking one for the team as I embark on another BeerVenture. Watch the review to find out my thoughts and leave a comment if you have some of your own!

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Beer Review #92 Samuel Adams OktoberFest ( 5.3% ABV )


via IFTTT What's happening friends? Here I am tasting another beer, so that I can provide you with the 411 on how good it may be. Don't worry, I don't mind taking one for the team as I embark on another BeerVenture. Watch the review to find out my thoughts and leave a comment if you have some of your own!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Beer Review #91 Rivertown Brewing Roebling ( 7 8% ABV )


via IFTTT What's happening friends? Here I am tasting another beer, so that I can provide you with the 411 on how good it may be. Don't worry, I don't mind taking one for the team as I embark on another BeerVenture. Watch the review to find out my thoughts and leave a comment if you have some of your own!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Beer Review #90 MadTree Brewing Co. Psychopathy ( 6.9% ABV )


via IFTTT What's happening friends? Here I am tasting another beer, so that I can provide you with the 411 on how good it may be. Don't worry, I don't mind taking one for the team as I embark on another BeerVenture. Watch the review to find out my thoughts and leave a comment if you have some of your own!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Beer Review #89 Rhinegeist Truth ( 7.2% ABV )


via IFTTT

Rhinegeist is a brewery out of Cincinnati, Ohio, and this is one of their year-round offerings. A fine tasting India Pale Ale craft beer that will satisfy your taste buds for sure. If you are in the Cincinnati area or happen to find it during your beer travels, I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Watch the review here to see more!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Beer Review #74 Dark Horse Brewing Co Sapient Trip Ale ( 9.5% ABV )


via IFTTT

Proper Title...Maybe it is Crafty

Another thought from my last visit to Chicago was what do we do with breweries like Goose Island and their place? Many have looked to exclude them as craft beers since they had been purchased by AB InBev, but they still produce a fine quality craft beer. I have heard companies like this beginning to be described as 'crafty." What are your thoughts?
I can see the "crafty" title, but do they really mass produce all of their beers? Just because they are owned by a larger company, should they automatically be kicked from the ranks of craft beer? I can personally say that there is nothing macro about the "Sofie" or the "Matilda" which I had the opportunity to enjoy as well as the "Green Line." And of course, their "Bourbon County Stout" is still a top of the line beer. 

Maybe we should just accept this new category of beers as we see more of the craft breweries being purchased. Chances are that it won't stop anytime soon. So as long as they don't screw with the formula, then maybe, we will just be okay.




Beer Review #73 Boulder Beer Company Shake Chocolate Porter ( 5.9% ABV )


via IFTTT

Sunday, August 9, 2015

My Visit to The Exchequer Restaurant and Pub - Chicago

So when I visited Chicago last month, I had the opportunity to grab a bite to eat at the Exchequer Restaurant and Pub over on Wabash Avenue. I wasn't sure what to expect, but wanted to try a place that had some good Chicago culture, good food and of course, good beer. Needless to say, this spot did fit the bill.

There was a nice ambiance of a throwback restaurant with lots of Chicago items on the walls that included newer memorabilia as well as older going back to the days of prohibition. Even the music tended to be that of days of old which was nice for bringing back memories. But, how about the food and beer?

Well, let me say this first. If you are coming to Chicago looking for the deep dish pizza that has made the city famous, then this is a must stop. This past year, they were chosen by Chicago as #1 for their pizza. And after my sampling, I do concur that it is pretty damn good. I also on a separate occasion tried one of their sandwiches which also delivered a tasty experience. I was greatly impressed with the food, and as for the beer.

The restaurant featured 20 taps with a bottle list of 20 more. And, the beer selection was very good for what they had to offer. Chicago had just recently passed a law allowing Happy Hours during my time there. Yes, just recently, which would have been just a few weeks ago from the time of this post. But, the establishments were allowed to run drink specials which allowed them to offer a couple of decent specials to encourage the trying of some of their beers.


So, what did I enjoy while there in the way of beer during my visit?

* 5 Rabbit Gringolandia Super Pils ( 2.5 out of 5 )
* Goose Island Sofie ( 3.5 out of 5 )
* Anchor IPA (2.5 out of 5 )
* Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale ( 2.5 out of 5 )
* 5 Rabbit 5 Lizard Latin-Style Witbier ( 2.5 out of 5 )
* Great Lakes Sharpshooter Session Wheat IPA ( 3 out of 5 )

Not really a bad list of beers in my opinion, but just none tried that really knocked me back. But, that is part of the "beerventure" process. Not every visit will always end with big winners. You have to pan through a lot of muck when looking for gold, but these were all fine solid nuggets.

As for the staff and the management there, they were very pleasant nd helped to enhance the experience. I would love to go back again on another visit and if I am back in Chicago then  I will definitely do so. Have you been? If so, then I would be interested in your experience as well. Please leave some comments and also if you had the beers that were mentioned, then please feel free to comment on them as well. Cheers!

Rod J BeerVentures Swag