1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:08,199 This is Beer in Front, part of the Odd Pods Media Network. Sometimes 2 00:00:08,199 --> 00:00:11,759 the beer in front of you is the best one yet. I'll talk about 3 00:00:11,759 --> 00:00:17,280 some old school beers that maybe you've forgotten about, some new beers that have 4 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,879 the potential to be a classic. I'll also talk to various people around the 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,519 beer world and get their stories all about beer. That's Beer in Front, 6 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:36,600 and it's coming up now. Welcome to episode one hundred and eighty four, 7 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,359 the October twenty third edition of Beer in Front. I'm your host, Dave 8 00:00:42,439 --> 00:00:47,759 Zalatorus, and Beer in Front is a proud Odd Pods Media Network member. 9 00:00:48,119 --> 00:00:52,159 On the show, this week, I'll talk with Ray Stout, the executive 10 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:58,320 director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, about the upcoming festival of Barrel aged 11 00:00:58,359 --> 00:01:03,840 Beers and the ill Diversity in Brewing scholarship. Last week there were two episodes 12 00:01:03,879 --> 00:01:08,879 out. I put one on Sober October Choices. I had that out last 13 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:15,280 Friday, so catch that if you have time. I'm taking next week off 14 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,799 from the podcast my package shot. I have some issues with my L four 15 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:26,719 and L five vertebrae, and hopefully this week I can get some steroid and 16 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,840 pain injections to get this better. That plus a new round of physical therapy 17 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,840 makes me think I'm going to be in no shape to sit behind my desk 18 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,840 and talk beer. So the next episode of Beer in Front will come out 19 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:46,079 on Tuesday, November seventh, and I'll have a full recap of the Faux 20 00:01:46,079 --> 00:02:00,519 Bab festivities in Beer News. This week, Revolution is canning their old time 21 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:05,000 premium Logger. You'll be able to pick this up at the tap room and 22 00:02:05,159 --> 00:02:10,800 brewpub. Bells will expand its oberonline with new Shandy flavors, and that should 23 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,400 probably be out. I'm going to guess next summertime. Goose Island is coming 24 00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:21,520 out with Last Call. This will be a thirty fifth anniversary English bidder, 25 00:02:21,879 --> 00:02:24,759 and according to the label that I saw over on my brew Buzz, this 26 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,719 is going to be the final brew before they move to their new home over 27 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,520 at the Assaults. Sheet Mad Hatter, the iconic IPA from New Holland is 28 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,439 back. You could pick it up now at the brewpubs in Michigan, with 29 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:44,879 Midwest distribution to start early next year. And finally, Whole Food said that 30 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:50,759 the non alcoholic category it's growing by leaps and bounds over at their stores and 31 00:02:50,879 --> 00:02:57,199 right now It's the number three category behind craft and imports in the beer categories. 32 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,759 Hi, I'm Tina Hanamio. I'm Hillary Doherty, and we host The 33 00:03:00,879 --> 00:03:06,560 Muck Podcast where we discuss the dark and sometimes weird true stories in American politics. 34 00:03:06,719 --> 00:03:09,800 Etina, did you know that Elvis crashed the Nixon White House for the 35 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:15,360 sole purpose of getting a dea badge and it worked? Wooa? Or how 36 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:21,680 a gun control advocate senator out of California engaged in gun trafficking with Notorioa's gang 37 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:24,520 leader, shrimp Boy. Shrimp Boy I remember him, Okay, So you 38 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,039 know. We cover all of that and more for Maladies, madness, mischief, 39 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,159 and murder in the US politics, and we also host a biweekly interview 40 00:03:32,199 --> 00:03:37,759 segment called Lil Muck. We interview politicians, journalists, activists, and others 41 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,840 who share their experiences in politics. Find The Muck Podcasts wherever you listen to 42 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,919 podcasts, and check us out on social media at the Muck Podcasts. All 43 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:50,560 Right. The Festival of Barrel Aged Beers is right around the corner. This 44 00:03:50,719 --> 00:03:54,000 year, it will be held on November third and fourth at the UIC Credit 45 00:03:54,039 --> 00:04:00,000 One Arena. Joining Me Again is raced out the executive director of the Illinois 46 00:04:00,159 --> 00:04:02,919 Craft Brewers Guild. Ray, thanks for coming on again. Hey, thanks 47 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,080 for having me back. I'm I think I'm officially a third timer at this 48 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:09,439 point. Yeah, I know. I think I need to send you a 49 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:13,159 business card swag. At least need to send you a shirt or something. 50 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,680 This is the twenty first edition, so Foe Bab is legal. It's the 51 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:25,600 world's largest and most prestigious festival for barrel aged beers, going back to the 52 00:04:25,639 --> 00:04:30,399 original one at the old rock Bottom. Did you ever imagine that it would 53 00:04:30,439 --> 00:04:34,959 be this big. I don't think anybody imagined it would be this big. 54 00:04:35,199 --> 00:04:41,600 You know when this was started originally by Pete Crowley, now owner of Haymarket 55 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,319 Brewing in the West Sloop, while he was at rock Bottom and a couple 56 00:04:45,319 --> 00:04:48,639 of other like minded people. It was held on April Fool's Day for the 57 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,759 first time, and people thought it was a joke because nobody has heard about 58 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:57,160 this style of beer, and so they put out a pretty wide net, 59 00:04:57,199 --> 00:05:00,759 and you know, they ended up getting some pretty great beer. Sam Adams 60 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,199 sent a five gallon bucket of utopia, and so you know, they received 61 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,720 some pretty ridiculous beers, and you know, it has grown and grown and 62 00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:13,639 grown since then. So we're now we're at the Credit Union one Arena, 63 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,000 which is about as big as a place you can get without going to the 64 00:05:15,079 --> 00:05:18,959 United Center in Chicago. Are tickets still available? Can people still get tickets 65 00:05:18,959 --> 00:05:24,240 for this year? Absolutely? So tickets are available on phoebab dot com, 66 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,000 so foba b dot com. You know, one thing I would say is 67 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,959 that if you are interested in going to phoebab probably buy the tickets sooner rather 68 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:36,079 than later, because we cap sales to keep it intentionally intimate there. Cool, 69 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,920 Yeah, so definitely, and I'll include the link here. So, 70 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,240 but yeah, pick up tickets to fae bab. When most people think of 71 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:48,800 barrel aged beers, they're thinking bourbon barrels and stouts. And I saw even 72 00:05:48,879 --> 00:05:55,199 last year that Ravinia took home of gold with an ipa in Spanish seed. 73 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,560 What other types of barrels or types of beers are gonna to be out there 74 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,199 this year at full Babu. So it's not only a foe bab is a 75 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:09,439 festival, but it's a competition, and it's actually a competition across twelve different 76 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:14,439 styles of beer, right, and so you're gonna obviously have the big stouts 77 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,639 that you automatically equate with with with with barrel aged beers, but you know 78 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:25,639 we're having wild wild beer with mixed cultures, fruit beer, perries and ciders, 79 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,759 laggers and you know some of these descriptions. I'm just looking at them 80 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,160 in front of me. Just just make make me thirsty. You know. 81 00:06:32,199 --> 00:06:36,759 There, there's there's there's things being aged and gin barrels. There's laggers and 82 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,279 gin barrels are a great combination. People are using tequila barrels, people are 83 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,839 using wine or sherry barrels, and it all imparts, you know, such 84 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,560 distinct notes to the beer, and so it's it's it's an exciting competition this 85 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:56,920 year across those twelve different styles, and you know there's something for everybody there 86 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,079 for sure. Yeah. I saw going through like the list of past winners, 87 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,399 there was one with port as well. So yeah, I'm looking forward 88 00:07:04,439 --> 00:07:10,399 to trying all the different ones. Definitely that Spanish seater, hopefully they put 89 00:07:10,439 --> 00:07:13,519 that out again this year, because that sounds really interesting. You know, 90 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,279 what's really what's really cool about it is that all of these bottles, if 91 00:07:16,279 --> 00:07:20,040 you went into a bottle shop and bought them or walked into a brewery and 92 00:07:20,079 --> 00:07:25,079 bought them. These are twenty thirty dollars bottles of beer just for a large 93 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,560 format bottle of beer. And so for the price of admission of Poe Bab, 94 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,879 you could try beers the best beers in the world from twenty you know, 95 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,439 twenty four different states, all major beer markets, bringing you know, 96 00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:41,040 unique one off beers that you're never going to be able to try again without 97 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,600 spending a significant sum of money to get. This is going to be my 98 00:07:44,839 --> 00:07:50,920 first fae Bab. What can I and other first time attendees expect walking into 99 00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:58,439 the UIC Credit one arena. You know, with two hundred breweries and four 100 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,600 hundred beers, it's a lot to kind of take in, right, And 101 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:07,000 so the biggest faux Bab veterans I've spoken to, they say, come with 102 00:08:07,079 --> 00:08:11,000 a plan, so do your research and so you know, we you know, 103 00:08:11,079 --> 00:08:16,759 prior the day of the festival, we will post all of the beers 104 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,959 and the locations, and so before you stop in or while you're waiting in 105 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,040 line to get in, you know, do some research and figure out where 106 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:26,000 things are. We break everything out into different sections, so you know, 107 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:30,680 on the floor there'll be certain beers of the arena and around the concourse there'll 108 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,919 be certain beers and so you know, and one thing I will say is 109 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,240 that you know, this might be the only time in your life when you 110 00:08:37,279 --> 00:08:41,120 get to try a barrel aged perry, and so go and do it right, 111 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,320 or you know something that's barrel aged in port wines, or you know 112 00:08:45,799 --> 00:08:50,039 what is people are getting into now is malort barrels, so God bless them. 113 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,960 And so you know which is the strict distinctly Chicago. But you know, 114 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,200 come, come with a plan. You know, just don't go to 115 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,799 those hype breweries that you know about, because you know, more often than 116 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:05,519 not gold metal metal winners at phobab or are smaller, local, independent breweries 117 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,720 that people have never heard of that are making amazing beer. All Right, 118 00:09:09,759 --> 00:09:13,279 so I'll have to get my map out and plan out my attack. Okay. 119 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,799 I see that there's also going to be a lagger lounge and a non 120 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,039 alcoholic lounge with the new Revolution hop Water. I mean, I think this 121 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:26,159 is going to be good for people to kind of paste themselves and cleanse their 122 00:09:26,159 --> 00:09:28,200 pallet a bit. Yeah. So the logger lounge is something that we had 123 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:33,000 last year for the first time that people went, you know, absolutely bananas 124 00:09:33,039 --> 00:09:37,120 over and so you know we have about twenty breweries bringing some of their best 125 00:09:37,159 --> 00:09:41,799 loggers, and so you have an opportunity to kind of go up there and 126 00:09:41,879 --> 00:09:43,480 it creates a different vibe. And I like to say there's you know, 127 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:48,720 multiple areas in Phoebab. You know, there's the arena, which is all 128 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,840 barrel aged beers, many different kinds, but you know, barrel aged beers. 129 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,919 Then you have the logger lounge, which is kind of like a cool 130 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,200 hangout spot where you can kind of sip on a beer, relax and kind 131 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,759 of plan your next steps. And also the NA Lounge. And so something 132 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:07,080 that's important about a festival like poe Bab beer festivals in general is hydration. 133 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,519 Right, you want to be able to take breaks and have a couple a 134 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:15,120 couple of SIPs of something delicious that maybe is not alcoholic. And Revolution Brewing 135 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:20,480 is sponsoring NA Lounge, which is gonna be filled with their new hot water. 136 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,360 So it's an exciting time to try something new and and you know, 137 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:28,519 take take a little bit of a reprieve from from some of the more high 138 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,600 alcoholic beverages. Is there gonna be food available, Like if people need to, 139 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:39,200 you know, put something else beside the thirteen beer in them. Yeah, 140 00:10:39,279 --> 00:10:43,120 there's there's gonna be arena food available. So I advise people to stop 141 00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:46,000 and eat a hot dog or eat eat a pretzel and break it up a 142 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,000 little bit, you know, but eat before, eat after. Spend lots 143 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:54,240 of money in Chicago, we need it, and so it's gonna be. 144 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,399 It's gonna be a great festival for everybody. Now, the UI S Credit 145 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:03,440 One Arena, it's about a three minute walk from the racing Blue Line station 146 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,960 and that's back open. I know earlier in the summer they were doing some 147 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,240 shuttle buses, but I checked the CTA's website out yesterday and it looks like 148 00:11:11,279 --> 00:11:15,960 the station is open, but like you have to use a different entrance, 149 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,799 but it's only a quick, you know, three four minute walk from racing. 150 00:11:20,759 --> 00:11:26,080 If somebody's not taking public transportation, is there parking available? And I'm 151 00:11:26,159 --> 00:11:30,399 assuming since it's that big of a festival, there's gonna be plenty of ubers 152 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,399 and lyfts around without a doubt, And so you know, we advise people 153 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,440 not to drive it is it is an alcohol festival, so public transportation is 154 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,879 the way to go. We purposely do it close to the blue Line station 155 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:48,000 at Reccene because it is by far the best way to get to the event. 156 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,080 Of course, you know, ubers and lyfts are going to be available. 157 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:54,879 It's a pretty highly trafficked area right off of two ninety, so you 158 00:11:54,879 --> 00:11:56,960 know, people you're gonna have no problem getting ubers or lyft. Feel free 159 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,200 to ride a bicycle. There's gonna be plenty of BIA school parking as well, 160 00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:03,320 you know. But you know, one thing we are hyper focused on 161 00:12:03,399 --> 00:12:07,559 is people getting there safe and people getting home safe. Although I don't know 162 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,120 if you want to see me on a bicycle after a bunch of beg beers, 163 00:12:13,279 --> 00:12:18,039 I'll stick with taking the blue lights. Yeah, that'll work. Yeah. 164 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,320 Are there beers that you're excited about trying this year? I'm most excited 165 00:12:22,399 --> 00:12:26,960 to try some of the more barrel age loggers. That was That was a 166 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,960 category that started last year that just really kind of opened my eyes to what 167 00:12:33,039 --> 00:12:37,159 this, what this could be. Obviously, there's some really great breweries in 168 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:43,039 Illinois and especially the Chicago Land area then that I'll of course flock to because 169 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,440 they have great barrel programs. But you know, I'm I'm most interested in 170 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,480 trying some of these smaller, smaller, local regional breweries, maybe even some 171 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:52,399 of the out of state breweries that are coming, because it you know, 172 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:58,159 I most likely won't get another chance to try these beers ever again. Last 173 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:03,080 year, sun King out of Indiana, I think took home the most metals 174 00:13:03,399 --> 00:13:05,759 we got to get this back in the state. You know, I don't 175 00:13:05,799 --> 00:13:07,759 know, you need to tip the scale or something if you need me to 176 00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:11,799 come and throw my thumb on the scale for some Illinois brewer's here. You 177 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,879 know, the thing, the thing I love about Poe Bab in comparison to 178 00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:22,039 like, you know, the World Beer Cup or a Brewers Association festival like 179 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,279 that, is that the judging is done on a very different criteria than you 180 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:31,120 know, the World Beer Cup or any one of those other Brewers Association events. 181 00:13:31,159 --> 00:13:35,240 And you know what makes it really cool is judge judges are primarily judging 182 00:13:35,639 --> 00:13:41,399 on taste, and so they're judging on what they like. And obviously these 183 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,879 are highly qualified judges for that have international credentials. But you know, but 184 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,840 the Phoebab judging seems to be like, all right, does this beer taste 185 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,960 freaking awesome? And you know, those are the beers that win and and 186 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:58,080 and believe you me is that every time there is a winner announced, there 187 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,759 is almost a stamped to that brewery to try to get that beer that just 188 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:09,200 won. So kind of position yourself strategically during the awards. In addition to 189 00:14:09,279 --> 00:14:15,559 FOBAB, the Guild just announced yesterday that the Illinois Diversity in Brewing Scholarship is 190 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,000 coming back for twenty twenty three. That's really cool. What can you tell 191 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,240 people about the scholarship? You know, that is one of my favorite things 192 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,759 we've been able to accomplish during my time at the Guild, and so this 193 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,799 is this is a scholarship and an opportunity we give out two every year in 194 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:35,440 partnership with the Civil Institute, you know, to bring underrepresented voices into the 195 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,879 brewing space. And so you know, Blair Turner from Turner House Brewing, 196 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:45,720 which is opening up on the South Side, was one of our recent recipients. 197 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:50,399 Jay Westbrook who goes by the alias the Black Beer Baron and as a 198 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,039 Simpsons fan, I absolutely love that, you know, but he's been he's 199 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,200 done projects with with Haymarket Brewing, the Heralds, Honey al and Sketch Foot 200 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,480 brewing and so he's kind of a nomad brewer, is a past winner and 201 00:15:01,559 --> 00:15:05,679 so to see you know, these folks, you know, use these credentials 202 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:11,440 to to to really improve the diversity and the voices and and and the perspective 203 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:16,960 of the community is something that's been so empowering to see. And so you 204 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:20,840 know, you could find out more about our scholarship on Illinois beeer dot org. 205 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,480 Okay, so definitely check out that and I'll include that link as well 206 00:15:24,679 --> 00:15:28,600 because that's really cool. And looking at like the press nodes, Blair ache 207 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:33,639 in to a one last year, I believe that she's going to open a 208 00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:37,080 brewery in Brownsville, So that's really cool. Also, Yeah, no, 209 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,799 Blair Blair is a great recipient. Yeah, so for for a brewery to 210 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,799 go into Bronzeville is just like a great step in the right direction for this 211 00:15:43,919 --> 00:15:48,279 industry, you know. And it's and it's something that you know has has 212 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:56,799 traditionally been pretty exclusive, and so it's taking a lot of time and effort 213 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:02,360 and intentional intention to make it a more inclusive industry. And that's something that 214 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:07,120 I'm proud that our organization is doing and that you know, almost all the 215 00:16:07,159 --> 00:16:10,559 brewers in the state of Illinois are bought into and so it's pretty cool to 216 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,559 see. Yeah, I mean that's awesome, So definitely I'll include links in 217 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,559 the show notes for that. Ray, thank you so much for coming on. 218 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,159 Before I let you go. Is there any kind of like training I 219 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,200 need to do for Faux Bab? Do I need to like run the steps 220 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,759 like Rocky? What kind of training do I need to go into for this? 221 00:16:30,919 --> 00:16:33,919 I would suggest heavy hydration? Okay, you want to be you want 222 00:16:33,919 --> 00:16:37,559 to be well hydrated. You want to be you want to have some food 223 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,559 in your belly walking in the door. But other than that, Dave, 224 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,240 I know you're a pro and you're gonna fit in just fine. All right. 225 00:16:42,279 --> 00:16:47,720 I'll have my like liquid IV packets with me for the water to stay 226 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:51,919 hydrated. That's right, all right, Ray, thanks again, and I 227 00:16:52,000 --> 00:17:03,079 will definitely see you at fae Bab see you there. Okay. The beer 228 00:17:03,119 --> 00:17:08,559 that's in front of me now is from sketchbook. This is their Skulkie location. 229 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:15,480 This is Triple G. This is a Belgian style triple aged in wine 230 00:17:15,519 --> 00:17:21,640 barrels. Since we were talking Poe Bab earlier with Ray, I figured I 231 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:26,119 would have a barrel aged beer as the beer in front, and I don't 232 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,359 think I've ever had a wine barrel aged beer. I've always liked everything from 233 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:36,240 Sketchbook, so this should be good. This is ten point three percent alcohol, 234 00:17:36,319 --> 00:17:48,880 and let's crack it open. It looks really nice, good amber color, 235 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:55,079 good, couple fingers of foam, smells really good. I almost it's 236 00:17:55,119 --> 00:18:00,319 almost a cross between the Belgian yeast and I do get like a white wine. 237 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:06,480 I'm assuming they age this in a white wine barrel because the beer doesn't 238 00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:10,039 have any like red tannins in it. But yeah, it almost smells like 239 00:18:10,079 --> 00:18:12,079 a cross between a Belgian and a white wine. So let me just shut 240 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:18,039 up and have a sip of this. That's really interesting in a good way. 241 00:18:18,599 --> 00:18:25,759 You do get that Belgian yeast taste there, that juicy fruit gum, 242 00:18:26,279 --> 00:18:30,920 but it's very subtle, and I do get some white wine notes out of 243 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,839 here. There's a little you definitely know it's a ten percent beer. You 244 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,599 get that little alcohol burn at the end. I think this is really good. 245 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:45,559 Yeah, that's excellent. I've never had this. I hope they have 246 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,160 some other stuff like this over at Faux Bad because I'll definitely be going to 247 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:55,839 the Sketch Book tent if there have some stuff there. But this is really 248 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,519 good. Now. I pick this up at my local bottle shop Bottles and 249 00:18:59,599 --> 00:19:03,960 Cans, So if you see this, I would definitely put this one in 250 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:10,240 the cart. Grab yourself some triple g from Sketchbook. I've gotten away from 251 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:18,039 ramblings on social issues the last year or so on the podcast, but something 252 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:22,440 happened over the weekend that really made me stop and think. Aris Brewery and 253 00:19:22,519 --> 00:19:27,640 Cider House released a new sider aged in milorc barrels, and I had to 254 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,279 go pick up my order because I ordered one and I wanted to pick it 255 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:37,240 up. On the way there, I saw two families of refugees sitting on 256 00:19:37,279 --> 00:19:41,160 a corner of Irving Park and Pulaski and it just it made me think, 257 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:45,400 what the hell is wrong with this picture where my thumb ass is picking up 258 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:51,799 a twenty dollars bottle of cider while these families are hoping for a couple of 259 00:19:51,799 --> 00:19:56,519 bucks from strangers to get food from a gas station. I don't know the 260 00:19:56,559 --> 00:20:00,279 answer. Hell, I don't even know what the question is. But there 261 00:20:00,279 --> 00:20:04,960 has to be a better way to take care of people than having families of 262 00:20:06,039 --> 00:20:19,799 human beings sitting on a corner somewhere in Chicago. All right, that's going 263 00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:25,079 to wrap things up for this edition of Beer in Front. I thank you 264 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,759 very much for listening. I want to thank again Ray Stout, the executive 265 00:20:29,799 --> 00:20:33,599 director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, for coming on and talking about phae 266 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:40,119 Bab and the Illinois Diversity and Brewing Scholarship once again. I'm taking next week 267 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,039 off, so the next show will be out in a couple of weeks and 268 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:47,240 I'll have a recap of pae Bab. If you need to get a hold 269 00:20:47,279 --> 00:20:51,880 of me, you could email me Dave atsberinfront dot com. You can find 270 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,319 me on all the social media channels apt Beer in Front. Have a great 271 00:20:56,359 --> 00:21:00,000 couple of weeks. I will talk to you in two weeks, and remember 272 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,359 or sometimes the beer in front of you is the best one yet. All 273 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,119 Right, have a good couple of weeks. I'll see you then.