Dryhop Brewers and Flossmoor Station Launch "Smoking Nanners"

Join Dryhop Brewers and Flossmoor Station Brewing tonight at Dryhop (3155 N. Broadway) for the release of their collaboration "Smoking Nanners". The 5.5% Smoked Hefeweizen, is a result of Flossmoor Head Brewer Bjorn Johnson and Dryhop Owner Greg Shuff’s time together in Munich for brew school.

Together, they traveled to different regions of Germany to learn about brewing techniques. A memorable stop was in Bamberg, where smoked beers are considered a specialty of the area. Smoking Nanners was brewed in tribute to Bjorn and Greg’s antics experienced there.

DryHop Chef Pete Repak and Flossmoor Chef Eduardo Camarena also collaborated on a dish for the evening – Smoked Guajillo Chile Glazed Texas Quail on Jicama-Tortilla Salad with Roasted Pineapple Relish and Pulped Avocado.

Tapping schedule is as follows:

• 6pm – Flossmoor’s Berliner Weisse, a low alcohol wheat beer, soured with lactobacillus and fermented with a Kölsch yeast strain. (3.0%)
• 7pm – Flossmoor’s Kölsch, a clean, crisp, session beer with a soft malt and hop character. (5.2%)
• 8pm – Flossmoor’s Roggenbier, a dunkleweizen made with rye instead of wheat. (5.6%)
• 9pm – The release of Smoking Nanners, a Smoked Hefeweizen. (5.5%)

Berghoff Brewing Relaunches With New Packaging and Recipes

If you think you know Midwest-based Berghoff Brewery, you may want to take a second look. Owner Ben Minkoff has been working over the past year to revive the 126 year old brewery, from the recipes to the brand message. Minkoff consulted with brewing experts Randy Mosher and John Hannafan to create the recipes for the top-notch German-style beers. They broke down the elements of each recipe and reformulated based on modern brewing techniques to give them individual personality and character. 

Max Hertwig (1881-1975) German stamp designs

Randy Mosher, an acknowledged craft beer expert and accomplished designer contributed to Berhgoff’s new packaging and brand messaging. His goal was to fulfill the promise that the brand's heritage was supposed to be all of these years. 

"I wasn't reinventing the wheel here. I was putting the wheels back on the wagon and helping the brand be what it wants to be by reviving its heritage," says Mosher. 

He began by locating the original, pre-prohibition Berghoff labels through beer label curator, Bob Kay. Mosher turned the clock back even further, exploring what the brand would have looked like if it had been bottled in much earlier days. He was inspired by German typographer Max Hertwig, who's style he refers to as "the sweet spot". Hertwig's 1920 era work in particular combines the richness of gothic black lettering, calligraphic techniques and a touch of modernism. Mosher used this approach when creating the typography seen on the new Berghoff label designs. 

Vintage Berghoff labels

"Many of the original US breweries did not survive because they were essentially all making the same product. The only real difference was how well they could sell and market their product and how cheaply they could produce it," says Mosher, who was excited for the opportunity to work with a brand that has such an "iconic stature." "Berghoff is a proud and confident brand with deep rooted Midwest history. Chicago needs an old-school beer brand with character."

Two of Berghoff's new labels designed by Randy Mosher

Berghoff will debut its lineup of new beers this Thursday, June 20 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. with a festive Launch Party at Sheffield’s (3258 North Sheffield Avenue, 773-281-1350). Berghoff aims to capture a larger audience of beer lovers with its revamped product and this Launch Party is an opportunity for discerning Chicago beer lovers to sample their new recipes firsthand. 

“We are truly excited to be launching our new beers at Sheffield’s. We’re proud of our updated portfolio, and we look forward to sharing them with old fans and a whole lot of new consumers who have never tried Berghoff before,” says owner Ben Minkoff, whose family has owned General Beverage Distributors for the past 80 years and purchased the Berghoff brand in 1994.

The Launch Party will feature all Berghoff beers on draft for $5 each including: 

• Solstice Wit Beer (5.2% ABV), made with Calamansi juice, an Asian citrus fruit, and spices, for a refreshing summery beer from a long tradition of unfiltered wheat beers
• Straight Up Hefeweizen (5.2% ABV), a Bavarian hefe-weizen, with the creamy goodness of wheat, plus a fruity and spicy nose
• Dortwunder Lager (5.5% ABV), a classic and evenly balanced pale lager in the Dortmunder tradition
• Reppin’ Red Ale (6.2% ABV), a serious red ale that mixes tangy rye and crisp toasted malts with plenty of American hop character
• Sir Dunkle Crispy Dark Lager (5.5% ABV), smooth and malty, with a bright crispness, making a drinkable and very satisfying beer. 

New logo by Randy Mosher

Berghoff will also introduce the first beer in its Überbier Series, Germaniac Extra Pale Ale (6.3% ABV), brewed with honey and molasses, it will be a briskly hopped extra pale ale patterned after the old “outlaw” beer style, Kottbüsser. 

A DJ will be spinning live music and beer lovers will enjoy selections from Sheffield’s menu including pulled pork, brisket and pulled chicken tacos, with a choice of side, for $10 each throughout the event.
For more information about Berghoff Brewing visit www.berghoffbeer.com, follow them on Twitter (@BerghoffBeer) 
and like them on Facebook.

DryHop Brewers Official Opening

Today is the day that East Lakeview craft beer lovers, scratch that - most Chicagoland craft beer lovers have been anticipating for months. Tonight at 5pm DryHop Brewers will officially open it's taproom and kitchen to the public, showcasing six craft beers ranging in style from hop-centric and traditional to Belgian and experimental and a rustic, gastro-style dinner menu.


DHB Brewery

Head Brewer Brant Dubovick is behind DryHop’s beer program, creating beers that are rebellious, challenging and unconventional, while balancing elements like acidity, bitterness, aroma and roast to derive the perfect combination of flavor. DryHop’s opening beer offerings, all available at the brewery and to-go in 64- and 32-oz. growlers include:

1. Shark Meets Hipster – Wheat IPA (6.0% ABV): Your next love affair. Light bodied American Wheat Ale featuring truckloads of Galaxy hops. Expect strong notes of passion fruit.

2. Batch 001 – Chicago Common (4.6% ABV): Yes, our very first brew. Pre-prohibition Cream Ale and Steam Beer hybrid. It’s a session ale brewed with barley, maize, and wheat.

3. Velvet Divorce – Czech Pils (5.2% ABV): Paying our respect to those who were innovating long before us. The classic, crisp, and dry lager.

4. Judge – American Pale Ale (5.4% ABV): This year’s cool kid hop gets weird with last year’s love affair - Mosaic hops join Amarillo hops for this citrus bomb.

5. The Angry Samoan – Coconut Milk Stout (5.5% ABV): Baseball, BBQ, and coconuts scream summer. Jet black with a hint of coconut.

6. Vampire for Your Love – Saison (6.2% ABV): Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with Kafir lime leaves and Sichuan pepper. This is the only Saison that matters.

DHB Kitchen

Craft beer is social, so DryHop Executive Chef Pete Repak designed the menu to complement the ideals of community and respect for the craft of brewing. The plates are shared and each dish showcases the flavors and seasonality of the brewery. DryHop’s cuisine is unpretentious, everything is prepared from scratch and, the menu is constantly changing to focus on seasonal ingredients and elements sourced from local farmers and purveyors. DryHop’s late night menu embodies bold flavors that are slightly off center, and appeal to the inner foodie.

DryHop’s dinner (5 p.m.) and late night (10 p.m.) menus are available starting Thursday, June 13. Lunch (11 a.m.), dinner and late night menus are available starting Friday, June 14. Normal business hours are Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. ­ 2 a.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. ­ 3 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. ­ 2 a.m. The kitchen closes everyday at 1 a.m.

About DryHop Brewers DryHop Brewers is a brewery and kitchen in Chicago, Ill. DryHop brews hop-centric ales, in addition to traditional, Belgian, and experimental craft beers – all only available in Lakeview and to-go in DryHop’s 64- and 32-oz. growlers. DryHop’s kitchen menu showcases the flavors and seasonality of the brewery through unpretentious shared plates.

Visiting DryHop is all about being in a brewery; feeling connected to the craft brewing and culinary worlds; and most importantly, feeling a personal connection to a community of craftsman. For more information, visit dryhopchicago.com. Follow DryHop on Facebook and Twitter @Dryhopchicago.

Photos courtesy of DryHop Brewers