Homemade Hustler Release

18^th Street Brewery and The Jordan Years Release Beer/Download Combo 

Gary, IN Brewery 18th Street Brewery releases “Homemade Hustler” beer in collaboration with Chicago band The Jordan Years.

On June 14th, 18th Street Brewery will release “Homemade Hustler,” a new beer brewed in conjunction with Chicago band The Jordan Years. Each bottle will include a download code for The Jordan Years’ album of the same name. 18th Street Brewery will be holding a release event on June 14th and the band will host its own release party later that night at Chicago’s Tonic Room.

In the fall of 2013, The Jordan Years played at the grand opening of 18th Street Brewery’s Gary location. When discussing the payment for their performance, the band jokingly asked 18th Street to create a Jordan Years beer, rather than paying them in cash. To their surprise, Drew Fox, founder of 18th Street Brewery, thought it was a great idea. After a few brainstorming sessions, they drove down to Gary one Monday morning to plan the recipe and lend a helping hand while Drew brewed the beer.

The band had one request for the new beer: That its color should resemble that of the cheap beer they drank exclusively during the sessions for the “Homemade Hustler” album. Drew agreed, making sure to note, though, that the beer’s resemblance to macro brewed American lagers would end at its color. Brewing commenced and “Homemade Hustler,” a Session IPA, will be available to the public on June 14th.

The Jordan Years and Fox met through mutual friends in the beer world and became both friends and fans of each other’s work. The Jordan Years used to frequently hold multiband concerts at their Humboldt Park studio West Town Recording and Fox, who was still brewing at home at the time, would bring over taps and kegs to supply the parties with beer. Also, they crossed paths at craft beer tasting events where the Jordan Years were performing and 18th Street were among the featured breweries. Working together on a creative project was a natural continuation of their relationship.

There will be two release events for the new collaborative beer, both on June 14th. One will take place at 18th Street Brewery’s Gary location and will start at noon. The Jordan Years will be performing along with Chicago artists Phal and Cojack. The limited edition “Homemade Hustler” beer will be available for purchase in 22oz. bottles. Later that night, The Jordan Years will perform at The Tonic Room in Chicago. The bar will have “Homemade Hustler” on tap. The show starts at 11pm and MC ADaD will also perform.

About The Jordan Years: The Jordan Years are a soul/rock band from Chicago. Staying true to the DIY ethic of the new music business, the band strongly believes in the power of a recording studio with no time limit and records and produces its own music. Since their inception in 2008, they’ve put out two well-received releases (2009’s See the Light/Warm Me Up 7” and 2013’s album Homemade Hustler) and have performed at the city’s major music venues. In addition to their own gigs, they’ve been an important part of the Chicago scene, whether it’s collaborating with a who’s who of Chicago hip-hop for a celebration of Dr. Dre’s birthday at the Double Door, or providing a live soundtrack for sketch comedy veterans Schadenfreude at Lincoln Hall.

About 18th Street Brewery: Established by Drew Fox in 2010, 18th Street Brewery opened its brewery/taproom doors in the Miller Beach neighborhood of Gary, Indiana in late 2013. Conveniently located off the Dunes Highway and the Metra 'Miller' stop, 18th Street specializes in both big and small beers, from 9.5% barrel aged Double Milk Stouts to 4.5% Session Pale Ales. In January of 2014 Drew Fox was named 'Best New Brewer' in Indiana by Ratebeer.com.

Media Contact:
Roger Panella
617-549-0463
rogerpanella@gmail.com

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%)

Please join us in celebrating Shark Week with the release of "Blood In The Water". This tart, refreshing Hibiscus Ginger Saison was brewed in collaboration by Lake Effect Brewing Company and Kim Leshinski of Hail To The Ale craft beer blog.

Shark Week is the Discovery Channel's week-long series of events promoting awareness and respect for sharks and shark conservation.www.sharkweek.com

Donations will be made to the Shark Savers conservation efforts 501c(3). For more information or to make donations please visit our donor page athttp://sharksavers.donorpages.com/Supporter/hail2theale/

South Loop Brewing Launches Two Collaborations

This Wednesday, July 24th South Loop Brewing Company will debut their first two beers, brewed in collaboration at Lake Effect Brewing at The Weather Mark Tavern (1503 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago).
Event info

“Red skies in the morning, sailor’s warning”

“Red skies at night, sailor’s delight.”

Or so the ancient rhyme goes. It’s a mariner’s rule of thumb for forecasting the coming day’s weather and it dates back well over 2,000 years. Sailors used it to predict what kind of day they were in for on the water. Lake Effect Brewing Company and South Loop Brewing Company used it as inspiration behind their latest: a split-mash double beer collaboration.

“Sailor’s Warning” is an 8.3% ABV Imperial Ruby Red Ale. It’s full-bodied and boozy (not unlike sailors) with a biscuity, creamy, almost cask-conditioned mouthfeel. A complex, earthy bitterness from Falconer’s 7C and Zythos hops should greet your tongue and stay with you to the cold, dark bottom. You’ve been warned.

“Sailor’s Delight” is a refreshing, 5.1% ABV sessionable red ale. Lighter in both color and body than “Sailor’s Warning,” this delight (pun intended) was cleanly hopped with Magnum and delicately spiked with vanilla beans in a way that makes calm waters and beautiful sunsets even more enjoyable. Go ahead, kick your feet up for this one.

About South Loop Brewing: 
At present, South Loop Brewing Company consists of three gentlemen - Jeremiah, Jude and Jason, running a homebrewing operation and a dream to bring the community of craft beer to the South Loop. Since they're not 100% funded yet or licensed, they are free to collaborate with other licensed brewers, but not release beers in their own facility just yet. "We intend to get there through a Kickstarter campaign slated to launch this September, but it was important to us to get actual beer on tap so friends, family and strangers alike could try our handiwork before we asked them to help us fund a brick-and-mortar brewery," says Jeremiah.

The two-beer collaboration "Sailor's Delight" and "Sailor's Warning" were brewed with Lake Effect Brewing Company, is their first. Jeremiah shared that "the response and support so far has been exciting and extremely motivating. We're really looking forward to tapping those kegs and seeing what people think."

They aim to continue gaining momentum with more collaborations. You may see them brewing their own original recipes at other friend-breweries to get their beer into market sooner, but the end goal is a production brewery with a taproom and shop in South Loop proper. They've already scouted a handful of locations that could eventually be home, and are excited and hoping for the best with the ability to reach the Kickstarter goal.

Many of South Loop Brewing's beers are inspired by and named after South Loop-related areas or roads: "India(na Ave.) Pale Ale," "Solidarity Stout" and "Hop Monster of the Midway," to name a few. They want to have fun with beer names and styles, but also intend to tell a story about the South Loop when and where possible.

We look forward to much more from these guys in the near future!

Chicago's Women of Craft Beer - 2013 Edition

When I first started homebrewing beer it was for the pure curiosity of the craft. The joy that came from creating something that had such a social and collaborative power to connect people is what turned my hobby into a passion.

After seeing the documentary “The Love of Beer” which follows the rise of women in the beer industry I was inspired to learn that historically in almost every culture, women were the brewers. Women love beer, they just haven't been spoken to by the beer industry really ever.

"The opportunity for all beer companies, no matter how large or small they are, to market authentically, accurately and appropriately to women... is explosive. It's clear that the passion is about the beer... it's about an intelligent beverage for great people." - Ginger Johnson, Women Enjoying Beer

Realizing that a female-focused event had never taken place during Chicago Craft Beer Week, I was eager to put together a night that celebrated Chicago’s own women in the craft beer industry. I started reaching out to see who might be interested in getting involved and was completely blown away by the response. As I began to get to know these women better the thing that really stood out to me, aside from the apparent passion and drive - was the unanimous response that their favorite part about working in the craft beer industry was the camaraderie. That no matter their gender, background, brewery they work for - everyone wants everyone to succeed. This event has been yet another affirmation of that spirit. 

The past two months have been an amazing opportunity to unite a group of women, most who had never met each other, to build a stronger network AND brew an all-women collaboration beer. “99 Problems”, a Saison with ginger and chamomile, brewed together at Rock Bottom Chicago will be tapped as part of Chicago Craft Beer Week at Riverview Tavern on Thursday, May 23rd. Event Info.

Below is an introduction to many of the women involved in the event, who are helping to make the Midwest Craft Beer scene what it is. We hope to see you at Riverview Tavern to say hi and share a pint!

Ashleigh Arnold, who grew up in St. Louis (home of AB) thought of beer as colorless and flavorless, until she tried her first sip of a stout and was hooked! The complex flavors immediately appealed to her and she became a 24/7 beer lover. She’s since relocated to join Two Brother’s as Production Brewer. Ashleigh loves to brew to Indie Rock like Wilco and The Lumineers, as it keeps her grounded and focused. She notes that “Nightly cleanup is when the dance party starts”. Ashleigh is proud to promote her latest beer "SideKick" and has found with hard work and perseverance, everything falls into place. She finds dating to be the real challenge however, saying “Not too many men want a woman who has a more physical job and more beer knowledge.” 

Claudia Jendron recently made the move to Head Brewer, helping Temperance Brewing in Evanston to start up shop. Her appreciation of beer started at a very young age, watching her Granddad homebrew. She even held the coveted role of throwing the hops in the kettle. He was a stout lover, as is Claudia. Her favorite thing about brewing is finishing a long day and feeling so good about what she’s accomplished, barely feeling tired, just happy that making beer is what she’s doing for a living. Her advice to women in the industry, “Women have always played a major part in the beer making process, and you deserve to be where you are right now. From our exceptional palates to our hard work ethic, there will always be a place for women in the future.”

Hayley Shine recently relocated from Miami, FL, in the middle of winter non-the-less, to become Regional Brewer at Rock Bottom Chicago. Her love for craft began by homebrewing in college and quickly grew from there. When not brewing at Rock Bottom, or attending some of her favorite events like the Craft Beer Conference, she’s likely enjoying a hoppy session beer or flanders red. She shared some of her favorite food and beer pairings which include IPA and Chicago mix popcorn or Oktoberfest with pretzels and mustard. 
Beer Geek Alert: She loves drinking beer in the shower.

Jill Sites is Owner of Greenbush Brewing and damn proud to be part of the Michigan craft beer scene (not to mention they’re rocking Chicago!). Jill’s been a craft beer lover since college. When the kids were drinking High Life, she was sipping a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, all the wiser. After a visit to Goose Island in Chicago, she was hooked. Her advice to women competing in a male-driven field, “Don’t let anything stand in your way. If this is what you want to do, be it brewing or anything else, do it. Make yourself indispensable. Don’t let them be able to do it without you. And when other men who haven’t figured out your worth but happen to be in the same field doubt you, just remember to dance circles around them.” Jill is also a firm believer that beer should be brewed to funk music, although almost all of their beer is brewed to metal. Either way, rock on Greenbush!

Carly Katz, Owner of Bottles & Cans in North Center was introduced to craft beer through her husband Joe, and the love continues to grow. Her go-to beer is Revolution’s Anti Hero IPA, however her biggest challenge right now has been being pregnant while opening and operating a beer store. Her favorite beer event is Durty Nellie’s Beer Fest, which she says is small but always a blast. Carly’s advice to women in beer, “Don’t ever feel like you don’t belong in that conversation. You are as knowledgeable and prettier!” 
Beer Geek Alert: Carly’s dream is to have two bulldogs and name them Porter and Stout. 





Did you know that 5 Rabbit's beer, "5 Lizard" is named after Chicago Tavern Historian Liz Garibay? Her website Tales, Taverns & Towns researches, reviews and documents history of Chicago taverns and beyond. She also provides historic consult in naming beer, which is how she met Randy Mosher. The biggest hurdle she's overcome is that the field of tavern history is pretty much non-existant. "I had to create the field on my own, in a way. Getting people to understand it's a true area of research and learning has been a bit difficult. You can lear a lot about history through bars and beer," says Liz. She's likely to be found drinking some of her local favorites like Half Acre Daisy Cutter, Lagunitas IPA, and of course 5 Lizard, which she says pairs wonderfully with steak or fish tacos.

Avid homebrewer and beer blogger for Girls Like Beer Too, Jessica Murphy first discovered craft beer through her husband Christopher and it continued to grow as she’s traveled. “That’s what’s great about beer,” Jess says, “there can be a brewery anywhere so it’s an awesome opportunity to get a taste of the local flavor.” Jessica’s favorite festival is Dark Lord Day. This year marked her 6th, in which she attended pregnant. What a sport! She misses having a beer at the end of a long day, but says she’s overcome it by really concentrating on aroma and appreciating how much it impacts the entire beer experience. “It does get a little awkward when I walk up and start smelling people’s beer, though.” We’ve got your back Jess, smell away!

Lorna Juett, fearless leader of the Chicago Barley’s Angels (a women only beer enthusiast club), regular contributor of the Chicagoist and Sales Rep for Windy City Distribution is fully immersed in the Chicago craft beer scene. As both a lover of beer and a natural educator she’s most comfortable behind the counter, pouring beer and turning people onto styles they are trying for the first time. Some of her favorites are IPAs and most recently sours and wild beers, especially with the weather warming up. Lorna says, “The wonderful thing about beer is that there is truly a style for every occasion, and there is no style I am adverse to and no beer I am not willing to try.” 
Beer Geek Alert: Lorna went to high school in Michigan with Larry Bell’s daugther. Ask her about the story!

It’s no secret that the President of Metropolitan Brewing’s, Tracy Hurst, is a fan of lagers. She finds them to exemplify the skill and expression of the brewer, sharing that “a well-made lager can stop me in my tracks.” Flywheel Bright Lager can always be found in her refrigerator, but has also been enjoying the new SideKick Pale Ale from Two Brothers. Her favorite festival is the Great Taste of the Midwest, put on by the Madison Homebrewers and Taster’s Guild. The event has become an annual retreat for the Midwest industry and is run and attended by people who truly love and appreciate craft beer, setting a standard in hospitality and honest celebration. Tracy’s words of wisdom to anyone in the beer industry, “Take good care of yourself. You’ll perform best at work – whether you’re brewing beer, out in the market selling beer, or involved in brewery operations – if you’re healthy and sharp.”

Two Brothers Brewer, Maryhelen Harper’s appreciation for craft beer grew while working at Oades Big Ten in Lansing, Michigan. Oades boasts a rotating selection of over 600 different beers available in single bottle, 4-pack, 6-pack or case. She graduated from Michigan State, but her Dad likes to joke that she attended Beer College. Right now she can’t get enough of Two Brothers new SideKick Extra Pale Ale and also shared that her favorite beer to cook with is Bell’s Two Hearted. Ask her about the fantastic asparagus recipe she uses it in! When not brewing and cooking, she loves attending beer festivals like Michigan Winter Beer Festival and Great Taste of the Midwest.

Ashley Hunsader, Control Lab Assistant at Two Brothers, graduated with a chemistry degree from Valparaiso University knowing that she wanted to work on something she personally enjoyed consuming. Having an appreciation for craft beer and the creativity that goes into recipe development led her to a career in the brewing industry. “Working at Two Brothers has given me the opportunity to experience a larger range of craft beer and continue working with a product I love,” says Ashley. She’s a big fan of sours and stouts, but always has Two Brothers beer in her fridge.

Shawna Carter, Sales Rep at Flossmoor Station love for beer crosses international borders, as she drank her first Guinness in Ireland and also attended Oktoberfest in Munich. She also enjoys Pale Ales and always has Three Floyd’s Gumball Head stocked in her fridge. She has found as a newcomer to the industry that hard work and persistence definitely pays off, sharing how much she enjoys meeting industry people. “ Any beer event you go to, someone always has a beer you’ve never tried and are always willing to pour you a taste of it.” Beer Geek Alert: Ask her about the chicken head mask she wears to Dark Lord Day.

Two Brothers Retail Manager Amanda Wells discovered a small brewery in Indiana, Back Road Brewery and upon drinking their Blueberry Amber was hooked on craft beer. Losing her job during the recession ended up being a blessing in disguise for Amanda because she started homebrewing, which led her to pursue a career in the craft beer industry. She’s a big fan of the Craft Brew Festival in Winter Park and always has something from Colorado stocking her refrigerator. Her favorite food and beer pairing are omelets with a blood orange Hefeweizen. 
Beer Geek Alert: She has a black Golden Doodle named Stout.