This week’s beer, from Germany, comes in a super cool bottle and has a bit of sea salt; it’s extremely refreshing, but a tad hard to find. Naturally, they do carry it at The Hopleaf, as well as a few other bars in town, but you’ll have to ask. Leipziger is the producer, and the … Continued
It seems like we’ve been talking a lot about the Brooklyn Brewery lately. They’ve got their big MASH event coming to town in a week or so, and this week’s pick is actually a collaboration between Brooklyn’s Brewmaster – Garrett Oliver – and an Italian brewery called Amarcord. They produce a blonde and a bruna … Continued
It does seem like everyone and their beer-crazed brother is producing an IPA these days. But this week’s pick is a true pioneer in the category; it’s one of the first in America’s craft beer movement, and now, it’s available in Chicago. It’s from Ballast Point, a well-regarded brewery in San Diego, and it’s relatively … Continued
In the summertime, many of us crave a thirst-quenching beer, but not everyone wants (or is allowed to consume) alcohol. Enter Krombacher, a weizen beer from Germany that refreshes without knocking you on your ass. Just ask the Hopleaf’s Michael Roper. Cheers.
Sierra Nevada has been working to help support and rebuild a monastery over the past few years. Their Ovila series has produced some great beers in this effort, and this week’s pick – a mandarin orange and peppercorn-flavored saison – is well worth the effort to seek out. Naturally, like all of our picks, you … Continued
Fort Collins, Colorado is our focus this week, as The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper features New Belgium’s Summer Series beer, called Rolle Bolle. It features monkfruit – something we’ve never even heard of – in a very low alcohol, refreshing summer beer. Cheers.
Despite its name, there are no teen vampires involved in the brewing or marketing of this breezy summer ale from Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery, which has only been available in Chicago the past few months. The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says it’s easy to drink this time of year, especially at softball games and the occasional … Continued
Nothing says springtime (in the beer world) like a little bock. This seasonal brew from Anchor Brewing, one of the country’s best-known brewers out of San Francisco, is ready to drink this week, but it won’t be on store shelves forever. Sure, The Hopleaf carries it, but so do a lot of other fine purveyors … Continued
As you can probably tell, I’m on a bit of southern kick this week, especially after yesterday’s post about some of my eating highlights in Charleston. When you’re in the Lowcountry, near the Carolinas on the Outer Banks, one of my favorite dishes has to be shrimp and grits. True, the rest of the … Continued
As much as I love the cookies, cakes and muffins from A Taste of Heaven in Andersonville, it’s the scones I would drive out of my way for (as well as the artisanal pizzas across the street at Great Lake, but I digress). The scones here are unlike their dry, crumbly brethren, and I’m … Continued
Readers of this blog will know that I show little mercy for Italian restaurants claiming on one hand to be “authentic,” while serving dried pasta from a box. Thankfully, there are more than a handful of local chefs now rolling and cutting their own pasta, many times the result of their own taste memories … Continued