College Grads Need More Than PBR
By Benita Zepeda
Hapless Intern
As a recent college graduate, it’s no secret my budget is tight and spending should be monitored. However, I’m also a person who appreciates a good beer after a long day at work. After a steady diet of Bud Light, Miller Highlife and Pabst Blue Ribbon, I’ve realized that my sense of taste has grown up as well. This is why I’ve decided that when I’m going to spend my hard-earned cash on a brew, I want it to be surprising and satisfying.
There are several places in Chicago that have impressive beer selections. Some of my favorites include Small Bar in Logan Square, St. Andrew’s Inn in Edgewater, and Kuma’s Corner in Avondale. These are my top picks from each place and why they’re worth your time, and money.
1) Rogue Dead Guy Ale from Small Bar: They carry it in a bottle, and although there are far more exotic beers available on the menu – especially on tap – this is my go-to every time. It’s dark and malty with hints of honey and has a great finish.
2) Bell’s Two Hearted Ale from St. Andrew’s Inn: Even though St. Andrew’s has Dead Guy Ale on tap, my heart belongs to Bell’s. Here they have it on tap. There is a hint of citrus while the hops are very strong, but serve as the prefect accent to the floral nature of the beer. I haven’t had one person try this beer that hasn’t fallen in love with it.
3) Delirium Nocturnum, also from St. Andrew’s Inn: This is my all-time favorite beer. Since the name stands for something I can assume is close to “nighttime craziness,” consumers need to know this is a beer high in alcohol content. However, this is a strong Belgian ale with a lot of complex flavors that are perfect for the winter. There are hints of fruit and it’s a little spicy, but the finish is absolutely smooth.
4) Unibroue Ephemere (Cassis) from Kuma’s Corner: Although this isn’t really a cheap glass of beer, it’s pretty good. It’s a lighter beer and has solid fruit flavoring to it, like apples and berry. There is a crisp finish and it paired well with everything we ate, too. Out of all the beers I experimented with there, this was my favorite.
Benita Zepeda is a Columbia College Chicago graduate with a B.A. in Journalism. Currently, she is an Editorial Assistant for the Office of Institutional Advancement at Columbia College. Additionally she works in a salon owned by her family, freelances and is a Hapless Intern for Stevedolinsky.com.
