Beer, Beer, & Better Beer | HopCat

Beer, Beer, & Better Beer

Can't-miss 'unicorn' beers at HopCat Chicago's Wood & Wild
Doug Wise, HopCat Chicago Beer Program Manager | October 18, 2017
Wood & Wild, Barrel-Aged

The Wood & Wild Festival is so close we can almost taste it. The event - happening Sunday, Oct. 22 at all HopCats - puts a spotlight on barrel-aged and sour beers. The lists can be daunting, so we're checking with our beer experts at each location about the can't-miss beers that will be tapped throughout the day. Below are some suggestions from Doug Wise, beer program manager at HopCat Chicago, whose full tap list is available here.

Lagunitas Rum BA Brown Shugga - Brown Shugga on its own is maybe the smoothest 9.7% beer you can find, and I'm a sucker for brown sugar. Adding the the sweet booziness of a rum barrel makes this a must-try! [More info via Untappd]
 

Moody Tongue Bourbon Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter - Moody Tongue is one of the best breweries in Chicago, and this limited brew has me daydreaming. Baltic porters are not so common, and feature malt complexity with the smoothness of lager yeast. Everything I have read so far about this beer suggests a harmony of coffee, roasted malt, vanilla, and oak. [More info via Untappd]

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout 2015 - Hailing from Grand Rapids, Founders is one of our oldest partners. I've come to be pretty familiar with KBS, a yearly limited release, during my time with HopCat, but I've never had it aged two years, and I'm excited to see how it has evolved over time. [More info via Untappd]

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'Unicorn' highlights at HopCat AA's Wood & Wild fest
Marty Rivard, HopCat Ann Arbor Beer Program Manager | October 18, 2017
Wood & Wild, Barrel-Aged

As we continue the countdown to our Wood & Wild Festival -- taking place Oct. 22 at every HopCat location -- we're checking in with our expert beer managers for suggestions about beers to try at each of our restaurants. Here, HopCat Ann Arbor's Marty Rivard suggests a couple of "unicorns" (beers so epic and legendary they defy comprehension) that will be featured at A2's Wood & Wild event:

I'm pretty pumped for the Saule by The Bruery. This beer is made so scarcely that it is near impossible to find and it's a blend of every Anniversary Ale they've ever made. Which is pretty dope.
 
Also, our 2015 Madrugada Obscura - Dark Dawn. This is a Jolly Pumpkin Oak BA Belgian-Style Imperial Wild Stout... mouth-full, eh? I'm a huge Jolly Pumpkin fan, they make really fantastic sours and I've been really into sour stouts and porters lately. I think the chocolatey, roasted maltiness of the beer adds a very nice addition to the sour and fills the mouthfeel nicely. I'm excited to see how the Belgian yeast will complement this one.
 
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Unicorns are real: Epic beers to try at HopCat Kansas City's Wood & Wild festival
Brandon Freeman, HopCat Kansas City Beer Program Manager | October 17, 2017
Wood & Wild, Barrel-Aged

We're counting down the days, hours and minutes until the Wood & Wild Festival, taking place Oct. 22 at every HopCat location. In anticipation, we're checking in with our expert beer managers for suggestions about beers to try at each of our restaurants. Today we hear from HopCat Kansas City's Brandon Freeman, who suggests a few "unicorns" - beers so epic and legendary they defy comprehension - that will be available at KC's Wood & Wild party:

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Reserve: S’mores – I am really looking forward to this one for a couple of reasons. One being, who doesn’t love S’mores? Secondly, along with being one of the more iconic flavor profiles, it is also one of America’s Favorite Pastimes. Sitting around a fire cooking your marshmallow, just waiting to bite into this delectable treat. Now picture the always popular New Holland Dragon’s Milk with all of those tastes and feels of a campfire. Personally, I am looking forward to getting a pour of this and going upstairs to the patio and enjoying this beer outside in the nice crisp fall air. [More info via Untappd]

Mother’s Rye Manhattan – Being a Whiskey guy who loves his Manhattans, I have this beer highlighted on my to-do List. Mother's has always been an excellent go-to for Brown Ales in the area. Using their expertise in this style, they have made the perfect marriage of barrel-aging. Templeton Rye Barrels for that iconic Whiskey flavor and Red Wine Barrels to impart that Sweet Vermouth flavor that rounds out the Taste of America’s Original Cocktail, in Beer Form!! [More info via Untappd]

Zipline Gin Barrel-Aged Hibiscus Saison – Saisons have been my favorite beer style for number of years now. Since about the same time I discovered I really love gin. With a lot of breweries experimenting with different liquor barrels to age their beers in, it is wonderful to see gin get its time in the sun. Especially when they are aging my favorite beer style in them. I anticipate the Hibiscus’ fruity flavors and gin barrels’ floral notes to blend with the Saison’s earthy tones in perfect harmony. [More info via Untappd]

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