For the second time in as many years Rolling Meadows Brewery, in downstate Cantrall, has been nominated for a Good Food Award.
Last year the brewery’s Abe’s Ale was a winner. This year it’s the barrel-aged version that is up for the award.
The Good Food Awards recognize small companies who churn out, “tasty, authentic and responsibly produced,” goods. In particular, the brewers nominated, “aim to reshape supply chains and promote responsibility by sourcing ingredients locally and grown without synthetic inputs when possible, practicing resource conservation and supporting local communities,” according to the Good Food Awards website.
We got our hands on a bottle of the Barrel Aged Abe’s Ale in 2013 and found the barrel-aging to perfectly compliment the already sweet and satisfying Abe’s Ale; so much so that we named it one of our top 10 beers of 2013.
The barrel aging of this beer took everything we love about Abe’s and made it better. In fact, the flavor profile barely changed except for the addition of sweet bourbon and a touch of oak and vanilla.
Rolling Meadows is facing stiff competition in the beer category. Other finalists include Deschutes Black Butte Porter, Founders All Day IPA and Smuttynose’s Pumpkin Ale.
Other Illinois finalists include Metropolis Coffee Company in the coffee category for their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Aylele, the Cabernet Sauvignon Sea Salt Caramels from sea + cane sweets in the confections category and the Onion Marmalade from Southport Grocery and Cafe in the pickles category.
You can view a full list of finalists HERE. The winners will be announced later this week.