Hot Takes, Quick Tastes: South Loop, Anchor, Bells, Surly (Again!) and a 2nd Green Line Take

In Beer Reviews by Karl

Because we respect your time too much to waste it on 1000+ word reviews of single beers, here’s a quick cross-section of what we’ve been drinking and digging lately.

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Not every beer requires a novel written about it. Despite the fact that sometimes I can’t write my own name in less than 200 words (blessed be my editors), we recognize that there are A) a lot of beers out there and B) you’re busy.

So here, without further blithering on our part, are some quick snapshots of beers we’ve recently been sampling, savoring, swigging, swilling, etc. The internet would call these Hot Takes, or something like that. Anyways. Drink at your own risk.


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South Loop Brewing Company: World’s Columbian Coffee Expedition Stout

These guys have been around for a while but it feels like they took a big step forward with this coffee stout. I know we all love to be punched in the face with big huge adjunct flavor, but I like the fact that this is most certainly a beer that happens to  feature coffee, not just a big can full of cold-brew pour-over French Press whatever that’ll also get you drunk. Hearty but not chewy, roasty, a little buzzy with hops but still retaining some semblance of balance. Not only that, but the can art just looks cool. (Provided gratis via the brewer. They also provided the Milkstachio which I just wasn’t able to wrap my head around.)

Anchor Brewing: Spring Ale Saison

If you aren’t putting fruit in an IPA you aren’t getting much attention these days, so respect to Anchor to just pumping out a solid, somewhat true-to-style saison that checks all the boxes for a good springtime-y beer. Light lemony citrus, a bit of green tea, a healthy dose of floral aroma (perhaps from the lemongrass and ginger; it wasn’t present in the flavor), a creamy body and a touch of yeast character. Not exactly crushable and not made for summer fun on the pool deck, but a nice option to have on hand for the first few days where it’s warm enough to go outside in just a hoody.

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Goose Island Green Line:

Only our second Hot Takes Quick Tastes and we’re already seeing a repeat offender! I picked up another 4-pack of Green Line and I had to wonder if they accidentally packaged the last of the 312 Urban Wheat — I found a beer that was hop-present but definitely lacking the thicker and heartier body of the GL we know and love. Guessing things are still fairly variable as they ramp this one up, so buyer be forewarned. Josh Noel at the Trib must have gotten something from the same packaging run, based on his response.

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Bell’s Oberon:

C’mon. You gotta have an Oberon. If I need to explain Oberon at this point we need to bounce you back to 100-level classes.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute: 

Remember when this was the only Imperial IPA you’d ever had? Remember when it was the only one you’d ever heard of? And do you remember how good it was? Remember how it tasted like a caramel candy and weed resin and garden-fresh bitterness and sticky dank raw hops? You guys, it’s still real, real good. Step aside from the lobster beer and the 658-IBU beer and the wasabi beer. Go back to this one for a minute. Trust me.

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Surly Xtra-Citra: 

Big, burly, fumigation-level of hops jump out of the can with this one — the aroma is a big ol’ Citra party all up in the atmosphere. Too bad the actual liquid in the can is a thin, fruit-and-pine one-note shoulder-shrug of a beer. If you’re looking for your New Favorite Session Pale, keep looking. Points for making the can look like a 90’s-era Mountain Dew clone, though. (Note: This beer was also provided gratis, which was nice of them.)

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About the Author

Karl

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Karl has written about food, travel and beer for Chicago Magazine, Thrillist, Time Out Chicago, AskMen and more. His book, Beer Lovers Chicago, is now available via Amazon and other booksellers. If you're buying, he's likely having a porter or a pale ale.

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