Behold, our annual look back at your favorite posts; the ones you found the most intriguing or entertaining in 2014. They include a first look at Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale, 4 Paws Brewing’s exit from the Chicago craft beer scene and a deep-dive into the Hand Family’s purchase of River North and City Beverage.
Without further ado, the most read posts of 2014.
10) Discovering Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale
We fell into info on this release well before Goose Island made the official announcement that the 312 family was expanding to include a pale ale.
9) Fall Beer Freedom Day 2014
We didn’t even make it to July before we had to trumpet our annual call to avoid fall beers until after Labor Day.
8) A look inside Lagunitas Chicago
The title pretty much says it all — a virtual tour of Lagunitas’ massive Chicago brewery.
7) 4 Paws Gets Out of the Game
Andersonville’s 4 Paws Brewing is the first Chicago brewer to exit this current craft beer renaissance.
6) Dear Bars and Restaurants: Don’t Fill Growlers
In an unprecedented move, given the past between the two groups, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild and Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois form a unified front opposing growler fills from any establishment that isn’t a brewery, brewpub or taproom.
5) Goose Island’s 2014 Bourbon County Stout Release
A primer for Goose Island’s coordinated Bourbon County Stout release in Chicago.
4) Schlafly Chicago Tap Room is a No-Go
Liquor laws in Illinois prohibited St. Louis brewer Schlafly from opening a tap room in Chicago. Thankfully the brewer later decided to expand distribution to Chicago.
3) Under Review: The Hand Family Purchase of City Beverage
We take a look at the decision facing the Illinois Liquor Control Commission on whether or not to allow a wholesaler in the south to add Illinois distributor City Beverage to its stable.
2) New Glarus Scream IIPA Review
We launched a new feature this year, Craft Beer to Cross the Border For, in hopes of guiding your future beer-inspired road trips. New Glarus Scream IIPA was one of the first beers featured.
1) Does Craft Beer Have a Problem With Women?
In what was — quite possibly — one of our most polarizing posts ever, Karl took a Rockford brewer, and others, to task for beer labels that he says are demeaning to women.