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Latest Reviews

Spike's Ale
O'so Brewing Co.
Bitter Woman in the Rye
Tyranena Brewing Company
Indica IPA
Lost Coast Brewery
Grassroots Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Exposed
Horny Goat Brewery
Night Tripper
New Holland Brewing Co.

Perfectly Good Beer

Although your local brew pub might not be the next great Midwest brewery, remember that it’s locally made and far better than industrial swill. Even when it comes to good things, it’s possible to take them too far.

Take, for instance, beer. (What did you think I was going to say? Jessica Alba?) On the site here, we fall over ourselves trying to heap praise on groundbreaking breweries like your Bells’, your New Glaruses, your Surlies, your Dark Horses. Just look at our 2009 Midwest Brewery Power Rankings, for Christ’s sake. But in our zeal for promoting breweries kicking … by Eddie Glick—published July 1, 2009 full article »  (2 comments)

What’s Your Most Popular Beer?

How drinking craft beer can help repair the increasingly tenuous link between popularity and merit in American culture. So I was sitting in the brew pub the other day eating lunch and sipping a “Belgian-style table beer” that, while extremely low in alcohol (less than 3 percent ABV), was nonetheless quite tasty, when a pair of college-aged women came in. They sat at the bar a few stools down from me, and it was immediately apparent that they had no idea where they were. They asked the bartender for some macro swill, … by Eddie Glick—published June 18, 2009 full article »  (14 comments)

Voting Results For The Midwest 2009 Brewery Power Rankings

With no shocks in this year’s results, we’re going to assume the drunk voting was held to a minimum. The results are in for our vaguely annual polling of the electorate, the BeerDorks.com Midwest Brewery Power Rankings. Here you go:

1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
2. Founders Brewing Co.
3. Three Floyds Brewing Co.
4(t). New Glarus Brewing Company
4(t). Goose Island Beer Co.
6. Great Lakes Brewing Co.
7. Surly Brewing Co.
8. Tyranena Brewing Company
9(t). Dark Horse Brewing Co.
9(t). Furthermore Beer

Once again, like last year, Bell’s sits atop the list, and it’s pretty clear why: their reach blankets the Midwest, … by Eddie Glick—published June 8, 2009 full article »  (3 comments)

Time To Grill

Summer is the season of grilling, and nothing goes better with grilled fare than all kinds of Midwest craft beer. Grilling season is finally upon us. Well, the “official” grilling season. I realize that there are some die-hard Midwesterners who have no qualms grilling their brats outdoors when the temperature reaches a balmy 20°. Barbecuing and grilling is one of those great traditions to get out there and celebrate the warm weather. Of course, a good summertime craft brew is always a great compliment to your favorite grilled dish.

One of our favorites is barbecued … by Kaitlyn Logue—published May 26, 2009 full article »

Vote In The 2009 Midwest Brewery Power Rankings

We actually pay attention to—albeit only once a year—what other people think. Nothing all that noteworthy happened in the last year out in the “real” world. At least, I didn’t notice anything interesting happening, but then again there’s only one window in my parents’ basement, and somebody painted it black. But out in the beer world, the world that really matters, quite a bit has transpired. So much so that we thought it was a good time to revisit our Midwest Brewer Power Rankings.

If you care … by Eddie Glick—published May 13, 2009 full article »

The Bitter Truth

Fancy yourself a hophead? Learn the nuances of tasting the so-called “spice” of beer. So you’re a hophead? Or maybe you’re tired of over-hopped beers. Maybe you rate somewhere in between. For the purposes of this article, your hop allegiance is irrelevant. No matter what your perspective of hops is, this article will help you fine tune your zymurgy appreciation. We’re going to cover hops in layman’s terms, some of which you may know, and then apply them in a way to help you realize your most and … by Jug Dunningan—published May 12, 2009 full article »

The Dorks Do Declare

The Beer Dorks put their John Hancocks on the Declaration of Beer Independence in honor of American Craft Beer Week. Happy American Craft Beer Week, everybody! To kick things off this week, the Dorks decided to slap their signatures on the Brewers’ Association’s Declaration of Beer Independence for all the world to see. This important historical document codifies some of the core beliefs anyone who loves great craft beer should hold. Now, we aren’t lawyers (although Baby-Boy argues like he is one), but we are beer lovers, so we’ll interpret some of the more … by Eddie Glick—published May 11, 2009 full article »  (3 comments)

Beer Dorks News

The New York Times covers beer cocktails. Not what you’re thinking—this is a different trend. The New York Times wakes up and discovers Chicago's beer scene. AB InBev is reportedly mulling handling up to 50 percent of its retail sales through its own wholesalers. This would be BAD for craft beer. So when the Hell is food going to catch up with quality craft beer? A church in England celebrates Father's Day by handing out beer. Amen, brothers! An article on Madison's greenest beers includes only one that's sort of from Madison. Nice try. Real women should drink real ale. Something's brewing close to home. MillerCoors to send 8,000 cases of Miller Lite and Coors Light to troops in Iraq. As if these men and women haven't suffered enough already... The "CarboPouch"... beer's version of Capri Sun. Any country that once embraced the pet rock is prone to anything.