Latest Reviews

Double Dry Hopped pseudoSue
Toppling Goliath
Spaceman
Brewfist
Modus Vivendi
Wild Beer Co.

Recent Articles

Outdoor Winter Tippling Tips
Stay safe from the pandemic and stay warm with these winter patio drinking tactics. Shameless
Craft brewer sellouts become as tone-deaf and underhanded as their new overlords. Great Taste Eve
Check out the burgeoning Madison beer scene the night before the best fest in country. Good Beer Makes Good Conversation
The effects of drinking beer worth talking about. The Beers of Walmart
The largest retailer in the world now has its own line of beers. archives »

Beer Reviews

Original Lager Beer

Berghoff
Monroe, WI
USA

Style: Lager
ABV: 5.5%

Rings’s Rating:
   (Recommended)


Comments:
I was in Chicago for the 2010 World Beer Cup and decided—as is my tradition—to stop into the legendary Berghoff for lunch. For those unfamiliar, the Berghoff is a downtown Chicago institution, serving house beer, German fare, and famous deli sandwiches. Born just before the turn of the century after the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the bar, restaurant and brewery attracted a long and loyal following, surviving Prohibition with a bustling restaurant serving near beer and soda pop. The place is huge, with four floors, full butcher, bakery, modern kitchen, banquet facilities and space for nearly a thousand guests.

A couple years ago, however, a word got out that the legendary locale was about to close. Apparently, the family’s older generation wanted to retire and none among the younger generation were interested in keeping the fire burning, aside from a daughter running the catering business. A friend and I took the train into town in 2006 for a final visit and tribute—OK, it was more like a seven hour bender—but, still, it was in honor of the Berghoff’s final days. We weren’t alone, for lines stretched around the block for weeks leading to the scheduled final hour.

Delightfully, whether due to the tremendous response those final weeks or just a change of heart, the aforementioned daughter decided to carry on after a brief closure. The Berghoff lived again.

As for the beer, well …they’re “based” on the original recipes, for the most part German-style brews that are contracted through Minhas Brewing (nee Joseph Huber Brewing Company) in Monroe, Wisconsin. While they never used to be very good in the old days, often suffering from diacetyl or poor handling, they were all much better on this visit.

The “lightest” is their Berghoff Lager, which is the training wheels beer for most, I’m sure. It’s probably all malt, as it had a nice full body for an American lager and was very clean, with nary a hint of hoppy balance.

While better than expected, it’s still a pretty average effort for a “craft” brew, so a solid three mugs will do.

Reviewed by Rings on May 17, 2010.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

Want to know how healthy the craft beer industry is? As always, look to Portland. Craft pioneer Bridgeport announces sudden closure, adding to a growing list of PDX casualties. Did Anheuser-Busch Chicago offer their shit beer to Cody Parkey before his missed field goal? Because that may explain why he "accidentally" biffed it. Chicago now has the most breweries of any city in the country. Other things Chicago has the most of: murders, mobsters, and Ditkas. Trying to spin it positive, BA releases end of year graphic. Only 5% growth in the craft sector when nearly 1000 new breweries opened? That's a collapse waiting to happen. R.I.P. Tallgrass... another casualty as the regional/national craft beer market continues to get squeezed. Wait... Constellation Brands cut all of the Ballast Point and Funky Buddha sales staff? They merged it with their Corona/Modelo staff?? We're SHOCKED!!! Pizza Beer founder crying about failure of company, blames everyone else. Reminder, the beer tasted like vomit. Try having better ideas or making better products so you're not a failure. It's Bud Light so doesn't really matter, but we expect this beer to be sitting around for awhile. Indiana brewery to open with controversial beer names to "get the conversation going". Translation: taking advantage of serious issues for free publicity. Hundreds of amazing beers in Wisconsin and the Cubs took back the one everyone drinks just because it exists and people have heard of it. How fitting...