Hop Cast

We’re doing a bit of celebrating in this episode, we’ve reached 200 episodes! Thank you all for watching each and every episode. To celebrate Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are in the barrel warehouse at Goose Island sipping on a couple barrel aged beers. First up is the Firestone Walker Double DBA, this 12% ABV... View Article

In episode 199 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are joined by Sergio Salgado for a couple great beers from the west coast. First up is a bottle that Sergio brought back from Oregon. The Seizoen Bretta from Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. This 8% ABV Farmhouse Ale has been getting a lot of... View Article

We couldn’t be happier to see the entire Firestone Walker Brewing portfolio available in Chicago. For the last few months only the larger format or private reserve beers like Parabola and Wookey Jack had been available, but now everything from Pale 31, Velvet Merlin to Abacus are on the shelves in Chicago. To celebrate this,... View Article

In episode 197 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski warm up with a couple delicious Porters. With all the big IPAs and Russian Imperial Stouts the Porter sometimes flies under the radar. First up Ken and Brad open the 5.6% Anchor Porter from San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company. This is one solid... View Article

In episode 196 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder crack open a couple Russian Imperial Stouts that you have likely seen at your local beer store. Both of these beers are pretty common and are worth checking out because they are both great. Brad and Ken kick off the episode by diving... View Article

In episode 195, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are in the holiday spirit. This year Ken and Brad have gotten each other hand crafted ale as a gift, no surprise there. And what better way to celebrate the holidays then by drinking! Ken and Brad quickly open their gifts and give them a taste. First... View Article

When it’s chilly outside all we really want is a tasty stout to warm us up. That’s exactly what’s happening here in episode 194 of the Hop CastBrad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Erik Jensen for a couple Midwest Milk Stouts. First up is the Revolution Brewing Company, Mad Cow Milk Stout. This... View Article

In episode 193 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are joined by Sergio Salgado to taste a couple hoppy Red Ales. First up is Chicago’s very own Pipeworks Brewing with their Blood Of The Unicorn. This 8.5 % ABV Amber has a killer label that would lead you to expect something extreme... View Article

In episode 192 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at The Tenth Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. This festival is held once a year and if you’ve seen the last couple years episodes, you know how great it is. This year it was at a new location in... View Article

In episode 191 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are joined by Jack Danger for some tasty coffee beers and some delicious apple pie. The first beer the three of them open is The Devil Made Me Do It from Tyranena’s Brewers Gone Wild series. This 7.5% ABV Porter is a big... View Article

This is a really neat episode, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski crack open two beers that were each collaboration beers. Both had an American craft brewery teaming up with a well respected brewery in Europe. The first beer they crack open is the Castelain Two Brothers, Diversey & Lill(e); a 6.3 % ABV Bière de... View Article

In episode 189 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are sipping on a couple Saisons. The first one they crack open is the Island Reserve: Saison Farmhouse Ale from Massachusetts brewery; Cisco Brewers Inc. This is the first time Cisco Brewers has been featured on the Hop Cast so it’s always great... View Article

The seasons are changing, the harvest and pumpkin beers are in full swing. That’s why in episode 188 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are cracking open a couple great seasonal beers. The first beer they open is the Oktoberfest from Revolution Brewing. Revolution recently opened up their production brewery where they... View Article

It’s great to see so many new breweries opening in Chicago. In episode 187 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski check out one of the newest ones getting close to opening; Dryhop. Ken and Brad got a chance to chat with owner Greg Shuff and head brewer Brant Dubovick. Dryhop is planning to open... View Article

Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are sticking pretty local with episode 186, cracking open a couple beers from our friends to the north at Milwaukee Brewing Company. The first beer they open is the Booyah, a 6 % ABV farmhouse. This might be a little different then some farmhouse ales you’ve had in the past... View Article