Tag Archives: pancake

Tasting

Fargo Brewing Stone’s Throw

The Fargo Brewing Co. started in the wave of openings at the turn of the decade and characterise their rise as home brewers to pro brewers, with a distinct inspiration stemming from the pacific northwest. They started contract brewing in Wisconsin, opening their own brewery in Fargo in 2014.

Their Scottish Ale, aptly named from I assume the highlander games, has a nice moderate ABV of 4.5%, a welcome relief after so many in the range of five-plus. When I brew at home I aim for around the 3.8% – 4.3% range for most beers (imperial IPAs etc. obviously exceptions) as I find this best suits my palate and desires. Being in the United States is a constant experience of higher ABVs; you do get used to it.

This beer is copper-acorn colour with a plastic-y white head. It smells of apple and pine, a little pancake batter, a little sweetness. The mouthfeel is chewy and sticky like a wad of sap. Major flavours march in unison: honey, biscuit, butter, raisins, a touch of bitterness and no hop flavour. It’s all malt, all the way. Not a bad beer at all, it put me in the perfect mood to see a film at the historic Fargo Theatre.

And what a place that is! Independently owned, heritage architecture, cheap tickets and zero advertisements before the film screenings. OK, I’m getting distracted.

I bought a pint of this beer at The Boiler Room, Fargo, North Dakota. It’s a pretty straight-forward, subterranean bar with little to distinguish it, although it seems to put a bit more effort into its tap selection than its competition in downtown Fargo.

Tasting

Revolution Brewing Fist City Chicago Pale Ale

Revolution Brewing pride themselves on being Illinois’ biggest craft brewery.

They were founded by an ex-brewer from the now-defunct Golden Prairie and the now-macro Goose Island and have been growing since 2010 with an expansive presence across Chicago. I haven’t been to their brewpub in Logan Square but have heard good things about it. They provide a lot of ingredients information about their beers; a curse and an advantage. I tried their Fist City Pale Ale after a pleasant stroll along the Bloomingdale Line in early autumn – just managing to work a sweat up.

This beer is a sight for eager eyes: gold colour, clear with a touch of chill haze and a rebellious, fluffy head that stays glass down. The aroma is resinous, streaked with caramel and sweet orange. It’s a singular combination – the orange note giving it real character. On tasting a moderate to thick, silky mouthfeel delivers a creamy, dextrinous profile of pancake batter and citrus.

Hop character doesn’t push through and bitterness just offsets the malt, leaving the a thick honey aftertaste to wreak pleasant havoc on the palate. The bar described this beer as dry, but it’s not. Lies, all lies. No tip for you. I did leave him a tip.

Overall this is a pleasant pale ale, but more of a late than early autumn beer. Not sure I would choose it again in the heat, but no faults present – purely down to the recipe.

I drank this draught beer at the Northside Bar & Grill, Wicker Park, Chicago, Illinois. It’s a roomy venue with a lovely outdoor beer garden, friendly staff and at least seven televisions, probably more. All playing sport of course. Happy hour is 4-7PM weekdays for 1/2 price draught beers.