Brewery Review: Anheuser-Busch

St. Louis Brewhouse

Believe it or not, Anheuser-Busch might not be as bad as you think.  The whole operation gets a pretty bum wrap about their beer based on their flagship beers Bud and Bud Light.  Many find it appalling that rice is used in the brewing process.  I find it interesting that The Bruery can add rice to their beer to create a lighter flavor, but AB can not add rice for a lighter flavor.  Many of the beers in AB's Michelob line are actually pretty good.

People also do not realize the level of influence AB has in many of the most popular craft beers. AB has about a one-third stake in Goose Island and steaks of several others, most notably the Craft Brewers Alliance.  Many people from the South think Landshark Lager is a micro-brew.  Seriously?  When do craft breweries have enough cash to buy naming rights on an NFL stadium?  Think I am lying? Scroll to the bottom of their homepage and click the beeresponsible.com link.

Beer Bitch Loves The Horses

AB has played a big part in beer and popular culture.  How many cultural references have come from this brewery?  Clydesdales, Spuds McKenzie, frogs and the much loved and hated Whatzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuup.  Also, there are more serious issues in which AB has played a role from immigration in 19th century to prohibition in the 20th century to lobbying beer laws in the 21st century.

Pouring From A Finishing Tank

If nothing else AB is an excellent example of American manufacturing, even if owned by the Belgians.  If you are in St. Louis it would be a shame not to stop at the original brewery.  If you do go, it is worth signing up for the paid Beermaster tour.  This tour covers a bit more ground and you get to see more of the facility than you do on the free tour, plus there is a nice tasting glass for a souvenir.  I will say drinking Bud Light from a finishing tank doesn't taste half bad.

Fullsteam Brewery

Today I am departing from a typical brewery review to comment on a brewery I have never tried, Fullsteam.  What drew me to Fullsteam was a recent blog post called "That Brewery Sucks".  In summary the author comments on how he hears people say a brewery sucks and he doesn't listen to it.  He only listens if you explain the basis of your criticism.  He reminds readers that some individuals criticize a brewery when the problem was a bad tap line or more personal like the style preference.  What really drew me in was this:

If you still don’t like the beer, let the brewery know. Have the balls to contact the brewery and tell them about your bad experience. We promise to treat you with respect and to listen to your criticism. Be prepared for us to defend ourselves, the beer we make, and our decision to brew it a certain way. That’s part of being proud. But we will listen.

He flat out said come chat and tell me what you do not like.  That is rare.  I can not tell you how many brewers, owners, reps and managers I know.  So many of them hand me every beer like it is the greatest beer ever.  If you criticize, they blow it off.  I have told people they are great, told people they are average and yes I have said that brewery sucks.  The only brewery that I ever came straight out to anyone and said don't go there was followed up with the comment that the place often runs out of beer, service is poor and the product is inconsistent.

What needs to happen is people need to start being accountable and taking criticism.  When you take criticism you do not have to implement what the critical person wants, but you need to acknowledge it.  Defending yourself is fine especially if it is in regards to a product that turned out the way it was supposed to, but if your customer got a bad bottle or a poor experience because something went wrong, work to fix it.  Listening to them say they didn't care for your porter may even inspire you to brew a stout.

Fullsteam is not available here in Chicago, but I hope they at least export a little of that attitude up here.  Too many Chicago area brewers have egos that do not match their breweries output, and good criticism can make a good product even better.  I wish Fullsteam the best and I hope to be in the neighborhood to try their beer and give you all a proper brewery review.

Brewery Review: Firestone Walker

I would like to welcome Firestone Walker to Illinois.  Tonight at Piece from 6:00 to 8:00 Firestone Walker will be holding a release party.  You should expect samples of Anniversary 14, Double Jack IPA and Walker's Reserve Porter to be served.

Firestone Walker is a formidable entry into the Chicago market.  It was the winner of the GABF Brewery of the Year in both 2003 and 2007. Firestone Walker also regularly brings home several medals, most notably for their pale ales.  The book 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (1001 (Universe)) lists the Anniversary Ale, Double Barrel Pale Ale and Union Jack IPA as must tries.

I have only really had the chance to try one of their beers, Anniversary 14, and a sample of a few others.  I look forward to being able to try more  to write a true brewery review.

Brewery Review: Metropolitan Brewing Co.

Metropolitan Brewing in Chicago is the brainchild of Doug and Tracy Hurst.  While most craft beer operations focus on ales, Metropolitan focuses on lagers and I have heard of no plan to offer ales.  Their website even states that there are zero plans to ever make an IPA.   Last time I took a tour there Tracy recounted how they came to the conclusion to make lager. Doug, while studying at Siebel Institute of Technology, was in Germany completing his classwork and called Tracy telling her about the amazing lagers there.  He was so blown away he found his life purpose.  To be honest when I first heard about their brewery I laughed.  I did not think anyone could make a living selling lagers.  I was wrong and have no problem admitting it.  Metropolitan makes excellent beers and they have become my go to brewery for lagers.

The craft beer market has very few lagers on shelves and I personally have not come across any other lager only operations.  In the past I would get people started on craft beer by using Goose Island's 312, but I would struggle to explain what a Urban Wheat Ale is.  I find it much easier to hand them a Krankshaft or Flywheel and tell friends that it is a lager just like Bud Light.  My friends and family have been much more accepting of this because they think they are getting the same taste.  They quickly learn that not all lagers are the same and craft lager packs a flavor punch.

I know some of you had issues with Metropolitan staying consistent with their beer and scattered reports of off flavors when they first opened.  I am happy to report those issues have disappeared.  Metropolitan has been churning out three lagers on a consistent basis: Krankshaft, Flywheel Bright Lager, and Dynamo with a seasonal named I-Beam Alt.  A fourth beer Iron Works recently received bottle label approval from the feds and it appears to be a tweaked version of the I-Beam Alt.

Metropolitan offers public tours of their brewery.  Check out their website for details.  The tours cost a nominal $5 and include tasting.  This is pretty typical for Chicago area breweries and is a fair price.  Be warned it is hot in the summer and cold in winter as they lack a solid HVAC system.  Retail operations are somewhat constrained at their location.  My understanding is the city has some complicated zoning rules that makes their space industrial, but not retail.  (If it was retail I would of walked over and bought a glass by now.)

Doug and Tracy lack the inflated ego you see in some operations.  They seem to be letting distribution be dictated by where there is desire for lagers which is good.  Additionally, they have a stated desire to remain a Midwest phenomenon.  Metropolitan's beers are not intended to age so finding markets that allow quick turnover is key.  

At times they struggled with supply issues.  As of my last tour (Summer 2010) they were exploring the purchase of additional fermenters which should help solve the problem.  However, most breweries would consider not being able to keep up with demand a good thing.  I would also like to see Tracy out of brewing and on the road.  I want to be clear I do not doubt in her ability to work as a brewer, but Tracy would make an excellent brand manager.  If the hop tattoos do not give it away, her personality clearly conveys that she is passionate about beer.  If she could focus on Metropolitan's brand and get craft beer drinkers enthused about lagers who knows what this little place could do.

Metropolitan will likely be around for a long time, and if you have not already tried their beer go grab a six pack.