About- Mike Zoller
Mike Zoller
After trying to retire after a lucrative two-year career in sports journalism, Mike got back into sports but in the administration side. He currently works for the Northwestern University Athletic Department as an account executive working directly with football and men's basketball. At Miami University Mike was the sports editor for the The Miami Student and also did radio play-by-play for RedHawk ice hockey, football and baseball. Mike is still waiting to see Northwestern basketball play in the NCAA Tournament and the Cubs win the World Series.More Brewing’s Head Brewer & GM Leave to Form Phase Three Brewing
March 14, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Nine years ago when Shaun Berns, his wife Brittany and best friend Evan Morris were working at RAM Restaurant & Brewery, they had talked about one day opening their own brewery. The three made their way from RAM to More Brewing which opened in July of 2017. Less than two years later, the three are ready to open up their own brewery – Phase Three Brewing Company.
Surly Releases Two New Beers Following Industry Trends
March 12, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Hazy IPAs and pastry stouts – so hot right now – hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. As these beers have become hotter than Derek Zoolander walking the runway and giving us Blue Steel, the larger craft breweries are following suit. Surly Brewing joins the game with their latest beers, One Man Mosh Pit and Tiramisu Funeral Bar.
Event Preview | Uppers & Downers
March 5, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Solemn Oath Brewery represented Chicago at the very first Uppers and Downers in Pasadena, California in 2015. Since then, the festival has been held in Chicago and on March 30, the premier coffee beer festival put on by Good Beer Hunting returns to Thalia Hall.
Chicago Quick Sips | Feb. 18 Chicago Beer News & Events
February 18, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].
Stem Ciders Acquires North Carolina’s Black Twig Cider House
February 7, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Just weeks after Stem Ciders celebrated their 5th Anniversary, they’re about to embark on another major milestone. The Denver-based cidery announced yesterday that they have acquired Black Twig Cider House in Durham, N.C and will be re-branding the location as The Northern Spy, named after an apple varietal often used in Stem’s line of ciders.
Ex-Goose Island Brewmaster Jared Jankoski Talks Octopi Brewing Move
February 6, 2019 | Mike Zoller
With Jared Jankoski’s unexpected departure from Goose Island, the brewery is looking not only for a new brewmaster, but the individual who will be responsible for mentoring and developing the next batch of brewers at Fulton and Wood.
Chicago Quick Sips: Valentine’s Day Edition
February 4, 2019 | Mike Zoller
As Valentine’s Day approaches whether you have a special someone in your life or not, just know that Chicago’s breweries are there for you and that beer never judges.
We compiled a list of all kinds of events/promotions breweries around the Chicagoland area are doing for the week of Valentine’s Day.
Middle Brow Beer Co. Opens Its Taproom After Five Years of Waiting
January 31, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Motor Row. Ten 90. Lo Rez. Church Street Brewing. Great Central. Big Chicago. After contract brewing in six different locations and putting over 20,000 miles on their cars over the past five years, Middle Brow Beer Co. finally has a home of their own.
F*** Your Hair Explores the Story Behind 5 Rabbit’s Chinga tu Pelo Beer
January 22, 2019 | Mike Zoller
For a short period during the 2016 election, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria was producing one of the most talked-about beers in the country. From being the house beer at Rebar in the Trump Tower to cutting ties and openly mocking then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, the One City Films documentary “F*** Your Hair” tells the story of Chinga tu Pelo.
Beer Lover’s Guide to Evanston, IL’s Craft Beer Scene
January 21, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Just a short train ride from Chicago, Evanston is home to Northwestern University. Downtown, you’ll find lots of shops and restaurants, as well as some great breweries.
Chicago’s Barrel-Aging Pros Answer: What’s Next for Barrel-Aged Beers?
January 8, 2019 | Mike Zoller
When calendars turn to a new year, the barrel-aged beer craze tends to die down just a little with most of the breweries having already released their clean bourbon barrel-aged rarities to the public. With so many breweries now producing barrel-aged beers not just in the winter months, but year-round, where does this style go from here?
Chicago Quick Sips | Jan. 7 Chicago Beer News & Events
January 7, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].
Brewery Showcase | BiXi Beer
December 24, 2018 | Mike Zoller
When brewmaster Eymard Freire first joined the BiXi Beer project he wasn’t married and had no kids. But by the time BiXi opened, Freire was married and his daughter was six months old. Plagued by multiple setbacks, BiXi finally opened in August 2018. The wait was worth it.
Deep Wood vs. Bourbon County | Who Won in Chicago?
December 21, 2018 | Mike Zoller
With Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout now fully released and Revolution’s Deep Wood series with one more small release in January, we can take a step back and see how these beers stacked up against one another this year.
In no way am I saying that these are the best and only barrel-aged Stouts coming out of Chicago that we should talk about this season. However, when you have two behemoths like Revolution and Goose Island in one city, it’s hard not to compare them side-by-side with their biggest releases.
Why I’m Giving up Hazy IPAs in 2019
December 19, 2018 | Mike Zoller 1
In 2019 I’m giving up the haze crazy, hop bombs, and juice boxes. I’m doing this not to rebel or revolt against the New England IPA. It’s a matter of self-control and I just didn’t do a good job of that this past year. It’s a fine style of beer that has taken this industry by storm and helped launch some of the most well-known breweries today, but personally, in 2018 I just gravitated towards them too often. Read More
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company | Fudgie the Beer
December 4, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Who didn’t have a Fudgie the Whale cake for one of their birthdays while growing up? Thanks to Carvel and Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, the iconic ice cream cake has made its way into a beer.
Revolution Brewing Expands Freedom Session Sour Series
November 26, 2018 | Mike Zoller
In what could be a sign of changing times, Revolution Brewing announced earlier this month, that they would begin expanding their Freedom Session Sour lineup making that series available in cans all year round. Next up in the series is a Kettle Sour with black currants called Freedom of Press. In order to make room for those beers, a Revolution staple, Bottom Up Wit, will no longer be canned.
Revolution’s Wil Turner to Join Open Outcry as Head of Brewery Operations
November 8, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Chicago’s largest craft brewery will be searching for a new head brewpub brewer as Revolution Brewing’s Wil Turner is making the move to the Southside where he will become Open Outcry’s new head of brewery operations.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky to have Wil as our Head Pub Brewer the past seven years,” Revolution’s Director of Retail Operations Meg Rutledge said. “Someone with his talent and decades of experience is hard to find, and it will be tough to see him go. At the same time, Open Outcry is getting a great brewer, and we wish Wil all the success in the world.”
Five Great Chicago Stouts You Don’t Have to Line Up For
November 6, 2018 | Mike Zoller
We have officially entered that time of year where breweries begin releasing their big, barrel-aged beers. Many come with massive release events that can draw large crowds and (of course) long lines. The beers might be hard to get and if you don’t get them on release day…you’re out of luck.
Surly Brewing | Darkness Variants
November 1, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Surly Brewing Darkness has always been a highly coveted stout come the fall. The Russian imperial stout typically is available in a non barrel-aged version and a barrel-aged version. To change things up, Surly announced three variants, each in a different type of barrel and available only at Darkness Day.
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