Ultimate 6er | Chicago’s Best Pizza & Beer Pairings

Pizza comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms, and all of it is generally good. Chicago is a city saturated in pizza joints, but pizza in the Windy City is the real deal. While many tourists visit Chicago for its deep-dish style pizza, most Chicago locals will tell you their preferred Chicago style pizza is “tavern-style.”  What is tavern-style pizza? While there is no strict criteria, any proper Chicago establishment that claims they serve this type of pizza share a similar method. The crust is very thin, better known as “cracker crust.” The pizza is cut into squares, not slices. Pineapple is not a choice on the ingredients list. Using this as a canvas, there are many Chicago pizza joints outside of the tourist traps in the Loop that deliver solid pizza offerings that go great with a nice cold beer on a warm summer day, and here are my favorite Chicago pizza and beer pairings for you to try, whether you’re  a tourist or a local.

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Ultimate 6er | Beers for a Float Trip

Every year my company does a big float trip about 90 minutes south of the city of Chicago. We hop into canoes and spend anywhere from three to four hours floating down a river. Of course, while you’re floating you need drinks, that’s pretty much half the fun otherwise, you’re just canoeing. So for this Ultimate 6er, I picked six beers great for an afternoon on the river.

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Ultimate 6er | Tequilla Chasers

When you are talking about perfect pairings, there is none better than tequila and beer. Whether you’re doing shots or sipping on a cocktail if you’re drinking tequila, you obviously need a beer chaser. While you might be content grabbing the closest Mexican lager, you could also branch out a bit, and consider a few other options. Maybe you want to complement your tequila, or maybe you want to soothe the burn. Either way, having the right beer by your side is the only way to go.

As you plan for your celebration of National Tequila Day, yes this is a thing, you also need to plan the beer to best fit your celebration. There is a plenitude of options when you’re considering building the ultimate tequila chaser list. The three style options that come to mind are: the cocktail, the sipper and the crusher.

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Ultimate 6er | Beat the Heat with Chicago Summer Beer

Refer to it as mid-summer; the dog days; the height of summertime. Call it whatever you want, but the fact is that it’s hot outside in the Windy City. And so to beat the heat; we need a few refreshing beers. Whether you drink it watching a ball game while grilling or just basking in some air conditioning, it’s satisfying to have a beer that fits the season. Here are six Chicago summer beers sure to help keep the mind off the endless beads of sweat forming all over your skin.

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Ultimate 6er | Fruit Beer Salad

It’s a weird observation, but summer is one of the best smelling seasons. Burgers on the grill, the saltwater from the ocean, flowers in bloom and the sweet, decadent fruit tray being passed around at the summer picnic. The fruit salad is one of the most underrated, but highly appreciated item at every summer party. There’s nothing better than taking a bite into a slice of watermelon on a 90-degree, humid day. And in the summer months, fruit is the second-most refreshing summer snack (after beer, of course). So, why not have some fruit beer salad?

While fruit beers are present all year round by a lot of breweries, you can’t get enough of their endless refreshment during the sweltering months. They give you an opportunity to deviate from your traditional style to enjoy a fruity, thirst-quenching beverage. Bearing that in mind, this Ultimate 6er focuses on fruit forward beers that are perfect for all summer activities.

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Ultimate 6er | 4th of July Parade Pairings

Every 4th of July, citizens across the U.S. gather together to watch their local parade. Red, white and blue floats, outfits and decorations dominate the show, music fills the air, and kids wait in anticipation for candy. Some parades have tractors, some have two-story floats, and others have dancers and singers. While not everyone gets exactly the same show, there are a few parade commonalities across the country that spectators are guaranteed to see. For this special 4th of July edition of our Ultimate 6er, we bring you six of those common elements and the beers that go alongside them.

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Ultimate 6er | Summer Adventures in Michigan

Michigan is one of those places that never stops. Despite jokes about two seasons (winter and road construction) the truth is, every season begins and ends and brings with it the sort of activities that seem as if they only happen in movies. There is skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, gardens of wildflowers and baby animals in spring, and hills and landscapes full of red, yellow and orange in the fall. It’s summer, however, when Michigan truly comes alive, mostly because the state is littered with natural and human-made beauties that couldn’t possibly be in one area of the world. It’s with this in mind that for this week’s Ultimate 6er, we have six Michigan summer adventures and the beers that will make them even better.

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Ultimate 6er | Beers to Rosé All Day With

Rosé All Day. Who hasn’t heard this phrase before? For beer lovers, the opportunity to do so, all the while still enjoying craft beer, is absolutely possible. The Rosé trend has become increasingly popular in the craft beer world, with many breweries have come up with their own recipe of a Rosé inspired beer. There are now Rosé lagers, ales, kettle sours, Brut IPAs, IPAs, and so many more. Regardless of which Rosé style you choose to Rosé all day with, it’ll surely be a good time.

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Ultimate 6er | Dad’s Favorite DIPAs

My dad and I are the ultimate craft beer drinking buddies. We take father-daughter beer trips and are always looking for the tastiest brews! “We both have similar tastes, and it’s fun to compare beers with someone who gets me and has a seasoned palate,” he says. “Plus, you’re my daughter!” The apple certainly doesn’t fall far from the tree!

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Ultimate 6er | Grand Slam Beers for Baseball Season

Baseball and beer are a match made in heaven. Sure, you can have one without the other but it’s a hell of a lot more fun when you combine the two.

With the boys of summer starting to get into the full swing and more and more craft breweries partnering up with MLB teams, we rounded up some of the best baseball-themed beers from across the country. Read More

The Ultimate 6er | Best Beer and Band Collaborations

“A kid once said to me “Do you get hangovers?” I said, “To get hangovers you have to stop drinking.”  – Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead (RIP).

Rock and roll and booze have one of those symbiotic relationships where no matter what happens, they can’t seem to quit each other. The deaths of Bonham, Hendrix, Scott, et al. should have scared rock away from boozing. Or maybe Keith Moon driving a car into a hotel pool. But no, rock and roll continues to drink on. The booze is a necessary component, the liquid courage needed to conjure up the whitest of dance moves at a Killers concert, or the quick substitute for years of vocal coaching as you stand up to sing “Don’t Stop Believin'” at your local karaoke joint.

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Ultimate 6er | Tampa Bay Breweries You Can’t Miss

It’s time to take a vacation and hit the beaches! The beaches in Tampa Bay are known as some of the best in America. If you’re planning a trip to the Tampa Bay area anytime soon, you’re surely going to be seeking out some of the breweries to get your hands on some of the local craft beer offerings. Here are some of the breweries I think you just can’t miss if you’re around:

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Ultimate 6er | “Cuz I Love You” California Women in Beer

Melissa Viviane Jefferson was born April 27th 1988. Almost 31 years to that date, she would drop her 3rd studio album, “Cuz I Love You” under her stage name of Lizzo. The album is a beautiful and fun ode to womanhood. She has willingly and knowingly set America up for a summer of putting her record on repeat. Since her first album in 2013, Lizzo has been putting out feminist, body-positive songs that make you feel in her own words “Good As Hell”. Her songs scream female-empowerment; and we are here for it.

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Ultimate 6er | Hiking Companion Beers

Spring is officially in full swing and summer is just right around the corner. It’s the perfect time of the year to get outside and do some exploring. Three things that go well together this time of the year are the great outdoors, hiking and (of course) beer. After reading this, grab some of your favorite beers, find some trails and get up into the mountains. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Six New Breweries to Try in the Austin Area

Austin’s burgeoning beer scene continues to grow despite naysayers touting a looming burst in the craft beer bubble. Recently, the city was even recognized by VinePair as the top beer destination in the world. Several new breweries opened their doors over the past year, with several more getting ready for their 2019 debut. Here are six must-try new breweries in the metro area and just beyond the city. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Beers That Support Pet Causes for National Pet Month

Sitting down at my local brewery the other day, I felt like something was missing. Something felt off about my presence in this crowd of trendy urban dwellers. As craft … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Netflix Original Movies

Since it’s inception, Netflix has always been a media trailblazer from shipping DVDs to offering original content on its streaming service. The California company’s success has caused most major media companies to follow in it’s footsteps by offering incredible shows to those without a traditional cable package. Netflix released a few movies early on to critical acclaim but never to the success of their various TV shows that we’ve covered twice.

2018 was the year Netflix really stepped up their game delivering original films and I’m not just talking about Roma. This Ultimate 6er covers six incredibly diverse and underrated gems that you might not be aware of.

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Ultimate 6er | Miguel Rivas, The BeerTrekker

Miguel Rivas is the international man of beerstery. In 2013, his photography hobby morphed while visiting the Trappist Abbeys in Belgium. Capturing the sights sparked an artistic outlet for the stay-at-home father of two. Photography is a passion for Rivas, so it was clear to combine his thirst for taking pictures with his love for beer. Since then, Rivas successfully branded himself as The BeerTrekker and passing the five-year mark, his project is strong and still growing.

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Ultimate 6er | Best Beers for Cheering on the Big Ten Conference During March Madness

For those of us who live in the Midwest, it has been a long, bitter winter. However, for Big Ten basketball fans, a competitive regular season has pulled us through to the first signs of spring.

For most people, the Christmas season is their favorite time of year. However, for me, March Madness could be the underdog that upsets this crowd favorite in a battle for the most wonderful time of the year. I love that every game matters, as I have a team to root for in each match-up. I enjoy the high of celebration as teams claim victory, and I feel the heartache for each team as their season comes to an end. The upsets, the Cinderella Team, and the bracket busters elicit excitement in me, and of course, I have my favorite team that I hope is ultimately cutting down the nets at the end of it all. For those of you who will be rooting on a Big Ten team with me this March Madness, this Ultimate 6er will provide you with craft brews that show your loyalty to your team and your conference as you celebrate. Let the madness begin! Cheers (and Go Big Ten!).
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Ultimate 6er | Six Beers to Celebrate International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the achievements of women politically, socially, economically, and culturally. The first IWD was held in 1911 and it is celebrated every year on March 8. In addition to commemorating the achievements of women, IWD also serves as a call to action to increase gender parity around the world. In honor of International Women’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of six beers backed by six brilliant women to enjoy on March 8 and beyond. Read More