Falling For Beer

Sarah Freeman

Sarah Freeman is a Chicago-based food and drink writer. Her love of beer began with a glass of Guinness in Galway, Ireland. She has been writing and traveling in search of her next life-changing pint ever since. She is currently the managing editor of October.

Essays ( 5+ )
Feature

How the Pandemic Has Changed Beer Forever

2020 turned the beer world upside down. And while next year hopefully with bring relief and better times, some industry-wide changes are here to stay.

Feature

Our Favorite Beers of 2020

These beers (and ciders) didn’t exactly get us through this hell year, but they did help.

Feature

Our Favorite Interviews

Because the best conversations happen over a round of beers.

Feature

Collective Arts Puts Its Commitment to Diversity on Every Can

Its next design project, Amplified Voices, will feature BIPOC and LGBTQ artists on every beer that the brewery produces for three months.

Openings / Closings

Welcome to the World of Ørkenoy, Chicago’s Weird and Whimsical Brewery

It’s a little bit of Oslo and a little bit of South Beach with a lot of malty beer and stuff on bread.

Beer Jobs

Meet the Artist Behind Archetype’s Surreal, Ethereal Beer Labels

“I just wanted to make work that didn’t have any constraints whatsoever,” says Sean Jones, a.k.a. Humid Daze, an Orlando-based painter and illustrator.

News

Black Pumas Made a Beer to Benefit Social Justice Orgs

The hoppy pale ale, Stay Gold, was brewed in collaboration with Austin’s 4th Tap Brewing and hits shelves next month.

Having a Beer with

Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada Is Living His Best Quarantine Life

The guitarist and producer is taking time to learn to play drums, speak French, and appreciate the Black Pumas’ sudden fame.

Women of Beer

Meet the Women Changing the Face of Craft Beer

These seven designers are responsible for some of the most exciting art you’ll find in a beer aisle.

News

Stuck at Home? These Breweries Will Bring the Beer to You

Get beer from Denizens, Wolf's Ridge, Platform, and more delivery straight to your door.

News

Taproom and Brewery Closures in Response to Coronavirus

Flying Dog, Rhinegeist, and more have announced they would temporarily close due to the spread of the virus.

Having a Beer with

Winemaker Krista Scruggs to the Beer World: 'Are You OK?!'

Krista Scruggs is considered one of the most exciting winemakers in the country and now she's set her sights on a new beverage: beer.

News

Denver Is Using One Brewery’s Carbon Dioxide to Grow Weed

New technology allows Denver Beer Co.’s CO2 to be fed to local cannabis plants.

Feature

I’d Tap That: Why Brewers Are Stuck on Maple

Real maple syrup is a rare find, and breweries are showing off the sweet stuff in some very special seasonals.

Openings / Closings

Moody Tongue, Chicago’s Culinary Brewery, Is Breaking All the Rules

Moody Tongue's new brewery, restaurant, and bar offers up a 12-course tasting menu paired with Asian pear saison and chocolate barleywine.

News

Researchers Opened 1,000 Cans of Beer in the Name of Science

A recent study put the theory of tapping shaken beer cans to the test with 1,000 cans of beer.

Feature

Why This Denver Brewery Wants You to Keep the Glass

Our Mutual Friend's commitment to local artists is just one of the ways it fosters a sense of community in the middle of the city's hottest neighborhood.

Having a Beer with

Taking Back Sunday on the Art of Japanese Lagers and Aging Gracefully

The iconic Long Island-based group have some words of wisdom for all the aging rockers out there.

Feature

I’m Obsessed with the Tiny Beers at Chicago’s Best German Beer Bar

Funkenhausen's beer program can transport you to Cologne.

Women of Beer

How Women Are Reinventing the Look of Beer

“Here's the thing—you don't have to use sexist or racist imagery or statements to sell booze. You simply don't. It's a choice."

Openings / Closings

Hop Baths and Hay Beds: Inside Chicago’s New Beer Spa

Piva Beer Spa takes its cue from the beer spas of Prague, with wooden tubs filled with beer and wooden beds filled with hay.

Feature

Pairing Beer and Hot Dogs at One of the Midwest's Best New Restaurants

Flowers of Vietnam used to be a Coney Island hot dog stand. Today it is one of Detroit's most talked-about restaurants.

News

Goose Island Announces 2018 Bourbon County Stout Variants, Guinness Opens U.S. Brewery

This year’s Black Friday release happens on November 23rd and will introduce eight new variants.

News

New Belgium Becomes Official Craft Brewer of Red Rocks Amphitheater, More Beer News

Stage Rock Colorado Ale will be sold at Red Rocks and other Denver venues.

News

The National and Mikkeller to Release Reality Based Pils, More Beer News

"We like clear and crisp beers when we come off stage and need to cool down."

News

Sun King Brewery Opens Distillery in Indiana, More Beer News

The 15,000-square-foot craft distillery has a built-in bar and food hall.

News

Lagunitas’ New Hopped Sparkling Water Is Spiked with THC, More Beer News

The product, as you might expect, is only available at select dispensaries in California.

News

Science Says, Ancient Swedes Brewed Beer; DogFish Head Introduces Disposable Cooler

Carbonized malt was found in a Nordic settlement dating back to 400 A.D.

News

Japandroids Beer to Debut at Pitchfork Music Festival, More Beer News

A Swedish brewery is encouraging people to drink more and tweet less by printing tweets on beer foam.

News

Kona Goes Pro, Evil Twin-Mikkeller Feud Reignites on Twitter

Kona is now the official craft beer of the Association of Volleyball Professionals.

Feature

Taming Fire: A Nashville Hot Chicken and Beer Experiment with Chef Josh Habiger

"If you’re going to have something that’s super bold, then you can get bold with your beverage pairing."

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer with…the Right Now

"All of the seeds we’ve been planting for the past ten years are finally paying off."

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer with…'Top Chef' Winner Joe Flamm

The Chicago chef loves his Miller High Life.

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer with…Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

"Look, beer has been a part of our band—it, in part, created our band."

Feature

Has Founders Struck Gold with its Premium Lager?

Meet one craft brewery's response to the domestic lager phenomenon.

Feature

When Searching For Mexico’s Beer Roots, Head to Oktoberfest in Chicago?

Dig deeper into Mexico's roots, and you find a multicultural – delicious – mix.

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer With... NE-HI

There's beer beer, and then there's dark bar beer.

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer With... Stephanie Izard

Stephanie Izard has won Top Chef and Iron Chef, but she also loves her crushable Citra pale.

Having a Beer with

Having a Beer With... De'Mar Hamilton

The drummer for the Plain White T's sometimes likes plain beer, sometimes likes beer juice, but always likes beer.

Feature

Whiner's Sustainable Beer Part of an Awesome Ecosystem

Whiner's beer is awesome, and their mission – to be a zero-waste brewery living in a zero-waste building housing other zero-waste businesses – is even more remarkable.

1-0-1

Where There's Smoke, There Might be Beer

Learn about smoked beers from Against the Grain, Cruz Blanca, and Schlafly – they're worth a(nother) try.

Feature

Fernetic: A Cult Beer in the Making

Forbidden Root may have scored an instant classic with their Fernet-inspired Imperial Black Ale.

Beer Jobs

Brian Kellett Has an Eye for Beautiful Beer

Race car driving, horticulture, interior design, label design: this cat can do it all.

Feature

Moody Tongue’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Barleywine is for Lovers

Two familiar ingredients, found an unfamiliar place: Moody Tongue's newest beer seems perfect for Valentine's day.

Travel ( 5+ )
Midwest

The Chicago Brewing District Is One of the City's Best-Kept Secrets

Two years ago, five breweries decided to turn their neglected neighborhood into a craft beer destination.

Southeast

As Artists Leave Wynwood, Brewers Move In

Why Pisco Sour Berliner weisses and fancy bread are the new calling card of Miami's arts district.

International

How Four Brewers Are Bringing Craft Beer to Baja California Sur

When Jordan Gardenhire opened Baja Brewing Company in 2007, there were zero craft breweries in Los Cabos.

Midwest

You Need More Than a Weekend to Drink Through Detroit (But We Tried)

When it comes to restaurants, bars and breweries in Detroit, the city is in the middle of a renaissance.

Northwest

Choose Your Own Beer Adventure in Denver, Colorado

As the home of the Great American Beer Festival, the Mile High City has endless ways to enjoy beers.

International

Learning to Fly: Mikkeller's Journey to 35,000 Feet

A gypsy brewer and international airline team up to change the way we drink on airplanes.

Midwest

In Cincinnati, Brewing Roots Run Deep

It's a tale of reinvention, really.

Midwest

The Search for Quality Beer in Cleveland, Ohio

An uneven brewing situation in Cleveland still has high points and upside.

Midwest

Brewdog's First American Steps are Halting Ones

Brewdog has big plans for their Ohio location. They haven't quite come through on the plans to date, though.

Events ( 3 )
October Events

OctFest Introduces Bon Appétit-Curated ‘Food Village’ Featuring Mission Chinese Food and Roberta’s

A dozen food vendors, 90 breweries and 20 musical artists collide on Governors Island.

October Events

OctFest Announces Full Beer, Music Lineups with NAO, Girlpool and More

The full beer and music lineup for OctFest is here.

October Events

OctFest Returns to New York City in September with Vince Staples and The Flaming Lips

Over 70 breweries and 20 musical acts take over Governors Island on September 8 and 9.

Podcasts ( 5+ )
Podcast

On Beer Design

Meet the man behind Omnipollo's one-of-a-kind beer labels.

Podcast

On Farm Beers

How two breweries are bringing the farmhouse-style beer back to the farm.

Podcast

On High-Altitude Beers

Is better beer on airplanes the final frontier?

Podcast

On Beer Cocktails

An ode to the misused, misunderstood beer cocktail.

Podcast

On Beer Food

Brewery Bhavana, Band of Bohemia and Almanac Beer Co. on redefining brewpub fare.

Podcast

On Making Beer with Run the Jewels

Jesse Ferguson of Interboro stops by and talks about hip hop and making beer with Run the Jewels.

Podcast

On Beer at Ballparks

The White Sox just upped their beer game. The man at the center of that update talks to our podcast.

Podcast

On Foraged Beer

Foraging for beer: Scratch founder Marika Josephson stops by to talk about tree bark and mushrooms and beer.

Podcast

On Museum Beer

Usually you go to a museum, you look at art. At Chicago's Field Museum, you can drink some, too.

Podcast

On Beer and Spirits

Dave Thibodeau of Ska Brewing talks about how beer and spirits can go hand in hand.

Podcast

On Culinary Beers

At Moody Tongue, they practically have more food in their beer than on the menu. Their Jared Rouben comes on to talk about culinary beers.

Podcast

On Sustainable Beer

Want to see the future? Whiner Beer, and their neighbors at The Plant, are making great products... and zero waste.

Podcast

On Smoked Beer

Is smoked beer often poorly executed, or mostly misunderstood? Against the Grain's Sam Cruz talks to October about the genre.

Podcast

On Urban Planning

Sam McNulty of Market Garden Brewing talks urban planning and Ohio City with Sarah Freeman.

Podcast

On Naming Beers

In our first podcast, Sarah Freeman talks to John Barley of Solemn Oath about naming beers.

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