Chicago’s New Beer Releases will get you Pumped for Spring

The birds aren’t chirping, the snow is still falling and spring has definitely not sprung in Chicago. While we may be off to a rough start with this unpredictable weather, at least we can count on our beloved local breweries.

Summer-lusters, get ready for new local releases that will transport you into a tropical hoppy oasis, even when you’re in the middle of an April snowstorm. Prepare yourself for the season of sun (it will come…eventually) with a mouthful of citrus flavors and a bucket full of hops.

New Beer Releases for Spring from Chicagoland Breweries

Blood Orange Guppy, Pipeworks Brewing

Style: Session IPA
ABV: 5.5%

“Blood Orange Guppy” is Pipeworks latest spring seasonal release. This easy-drinking session IPA will pair perfectly with warmer weather and outdoor drinking. Brewed with blood orange juice, honey, and Citra hops, it fills the room with smells of citrus and packs a flavorful orange punch.

Fader Pilsner, Half Acre Beer Co.

Style: Pilsner
ABV: 4.2%

While Pony Pilsner represented the desire to put their own unique stamp on the “pilsner” style, Fader encapsulates everything Half Acre reveres and admires in a traditionally brewed continental lager beer.

Brewed in purist spirit, the beer rests on legs of German malted pilsner and vienna malt, with kettle additions of Tettnanger, Tradition, and Czech Saaz, fermented with a classic Bavarian lager yeast. Multiple riffs on pilsner…these are heady times for sure.

Brony, Illuminated Brew Works

Style: Double Dry Hopped Double India Pale Ale
Container: 750 ml
ABV: 7%
Release Date: April 13th

Ponies are cool. They can fly and make magic and have the prettiest tales. But people have hands. Ponies don’t. With hands, people can drink beer (usually). Like this beer here. This beer is for Bronies, not phonies. Huell Melon, Motueka, Citra & Rakau hops swim together in rainbows of citrus, strawberry & orchard fruits. You can even share it with your pony, Brony. But you’ll probably have to help it drink it; because ponies don’t have hands.

Illuminated-Beer-Works-Astronaut-Eye-Scream

Astronaut Eye Scream, Illuminated Brew Works

Style: Double Dry Hopped Double India Pale Ale with Lactose
Container: 750 ml
ABV: 8%
Release Date: April 13th

We took our hop and grist bill from Astronaut Juice and added Galaxy hops and lactose sugar to make a juicy, thick beer ideal for all of your space travels.

Fruit Slave, Illuminated Brew Works

Style: Double Dry Hopped Double India Pale Ale
Container: 750 ml
ABV: 7.5%
Release Date: April 20th

You know there wasn’t fruit in the gum you chewed as a kid, right? It was an illusion, a trick played on your impressionable mind by bad-intentioned scientists bankrolled by Fat Cat, macro-gum corporations exploiting your enthusiasm for big, juicy flavors.

Well, there’s no damn fruit in this beer either. Just an incredibly wasteful amount of Motueka, Citra & Mandarina Bavaria hops to make you believe it’s full of tropical delights. Drinking this, you’ll be so lost in juicy rapture, with your pleasure centers popping at the seams, that we’ll have you forever in our lovable grip. Another member for our dubious cult, a Fruit Slave forever powerless to your juicy needs.

Orange Sunshine, Illuminated Brew Works

Style: Citrus Saison
Container: 12oz Cans
ABV: 5.3%
Release Date: April 20th

We’ve combined our house yeast, orange and lemon zest and topped it all with experimental German hops. The result is an insanely sessionable beer with the flavor and complexity of something twice it’s weight in booze. The wine-dry, crisp body and delicate citrus notes insure you keep Orange Sunshine close during those long Summer days melting your face under the Chicago sun.

Zip-Zap, Maplewood Brewery

Style: Extra Pale Wheat Ale
Container: 16oz 4-pack cans, 1/2BBL kegs, 1/6BBL kegs
ABV: 5.5%

A crisp and super refreshing American wheat ale hopped with a healthy amount of Citra and El Dorado hops. An easy drinker with all those sexy citrusy and tropical notes that you love so much. If this one doesn’t quench your thirst…well…we’ve done all we can.”

Double Charlatan, Maplewood Brewery

Style: Double IPA
Container: 22oz bomber bottles, 1/2BBL kegs, 1/6BBL kegs
ABV: 8%

Take all that you love about our GABF medaling Charlatan APA, and double it. Double the goodness, double dry-hopped for everyone’s pleasure.

Brownie Points, Maplewood Brewery

Style: English Brown Ale with Vanilla Beans
Container: 16oz 4-pack cans, 1/2BBL kegs, 1/6BBL kegs
ABV: 5.7%

Full of malty chocolate and toffee flavors, this silky smooth beer drinks easy and finishes bold yet crisp. Oats are used to lend a creamy body and mouthfeel.”

Sungasm, Finch Beer Company

Style: Belgian Pale Ale
Containters: 12 oz 6-pack cans, Case 4/6, 1/2 bbl kegs, 1/6 bbl kegs
ABV: 4.5%

You never know what you might find on the other side of the rainbow. Sometimes dreams really do come true, and this is where you’ll find Sungasm. This ray of sunshine marries new age fruity hops with a traditional Belgian yeast strain. The result is a balanced, highly sessionable ale ready for your next adventure.

The Waldos’ Special Ale, Lagunitas Brewing Company

Style: Triple IPA
ABV: 11.3%
Release Date: April

In 1971, the Waldos met one afternoon at 4:20 in the front courtyard of their school near the statue of Louis Pasteur. They set out in a ’66 Impala armed with a “treasure map” on a journey to find a secret garden near Point Reyes. They met there at the same time every day and continued their quest. They never found the secret garden….But they keep lookin’. The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with help of the Waldos for all treasure hunters. Cheers!

Lucky 13, Lagunitas Brewing Company

Style: Red Ale
ABV: 8.8%
Release Date: April

From the first day of the first mash of the first recipe in the first brewhouse in the first space to these coordinates on the cone of space-time; We have worked hard to walk in the footsteps of our hero brewers. Now we have found our own voice as brewers but our admiration for the Great Ones has not dimmed one bit. If we walked well down the hero’s path, perhaps we too have been an inspiration for others. Beer is a Bronze Age business and we feel honored to leave our footprints on it’s path into history- at the same time leaving our flavors on your buds. Obey those Buds! Thanks for your trust over the years and we hope you enjoy this specially brewed Hi-Gravity Auburn offering. Beer Speaks, People Mumble!