Welcome to stop #134 on the Brews and Choos project.
Brewery: Suncatcher Brewing, 2849 W. Chicago Ave., Chicgao
Train line: Milwaukee District West, Milwaukee District North, and North Central Service; Western Ave (Zone 1)
Time from Chicago: 9 minutes
Distance from station: 1.2 km
Suncatcher opened just 13 months ago on land and in an unused supply shed rented from a garden supply store. This means they have an amazing outdoor space that I will take Cassie to visit at some point when the sun is out and the temperature is warm enough. (So, July.) They specialize in lower-alcohol beers, so you won't find a 14% stout on the menu but you will find a 6.4% IPA that has great balance and nice hops, with enough malt for flavor and a long finish.
That's the one in the center, above. The left one, the Harvest Moon New Zealand Pale (4.5%) with Nelson Sauvin hops "brewed under our harvest moon" had an effervescence and lightness I don't usually associate with pale ales. On the right we have their 5.7% ABV stout, heavy on coffee and chocolate in the nose, with enough hops to balance the sugar and produce an unusually dry but still tasty dark ale.
Not shown: the Suncatcher One Double IPA (8.5%), the only thing above 6½% on the menu, which had excellent balance and sneaky alcohol. Also not shown: their special Winter Beer (4.5%), a well-balanced but malty and smooth beer I didn't mind finishing with.
Even though I had 20 full ounces of beer, the lower alcohol and Marz Cheesy Popcorn set me up well for the train ride and subsequent brewery visits for the day. As I said, I'll be back, especially when it warms up a bit.
Beer garden? Expansive
Dogs OK? Outside only
Televisions? Yes, avoidable
Serves food? BYOF
Would hang out with a book? Yes
Would hang out with friends? Yes
Would go back? Yes
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