In the next week or two I’ll be tied up posting selected events for Illinois Craft Beer Week. But I have managed to post a few of my One-Take Beer Reviews to YouTube lately. My video production has increased and improved with the latest version of iMovie, I must admit. So here’s one of local interest, which I bought myself for this review.
Haymarket Brewing has teamed up this spring with Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon to make a summertime beer appropriate for watching baseball games. The German Helles-style lager was named after Maddon’s stated philosophy when he took over the team: “Try Not to Suck.” The beer is also a collaboration with R N R Brews, an arm of Rags of Honor, a veteran-run apparel company started with the aim of bringing job opportunities to displaced veterans. The group also co-runs Veteran Roasters to make coffee. R N R is in the process of seeking its own brewing license for the future. Proceeds will also benefit Maddon’s Respect 90 Foundation, to benefit children and families in neighborhoods in Chicago and other cities.
The beer pours a bright golden color with lots of bubbles chasing each other around, under a foamy white head. My usual pouring method kicks up a lot of the foam, which brings out a nose of light, toasty malt with a hint of Pilsener style softened water. The taste is everything you remember about your college Pabst or Hamm’s, but without much adjunct or off notes. There’s crispy pale malt, and just a little Noble hop bitterness that mainly creeps up in the aftertaste.
Even as a Sox fan, I will easily concede that this does not suck.
