Craft Beer Night - 9/28

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by CPditka

For Reference: Here is PETCO Park's full beer list this season. It's good to be a Padres fan: CRAFT DRAFT: Ballast Point Sculpin, Ballast Point Pale Ale, Ballast Point Big Eye, Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat, Ballast Point Black Marlin, Karl Strauss Red Trolley, Karl Strauss, Kona Longboard, Kona Fire Rock, Widmer Rotator IPA, Widmer Hefeweizen, Coronado Golden, Stone Pale Ale, Lost Abbey Devotion, and Goose Island. PREMIUM DRAFT: Blue Moon, Leinenkugel's Summer, Third Shift, Batch 19, Stella, Shock Top, Pacifico, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, and Victoria. DOMESTIC DRAFT: Coors Light, Bud Light and Budweiser. BOTTLES & CANS: Coronado Golden, Coronado Mermaid, Coronado Orange, Coronado Island IPA, Karl Strauss Amber, Karl Strauss Red, Karl Strauss IPA, Karl Strauss Pale, Ballast Point Longfin Lager, Ballast Point Calico, Ballast Point Pale Ale, Ballast Point Big Eye, Stone Pale Ale, Stone Levitation Ale, Stone IPA, Mission Blonde, Mission Amber Ale, Mission Hefeweizen, Mission IPA, Green Flash Hop Head Red, Green Flash West Coast IPA, Green Flash Double Stout, Manzanita Riverwalk, Manzanita Rustic Horizon, Alesmith "X," Alesmith Anvil Ale, Black Market Bavarian Style Hefeweizen, Black Market Brown Ale, Lightning Elemental Pilsner, Lightning Thunderweizen Ale, Lightning Fair Weather Pale Ale, Lightning Amber Ale, and Port Brewing Wipeout IPA.

Um, wow. That is impressive.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by kittle42

Um, wow. That is impressive.

Yeah, but San Diego is one of the craft beer meccas in America, isn't it? They're just far and ahead of us in this game. So I'm not really sure it's a fair comparison. How does the Cell compare to the other 28 parks in the league? From my unscientific study over the last few years, pretty good, I think, but it's hard to say because I haven't visited any new parks this summer, so who knows what has changed? The craft beer market is rapidly expanding everywhere.

I will say that by Chicago sports standards, I think the Cell is by far the best in terms of beer drinking options. Definitely way better than Wrigley. Better than the UC, IIRC. Probably better than Soldier Field, but I don't remember for sure because the last time I was there it was 0 degrees at kick-off and I wasn't in much of a beer drinking mood.

But yeah, this Craft Beer Fest is idiotic on every level and they deserve every laugh they get.

[delben91]

Originally Posted by kittle42

Um, wow. That is impressive.

Originally Posted by doublem23

Yeah, but San Diego is one of the craft beer meccas in America, isn't it? They're just far and ahead of us in this game. So I'm not really sure it's a fair comparison. How does the Cell compare to the other 28 parks in the league? From my unscientific study over the last few years, pretty good, I think, but it's hard to say because I haven't visited any new parks this summer, so who knows what has changed? The craft beer market is rapidly expanding everywhere.

I will say that by Chicago sports standards, I think the Cell is by far the best in terms of beer drinking options. Definitely way better than Wrigley. Better than the UC, IIRC. Probably better than Soldier Field, but I don't remember for sure because the last time I was there it was 0 degrees at kick-off and I wasn't in much of a beer drinking mood.

But yeah, this Craft Beer Fest is idiotic on every level and they deserve every laugh they get.

Comparing to SD is indeed not apples to apples. There are 60+ microbreweries in San Diego county, I believe 30+ within the city limits (but don't quote me on that). It truly is craft beer heaven out here.

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by doublem23

I will say that by Chicago sports standards, I think the Cell is by far the best in terms of beer drinking options.

It's not a hard title to hold, but it is totally an easy call.

[CPditka]

See below link from Draft Magazine, Im really holding out hope that Lagunitas will have a serious mark on the Cell next year. Their new brewery is appx 5 miles from the Cell. The execuse of they cant produce enough beer to support will not be valid.

https://draftmag.com/features/beertown-u-s-a-chicago-2/

Originally Posted by doublem23

Yeah, but San Diego is one of the craft beer meccas in America, isn't it? They're just far and ahead of us in this game. So I'm not really sure it's a fair comparison.

[Senerch23]

The UC has done a much better job of integrating craft beers into the concessions there over the last few years. They may not have as many options as the Cell in regards to variety but the availability is much greater as there aren't only 2 stands selling craft beer at the UC.

[The Immigrant]

Originally Posted by Senerch23

The UC has done a much better job of integrating craft beers into the concessions there over the last few years. They may not have as many options as the Cell in regards to variety but the availability is much greater as there aren't only 2 stands selling craft beer at the UC.

Well, one would hope there would be decent options at the UC given Wirtz's stranglehold on beer distribution in Illinois.

[Mr. Jinx]

Originally Posted by Senerch23

The UC has done a much better job of integrating craft beers into the concessions there over the last few years. They may not have as many options as the Cell in regards to variety but the availability is much greater as there aren't only 2 stands selling craft beer at the UC.

Maybe downstairs or something? In the upper deck I don't see anything more than bud, labatts, Heineken, and maybe a stray shock top or sam adams.

[roylestillman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jinx

Maybe downstairs or something? In the upper deck I don't see anything more than bud, labatts, Heineken, and maybe a stray shock top or sam adams.

Going to the Hawks pre-season games I noticed that the 300 level now has a couple of stand alone Goose Island carts on the concourse. I think Budweiser's distribution deals have broadened the availability of bears. Now you can begin the argument of what constitutes a craft beer.

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by CPditka

See below link from Draft Magazine, Im really holding out hope that Lagunitas will have a serious mark on the Cell next year. Their new brewery is appx 5 miles from the Cell. The execuse of they cant produce enough beer to support will not be valid.

https://draftmag.com/features/beertown-u-s-a-chicago-2/

If they serve Supmin' Sumpin', I might be able to endure a Sox game, because I won't know what's going on.

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by Senerch23

The UC has done a much better job of integrating craft beers into the concessions there over the last few years. They may not have as many options as the Cell in regards to variety but the availability is much greater as there aren't only 2 stands selling craft beer at the UC.

They at least have Green Line and Goose IPA. At worst, better than Wrigley and Allstate.

[Senerch23]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jinx

Maybe downstairs or something? In the upper deck I don't see anything more than bud, labatts, Heineken, and maybe a stray shock top or sam adams.

The 4 corner bars on the 300 level have had a few Goose Islands brands for at least 2 seasons now. There is another craft brewer that they have a few selections for as well but I can't remember who it is. There are also 2 free standing Goose Island carts that they added late last year on the 300 level.

[Senerch23]

Originally Posted by roylestillman

Going to the Hawks pre-season games I noticed that the 300 level now has a couple of stand alone Goose Island carts on the concourse. I think Budweiser's distribution deals have broadened the availability of bears. Now you can begin the argument of what constitutes a craft beer.

They added those late last year, hit up the one outside 327-328 quite a bit during the playoff run.

[shes]

Originally Posted by delben91

Comparing to SD is indeed not apples to apples. There are 60+ microbreweries in San Diego county, I believe 30+ within the city limits (but don't quote me on that). It truly is craft beer heaven out here.

While that's true, the Chicago area has exploded very quickly into a craft beer haven of its own in recent years. In the city or within spitting distance, we've got Revolution, Half Acre, Two Brothers, Goose Island, Solemn Oath, 3 Floyds, Wild Onion, Pipewerks, Piece, Haymarket, Metropolitan, Spiteful, Dryhop + whoever else I'm forgetting + all the new microbreweries that are scheduled to open in the next year or two.

For a city that loves beer so much, we've finally caught up a bit. It may be unrealistic to hope for the Cell to be like Safeco or ATT or Petco, but it should be easier to get good beer at a Sox game. And a "Craft Beer Night" has so much more potential than what the Sox are doing. Kind of a wasted opportunity to highlight how far the city has come w/ regard to craft beer at a venue where it's generally not seen.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by shes

While that's true, the Chicago area has exploded very quickly into a craft beer haven of its own in recent years. In the city or within spitting distance, we've got Revolution, Half Acre, Two Brothers, Goose Island, Solemn Oath, 3 Floyds, Wild Onion, Pipewerks, Piece, Haymarket, Metropolitan, Spiteful, Dryhop + whoever else I'm forgetting + all the new microbreweries that are scheduled to open in the next year or two.

Most definitely but you're still asking a very tall order for some of these smaller outfits to produce enough to meet their demands and then add on 81 games at Sox Park. There was a good article in the Trib about the craft beers available at the Cell and Wrigley and some of the challenges of getting more quality at the parks and the overall message seemed to be that, especially in regards to the Sox who have a modern ballpark and are more capable of adding more options in the park, the teams are interested in adding more craft beers, but the breweries are hesitant to commit to that kind of production.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...ia-beer-menu/2

Chicago has a lot of very good breweries making some excellent beers, but it seems like from an operational perspective, they're still behind places like San Diego and Portland..