By this Friday, October, 1^st when Wildfire Oakbrook launches the new wine, martini, cocktail and beer menus, all of the IL Wildfire locations will officially have the new beverage lists in place- finally!  Where my last blog focused on some of the new craft/microbrew beers on draught, this blog, as promised, is dedicated to the some of the new beers we carry by the bottle.

In the 1870's, Cleveland, Ohio had 30 breweries and by the early 1980's, the last one had closed its doors. So when brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway opened Great Lakes Brewing Company on September 6, 1988, it not only signaled a new era in Cleveland brewing, it was also the first microbrewery in the state of Ohio. For those customers who really enjoy a dark, hearty, richer style beer, we are proud to offer the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing Co. 'Porter' beer originated in Great Britain and was named after the porters who hauled goods from wagons to the stands at the open air markets common to England at that time. The Edmund Fitzgerald Porter has a bittersweet chocolate-coffee taste and bold hop presence and pairs perfectly with any Wildfire steak or the Triple Layer Chocolate Cake.  Although Gordon Lightfoot cannot take credit for the origin of the name (Edmund Fitzgerald), this beer is "song-worthy"- much like the legendary ship that is its namesake.  For more on the history of the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald and its tragic end, click here.

10 years after Samuel Adams first hit the market in 1985, we knew that we had to have this reputable East Coast brewery on our initial beer menu when we opened the first Wildfire location back in 1995. This year we decided to bring back the Sam Adams Seasonal Beer Series and by coincidence, Sam's most popular seasonal is kicking off the 4 beer series- Samuel Adams Octoberfest. The Oktoberfest tradition has become a world renowned celebration of beer, running for sixteen heady days every autumn in Munich, Germany. This beer style became a staple beer of the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest has a rich, deep reddish amber hue which itself is reflective of the season. Samuel Adams Octoberfest masterfully blends together five roasts of malt to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. This beer would be a great compliment to our Cedar Planked Salmon or the Mushroom Crusted Pork Chops- I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!  

Knowing that Three Floyds Brewing Company is by far one of the most popular craft breweries in the Midwest, it was a foregone conclusion that I should add one of the "Floyds" micro brews to the Wildfire beer line up! Three Floyds Brewing Company LLC was founded in 1996 by brothers Nick and Simon with their father Mike Floyd. The original brewery was built by Nick and Simon in a run down warehouse located in Hammond, Indiana. The first beers brewed by the brothers were designed to be a departure from the fairly bleak craft brewing scene in the region. Nick and Simon brewed intense balanced beers that were and still remain "not normal" by conventional standards. In November of 2005, after receiving numerous visitors to the brewery over the years, Three Floyds opened its own brewpub at the production facility. With all the Three Floyds mainstays, seasonal offerings, special small batch beers and many guest beers, they consider themselves a Mecca for craft beer. Three Floyd's flagship beer, Alpha King, is a big American pale ale that has a deep amber color and intense hearty flavors. This ale is brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and Warrior hops giving it a generous citrus aroma and a crisp, hoppy finish. Enjoy this slightly bitter, yet delicious craft beer with either the Wildfire Baby Back Ribs or the Basil Hayden's Bourbon Tenderloin Tips- okay, it's time for a break and some dinner and beer!

Stay tuned for my next blog entry which will complete my four part blog series dedicated to the new Wildfire wine, beer, cocktail and martini menus and will highlight some of the new wines by the glass and bottle.

Cheers to you, Brad Wermager