Situated in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood, lies a unique but comfortable mainstay of the area. Eris Brewery and Cider House was founded by Michelle Foik and Katy Pizza, two people with completely different backgrounds but a fate encounter led them to opening one of Chicago’s premiere Cider Houses.
Michelle Foik is a tried and true craft veteran. Starting out at Goose Island, she made her way to Virtue Cider and Revolution, and through some encouragement through her current chief strategy officer that she met at Revolution, she decided to open her own place.
“….he’s the one that really encouraged the idea that I should open up my own place. And so, I said no a lot of times but he’s very persuasive. So that is how I got the opportunity to actually meet Katie. We sat down and made this business plan, and from there we looked at each other and said, might be kind of nice to work together in a company and be, you know, woman owned.”
Katy Pizza’s road to Eris is much different. As someone with Celiac disease, she strayed away from beers and the such, but ciders were something she always enjoyed. In addition to that, Katy’s origins were far away from the beer and craft industries.
“… this wasn’t a direct path for me. I had my professional career in project management through a bunch of different industries. I was at a dot com, I was in telecommunication, hardware. I was in health insurance and then medical devices but it wasn’t until I had been kind of off the beach for a while … that I got introduced to Michelle …”
Michelle mentions that working with cider at Virtue not only got her excited to open Eris, but also made her realize that there were plenty of misconceptions about hard cider. People come up to her and say that they believe cider is always sweet and sugary, and part of Eris’ mission statement was to spread information and appreciation of hard cider.
“I felt that Cider just needed to educate people, and if we brought people to Eris, they could try all the different types of ciders we had on draft and honestly like something. I can’t tell you what to like, or I can’t tell you it’s not going to be sweet unless you try it.”
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So what’s behind the doors at Eris? They’re a brewpub so the ciders you drink are crafted on site. Join us as we take a trip down to Old Irving Park and explore Eris Brewery and Cider House and discover how they make the best cider in the US (source needed)
Pedestrian – “Biting into a Granny Smith. Apple, we relate you to the Apple. So, for us, Everyone almost knows what a Granny Smith Apple is, it’s going to be green, it’s going to be crisp. It’s going to be a little bit on the tart end and it’s going to be drier. So pedestrian is that Granny, Smith apple, you bite into it? You know, you’re going to get that little like, ‘oh, I feel that in the back of my throat there’, you know, the little tinge. But it’s also going to be dry – it’s not going to be too sweet.”
Van Van Mojo – Van Van Mojo is Eris’ “craft beer cider”, according to Michelle. Mosaic hops are very relatable and identifiable, thus making them a great addition to the blueberry cider – giving Van Van a leg up with craft beer drinkers.
Blush – Sour, yet sweet – Eris Blush is reminiscent of the blush on one’s cheeks. It’s a summer favorite among Eris’ drinkers.
So what do Michelle and Katy see with the future of both Eris and cider as a whole? Well, it’s complicated. They have long term aspirations of going out of state, but firstly the short term goal is to be Chicago’s “Home for Hard Cider”
“… it’s been really cool to see our name and our ciders, and the fact that people are in love with them too and like being able to buy them… So we’re technically kind of “The Unofficial Cider of Breweries” in Chicago and Illinois.” – as Eris is available in a number of local tap rooms in Chicago.
Katy adds to this. “I want them [bars] to have a cider section on their menu. I don’t want to be lumped in wines, or Meads or fruit beers, … just a cider section.”
Regardless of what happens, Eris has made a name for itself as a cidery that welcomes everyone, no matter what your preferences are. Be prepared to see them lead the charge of the new cider renaissance in Chicago.
Happy new year! With a brand new year comes brand new goals and resolutions that you want to achieve within these next 365 days. A big goal for many people is changing their nutrition, whether that’s having less calories, cutting the amount of alcohol they drink, or even changing their diet to help with a specific health issue.
Alcohol can be a part of a person’s life that they want to change during the new year, hence why “Dry January” is such a popular challenge. However, you don’t have to completely cut out your favorite drinks to make some changes in your life.
I will admit we are quite spoiled when it comes to choices in what we want to drink. Our portfolio alone encompasses hundreds of different choices from over 170 breweries and supplier partners. We have gotten so used to getting things year-round that when things are only available for a limited time, it makes me stop and pay attention to it.
In the beer world, there are very few moments that are as anticipated as Oktoberfest beers. Keeping a tradition like this going brings us closer together as we become a part of the history and connects us deeper with the past. When the season comes around, it makes us nostalgic for the celebrations we’ve had in the past and excited for what’s to come this time. It’s quite interesting to me that we could, hypothetically, brew these exact beers to drink any other time of the year but it wouldn’t be “Oktoberfest” because it’s more than just the liquid in our steins, it’s about the festivities, the ambiance, the weather, and most importantly, the people.
If you already know the history of Oktoberfest and want to skip to our offerings this year, feel free to skip ahead to the next header but if you’re interested in how all this started, grab your favorite Oktoberfest beer, pour it out into your favorite glass/stein/horn/Stanley tumbler and gather around as we talk about a royal wedding.
The year is 1810 and we are in Munich to celebrate the marriage of Prince Regent Ludwig of Bavaria (who would later go on to be King Ludwig I) and his bride Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. A Bavarian National Guard member by the name of Andreas Michael Dall’Armi suggests having a large horse race to celebrate this royal marriage and with King Max I Joseph of Bavaria’s backing, the horse race was held on October 17th that year.
The celebration was so amazing that the following year, they wanted to party again but with no royal wedding (and royal funding) available that year, the Landwirtschaftlicher Verein in Bayern (Bavarian agricultural society) was formed. This group used this occasion to showcase their wares and what better way to show off Bavarian agriculture than bier? This started a tradition of holding an annual celebration because it was such a crowd pleaser.
It took several decades for this celebration to transform from a horse race to what it is now. The demand and importance of beer and breweries grew with every year and soon, the breweries were creating huge tents to make sure they could fit and serve all the thirsty patrons.
The atmosphere of Oktoberfest is electric! I had so much fun during Oktoberfest in Munich learning about all the quirks and traditions. It almost feels like going back in time when you enter the fairgrounds and find a spot at the table. If you have a chance to go, you definitely should. Just make sure you know how to chug properly if you decide to stand on a table!
Without further ado, here are our Oktoberfest beers!
Alter Brewing Co.
“Festbier is THE drink of choice at Oktoberfest festivals around the world, and much like its European inspiration, we brewed this beer to be the life of your next fest. Say “Prost!” with our Festbier.
Buckledown Brewing
Beautifully amber and crushable. Delicious and malty. Made with four different malts and noble hopped for a subtle grassy aroma. 5.2% ABV so you can enjoy multiple steins!
Burnt City Brewing
Oktoberfest Märzen celebrates the wonderful German tradition as respectfully as possible. Fancy German malt and hops were used in this flavorful, quaffable amber lager. Malt notes are prominent, but the beer finishes dry. Hop character is subtle, adding a gentle floral aroma.
Goose Island Beer Co.
Goose Oktoberfest is brimming with notes of toasted malt and freshly baked rye bread. This light-bodied German lager is clean and crisp with a fine noble hop character and mild earthy bitterness that is the hallmark of Hallertau hops. Raise a few steins of Goose Oktoberfest this fall and celebrate this time-honored tradition. Prost!
Haymarket Brewery
Fest Bier. This clean and easy drinking German style lager has a deep copper color with mild hop flavor, a firm malt middle, notes of toasted malts, cherries and a spicy dry finish. Meant to be consumed with friends during celebrations of all sorts of occasions.
Hopewell Brewing Company
This Märzen-style Oktoberfest lager is built to help you usher in the fall season. Rich and malty at the get-go, kept in balance with a hint of noble hop spice and a clean, effortless finish.
Moody Tongue Brewing Company
In celebration of one of our favorite beer holidays, we are introducing the Moody Tongue Oktoberfest. Every year, the release of Oktoberfest beers inspires us to turn on our grills, watch the leaves change color and enjoy steins of a delicious German amber. The Moody Tongue Oktoberfest is our favorite German-style dark beer to pair with pork – whether roasted, grilled or fried – with a body able to stand up to the rich flavors of indulgent fall dishes while refreshing the palate between bites.
Spiteful Brewing
Brewed in the classic Munich tradition with actual German ingredients, this Oktoberfest is made for drinkability. Pour into a stein or use the aluminum one it comes in.
Founders Brewing Co.
Blink and you’ll think you’re in Bavaria. We went all in on tradition with our Oktoberfest, using imported German malts and hops with a beautiful lager yeast for the finish. Pours a gorgeous copper hue with a rich, malty and slightly sweet backbone. Our version is akin to the beer poured in the early days of Oktoberfest and, yes, it adheres to the Reinheitsgebot. Prost!
Golden Road Brewing
A traditional German-style Oktoberfest Märzen (The Southern California Way) with a blend of Vienna and Munich malts as well as German hops. This amber bier has wonderful notes of caramel and a nice smooth, toasty finish.
Partake Brewing (Non-Alcoholic)
Oktoberfest is crafted with Munich and Vienna malts providing a semi-sweet, toasted malt flavor perfectly balanced by German hops. Smooth and easy drinking, it’s reminiscent of changing leaves and autumn crisp air.
Shiner Beer
Made with the highest quality malts, along with German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops.
Surly Brewing Co.
Oktoberfest lagers are the ultimate party beer. Up front, they’re rich, sweet, and malty, but they finish dry and clean with an ever-so-slight touch of hops. Prost!
Erdinger
Specialty for the festival season.
As hearty as a Bavarian beer festival: our ERDINGER Oktoberfest. This masterpiece of the brewer’s art is ideal for parties! ERDINGER Oktoberfest expertly combines smooth malt aromas with a pronounced hop bitterness. This well-balanced flavour is complemented by gently sparkling carbonic acid to give it the typical liveliness of a genuine wheat beer. Smooth, strong and irresistible – brewing tradition at its finest.
As a full-bodied specialty for the festival season, it whets the appetite for Bavaria’s famous drinking song “Prosit der Gemütlichkeit”.
“Bayerische Edelreifung” – for perfect enjoyment. Brewed according to the Bavarian Purity Law.
Brewed according to the Bavarian Purity Law.
Spaten
World’s First Oktoberfest Beer
The beer of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest: aromatic, savory, gold-colored.
Oktoberfest Ur Marzen. Its impeccable taste balances roasted malt flavor with the perfect amount of hops and an underlying sweetness, true to tradition.
Every year for Black History Month, we read stories of leaders from our past, and how their actions impacted the present. We learn how they fought to change voting rights, bridging gaps, unifying classrooms, ending segregation, and creating opportunities for others to thrive in industries they once were never allowed. We learn about how these leaders paved the way for young black children to become whatever they want, even President of the United States.
At Lakeshore Beverage, we are taking time to introduce you to one such person that grew up in the Chicagoland Area – Sam Ross. Sam grew up in Harvey, IL to two loving parents that taught him that community and where he came from should always be celebrated. They taught him hard work could lead him in the right direction to fulfill all of his dreams.
He had no idea growing up that the beer industry was where his path would lead him, mostly because he didn’t even start drinking until 2015. He worked many different jobs throughout his life, even trying college but nothing seemed to fit. It wasn’t until he took a job at Whole Foods as a stacker that he found what he was passionate about in life, craft beer. With a little help from Lakeshore Beverage’s very own, Adam Lovinggood, he learned more about the beer industry and went from working at Whole Foods, eventually collaborating with Haymarket Brewery for Harold’s 83 Honey Ale.
We’re midway through the festival season here in Chicago and I’m willing to bet that you’ve already been to two or three. Whether they’re the small neighborhood fests or the larger City of Chicago-produced events, outdoor events are the lifeblood of Chicago culture. Walking around and eating food, listening to music, buying independent crafts and art, and just enjoying the fresh summer air – Chicago’s large and diverse neighborhoods celebrate their uniqueness by throwing large block parties that are open to all ages and provide endless amounts of fun for the entire family.
I feel like since we have so many of them, it becomes hard to understand and appreciate what goes on in the background to make the magic happen. It struck me while I was at Lakeview PrideFest last month with a friend.
It’s past 11:30pm on a Saturday night at Haymarket Pub & Brewery. You can hear Chicago house music blaring from the outside, and the inside is what you can imagine. People are standing around, some dancing, some just vibing, but they’re all having a great time.