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The (figurative) snow and ice has begun to thaw out and spring has finally sprung! It’s been a milder than usual winter, but the temperatures are trending upwards and nicer days are on the horizon. That means we’re closer to outdoor patios and baseball games and just being outside and enjoying the weather with friends and family. And you can’t celebrate spring without a few drinky-drinks.
Leave it to your friends here at Lakeshore Beverage to guide you through the season’s new and returning favorites to help you raise a toast with friends to spring!
If you haven’t visited the Riverwalk yet because you’re unsure of what’s there, this might be the perfect guide for you. The Riverwalk is one of the best parts of the city that gives us a little refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the Loop. So come on down – relax, eat, and drink with me on this guided tour of the Riverwalk bars and restaurants.
I had a long day ahead of me with lots of drinks and food to enjoy so I wanted to start off light and fresh. Michelob Ultra is the perfect beer for this because it’s not filling and is refreshing. The Chicken Caesar Salad here was perfectly dressed and the chicken was juicy and the croutons looked homemade.
This is just a great combo for a guilt-free power lunch with a little bit of beer. The flavors work well together and at only 90 calories and 2.6g of carbs for the beer, it won’t weigh you down the rest of the day.
I am very much a carnivore but I was very intrigued by the Greek Pita here. The veggies were fresh and vibrant (a combo of red onion, cucumbers, tomatoes, red peppers, and olives) and the hummus had a great consistency in the pita. The crumbled feta and the Full Pocket Pils worked so marvelously together on the palate and made each mouthful a pleasure. The slight tang and acidity from the pita contents really uplifted the beer’s clean and crisp qualities. The side salad was wonderful too.
The french roll on the Banh Mi was lightly toasted and the meat was really packed in there. It was beautifully garnished with cilantro, carrots, and jalapenos and it all worked really well together. There was certainly a spicy kick to it but it paired so well with the Bleacher Bum because the spice really made the peach notes in the beer explode. It also helped cool my mouth between bites. There’s just something about sweet and spicy that really works for me.
When I planned out my day, I was really looking forward to this combo. I’m a big fan of goat cheese and I wanted to see how it would be to pair these two together. I’m so glad I did because it was like having a charcuterie board with the Hopewell Italian Ice. Artichoke and sun dried tomatoes bring a little tang to the pizza and the goat cheese really stands out. Instead of tomato sauce, it uses a caramelized onion jam that helps balance out all these big flavors
Pairing is all about complimenting flavors with opposing ones but you need to match intensity with intensity. The Italian Ice pierces through on each sip but makes it easier to distinguish each component of the pizza. Due to its sorbet-like flavor profile, it can be a great palate cleanser between bites so you’re not fatiguing your palate with the intense flavors of this pizza.
To mix it up a bit from all the beers I’ve had today, I decided to try Nutrl’s Watermelon flavored Vodka Seltzer. The turkey sandwich here is much more than simple lunch meat between bread. It comes on a pretzel bun piled high with thick slices of turkey breast and topped with a delicious sauce. It also has slices of fresh mozzarella and slices of canned jalapenos to give it an extra kick of flavor.
The Nutrl seltzer really helped keep my mouth cool and when eaten together, it was a very pleasant experience that I wasn’t expecting with all the extra toppings on the sandwich. If you’re looking for a quick bite but don’t want to settle for boring, this is a great sandwich and drink combo.
As I said in the video, why wouldn’t I go with one of Hawaii’s best beers for a tiki-themed spot like this. I had just reached my final destination and it was the perfect sit down and relax beer for me. It was bright, refreshing, and had a very subtle sweetness that I expect from something tropical. The shrimp skewers were perfect to eat because I could eat them one handed while I had my feet up at the end of the Riverwalk watching the boats float on by.
The shrimp are tail-off on a bamboo skewer and are very flavorful. The seasoning is great and not overpowering and the grilled taste is unmistakable. The shrimp flavors bring the hops forward which is very interesting because Kona on its own doesn’t have much bitterness at all. If we dip the shrimp in the spicy sweet sauce that comes on the side, the beer tempers and quenches the heat beautifully. I also taste a lot more of the maltiness of this beer. The shrimp is also enhanced because the carbonation of the beer helps the flavors spread all across your palate.
January marks the beginning of a new year. We hear it all too often – this is our year – I’m going to become a completely different person – say goodbye to the old me, say hello to the new me.
Obviously this rarely happens. You create some vague arbitrary goal that you don’t really have a plan for or set waypoints to follow along that journey. One of the biggest New Year’s goals is to “be healthy”. That is such a large all-encompassing goal, that it’s hard even thinking where to start. We here at Lakeshore Beverage are composed of all different kinds of people, and plenty of us have thought about drinking things that are “better for you”.
What is “Better For You”? Well, that too is an all-encompassing label. But in reality, it breaks up into several different things. For Lakeshore Beverage, “Better For You” could mean beverages that are lighter in carbohydrates and calories, it could mean real, minimal, and non-processed ingredients, lower alcohol content, or no alcohol content at all. You might be looking at some, or all of these things.
“Better For You” is really up to the person making the journey, and we here at Lakeshore Beverage want to help by providing you options and information to help you along.
And hey, even though this only covers the beverage part of your health, you can take the momentum and apply it to other parts of your journey.
So, let’s get started, shall we?
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.
The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder and the holiday season is here. This is a season filled with office holiday parties, family get togethers, Christmas themed bars or cold nights in binging Netflix. But, this is also the season of some of our favorite styles of beer and we wanted to highlight a few of our favorites.
Bourbon County season is finally here and this years lineup is shaping up to be one for the books. With Prop Day and Black Friday fast approaching we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to this year’s Bourbon County lineup. Every year’s Bourbon County release seems to be more ambitious than the previous, with this year being no exception. Whether you are a barrel aged purist or someone looking for unique flavor variants, this year’s release truly has something for everybody.