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As we prepare to celebrate fathers everywhere this weekend, you have probably seen plenty of advertisements for things dads like. Even though every father is unique, it seems like marketers pretty much have dads zeroed in on what they want to be gifted or buy during this season. As a new father myself, I catch myself browsing these Father’s Day ads a lot longer than I had in the past. Checking the BTUs on that new grill, debating if I do need that extra cutting width while mowing, wondering if I can convince my wife that this swing trainer is what will finally fix my slice.
That got me thinking about all the dad stereotypes I swore I would never become and that’s when I realized the clown nose I was wearing. I can’t pinpoint when it happened but I think all fathers out there may have experienced something similar at some point after having children. Some traits seem universal for fathers – our sneezes get louder, we get a sixth sense for thermostat manipulation, and everyone seems to leave the lights on around you – but some dads specialize into very specific types of dads. So for the next few minutes, let’s delve into these specific types of dads, find out which of our products best encapsulate them, and maybe pick around the minds of some of our team members that are living examples of them.
Throwing a baseball around with your dad is as American and wholesome as having an apple pie during the Fourth of July. Sharing a love for America’s favorite pastime is a great way to form a bond with your children and even more so if your children want to play it. Youth athletics is a lot of work for parents – driving to practices and games, the cost of equipment, all the fees and dues – but all of it seems worth it when you can watch your child out there giving their best effort and developing their skills.
Baseball Dads are unique because after working all day, they are happy to haul their kids’ equipment, keep track of their stats, cheer them on, and sometimes even “advocate” for their kids due to visually impaired officials. These dads often pass on their competitive spirit and take great pride in their children. I am sure General Sales Manager Scott is amazingly proud of his son as he watched him go from little league to playing Division 1 baseball for Ball State University. Dads like Scott are a classic dad archetype that is as timeless and withstanding as the beer I think represents Baseball Dads – Budweiser. As the Official Beer of the Cubs as well, it’s a perfect beer to celebrate Baseball Dads.
Do you know a dad that can throw down when it comes to creating a feast? The house you want to go to for cookouts and dinners because you know that they’ll always have something new, exciting, trendy, or all of the above? If you don’t, you really should try to make friends with a Gourmand Dad. Brand Manager Tony loves to cook – especially with his daughters. Cooking together is a great way to learn about safety, tool use, and the importance of cleanliness. Breakfast pancakes and Belgian waffles are their speciality but they also enjoy making a nice Sunday pasta dinner with their homemade sauces. Tony and his daughters have also started creating their own spice blends.
Tony gets great satisfaction in watching his girls experience new flavors and foods and watching them turn simple ingredients into gourmet meals. That is why a great beer for food pairing represents Gourmand Dads, especially one that can be served in a fancy chalice or straight out of the bottle. After creating a delicious meal in a hot kitchen, an ice cold Stella Artois is the perfect beer to bring over to the dinner table.
Eating a great meal is amazing but as we dads get older, we also have to remember that our metabolism isn’t the same as it used to be. Many of us will settle into that classic dad-bod shape but there are some dads that make it a priority to keep fit. Brand Manager Eric is a great example of an active dad and he likes to impart the importance of physical fitness to his son by spending a lot of time outdoors with him. Sharing in the beauty of nature while keeping an active lifestyle is a great way to spend time with your kids and can set them up for a lifetime of good exercise habits and an appreciation for nature.
Eric enjoys biking with his son and camping whenever possible. Eric and his son have hiked all across the country in places like Red River Gorge, Tonto National Forest, and even at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I am sure they have many more trails to conquer together. When it comes to living an active lifestyle while enjoying a beer, Michelob Ultra is the obvious choice for the Outdoors Dad.
I spent most of my middle school years locked in my room trying to maximize my KPMs and ward off ling rushes with expert probe micro. If that means absolutely nothing to you, you may be my dad. My dad was definitely not a Gamer Dad but fortunately for kids growing up now, there are far more fathers who know their way around a controller. Gaming can be a great way to bond with kids, especially when you can share the games you grew up with with your children. Ray, with his impressive collection of retro video games and hardware, is well equipped to show his kids what it was like to game in virtually every decade.
From Pong to the latest gaming craze, sharing a part of your childhood while learning about what your kids are playing can bridge a gap through a mutual love of tech and games. Those late night gaming sessions can be quite exhausting though and that is why I think Ghost Energy is a great drink that captures the essence of what it’s like to be a Gamer Dad.
The ultimate dad sport – golf. It seems like most fathers get into golf at one point or another and its popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s a great game to learn self discipline, consistency, and that things don’t always go according to your plans. Our President, Mike, has been golfing since he was 12 years old, working at a golf course, and playing for his high school team. He passed on the love of the game to his two daughters, Paige and Kelli and even brought in a son-in-law with a single digit handicap to the fold.
While many think it’s a way for dad’s to get away for a few hours, it has become more common to see fathers out on the course with young children enjoying the scenic views, learning their swings, and just bonding over a game impossible to master. I didn’t start golfing until much later but now it’s something my father and I enjoy doing together whenever possible. A cocktail synonymous with golf, the Transfusion from Cutwater, perfectly sums up a Golf Dad – always found on the course, a little sweet, and surprisingly strong.
New fathers happen every day and Lakeshore Beverage has our fair share. Even with lots of preparation, it certainly isn’t easy.
Some of Lakeshore’s Newest Fathers
So on a great day such as this, we here at Lakeshore Beverage would like to raise our Easy to Enjoy Bud Lights to fathers everywhere. Happy Father’s Day!
Memorial Day weekend is upon us and I think we’re all looking forward to that extended weekend to spend with friends and family. Memorial Day gatherings are one of the best days to light up our grills and satisfy that primal part of us that craves that char and sear. For many, it’s probably the first party or occasion to bring the grills back out and when you’re going to christen it for the first time this season, it should be something special, don’t you think? Don’t get me wrong, I love my hotdogs, burgers, and steaks as much as the next person but it’s Memorial Day! That is why, this year, I decided to step outside the box and ask our Lakeshore Beverage staff if they grill anything other than the typical grill faire – check out below to see what some of the delicious responses were!
Chicken Satay is an incredibly delicious and fun way to enjoy grilled chicken. This skewered chicken dish can be made in a variety of ways with different cuts and flavors but the way we made it this year is in a Thai style using a peanut sauce marinade. The skewers are not technically necessary since we’re cooking over a grate but the presentation and ease of eating make it worth the little extra effort – just watch out for that sharp end (from personal experience). The Southeast Asian flavors of this dish are wonderfully complimented by Kona Big Wave. The beer enhances the subtle sweetness of the marinade and balances the earthy peanut flavors. Since the pieces are smaller, they cook fairly quickly; making them a great appetizer course with that extra wow factor in the presentation. A couple of skewers served with rice, like pictured, is also a quick and easy meal to throw together if the skewers are ready to go in the fridge.
Pizza on the grill? There are a lot of strong opinions on pizzas across not just Chicago, but all around the world. So when you see that there are some people who like to grill their pizzas, it might raise some eyebrows. I was a skeptic at first but I have seen many restaurants serve grilled flatbreads that are almost like a pizza. It took a little trial and error but I think I was able to successfully make a pizza on the grill that I would honestly enjoy again. The slight smokiness the grill imparts into this pizza makes it feel like it was made in a blazing pizza oven but the char from the grill grates imparts a unique flavor. Using a low flame on one side while using the empty side to adjust the temperature, it made a pizza that got the dough nicely baked while keeping the toppings from scorching. I think this is a great way to cook a pizza if you’re looking to keep it bright and fresh with the toppings. This pizza was a more Scicillian-style dough with cremini mushrooms, green peppers, and artichoke hearts and I loved the way it turned out. The mushrooms were still plump and the artichoke didn’t char to ashes like when I use my pizza oven. The many different combinations you can make can appeal to all guests – especially for vegetarians or vegans who also want to enjoy the ambiance and festivities of a grill day. Since I kept the toppings light and healthier, I felt compelled to have a Michelob Ultra with it. Pizza and Michelob Ultra are a great combo and for a midday beer to start the party, Michelob Ultra is a great way to start Memorial Day.
For most, chicken or beef are the go-to proteins for grilling but in many parts of the world, goat and lamb are much more common. I really enjoy lamb but I seem to forget about it most of the year except during Easter. The only place I consistently see lamb and goat dishes are at Indo-Pak restaurants and I usually gravitate towards the tandoori section of the menu. Unfortunately, I don’t own a tandoor oven but it can be closely replicated using your grill. The most important aspect of making Tandoori Lamb Chops is the marinade. Using a tandoori marinade, I was able to grill up these amazing lamb chops that I could be fooled into thinking was from my favorite Indian restaurants. Served with some naan and a mint cilantro chutney, the flavors were out of this world. I usually enjoy my Indian food with mango lassis and I just happened to know that Cutwater makes an amazing mango margarita. In the hot sun while eating hot dishes, a cold Cutwater Mango Margarita was just a perfect splash of flavors.
This dish wasn’t from the questionnaire but something that I grew up with and wanted to share with you all – Marinated Kalbi. This cut of beef was incredibly rare to find in the past outside of Korean supermarkets because it was cut in a way most butcher’s wouldn’t cut beef short rib. This flanken cut or “LA-style” cut of beef lets the marinade penetrate in the entire piece of meat leaving you with an incredibly flavorful bite every time. Usually with three bones in each piece, they can be cut after cooking into single bone slabs of beef that is fun to eat directly with your hands. Each bone has a little bit of tougher meat attached directly to the bone that I used to hate as a child but now happens to be one of my favorite aspects of this dish. Marinated Kalbi is also great on the standard grill – I actually prefer it compared to using a smaller Korean-style burner. It can be quite labor intensive to prepare a lot of it so don’t feel like you’re not getting the full experience buying pre-marinaded kalbi at the store because either way, it’s going to taste delicious. You can eat just the beef by itself or you can have it with some rice and kimchi like I did here. The beef is so flavorful and complex that I usually don’t pair it with complex drinks. I prefer to go with something smooth, crisp, and easy drinking – all of which describes Bud Light to the letter.
Even before writing this, I knew exactly what grilled food I wanted to end this blog with. It is the old reliable bratwurst which might seem just as common as the steaks, hotdogs, and burgers I mentioned in the beginning but I beg to differ. It’s a unique German cuisine that has become wildly popular in the US, especially in the Midwest. For me, a brat is the thing you grill at the end of the day. When all the other guests have left and your closet friends and family are still hanging out. When the bonfire is on and you’re feeling just a little hungry but not for a full meal again. Sure, we could pull out the leftovers from earlier in the day but then you have to reheat it all and we’re probably running low on all the sides by now. But you can just fire up the grill one last time, throw a few brats on, pull out the buns and a little mustard, and crack open that Goose Island 312 with the friends you had your first 312 with. It’s the perfect way to end a great Memorial Day weekend.
Did you know that May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month? Celiac Disease may or may not sound familiar to you but it is something that is more than likely to affect someone that you know like a friend or loved one. According to John Hopkins Medicine, more than 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease and not all of them even know they have it. Symptoms of a gluten intolerance include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches and more.
Beer is made of gluten, so someone with an intolerance won’t be able to enjoy a round with friends at the bar. But not all is lost, there are some beers (and non beers) that are gluten reduced, or even free options you can enjoy whether taking a pack home or enjoying a pint at the bar. Here are six options you can drink for a pleasant gluten free (or reduced) experience.
ERIS Co-founders Katy Pizza and Michelle Foik
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 Brewing, and through some encouragement through their 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 Katy. 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. … My professional career was in project management through a bunch of different industries. I was at a dot com, I was in telecommunication, … in health insurance, and then medical devices but it wasn’t until I had been kind of on the beach for a while … that I got introduced to Michelle …”
Michelle mentions that working at Virtue got her excited to open ERIS, she realize that there were plenty of misconceptions about hard cider. People would mention to hear and say that they believe cider is always sweet and sugary, part of ERIS mission statement was to educate the appreciation of different styles of hard cider.
“I felt that people just needed to be educated on cider, and if we brought people to Eris, they could try all the different types of ciders we had on draft and honestly, end up liking something. I can’t tell you what cider to like, 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? Since opening in 2018, their Old Irving Park brewpub has built a following that voted them 2023’s Best Cidery in the US. Here are a few of the power hitters.
Pedestrian is like “Biting into a Granny Smith apple”, we relate you to the apple. Almost everyone 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 dry.
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 – Sweet and sour cherry blend with apple – 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 (ERIS) and our ciders out in the market, and the fact that people are in love with them and enjoy buying our brand… Technically we are kind of “The Unofficial Cider of Breweries” in Chicago and Illinois.” – as ERIS is available in a number of local brewery tap rooms in Chicago.
Katy adds to this. “I want them [bars and restaurants] 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.
The pairing of baseball and peanuts have been forever bonded by the Tin Pan Alley tune of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” but how did they become such a staple of baseball stadiums throughout the world? The story goes – a peanut company was offered ad space on the scorecards of a baseball game but instead of paying with money, they paid in peanuts. These peanuts sold very well at the game because they provided something for idle hands to do between the action in the game. But what really cemented their status as quintessential in ballparks was that they were a perfect pairing for beer.
It’s not just baseball fans that enjoy pairing salty snacks with beer – it’s something that transcends borders and cultures. Pairing salty snacks and cold beer comes naturally so let’s explore some of these pairings from nations around the world together.
The popularity of beer has exploded in Asia. Once a continent that relied mostly on imports from Europe, many countries now have their own domestic beer industries producing local beers to suit the tastes of their country.
One such country is India – a country that can claim to have the first European-style brewery in Asia. India still largely favors higher proof spirits like whiskey and other traditional beverages but beer’s popularity has been steadily growing since its introduction in the 18th century. Their cuisine is bold and vibrant with many spices and levels of piquance; that is why many of their most popular beers are equally bold and quite strong. When pairing with Indian snacks, make sure you’re pairing with stronger beers that can keep up with those flavors like an India Pale Ale (it’s right in the name!).
Chana Jor Garam is commonly found on the streets of every major Indian city by vendors. They are made by cooking chickpeas and flattening them into little discs then fried. They are seasoned to make them salty and flavorful. They are quite addicting and you’ll go through a bowl or bag pretty quickly if you’re not paying attention. Pair this with big tropical fruit forward beers like Goose Island’s Big Juicy Beer Hug, Founders Mortal Bloom, Alter Rally Point, or Go Brewing Sunshine State (NA).
In Korea, there is a phenomenon called Chi-Mek; a portmanteau of Chicken and mekju (Korean for beer). Fried chicken has become the most popular beer pairing in the country and even though Korean fried chicken has made its way to America, the pairing is not as well known here.
Korean tastes in beer mostly favor beers with lower bitterness. Many Koreans enjoy their domestic pale lagers with fried chicken but they also splurge for Budweiser or Bud Light quite often. Those will both pair great with fried chicken but since it is often smothered in sweet & spicy sauces, great craft pairings for Korean fried chicken would be Goose Island 312 or IPA, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed, Spiteful Bleacher Bum, Hopewell Clean Livin’, or Haymarket Hay-Z IPA.
In China, beer’s popularity has grown even faster than in India, leading to a rise in local craft beers. Beer consumption with meals is very common in the country and their popular pale ale style beers pair well with almost everything. In my experience, it’s probably easier to put a list of foods you don’t have with beer in China.
Most lunch and dinner foods can be had as a snack with beer in China, like dimsums, but if you’re mainly drinking and want something to nibble on, there are plenty of snacks to choose from. One such snack is shrimp flavored chips – Chinese drinkers often go for a puffed starch version called Ha Peen or prawn crackers. These often colorful chips have a salty seafood flavor (as you may have inferred from the name) and have a crispy crunch similar to chicharrones. They are light and delicate in their flavor so they pair well with lighter bodied beers like pilsners or lagers. Budweiser, Bud Light, or Michelob Ultra all go well with these foods but some craft options would be Hopewell Tankbeer, Spiteful Lager, or Haymarket Chicago Tavern Beer.
Speaking of chicharrones – not to be confused with Chicharrón, a dish popular in Portugal, Spain, Philippines, and Latin America – it has been a staple snack in Latin America for decades and is growing in popularity in the US. Most commonly made from pork skin, these deep fried puffed chips create a satisfying crunch while enjoying your favorite beer. Available in many flavors and levels of spiciness, these chips obviously pair well with cervezas and other Mexican-style beers. Some great beers that come to mind are Estrella Jalisco, Alter Alterado, Buckledown Cactus Pants, and Medella Light.
Due to their prolific presence in the beer world, Germany and their beer pairings are well known across the world. If you’ve been to any Oktoberfest celebration, you have probably seen or eaten popular pairings like sausages, pretzels, and pickled fish. Much like China, beer is commonly part of a meal and smaller portions of any of their dishes probably would be a snack you can have with beer in Germany. One commonly found snack item in bars, especially those without a kitchen, is landjäger – a semi dried sausage that can keep without refrigeration. Salty and meaty with notes of garlic and spice – it can be found in many artisan butcher shops in Chicago. If you haven’t had a chance to try them before and you enjoy jerky or meat sticks, this is a snack that you will probably enjoy – especially with a good German or German-style beer. Trumer Pils, Erdinger, Haymarket Speakerswagon, Hopewell Cold Call, or Best Day Brewing Kolsch (NA) are all great choices. When in season, Oktoberfest beers would also all be a great pairing.
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!