The Manhattan, Kansas-based brewery Tallgrass Brewing Co launched in Chicago in 2013 and they haven’t slowed down since. You may know them for their 8-Bit Pale Ale, 16-Bit DIPA or Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Stout, but last night we celebrated the return of Zombie Monkie, a robust porter, being back in season. We hosted the party at Emporium Wicker Park and things got… weird.
In addition to their core beers, we tapped a firkin named for that evening’s headlining band, Space Blood. Space Blood: The Beer was a version of Zombie Monkie with roasted peanuts and bananas and it drank like a face full of peanut butter, chocolate and banana. Rich, decadent and delicious.
Another highlight of the evening was the live zombie portraits by Chicago artist Daniel Warren Johnson. Guests sat for ten minutes, enjoyed a Tallgrass beer and watched their likeness be transformed into REANIMATED UNDEAD MONSTERS.
And then it got strange.
The show started with local band Horse Massage who tore up the stage with a freak pop sound and frenetic presence that truly captured the Zombie Monkie spirit.
And then Space Blood took the stage. The set started off with a guest: Zombie Monkie, who apparently wanted to join the band as the official tambourine-ist.
The guys from Space Blood said “no” and kicked him off the stage… only to invite him up later to share a beer, a dance, and hug it out.
And then ripped into their blistering set.
After the noise and the dust settled, and we finished our zombie portraits, we looked around and thought, “Yes, THIS is how you have a Zombie Monkie party.”
