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McDermottDrink

Downers Grove, IL, United States 🇺🇸 Member
Just flew in from RB. Or was that X? Follow my blog bout Chicago beer at www.beeronaut.com.

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7.6/10 Setting 7 Selection 7 Service 8 Food Value 8 Overall 8
I see a drawback in the Venue ratings system: how can we rate their food if they don't serve food? This is indeed just a taproom for the on-premise meadery. Small building that used to be a local business (aren't they all), just enough room for the bar and some tables. My server was not part of the production, but was very knowledgeable about the meads, and yes, there was a nice flight of tasters available.
Visited on 30 Sep 2025 at 21:23

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
16 oz. can. Magenta-red pour, with a big pink head of foam. Nice blackberry smell up front, then the peach behind it. Liking this already. Fruity sweet taste, full, again, of blackberry. Peach arrives as tartness, like a peach ring gummi. Marshmallow seems to hang around in the back for a bit of sweetness and cream. Makes it tastier. And this itime, I did not forget to swirl at the end to get more fruity stuff.
Tried from Can from Orange & Brew Bottle Shop & Tap Room on 30 Sep 2025 at 03:05

6.4/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 5.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 7
Pour from a can kicks up a lot of foam. Slightly chlorinated nose that drives off after the first pour. Tropical fruit pits, flower leaves and a bit of wheat malt follow up. Taste is light and crispy, almost "normal." Some malt spice. A light bitterness that seems more from a bit of kettle sour than any specific hop. More of a general saison than a horsey Belgian brew. Just fine as a table beer.
Tried from Can from Orange & Brew Bottle Shop & Tap Room on 29 Sep 2025 at 03:13

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Slip Ons Remixed Vol. 1 from RAR Brewing was the one that did it!
7 months ago


7.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
The usual pine and resin nose after the pour. Big pillowy white foam. Opaque with haze. Cozy hop bitterness, malts coming up right behind with just a bit of ale fruitiness.
Tried from Can from Beer On The Wall - Elmhurst on 28 Sep 2025 at 03:53

McDermottDrink updated a beer: Sumac Sour brewed by Scratch Brewing Company
7 months ago


7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Lighter color than the Grapevine in the previous review. Foam sticks around a little longer. Beer underneath is a little clearer and lighter. Very light apple nose. Not "farmhousey" or tart this time. Then there's a slight note of hard cider coming in. Originally, the taste is cleaner, almost like a lager. But something always slips in on these botanical beers. Some slightly tart pie apple, but again, the total effect is nice and mild. Can say this of all the Scratch brews: texture of a regular beer, but the tastes reflect ingredients I've never tried before.
I wonder if they've done any distilling with these beers. The result would certainly be unusual.
This was listed on the menu board as 5%, the Scratch website says 4.7%.
Tried from Draft from Beer On The Wall - Elmhurst on 26 Sep 2025 at 22:39

McDermottDrink updated a beer: Dry-Hopped Apple brewed by Scratch Brewing Company
7 months ago


7.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
4 oz. glass. Pale, but hazy, just a thin bit of bubble at the top. A farmhouse brett nose with a not of oak as well. Also a scent of tartness, which is to be expected. There is some green grape, perhaps Riesling wine in the sip. The slight alcohol here makes me think of, um, hand sanitizer, which I mean in a good way. More general fruit comes up in the background. Odd side tastes that come from using unusual greenery. Taste is different from a beer, but the fizz and texture are the same.
Tried from Draft from Beer On The Wall - Elmhurst on 26 Sep 2025 at 22:22