It’s time for a story we’ve wanted to share since it began over a month ago, but didn’t want to disturb our newest resident with what would have been an overwhelming amount of newfound celebrity. Meet Sprinkles, the duck who has been living in our back patio bourbon barrel.
Here’s an early look at what’s next in the “Beer for” series: Beer for Dealing with Your Family. So it’s gotta be strong. Malt liquor.. 12%. Yep. That’ll work.
But before you’re forced to sit next to that weird, zealot uncle during the holidays, a huge reminder to VOTE tomorrow.
Yesterday we were a brewery. Today we’re a brewery that’s been around a decade. That feels like an accomplishment. And obviously we couldn’t have done it without all of your support and trust in this kind of weird Chicago brewery trying to make a little impact in the big city.
SURPRISING ANNOUNCEMENT TIME: Over 8 years and 1,000 batches later, we’re trying something new. Next up in the Beer for series is “Beer for Lounging” a classic single hop American Pale Ale brewed with whole cone Cascade hops.
Our spokesmeowdel walked off the House Lion photoshoot this morning. We had to call in a replacement. Always expect something unexpected on release day.
With today’s announcement of a shift back to limited indoor dining in Chicago, we have no current plans of re-opening for indoor service as restrictions are rolled back. At this point, we don’t anticipate serving indoors until we are able to have a fully vaccinated staff.
And then this morning Sprinkles and family had left the nest, leaving only the successful remnants of a new family birthed. We hope to see our little duck family floating around the river over the next few weeks as the ducklings get their wing strength. And that’s our story.
We’ve seen four cats in four Off Color boxes, but five kittens in one Off Color box? This will be the cutest thing you see today.
#beercat
📸: Instagram User/couchsurfingkittens
To best convey the processes involved and flavors in our beers, we’re adding emblems to many offerings that will inform beer drinkers on a range of factors such as fermentation type, fermentation vessel, etc., as well as serve as signifiers for what flavor profiles to expect.
A truly sad day for the Chicago beer community. Our friends. Our mentors. Our chosen family. The place where the dream of our very own brewery was hatched. Without Metro, there would be no Off Color. Get over there while you still can and show their incredible team some support.
For the seventy-third day in a row, we’re open for online orders and pickups. Same hours as the previous 72 days. During that time we haven’t shared enough picture of cats in beer boxes. We apawlogize for that.
NEW BEER(S) ALERT: Two New Field Museum and Off Color Brewing Collaboration Beers!
Inspired by a partnership with
@FieldMuseum
, and its new exhibition “First Kings of Europe” we are introducing two new beers into the “Beer for” series.
It’s pretty cool that other breweries are making “Beer for” beers after never having done so before. Wait. It’s not really cool at all. At least thank us when you take our idea 🤷♂️
So. Three months ago, we ordered these black on black lightweight hoodies, which were delayed by the coronavirus crisis. As they finally arrive this weekend, we’ve decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from the sales of this hoodie to Black Lives Matter Chicago.
For those who have been wondering, next up in the “Beer for” series is Beer for the Top Shelf, a Vienna Lager with maple syrup. Look for this one to drop in early to mid-September.
@ocmousetrap
@lincolnparkzoo
They were! So once we were able to get
@ChicagoErin
out of it, we brought it over. Now the big cats have a big box (the one we gave them 😻) and they love it!! This may be the best thing we’ve ever been involved with. 📦🦁 Photos via LP Zoo. Except the one of Erin. We took that.
It’s bittersweet for sure, but we’re touched to be able to keep a small part of
@MetroBrewing
alive at
@ocmousetrap
as their amazing Good Things Vending machine arrived today. In honor of our friends, the Metro-inspired artwork will remain and we promise to give it a loving home.
Beer for Dealing with Your Family is here!
Our winter warmer is meant to be enjoyed with loved ones, or tolerated ones, this holiday season. Fragrant plum, ripe strawberries, and rose petals on the nose, while an initial nip of booze fades & transforms into sweet grape & cherry.
Wow. Our new year round offering Very, Very Far just won Gold at
#GABF
. This is a beer we’re really proud of and we’re honored that people agree. Get first crack at the cans at Emporium Logan Square Monday.
People have asked for a running inspired beer and we did our personal best to brew this one up. Beerathon, an extra fancy light beer with watermelon and salt, pairs well with the cool down and clocks in at an appropriate 2.62%. We’re aiming for a Chicago marathon weekend release.
One really humbling thing for us as a brewery is when people choose to make us part of their most significant life events. A friend of the brewery reached out to our illustrator Nikki and commissioned her to create an Off Color critter themed “save the date” card…
When we went out to check on her we were met by broken shells and a new baby. Just in time for Mother’s Day Weekend! We left her space as the little ones continued hatching…
If you’ve been waiting for a beer label with boxing meerkats, you’re gonna be happy. If you’re a fan of low ABV beers, you’ll also gonna be happy.
Next up in the “Beer for” series is Beer for Lightweights, an extra fancy light beer inspired by Belgian table beers.
Procatstination is back! A wild ale originally brewed with
@perennialbeer
and
@sideprojectbrew
to support the Lions, Tigers, and Beers benefit at Northdown. Northdown is no more, but the spirit of the day remains. On draft & to-go when Mousetrap opens. Only 35 cases available.
Look for Growl to drop at the Mousetrap this week. Our big ole’ Quadruple will be available on draft and to-go in 4-packs (with carriers featuring a catmeo from one of our favorite felines). 😻🍺
This BEER is quite specifically for you, Chicago. Beer for Hot Dogs.
This light, clear, and crisp beer will cut right through the rich, fattiness of a pure beef Chicago Style hot dog with all the trimmings.
And don’t forget. No ‘cats’-up!
We promised a TikTok. It’s been posted. We’ll share it here as proof 😂
We figured we’d stay on brand for our first one! Beer Marketing 101: Cat Herding
She chose a really nice bourbon barrel on the back patio along the river, which we then surrounded by other bourbon barrels to give her a bit of a moat around her new nest.
We’re humbled by today’s Gold medal for our Rum Barrel Aged Sun Also Rises collab with
@JackieosBrewery
at
@FOBABofficial
. This one was for the polydactyl cats.
This recent beer controversy was very confusing for us. We love Allagash Brewing more than beer itself, but we’ve also made a beer called Screw You,
@Jeremy_Danner
😂
During this time away from the nest, she would meet up with her partner and catch up before he’d walk her back to the barrel, where she’d keep building out for her future incubation period.
We hinted at it. So… next up in the “Beer for” series is Beer for Fantasy, a wit beer with blood orange and dragon fruit. Here’s a sneak preview of the label art, which is some of our favorite ever. Swing back throug our social media channels next week for release details.
but we did build her a little ramp for them to descend as well as some soft landing spots for the ducklings to jump down from if they chose (barrels are surrounded bu concrete).
The cat says that you should go to
@ocmousetrap
today to try April Rain, our new wild ale with sudachi and white tea. Trust us. You better listen to the cat.
#sudachi
#chicagobeer
We got new half pint glasses for the taproom. The coolest part is definitely the engraved mouse nucleation point.
These will not be available online. Only for purchase for those who come to Chicago to visit our humble little taproom
@ocmousetrap
.
ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT! Mark your calendars!! Beer for Hot Dogs Keep the Glass Night is coming up at
@ocmousetrap
on Monday, July 15th from 5pm-10pm with a very special guest. Yes it’s
@Superdawg
.
You wanted a t-shirt, we made you a t-shirt. “Wild Does Not Mean Sour” shirts are now available for pre-order online. Grab yours through the link. Shirts will ship the first week of June.
#themoreyouknow
#somehillsyoudieon
Support your local breweries. All of them. The thriving local beer community we’ve collectively built is at risk if you don’t. It would be devastating if we lose even one more brewery this winter.
Current draft list.
1 gose
1 Pilsner
1 scotch ale
1 dark lager
1 saison
1 biere de miel
1 pale ale
1 Flemish blonde
1 kolsch
1 imperial stout
1 chocolate ale
1 kriek
1 cream ale
1 wild dopplebock
2 wine barrel aged wild ales
How are we doing?
Since it’s
#nationalhotdogday
we thought it would be appropriate to announce a project we’re working on.
Beer for Superdawg, a Chicago-Style Pilsner, should be available at
@SuperdawgWheel
&
@ocmousetrap
in the next few weeks. Keep an eye on our social media for a release date.