Beer reviews and blog posts by Michael Larson
Michael co-founded The Beerly in 2009 with Taylor Birkey. He stumbled on to the idea of the blog after his move to Chicagoland. As he settled in to his new life, he realized he greatly missed the camaraderie of his brew-sipping buddies from the north. He wished to know what his friends all across the nation were sampling and thus, this site was born. He is currently in financial planning. Some of his current favorites are Hoppin' Frog's Pumpkin Ale, Southern Tier's Creme Brulee, and Bosteels amazing Tripel Karmeliet.
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
We’re having a late dinner tonight, it got pushed back so the fresh, goodness-stuffed basil ravioli in the fridge will just have to wait another hour. With a bit of time to kill, a brew felt right. And tonight, I decided I would have dessert before dinner. So...
Troegs JavaHead Stout
As many of you, I’m sure, I start each morning with a bubbling, comforting, hot cup of coffee. I love the smell of the beans as I grind them and the sputtering sound of the machine as it sprays hot water through the earth-colored grounds and down into the pot. So, I...
Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout
Big Eddy is at a disadvantage. I know that before I even take a sip. For reasons completely out of his control, the odds are stacked against him. Because, I have just returned from scouring the city of Chicago for the newest Goose Island release, Bourbon County...
Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury
With the claims of a Belgian dubbel plastered about, the incredible, deep, dark brown was a bit shocking. There was a caramely tan head that drifted to the top and rested comfortably in a thin film. The scent was more convincing than the look, that indeed this brew...
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
Today is but a preview of what will be a bittersweet 5-day journey. Bitter, in that my family will be leaving me to wallow in my loneliness for several long, dark days. Sweet, in that those days will be jam-packed with reviewing beer. As an aperitif to this...
Guest Homebrew #1: Kopec Oatmeal Stout
In business, there’s nothing better than a colleague you can count on. Unless, of course, that colleague greets you with a six-pack of homebrew every time he comes by the office. Well, today was such a day and the delivery consisted of two Harvest Ales, a pumpkin ale...
21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon
Nothing says a guy’s afternoon like NFL football, greasy food, dirty dishes in the sink and…watermelon beer? My first experience with 21st Amendment’s ‘fruity’ brew, was over Labor Day weekend. It was an intriguing find at a Grand Ave. liquor store, stashed in...
Mission St. Hefeweizen
There are few days where I feel justified in cracking open a bomber. Usually, I have time enough for 12 ounces of brew before the duties of life come quickly calling and I’m off to the next errand, diaper change or family get-together. I’m not bitter, I promise, but...
Lakefront Riverwest Stein Beer
I was told life would never be the same. I had no idea. When that little 6 pound 6 ounce ball of joy entered this world two months ago, I couldn’t have guessed. But now, after weeks of reviewless beer drinking, I know just how much life has changed. The fifteen...
Lakefront Wheat Monkey Ale
It’s 80 degrees, sunny and the birds are indeed chirping outside my window. My palate has changed with the season and instead of craving the complexities found in a dark, velvety stout, I seem to be drawn to the wheats and light lagers in my local store’s beer...
Goose Island Summertime Kölsch
It’s 92º in Chicago, which means the humidity is about 80% and the air as heavy as a Guinness. To take a bit of the edge of the brutal summer day, I’ve poured myself Goose Island’s seasonal refresher, Summertime. With a name like that, it just begs to be picked...
Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA
I’m back. While I’ve had several beers in the last three weeks since the birth of my beautiful baby girl, I haven’t had a spare minute to sit in front of the blank canvas of my computer screen and thoughtfully jot my impressions of a fine brewery creation....
Grain Belt Nordeast American Amber Lager
Grain Belt Brewing Co. and Minneapolis grew up together. So when August Schell resurrected Grain Belt beer drinkers in this part of the country were delighted. The name Nordeast comes from the nic name of a defined community composed of 13 smaller neighborhoods whose...
O’so Night Train Oatmeal Porter
I spent ten hours of my Saturday pursuing the darkest of beers. Dark Lord Day 2010 proved to be an adventurous, exciting, crowded, collaborative, craft beer-filled day. Coming down from the high of scoring four of my very own Dark Lord bombers, my sleepy Sunday...
Sprecher Mai Bock
The first of May is typically not a man’s holiday, but this year I thought I’d celebrate. To help me do so, Sprecher’s Mai Bock arrived in the mail, a part of my April beer-of-the-month club shipment. To date I have sampled to of the Milwaukee brewery’s selections,...
Dark Horse Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout 2009
I learned something new today. Jet, as in the first part of the commonly known adjective ‘jet-black’ is actually a mineral-ish substance, formed from wood under extreme pressure, resulting in an incredibly deep, dark black material. Dark Horse’s 2009 vesion of Plead...
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale
Michael: I’m not much of an environmentalist. I’m not saying that the glass bottle I just emptied isn’t going in the recycling bin. I’m not saying I throw candy bar wrappers out my car window or burn tires in my backyard. I’m just saying I’m not very, well, fanatical....
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
With a shimmering, ever changing amber-brown-orange, this ale seemed more seductive than arrogant. The head frothed a bit, puffed itself up and out and then receded into the body below, simply and slyly beckoning me. Knowing only that it was an ale and that it was one...
Crown Valley Big Bison Ale
I love beer. I think at this point, that’s got to be a fairly obvious point. I love it for the taste, yes, the smell, the look and the unbelievable varieties. But I also love the circumstance that surrounds each brew. I rarely here the hiss of a bottle cap and proceed...Summit Brewery Tour Beer Video
Summit Brewery Tour from The Perfectly Happy Man on Vimeo. The sun shone through the bright green leaves as our car crept into the small parking lot. The building’s gray siding gleamed like a beacon of peace, serenity and hope. Ok, maybe not quite, but we knew...
Wild Goose IPA
Its two minutes past five, Friday evening. I’m in my comfortable jeans, on the porch out back and I’ve got a cool, new brew in my hand. The crack of a bat echoes from a nearby ball field and the birds are chatting it up in the nearby oak. I’m not sure what else a man...
Two Brothers Long Haul Session Ale
When I think beer for the ‘long haul’ pictures of InBev’s best pop into my mind. So when Two Brother’s version of a session ale poured into my pint glass, I eased a sigh of relief. It poured a rich, reddish copper with a respectable tan head that lingered in a way in...
Wild Goose Brown Lager
Its a windy day in the Windy City and the abnormal heat of the first Friday of April is being tossed around like a rag doll outside my back door. Typically, a beer before the work day concludes is a no-no for me, but today’s a day off and 2:00pm is as good as...