ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast · ABV Chicago

A Goodbye Toast

·1 hr 41 min·9 clips

A man twisted his ankle at a roller rink, and they didn't stop skating—just wheeled him out.

This episode is a farewell tribute to two recently closed Chicago breweries, Miskatonic and Alarmist, hosted by the ABV Chicago team. The hosts share personal memories and drink final beers from each brewery to celebrate their legacies. They begin with Miskatonic's Vox Pilsner, a 4.9% ABV beer with a crisp, lightly bitter profile and comforting pilsner aromatics. Next is the West Coast Wizard IPA, a 6.3% ABV beer noted for its dank, berry-forward hop character and balanced malt sweetness. The final Miskatonic beer is Goblin Couch, a 5% ABV smoked porter with a subtle, well-integrated smoke aroma and notes of light roast coffee and chocolate. The hosts recount a personal story where Miskatonic's staff kindly searched for a young daughter's lost toy ring on their property. They highlight episode 601, recorded with Miskatonic's Mick and Corey on the day Ozzy Osbourne died and a host's daughter broke her arm. The team lists numerous Miskatonic beers previously featured on the show, including Cuddle Muddle, Cryomancer, and a collaboration with Hop Butcher called The Beer That Should Not Be. One surprising insight is that a host found a Middle Brow beer in his fridge that was actually brewed and packaged at Miskatonic. The West Coast Wizard was so drinkable that a host would strategically order it second to avoid drinking it exclusively all night. The hosts joke about creating a "lactose man" character who adds lactose to beers at festivals. The conversation has a nostalgic, conversational, and often humorous tone as the hosts reminisce. The style is informal and personal, blending beer tasting with heartfelt stories and lighthearted banter. Fans of Chicago's craft beer scene and listeners with fond memories of these breweries will love this sentimental tribute. Those seeking critical beer reviews or new brewery interviews might want to skip this reflective episode.

As heard by us

A smoky farewell that turns a failed rink trip into sharp beer talk and lived-in memory.

The episode begins as a goodbye toast shaped by a roller-rink plan that goes sideways, with family logistics and a missed stunt folding into a small bit of recurring lore.

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Why you'd press play

You want a farewell episode that starts in roller-rink chaos and ends in smoked-beer nerding.

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