Josh Noel – Page 42 –

Ramen Takeya devotes an entire section of its menu to "otsumami" or drinking foods — nestled among them the Japanese street snack takoyaki. The ball-shaped snacks are made with a batter that crisps up into a golden shell while remaining creamy and soft inside. Hidden away are Chiclet-size pieces of octopus, tiny surprises in the center of each ball. Six balls are served in a red and white paper boats and drizzled with sweet and salty Japanese barbecue sauce, creamy mayo, aonori (dried seaweed) and fishy-but-in-a-good-way bonito flakes (cured fish shavings). Between the crispy-meets-creamy texture and the sweet-meets-salty flavors, it's easy to see how a refreshing beer (or soda, for non-drinkers) would pair nicely. $6. 819 W. Fulton Market, 312-666-7710, <a href="http://www.ramentakeya.com/">ramentakeya.com</a> — Grace Wong

Beer of the Month: Uinta’s Dubhe continues to please

May 31, 2019 at 4:01 p.m.

The beer: Dubhe, Uinta Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah) What it is: An imperial black IPA made with hemp seed. It's also our first two-time beer of the month! Way...

Goose Island becomes ‘official craft beer’ for White Sox in 2018

May 31, 2019 at 4:02 p.m.

Goose Island is flying south for the summer. Already well established at Wrigley Field on the city's North Side, Chicago's forefather craft brewery will become the "official craft beer partner"...

Kusanya Cafe is the kind of place where you can get a cup of coffee, check out the community board, print a school paper or simply jump on the internet. You'll see people huddled together over papers strewn across the wood tables or someone walking in simply to say hello to the small staff. Because the nonprofit cafe roasts its own coffee on-site in small batches, don't hesitate to order that lavender iced latte ($3.49) or a plain cup of coffee. The breakfast and lunch menu is lush with references to famous musicians, like the Lupe Tabasco breakfast sandwich ($2.29). It features a thin egg patty, with melted cheese and Sriracha on ciabatta, and you can add sausage, spinach and tomato for an extra charge. The cozy and brightly lit environment is exactly where you want to catch up on some work or meet up with friends. 825 W. 69th St., 773-675-4758, <a href="http://www.kusanyacafe.org/">kusanyacafe.org</a> — Grace Wong

Lagunitas IPA back for another season at Wrigley Field

July 25, 2019 at 1:05 a.m.

Lagunitas was a late-season call-up to Wrigley Field in 2017. This year, the brewery has earned a place in the starting rotation. When the Cubs open their home season Monday,...

Parson’s Chicken & Fish, Revolution Brewing team up on beer

May 31, 2019 at 4:02 p.m.

Parson’s Chicken & Fish is now Parson’s Chicken & Fish … and beer. The Logan Square restaurant has released a branded brew this week to pair with its finger-licking fried...

Craft beers April Fools’ tweets rated for funny factor

August 23, 2019 at 4:11 p.m.

Sunday wasn’t just Easter. And it wasn’t just April Fools’ Day. It was the biggest day on the beer calendar that doesn’t actually involve beer. April 1 has become a...

Todd Ahsmann bought a canning line, soon after returning to Goose Island, with the aim of churning out a wave of new and experimental beers in 16-ounce cans to connect with the brewery's hometown audience.

Goose Island aims to shake off rough year with new beers, ad campaign

May 31, 2019 at 4:04 p.m.

When Todd Ahsmann became president of Goose Island Beer Co. in November, the brewery was in the midst of picking a new creative agency to help turn around struggling sales....

Craft beer industry sees record openings — and closings — in 2017

May 31, 2019 at 4:03 p.m.

The U.S. saw a record number of breweries open and go out of business in 2017, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Brewers Association. An estimated 997 new breweries...

White Sox and Revolution Brewing team up for new bar at Guaranteed Rate Field

May 31, 2019 at 4:02 p.m.

The White Sox have embraced the craft beer revolution, and now they’re embracing Revolution Brewing, which will operate a branded bar along the left field line at Guaranteed Rate Field...

Dark Lord Day tickets this year will cost $180, which gets you four bottles of the imperial stout from Three Floyds, plus a variant version of the beer (and a tote bag).

Dark Lord Day tickets on sale next week

May 31, 2019 at 4:03 p.m.

The Dark Lord rises — again. Tickets for Three Floyds Brewing’s iconic Dark Lord Day go on sale March 31 at noon at the Dark Lord website, the brewery announced...

Hazy IPAs, like these photographed at Forbidden Root tap takeover last May, come in a variety of colors and degrees of opacity. The Brewers Association has added three styles of juicy hazy ales to its categories.

Leading craft beer body (finally) acknowledges the hazy IPA craze

August 23, 2019 at 4:09 p.m.

The juicy, hazy revolution has arrived. Officially. The Colorado-based Brewers Association on Tuesday blessed the fruit-forward, low-bitterness style of hoppy beer that has consumed the craft industry in recent years,...

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