CUSP Magazine: Winter Issue 2014

March 18, 2013 marked the triumphant release of
Richie Imperial Porter. Powerful, smooth and complex,
Richie was named Beer of the Week by the Chicagoist
just days after its debut—a sweet success for the rough and
tumble brewery. Boasting notes of cherry and chocolate, but
drinking less like a meal than your typical 8.0% ABV draft
porter, Richie was a hit and rightfully so. The seasonal beer
went over so well that, by popular demand, Ale Syndicate
celebrated the re-release this past November with a party
at Miss Murphy’s Bistro in Irving Park. On draft at the
event was a firkin of Richie Imperial Porter steeped with
Metropolis coffee beans. When combined with Richie’s
cherry-chocolate boldness, the deep, nutty notes of the
coffee sent tasters into a toasty nostalgia, reminiscent
of fall days in Chicago past. Another of Ale Syndicate’s
ingenious peculiarities is their penchant for creating tiny
batches of incredibly unique blends, frequently born out
of collaborations with other local Chicago companies.
Once the firkin at Miss Murphy’s runs dry, there will
be no more coffee bean-soaked Richie in all of Chicago.
Needless to say, Richie’s release set an admirable
precedent for what was to become their current “portfolio.”
A few months after their inaugural release, Ale
Syndicate, which had by then grown to a five-person
operation, announced two additional beers: Municipal
IPA in Spring 2013 and Sunday Session for summer.
Municipal IPA is another of what Sam calls a
“traditional style with a twist” and outsells their second
most popular beer, Sunday Session. A single hop beer,
Municipal packs that distinctively hoppy, IPA punch while
maintaining a pleasant, drinkable balance of flavors.
Initially, it was brewed using a hop variety called
Cascade. After Cascade became scarce, shortly after the
first few batches of Municipal were made, the brothers
shifted their tactic, still retaining their dedication to single
hop brews, but on a rotating three-month cycle. The
hops variety selected for the current batch of Municipal
is aromatic and mildly spicy with floral notes. Despite
constantly shifting hop varieties, the Evans brothers hope
that maintaining consistency in all other elements of
brewing will reinforce quality and brand recognition while
also educating their audience about beer.
The appropriately named Sunday Session is
another of Ale Syndicate’s permanent collection. Falling
slightly higher on the spectrum of alcohol content than a
traditional session beer. The appropriately named Sunday
Session is another of Ale Syndicate’s permanent collection.
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