4 | February 27, 2020 | the new lenox patriot news newlenoxpatriotdaily.com Arrowhead Ales, Fleckenstein’s collaborate for paczki beer again 3 Sean Hastings, Editor After last year’s turnout for the debut of “Reveler,” the paczkiinspired stout, it was a no-brainer that Arrowhead and Fleckenstein’s would team up again and bring it back. Arrowhead Ales and Fleckenstein’s Bakery collaborated in 2019 to make two variants of the stout: strawberry, and chocolate Bavarian cream. “We talked about it, the fact that we would revisit this, and with how much fun we had last year, it just made sense to do it again,” Arrowhead owner Mike Bacon said. “It seemed like the response was positive with everybody in town and we all like to have a good time.” A release party is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at Arrowhead Ales, 2101 Calistoga Drive in New Lenox. A “Reveler” is a person who likes to have a good time in a loud manner. “It made sense to throw a party and make a beer with our friends at Fleckenstein’s down the street,” Bacon said. Arrowhead is bringing back the chocolate Bavarian cream version and debuting a banana split variant. Fleckenstein’s had not made the banana split paczki in three years. “I saw the banana split on the menu and he said they hadn’t made it in a while,” Bacon said. “I asked if he would consider redoing that one so we can pair the beer with it and he said ‘absolutely.’” Arrowhead will also tap a limited amount of the strawberry variant at 1 p.m. the day of the release. The chocolate and banana split variants will be available on tap and in 16-ounce canned two packs ($17, 10.2 percent ABV). The first 100-150 drafts bought will be paired with a paczki. Bacon is excited for the banana split to release, especially after Fleckenstein’s brought the doughnuts back. Arrowhead owner Mike Bacon (left) and assistant brewer Drew Decker pose for a photo holding a banana split paczki and an Arrowhead stout. Photos by Sean Hastings/22nd Century Media Pictured are Fleckenstein’s banana split paczki doughnuts. “The biggest thing that stands out about that beer compared to others is all the stuff that’s in it,” Bacon said. “We’re playing with bananas, we’re playing with strawberries, we’re playing with nuts, we’re playing with chocolate and trying to have an equal balance of all that to pull off the banana split flavor effect in a big, strong stout.” Because a product used to make the beer is produced in the same factory that produces nut products, Bacon advises against drinking it if one has a nut allergy. Fleckenstein’s owner Ray Fleckenstein, and Bacon play two completely different games — doughnuts and beer — but the two pull it off. Though the two are familiar with long lines in waiting for their products. Paczki day was Feb. 25, and last year, Fleckenstein’s sold 17,400 paczkis between the two stores. “I think it is a really cool thing,” Fleckenstein said. “I was [at Arrowhead] last year to see that many people lined up ahead for it. They’re all connoisseurs, giving him comments on it. It was a really interesting thing like that for me to see because I haven’t seen anything like that before. I remember at the end, he asked ‘are we doing this again next year?’ I said, ‘yeah, we’ll do it.’” The collaboration started because of an “out of the blue” email from Bacon to Fleckenstein. The two met and Fleckenstein hopped on board and “the rest is history.” “I said ‘what the heck, let’s give it a try and see how it turns out,’” Fleckenstein said. “I love the fact that we’re teaming up with local businesses that are completely different from what we do,” Bacon added. “With Fleckenstein’s, being that they opened in New Lenox, and this paczki idea, they do really, really well with paczki sales.” While the two make and sell different products, both need to find the same level of creativity. Keeping the collaboration local, is something both Bacon and Fleckenstein are proud of. “We did this to express creatively what we set out to do,” Bacon said, adding that he knew when he opened Arrowhead that opportunities like this would be possible, he just had to find the right people. The release party on Saturday will also feature a classic New Orleans menu with live music from musician Joey Kar from noon-2:30 p.m. Bacon calls the whole experience gratifying and that it is reassuring to see that people are on board with the local team up of people to do something outside the box. “Between beers and paczkis, and food and music, we’re just going to ride the day out and see where it takes us,” Bacon said.
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com new lenox the new lenox patriot | February 27, 2020 | 5 Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Lincoln-Way Central HS 1801 E Lincoln Hwy New Lenox, IL 60451 Free Fun for the Entire Family! 70+ Exhibitor Booths Inflatable Jumpy, Kids’ Activities, Amazing Raffles, Taekwondo Demos, Concessions, Health Screenings, And So Much More! FREE ADMISSION www.newlenoxchamber.com www.mokena.com Come to our Lincoln-Way Community Expo!
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