In 1997, a small Cooperstown brewery first opened their doors, hoping to introduce more Americans to the classic beer styles of Belgium. The beers of brewery Ommegang are now world-renowned, and Hennepin is one of their finest creations. Bottle conditioning with living yeast produces a softer champagne-like carbonation, adding to the luxurious mouthfeel of a beer that is both deliciously complex, yet also refreshingly dry. It’s an impeccably crafted saison – one that can stand toe to toe with the best that Belgium has to offer.

Mention Bell’s and no doubt iconic brews like Two Hearted, Amber, and Oberon come to mind, but the list of trailblazing and award-winning beers from Bell’s is extensive. This week we welcome back a classic that’s often overshadowed by Bell’s heavier hitters. Showcasing a rich depth of malt character, yet at the same time remaining refreshingly balanced, Bell’s Best Brown Ale is one of the finest examples of an under-appreciated beer style. Thankfully a devoted and determined fanbase has persistently asked for its return, and this fall, it’s finally back!

The UK is famous for producing some prized heritage barleys. Grown in smaller lots, malts made from cultivars like Golden Promise and Maris Otter are a labor of love, and while they deliver exceptional flavors, they also command a premium price. These malts are often destined for use in traditional British ales, where expressive English ale yeasts impart a variety of fruity esters. While often complimentary, those esters can potentially muddle the full spectrum of flavors offered by the barley and hops. For their 12th Anniversary, Pollyanna delivers something we’ve never seen before – an English-stlye helles lager. It’s crafted with heirloom Low Color Maris Otter ale malt from Thomas Fawcett & Sons of Castleford, West Yorkshire and UK grown Ernest and East Kent Golding hops. The lager brewing process, with more neutral bottom fermenting yeast, presents premiere English ingredients in a whole new light.

Four malts, three hops, and just a touch of boozy warmth – Red Skull is back, and our cup runneth over. This massive red ale harkens back to the olden days, when hop heads craved big beers with some bittering bite. Red Skull’s caramelized malt sweetness is tempered by a hefty dose of citrusy and piney hop bitterness. Imperial red ale, American strong ale, double red IPA - whatever you wanna call it, it’s a must try.

Things have been getting pretty heated, and we’re not just talking about the recent spike in temperature. Will a certain Chicago team stay, or will they go? Off Color’s latest release has some fun with this never-ending debacle. Stylistically, this dry hopped wheat ale is undoubtedly a nod to a popular hoppy wheat beer that’s brewed in Northern Indiana. Football season is still a week away, till then, crack open a couple of these cans and keep cool.

An exceptionally crafted cuvée results in a blend that is more than a mere summation of its parts. Goose Island proved this with the release of their 35th Anniversary, Kaleidoscope, and Night Cap Cuvées. For the creation of Stout Cordage, a select group of Binny’s employees visited the Goose Island Barrel Warehouse to taste through various samples of barrel aged beer, ultimately voting on and selecting the final blend – a complex comingling of various barleywines and imperial stouts aged in a mixture of oak barrels once home to bourbon, rye, and rhum. For a more detailed look at our collaborative cuvée and a breakdown of its component parts, check out our blog. A big thank you to our friends at Goose Island, the stunning depth of character showcased in Stout Cordage stands as a testament to the prowess of Goose Island’s veteran brewers and their incomparable cellar of barrel aged beers.

Mention Oktoberfest beer and most Americans think of a rich malty marzen. Beginning in the 1970s, Munich brewers started producing a brew that was lighter in color and body. Dubbed “festbier” it is now the main type of beer served at the official Munich Oktoberfest. Several American craft breweries are starting to embrace this modern take on the style and Sierra Nevada’s 2026 Oktoberfest Festbier is a collaboration with Bavarian brewery Hoppebrau. Leaner than a marzen, but more complex than a Munich festbier, it’s a unique take on the style with a streak of classic American hop character.

Beer in Germany is fiercely regional. It’s also held to a strict set of guidelines – the Reinheitsgebot. This seemingly well-intentioned decree from the 16th century was enacted to ensure beer was wholesome and unadulterated. Unfortunately, by limiting beer to just three ingredients (barley, hops, and water) regional brews like Kottbusser, a beer made with honey, molasses, wheat and oats, became verboten. American brewers like to incorporate just about anything into beer, which isn’t always a good thing, but in this case, it’s allowed Off Color to carefully craft their delicious take on the historic brew of Cottbus.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier pours golden in color, which might seem a bit strange for an Oktoberfest. Most Americans are more familiar with the Marzen style of Oktoberfest beer, but that rich amber lager is no longer what’s served inside the tents of the famous Munich festival. In the 1970s, Paulaner pioneered the modern Oktoberfest style that’s become known as Festbier. Thankfully they still also produce their iconic Oktoberfest Marzen. Both biers are great, and they’re both on sale now! You can learn more about the differences between the two styles and taste along with the Barrel to Bottle crew in this episode of the Binny’s Podcast.

The Women of Binny’s are back with their latest collaboration, a juicy creation with women-owned ERIS Brewery and Cider House. To craft this fruit-filled cider, the Women of Binny’s visited the ERIS facility in Old Irving Park. They started with ERIS E-Phoria as a base and then experimented with adding a variety of juice concentrates from Old Orchard. This Michigan company has been supplying breweries and cideries with high quality juices for decades, offering everything from popular berry and stone fruits, to exotic tropical favorites. After several rounds of blending and tasting, the winning combo of kiwi and pear was selected. Kiwi is particularly apropos given the Gala apple variety used to ferment this cider originated in New Zealand. Crack open a can and pour into a glass, for your own personal South Pacific pear-adise.

Diesel Thunder began as an experimental double IPA, crafted at Firestone Walker’s R&D pilot brewhouse in Venice. It was a hit, so much so, that it made it into distribution via the Firestone Walker IPA Variety Pack. The standout favorite of the pack, fans couldn’t get enough, resulting in this limited re-release. For the first time in a six-pack, experience the unbridled dank powerhouse that is Diesel Thunder!

It seems like breweries start shipping their Oktoberfest lagers earlier every year! That’s right, even though it’s only mid-August, our shelves are already packed with malty marzens and golden festbiers. We’re kicking off the 2026 Oktoberfest season with a brew from our friends up north. Central Waters Octoberfest is a dependable favorite, and a must try alongside grilled bratwurst topped with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard.