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.

While we’re excited that autumn is just around the corner, it’s still a long wait until we get to celebrate our next Flagship February. Until then, why not keep the spirit alive and reach for a Flagship brew on Fridays? Join us as we raise a glass to craft classics you can depend on. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen thousands of IPAs come and go. Bell’s Two Hearted endures.

This week we welcome back a classic that we haven’t seen in years. Perfect for the warm August weather to come, Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis is their refreshing take on a Bavarian-style hefeweizen. First a short vocab lesson – hefe is German for yeast and weizen for wheat. Hefeweizen is the unfiltered German wheat beer that you’ll see people enjoying at the many bierkellers throughout Bavaria. Sierra Nevada takes the extra step of brewing this beer the old-fashioned way, in open fermentation tanks to let the unique Bavarian yeast strain develop its fullest depth of flavors. Combined with the impeccable quality control of Sierra Nevada’s modern brewhouse and packaging line, you’re left with a world-class hefeweizen that rivals even the best that Germany has to offer.

If you’ve never tried a slice of kringle, time to taste what you’ve been missing. This Danish baked good is so beloved by Wisconsinites that they declared it their official state pastry. If you have tasted one, there’s a good chance it came from Racine. We’re fans, but if you’re feeling ambitious, we suggest you give our recipe a try. The perfect pairing – this latest release from Central Waters. We’ve had raspberry, cherry, and pecan in the past, this time we’re serving up chocolate.

Sourcing water from the famous artesian spring from which they take their name, Abita Brewing Company’s commitment to quality ingredients has cemented them a place in Louisiana’s rich culinary traditions. Their broad portfolio of deliciously food friendly beers can be seen everywhere from starred restaurants to backyard crawfish boils. The caramelized malt character of their flagship Amber Lager makes it a fool-proof pairing for nearly anything cooked on the grill. Be it sticky glazed pork chops, spicy grilled shrimp, or smoky salmon filets, next time you BBQ, make sure to have lots of Abita Amber on ice.

Few breweries know as much about the art and science of brewing as Germany’s Weihenstephaner. Tracing its roots back to the 8th century, Weihenstephaner officially commenced brewing in 1040, making it the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world. Their Original helles lager pours a brilliant shimmering gold and is topped with a beautiful crown of white foam. Never heard of helles? The Barrel to Bottle crew has you covered.

Kolsch is the signature beer style of Koln Germany. Satisfyingly crisp and thirst quenching, this sparkling golden ale is especially well suited for summertime refreshment. Part of the magic behind the style is the hybridized fermentation process. Primary fermentation takes place at warm temperatures using ale yeast. This is followed by a period of cold conditioning, aka lagering. As a result, you get to enjoy a beer that offers the fruity aromatics of an ale, and the crisp finish of a lager. Several American brewers celebrate this classic German style, with some crafting beer that rivals even the best that Cologne has to offer. One such Kolsch is Coaster King, a collaborative brew from Maplewood and Goldfinger. Whether you’ve long been a fan of Kolsch, or are new to the style, Coaster King is one you don’t want to miss.

2026 marks 30 years for 3 Floyds and they’ve opened up the archives to rebrew some of their most requested fan favorites. Last time we poured a Rye Da Tiger, it was from a bomber bottle! This Rye IPA combines the bittersweet and citrusy character of classic 3 Floyds IPAs with the spiciness of rye.

Gone Away is back again! If you’ve been pining for an old school IPA, your ship has come in. Brimming with old-school West Coast character, Gone Away offers a refreshing taste of American IPA as it once was.

Here in the Midwest, we love a good wheat beer, especially in the summertime. Wheat beer comes in many shapes and sizes - some hoppy, some fruited, some spiced, and some sour. Our favorites showcase the soft, rounded character of wheat, yet at the same time, remain refreshingly crisp. Firestone Walker’s Cali Squeeze Blood Orange does just that. It’s available year-round, but its bright and tangy finish makes it a staple at our summer get-togethers.

The Blake family knows a thing or two about apples. They’ve been growing them in Armada Michigan since 1946, and they’ve been making hard cider out of them for over a decade. El Chavo is one of our favorite offerings from Blake’s. Enjoy straight from the can, or for a quick and easy cocktail, try it over ice with a splash of tequila or mezcal.