As I’ve mentioned in my last couple of posts, we’re in Chicago for the day. It was finally a chance to stop Piece Brewery & Pizzeria, a place I’d heard about from several people in my local homebrew club. The pizza was excellent and they had several brews on tap. I already had their Worryin’ Ale and finished off my wife’s Golden Arm. I thought their double IPA would be a good beer before heading off to my sister’s football game.

Location: On tap, and served in a large tulip-shaped glass at Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago, Illinois.

Numbers: 9.6% ABV, ~ 288 Calories

Appearance & Aroma: It was a rusty reddish-brown color and fairly hazy. There was a finger-thick off-white, creamy head, which fell a bit, but left some nice lacing on the glass. It had a big hop aroma with a mix of citrus and piney-grassiness and a hint of bready maltiness.

Taste & Feel: The body was full and the mouthfeel was smooth and a bit creamy. The flavors up front were bready and biscuity with some caramel maltiness. Near the middle, these flavors give way to some citrusy and earthy bitterness. The hop bitterness continued through the slightly dry finish and lasted for a bit into the aftertaste. After a few sips, I sensed a light alcohol warmth, but I didn’t notice any fusal-alcohol flavors in the beer.

Food Pairing: As you can see here, this beer was a great match with our sausage, pepperoni, bacon, and onion pizza. The bready-biscuity flavors brought out the flavors in the crust, and the bitterness added an extra dimension to the light spiciness from the pepperoni and sausage. I think this beer could also go nicely with thick, juicy burger – helping to bring out the breadiness of the bun and adding to the juicy beef flavors.

Overall Impression: I really enjoyed the biscuit and malty flavors up front, and the hop flavored that followed delivered the solid bitterness you’d expect from a double IPA. I appreciated the alcohol warmth that emerged as I continued to drink this beer. I enjoyed taking a sip of it after several bites of their excellent pizza, as well as finishing it up after my meal. Overall, I thought this was a solid double IPA, and of the beers I’ve tried at Piece so far, it’s the one I’d most highly recommend.

My Rating:

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