The Beer Drop: Une Année Framboise & Hubbard’s Cave Vanilla Imperial Stout

Bonjour mes amis! (Warning: more shameless uses of Google translate to come)… This week’s Beer Drop is all about those French and Belgian style beers with the fine folks from Une Année Brewery out of Niles, Illinois.

We have not one, but two rockstars for you this week with the Une Année Framboise and Hubbard’s Cave Vanilla Imperial Stout – keeping reading for my Q&A with Jerry Nelson, Founder and Head Brewer, for more on the brewery and the beers – À votre santé, beer lovers!

Let’s start with the Framboise Wild Ale – tell us more!

This is our flagship beer and a house favorite of ours. It has a wonderful dry, bright raspberry flavor and tartness, and a gorgeous hue.

Best served?

I enjoy this beer cold, meant to be a sipper. Has a nice dryness to it and not a lot of residual sweetness.

How about the Hubbard’s Cave Vanilla Imperial Stout?

This beer has an insane amount of Madagascar Vanilla in it – I like it at around 55 degrees to really let those vanilla notes come out to the center stage. I like to serve it in an open format glass that really lets you delve into the smells of it. The roasty, bitter chocolate and smooth vanilla notes pair well with a nice hunk of red meat.

On Une Année

What’s the Une Année story?

We’re a Chicago area brewery focused on making great beer with an emphasis on Belgian and French styles. I started working on Une Année while working as an Architect in fall of 2010, but started my homebrewing passion back in 1995 while in the Marines stationed in California. In preparation for starting the brewery, I attended the Siebel Institute. I am a Chicago native and live in Chicago with my wonderful supportive wife Tonia, and adorable daughter / assistant brewer Maya.

And Hubbard’s Cave?

Hubbard’s Cave is our brand for traditional American styles. Double IPA’s & Stouts mainly.

Where does the name Une Année come from?

It’s French for ‘One Year’ – chosen to reinforce the two main ideas behind the brewery: a focus on Belgian and French style ales, and to produce beers seasonally.

What’s the story behind your labels and branding?

We like to keep things simple, and fancy labels with glitter and goofy names is not our bag. We feel your beer should do the talking.

Any notable collaborations?

We do a Belgian IPA with DryHop known as the Devil’s Reign.

Where’s home for the brewery? How do you stay involved in the community there?

We are based out of Niles, Il. We like to do events locally and supporting our local bar scene.

What’s your favorite thing about Une Année? What makes it special?

Our focus on traditional Belgian styles, and our predominantly fruited sour line-up. We also do a barrel aged sour for our member program on a monthly basis.

Hot Hop Takes

Favorite craft beer festival:

We love the Great Taste of the Midwest and think it’s one of the best ran festivals out there

Describe the stereotypical hop head:

Referring to everything as a “Juice Bahmmmbbbbb” or “Tropicana Orange Juice”

Favorite brewery other than your own:

We are a fan of New Glarus amongst many others

Pick a character from history to drink a beer with:

“Macho Man” Randy Savage definitely comes to mind

Favorite beer quote:

“There is no such thing as a bad beer. It’s that some taste better than others.”

Biggest beer fad is right now:

I think the hazy IPA is far from a fad, and they will be around for many years to come.

Next big beer trend:

Adjunct barley wines I’d like to see catch on.

Thanks for chatting with us, Jerry! The next time you’re in the NW ‘burbs (or trying to kill time from a delay at O’Hare) check out the Une Année tasting room at 9082 W Golf Road for even more French and Belgian brews.

959 check-ins and counting – toast (or roast) what Sean’s been drinking here. Have a beer or brewery you think should be our next drop? Drop us a note! ✉️