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Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Tyskie

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Dec 20, 2006 4:00PM

2006_12_tyskie.jpgAway from the confines of Chicagoist, we have something of a mutual admiration society happening with the fine fellas from B News Update, who provide a view at Bridgeport from the natives' perspective. They extended an invitation to us, and by extension to you all, to participate in their inaugural neighborhood pub quiz tomorrow (7 p.m. sharp at Bernice's Tavern, 3238 S. Halsted). It's a great way to get to know the neighborhood, almost necessary for those of you who tell us to "'F' Bridgeport," and you'll get to meet some FOC-ers ("friends of Chicagoist") in the process. Should you show up, order a bottle of Tyskie.

Travel around Cragin, MIlwaukee Avenue north of Logan Square, Archer Gardens, South Lawn, and Jefferson, Edison, or Marquette Park, and chances are that you'll find Tyskie standing side-by-side with Okocim. For our money and taste buds, however, we opt for Tyskie in a heartbeat. Since 1629, they've been brewing this Polish pilsner that will knock you off your feet. Tyskie is light in color, with a rich, full flavor, prominent hops for a strong, bitter palate, and a hearty 5.7 percent alcohol content. According to Wikipedia, and we all know how reliable they can be, Tyskie commands slightly less than fifteen percent of the Polish beer market. Order this next to an old-school Pole, and you might get a smirk of approval. "Zimne piwo," indeed.

The "beer of the week" series isn't always about meticulously crafted ales, corked offerings, or malty libations thicker than a shake. It's a celebration of this great drink in all — well, almost all — its forms. It would get redundant if we simply concentrated on strong dark, trappist, and novelty beers all the time. We love a good pilsner as much as the next person. And when those moments arise, Tyskie fits the bill. So head on down to Bernice's tomorrow night, say hello to the B News folks, learn about your neighborhood, and lift a half-liter of Tyskie, Chicagoist's penultimate "beer of the week" for 2006.