Jan 17, 2008
Five Questions for the Beer Dudes
Beer Dudes Phil Kuhl, left, and Brian Moreland
Who: Phil Kuhl, 30, and Brian Moreland, 28, the Beer Dudes
Neighborhoods: Kuhl lives in Albany Park; Moreland, in Wrigleyville
Status: Kuhl is "single as a dollar"; Moreland has a girlfriend
"I'm impressed when a bar has something I've never had before," says Phil Kuhl, one half of the Beer Dudes—an entrepreneurial friendship founded on suds. Kuhl and the other Dude, Brian Moreland, met last April while bartending at Sheffield's (Kuhl also tends bar at Goose Island in Wrigleyville). Since then, they've begun hosting beer tastings around town, including a weekly Monday night event at Rockit Bar and Grill called Taste It, in which the guys pair three beers from a particular state with a three-course meal. "We're trying to ease people into appreciating beer," Kuhl says. "Beer isn't as intimidating as wine," Moreland adds. I caught up with the guys this past Monday to chat about spreading the gospel of brew.
What's your favorite beer?
Kuhl: Picking your favorite beer is like picking your favorite guitar player, [but] I like stouts.
Moreland: I don't have a favorite. My favorite styles of beer are porters and wild ales.
What's the most overrated beer?
Kuhl: New Belgium's Fat Tire. It's the one everyone knows, but it's one of their weakest beers.
Moreland: Amstel Light. People drink it because it's an import.
How many nights a week do you drink beer?
Kuhl: On average, five.
Moreland: Four or five.
Which bars have the best beer selections—other than the ones you work for?
Kuhl: The Long Room (1612 W. Irving Park Rd.). I'm jealous of their draft list.
Moreland: Hopleaf. Great beer menu, and they have a sign above the bar that reads something like, "No Bud Light, No Miller Light."
With all this beer drinking, when's your bedtime?
Kuhl: After midnight.
Moreland: Between 12:30 and 3:30 a.m.
Photograph: Courtesy of Sarah Preston
Posted at 04:11 PM in Nightlife | Permalink
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Comments
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Reader Comments:
These guys are heading in the right direction! There is a whole big world of beer out there to try! These guys should really learn how to brew. This will lead to a better understanding and an entirely new level of beer appreciation. Check in with some local homebrewers like Chicago Beer Society (CBS) or HOmebrewers Pride of the Southside! (HOPS!). The level of Beer Geek-dome is at a whole new level. I have personally made over 75 batches of beer (homebrewing) and have tried close to 500 different professionally made beers from around the world. BEER IS GOOD! Tom S. (HOPS!)
I think this a WONDERFUL idea! I bet they both how to brew! I plan on being at Rockit Bar and Grill as soon as I can. I have been taught certain wines goes with certain foods, but not BEER! I love both beer and food, and sometimes I prefer one beer over an other when I order certain foods, but never gave it a thought, before now. Let us all know when their 1st book comes out! GO BEER DUDES!
Great idea on beer.
We do the same on wines through the Chicago Wine Council. We put together a monthly tasting with a list of 30 plus wines and keep increasing the choices up to the event date. Simply, you pay a flat fee of $40 for 3 hours and by the time you taste you might see over 200 wines. Light appetizers as always! Our website is www.chicagowinecouncil.com No wine snobs just a few 100 people sipping and socializing in a roaming wine format! Cheers!!
Yeah, I agree: Go BEER!!!
I just don't really like wine all that much, except for when I feel like getting saucy. Beer is great because I can enjoy several different styles and not feel like I am 40 years old--not that there is anything wrong with that. Hooray!