Listermann Brewing Co. Head Brewer Jared Lewinski Talks Chickow!

We spoke with Listermann Brewing Co. Head Brewer Jared Lewinski about Chickow!

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
A previous brewer had created the recipe alongside the owner, Dan Listermann, but, from that point, it has slowly morphed into what it has become today through subsequent brewers.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
To be honest, my favorite aspect of the beer is how it reacts to barrel-aging. If I was able to, I would make every single batch of Chickow! a barrel-aged batch, as I feel that is where it shines best in conjunction with the vanillins, tannins and micro-oxidative characteristics that develop from extended aging on wood.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name is derived from the iconic movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" from the Ferrari scene. We believe that with every sip, you can get the feeling that Ferris had when he gets in the Ferrari!

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Personally, no, as I am particularly passionate about sour beer. I would, however, say that it is my dessert (I'm really reaching for the pun here) pairing beer. Try it with peanut butter-heavy ice creams!

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Candied caramelized nuts drizzled with honey, with solid malt backbone.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
I recall trying to salvage one of the batches of Chickow!, which had a tank-related issue that ended up keeping me at work for over 20 hours during the summer. If you haven't been in a operational brewery during the Summer, let me just say that it's a hop, skip, and a jump away from being considered a part of Purgatory in relation to heat and humidity. Not my favorite day of my career by far!

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Anything with caramel, peanut butter, toffee, marshmallow, succulent duck with a nice fruit reduction (oranges, cherries, etc), sweeter-style bbq meats, and probably a host of other dishes I have not had the opportunity to pair it with! Also, let's be real, pizza and beer are always a great pair!

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