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  Stockholms

Let there be light

7/28/2020

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​Can you believe that light beer as we know it has only been produced in the United States since the mid 1970s? That’s barely a blink of an eye in beer history. The story goes that George Weissman, chairman of Phillip Morris, had his first low sugar lager (called a diat Pilsner in German) in Munich, West Germany. He enjoyed it and had a sneaking suspicion many Americans would, too. And boy was he right. In fact, according to Statistica, 6 of the 7 top selling beers in the United States in 2017 were light beers. Generally speaking, these beers have lower calories, less alcohol, and a lighter body than their full-calorie counterparts. They are also very refreshing and usually highly carbonated. For these reasons, they obviously appeal to a very wide market.  

But what makes a beer light? Basically, in order to make a less caloric version of beer, you must decrease the amount of fermentable sugars. When brewing, malt is the sugar source that yeast consumes to produce alcohol. More malt = more alcohol = more calories. Yet it’s not as simple as just cutting down the malt and calling it a day. Light beer still needs to be tasty. In order to achieve a good tasting final product, bitterness from hops is essential to offset the sweetness of the malt. These contrasting flavor combinations produce delicious and exciting taste sensations, for example sweet and sour, or spicy and sweet. 

After 18 years of brewing full-bodied craft beer in the Old World Tradition, Stockholm’s owner and brewer Michael Olesen is lightening things up. Loki, Stockholm’s first every light beer, is new on tap this week. When asked about brewing beer that is light in calories but still big in flavor, Olesen says that the key is balance. “While less malt produces less alcohol and therefore less calories, you still want a well-balanced, good tasting beer. To help achieve this balance, we’ve used Cascade hops added to the brew at two different times for their light bitterness and aromatic qualities.” The result is a smooth and refreshing brew that is the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer’s day.
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An interesting bit of beer trivia: the light beer first brewed in the United States for commercial consumption has a local origin story. The Peter Hand Brewing Co. on North Avenue in Chicago, founded in 1891 by a Prussian immigrant, was purchased by investors in the 1960s. The brand never quite got the traction they hoped for and the recipes were eventually sold to Milwaukee’s Miller brand in the 70s. The recipe for Peter Hand’s Meister Brau Lite seemed to have stood the test of time, as you might have heard of it even all these years later. Does Miller Lite ring a bell?
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Grill & Chill: A Guide to Summer Beer Pairing

7/21/2020

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​Here we are smack dab in the middle of summer 2020. While so much makes this different from summers in the past, a few important things remain the same. Enjoying the sunshine, enjoying time with family and friends (from a safe distance), and enjoying good food. And nothing says summer quite like firing up the grill!

At Stockholm’s, we are passionate about good food; and we think the perfect accompaniment to a delicious meal is a great beer. No matter what is on your grill this weekend, we have a craft beer that will pair perfectly.

Burgers and Third Street Ale: The rich malt flavor of this Belgian style brown ale complements this savory backyard classic.

Sausage and Doc’s Porter: The creamy, lightly sweet notes of oats and coffee contrast nicely with the unctuous and salty flavors of the sausage. 

Shrimp Skewers and Aegir’s Ale: This English Pale Ale’s faint floral notes and gentle bitter finish will not overpower the delicate flavors of the shrimp.

Chicken Drumsticks and Viking Red Ale: No matter the marinade you use on the chicken, the creamy sweet malt and gentle hop finish of this amber ale will be a tasty pairing. 

Grilled Romaine Salad and State Street Pilsner: Grilling romaine lettuce turns it into something different entirely, tender on the inside, hot and crisp on the outside. Dress it simply with lemon and olive oil and serve this easy drinking German style Pilsner along with it for a light yet flavorful summer meal.

Salmon and Older But Weisser: Salmon is a rare type of seafood that can stand up to a wide range of flavors, bold like barbeque to delicate like citrus. The coriander notes and refreshing mouthfeel of this Belgian White Wit beer is a great contrast to the richness and fattiness of this fish. 
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All 14 of our handcrafted brews are available to go in one-liter growlers. And thanks to our Brewery Direct Pricing, the value can’t be beat! Pick up a beer or two for this weekend’s backyard BBQ. Join us on Facebook or Instagram and share a photo of your pairing. Skoal!
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Stockholm's Restaurant & Brewery
​306 W State Street - Geneva, IL - 630.208.7070
Our Guests come from all over Chicagoland, including: Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Lisle, Carol Stream, West Chicago, Addison, Roselle, Schaumburg, Bloomingdale, Wheaton, Glendale Heights, Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Villa Park, Bartlett, Streamwood, Bolingbrook, Warrenville, Naperville, Winfield, Geneva, Downers Grove, North Aurora, Aurora, Lombard, Elmhurst, Inverness, Bensenville, Woodridge, Darien, Medinah, Hinsdale, Oakbrook, Burr Ridge,  Melrose Park, River Forest, Norridge, Elburn, Montgomery, Sugar Grove, Elgin, South Elgin, Westmont,  Wayne, Itasca, Orland Park, Rolling Meadows, Palatine, South Barrington, Barrington, Rosemont, Palatine, Franklin Park, River Grove, Arlington Heights, Mt Prospect, Prospect Heights, Oak Park, Forest Park, Western Springs, LaGrange, Northlake, Countryside, Plainfield, Lemont, Romeoville, Des Plaines, Niles, Park Ridge, Sycamore, DeKalb, Huntley, Oswego,  Bristol, Yorkville, Sandwich, Somonauk, Huntley,  and Chicago, IL