On a hot day in August, I got to hang out with the brewers at Only Child Brewing in lovely Grayslake, IL (think Gurnee Mills Shopping Center). Looking back, I regret wearing jeans, but that is a story for another day. I followed the brewing process of Double Dog Dare from start to finish. With that being said, let me introduce you to my new series called The Birth of a Beer. In photos and layman’s terms, I will walk you through the process of making beer. By no means am I an expert. I take in what I see, try and remember it, and then post it here. Each beer and brewery set up is slightly different and each brewer has a different way of doing things, so I love to compare and learn new things from place to place. And I am dragging you along with me! Let’s get started. Here are a few shots of the brewery to wet your whistle. Double Dog Dare is a Double IPA brewed with locally sourced honey. The honey for the beer comes from Chalet Nursery in Wilmette, IL.  The honey adds this perfect well-rounded sweetness that offsets the usual overwhelming bitterness …

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