Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | 4.5% ABV | 32 IBU
I’m excited to announce a new series on the blog in collaboration with the team at Maplewood. Over the coming weeks I’ll be sharing several recipes that highlight their excellent craft beer, and we’ll be able to follow the birth of a beer from start to finish. Along the way we’ll cover brewing basics, ingredient choices, and practical tips you can use whether you’re cooking with beer or thinking about brewing at home.
This project will include recipe development, tasting notes, and behind-the-scenes looks at how a small, independent brewery operates. Expect approachable, kitchen-friendly recipes that showcase the flavor profiles of their beers, and occasional posts that dive a little deeper into the brewing process—grain bills, hop selections, fermentation choices—explained in plain language so it’s useful to both home cooks and beer fans.
Fair warning: there will also be some deliberately silly content. I’ve been told to expect questionable photos of chickens and beer cans — all in good fun — and one of the recipes we’re developing is guaranteed to be epic and entertaining.
Maplewood Brewery and Distillery is based in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. It started as a compact, four-person operation and has been growing steadily. Their beers are showing up in a variety of shops across the region, from the southwestern suburbs to the northern suburbs I visit. If you ever have trouble finding a particular beer, don’t forget that many liquor stores will add a product if customers request it—call or email your local store and ask them to stock it.
Crushinator is Maplewood’s session IPA offering. At 4.5% ABV and 32 IBU, it’s designed to be flavorful without being heavy or overly boozy. The beer pours light in color but carries a surprisingly deep aroma and a layered flavor profile. Expect tropical hop notes from Simcoe hops complemented by a subtle malt backbone that keeps the finish clean and slightly herbal. That dry, crisp finish makes it refreshing and easy to drink over an extended outdoor gathering.
Session IPAs like this one are ideal for warm-weather activities: grilling, picnics, and long afternoons with friends. The moderate bitterness and bright hop character stand up well to grilled foods without overwhelming them. Crushed citrus or tropical hop notes can enhance grilled chicken, fish, and lighter sausages, while the gentle malt sweetness can complement charred vegetables and tangy sauces.
In the coming posts I’ll pair specific recipes with Maplewood beers so you can see how different flavor elements interact. I’ll also share practical notes on how to use beer in cooking—when to add it for maximum flavor, how to reduce it into sauces, and how to balance hop-forward beers in richer dishes. The goal is to make beer-centric cooking approachable and delicious.
Cheers to safe, enjoyable drinking this season. If you have questions about Maplewood, their beers, or brewing and cooking with beer in general, send them to [email protected] or leave a comment below. I’ll also be posting weekly updates on Instagram Stories with another episode of #BatchSesh for behind-the-scenes glimpses and quick tips.
Thanks for following along—there’s a lot to look forward to, from creative recipes and tasting notes to a front-row view of how a craft beer comes together. Stay tuned, and get ready to cook, sip, and learn.