Two Belleville businesses collaborate to make a new beer. See when you can get a taste
Shoehorn Brewing is in the middle of its first-ever collaboration, and the result is gonna be delicious.
Co-owners Mike Johnson and Jeremy Hall are excited to work with LongStory Coffee owner Erik Busch to create a new coffee blonde ale.
Johnson said he talks with Busch about coffee-related stouts and beer.
Busch, who started out in the beer brewing industry, said in a separate interview that Johnson often comes to LongStory for coffee or a meal at Clara B’s.
He often joked about a collaboration, asking Johnson, “When are you making a coffee stout?”
They agreed to work with the coffee roaster but wanted to try making something other than a stout.
Johnson pitched a coffee blonde ale, which has a mellow flavor that doesn’t have a powerful personality of its own, said Johnson. It’s not too hoppy and is a good base to start with.
Hall said they took a sample of their beer to LongStory and that Busch provided different coffee samples, from medium to French roasts.
From there the ale/coffee combo sampling began.
Johnson said they tried a medium roast, LongStory’s new release, Totality, but the flavor was too light. The French (extra dark) roast was too oily and didn’t blend well with the ale.
Eventually they all agreed that the best option was a Colombian dark roast, LongStory’s Belleville Public Library house roast.
This blend has notes of baker’s chocolate and almonds. Busch said he recommended adding oak to boost the overall flavor.
Johnson aged the brew with light/medium charred oak cubes for two weeks.
At the time I interviewed them for this column, the coffee blonde is still brewing. It’s currently in the recirculating stage, and the carbonation needs to be added.
But I got to sample the work in progress (even before Busch got to try it).
The coffee blonde is light and refreshing. The coffee flavor slowly rises up, peaks, and ebbs. I found it rather delightful.
There won’t be an official release event, according to Johnson, but the new brew (official name TBA) will be ready and available the weekend of March 8-10.
If coffee beer isn’t your thing, Shoehorn offers plenty of other options, including classic lagers, traditional styles, sours, meads and IPAs.
Offerings are available on 17 of the 20 taps with more on the way.
I recommend checking out the black lager, But Knownst to Us. It was a delicious way to end the interview and the work day.
About Shoehorn Brewing
Shoehorn Brewing is located at 225 E. Main St. in Belleville.
Hours are 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Trivia nights are held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Check out the brewery’s Facebook page for other upcoming events and updates.
For more information about Shoehorn Brewing, call 618-416-0204 or visit shoehornbrewing.com.
This story was originally published March 4, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
