Last summer, the folks at Lake Effect Brewing in Portage Park came up with the idea of creating a beer that pairs perfectly with a hot dog from nearby drive-in Superdawg. The result was Super Bier, a crisp, malty Kölsch-style beer that didn't overpower the hot peppers, mustard and pickles that sit atop Superdawg's eponymous all-beef hot dog. It sold so well that Lake Effect co-founder Clint Bautz had to brew a second batch to meet the demand.
Inspired by their success, the team at Lake Effect began developing another collaboration with the popular hot dog stand, this time challenging themselves to create a beer that pairs with the Whoopskidawg, a char-broiled Romanian Hungarian Polish sausage topped with caramelized onions and barbecue sauce, served on an onion roll. The Whoopski Bier maintains the Kölsch-style of the original Super Bier, but adds additional malts, resulting in a darker (and stronger, at 6% ABV) brew that packs a subtle sweetness. We tasted the new beer while eating its namesake sausage, and found that the Whoopski Bier's sweet flavor complemented the blend of barbecue sauce and caramelized onions that top the dish. Whoopski Bier is good enough to drink on its own, though the experience improves with the addition of a sausage and some fries.
Want to try the new sausage-themed beer yourself? Lake Effect will be debuting the beer tonight at Iron Horse Ale House (6158 N Northwest Hwy) and Superdawg will be providing Whoopskidawg samples. Bottles of the beer should start hitting shelves this week, but you'll need to make a journey to Superdawg to complete the pairing.
Photograph: Tricia Scully