Guest Brewer: Daniel Imdieke of Old Chicago

More than 30 years ago, Old Chicago opened its first location in Boulder, Colo. with a simple goal in mind: serve handmade pizza and craft beer to each of its guests. Today, they’re focus has broadened to include more locally-brewed beer than ever before.

Enter Daniel Imdieke, Old Chicago’s new manager of beer operations. Imdieke has spearheaded the effort to include Colorado craft breweries in special tappings and events at each of Old Chicago’s two dozen Colorado locations. And as an avid craft beer lover, Imdieke wanted in on the brewing process. “I’ve been working with it a long time, and I’ve gotten to see how many flavors and styles are out there,” he said. “It’s kind of like this endlessly interesting pursuit, where there are so many flavors and variations and styles and variations of styles; it’s a never-ending exploration.”

Thus, the Old Chicago Explorer Series was born, and Odell Brewing Company was invited to brew a beer for one of the first installments. Imdieke teamed up with brewer Tony Rau to create a Gose – a sour and salty wheat beer originating from Goslar, Germany. “We want to be at the forefront of bringing in new, exciting, exclusive, and fun beers,” Imdieke said of the choice to brew a Gose. “That’s why we’re trying to do this Explorer Series – to get people to try new things.”

Imdieke and Rau spent two days on the pilot system to test the Gose before brewing it on the larger system for Old Chicago. Imdieke is looking forward to using his first brewing experience to teach Old Chicago patrons about craft beer. “We’re going to educate the consumer as they come in with what’s in their glass and why are we pouring these specific beers,” he explained. “It’s really just about having fun and having a place that’s known for craft beer.”

Comes & Gose will be available in all Colorado Old Chicago locations from Aug. 25 through Sept. 13.