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Rating: 4.25
Location: Barrington, IL
Founded: 2023
Last visited: July 2024
Sundial had a familiar look to it from the moment we entered the taproom. They took over for Flesk Brewing, which had operated out of that location from 2017. When Flesk’s brother owners decided to call it quits, their head brewer bought the business. They’ve been brewing under the Sundial banner for about a year and have created an interesting range of beers. There were 11 beers on tap when we visited.
BEER:
Dubbel Digits Belgian Dubbel (5.00) – Dark amber appearance. Bold, malty mouthfeel. Fruity notes in bouquet and buried in the flavor profile. Notes of plum evident. Aged in oak barrels. 8% ABV not completely concealed, but not a punch in the nose. A terrific Belgian Dubbel.
First Fruits Barrel Aged Saison (3.50) – Orange-amber appearance. Presence of strawberries evident in bouquet and first sip. Light and crisp, but brimming with flavor. Tartness level relatively high, but not overpowering. 6.5% ABV very well concealed.
Floraison (3.50) – Hazy, straw colored appearance. Belgian lace on the glass. Highly floral bouquet, borderline aggressive. Tartness shows up at the start and continues. Probably too sour for style. Dandelions grown in the head brewer’s back yard appear in the recipe. Conditioned with wildflower honey, but not evident on the palate.
Kellerbier (4.50) – Amber colored lager. Bready, yeasty character stands out. Some caramel notes filter through. Reminiscent of Märzen style, which is the historical basis for Kellerbier. Clear appearance, not hazy. Hop bitterness rather muted. Many examples of Kellerbier we’ve tasted are are similar to the Helles style. A very nice twist on Kellerbier.
Le Petit Bonnet Hoppy Farmhouse Blonde Ale (4.50) – Hazy, straw colored appearance. Complex flavor profile, despite light bodied character. Beer is not overly bitter and lingers slightly in the aftertaste. Balance of maltiness and hoppiness is superb.
Pils (4.25) – Straw yellow appearance. Distinct hop bitterness, appropriate for a north German Pilsner. Medium bodied lager, smooth and easy to drink. Expertly balanced between malty character and hop bitterness.