Pop Shop - Filberts

For those who partook in the world famous 24 hours of chow, you have an idea of what the Filbert's "factory" is like (as, of course would anyone else who has ever found themselves thirsty on S. Ashland). For those who have not visited, it is worth a stop.

On Saturday, family scion, Ron Filbert, was manning the operation. Nothing was being bottled, but he gave the ever interesting tour. The tour really involves turning your head--here's the bottle washer, here's where its filled, here's where it's capped, etc. The best part of the tour is buying some product afterwards.

$9 bucks got us a case of mixed soda pop (wow!). 18 regular 12 ounce bottles in flavors both traditional, root beer, and modern, blue raspberry. Other favorites include cream soda, black and plain cherry, grapefruit, and family favorite Mr. Newport. The last is a lemon-lime, 7-up thing, but we jut all love drinking a pop called Mr. Newport.

Filbert's pop's are decidedly old fashioned in flavor and texture. They use real sugar so it tastes more natural, more subtle, and the flavors themselves are bold but understated, refreshing is the word. The classic, the root beer, is exactly as described in their litature, smooth. It is not a root beer where you taste very many of the roots, no strong spice elements, but it provides a sharpness that plain old coke cannot. In all, the case is a bargain.

Note, besides, the 12 ounce bottles, there are bigger bottles. For foodies, Gale Gand's root beer is also bottled here, but is not the same formula.

Filberts Pop Shop
3430 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60608

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

sounds super fun, do you happen to have a phone number for them? I tried doing a Google search but only came up with their address. If no number is available, can one just show up and buy product on site?

thanks!

bjt

Filbert's Old Time Root Beer
3430 S Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
773-847-1520
8-5 M-Sat

thank you! It sounds like Filbert's is near Healthy Food and I've never been to that place either, so I think an adventure into Lithuanian comfort food and locally brewed pop is in order.

bjt

Does anyone know of microbreweries in Chicago that let you brew your own root beer? There was a place on Clybourn, near Fullerton, a few years ago that let you go in and brew your own beer or root beer. You picked up the cases of your stuff a couple of weeks later.

Does Filbert's give a formal tour, or do you just have to hope there's a kind soul willing to show you around? Thanks.

[Heidegger]

Saturday hours end at 1 pm, unfortunately. This conversation, for all it's impressive expression of particular foody expertise, fails to capture the larger context of how great it is that Chicago still has a pop shop. Small, local pop makers used to be common, all sucked under the dominance of the conglomerate borrowed we so enjoy today. Let's face it, a world where we can barely buy an RC is not a foody ideal. If the root beer doesn't quite blow your foody bob off, try the grapefruit. Best pop anywhere, any time. And unlike Jewel, the greatest thing about the Pop Shop is the fantastic variety you can mix in a case. It's our family joy to make a trek down to pick through the pops they have on hand. My fear is that naysayers of small particulars of the Pop Shop will miss the big picture of it's very existence and some day I'll drive up with my kids and it will be gone. Support a Chicago treasure. Buy Pop Shop pop.

VI,

I've not purchased most of the holiday gifts I need to give, and it occurs to me that a case of mixed Filbert's would be excellent for some of The Wife’s relations (particularly the “mountain folks” who come down into town for “sody pop,” Spam and other provisions; hell, this would save them a trip).

I respect Ed's opinion that Filbert’s may not be in the top 10, but it's available, reasonably priced, and probably pretty much funky and fun for people to receive (plus, the empties would make great targets for shot gun practice on the south 40).

Filbert's must ship, right? Will check it out tomorrow.

David

Definitely. Whatever is available, and whatever piques your palate and your interest, do it. I had Barq's today from McDonalds, so I really shouldn't be proffered as a purist. Plus, I've been known to buy a gallon bottle of A&W from the restaurants from time to time.

And besides, as with any food, especially a highly complex soda, peoples preferences vary. A few friends joined me in one tasting of root beers (purchased from Jewel in River Forest, we got about 12 bottled brands), and each of us definitely selected different winners.

For what it's worth, my favorite soda by far is Reed's Raspberry Ginger Brew. I cannot get enough of it. Reed's can be found at all whole foods, most Jewels, and a few other places no doubt.

-Ed

I'm surprised they stay in business; I rarely see them in stores. My favorite? The cerulean rasberry. Tastes as good as it looks. Wish they were widely available.

Having tasted, approximately, 50 different bottled and draft root beers, I can say that Gale Gand's was in the bottom third of those I've had. I found it had no depth of flavor, the sweetness was off and one-sided, and it just felt a little watery.

My current favorites, some of which are local, are:

Berghoff, on draft, at the restaurant. Cane sugar.

Sprecher's, preferably on draft, available in much of lower wisconsin and available on draft at Poor Phil's in Oak Park. Available bottled widely. Much of the sweet flavor comes from honey.

Sonora root beer, an arizona brand using desert honey as one of the sweeteners.

A root beer produced in Marquette, Michigan (in the Upper Peninsula), available only there (and only on draft) as far as I've seen. The Vierling restaurant up there used to have it, but now serves Sprecher's on draft. Some day I really should write up the Marquette area, since there are at least a few places to get really decent chow. And even more places to get mediocre chow.

Goose Island used to be rather good in my mind, but has gone downhill compared to sprecher's and berghoff. I have never had it on draft, though, so that may improve it. It certainly tends to for their beers.

I don't know where to find sonora or the marquette root beers locally, but the others are available at the places I mentioned.

Sonora can be purchased online, as can tons of other root beers from www.popsoda.com, and likely a few other places. Popsoda.com will ship a box of 24 different root beers for about $50 ($30, but shipping is heavy for that much soda). It's a good entry to the world of root beers.

Anyway, the full point of this was that Gale Gand's root beer was very, very unimpressive. I think it was overly redolent of cinnamon and just far too one sided. Still, try it and form your own opinions. I tend to like sharper root beers sweetened with a honey/sugar combo, and I was pleased to find a few of those being brewed locally.

-Ed

And where was Filberts?

Try as I might, I've never particularly liked filberts. I've admittedly never had one out of a glass bottle, which no doubt clouds my judgment, but the times I have had it it's been as bland as a MUG or Dad's..

Bishop's Chili used to, or maybe still does, sell Filbert's, and that's where I usually tried it.

-ed

I've been surprised by the recent expansion of the distribution of Gand's root beer -- it's even available at the kebab stall at the Nordstrom's food court. (Which itself is a welcome addition; I can finally eat kefta without crossing the street.) That said, I'm not a huge fan of Gand's root beer either, though I'm not as savvy a taster -- but it was strange to see those bottles *everywhere* all of a sudden.

Bob,

Last time I had G Gand's root beer was at Brassier T in Northfield, which has been closed a couple of years. Straight from the tap with dinner and a root beer float, with house made ice cream, for dessert. I thought it pretty damn good.

It sounds as if changes were made to accommodate mass production, though I will have to hunt down, which from the sound of it should be quite easy, a bottle to try for myself.

The one good thing that would/will happen from Gand's root beer becoming wildly popular is that it would help insure the longevity of Filbers.

Regards,
Gary

Wiv sez, "It sounds as if changes were made to accommodate mass production, though I will have to hunt down, which from the sound of it should be quite easy, a bottle to try for myself."

If you visit the Filbert's factory, you realize that there aint much "mass" production possible.

Da Mayor sez: "If you visit the Filbert's factory, you realize that there aint much "mass" production possible."

Still, going from a few barrels on tap to hundreds, thousands?, of bottles a week is a whole different ball game.

Enjoy,
Gary

I went to the kebab stall in the food court yesterday (and got my regular drink, the limonata San Pellegrino), but I was thinking of going to Eppy's today to give them a second chance, and I think they have GG's RB. In the spirit of the trip, I'll give it another shot as well.

Rob,

Very cool factory tour of Filberts, and excellent soda, my favorite is the Black Cherry, with lime a close second. I cooked with a group of BBQ guys for T-Day, one of the fellows brought Filberts, what a treat.

No wonder you are the Mayor of Chicago Chowhound, you do all the cool stuff. (smile)

Enjoy,
Gary