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Art of the Meal

Art of the Meal: REVOLUTION BREWING’s JOHN “JUMPY” PALOS Discusses CHEVELLE’s New “La Gargola” Craft Beer

We recently spoke with Revolution Brewing brewer John “Jumpy” Palos about the company’s collaboration with hard rockers Chevelle on a new craft beer dubbed La Gargola, after the band’s 2014 record of the same name.

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Revolution Brewing is the largest independently-owned brewery in Illinois, brewing only in Chicago between the original brewpub space in Logan Square and a production brewery and taproom in Avondale. Multi-platinum rockers (and Chicago natives) Chevelle recently teamed up with Revolution Brewing for a craft beer collaboration. The beer, dubbed La Gargola (after the band’s 2014 album), is a classic German-style Helles Lager and the band’s first brewer collaboration.

To celebrate this realized brew, Chevelle and Revolution Brewing threw a party at Revolution Brewpub, located at 2323 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago last night, the night before the band’s set, tonight at Lollapalooza. Lollapalooza aside, Chevelle is now on the road with multi-platinum headliners Breaking Benjamin, while select dates of the tour also include Three Days Grace, Dorothy and/or Diamante.

I had the pleasure of doing some Q&A with Revolution Brewing brewer John “Jumpy” Palos about La Gargola, Chevelle and more. Additional info on Revolution Brewing can be found online at www.revbrew.com while Chevelle can be visited directly online at www.getmorechevelle.com.

How did this collaboration with Chevelle come about? Who approached who?
John “Jumpy” Palos: Chevelle approached us. They are big fans of Revolution and wanted to get together for a project. It took a while to coordinate our busy schedules, but was definitely worth the wait.

A look at Revolution Brewing from season three of Pure Brews America’s online show:


How familiar were you with Chevelle’s music before this collaboration? Do you have a favorite Chevelle song?
Palos: Being a Chicago native, I was definitely familiar with Chevelle. I saw them at Ozzfest sometime in the early 2000s! (laughs)

How would you describe La Gargola to someone who hasn’t yet tried it?
Palos: The Hellesbier style was a German response to the suddenly popular Czech Pilsner. In many ways, it, and most German beers, are the antithesis of the American craft beer movement. Rather than focusing on and highlighting one flavor, for example, malt, hops, etc., German beer focuses on the sum of all parts, subtlety, and cohesion. The Bavarian Purity Law, or Reinheitsgebot, restricts brewers to only four ingredients: malt, hops, yeast, and water. You are forced to really perfect your blends and ratios of each ingredient and focus on your individual ingredient quality more than any other type of beer. German beer essentially doesn’t hide any flaws.

Are there any Revolution Brewing beers that are comparable to La Gargola?
Palos: Ghost Ride, our traditional Kolsch-style ale, was recently released in cans and has all that German goodness in an easy to drink six-pack!

Is there a chance of a second Chevelle collaboration with Revolution Brewing?
Palos: Who knows? We are always open to future collaborations and rebrews, so anything is possible!

Some behind-the-scenes images of Revolution Brewing, its staff, and tasty product:

Art of the Meal: REVOLUTION BREWING’s JOHN “JUMPY” PALOS on Working with CHEVELLE for Their “La Gargola” Craft Beer Collection

La Gargola and Chevelle aside, what is coming up for Revolution Brewing?
Palos: We’ve got lots of exciting projects coming out of the pub every weekend, including a Pineapple-Coconut Wit next week called Humboldt Gator. We will be pouring at the Great Taste Of The Midwest in Madison, Wisconsin and the Great American Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado. Also, in September, our annual Oktoberfest will be back outside our Milwaukee Avenue Brewpub and will be bigger and better than ever! Lasting a weekend with great bands, food, and of course, Revolution beer.

When not busy with Revolution Brewing, how do you like to spend your free time?
Palos: I actually play a lot of music in my free time. I play about 20 instruments, mostly in the string family, focusing on American roots, blues, jazz, folk, traditional, and rock. Other than that, I spend time with my wife and two beautiful kids enjoying our beautiful city!

What are some of your favorite dining spots near Revolution HQ?
Palos: Cafe Tola, Taqueria Moran, The Radler, Lonesome Rose, and Longman & Eagle.

Finally, John, any last words for the kids?
Palos: Drink good beer, listen to good music, and never settle for anything less! iSalud!

A trailer for the latest album released by Chevelle, 12 Bloody Spies, a collection of B-sides and rarities, released October 26th, 2018, via Epic Records:

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