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Ex-NBA All-Star Johnson in World Cup qualifierson February 15, 2022 at 6:49 pm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Joe Johnson answered USA Basketball’s call again.

A year removed from his last playing experience with the national team, the 40-year-old Johnson was among 12 players announced Tuesday as the roster for a pair of Basketball World Cup qualifying games later this month.

Also picked: Jordan Bell, Tarik Black, Brian Bowen II, Langston Galloway, Jared Harper, Juwan Morgan, Matt Ryan, David Stockton, Rayjon Tucker, Paul Watson and Justin Wright-Foreman. Most of the players are coming from the G League, and most have at least a small amount of NBA experience.

Jim Boylen, who led the Americans to a 1-1 record during a pair of qualifying games in Mexico back in November, will again coach the U.S. in these qualifiers. The Americans open camp on Friday, in advance of playing Puerto Rico on Feb. 24 and Mexico on Feb. 27, both of those games in Washington.

Johnson – a seven-time NBA All-Star who appeared in one game with Boston this season – last played for USA Basketball in AmeriCup qualifying in February 2021. Bowen and Stockton also have past USA Basketball qualifying-game experience.

The two games next week are games three and four out of six first-round qualifying matchups for the U.S. The Americans – who likely only need one more win to be assured of moving into the next round – also are scheduled to play Puerto Rico on July 1 and Cuba on July 4.

There are four teams in four groups of qualifying out of the FIBA Americas region. The top three teams in each group move on to the second round of qualifying, which starts in August and runs through February 2023.

The U.S. (1-1) was drawn into Group D for the first round of qualifying from the Americas region, joined by Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Group A consists of Argentina, Panama, Paraguay and Venezuela. Group B is made up of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. Group C consists of Bahamas, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The World Cup – where teams can directly qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics – runs from Aug. 25-Sept. 10, 2023, with games being played in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

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Ex-NBA All-Star Johnson in World Cup qualifierson February 15, 2022 at 6:49 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan is about to make NBA historyJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 5:00 pm

After being named Eastern Conference Player of The Week for his efforts last week, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan continued his excellent season on Monday in the team’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

In the Bulls’ victory over the Spurs on Monday night, DeRozan had 40 points on 16-24 shooting against his former team. For DeRozan, Monday night marked the sixth consecutive game in which he had 35+ points on at least 50% shooting. DeRozan has now reached a rare company in the NBA.

The Bulls are set to play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday ahead of the NBA All-Star break and that will be an excellent opportunity for DeRozan to make NBA history.

What DeRozan has done with the Bulls this season has been incredible. DeRozan is having a career year at the age of 32. Through 54 games this season, he is averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game to go along with a field goal percentage of 51.5%.

Players in NBA history with 35+ points on 50% shooting in 6 straight games:

— DeMar DeRozan
— Wilt Chamberlain

If DeRozan gets one more, he’ll set the record. pic.twitter.com/5Bfb60sFbN

— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 15, 2022

For the Bulls, this is the best individual season they have had from a player since the days of Michael Jordan. There is no question that DeRozan is having an MVP-caliber season and if he continues this trend in the second half, there is no doubt that he will get MVP consideration once the season ends.

In a season where the expectation was that Zach LaVine would emerge as the alpha in the Bulls’ locker room, there is no question that the team would be lost without DeRozan and that he has become the leader of the team.

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan could make NBA history on Wednesday.

This was the plan that the Bulls had in mind when they completed a sign-and-trade with the Spurs to acquire DeRozan this past summer but even they could not have expected the veteran to be this great.

One thing is clear, DeRozan certainly was not the worst offseason move this past summer as some originally suggested when the signing was first announced:

Yikes. You could argue that Young, who will cost $14.2 million next season, contributes more to winning than DeRozan. It’s at the very least debatable, which just further shows how poorly Chicago mismanaged the summer’s worst signing.

For the record, Thaddeus Young is averaging 6.0 points per game this season on 57% shooting. While Young’s numbers are impacted by the fact that he was not a part of the Spurs’ rotation this season prior to his being traded to the Toronto Raptors, it is certain that the veteran would not bring the same value to the Bulls this season that DeRozan has.

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Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan is about to make NBA historyJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 5:00 pm Read More »

3 breakout candidates for the Chicago Cubs 2022 seasonJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm

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Chicago Cubs Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, now would be the time that the focus shifts to the upcoming Chicago Cubs regular season. However, Major League Baseball has locked out the Major League Baseball players as the league negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball’s Players Association.

The expectation is that the start of the regular season will be delayed but there has been no timetable set.

The 2022 season is believed to be a transition year for the Cubs. After trading the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez at the Major League Baseball trade deadline last season, it was clear that the Cubs have officially turned the page from the core that was responsible for the team winning the World Series in 2016.

The questions becomes what are the Cubs transitioning to. Are the Cubs planning for a full rebuild that will take a couple seasons to complete, or will the team use this season as a year to retool before returning to contention in 2022.

If the Chicago Cubs are going to contend in 2022, they will need a breakout performance from one of their young players.

Prior to the lockout beginning in December, the Cubs provided some insight in regards to the direction that they want to take. On the day prior to the lockout starting, the Cubs’ signed veteran starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to a three-year contract worth $71 million. The third year of the deal is a player option but, in any event, the Cubs would not have spent that amount of money if they were about to enter a full rebuild. Instead, it would appear that the Cubs are planning on contending again much sooner than originally anticipated.

If that is the plan, there is no question that the Cubs will need to be active once free agency resumes after the lockout but the team will also need improvement among the players currently on their roster. There are three players in particular that could be in line for a breakout season.

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3 breakout candidates for the Chicago Cubs 2022 seasonJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm Read More »

Unmasking Pritzker’s anti-science mask mandates

Unmasking Pritzker’s anti-science mask mandates

Gov. J.B. Pritzker arrives in a mask to speak at the Thompson Center during the coronavirus pandemic, April 19, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

“Illinois Has No Science Behind Its School Masking Mandate”

Here, in one place, you can find the science that confirms that masks achieve little if anything to fight Covid.

Mark Glennon, the founder of Wirepoints, for once and for all gathers what you need to educate yourself about the uselessness of masks and the dangers they pose.

For one thing, it unveils the flaws in the CDC’s “guidance” that Pritzker and others cite as if it were the final word and complete justification for a policy that justifies you and you and you to wear masks. Pritzker has eased up on his mask mandate, but not for school children, where masks have damaged learning, socialization and other necessary childhood progressions.

That a government agency would keep this “guidance” unchanged in the face of science and a growing public anger says a lot about its politicalization. And a lot about how it no longer serves the public interest. A house-cleaning is required.

Glennon points out that 39 states have done away with mask mandates, but leave it to Pritzker and the blind Democrats who cling to the masking falsehoods to lead Illinois into a basket of deplorable states.

Glennon serves up a useful bibliography of studies and reports that apparently have escaped the governor’s office.

How the CDC abandoned science–TabletThe Case Against Masks at Schools – The AtlanticMasking: A Careful Review of the Evidence – AEIRMore than 150 Comparative Studies and Articles on Mask Ineffectiveness and Harms – Brownstone InstituteDid Mask Mandates Work? The Data Is In … And the Answer Is ‘No’ – BloombergPolitics Getting Bad For Those Using Children As Human Covid Shields – WirepointsOmicron shows Illinois masks and mandates aren’t working: A comparison of Illinois versus its neighbors – WirepointsPolitics Getting Bad For Those Using Children As Human Covid Shields – WirepointsEvidence of Mask-Induced Brain Fog – Brownstone InstituteMeet Dr. Emily Landon: The Face of UChicago’s Anti-Science COVID Decrees – Chicago ThinkerThat Study of Face Masks Does Not Show What the CDC Claims – ReasonNearly 40 percent of all Illinois COVID deaths in the last month are breakthroughs. What gives? – WirepointsWhy Americans Can’t Trust the CDC’s COVID-19 Advice – ReasonAfter 2 years, growing calls to take masks off children in school – NPRAmericans in 39 states aren’t subjected to a mask mandate. Why are Illinoisans? – WirepointsThe CDC Director’s Slippery Response to Criticism of School Mask Mandates Further Undermines Her Agency’s Credibility – ReasonGrading the Governors – Who locked down and who opened? – Brownstone Institute

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Recent Comments

The only “science” asshats like Jumbo and Leisure Suit Lori believe in is “political science”-driven dictates
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to Richard Davis:
An operation for her hernia?
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In reply to Aquinas wired:
You don’t get to ask all the questions.. What do YOU think she should have gotten?
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In reply to Aquinas wired:
What is legal? Soro’s contributions to DA elections?
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OK, Dennis, what do you think the lady who stole 3 65-inch TVs should have gotten?
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Beer Preview: Oskar Blues Western Mutant IPA

from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
posted Monday at 11:35 pm

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A plea to keep the Reader, a Chicago institution, alive.

A plea to keep the Reader, a Chicago institution, alive.

Will the Chicago Reader, Chicago’s ground-breaking alternative newspaper become the latest victim of woke cancellation?

That seems possible, according to veteran Chicago journalist  Mark Jacob, writing in a Chicago Sun-Times op-ed. He explains how a plan to keep the Reader alive is jeopardized by a spat over an article that challenges the wisdom of Covid masking.

Read “Some free advice to rescue the Chicago Reader: Let’s not make this current dispute personal. The Reader is an important voice, especially for journalists of color and other often-marginalized groups.”

To subscribe to The Barbershop, type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

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Forgotten Chicago
Pat Hickey’s “With Both Hands”
QT brought to you by Zay Smith

Like me on Facebook

Blogroll

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor’s favorite blogs

Blithe Spirit
Assorted commentary offered in lieu of organized commentary that is not yet organized
Center for Media and Public Affiars
Chicago Daily Observer
Intelligent commentary about Chicago politics
Forgotten Chicago
A great site featuring what Chicago used to be and how it got to what it is now.
Pat Hickey’s “With Both Hands”
QT brought to you by Zay Smith
Chicago’s wittiest columnist

Our National Debt

Twitter

Tags

politics (269)
Illinois (168)
Chicago (157)
Obama (105)
COVID-19 (95)
Barack Obama (76)
Obamacare (72)
elections (70)
Donald Trump (66)
health care (62)

Recent Comments

The only “science” asshats like Jumbo and Leisure Suit Lori believe in is “political science”-driven dictates
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to Richard Davis:
An operation for her hernia?
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to Aquinas wired:
You don’t get to ask all the questions.. What do YOU think she should have gotten?
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to Aquinas wired:
What is legal? Soro’s contributions to DA elections?
Read the story | Reply to this comment
OK, Dennis, what do you think the lady who stole 3 65-inch TVs should have gotten?
Read the story | Reply to this comment

/Users/dennisby/Desktop/trailer.mp4

Latest on ChicagoNow

A plea to keep the Reader, a Chicago institution, alive.

from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted today at 10:36 am

Unmasking Pritzker’s anti-science mask mandates

from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted today at 10:19 am

Beer Preview: Oskar Blues Western Mutant IPA

from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
posted Monday at 11:35 pm

Watch Wirepoints’ Dabrowski discuss how to fix IL’s problems of way too much crime, taxes, Covid mandates, teachers’ unions’ market power, excessive public sector pensions and massive out-migration; But way too little school choice, Cable and Web

from Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz by Jeff Berkowitz
posted Monday at 8:18 pm

7 Ways to Improve Your Parking Lot

from Small Business Blog by Martin Banks
posted Monday at 12:40 pm

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Cubs Den

Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends

Pets in need of homes

Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area

Hammervision

It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Advertisement:

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A plea to keep the Reader, a Chicago institution, alive. Read More »

Fantasy basketball daily notes for Tuesday: Josh Hart can do everythingon February 15, 2022 at 4:34 pm

One of the most underrated archetypes in fantasy basketball is the player who can do a little bit of everything. The Portland Trail BlazersJosh Hart is one of these jack of all trades; capable of building out solid rebounding, scoring, passing, and defensive production in any given game.

In last night’s upset win of the Milwaukee Bucks, Hart posted 27 points to go with 12 combined assist and rebounds. Dealt to Portland last week in the CJ McCollum blockbuster, Hart is enjoying a leap as a scorer with his new team, averaging 25 points in his first two games. In a rewarding role in Chauncey Billups’ rotation, Hart is one of the best waiver additions to make this week.

Joining Hart in filling up the hoop last night was Anfernee Simons, who has now scored at least 30 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Thriving as the centerpiece of Portland’s offense, rush to make room for Simons in all formats.

Highlights

Bruce Brown, Brooklyn Nets: 19 points (8-12 FG), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks

Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder: 28 points (11-22 FG), 11 rebounds, 12 assists

Lowlights

Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors: 6 points (2-15 FG), 1 rebound, 1 turnover

Monday takeaways

Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double in consecutive games. Giddey has regularly cruised past props for combined rebounds and assists in recent outings thanks to being tasked with orchestrating Oklahoma City’s offense. Tre Mann joined Giddey in putting on a show in MSG last night, setting a new career high with 30 points. This scoring outburst is likely an outlier, but Mann is now on our radar.

While unrelated, Terance Mann has been productive for the Clippers lately. The two-way wing posted 25 points in a win over the Warriors last night and now has consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career.

New York’s Quentin Grimes is one of the rare positive stories for the Knicks this season. The rookie shooting guard produced 19 points and played 40 minutes in the overtime loss to the Thunder. New York’s Mitchell Robinson delivered a huge line in the loss and is likely one of the best widely available centers at the moment.

Brooklyn debuted Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in stopping the team’s losing streak last night. Curry made 10 shots, tied for his second-most in a game this season, while Drummond finished one board shy of a double-double. With more shooting and scoring coming back to the rotation soon, I’m less intrigued by Curry and more interested in shares of Drummond, who could become an elite rebounding force right away in this new role.

play0:23

Seth Curry shows off his vision with a nice dish to Andre Drummond, who finishes with a dunk.

Injuries of note

Toronto’s Fred VanVleet left last night’s loss to the Pelicans due to a knee injury. We’ll learn more about his status ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with Minnesota.

The 76ers won’t have James Harden in the lineup until after the All-Star break. Tyrese Maxey should continue to thrive as the team’s top perimeter creator until then.

Atlanta won’t have John Collins in the lineup against the Cavaliers tonight due to a foot strain.

Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable to play for the Heat against the Mavericks due to a shoulder strain. Tyler Herro has been ruled out due to a knee contusion.

2 Related

Analytics advantage for Tuesday

With Caris LeVert in Cleveland and Chris Duarte injured, there’s a real opportunity for veteran wing Lance Stephenson to provide value as both a streaming option in redraft formats and as a bargain at just $4,000 on DraftKings.

Stephenson has consumed a usage rate of at least 28% in three of his last five outings and has topped 31 minutes in two of his last three, helpful indicators of value. I’m also intrigued by Indiana’s Oshae Brissett, who is rostered in just 9.4% of leagues and yet has posted consecutive double-doubles with helpful defensive rates.

DFS discussion

Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks: With the Hawks prone to spacing the floor with smaller lineups when possible, Capela has endured fairly sizable dips in shots, rebounds, and blocks compared to last season. Tonight, however, Capela could get extended run facing Cleveland’s oversized frontcourt. With the potential to top 30 minutes and with Collins sidelined, Capela could also be a nice value for rebounding props.

Al Horford, Boston Celtics: Like with Capela, Horford could see more minutes and touches this evening due to the opponent. Even deep into his career, Horford is likely one of the better defenders in the league against Joel Embiid, aiding a projection around 30 DraftKings points this evening.

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Fantasy basketball daily notes for Tuesday: Josh Hart can do everythingon February 15, 2022 at 4:34 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls marked as one of few favorites to sign Goran DragicRyan Heckmanon February 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm

Once put on a poster by a Chicago Bulls legend, veteran point guard Goran Dragic could be on his way to the Windy City shortly.

Dragic was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Thaddeus Young just before the trade deadline last Thursday. However, San Antonio also received a first-round pick. That pick was the center of the deal, and ultimately Dragic was going to be bought out.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the buyout has been agreed to as of Tuesday morning.

Next up, Dragic gets to pick where he lands as a free agent. Could it be Chicago? There’s definitely interest, but the Bulls will have competition.

Might take some time for Goran Dragic to negotiate a buyout with the Spurs as expected. As @ChrisBHaynes first reported, there’s interest with the Mavs. Dragic intrigued with Nets, Warriors, Clippers & Bulls, too, but TBD on how that plays out

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 10, 2022

After agreeing to a buyout, point guard Goran Dragic would be the perfect pickup for the Chicago Bulls.

For a while now, the Bulls have been without point guard Lonzo Ball. In his place, rookie second-rounder Ayo Dosunmu has been playing very well. His ascension has made losing Ball a bit less painful.

But, behind Dosunmu is Coby White, who functions better as more of a two guard. Then, there’s Matt Thomas, whom Bulls fans probably want to see get the axe here soon — that is, if the Bulls can find a replacement.

Signing Dragic would mean Thomas is ultimately cut. There’s no doubt about it. That might also mean Dragic steps into a starting role, but Billy Donovan has to be smart. Dosunmu has found his groove as the starting point guard, and bringing Dragic off the bench might be a wiser move.

For his career, Dragic averages just under five assists per game and is an above-average three-point shooter. He’s also been a pretty solid defender for most of his career, so fitting in with the Bulls would be a breeze.

This is a move the Bulls make to set themselves up for a deep playoff run. Should Dragic choose the Bulls, all that’s left would be for Chicago to potentially find another big man to replace Tony Bradley — although Derrick Jones Jr. has stepped in after coming back, and played well in that role.

Dragic should be finding a new home shortly, and Bulls fans can only hope it’s with Chicago. We’ll see where the 35-year-old, former All Star lands. If it’s the Bulls, this team is going to be even scarier when they’re all healthy.

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Chicago Bulls marked as one of few favorites to sign Goran DragicRyan Heckmanon February 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm Read More »

3 moves the Chicago Bears must make this offseason for Justin FieldsJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 1:06 pm

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Chicago Bears Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears witnessed the importance of the quarterback position on Sunday as they watched the Super Bowl matchup between the Las Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Both the Rams and Bengals have a franchise quarterback in the form of Matt Stafford and Joe Burrow respectively and that is further confirmation that the team must have a franchise quarterback in order to be a contender in the modern era of the National Football League.

The importance of the quarterback position was not lost upon the Bears last off-season as they traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft to select quarterback Justin Fields with the 11th overall selection in the first round. With the selection of Fields, the Bears are confident that they have identified the first franchise quarterback fo the organization since the days of Sid Luckman.

Unfortunately, the 2021 season was a warning for the Bears. A warning that the team must operate in a mindset that every move should be valued based on the impact that it has on Fields. Almost all of the decisions that the Bears made during the 2021 season had a negative impact on Fields. Between Fields not being named the starting quarterback; Fields being named the scout team quarterback in practice; and, former head coach Matt Nagy failing to develop an offensive game-plan that caters to Fields’ strengths, there is no question that the Bears rookie quarterback was put in a position to fail.

Super Bowl LVI was confirmation that the Chicago Bears need to make moves this off-season to put Justin Fields in a position to succeed.

With Ryan Poles now in place as the team’s general manager and Matt Eberflus now in place as the team’s head coach, these are the moves that the Chicago Bears need to make this off-season in order put Fields in the best position to succeed in his second season.

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3 moves the Chicago Bears must make this offseason for Justin FieldsJordan Campbellon February 15, 2022 at 1:06 pm Read More »

3 Chicago Bears free agents to consider bringing backVincent Pariseon February 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears are going to be a very different-looking football team in 2022. There are going to be new coaches in place, a new general manager is running the team, and there are certainly going to be some new players on the roster. It is hard to tell if this team is going to be average or below average. Anything better than average would be a surprise.

Everything with this franchise right now starts and ends with Justin Fields. Chicago selected him in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft and he has been the future ever since. He had a battle with Andy Dalton last season but it was clear who was better.

It was also clear that Matt Nagy did no favors for Fields in his rookie year. They need to make sure that they are surrounding this kid with plenty of protection in addition to some more weapons to help him make plays. If they don’t do that, then none of this is going to work.

They also need to retool the defense a little bit. They have studs on the pass rush like Khali Mack and Robert Quinn to go with Roquan Smith who is one of the best linebackers in the NFL. There are some question marks in the secondary that need to be figured out in order for it to be a competent unit which is certainly possible.

The Chicago Bears might be players once free agency rolls around in the NFL.

In order for all of this to happen, the Bears need to make some additions. Free agency is the way to go for some of these needed additions and they will certainly be players in the market. With that in mind, they have a couple of good free agents of their own to consider bringing back:

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3 Chicago Bears free agents to consider bringing backVincent Pariseon February 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Beer Preview: Oskar Blues Western Mutant IPA

Beer Preview: Oskar Blues Western Mutant IPA

Oskar Blues West Coast Mutant IPA

Last week, I tried out an imperial version of an “East Coast hazy” Indian pale Ale. Now we’ll back to a new iteration of the West Coast version.

Oskar Blues Brewery has sent me a six-pack of their new Western Mutant IPA. They called it an attempt to re-establish the West Coast IPA style, but with a mix of hops from all over: Nelson Sauvin (New Zealiand), Akoya™ (Germany), Saphir (Germany), Simcoe® (Pacific Northwest). It clocks in at 7.0% abv. It’s the first in a planned “Hop Forward” IPA series.

I tried to compare this to the Crystal Lake Hoptopus I had earlier, which was a New England Style IPA. This one is actually still in hazy territory. It poured cloudy, but instead of staying opaque, it cleared slightly in the glass to suggest there was more filtering at work. A firm persistent white head.

The nose was mainly more tropical fruit, not as strong as the NEIPA, and there a notable twang of pine resin. The taste brings in the different hops, with a peppery German note, still some citrus fruit, but some resiny bitterness. I tried to think of a Sierra Nevada, but that has a bit more toast to the malt, while this is lighter to let the hops play by themselves. It leaves the familiar bitter aftertaste to remember it by.

A glass of Oskar Blues’ Western Mutant IPA

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Oskar Blues, West Coast IPA

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Posted February 7, 2022 at 11:41 pm

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Mark McDermott on The Beeronaut
Posted February 6, 2022 at 12:53 am

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