Situation Chicago Volume II

Initially put together to support venues during the height of the pandemic, the first Situation Chicago LP successfully raised 35k for more than 25 stages. We're back for round two, and this time around, proceeds from the follow-up record go to the CIVL SAVE Emergency Relief Fund, powered by The Giving Back Fund, giving need-based grants to furloughed staff, local artists, and venues via need-based grants in the Chicagoland area. Volume 2 features tracks from Jeff Parker, Umphrey's McGee, and Fess Grandiose.

For this coffee cold can, we chose to highlight a fun, fruity coffee from El Salvador that went through a unique fermentation process. The Pacamara cultivar is a cross between Pacas and Maragogype, a spontaneous mutation of Typica with especially large cherries. Immediately after the cherries were picked, they were collected in an enclosed vessel using carbon dioxide to purge out any oxygen remaining. The intact cherries were left to ferment in this closed system, allowing the natural microbes and yeasts present to ferment the mucilage on the bean without introducing any outside factors. After a few days, the cherries were removed and dried in their skins on raised beds, further developing the acidity and complexity of the coffee.


Country: El Salvador
Farm: Santa Petrona
Cultivar: Pacamara
Process: Carbonic Maceration
Notes: Mulled Wine, Tangerine, Dried Cranberries
Wanna cop the record? You can either grab it from Quiet Pterodactyl's Bandcamp or swing through our Bodega record shop to snatch it up alongside a copy of the first compilation too!
March 16, 2022 — Jake Kryshak

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers

Nightroamer is the third album from our friends Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and we're happy to report their blisteringly energetic brand of punk-rock'n'roll-country fusion is more expansive and genre-defying than ever! Are they a rock-inspired country outfit or steel-guitar punk? Doesn't matter if it's this good. 



Inspired by this dynamism, we crafted a blend just as versatile as the band themselves: something that can be sipped and shared on the front porch, on the front dash of a tour van, in a honky-tonk roadhouse or a punk rock hole in the wall. Liz Pavlovic's violet night sky gives an indication of the blend inside: dark fruit notes and a twinkle of acidity. Honey processed Salvadoran coffee pairs creamy body (with more citrus acidity coming through as it cools),  with hints of berry notes provided by a Bourbon natural from the Pacas family. Is it a comfort cup or a heady dive? Doesn't matter if it's this good.

Lastly and definitely not least, we were graciously given three tracks from Nightroamer that are yours free via digital download when you purchase a bag through the DMC website. Make sure to grab the record here.
 

Blend Breakdown:

Coffee 1
Country: El Salvador
Mill: Café  Tuxpal
Cultivar: Bourbon & Pacas
Process: Honey
Coffee 2
Country: El Salvador
Farm: Santa Petrona
Cultivar: Bourbon
Process: Natural 
Notes: Blackberry, Caramel, Citrus
Net Weight: 12oz
February 17, 2022 — Jake Kryshak
Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur x DMC

Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur x DMC

Jägermeister and coffee have a profound connection through the complex nature of each as well as the passion and dedication required to produce them. We've teamed up with the fine folks at Jägermeister to produce coffee and chocolate that marries the unique attributes of the world's favorite herbal liqueur to legendary coffee and chocolate. 

Drawing inspiration from the Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee - a classic herbal liqueur with coffee and a high of chocolatey cacao - we created a unique, limited-edition line of non-alcoholic, Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee-infused chocolate bars and coffee beans. 

Take heart in knowing with each sip and bite, you're enjoying a combination of family traditions, innovation and craftsmanship. 

Coffee:
For this collaboration we are highlighting a coffee from Guatemala, honey processed Caturra. The green coffee has been conditioned with Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, infusing the beans with the flavor profile of this fruity, botanical liqueur. 
Country: Guatemala
Farm: San Jeronimo Miramar
Cultivar: Caturra
Process: Honey
Country: Guatemala
Farm: San Jeronimo Miramar
Cultivar: Caturra
Conditioned in Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Notes: Concord Grape, Cocoa Nib, Black Licorice
Net Wt: 12 oz

    

Chocolate

For this collaborative chocolate bar, we used a well-rounded Trinitario from Chiapas that has been infused with Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur. Trinitario is a hybrid cacao cultivar discovered in Trinidad and Tobago and is a cross-pollination of Criollo and Forastero, two of the most common cultivars in the Americas. It has a dark fruit profile and complexity that pairs perfectly with the botanicals in Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.

Country: Mexico
State: Chiapas
Producer: Don Margarito Mendoza and Family
Variety: Trinitario
Conditioned in Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Notes: Grape Jam, Citrus Peel, Black Cherry  
Net Wt: 1.2 oz (35 grams) 
 “Not for sale to anyone under 21”
January 31, 2022 — Kyle Hodges

The Ground Below with Run The Jewels

If you want to run them jewels fast, then you better have some extra gas in the tank, homie. When that crack team of ninjas you've been dodging finally busts down the door trying to steal your weed, money, and weed money, all you gotta do is grab a can of whoop-ass and open 'er on up. Featuring two all-star experimental fermentations to match the power levels of the legendary duo it's inspired by, this coffee is full of caramelly-sweet notes and flavors like Peach, Rolos, and Vanilla Bean. Peep below for a breakdown of each bean.

Coffee 1
Country: Guatemala
Farm: San Jeronimo Miramar
Cultivar: Catuai
Process: Fermented with Oenococcus Oeni Bacteria

This bacteria converts malic acid, commonly found in melons, apples, and coffee cherries, into lactic acid. This process is popular in Chardonnay production, giving the wine a soft, buttery mouth-feel. In coffee it provides a pop of smooth creaminess that'll make you say "ooh la la" 

Coffee 2
Country: El Salvador
Farm: Santa Petrona
Cultivar: Bourbon
Process: Carbonic Maceration

Fresh coffee cherries are picked at the peak of ripeness and collected in a container with added carbon dioxide, forcing out any oxygen from this closed system. The intact cherries are left to ferment using the sweet fruit still on the seed and then go through the normal coffee fermentation process, adding bright, juicy fruit flavors

Notes: Peach, Rolos, Vanilla Bean
September 27, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

Rituale with Diadora and Fleet Feet


Runners are a different blend of people because, well, they enjoy running. Finding excitement where others find only exhaustion. To these oddballs, running is a ritual that begins the second their alarm buzzes, rings, or chimes. They don shorts that show a little too much thigh, put on bandaids before they bleed, and play it safe so they never chafe. Then off they trot, treating themselves to morning miles for breakfast with coffee on the side.



And for this different blend of people comes a special blend of coffee. Made in collaboration with Fleet Feet and Diadora - Rituale draws its name from Diadora's own Italian running roots to celebrate the runner's ritual. And as a proud member of the Chicago running community since 1996, Fleet Feet believes in providing what's best for runners, from the shoes on their feet to the coffee they sip. Which is why this unique blend gives runners the fuel they need to get a running start to their day. 


For this coffee we decided to add a sweet and fruity twist to our Northern Italian inspired Unicorn Blood, paying homage to Diadora's Italian roots! Catuai and Catimor from Finca San Jeronimo in Guatemala are joined by a bright, natural processed Bourbon from Santa Petrona in El Salvador, adding a strawberry-like profile. As with Unicorn Blood, this coffee performs well in a variety of brew methods from coffee cold to espresso! 

August 19, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

2021 Artist Interviews - Nate Gonzalez

In celebration of our monthly blend Competition Orange, we sat down with artist Nate Gonzalez to discuss music, art, and the creative process.
The next best thing to land on Planet Earth since the invention of anime, it's your favorite boi Nate G aka YunGFlop. The hero we didn't deserve, but the hero we realized we still don't want. He's creator of the air molecule, so every time you breathe just remember to say thank you. Instagram - @Yungflop.wav
August 17, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

2021 Artist Interviews - Jamiah Calvin

In celebration of our monthly blend Poetry in Motion, we sat down with artist Jamiah Calvin to discuss comics, inspiration, and process.
Jamiah Calvin is a visual artist and muralist from Chicago Illinois. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in studio art with an emphasis on painting.  He specializes in figurative and narrative oil paintings that captures raw emotions and nostolgic experiences growing up within the Austin Community on the West side of Chicago. ​

Calvin's art remains just as diverse as the areas that influence him. He draws inspiration from the 1980-1990s era  filled with vivid memories of comic books, saturday morning cartoons and the effects of Reganomics on the African American culture. His strong respect for the creative works of John Coltrane and love for R&B music of the 1980-1990s influences many of his great works.   
His works have been displayed in various exhibitions throughout the country as well as Art Basel Miami. He is honored to evoke deep thought to all whom witness his creations.
July 14, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

2021 Artist Interviews - Oscar Joyo

In celebration of our monthly blend Datura Inoxia, we sat down with artist Oscar Joyo to discuss inspirations, anime, and process.

 

Oscar Joyo (b.1992,Lilongwi,Malawi). At a young age, he was introduced to art by his mother but his passion grew through animation, comic books, video games and film. He moved to the United States in 2000 from Malawi and lived in South Bend, Indiana where he continued to pursue art to serve as means of expression and communication.

   After graduating high school in 2011,Oscar moved to Chicago to attend the American Academy of Art and explore the creative Chicago art scene. He graduated with a BFA in life drawing at the American Academy of Art in 2015. Technical training in traditional drawing skills from the Academy led him to find interests in professional illustration, graphic design, photography, and fine art.

   Oscar currently lives in Chicago and has been involved in many artist exhibitions around Chicago. He has also been a part of showcases outside of the city such as The Society of Illustrators student exhibition in New York, Congressional Art Exhibition and Digital Arts Showcase in South Korea.

July 14, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

Summer Madness

Summer Madness, AKA Summer in the City, AKA Everybody Loves the Sunshine, AKA...

  Summer has landed in Chicago in the same way we've been known to descend on a tray of hot dogs - hard, fast, and sweaty. The days are getting longer, paleta men are hitting the streets, and things are opening up at a pace that a year ago seemed impossible. Hell, we even already got started in on the festivities by opening up the backyard patios and having artists paint up our picnic tables!

 

For us, the rising thermometer is always associated with an increased consumption of coffee cold, and lord do we love our coffee cold. Supercharged and super tasty, these ice cold babies are the lifeblood of many at music and beer fests everywhere and a daily requirement for function for yours truly (and hey, maybe you too!). After a year of our 2019 caterpillar selves metamorphosing into the beautiful 2021 butterflies we've all become, it's time to enter the world again with the energy of a people that have been inside for the better part of 14 months. There's so many things to do in a city crawling its way out of a pandemic, we'd be remiss if we didn't take the opportunity to present Summer activities and their perfect coffee cold counterparts. 

  

Chocolate City - Sports!

Chocolate City is an all-time classic in the iced coffee world, the perfect balance of both get up and go with a taste that makes it easy to throw back time after time. It's also a great companion for those all-day skate sessions or a precursor to catching a day game. Hell, maybe you're just shooting hoops in the backyard. Either way, Chocolate City is the gold standard for a clean and tasty caffeine boost.

Vanilla Suburbs - Live Music!

 With Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, AND Riot Fest all making their returns this year, you're gonna need some get up to get down if you're ever gonna survive all three weekends. Lucky for you the smooth sweetness of Vanilla Suburbs is there to serenade you with flavor and energy like Limp Bizkit is sure to do at this year's Lolla. Granted, in their case that flavor is hot dog water and ours is just like, vanilla? You know what, maybe this one got away from us...

Brown Acid - Brewery Bike Tour!

  Sometimes the only thing better than an afternoon at a brewery is an afternoon of biking to a whole mess of them with your friends. Here's the problem - ya can't bike around drinking all day without ending up on your ass. Luckily you can keep things rolling and your mouth full of hops with our Brown Acid dry-hopped coffee cans.

Black Splash - Backyard BBQ/Park Hangs!

  

What's better than a casual hangout with some nice libations? Our Black Splash barrel aged iced coffee is the ideal warm-up for a full day of grilling and chilling with friends. Simultaneously sweet and boozy, Black Splash is a top tier cocktail companion or perfect to wash down a hamburger hot off the grill.

July 02, 2021 — Jake Kryshak

High Vibr8tionz - Mother Nature Coffee Cold

We are proud to announce our newest music collaboration with the dynamic duo Klevah and TRUTH a.k.a. Mother NatureTheir newest mixtape SZNZ off of Closed Sessions is a fifteen track instant CLASSIC featuring production work from the unstoppable Boathouse and guest verses served up from the likes of Brittney Carter, Valee, and Sir Michael Rocks. Honestly? We've had the thing on repeat since it dropped. We're not the only ones either, they've been reeling in acclaim from the likes of Complex and Pigeons and Planes. Overall SZNZ is brimming with bombastic, no bullshit attitude, meaning that we HAD to step in and provide a companion coffee to match! The can features album artwork and, in a first for us, a QR code that takes you straight to the mixtape so you have no fucking excuse to not check out the vibes. We also had the pleasure of hosting an interview in our Maggot Brain studio between Mother Nature, Boathouse, and Closed Sessions label co-founder Alexander Fruchter, followed by an in-studio performance of a few tracks off the album. You can watch that below.

This isn't our first time working with Closed Sessions or Boathouse, either. In 2019 we teamed up to put out a crazy double 7" celebrating their 10 year anniversary with a coffee and can to match. We've also hosted multiple members of the Closed Sessions crew during our annual Anniversary party and can tell you with certainty, they all rule.

 About the Coffee

Inside the can, the coffee is a Sampacho from El Salvador that underwent an experimental fermentation process called Carbonic Maceration. Sampacho as a cultivar is a short and sturdy plant, about half the height of other varietals. It's perfect for the mountains of El Salvador where high winds can whip through farms and cause damage to taller coffee trees.

Sampacho in El Salvador. At their tallest, these babies only get about waist high

Once the cherries were picked at the peak of ripeness by the Cafe Tuxpal team, they were collected in an airtight container and flushed with carbon dioxide to force out any oxygen. This allows for extended contact between the seeds and the mucilage without outside exposure to air or foreign yeasts. After the coffee has time to chill in these containers, they're processed as a Natural coffee by placing the cherries directly onto raised drying beds and continuing fermentation. We ended up with a bright and acid driven profile, with notes of blueberry, grape, and dark chocolate showing themselves on the cupping table. You can grab the cans here.

April 29, 2021 — Jake Kryshak