A blonde ale made the most sense for a Taylor Swift-inspired beer, said Mike Marr, owner of Buffalo Creek Brewing, not only because the singer-songwriter is a blonde, but the light beer is easy to flavor with edible flowers like lavender.
The brewery in Long Grove, a suburb about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, created the limited edition ale with lavender in honor of Friday’s release of Swift’s 11th original album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
“We’re Swifties; of course our brewery is going to plan its entire business around the Taylor Swift drop,” Marr said in an Instagram video announcing the featured beer inspired by the singer-songwriter. The brewery paired the announcement with a local giveaway of the limited four-pack, a vinyl of Swift’s upcoming album, a gift card and a Buffalo Creek Brewery T-shirt.
Taylor Swift performs “Cruel Summer” at the opening night of the Chicago Eras Tour on June 2, 2023, at Soldier Field. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago became a quasi epicenter for Swift’s album release after a QR code popped up on a River North building Tuesday morning. Fans flocked to the building on Grand Avenue to take photos, trade friendship bracelets and see the mural for themselves.
The QR code links to a 13-second YouTube short on Swift’s account, where the message “Error 321” and a faded “13” pop up in a typewriter font. It’s well-known that the 34-year-old star has an affinity for the number 13 — along with teasing projects with carefully placed clues.
Nicole Granato takes a photo of Peyton Granato in front of a QR code mural in River North on April 16, 2024, The QR code links to a Taylor Swift web page. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Marr was also aware of Swift’s lucky number, and used that knowledge to name his limited brew “13th Poet.”
Blonde ale doesn’t have dominating malt or hop characteristics, making it easier to “pull flavor through,” Marr said.
Buffalo Creek chose to flavor the brew with fresh lavender because purple seemed like an appropriate color for Swift. It’s also in theme with the popstar’s hit “Lavender Haze” from her 2022 album “Midnights.”
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The local brewery made 20 gallons of the limited edition ale – half was bottled up in four-packs to sell, and the other half will be available on draft in their Long Grove taproom.
A father of daughters, Marr said he has listened to, and enjoys, Swift’s discography.
“I do enjoy her music,” he said. “But I really appreciate what she’s done and how she’s actually gone through and changed the music industry, and how (artists) are respected.”
The social media posts around the beer’s launch “blew up” much bigger than Marr expected, with one video on Instagram racking up more than 15,000 views. The brewery owner said he’d seen comments about people planning to take the day off of work to be there for the release of the lavender blonde ale on Thursday.
Marr expected the Swift-inspired beverage would only last until Thursday afternoon.
In anticipation of the limited batch’s success, Marr said the brewery is working on a second batch that will be released in conjunction with the brewing company’s Maifest celebration next month.
“For all those who didn’t get the first round, we’ll have the second batch for them,” Marr said.
Buffalo Creek Brewing owner Mike Marr is shown on Oct. 21, 2022, pouring a “Bad Move,” a U-Haul orange-colored honey nut brown ale that commemorates a crash into the nearby Long Grove covered bridge.
This is not the first time Buffalo Creek Brewing has ventured into themed beers. The endeavor started five years ago when the brewery’s social media team suggested a candy corn beer for Halloween, Marr said.
The limited edition brew sold out in a half-hour the first year they made it, he said. Now, it’s an annual Halloween tradition.
When crafting a beverage inspired by a celebrity as famous as Swift, Marr said the brewery is very careful not to infringe on her trademark, hence the beer is named “13th Poet” and not after Swift or her upcoming album.
“It’s Taylor Swift-influenced, but it’s not a Taylor Swift beer,” Marr said.
For the Thursday launch of “13th Poet,” Marr decked out his taproom with Swift-inspired decorations including the number 13, lavender streamers and more suitable for Swiftie selfies.
chilles@chicagotribune.com
