Some wise men in downtown East Dundee have created what could be the ultimate Chicago-themed holiday beverage.

Truth or Dare is a beer that combines the flavors of Jeppson’s Malört liqueur with Old Style — but in a good way.

“We call it Truth of Dare because people dare each other to try Malört,” said Joe Zeller, owner of The Distance Social bar.

He had the idea for a beer-and-Malört combo about a year ago, prompting Zeller and his son, Joey, to reach out to staff at Black & Gray Brewing Co., about a half a block away, to see if they would be interested in joining forces. The two businesses had already collaborated on Stonesthrow, a barleywine aged in barrels that had been used to make New Riff bourbon.

Black & Gray taproom manager Anthony Savino was intrigued by the concept, in part because of the popularity of Malört in East Dundee.

“This town is very Malört focused. Any bar in town has it,” said Chris Kennedy, Black & Gray’s director of brewery operations and Savino’s father.

Zeller confirmed that his place sells a lot of Malört. Plus, he’s friends with the people at the Chicago-based CH Distillery, which makes the wormwood-based libation that, for many, is an extremely acquired taste.

Those relationships enabled Zeller to obtain a barrel from CH Distillery to use for aging the new brew. The distillery repurposes oak barrels used to make rum and bourbon that ultimately are used to make Malört.

Black & Gray Brewing Co. taproom manager Anthony Savino and director of brewery operations Chris Kennedy show off a bottle of Truth or Dare, a new malt beer aged in a barrel once used to make Jeppson’s Malört liqueur. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)

Kennedy started on the project about seven months ago, deciding to make a malt liquor that would age in the Malört barrel and gain flavor from it. Malt liquor is the more potent version of an imperial lager, which is what Old Style is, he said. Beers aged in barrels typically have higher alcohol content and are stronger tasting.

“Lighter beers don’t do well in barrels,” Kennedy said.

He tasted the brew about two months in, and decided it would need to age another four or five months if the barrel’s flavor was going to come through, he said.

While satisfied with the outcome, Kennedy said he was initially a bit wary about how it might be received, particularly given that Malört is so bitter.

When planning the Nov. 20 unveiling of Truth of Dare, Savino’s social media marketing called the beverage, “the greatest collaboration nobody asked for.”

Despite their initial wariness, the creation has been well-received and they’ve received kudos from the CH Distillery staff who attended the launch at the two East Dundee watering holes.

“It turned out amazing,” Saviano said. “Truth or Dare is smooth. It picked up grapefruit notes from the Malört and woody notes from the barrel.”

Kennedy likened it to a saison, a Belgian-style ale.

As far as they are aware, Truth or Dare is relatively unique among beers.

Kennedy said Scorched Earth Brewery in Algonquin sells The Algonquin Handshake, a cream ale aged in Malört barrels. An internet search shows that in spring, Milwaukee-based Broken Bat Brewing released The Chicago Handshake, which combines its lager with Malört. And this past summer, Colorado-based New Belgium Brewery and its Voodoo Ranger label came up with a Malört-ish IPA.

“As far as I know, we’re the only ones who combine a malt liquor with Malört,” Kennedy said.

The combo is doing so well that Savino said they are close to selling out of the on-tap version at Black & Gray. A 13-ounce pour of 11% ABV Truth or Dare is $8 at Black & Gray. The Distance Social is selling 22-ounce bottles for $14.

If you wind up being too late to buy some this holiday season, mark your calendars for next year. The men are planning to bring the brew back in November 2026.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/dundee-old-style-malort-beer-black-gray-truth/