Pizza Beer? Chicago-Area Brewers Combine Two Of The Best Things Ever

Pizza and beer, a power couple America can believe in.

Leave it to the Chicago area to somehow find a way to combine pizza and beer and make the end result not simply drinkable, but increasingly in-demand.

Tom and Athena Seefurth's Mamma Mia! Pizza Beer has already landed the Campton Township, Ill. brewers mentions on Jay Leno, "The Today Show" and much more and -- in the new year -- it's about to hit the shelves at Jewel-Osco stores in two Chicago suburbs, South Elgin and St. Charles, in the new year, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

All the attention is a far cry from the the bizarre ale's humble, home-brew beginnings in 2006. As the brewers' website explains:

It all started with a surplus of tomatoes, a bag of garlic & an idea that started early in the spring when we planted our garden herbs.

The beer has steadily grown in popularity after Seefurth began entering it into local brewing contests. CNBC reported Milwaukee-based Sprecher Brewing brews the ale on a per-batch basis, making the beer -- and accompanying food products -- available in Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Michigan in addition to online. It is already being sold at Chicago-area and Ann Arbor, Mich. Whole Foods stores.

But, most importantly, is it tasty? When The A.V. Club conducted a tasting in 2008, the reviews were mostly in the affirmative: "It's not nearly as bad as it sounds."

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• Pizza Hut's "Crown Crust Carnival"

  If regular pizza crust has you bored stiff, venture to the Middle East for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/pizza-hut-middle-east-crown-crust-carnival_n_1448413.html">Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pies -- filled with cheeseburgers and chicken fingers</a>. They're aptly named "Crown Crust Carnival" pizzas.

• KFC's "Mac & Cheese Bites"

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/kfc-philippines-mac-and-cheese-bites_n_2058375.html">KFC's introduced "Mac & Cheese Bites" to the Philippines</a> earlier this year. The bite-sized snack has a crunchy outside filled with macaroni and a creamy cheese.

• Pizza Hut's Hot Dog Stuffed Crust

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/hot-dog-stuffed-crust-pizza-hut_n_1412110.html">Hot dog-stuffed crust from Pizza Hut</a> is a very real thing, but unfortunately only in the U.K. Drat.

• McDonald's "Gracoro" Burger

  We love croquettes, but on a burger? McDonald's Japan recently unveiled a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/mcdonalds-japans-gracoro-burger_n_2129343.html">burger with a croquette-esque patty of macaroni, shrimp and white sauce with a breadcrumb crust</a> called the "Gracoro" burger

• Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites Pizza

  First there was Pizza Hut U.K.'s hot dog-stuffed pizza. Then there was the Pizza Hut Middle East's hamburgers and chicken strips-stuffed crust. And then, crazy stuffed crust came to the U.S. with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/pizza-hut-cheesy-bites-review_n_1459361.html">Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites Pizza</a>.

• KFC's "Cheese Top Burger"

  Yes, this is real: KFC Philippines is offering something called the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/kfc-cheese-top-burger_n_1631452.html">"Cheese Top Burger,"</a> a fried chicken patty sandwich with garlic Parmesan dressing and a slice of cheese melted atop the bun.

• Pizza Hut's "Double Sensation"

  Available only in Singapore through the end of December, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/20/pizza-hut-double-sensation_n_2338263.html?utm_hp_ref=food">Pizza Hut's "Double Sensation"</a> pie featured two crusts and two different rings of toppings. It's like two pizzas in one!

• Taco Bell's Doritos Locos Tacos

  Doritos Locos tacos were a big winner this year, becoming Taco Bell's best-selling product ever. It sold about 100 million in roughly 10 weeks, and its popularity hasn't dimmed yet.

• Burger King's "Premium Kuro Burger"

  Colored hamburger buns are the new big trend abroad, it would seem. Burger King Japan is the latest to join the ranks of alternative-color buns with its <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/burger-king-japan-kuro-burger_n_1910213.html">"Premium Kuro Burger,"</a> which aptly translates to "Black Burger." The buns are colored with bamboo charcoal that's mixed into the dough. The ketchup is black, too -- it's flavored with squid ink.

• Wendy's Decadent Lobster And Caviar Offerings

  Wendy's Japan brings us two offerings you'd scarce believe are on a fast food menu: the Lobster Surf & Turf Burger and the Premium Caviar & Lobster sandwich. The Lobster & Caviar sandwich features both claw meat and lobster salad topped with a mustardy mayonnaise and sprinkled with caviar. The Surf & Turf Burger is a classic Wendy's burger topped with whole pieces of Canadian lobster.

• Burger King's Bacon Sundae

  Bacon fever came to a head this summer with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/burger-king-bacon-sundae_n_1590522.html">Burger King's bacon sundae</a>, which although only a limited-time offering, earned a permanent place in our hearts and stomachs.

• Pizza Hut's "Kit Kat Pops"

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/pizza-hut-middle-east-kit-kat-pops_n_1912387.html">Pizza Hut Middle East serves up an interesting dessert called "Kit Kat Pops,"</a> which look to be Kit Kat bars baked into sweet pizza dough. They come in a cheese variety, as well.

• Pizza Hut's "Cone Crust Pizza"

  As if Pizza Huts in the Middle Eastern didn't already serve enough over-the-top pizzas, the chain now serves <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/cone-crust-pizza-hut_n_1911029.html?utm_hp_ref=food">"Cone Crust Pizza."</a> The pie features Parmesan-crusted dough cones where a normal crust should be. The cones come stuffed in either Philadelphia cream cheese or honey mustard chicken.