Month: May 2012

New Blog Confidence Prelude EP

In this blog, we are going to talk about hard rock and metal music.  This band we are going talk about is called Confidence.  This band is getting ready to release their EP called Prelude.  Thanks to Metal Revelation for sending out this email with a ton of information on this band.  They have a very nice descripation and history on the band from the email that will be feature below.

Here is a little history that came from the email that Metal Revelation:

CONFIDENCE was born from the remnants of ideas, songs and bands which never really got to spread their wings. When they started things off in a studio somewhere in Sweden, they didn’t know what would come out of it, but they had a vision of making something passionate, true and beautiful.
They had all seen the decay or the Rock and Metal scene, the repetition of well-tried concepts and song-writing. Endless repetition, one album after another with a plastic soul-less sound and the somewhat peculiar idea that if you sound exactly like the bands that actually made it, there would be a golden record deal and fame in return.
With this in mind, they started to create their music and sound, trying to capture the emotion and feelings of each concept that came to them. Lyrics and vocals were written with the sole intention to enhance the concept and emotion of the songs, and music was written to enhance the vocals and lyrics. When recording, takes were selected because they said something, not because they were perfectly performed.
It took them almost 3 years, members came and members left, but now they finally are ready for the world.
Let us talk about the music, this is why the band is here.  The first song we are going to talk about is “Never Meant To Be.”  I love how this band is doing something a little different.  It is nice to hear keyboard starting out a song and then keeps a focus for about quarter into the song before you hear any guitar.  I know I am going to get beat up for saying this but it is nice to hear the guitar being secondary then not the focus has it is in every hard rock and metal songs out there.  I love how the drums and bass comes in with a soft thunder that bends into the softness of the vocals.  The vocals and part of the song writing reminds me of a Seattle band  called Nevermore.  Lead singer has a Bach to Dokken sound to him.  He is a very good singer and knows when to push his voice in all the right ways.  Guitar work is something out of 1980s to 1990s metal bands.  This is a very nice mix on this song and the guitar solo  is just right for this song.  This song is not over powering like most metal music.
This next song is “War Torn Skies.”  I was only able to find a sample off their website, which is www.confidenceofficial.com.  I love the drums and bass action in this song.  Guitar and vocals are in your face in a very good way for what this song means to the band.  The more I listen to Confidence they are sounding like 1990’s Nevermind and throwback 1980’s Skid Row.  It is very nice to hear a young band take up the devil horns and pour their soul into their songs like “War Torn Skies.”
The next song just like “Poison Lies” I was only able to find a sample off their website, which is www.confidenceofficial.com, is called “Poison Lies.”  This songs almost like something off Skid Row’s first record.  I hate comparing this band to any band.  I can kind of hear some Sonata Arctica with the keyboards in the background and the slamming guitar riffs.  This lead singer can sing in whatever the song is being threw at him. All their songs are metal because I say it sounds like this. You cannot live on that. You will need to listen to their music and form your own thoughts.
The last song we are going to take a listen to is “Flesh And Skin.”  A very nice guitar riff that carries through out this song with a very talented drum and bass lines to bring out the feeling of the song.  There is very few back up singing in this band but when it is there it is just right and very impactful.  This is a very nice driving song with a little control on the speed limits.  This is a very well written song all the way around.
Here is a little information on the band itself:
Band Members:
Lead vocals: Emil Kyrk
Bass guitar: David Lecander
Guitar: Per-Owe “Ewo” Solvelius
Keyboards: Clas Sjöstrand
Drums: Janne Jaloma
Twitter: @ConfidenceSWE

In closing, I really enjoyed all the songs. I will be picking up a copy for myself to add to my collection of music. If you enjoy hard rock and metal, you need to check this band. This band brings a ton of rock from the past and put a modern twist to genre. This band gives a music lover myself breath of fresh air. I love metal and I do not want to hear the same thing being pumped out from one or multiple bands. I believe every record company and band management learn their lesson in the 1980s and 1990s. To finally close this out, this band is writing music for themselves, fans, and metal music with soul and passion that will blow you away and make you think of what is going on in the world. I cannot wait to see what the future for this talented band. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Nicklas Lidstrom Retirement NHL

In this blog, we are going to talk about one of my favorite players, who is Nicklas Lidstrom, from the Detroit Red Wings.  He retires from the NHL with 20 years of playing the game.  Being a very late draft pick by the Wings and then turning into one of the greatest players in the game while adding to the rich history to Red Wings.  He is a four-time Stanley Cup and seven time Norris winner, which three were in a row. He also won Conn Smythe, which is MVP in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is rare to see a player play for only one team.

Career Stats (Yahoo Sports Canada):

Year      GP   G      A      Pts  +/-  PIM Hits BkS PPG PPA SHG SHA GW SOG Pct

Career 1564 264 878 1142 450 514 146  253    132   458 10     30     35 3875  .068

This future Hall of Framer was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1989 in the Round 3rd, which was 53rd overall. Yet he was not a physical defense men.  He is the smartest hockey player that I have ever saw without and with the puck.  His plus/minus is 450 and only had one year where he was -2, which was 2010-2011.  His highest plus/minus year was in 1993-1994, which was +43.  I get it he played on some really good teams during his career, however most Hall of Fame careers has some lowest in the early and some very highs at the end.  Red Wings in the 1990s were coming off years of bad hockey in the 1980s and they were building their team through the draft just like most smart teams in any sports.

In closing, I am not much of a number guy for any sports.  They do tell a story but I just love watching the sport and the player.  I love seeing what the player does without and with the puck or ball.  I have to say Nicklas Lidstrom was a most interesting player to watch.  He was always doing something on the ice to get the Red Wings in a better situation.  He did his job very well and made it look too easy.  Another fact that came out of his retirement, this will be first time in 30 years we Red Wings Fans and NHL fans will see a Detroit Red Wings team without Yzerman and Lidstrom on it.  Wings will never be able to replace him like they cannot replace a Steve Y, however, the Wings future is very bright.  To finally close, it was honor to watch Nicklas Lidstrom grow into one of the greatest players in the game.  I am glad I lived in this era of NHL hockey to see it.  Good Luck #5 and Thank you for all the awesome memories!  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Sebago Brewery Lake Trout Stout

In this blog, we are going to talk about a beer I received through my Beer of the Month. This brewery is unknown to me just like this brew. This brewery was founded in 1998. They offer a full line of different beer styles all the east coast.

This beer is black in color like your normal stout with a constant light brown head.  The smell from the beer is strong chocolate. The taste is not very good to be honest. The beer starts out water tasting and then a chocolate taste along a strong chocolate aftertaste.

Here is a description from their website (www.sebagobrewing.com):

Lake Trout Stout is midnight black with a thick and creamy head.  It is a full bodied stout brewed with oatmeal and plenty of hops to balance the roasted barley. Our stout is an experience.  It tastes the same way it looks – dark and rich. It is named after the famous deep water Sebago Lake Togue or Lake Trout which inhabit the depths of Maine’s deepest lake. Enjoy.

BEER DETAILS:

Style: Stout

History: First Brewed in 1998

Orig. Gravity: 13.5 °P

Color: Midnight Black 170 SRM

ABV: 4.7%

IBU’s: 32

Pairing Suggestions: rich sauces, grilled meats, or chocolate

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sebagobrewing.com

Twitter: @sebagobrewing

In closing, I love stouts in every style, however, Irish Dry Stout is very dry and I feel you need to drink a water with this style of beer. This beer is good but not bad. Since I cannot get this beer in Chicago, I will be enjoying my last two bottles of this brew. Drink it! Enjoy it l! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Dogfish My Antonia Pilsner

In this blog, we are going to dig into Dogfish Head My Antonia Pilsner.  Here is a little history of the brewery called Dogfish Head Brewery.  It was founded in 1995 by Sam Calagione in the state of Milton, Delaware.  They try to do different things to the old classic beer styles.  Their tagline says it all, which is “Off-centered ales for off-centered people.”  They do several different styles of beer that they sell out in the market.  They were featured in documentary “Beer Wars” and the TV show called “Brew Masters” on Discovery Channel.

This beer is your normal german pilsner. It has a ton of carbonation in this 750ml bottle. It is slightly cloudy with a golden to yellow in color. It has a slight circus smell or nothing in the smell from the beer. The beer has a tastes of circus with carbonation in it. The aftertaste is dry that will make you want to drink water with the beer. The dry aftertaste is slightly bitter that comes from the hops, however, it is not a huge bitter aftertaste like from IPAs.

Here is a description from the bottle:

This here beer is a lagerific departure for our ale-centric brewery.  A marriage of old world tradition and new world innovation, My Antonia is brewed with pilsner malt and continually-hopped with a blend of Noble and West Coast hops.

Here is a story on their website (www.dogfish.com):

My Antonia (named after the Willa Cather read), is a continually-hopped imperial pilsner. This lager for ale lovers is citrusy, sweet and refined.

My Antonia started out as a collaboration beer when Sam brewed it atBirra del Borgo (hope you can read Italian) outside Rome, Italy, with owner/brewer Leonardo DiVencenzo in October 2008. In 2010, we began brewing My Antonia here in Delaware for U.S. distribution.

As an aside, in June 2009, Leonardo came over to Delaware and brewed our original batch of Namaste with us at our Rehoboth Beach brewpub. And Leo is also one of the brewers involved in the Eataly project in New York City. What goes around, comes around.

Anyhoo… here is our Quick Sip Clip of Sam chatting about My Antonia with his Italian-American grandmother Jessie Calagione (they sometimes veer a bit off topic, but we think it’s a great video and love her ‘cash customers’ story). Cheers!

Here is a few ways to get to know this brewery:

Website: www.dogfishhead.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

In closing, I respect these craft breweries for their beer passion they have for this art. Dogfish Head is a great brewery and I love many of their beers. I love how this brewery pushes the limits of beer drinkers taste buds.  However, this beer and many of their beers that are in 750ml, I feel are not worth the money you are paying for what is in the bottle.  Let me say this, the beer itself is pretty good but for the price I feel it is not worth the money. I do love some of their beers that come in 750ml bottles.  I love their Black and Blue, Bitch’s Brew, and a few others. If you are a huge pilsner fan, I believe you will love this brew for the difference that it bring to the beer style. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn 71 Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about another brew from the Big Horn Ram Brewery called 71 Pale Ale. You know the history of this brewery from my earlier blogs. This beer has the 71 for the year that the brewery was founded. In some cases, you can call this their flagship beer.

This beer sits in the glass as slightly cloudy golden color.  The smell of the beer is little earthy.  The taste is a nice well balance beer. It has a sweet then heavy carbonation taste. The aftertaste has a nice bitter hop kick to it. This beer is perfect in any season and very drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.theram.com):

A distinctly drinkable pale ale brewed with a touch of rye and a blend of 5 hops. Deep copper in color with subtle spicy rye character and an enjoyable hoppy flavor.

Here is sources to get to know this brewery:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

On ending, like this beer and all the rest of the beers that are made at Big Horn Ram Brewery, they are designed for you to have more than one beer.  They are all very drinkable and sessional.  The 71 pale ale is one of my favorites at this great brewery.  It gives everything I am looking for in pale ale.  Go find your nearby Ram Brewery to eat and drink.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it !

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA

In this blog, we are going to talk about another small brewery called Uinta Brewery from Salt Lake City, Utah.  We talked about Hyve in my earlier blog.  I voiced how it was very disappointed and I did not like it.  This time around we are going to talk about one of my favorite beer from them.  The beer we are going to sip and visit is called the Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA.  This beer style is a marriage of two awesome styles of beer.  Porter or stout meets IPAs.  You can’t go wrong with that.  This is the latest trending beer style out there right now.

This beer in the glass is black until you put it up to the light then it becomes a dark brown.  The smell of the beer is of sweet circus. The taste of the beer is slight chocolate and kick of carbonation to circus kick. The aftertaste is very dry but in a good way.  The dryness from this beer is from the hops and the IBU is over 130.  Just picture yourself eating chocolate cover orange and you will understand this style a little bit better.  It is not fully like that but it gives you a better idea.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.uintabrewing.com):

Toasted, chocolaty dark malts align with an astronomical amount of hops.

They put this also on their website (www.uintabrewing.com):

Named Utah’s Centennial Star in 1996, Dubhe (pronounced Doo-bee) illuminates the front of the big dipper from 124 light years away. Dubhe, also known as Alpha Ursae Majoris, is a red giant that appears orange in color and has a mass 4x that of the sun.

Here is a few places to get information on this brewery:

Website: www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

Setting up the tap again, I really love this beer.  I love all three beer styles that go into this one beer style.  It is a wet dream for people that enjoy all factors that this style and this beer brings to your coffee table or bar.  This is one of my favorite one in the Black IPA market along with Widmer Pitch Black IPA. Pitch Black and Dubhe are the same style but totally different.  I want you to go out and hunt this beer down and try it.  Please let me know what you think and send a message to the brewery.  Breweries love to hear from us beer drinkers.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Central Waters Illumination Double IPA

In this blog, we are going to take a look at a beer from a small brewery from Amherst, WI called Central Waters.  This brewery is powered by solar power.  They are very green on everything with packaging and energy use.  This brewery has been in business since 1996.  Mike McElwain and Jerome Ebel are the founders of this brewery.  Their packaging is very dull and boring, however, we do not judge on packing just the beer inside.  They brew several different styles. The one we will be talking from Central Waters called Illumination Double IPA (India Pale Ale).

This beer in the glass is a cloudy light copper color.  When smelling it, you will get a strong piny smell from the hops in the brew.  As far as tasting the beer, it is over load of circus to earthy sweetest with a very dry aftertaste leaving in your mouth.  I really do not like this beer because several factors.  The one thing I do not like, there is not enough malt backbone in this beer.  The other thing I do not like about this beer is the over hop in the beer.  This beer is another cookie cutter of all the rest of American Double IPAs out there.  I am not saying all are bad but there are better ones out there.  However, after killing this beer, the plus for this beer is it is a great value for the price you will be paying for it.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Can you say palate wrecker? This Double IPA comes in at 108 IBUs, as hoppy as it gets with a mouthful of citrus flavors.  Grab one today and Illuminate your taste buds.

Here is a few sources to get to know this brewery better:

Website: www.centralwaters.com

Twitter: Not one listed

Setting up the bill, this is not a beer I will run out and get when it comes out.  It is a seasonal four pack from Central Waters.  If I am in the mood and I see it, I will drink it.  If there is another Double IPA at the bar, I hate to say I will drink that.  Just because I did not like this beer.  This does not mean that you will not like this beer.  This brewery cannot be judge on this beer and you should not judge them for this beer nor blog.  They do brewery some awesome beers.  This one is not one of their best ones.  Enjoy it! Drink it!  Metal it!

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis

In this blog, we are going to talk about a brewery, who is called Perennial Artisan Ales, that was founded in 2011.  This brewery joins an awesome current lineup of craft breweries in and out of St Louis, MO. This blog will feature one, which is called Saison de Lis, and there will be two more blogs, which are called Hommel Bier and Hommel Bier,to follow.

Just like a normal farmhouse saison ale, it is cloudy and golden to yellow in color. The smell is slightly circus to very earthly.  This Saison just like others is very drinkable and refreshing, which is why this beer style is brew by farmers on their farms in Belgium for their workers.

Here is a few sources to get to know about this brewery:

Website: www.perennialbeer.com

Twitter: @PerennialBeer

On ending, this beer is in big bottles and I am really not a fan of beers in these big bottles.  Unless, it is a really big beer and this saison is only 5% in ABV.  This beer is pretty good but not for the packaging size and price.  They did a very good job doing the American version of this beer.  I would say try it and put your thoughts on this beer.  It would be neat to check out their Brewpub some time in the future.  I will have to hunt down their other beers.  They are brewing some interesting beers.  Overall, this beer has a market just like every beer but I am not the market.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Black Walnut Dunkel

In this blog, we are going to talk about the second of three beers from Perennial Artisan Ales.  The beer we are going to talk about from this brewery is called Black Walnut Dunkel, which is their spring seasonal.  If you read my blog on Sunday, which is Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis, you will know about the history.

While the beer is sitting in the glass, it comes across as a light brown in color with constant head.  The carbonation during the pouring process is pretty normal for a German Dunkel.  The smell is like roasted chestnuts over a fireplace during the Christmas holiday season. This beer has a taste of a black walnut ice cream. Going deep in detail with that statement. It comes across as a slight sweet chocolate taste with mild walnut sweet aftertaste.  You will taste the walnut throughout the drinking experience but it is there but not really there. I am not a brew master but for reason I am getting some vanilla taste.  I really do not know where that vanilla is coming from in this beer.  It is a very drinkable in the spring to fall season and that is why it is a seasonal.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Black Walnut Dunkel is our first foray into German-style beer.  Originally brewed for an underground beer dinner with our friends at entre, BWD is a rich, malty Dunkelweiss with 250 pounds of Missouri black walnuts.  Game birds, such as quail, pair nicely with the unique, earthy character of the walnuts.

Here is a few sources to get to know about this brewery:

Website: www.perennialbeer.com

Twitter: @PerennialBeer

Closing out the tap, I know what I said in my other blog about their other beer, however, this beer being so different then what is out in the market.  I will pick up a bottle of this beer to pair it with a dessert, salad, or what it says on the bottle wild game.    I am a huge fan of German Weiss more than another wheat out there.  I am a huge fan of this beer.  It is a very good beer and I believe you should search this beer out.  It will be available in all big craft beer stores.  Let me know what you think of this great beer.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Hommel Bier

In this blog, we are going to talk about the final beer from the Perennial Artisan Ales that I got my hands on in the Chicago market.  They have a few more beers that I believe will not be available just yet in this market.  The beer that will be feature is their Hommel Bier.  This brewery goal is take American and Belgian styles and do something different within reason.  Hommel Bier is a Belgian Style Ale.

This beer pours into glass with huge carbonation just like your normal Belgian Strong Golden Ale.  The head is very constant with a slightly cloudy golden color to the beer. It has species and slight circus smell. The taste is sweet and carbonation with a bit of a bitter aftertaste.   It is kind of dry for the aftertaste. This beer is drinkable at anytime of the year.  It has a nice spicy kicking in this beer just like your normal Belgian style.  Just reading the description, I believe the spices are coming from the Belgian Yeast.

Here is description from the bottle:

In the hop capital of Belgium, Hommel is the word for Humulus, the plant genus where hops reside. Our Hommel Bier defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific Northwest hops, and a Belgian yeast strain.  The result is a beer that combines earthy and spicy tones from the yeast with a slight orange note contributed by the hops.  We think it’s buzzworthy.

Here is a few places on the web to get some information about this brewery:

Website: www.perenialbeer.com

Twitter: @perenialbeer

Closing out the tap, this beer like their Saison.  I honestly do not think it is a good value in a 750ml bottle.  However, this beer has a lower ABV, which is 5.9%, then other Belgium or styel, it puts it at a value and drinkable then them.  What I mean by that, you can drink all day and do not have to worry about getting tank.  Duvel, for example, you will have to worry about the ABV because it is 8.5%.  Since this is a small brewery, there will be a limited supply in the market (I am assuming.  I could be totally wrong on this theory.  I am just using my experience at searching for beers from smaller breweries.  I hope I am wrong on this theory.).  I believe craft beer drinkers will hunt this beer down even more then other beers that are easier to find.  Go find this beer and let me know what you think. Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser