Month: May 2012

New Blog Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ’12

In this blog, we are going to talk about a very limited release around the country. I have been wanting to try this beer and I could not find a bottle.  I finally found a bottle but I had to get some help from a few people.  Widmer Brothers is the second oldest brewery from Portland, Oregon.  Bridgeport beat them by a few weeks to have the title of the Oldest Craft Brewery.  Well both breweries are really good at what they do.  Well back to Widmer, the whole idea of the brewery is give you something different from the classic beers from around the world.  I believe the brothers of Widmer has done a very good job.  There pale ale is different from what is out there now.  It has a heavy grapefruit smell and taste.  Let us talk about this beer now.

This beer is black as black can get with a dirty head that is constant. This beer smells like chocolate cover raspberry smell with hints of roasted malt smells. This beer taste like dark chocolate cover raspberry with a roasted and carbonation.  For this beer being a big beer style, it is a very drinkable beer.  You will only have one beer and make it with some kind of dessert.  I did my bottle with vanilla ice cream.

Here is a description from the bottle:

An extremely rich and complex beer.  The addition of raspberries during the fermentation process results in an almost purplish opaque color with a beautiful brown head.  Warm chocolate and roasty notes complement the hop bitterness.

Here is more information on this beer from their website (www.widmerbrothers.com):

ABV 9.3% IBU 70

Malts: Pale, Roast Barley, Caramel 60L, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malt

Hops: Alchemy, Willamette, Cascade

Here is a few sources to get more information on this great brewery:

Website: www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter: @widmer_brothers

In closing, this is not one of my favorites from this brewery but it is still a great beer.  This beer is perfect for a beer dinner.  They pick the right fruit to put into this stout and make it perfect for a spring seasonal.  Rasberries are not over powering but enough for you to enjoy the sweetness of them and the chocolate in it.  If you see a bottle, I would pick it up.  This beer in the Chicagoland area I would say big craft stores where you can find this beer.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it!

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn Ram Blonde Beer

In this blog, I am on location at The Ram in Wheeling, IL. This is the third blog on this brewery, please look back at the older blogs on back story if this brewery. If you have read them, then you know about this beer.

We are going to talk about one of their everyday beers called Blonde Beer.  It sits in the glass as a clear with a yellow to golden color. There really is no smell to this beer. As far as taste, you can taste the carbonation while the sweetest kicks in halfway through the tasting experience.

There was a menu lying around so here is the description of the beer:

Big Horn Blonde award-winning golden ale, light bodied with mild malt sweetness and delicately hopped for a crisp, refreshing finish.

ABV 4.4% SRM 6.0 IBUs 20 Grain Pale Munich Hops Cascade and Willamette.

In closing, I am going to be honest.  I am really not a fan of this beer nor the style. I really can see people loving this beer. It is a very drinkable beer and session. It is a perfect day like today in Chicago where it is 90+ degree today. This will make the American lager drinker to the wheat beer drinker happy. I do not see many hop heads liking this beer. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn Ram No Name Imperial IPA

In this blog, we are going to talk about another brew from The Ram Brewery company called No Name Imperial IPA.  If you read my last blog, then you know this brewery.  I try this one at the Wheeling, IL location.  I do know this is available at other locations.  This is a seasonal so if you want to try.  I would say you need to act pretty fast.

When pouring this beer, the color of it is a brownish copper look with constant white head. Over time the head will go to nothing. Nice circus to earth smell to the beer. As far as taste, it is very sweet with an overpowering bitter aftertaste. For being an Imperial IPA, it is very well balance and drinkable beer.

In closing, as long as they have this beer on tap I will be getting by jug filled with it.  I can drink this beer all day without the dry mouth that I get from some normal IPAs to the overpowering Imperial IPAs.  I love this beer.  It is so much better then their normal Big Red IPA.  I realize these are two different IPA styles.  I would try this beer.  Enjoy it!  Drink it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn Ram Total Disorder Porter

In this blog, we will talk about one of beers from one of my favorite brewpubs in the Chicagoland area.  I am talking about the Ram Brewery Total Disorder Porter.  This brewery was founded in 1971.  It is also a very award winning brewery.  Let us get back to some of the history of this brewery.

This came from their website (www.theram.com)

The Ram is a private, independent, family-owned and operated   restaurant business. We were born on February 26, 1971 when our founders took   their entrepreneurial spirit and experiences they received making pizza and   serving beer at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor to open their own restaurant. That first   restaurant was called the Ram Pub, which was a “Deluxe Tavern” that served hot   food, including cook-your-own burgers and steaks, along with beer and wine.

This is a short point of their history.  It is kind of neat to see where this resturant and brwery.  They have multiple location through out the USA.  I bet there is one by you.  I wrote a blog on the Wheeling, IL Ram.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.theram.com) about their Porter:

Rich and smooth, our award-winning brown porter features the flavor of chocolate and caramel.

This beer has won an award.

2010 Gold Metal at the Great American Beer Festive

The porter in the glass has a dark brown to black look to it. Nice chocolate and roasted malt smell in the porter. When drinking the beer, you will get a light carbonation taste along with slight burned malts, chocolate, and hints of toffee. This porter is in the class of the English Porter world. It is very drinkable and heavy enough to make the porter drinkers happy.  You can drink this beer all year long.  Even in the hottest Chicago days and the coldest winters, it is a perfect drinkable beer.

Here is a few ways to get information on this Brewery and Resturant:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter Main Brewery: @theram

Twitter Wheeling Brewery: @rambrew

In closing, this beer is one of my favorite porter in the market.  I love this beer along with most of their other beers that they brew.  Along with great beer, their food is off the charts.  You will get the whole Craft Beer Drinker wet dream.  Great food and good Craft Beer is under one brewery called The Ram.  Go to their website and see where a location is near you.  Let me know what you think.  Enjoy it!  Drink it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog La Chouffe Golden Ale

In this blog, I wanted to change it up a bit.  I have been blogging about Craft Beers and I wanted to a high-end Import Beer.  We are going to talk about beer from Belgium called La Chouffe Golden Ale.  This beer is under the Duvel  Moortgat USA Company.  Under this company you have Duvel, Ommengang, Deninck Amber Ale, etc.  A little history about this little company, it was founded in 1982.  This brewery’s beer is known for their cartoon elves on  their labels.  You will find all their beers 750ml in the Chicago market.  I don’t know about the rest of the states.  They have several different product sizes listed on his website, which is www.achouffe.be.

Description :

LA CHOUFFE is an unfiltered blonde beer, which is re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg.  It is pleasantly fruity, spiced with coriander, and with a light hop taste.     (from the website www.achouffe.be)

Here is the description from the  bottle:

 La Chouffe is brewed by the Artisons of la Brasserie d’Achouffe deep in the heart of Belgium’s Ardennes mountains.  The legend of gnomes (chouffes) who once brewed in this mysterious region provides the inspiration for this eccentric bottle conditioned, double fermented ale.

This beer is a Belgian Golden Strong Ale that pours as a golden color. If you pour completely out,  the beer will be cloudy at look from the yeast that is in the bottle. You can smell the spices from their Belgian Yeast.  A smooth, session, and refreshing beer that has a nice balance and carbonation finish.

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

Website: www.achouffe.be

Twitter: @ChouffeUSA

In closing, I am not a really huge fan of anything that comes out of Belgium or just about anything that comes out of Europe.  However, this beer is something else, it has everything going on.  I love the spices in this beer.  This beer is not your normal Belgium Golden Strong Ale.  I would say hunt this beer down.  It is a very well made beer and I would drink this on day-to-day basis.  You will find this beer any high-end liquor stores.  Go find this beer!  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Bridgeport Hop Czar Imperial IPA

In this blog, we are going to talk about the oldest brewery, who is Bridgeport, Orgden.  The beer that will be freatured in this blog is there Imperial India Pale Ale called Hop Czar.  This beer was brought into this world in 2008.  Hop Czar is a awarded winning beer.  It won Sliver Metal in 2011 in Austrtralian International Beer Award.

Here is a descripation from the brewery’s website, which is www.bridgeportbrew.com:

BridgePort Hop Czar, an Imperial IPA brewed from our award winning IPA recipe, first introduced to rave reviews in 2008.  It is a triple-hopped bottle-conditioned, Imperial-style IPA that carries a deep malt background with enthusiastic citrus and floral notes paired with high hop bitterness.  The newest in our permenant 6-pack line, the Hop Czar recipe blends copious amounts of Nugget, Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Hop Czar is a brewed with an irresponsible amount of hops and balanced by a robust malt backbone.  Bridgeport revolutionized the IPA style and this Imperial India Pale Ale is a worthu bloodline to our award winning heritage.

Beer color after pour is copper with a constant head. Beer smell is a strong circus to almost earthy smells. It has a very strong bitter smell in the beer. It has circus to earthy taste to it. This beer is a very drinkable beer for an Imperial IPA that the IBU being 83 with ABV of 7.5%

In closing, I will be honest, which I am always, I am a huge fan of this brewery.   This beer for the price you will pay is well worth it for the styple of beer.  I know in Chicago it is line price with the rest the Bridgeport six pack bottles.  Most breweries will charge extra for their Imperial IPAs.  To close, you are getting a really great beer at a value price.  Once again please search this beer out.  You will not be disapppointed.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are talk about this new brand, which is Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale, coming out from Spoetzl Brewery or better known as Shiner from Shiner, Texas.  This is their first Pale Ale and third ale.  Well a little history of this brewery, they are a German base brewing style.   They are the second oldest craft brewery behind Yuengling Brewery.  This brewery is about two hours outside of Austin, Texas.

Here is the information from the bottle about the beer:

Wild Hare is a classic American Pale Ale – richly hopped, fruity and floral.  Munich malt nicely balances the assertive character of the U.S. Golding and Bravo hop varieties that give this brew its signature bitterness and aroma. Enjoy!

This beer pours copper color with a constant head. Shiner Pale Ale smells of piney. Taste of this beer is closer to an English Pale Ale but has enough muscle to a west coast pale ale. This will make your normal american lager drinker to your hop head very happy drinkers . This is a very drinkable and session beer.   For this being their first pale ale, Brewmaster did a very excellent job.

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

Website: www.shiner.com

Twitter: @shinerbeer

In the end, this beer has a chance to be something out in the market.  It has the old school or throwback look on the label that you would see back in the 1930’s to 1950’s.  However, the most important is the beer that is inside the bottle, it is very drinkable but with enough favor that will make people happy and keep drinking it.  This beer will be out in June in Chicago market.  I am not sure about the rest of the market.  You will be able to get it around the country.  I love this beer and I am glad Shiner is doing something different.  You know what to do.  Go out and hunt this bunny down.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing “Admiral” Stash Porter

Another blog on Milwaukee Brewing, this time will be talking about their spring season called Milwaukee Brewing “Admiral” Stash Bourbon Barrel Age Baltic Porter.  If you read the other blogs then you will know about this brewery.  I am not go through it again.

Here is a YouTube video from the brewery website (www.mkebrewing.com) about this beer:

http://youtu.be/cWetqNSJcTE

Here is a description from the website (www.mkebrewing.com) about the beer:

Milwaukee Brewing Co’s take on a classic European style. Baltic Porters are the stronger lager fermented cousin of the classic London Porter. The higher strength and cold fermentation help to create a smooth, less fruity porter, rich in roasted malt flavors and aromas. The “Admiral” Stache has a deep brown hue with a light caramel head. Toffee and milk chocolate dominate the flavor with subtle hints of dried fruit. One month of aging in Bourbon Barrels imparted a layer of vanilla and oak.

Just like every other porter out there, this beer pours dark brown to black. The head is pretty strong on this beer. As far as tasting the beer, it is your normal Baltic Porter with a sweet and dull (keeps bring the taste and last a long time) taste.  You will get a nice warmth from the whiskey aftertaste.  The smell is of chocolate to toffee richest. For being a porter, this is a very very smooth and drinkable beer.  You can drink this all day but at the end day you will be passed out.  Please take your time drinking this beer.  This beer is has a 7% ABV.

Here is a few areas where you can go to get information on this great brewery:

Website: www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter: @mkebrewco

Ending, I love this beer and the brewery.  Just like all their beers, this is a very well made beer.  When you are up in Milwaukee, you NEED to check this brewery out.  They do brewery tours.  This is a seasonal.  I would try to find it.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Hyve Honey Ale

Uinta Brewery has been brewing beers from Salt Lake City, Utah since 1993.  They brew a wide range of different beers, however, in this blog, we are going to dig into their Organic Line and try their Spring Seasonal, which is Hyve Honey Ale.  Before we get into the beer let us see what the brewery says what this beer is.  This came directly from their website, which is www.uintabrewery.com.

Description

This medium-bodied golden ale is brewed with local wildflower honey.

Tasting Notes

Full-flavored beer. Rich. Robust. Bittersweet beginning. Quickly mellows, leaving the palate with a subtle hint of honey. Hive pairs well with cedar-plank salmon, and, if you have a sweet tooth, baklava.

This beer pours as a golden honey color with bit of or no head. There is no smell to a small bit of honey hints. There is no taste or honey taste. There is a nice smooth honey finish for the aftertaste.  To be honest, I can’t taste any honey.  There is no sweet or any action going on my pallet.  To me, this is a very light body beer and I know this beer is a perfect for drinking all day on a hot spring or summer day.

Here is how you can get more information on this brewery:

Website: www.uintabrewery.com

Twitter: @uintabrewing

In the end, I am not a fan of this beer but there is a market for it.  There will be others out there that will fall in love this beer.  In the last few years, there has been a huge growth of organic beers hitting the market and Uinta has been winning awards for their beers.  Hyve won 2011 Silver Medal at World Beer Championships. Please do not take my review to heart, you, the drinker, need to get out there and try this beer that also goes for all my blogs about anything.  I am not the holy word in the beer, metal, and sports word.  I am just an idiot that has a thought on everything in the world behind a computer.  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

New Blog Geary’s Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about Geary’s Pale Ale.   A little back story on this brewery first.  This brewery was founded in 1983 by David Geary in Portland, Maine.  They are the first micro brewery in Maine.  Their first beer is this Pale Ale but since they have open up to other types of beer.

Here is the description from their website, which is www.gearybrewing.com.

 Our flagship pale is a classic British pale ale with a nod to the legendary beers of Burton-on-Trent. Copper-colored, dry, clean and crisp with lots of late hope taste in an appetizing complex with ale fruitiness from imported Hampshire yeast.

This beer pours out as dark copper to light amber color with next to nothing on the head. There is a huge strong grapefruit smell to this beer.  Taste is very well balance with circus to slight grapefruit taste with nice hop finish.  It has next to nothing on the aftertaste. It also has a heavy carbonation taste going on this beer. This beer is a very very drinkable and sessional beer.

Here is where you can get information about this brewery:

Website: www.gearybrewing.com

Twitter: @gearybrewing

In closing, I really enjoy this beer.  For a bit this brewery is now available in the Chicago Market.  However, if I am around Portland, Maine, I will be drinking up and visit their brewery.  If you are live or around Maine, go out and search for this great beer.  Please let me know what you think of it.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser