Month: July 2012

New Blog Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer

Starting a new tap, we are going to sample out another barrel age beer.  This time around it is Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer.  This brewery was started in 2003.  There is really nothing more on this brewery.  This beer is aged in a barrel for thirty days.  Let us get int othe beers.

When pour in the glass, the beer is a nice copper color with a kind of head.  It has that import smell. It has a malty earthy taste to it. It is very smooth for being a full body beer. It is very drinkable.  The more the beer drinker is drinking this beer. He or she will start to experience a little vanilla and oak taste from the beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.innisandgunn.com):

This is our flagship beer, the one whose discovery led to the formation of the company back in 2003. Since then we’ve won a string of awards for Original, most recently a third consecutive Modern Monde Selection gold award.
Like the world’s great wine and whisky makers we strive for depth of flavour, complexity and mellowness in every beer we produce. Innis & Gunn Original typifies this approach.
Its lengthy 77-day maturation imparts flavours of toffee, vanilla and oak that perfectly complement the beer’s backbone of luscious malt and fruity hop notes.
The oak helps to give Innis & Gunn Original its appealing colour and also mellow the alcohol character, so although the beer is 6.6%, it’s very smooth and easy to drink.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

To make Innis & Gunn we hand-select barrels which are packed with the most delicious oak flavors.  Over many weeks our unique maturation slowly unlocks these flavors from deep inside the oake grain, the beer growing in character with every hour that passes.  Only when it has matured to perfection do we bottle and release it.  The result is a refreshing honey-hued beer with aromas of vanilla and toffee, and a malty, lightly oaked finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.innisandgunn.com

Twitter:  @innisandgunnuk

Closing out the tab, just like the Kentucky Barrel Aged Ale, this beer is not a stout but an ale.  I really love this beer but the price turns me off a little bit.  I understand the price point because it is an import beer and the process it goes through.  There is a ton of flavor going on in this beer.  To me, what makes this beer so special, it is the complex tasting that is being experience.  Your mind is telling you that you are tasting this but then your taste tells you something in the beer.  It is drinkable and exetremely fun to drink.  Thanks to my friend for sharing this beer with me!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Starting a new blog, we are going towards the south of the United States to take a look at Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  The Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company has been in business since 2000.  A doctor that was doing beer brewing as a hobby wanted to do something he loves doing and that is making beer.  That is really how this brewery was born.  Let us get into the beer!

Kentucky Ale is put into some fresh drain bourbon barrel and is aged to make this beer called Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  This beer is a nice amber color with a constant white head to it.  The smell is a nice earthly wood.  As far as the taste, it has an oak, vanilla to heavy bourbon going on in it.  It is very drinkable and dangerous for the ABV being 8.2%

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

Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon.  Our Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.

Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels.  Pleasantly smooth and robust, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale may also be served as an aperitif or after dinner drink.

Here is a video from their website (www.kentuckyale.com) and Youtube (www.youtube.com):

Kentucky Ale

Here is their website and twitter addreses:

Website:  www.kentuckyale.com

Twitter:  @kentuckyale

Closing the tab, let me say this once and I know the brewery will love to hear this from me.  We, Chicago, gave birth to Goose Island Bourdon County Stout and when we hear Barrel Age Beers, we think it is going to be a stout.  This beer is NOT a stout.  Before the beer is put into the barrel, it is a their normal Kentucky ale, which is between an English Pale Ale and Irish Red Ale.  I really like this beer.  I am a huge fan of barrel age beers and this gives me a little something different then a porter or stout in a barrel.  You can taste more of the bourdon in this beer then a stout that is aged in it.  Stout over takes all the taste from the bourdon barrel.  This beer is very drinkable and I can drink this beer anytime of the year.  I can see a new trend in the craft beer world and I am proud to say this brewery has started.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Outboard Cream Ale

In this blog, we are going to try yet another brew from the Milwaukee Brewing.  We are going to touch one of many summer seasonals from them.  It is called Outboard Cream Ale.  If you read all my blogs on this brewery, you know a little bit of this brewery.  Let us get into this brewery.

It has a nice bright clear yellow color with no head on the beer. There is a smell but I just do not know what it is right now.  It kind smells like a pilsner. The taste is very smooth and creamy lager like but not as hoppy like a pilsner.  This beer style is not a classic style. It was created by Germans that came to the states trying to create their beers here but came up with new beer styles. It is very refreshing and drinkable.

Here is a descriation from their webiste (www.mkebrewing.com):

Beer

Cream Ales are true American styled brews. Mimicking European light lagers, the Cream Ale is brewed utilizing the top fermenting Ale yeast resulting in a more complex flavor and nose. Cream ales traditionally are brewed with a blend of malted barley and corn grits for a light body and golden straw color. A very slight hop presence helps round out this simple but refreshing beer.

History

The terms “Outboard” and “Evinrude” have become synonomis. The first practical Outboard motor was invented by Ole Evinrude in 1909 as a way to give your arms a break from rowing that boat! It’s said that Ole and his girlfriend Bess were enjoying their day on Okauchee Lake on a hot summer day when she asked for some ice cream. Ole rowed to shore and by the time he had gotten back the ice cream had melted.

Always facinated by motors, Ole was self taught. He spent 5 years hopping from job to job learning about steel, manufacturing and engineering. He came back to Milwaukee and set up shop. Eventually he employed 300 people.

Cheers to Ole, and the way he changed the way we use water today!

Brewer

After a long day of post digging, the Outboard is what I reach for.

The simplicity of this classic American style has only a handful of ingredients. The few ingredients we use leave little room for error, although the recipe is straight forward, mistakes will be very noticeable. We use a high quality pilsner malt and a clean citrus smell during the boil. The ale fermentation for this brew leans on the cool side just to cut back on ester production.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I really did not like this beer.  It is a summer seasonal and what I have been saying in most of my blog post.  I am not a fan of Summer Seasonals.  Milwaukee Brewing Company Outboard Cream Ale is a very drinkable beer.  I believe what turns me off about this brew it is the light in body.  I believe to me it does not have enough flavor to it.  Asides that, I am a huge fan of this brewery and this is the first time I do not like one of their beers.  Just because I do not like this beer.  It does not mean you will not like it. Please, go try this beer and reach your own judgement on this Cream Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew

In this blog, we need to travel west to visit one of the original craft breweries here in the states.  The brewery and brew is Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew.  I wrote earlier post on Widmer Brothers Russia Imperial Raspberry Stout and there is a nice belief history on that blog.  If you have not read it, please, go back and read it.  If you have, we will now move on to this Summer Beer.  Let us do this beer.

Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew is their Summer Seasonal from this brewery.  This beer is a very bright golden clear in color with no head.  It has a slight citrus smell to it.  It has a very light in body with a slight lemon carbonation taste. The aftertaste is very light. This is a very sessionable and refreshing beer for the summer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.widmerbrothers.com):

Citra hops lend their name to this interpretation of a golden ale. But that’s not all they bring to the party. Their striking citrus aroma and thirst-quenching flavor are the perfect pairing for soft malt notes. Together they create a beer that’s full in flavor and uniquely refreshing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

In closing, I am not a fan of many summer seasonal but this one is not bad.  However, I know myself, I know I will get very bored with this beer pretty quick.  This is just me and it might not be the case for you.  This is a very drinkable and refreshing beer and perfect for the hot summer days.  This brewery has taken classic beer style and put their twist on it.  I just feel this beer is missing something to me.  It is still a good beer and I could see myself enjoying it the rest of this summer.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lake Placid Craft Brewing Hefeweizen

In this blog, we are going to get into the second beer that I received from my Beer of the Month.  This brew is called Lake Placid Craft Brewing Hefeweizen Wheat Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Barkeater Amber Ale, you know a little bit of this brewery.  Let us get into this all year-long beer.

This beer ia a nice cloudy golden color with a little constant head to it.  You can smell lemon to citrus in the beer. The taste is a little citrus and a lot of banana clove in it. This beer is very drinkable and stays true to the German Beer Style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Lake Placid Hefeweizen is brewed with German wheat and barley as well as authentic German yeast, resulting in tasty esters, a touch of clove spiciness, and a cloudy, golden appearance.  It’s a perfect complement to sunny, summer days and cool, Adirondack nights.  Here’s to summer!

Here is a description from their website (www.ubuale.com), which I believe this is the right beer:

5.0% ABV

High Peaks Hefewiezen is a German Style Wheat Beer. It is yellow/pale orange in color and is cloudy in appearance. It is a very unique beer that is fermented with an ale yeast from Weihenstephan, Germany (pronounced Vine-Schte-fawn). Hefewiezen (pronounced Hefay-vite-zen) actually means “wheat beer with yeast”, which is why we do not clarify this beer. The thick cloudiness is actually the yeast suspended in the beer. The yeast contributes a unique flavor with a strong banana and clove character.  It has a very spicy aroma with hints of banana and clove in the aroma as well. It is brewed with 50% malted wheat, in place of malted barley, and hopped with noble hop varieties originating in Germany. It is not a bitter beer style, therefore letting the wheat flavors and yeast flavors dominate.  Traditionally, this beer is often served with a lemon in it, however, we do not recommend it. This beer will be on tap throughout the summer until roughly mid September.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ubuale.com

Twitter:  @ubuman

In closing, just like their Barkeater Amber ale, this beer style is not my flavorite out in the market.  I HATE this beer style along with whites, and wheat ales.  I realize that “hate” is a very strong word to use but that is how I feel about this classic beer styles.  If you read any of my blogs, I am very honest about the beers but I will tell you if it is a good beer or not.  Plus, just because I say the beer is not good that does not mean you will not like it.  With that all said, this beer is pretty good but I canot see myself drinking this in my regular lineup.  They did a very good job keeping it to true to the German Beer Style with a little twist.  With the huge growth of Wheat Ale, I believe this beer should be doing very good right now. I know the ones in my market, which is Chicago, are doing very well.  I have to say this brew has to be one of the best one in the Craft Beer market.  Good job on this brew!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lake Placid Craft Brewing Barkeater Amber

In this blog, we are going to check out a new brewery for me and a beer from my Beer of the Month.  The brewery is Lake Placid Craft Brewing and the beer is Barkeater Amber.  The brewery was founded in 1996 by Christopher Ericson in Lake Placid, New York.  They started out as a small brewpub and started to grow from there.  Their Flagship beer Ubu Ale has been the shining star in their lineup.  It has been enjoyed by countless locals and tourist that heard stories from others.  The great story of this brewery and brew came from their website when President Clinton requested several cases for a White House party.  Let us get into this great beer.

Lake Placid Barkeater Amber Ale is one of their seasonal.  This beer has a dark amber color without a head. It has a heavy malty smell to the beer. The taste is of carbonation to sweet malty taste. The aftertaste is dry with along carbonation.  This beer is very drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“Barkeater” is a translation of the Mohawk word for the Adirondack mountains, but we prefer drinking a beer rather than chewing on trees.  Deep amber in color, Barkeater Amber blends a smooth, medium body with the subtle balance of American hops.  Here’s to the Adirondacks!

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

5.3% ABV

This is an American-style amber ale that has been around for many years. It is one of two amber ales that we regularly brew at the pub, this being the drier hoppier of the two. Barkeater Amber is brewed with a variety of crystal malts which gives its red color and slightly sweet malt flavor. It has four hop additions, with the last addition being a relatively large addition of Willamette hops.  This beer has a fairly dry finish and has been a local favorite for about 15 years

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ubuale.com

Twitter:  @ubuman

In closing, there is not too many American Craft Breweries that can get this classic beer style corrected.  This brewery has found a way to get this classic beer style correct while making it their own unlike other craft breweries. I am for one not a huge fan of this beer style.  However, this beer is right up my alley because of the time frame it is available, it is very drinkable and a ton of flavor going on in this beer.  I cannot see myself drinking this all year long but I would rush to the store when it comes out as a seasonal beer.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Chouffe Houblon Chouffe Tripel IPA

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another brew from the Chouffe Brewery.  The beer is called Houblon Chouffe Tripel India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their La Chouffe then you know a little bit about this brewery from Belgium, let us get into the beer.

This beer is a bright golden with a slight cloudly along with a nice constant white head to it.  A heavy citrus smell is kicking along with some species too. As far as the taste of this awesome Belgium, the beer drinker will taste a very sweet carbonation citrus upper cut in your face along with a nice hop finish that lingers afterwards for a bit after the beer drinking experience.  It is very drinkable for being a highend Tripel IPA.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

On its journey across the globe the little Chouffe wander through beautiful hopfields.  The overwhelming aroma of these little hop flowers such as Tomahawk, Amarillo and Saaz mesmerized him.

Back at home in the Ardennes, he crafted a new recipe combining this heady array of hops with the depth and body of his favorite style “Tripel”.  Thus, our little Chouffe’s new inspiration Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel was born.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.achouffe.be):

Description :

The HOUBLON CHOUFFE was brewed for the first time in 2006.  It is an ‘Indian Pale ale’ type of beer, with a harmonious balance between a marked bitterness (three types of hops are used to make it) and a pleasant fruitiness.  The HOUBLON CHOUFFE is unfiltered, and re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg.

Packaging :

330 ml bottle

750ml bottle

20 litre keg

Alcohol  :

9% alc./vol.

Original extract :

18 °Plato

Serving temperature :

4 to 10°C (bottle)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.achouffe.be

Twitter:  @chouffeusa

In closing,  this is my favorite beer from this brewery.  I love how you get the nice hoppy taste but still get the funky Belgian taste.  I know I have yelled at craft breweries for saying their beers are Belgian Style IPAs.  I do feel the same way towards this brewery, however, they put the word “Tripel” and they put more depth on the hops to make it a little different then the old classic beer style.  The craft beers that said Belgian India Pale Ale are really Tripels that I have had in the market.  Please chellenge me on this beer style, I really want to back off this issue.  Asides that, I really love this beer for many reasons.  It is well balance, drinkable, and a nice spicy kick to the beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Liefmans Cuvee – Brut

In this blog, we are going back over to Belgium to sample out Liefmans Cuvee-Brut.  Here is a little history of this brewery.  There is not too much on this brewery but they were founded in 1679.   Duvel Moortgat Brewery brought them in June 2008 after they went into Chapter 11.  They want to be known as a Benders.  I found this video on their website and Youtube.

Here is the video from Youtube (www.youtube.com) and their website (www.liefmans.be):

Liefmans Brewery

This video tells you the rich history of this brewery in moving pictures then in words.  It will also show their other beers along with description. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark cherry color with no head.  This sour ale has a nice cherry smell. There is a touch of old attic smell in it. The taste is a sweet cherry with a sour kick to it. Shocking this beer is very drinkable for the type of beer style.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Aged with cherries, flavored with cherries and cherry juice.  Contains sugar and barley malt.  6% ABV

Here is a descripation form their website (www.liefmans.be):

This Kreik is made with a completely different method from Kreik Lambic.  It starts with old brown beer which is macerated with fresh whole cherries in shallow, horizontal tanks [every 100 liter brown beer holds 13kg cherries].  Then it matures for about 1 year, afterwards it is blended with old Oud Bruin and Goudenband of different ages.  The result is a well  balanced sour and sweet Kreik of great complexity.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.liefmans.be

Twitter:  @liefmansusa

In closing, it took me forever to starting loving this beer style, which is sours.  However, I pick this beer up for a special event, I thought I would give my thoughts on this beer. This is a very well made beer and they did an awesome job.  I am loving the fact they stayed true to what they were and what they are right now.  I love the drinkablity and the complexs nature of this beer.  Beer drinkers can drink this beer any time of the season.  This beer would be perfect for any special event for being a highend beer.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  If you like fruit beers, Cuvee- Brut is right up your alley.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser Lipka

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog De Koninck Anno 1833

Something different, we are going to get into an import beer from the import company called Duvel.  The beer that will be featured in this blog is called De Koninck Anno 1833.    The brewery was founded in 1833 in the Belgium city of Antwerp.  They brewery several different beers but this Amber Ale is their flagship beer.  It is only one of two beers that is in the states.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a nice amber color with a ton of white carbonation head. The smell ia not really good. It has a weird smell but as a beer drinker you never judge a beer by the look or smell.  The taste is the real story of it.  It has a slight carbonation with some sweet malty taste. It reminds me sitting around the camp fire making s’mores in the Michigan woods as a kid. It is very drinkable beer.

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

De Koninck is the brewery’s jewel in the crown. Its typical surprisingly malty flavour is appreciated by beer lovers worldwide. This amber-coloured top-fermented beer (25 to 27°) has an accessible taste and a low alcohol content. Brewed in the traditional way using water, yeast, 100% pure malt and pure hops. A natural product, in other words. And what about the slightly bitter finish? De Koninck uses organic Saaz-Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, natural barley and without the addition of maize or brewing sugars. One thing is certain: this delicious specialty beer is the ideal thirst quencher.  Alcohol content: 5.2% Vol.  Pour with a creamy head at 4-6° in the distinctive spherical De Koninck “bolleke” glass.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dekoninck.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter account.

In closing, this is a very unique beer that comes out of Belgium.  When drinking this beer you would never thought, it comes out of Belgium.  When you think of Belgium, you picture chocolate and weird to different spicy to fruity beers.  This one is in its own little world.  I am not a huge fan of Belgium beers but I really like this beer.  It is very drinkable and have a ton of flavor without it being over spicy or hopped up.  I would recommend this beer to even your average or beginner beer drinker.  Oh I forgot to say this.  Fat Tire please go away because this beer will never been duplicate.  You loss!  You get nothing!  Good day beer!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Hoptimum Ale

Starting other new blogs, we are going to take a look at a brewery called Sierra Nevada Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog then you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery, the beer is called Hoptimum Whole Cone Imperial India Pale Ale.  This beer only comes out once a year.  Everything depends on the hop harvest that goes on throughout the country and even the world on these speciality craft beers. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a deep dark copper with a nice white big head. A big grapefruit smell to the beer. It is very nice smell and I do not like grapefruits.  As far as the taste of the beer, it is sweet carbonation with a hint of grapefruit.  The aftertaste is a very nice dry hoppy kick to it. This big India Pale Ale of ABV of 10.4% and over 100 IBU is very extremely drinkable.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Hoptimum is the biggest whole – cone IPA we have ever produced — a 100 IBU, whole – cone hurricane of flavor.  Aggressively hopped,  dry – hopped, AND torpedoed, Hoptimum delivers ultra – intense flavors to hop fanatics everywhere.

Here is a descripation form their website (www.sierranevada.com):

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Resinous “new-school” and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In closing,  I really love their beers and this beer is no question at the top of my list.  It took this brewery a long time until they came out with an India Pale Ale in package form.  When they did finally came out with it, then they made this awesome beer.  This is a very drinkable Imperial India Pale Ale and I can see many people getting in trouble drinking this beer.  I love this beer for the hop taste, nice malty backbone, and the smoothest of it.  I highly recommend this beer and I would go and search it since it is a seasonal brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser