Month: August 2012

New Blog Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale

Starting new tab, Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, which is an American Strong Ale, is going to be feature in this beer blog.  I have wrote about their Pale Ale in one of my earlier blog.  If you read that blog, you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please go back and read that first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Strong Ale has a clear blood red color without a head.  It has a amber like color to it. The smell is sweet carmel malty to it. The taste is sweet carbonation malty carmel with a dry sweet malty that last a while in the beer drinker.  It is extremely drinkable and dangerous for the beer drinker.

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

Hampshire Ale

Once Maine’s legendary seasonal specialty, Hampshire is now available year round. Hampshire has a huge toasted malt flavor balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering with the malt and hop notes blending with alcohol warmth. Original gravity – 1070; alcohol by volume – 7%; two row English malts (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt. Hood and East Kent Golding hops.
Availability: Year round

Original gravity: 1070

Ingredients: Two row English Malt (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt Hood and East Kent Golding hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gearybrewing.com

Twitter:  @gearybrewing

Closing, I am glad to see this brewery in the Chicago market again.  I will be drinking and blogging on this brewery a little bit more.  This beer is full of flavor and comes with a huge value for the price you will be paying at the beer store.  I love the heavy malty and sweetness.  Plus, it does not taste like 7% ABV beer that is pretty dangerlous to the beer drinker.  This is an awesome beer and very well made.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy

In this blog, the beer that will be feature is Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy.  Leinenkugel’s Brewery was founded in 1867 by Jacob Leinenkugel and John Miller in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin,  It was sold to Miller Brewing Company in 1988.  They are known for their Summer Shandy.  Lemon Berry Shandy, which is a limited edition, is a line off their Summer Shandy.  Let us get into the beer.

Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is a limit edition and a summer seasonal.  It has a light cloudy copper color without a head on it. The smell is a ton of berry wheat to it. The beer taste is like their Berry Weiss but a small hint of lemonade to it.  The aftertaste is about the only time to me you will taste of beer.  To me, this beer is water down vision of their Berry Weiss. It is drinkable beer.

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

Light, crisp and perfect for every season. Our Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is Weiss beer brewed with blackberry juice and natural lemonade flavor. And the best part is this Shandy is available year round. So now every season is Shandy Season.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.leinie.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address.

Closing out, there was so many rumors about mixing three Leinenkugel’s beers.  I guess this brewery got wind of it and made this beer.  I am not saying this brewery is mixing their beers and then bottle it.  This beer is fishly like that.  I really did not like this beer.  It has a light body and too fruit to sweet for me.  I love sweet but this is not the right kind of sweet for me.  If you are a fan of their Summer Shandy, I would recommend you trying this beer.  I  believe you will like it.  Plus, just because I did not like, it does not mean you will not like it.  I just wanted to give my  thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA

Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA is going to be featured in this blog.  Magic Hat Company was founded in 1994 in Burlington, Vermont.  Magic Hat brought Pyramid Brewery in 2008 and later in 2010, they were brought out by North American Breweries from Rochester, New York.  Let us get into the beer.

Magic Hat Blind Faith is their India Pale Ale seasonal.  It is available in six-pack bottles and part of their sampler pack.  It is a slightly cloudy copper color with a white head at first.  It goes away after a while. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste is a grassy to earthly hop taste to it and has a dry mango aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Magic Hat is presenting our year long “Tour of IPAs!”  Please join us in welcoming to the stage our revolving roster of FOUR features, specially formulated to entertain the palates of hop lovers worldwide.  Smell the hops, taste the hops, love the hops…. and stay “On Tour” with our quarterly cabaret of IPAs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

In the end, I have to be honest which I am through these blogs.  It has got me in trouble at times.  I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  However, of late this brewery has been trying to do different things, this India Pale Ale is one of them.  In the craft world now, American Craft Breweries do not know when to stop  making their beers over hop.  It is nice to have a nice English India Pale Ale, which is what this Magic Hat beer.  They are flipping the hops for the turn of the seasonal, which I love to get a different twist on IPA.  I know Samuel Adams did that with their IPA but in a sampler pack which was a few years ago.  Widmer Brothers are doing that to their IPA and I really enjoyed their Fall, Winter, and Spirng IPA in that line.  Magic Hat Blind Faith IPA is coming out of its seasonal so I would go head out and find this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are doing the last one from Blue Moon Brewing Company.  The beer is Harvest Pumpkin Ale, which is their Fall Seasonal.  If you read my blog on their Summer Seasonal, we are pretty much up to speed with the brewery.  I will not bore you with the history again.  If you have not read it, please go back to read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale is their seasonal six-pack and twelve pack bottles.  It is also part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles. It has a deep dark copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell to the beer is a cinnamon and a ton of nutmeg and a slight pumpkin.  The taste is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little pumpkin.  The aftertaste is a little wheat to yeast to this fall seasonal. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A pumpkin ale crafted with autumn’s bounty of vine-ripened pumpkin and flavors of cloves, allspice, and nutmeg,  Then brewed with a touch of wheat for a smooth, lightly spiced finish.

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

In 1995, we crafted our first autumn seasonal—Pumpkin Ale. At the time, Oktoberfest beers were in high demand. For our version, we wanted to create a beer that was a little different than what was already out there and complemented the season by highlighting the flavors we’ve all grown to love during this time. It was so popular that it became the first nationally available pumpkin ale. Harvest Pumpkin Ale, as it’s called now, is crafted with pumpkin and spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for a taste you’ll want to fall right into.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Munich, Caramel
Hops: Hallertau
Our Twist: Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Allspice
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 15º Plato
ABV: 5.7%
Appearance:  Deep amber-colored ale with brilliant clarity and a rich, white head.
Aroma:  Very complex aroma consisting of malty spice notes.
Taste:  The taste starts out with assertive malty notes and is quickly balanced with the right amount of harvest spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. There’s a small amount of bitterness to keep the malt sweetness from building up.
Mouthfeel:  A medium-bodied ale with just enough carbonation to balance the rich caramel character.
Finish:  Finishes with a smooth, clean malt and spice taste. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and malt gradually fade.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In closing, being one of the first Pumpkin Ales, it does not mean that it is a good beer.  It is a drinkable beer but this is a really bad beer.  I had several different Pumpkin Ales so far this season and this is at the bottom of the list.  I am not saying it because it is made from a mass beer company.  I just gave them credit in a few post earlier.  This beer is really bad and you can find it everywhere.  I know for a fact if you do want to try, which I will suggest it, that you could find it for a pretty good price in a bar or where beer is sold down at the store level.  I just want to hear your thoughts on this beer. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Carmel Apple Spiced Ale

In this blog, we are sampling out another beer from the Blue Moon Brewing Company and the beer is called Carmel Apple Spiced Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Ale, you are pretty much know about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Limited Autumn Release Carmel Apple Spiced Ale is part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles.  It has a copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is caramel apple with cinnamon and touch of nutmeg to it.  The taste is of cinnamon caramel to apple. It is sweet yet extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with caramel malts, cinnamon, and fresh apple juice to stir up the tastes of fall.

Thank you to all our fans that helped us craft this limited autumn release.  For this fall seasonal, we blended fresh apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste.

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

So Crisp, You’ll Want to Bite Right Into It.
Limited Autumn Release.
In anticipation of the blue moon on August 31, 2012, we reached out to our fans to help us craft our next Blue Moon®. We started by taking suggestions from our fans, and then we brewed three beers based on their input. Then came the hard part—tasting the beers. Our fans voted for their favorite, and with that we now welcome Caramel Apple Spiced Ale to our collection of limited seasonal releases. We blend apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste to stir up the tastes of fall.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, Brewmaster’s Autumn Sampler Pack
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Caramel, Munich
Hops: Spalt Select
Our Twist: Apple Juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 14º Plato A
BV: 5.8%
Appearance:  Rich copper with high clarity and a creamy head.
Aroma:  Warm spice aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of apples and caramel malt.
Taste:   A seasonal blend of spice and caramel malts that highlight the crisp apple taste.
Mouthfeel:  Medium to full-bodied ale.
Finish:  Spice gives way to a smooth apple finish that cleans up nicely.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In the end, this beer is shocking good and taste like by the name of the beer.  It is a liquid form of a Caramel Apple you would get out in a farm or what your Mom use to make.  This is the point why we drink these craft beers.  It should touch our past experiences.  This beer has done that to me.  I really enjoy this beer and it comes accross more as a dessert beer.  This is not a beer you can enjoy all day because it will be too sweet for after a while.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!   \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale is the beer that will be sampled out from their Fall Sampler Pack.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Seasonal, you are up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Pale Ale is available in six pack bottles and part of their seasonal sampler twelve pack bottles.  It is a clear copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a dull earthly smell to the beer.  This pale ale has a sweet malty to earthly and slightly piney taste to it. It is drinkable. It has an English Pale Ale taste to the beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with hibisccus, a touch of wheat, and Cascade hops for a smooth finish and subtle hop aroma.  We add a twist of orange peel and hibiscus for a well-rounded, balanced taste.

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

A Maltier Pale Ale.
While studying brewing in Belgium, our head brewmaster and founder, Keith,  met plenty of beer-minded friends who introduced him to local styles including  Belgian Pale Ales. On weekends, they’d road-trip north of Brussels to  Londerzeel—a small town famous for its Belgian Pale Ales. The malty taste  and pleasant hop aroma (without the overpowering bitterness) made a lasting  impression on Keith. So much so that when he returned to the States, he decided  to create his own interpretation of the classic style by adding hibiscus and  orange peel for a subtle citrus finish, making it a great beer to pair with a  wide variety of foods and occasions.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, Imported Caramel, Imported Light Caramel, White Wheat
Hops: Cascade
Our Twist: Orange Peel , Hibiscus
IBUs: 22
Original Gravity: 13º Plato
ABV: 5.4%
Glassware:  Pour in a tulip-shaped glass to capture the hop notes and allow room for a thick head on the beer.
Appearance:  The beer will have a brilliant amber color with a thick, creamy, white head.
Aroma:  Notes of caramel malt and citrus with an assertive Cascade hop aroma.
Taste:  Caramel maltiness balanced with a hint of bitterness.
Mouthfeel:  Medium body with a smooth malt character.
Finish:  A hint of hops with a slight citrus/floral taste from the orange peel and hibiscus.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing, Blue Moon is not on my rader at all but I pick up this sampler back for their Carmel Apple Ale.  This Pale Ale is shocking good but this is not a Belgian- Pale Ale.  It is an English Style Pale ale.  It has a nice malty taste with a nice hop finish.  It is has good flavor from one of the mass produced beer companies sub brewery.  It is drinkable beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email;  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Linkin Park Living Things (2012)

In this blog, we are going to take a look at the new record from Linkin Park called Living Things.  Linkin Park was founded in 1996 in Agoura Hills, California.  Linkin Park has sold over 50 million records world-wide and has won two Grammy Awards.  In the beginning they took the style of nu metal and rap metal and made their style.  By their third record, which is Minutes To Midnight in 2007, they began to study other music influences.  That record had the third best debut for any new music that was release that same year.  Living Things is their fifth record in their studio career.

What am I expecting from this record?  I am looking for them to go back to their old school ways to get their first fan base happy but keep on the pace from their Minutes To Midnight.  I believe they will try to build on that and their fourth record, which is A Thousand Suns.  How much I do not want to see but I am expecting to see little more of the rap feel on this record.  I believe Chester will be screaming more on this record than what he has not in the last few records.  Linkin Park found their sound and I believe they will build on it in Living Things.

Here is the band members of Linkin Park on Living Things:

Rob Bourdon – Drum

Brad Delson – Lead Guitar

Dave Farrell – Bass Guitar

Joe Haln – Turntables, keyboards, and Samples

Mike Shinoda – Vocals, Rhthm Guitar, Keyboards, Piano

Chester Bennington – Vocals

Lost In The Echo

Lost In The Echo starts out with keyboard and turntables work.  It has a nice drum beat with rapping over the top and nice back up vocals.  It has a nice smooth flow to the song.  Chester comes in with a nice singing lines.  This song has a nice flow to it.  This song has some nice turntables work on it.  Nice beat for the opening song, this set the mood of the record.  It is a very well written record.  This is great opening track for Living Things.

In My Remains

In My Remains starts out with a nice turntables and samples with some keyboard.  Drums roar with the bass to give it a nice intro to the song.  I love the music that  Chester is singing over and then guitar comes in few seconds after the intro.  Mike does a great job on the back up vocals.  I love the feeling of this song and very well written lyrics to it.  I love the drum work in this song.  This is a great song.  I love it!

Burn It Down

Burn It Down was their first single of Living Things.  It starts out with a nice keyboard to samples along with some turntables.  Nice back up guitar riff to balance everything out.  I love the lyrics in this song.  This song has a feel that it should have been off the Minutes To Midnight.  I love the singing by Chester and the back up singing.  Mike rapping makes sense for this part of the song.  It is not forced like most of the time.  However, the later part of their career, they have learned to place his rapping in the best part of the song.  It is more impactful now.  I feel this song could have guitar solo.  I love the ending of Burn It Down.

Lies Greed Misery

Lies Greed Misery has a nice keyboard and now the samples with Mike rapping over it.  I will say dude can rap his ass off in these songs.  I am not a rap fan but  he has done a great job on this record.  I love the rhythm of the rap.  I love the singing from Chester.  It is right fit for the theme of the song.  There is the scream that made Chester famous.  Nice ending to this song.

I’ll Be Gone

I’ll Be Gone has a nice build up intro to the song and then the kick in on the guitars.  It drops off with Chester singing with a nice samples and keyboard behind him.  It has a nice drum beat with bass pushing the song to another level.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I really love the flow of this song.  I have to say this song is one of the best ones off this record so far.  I would not be shocked if this is their next single off Living Things.

Castle Of Glass

I love the samples to the keyboard and then the nice singing from Mike.  The drums have a nice simple feel to it that fits the song.  Castle Of Glass has a nice driving feeling to it.  I really digging the singing from Mike.  I like the lyrics and the guitar work.  I really wish they would play this song live.  This is a really good song.

Victimized

Victimized has a nice samples and a crazy drum beat.  Drummer is very underrated to all the drummers that are playing music right now in their generation.  Rob has played his ass off in this whole record.  I love how Chester is screaming which fits it and Mike has a nice rap to follow.  This is a pretty angry song.  Victimized is a quick and to the point song.

Road Untraveled

Road Untraveled has a nice sound effects follow by keyboards.  This band is always looking to do something different which is good but it is starting predictable.  Mike has written great lyrics and singing his heart out on Road Untraveled.  I love the feeling from the drums and the flow of everything else.  I feel this song could use a guitar solo not a guitar playing low-end.  Another thinking song to add to my list.  There is not too many you can say that about Linkin Park.  This is a great song.

Skin To Bone

Skin To Bone has a nice intro.  I love the drums at the beginning.  Nice work from Joe on this song.  He has taken over this song so far which is an awesome thing.  I love how they use Chester in this song.  This is not one of my favorite songs but I love the feel of it.  Plus, it is nicely written song.

Until It Breaks

Until It Breaks starts with a nice rap from Mike.  Once again, they are placing him very well for the non rap fans in the world.  He is more and more making me start to like rap.  I love the music behind him.  I really love the rap lyrics from Mike.  He did a great job on this song.  Just like Mike, they learned to place Chester in great spots.  This is a great song.  I really love it.

Tinfoil

Tinfoil has a classic Linkin Park intro that we all have grown to love from this band.  This song is a nice intro to Powerless.

Powerless

Powerless has a nice keyboard along with some good lyrics being sung over the music.  Powerless has a nice simple bass and guitar lines with a very good drum beat.  It also has a well placed back up vocals.  This is a very well written song.  This band has pour their heart out on this song.  It is powerful and impactful with a nice drive.  It is a nice finish to this record.

Here is their websites and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.linkinpark.com and www.lpunground.com

Twitter:  @linkinpark

In closing, Linkin Park has grown on me over the years.  I remember when they roared on the scene and pushing the limits of music.  They have change the scene of music and influenced several newer bands.  I have enjoyed their last three records and not really a fan of the first two.  I never was a rap fan but they have grown on me.  This record is not their best but it is right behind Minutes To Midnight to me.  They do a great job on their live show and I was kind impressed by it.  This is going to be a pretty strong statement but I believe Linkin Park is today’s Pink Floyd.  They know when to explore their sound and change some things.  They are a very talented band and they will be around for a long time.  I just hope their Burn It Down song is not their good-bye song.  I will be looking forward to seeing them live again and I will be joining their fan club.  Go get some Living Things!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA

Starting a new tab, Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA is the beer that will be featured in this beer blog.  Slumbrew was founded by Caitlin Jewell and Jeff Leiter in Sommerville, MA.  They bottle their beers in 22oz and draft beer.  They brew several different beer.  They take the classic beer styles and put their own twist on them.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a pretty cloudy copper color a head on it.  Slumbrew IPA has an earthly to slightly piney smell to it.  The taste is a sweet earthly to pine with a piney aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Sommerville, MA on January 1st, 1776.  This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.  Salute your hops!

Ale brewed with five grains, Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy Hops.  Dry-hopped with Galaxy.

Keep cold, enjoy, while fresh and serve at 45 to 50 degree.

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

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA on January 1, 1776. This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.

Huge aroma and resin-y flavors from the elusive Galaxy hops are the signature of this beer. Built on a solid base of pale malts, this double IPA makes generous use of hops from Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy with the Galaxy hops taking the lead during ten days of aggressive dry-hopping.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.slumbrew.com

Twitter:  @slumbrew

Closing out the beer tab, I really enjoyed this brewey’s beers.  As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of 22oz or 750ml bottles but I will reject my thought on that for this brewery’s beer. Many of you know I use to do a metal and beer show on STFU.FM and this brewery was one of the last breweries that was feature on that show. This India Pale Ale is a strong example of the great beers that this brewery makes in their everyday line up.  I really enjoy the hop character to its great malty backbone.  It has a nice balance and huge drinkablity. Those are huge plus for this beer. If you love West Coast Pale Ales or any India Pale Ale, I highly recommend you trying this beer out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Pilsner

Starting a new beer tab, we are going to get into another brew from Brooklyn Brewery and the beer is Brooklyn Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their other beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Brooklyn Pilsner is part of their everyday beers. It has a clear golden color with constant white head and bubbles.  There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a dry slight carbonated to it with crisp finish. Just like all Brooklyn beers, it has that classic European style to it. This pilsner is extremely drinkable and perfect for anytime of the year.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brooklyn Pilsner is a pale refreshing lager, brewed in the style flavored by New York’s pre-Prohibition German-American brewers.  Brooklyn Pilsner tastes best before the freshness date indicated.  Please write us or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5pm.  79 N 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or visit our website at www.brookynbrewery.com.

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

Brooklyn Pilsner is a refreshing golden lager beer, brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-prohibition brewers. In the 1840’s, the pilsner style emerged from central Europe to become the world’s most popular style of beer. Like its ancestors, Brooklyn Pilsner is traditionally brewed from the finest German two-row barley malts. Germangrown Perle and Hallertauer hops provide a crisp, snappy bitterness and fresh, floral aroma. The flavor of the malt comes through in the finish. We ferment Brooklyn Pilsner at cool temperatures, and then give it a long, gentle maturation (lagering), which results in a beer of superior complexity and smoothness. We believe that you will find there to be none finer. Unlike mass-marketed so-called pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner does not contain cheap fillers such as corn or rice, nor does it contain any preservatives or stabilizers. Brooklyn Pilsner is the real thing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing out the tab, I have really been enjoying Brooklyn beers.  This beer style is slowly becoming one of my favorite beer styles.  I really love the clean crisp finish and the medium body.  It has a ton of flavor and perfect for any season from the Summer to Winter.  If you love pilsners, this is one beer you need to try a few times.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

NHL Against NHLPA, Who Will Win The Cup?

In this sport blog, we are going to talk about the future of the CBA in the National Hockey League.  If you are not aware of this issue, the owners are ready to lock out the players again.  As September 15th comes closer, we might not have a hockey season or maybe part of the season.  The players have 53% share of the profits while the owners has the rest, which is 47%.  The owners want to flip that profit-sharing to their way.  They, the owners, are yelling how poor they are and how the smaller market teams are having problems paying their bills.  If you know anything about hockey, you know way over half of the profits come from the box offices unlike the rest of the major sports.  As you know the last CBA called for an entire season to be cancelled in 2004-2005.  Under the current CBA, we had the average NHL team is worth 47% more in value.  Last season, the league had 18 of the 30 teams showing red before they pay for their bank loans and other assets.  The prior year there was 16 of the 30 teams.  Along with the increase of player’s salaries increased by 11% to $59 million.  Big market teams are doing fairly well with most of them making money or profit.  So where is the issue here?

It is the small market teams that are mostly in the red.  Owners want to go to NFL Model which is 48% or do what the NBA did this last summer which is 50-50 spit.  To me, seeing a team like LA Kings winning the Cup this year just spell the end to the NHL I grew up loving and watching as a kid.  They were the first team in league history to beat 1st seed when they were the 8th seed.  Also they were the first time to win the Cup as 8th seed.  Congrats to the LA Kings but I am sorry I love the power house teams in the league going back to the Orignal 6.  Big Market teams should killing any league not just NHL.

This year’s Stanley Cup, which featured New Jersey Devils against LA Kings, draw the worse television since the 2007, which featured Ottawa Seniors against Anaheim Ducks.  I believe my point is approved by this stat.  However, it was in the Los Angeles market with the oldest team in California might have helped the ratings a little bit.

Stanley Cup Final Audience Averages Since 2007 on NBC and NBC Sports Network/VERSUS (www.sbnation.com)

2007, Ottawa vs. Anaheim – 1.8 million

2008, Pittsburgh vs. Detroit – 4.5 million

2009, Pittsburgh vs. Detroit – 4.9 million

2010, Philadelphia vs. Chicago – 5.1 million

2011, Boston vs. Vancouver – 4.5 million

2012, Los Angeles vs. New Jersey – 3.0 million

As we get closer to the September 15th expiring of the old CBA, this could be the end of this sport.  NHL might be losing more than money but fans that keeps this league up and running.  I believe with all the comments coming out on both signs that the owners care but they are not looking at the bigger picture, which is the future of this sport.  You would think the owners will learn their lesson from the last lockout.  The big question is that needs to be asked are you coming back this time?  Will you try to buy tickets for this upcoming season?  What is going to be the fallout if they do lockout for the season?  I do not have the answers but the greedy are fighting over their billions and millions of dollars.  If there is a lockout, all  workers that clean the bathrooms, cashiers that run the hot dog, beer, etc will all be out of jobs.  The workers that are trying to make it in this world will be on the unemployment line.  In the end, the fans of this great sport and the rich history will not will the Cup and I believe there will not be NHL raising the Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2013.  What is your thoughts?  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser