Month: August 2012

New Blog Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder

In this blog, we are going to get into one of the seasonal from the Shiner Brewery,  It is their spring seasonal called Dortmunder.  If you read my earlier blog, you are pretty up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the brewery.

Shiner Dortmunder has a copper color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight malty smell to the beer.  It has a sweet, carbonation, and carmel taste with a dry crisp finish to it. It is a drinkable spring beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Spring has a sprung at the little brewery in Shiner, TX (pop. 2,070).  And with it, our newest brew, Shiner Dortmunder-Style Spring Ale.  This Old World classic pours deep gold in color, with a white head and smooth flavor.  Its medium hop bitterness, and hints of grain honey and floral hops will refresh you like a sun-drenched nap on a lush green lawn.  Prosit!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shiner.com

Twitter:  @shinerbeer

In closing, Shiner Dortmunder is not one of my favorite seasonals or beers from Shiner Brewery.  It is not a bad beer for being a meduim body beer.  It is a perfect beer for the spring time.  This beer is good to drink all day while doing lawn work or watching a baseball game from start to finish.  If you love German style beers, you will love Shiner Brewery’s beers.  They are German base asides Shiner Wild Hare, which is newest beer to their everday lineup and I have blogged about it in the past.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Half Acre Brewery Over Ale

In this blog, we are going to check out one of many craft breweries from Chicago.  Half Acre Brewery was founded 2006 by Gabriel Magliaro in Chicago, IL.  They brew several different beers.  Being a young brewery, there is not too much information on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with an off white head. It has sweet malty smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty to it. The aftertaste is something that I could do without in a beer. It is drinkable asides the aftertaste.

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

Website is down right now!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.halfacrebeer.com

Twitter:  @HalfAcreBeer

In closing, there is some places that call this American Brown Ale and other call this American Style Bitter.  I believe this is an American Brown Ale.  This is a pretty drinkable beer but the aftertaste has killed it for me.  I am really not a fan of this beer.  Just because I did not like this beer, this does not mean you will not like this beer.  Half Acre Brewery does pretty good in Chicagoland and I know they have a fan base here.   I will keep trying their beers and I believe I will find something I like from them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Brewery Fusion 8

In this blog, we are going to check out Lagunitas Brewery and the beer is Fusion 8.  Lagunitas Brewery was founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Petaluma, California.  They brew several different beer styles but they are known for their India Pale Ale.  This brewery is expanding to Chicago in 2013 and they are hoping to have their taproom open in late 2012. Let us get into the beer.

I was told when I was at the Blues Bar that this was a  special beer for Chicago.  I cannot find anything on their website or the internet.  It has a dark deep brown color without a head.  It has a chocolate and slight citrus notes for the nose. It has a sweet chocolate to slight citrus taste.  It is drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I have enjoyed many of their beers.  I cannot wait for their taproom to open and to see what they will do when they get their brewery up and running.  I heard some special things are coming to us craft beer drinkers. This is a really good beer and I wish it was in package.  Just what I said above, I believe this is just in Chicago so I hope they do some more brews like this beer.  Do not worry beer blog reader, I will be doing more blogging on this brewery soon.  Go get some if you can find it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Brewery Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are going to take a look at the first pumpkin and fall beer of 2012.  This beer is Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale from Uinta Brewery.  If you read my blog posts from this brewery, you are pretty much know a little something about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Pumpkin ale has a dark copper color without a head on it.  It has a pumpkin like smell to the beer. The beer drinker will experience a ginger to other spices along with a little pumpkin.  For being a fall beer it is extremely drinkable.

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

Description

This sessionable pumpkin ale is brewed with fresh pumpkin and seasonal spices.

Tasting Notes

Malt and hops accented with roasted pumpkin and spices of the season. A subtle hint of vanilla and honey. Punk’n is a wonderful compliment to foods with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Try it with roasted turkey, squash or pumpkin ravioli, peach cobbler, or pumpkin cheesecake.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In closing, we are now getting into my seasonal beers that I love but make me sad because the motorcycle is in storage until next spring season.  Uinta Brewing is an important brewery to me in the United States.  They are pushing the limits of beer brewing to the next level.  This beer is kind of organic and it is really good tasting beer.  However, Uinta Punk’n is not my favorite pumpkin ale, it is still a really good full flavor beer.  I would recommend you trying this beer then giving up on it because it is another pumpkin beer.  This is a perfect balance of pumpkin to other spices.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog London Olympic Games 2012

This is a follow-up blog post from the my earlier one called “Olympic Games Does It Still Mean Something Today?”  We took a look at the history, and some ratings compare to the Super Bowl.  I made  pretty good argument that it did not mean anything to world.  However, going through, I found it does not mean anything to me and a very small group of people.  Most Europe countries had problems sending their athletes over to London for the games.  Most Greece athletes were kick out of the games because of their crazy tweets that they put out to the world.  There has been several reports and rumors of athletes using drugs to cheat in some of the events.  The one thing I loved was the fact there was no word on terrorists attacks.  There are some highlights but let us get into the facts.

Television Ratings

Once again, the Olympic games beat out the last games in 2008.  I knew this would happen because of the growth of the population in the United States and the world.  According to this article from Huffpost TV (www.huffingtonpost.com), the Olympic Games became the most watch television event in United States history.  It drew over 219.4 million viewers.  The games drew 31.1 million viewers on average everyday over the 17 days in 36 years.  The closing ceremonies drew 31 million viewers in 36 years.  It is looking like the Olympic Games are starting to become more important to most people.

In closing, the Olympic Games went over just what I thought they would aside with the drug and twitter issues.  I honestly thought that China with the amount of athletes would run away with the medals.  It turns out that is not even the case.  The United States topped the amount of metals and gold metals.  The people who watched the games, I hope you enjoyed watching them.  I watched very little of it because it was on at the bars.  As far as the companies doing marketing during the games.  I did not see anything companies that took a bail out from the United States Government.  I was pretty happy to see that plus from the games.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweser

New Blog Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner

Starting a new tab, we are going to sample out a beer, which is Baderbrau Brewing Company, called Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.  The brewery, which is Pavichevich Brewing Company, was founded in 1988 by Kenneth Pavichevich, who was a former Chicago Police Officer.  He travel Europe and enjoyed find beers.  He believed that Chicago should have its own world class beer.  Kenneth filed for bankrupt and then sold to Goose Island Brewery in 1997.  It was later named Golden Goose Pils and later Goose Island Pils.  They stop brewing the beer in 2002 and lanched a beer called 312 Urban Wheat as a draft only and then bottles.  This pilsner was replace by one of the biggest craft brand in Chicago right now.  This beer returned in 2012 under Baderbrau Brewery Company in Chicago.  Let us get into the beer.

This pilsner has a dark golden color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste of the beer is the normal import pilsner. Even though the beer is a craft beer here in Chicago.  It is crisp dry and refreshing with a huge drinkable aspect to it.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Chicago’s Original Craft Beer

In 1989, when Barderbrau was first introduced in Chicago, its upstart spirit, revolutionary nature, and award-winning flavor won accolades and captured the imagination of a great city.  Rooted in the old-world ideas of Eastern Europe’s top craftmen and infused with bold American character, this beerdared to be greater.  This beer started Chicago’s craft revolution.  This Beer.  In your hand—now.

Its deep amber color, spicy hop-forward aroma, malty body, and creamy finish sets it apart from all others.  With an unconventional blend of the finest ingredients—North American water, exacting proportions of imported German aromatic Noble hops accenting Czech Saaz, an exclusive stain of European lager yeast, and robust malts from the USA—it defines a style all its own.  Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.baderbrau.com

Twitter:  @baderbrau

Closing out the tab, this pilsner has that old school European feel to it.  I am just now getting into pilsner beer style.  I have to say this beer is interesting.  I do enjoy this beer and I do remember seeing Goose Island Pils in the market when I first moved to Chicago.  I never had it and I wonder if they could resurface that beer.  I know they will not do that because they want to be known as an Ale House.  This beer has a ton of flavor and exetremely drinkable.  A beer drinker could drink this in a Chicago Summer days to Winter days.  I love this beer and I am glad to see it back in Chicagoland area.  It is drinking the history of Chicago Craft history in your hand.  Go try and tell me your thoughts on this beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Camp 2012

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another set of beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery.   If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  The set of beers is coming from a sampler pack called Beer Camp.  Here is the beers, which are Oatmeal Stout, Floral IPA, Imperial Red Ale, and Imperial Pilsner, that are being featured in this blog.  Let us get into the beers.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Pilsner

This beer has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this pilsner. It has a fresh air smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation with a crisp dry slight hoppy aftertaste. Sierra Nevada Imperial Pilsner is extremely drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble if they are not paying attention.  I recommend trying this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of “sticky,” resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt backbone.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Red Ale

The red ale in the glass is a dark amber color with somewhat of a white head on it. It has a sweet raisins smell to it. The taste is of a sweet carbonation malty with a weird aftertaste. I cannot really decide it to you. It is drinkable until that aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile found in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt.  It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon-balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Floral IPA

This beer has a copper cloudy color with a constant white head on it. The smell of flowers is what this India Pale Ale has going on with it. The taste is of a citrus to piney with a dry hoppy aftertaste to it. It is drinkable India Pale Ale.

Here a description from the beer bottle:

This unique take on the traditional IPA style pairs the bold and intense aromas of wholel-cone hop “flowers” with aromatic natural rose hips and petals for complex aromas and unexpected flavors.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Oatmeal Stout

It is black in color without a head on this stout. It has a chocolate to toffee smell to this Sierra Nevada Oatmeal Stout. The taste is burn malt to milky chocolate notes to the beer. It is extremely drinkable and will be troublesome to most beer drinkers.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

This big oatmeal stout is midnight black in color-with a big, roasty, mocha-like aroma.  It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.  Perfect as an after dinner treat.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com and www.sierrabeercamp.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, this was a really good set of beers in this sampler pack with a great value.  There are a few higher end beers for $19.99 price point, which makes this a great value.  I love all the beers in this pack but the Imperial Red Ale.  I believe that is the weakest one of the four.  This is the order of the beers I like and it is Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Pilsner, Floral IPA, and Imperial Red Ale.  I did blend the Imperial Red Ale and the Floral IPA into one glass.  It was pretty good.  I highly recommend you trying Beer Camp.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Revolution Brewing Company Anti Hero IPA

In this blog, we are going to get into one of many craft breweries, which is Revolution Brewing Company and the beer is called Anti Hero India Pale Ale.  Revolution Brewing Company was founded in 2010 in the Logan Square area in Chicago as a brewpub.  They brew several different styles and took several employees when they opened  from the Goose Island Brewery before they were brought by Budweiser.  In 2012, they opened their production brewery to start the packaging and kegging their beers.  This brewery is one of the best ones in the Chicagoland area and of course is the best one of the new breweries in Chicago.  This is totally my thought.  Let us get into this beer.

Anti Hero IPA is a new line of bottles, cans and draft that is coming from this new brewery. Revolution Brewing Anti Hero has a copper color without a head to the beer.  It has an earthy to slight citrus smell to it. As for the taste of the beer, it has a sweet to heavy carbonation to the beer with a citrus to slight grapefruit to it. It is a drinkable beer for the style with a ABV 6.5%.

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

An American hop assault for all the ambivalent warriors who get the girl in the end. “Look, I ain’t in this for your revolution, and I’m not in it for you, Princess.” This iconic ale features a blend of four hop varieties which creates a crisp bitterness and imparts massive floral and citrus aromas.

India Pale Ale

ABV  6.5%
IBU  70

Profile: An American hop assault

Color: Brilliant Copper

Availability: 1/6 & 1/2 bbl, 12oz cans

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing, it took me several times drinking this beer to really start to like it.  That is not a bad thing to the brewery nor the beer.  This beer has a nice balance from the hops to the malty backbone.  It has a the nice West Coast IPA feel but from a Midwest Brewery.  At least, I know I could go direction to the brewery and get it fresh asides guessing the code dates on any West Coast Breweries beers.  I had this beer on draft at the Blue Bar and I know I will be enjoying this beer on many football Sundays.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Three Floyds Brewing Robert The Bruce

In this blog, we are going to take a look at Three Floyds Brewing and their beer, which is Robert The Bruce. Three Floyds Brewing was founded in 1996 by Nick, Simon, and Mike Floyd in Hammond, Indiana.  They did move to Munster, Indiana in 2000.  They brew several different styles of beer and most they going crazy on the hops.  They are known for their Dark Lord Stout and putting most of their beers in 22oz bottles.  There are about five everyday six packs that are sold in the Chicago area.  Robert The Bruce is one of those six packs so let us get into this beer.

This beer has a dark amber color to it without a head.  It has a sweet malty smell to this Scottish Ale. When the beer touches drinkers tongue, the beer drinker will experience a sweet malty carbonation taste with a slight dry crisp aftertaste. It is not like a lager aftertaste but it is not like your normal ale aftertaste. Robert The Bruce is a well made and drinkable beer.

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

7.0% ABV 30 IBUs

A bold Scottish ale with a complex malty body derived from roasted and crystal malts balanced with just the right combination of hops. This ale pours a deep ruby color, has a sweet malty nose with layered caramel and roasted notes and a full body. Robust yet smooth, Robert The Bruce is a malt lover’s delight.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.threefloyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds and @3floydspub

In closing, I was pretty stun on how good this beer is on draft.  I have had Three Floyds Brewing beers and visit their brewpub when making trips back to Michigan.  This is a very well made beer and drinkable which I did say in my drinking notes.  The one thing I do not like about this brewery and I did not know if it is the brewery, retail, or the distributor but the prices of their brews are too high.  I love their beers but I just feel I can get some just about the same but cheaper.  This beer is a pretty good value on draft but their six pack prices is too high along with the rest of their beers.  I understand Gumballhead being high because they can not keep it in stock in the beer stores.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be going back to retry their other beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!   \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Schlafly Kolsch Ale Style

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out a beer style that I am not a huge fan of it.  I am talking about Kolsch Ale from Schlafly.  Schlafly Brewery started to brew their beers in 1991 and was founded by Dan Kopman and Tom Schlafly.  Their goal was to brew some good beers in the downtown St Louis area.  They are now being distribute to nine other states asides their home state.  Some of these states are part of them like Illinois.  Schlafly Brewery is now brewing several different styles of beer and over 25 seasonal brews.  I know the last time I was down there when my sister lived there.  They were just getting into the 750ml bottle business.  This is a really good brewery and St Louis should be proud to have them in their backyard.  Let us get beer from this brewery.

Schlafly Kolsch is part of their everyday beer line up, which is rare to see a brewery have this style one of their everyday beers. At one time, it was rare to see this beer style in the market.  Now the beer style is just about everywhere and newer ones are a ton better than the older ones. It has yellow color with a head kind of in it. It has a sweet to light citrus smell to it. It has a really sweet to slight hoppy taste to the beer with no really aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Kolsch Style Ale is a golden-colored, medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing ale.  This style, which originated in Cologne, is well-balanced, mild-mannered, and a perfect companion for any occasion.

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

Our Kölsch is a classic golden ale that uses a centuries old yeast strain sourced from a famous Kölsch brewer in Köln, Germany. Fermented at 62 degrees, then cold conditioned, it has the delicate fruity aroma of an ale with the crisp, clean finish of a lager. It is brewed with lightly roasted malt and 100% German Noble Hops: Perle for bitterness and Hallertau Traditional for flavor and aroma.

In 1918, the term Kölsch was used to describe the ale brewed in Köln, a city on the Rhine River in western Germany. The style began to rise in popularity in the 1960s and now, many American craft brewers brew variations of the style, labeling it a golden ale.  Our Kölsch is unique to the Schlafly brewery because  Ulrike, a native of Köln and wife of brewery co-founder Tom Schlafly, connected Schlafly Beer with the Gaffel Brewery of Köln. Schlafly Beer won the Gold Medal for Best German-style Kölsch in the World Beer Cup in 2010.

ABV:   4.8%   |   IBU:   25

Appearance: Straw-colored, bright

Process: 62 degree fermentation

Hops: Hallertau Tradition, Perle (DE)

Malts: 2-row malted barley, wheat malt, Munich malt, Carapils malt

Yeast: Köln brewery yeast strain

OG: 11.8

SRM: 6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

In closing,  just what I said I have never been a huge fan of this beer style.  I know it is because of the light to medium body that this beer style brings forth.  I get it because it is perfect for the spring and summer, which is when you normally see this beer style out by craft beer breweries.  I like this beer but it is not on my regular beer line up.  It is has some good flavor better than other Kolsch in the market.  This beer is one of  the best ones on the market.  Go hunt it down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser