Month: October 2012

New Beer Blog Coalition Brewing King Kitty Red Ale


When in Portland, I picked up this bottle from Coalition Brewing.  After we were done with Brewvana, a few of us went out and check out a few more breweries.  Coalition Brewing is a small brewpub on a side streets of Portland.  There is no history on the internet on this brewery.  They only have three beers that they put in 22oz bottles and this is one of them.  The rest of them they will fill up growlers for you.  This is the only beer I had and I fall in love with it.  Let us get into the beer.

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This beer has a nice red color with a white head on it. It has a slight malty to caramel smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet malty carbonation with a slight bitter aftertaste. It is q pretty drinkable beer.

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

KING KITTY RED
5.74% ABV, 59 IBU, 11.6 SRM

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

King Kitty Red is a Northwest take on the typically malt forward style.  Brewed with four different hop varietals and a sweet malt backbone, this ale is balanced with a clean bitterness and enticing aromatics.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.coalitionbrewing.com

Twitter:  @coalitionbrewin

Closing out, I am not a fan of red or amber ales but this one is done very well.  I enjoy drinking this beer and I am down to one more bottle in my frig, which I am saving a little bit longer.  I do not know when I will get back out but I will be back at this little brewpub.  If you live in the Portland area, go and check out this brewery.  I am glad I stopped in and had a pint.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Uinta Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner


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In this beer blog, Uinta Brewing Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner is the beer and brewery that will be featured in this post.  This beer is part of their Crooked Line as everyday 750ml bottle.  If you read my earlier blog on their Uinta Hyve Ale, you know a little history on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a straw cloudy color with a strong head that kills after a while. The smell is a sweet malty to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty almond to slight hoppy earthy to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tilted Smile breaks away from the crowd.  Strong in character, yet approachable and versatile.  Fonfidently balanced with Saaz hops, and 100% Pilsen malt.  Crisp and delightfully carbonated.  Explore pairing with grilled meats and seafood.

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

Notes

Tilted Smile breaks away from the crowd. Big in alcohol , yet approachable and versatile. Confidently balanced with Saaz hops and 100% Pilsen malt. Crisp and delightfully carbonated. Explore pairing with grilled meats and seafood.

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Leia Bell.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

Closing, just like their Detour IPA I really enjoyed this pilsner.  I just feel that most American Craft Breweries always find ways to mess up classic German Beer styles.  I am happy to say that Uinta did not mess up this Imperial Pilsner.  This Imperial Pilsner is my favorite one.  There are not too many good Imperial Pilsners.  I have over the last few months fall in love with craft pilsners.  This beer comes at a good price at retail and I believe you will be impressed with this Imperial Pilsner.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Happy New Years!

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Uinta Cockeyed Cooper Bourdon Barrel Barley Wine Ale


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of four beers from Uinta Brewing Crooked Line.  The beer is called Cockeyed Cooper Bourdon Barrel Barley Wine Ale.  If you read my earlier blog, you know the past of this  brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a nice amber color with a nice white head on it. The smell is sweet, Bourbon, vanilla and caramel to the beer. It has sweet malty to Bourbon vanilla ans a little caramel taste without any aftertaste to the beer. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Launch into the exquisite flavors of bourbon with splashes of vanilla.  Watch for currents of dark chocolate and dried fruit.  Generous amounts of hops and malts make for a smooth journey from start to finish.  Decadent desserts and aged cheeses make superb companions.

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

Notes

Aged in bourbon barrels

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Travis Bone.

Accolades

  • 2011, Bronze Medal, New Zealand Beer Awards, Wood and Barrel Aged Beer
  • 2010, Bronze Medal, North American Brewers Association Awards, Wood Flavored Beer
  • 2010, Gold Medal, World Beer Championships, Wood Aged Beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In closing, I did enjoy this beer which is a little weird.  This why it is weird because most Barley Wines I have to age them a year before drinking them.  I do not know if it is the barrels make this barley wine ale a little different from the rest of them on the market.  I also like the fact I can get this beer anytime of the year unlike the rest of the barley wines on the market.  Most barley wines are available in the late fall to winter time.  This is an awesome beer at reasonable price for the style of beer.  I highly recommend this beer and let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog World Series


In this sport blog, we are going to talk more baseball with the first pitch of World Series moments away.  Everyone has their picks on who they believe will win. It is taking until one hour to make my final on the SF Gaints against Detroit Tigers. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I did toss a thought out there when the MLB Playoffs started. It was Gaints against Tigers and I picked Giants to win it.

Match Ups

We will be watching two MVP and Cy Young winners.  Of course,  the Triple Crown winner, which it could have been two Triple Crown winners, if Milky did not tested positive. We are going to see great pitching and a ton of clutch hitting. You cannot count out either team. Let us break down by teams.

Detroit Tigers

This is the team that was picked to run away and hide from the rest of the AL Central teams. They came out very slow and fought to the end of the season to take down the Chicago White Soxs, who had a very impressive season. There starting pitching was hurt most of the year and bullpen is always on vacation. However, we have seem in the pasted it does not matter what you do during the regular season, it is what you do in the playoffs. This team is build for playoffs.

SF Giants

This is a team that came out strong and never really looked back. They loss their closer to season ending injury. Loss their left fielder to drug use, which he was leading in the batting title. They had a few kids come up and did awesome. Some of there older players playing a career performance. This team has been fighting all season with no believers asides the ones in SF area.

In closing, I will say I am a huge Cubs fan, which many of you know. Yes, I am from Michigan. With all that said, I am looking forward to epic World Series. I believe this will be one for the ages. I love journey both of these teams have took to get there. I am liking Giants to win the World Series. This is why. I love their clutch hitting, defense, and pitching. Tigers have too many question marks. Their bullpen is extremely shaking. I do not trust that dancing idiot. Defense has been great but it will show its ugly face soon. I am worried about Fister and Sanchez resting which is not a good thing for the type of pitchers they are. With that, Tigers want to win a World Series for their owner and manager, who might retired at the of this series. I would not be shocked if it happens.

I did say epic. Giants in seven games with a few extra innings. Detroit fans can thank Justin for showing off at allstar game to give Giants home field.

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Thirsty Dog Brewery Barktoberfest Lager


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While in Michigan, I went up to Frankenmuth, Michigan to check out the Frankenmuth Brewery.  I checked out the Lager Mill and this beer popped off the shelves from Thristy Dog Brewery.  The name of the beer is Barktoberfest Lager.  I love the play on the words.  Of course, I have to enjoy this beer because I cannot take it on the plane back to Chicago.  Here is a little history of the brewery.  Thirsty Dog Brewery is based in Akron, Ohio in an old brewery building.  They were founded in 1997 in many brewpubs in Canton, Ohio area.  Let us get into the beer.

Barktoberfest is their Fall Seasonal and has some nice packaging.  Barktoberfest has a nice clear copper color with a constant bubbles and white head.  There is a sweet malty smell.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a nice clean crisp aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Barktoberfest

A traditional old world German Style Oktoberfest, a fall celebration since 1810.

IBU = 15
ABV = 6%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.thirstydog.com

Twitter:  @thirstydogbeer

In closing, I want to try more beers from this brewery.  I thought this beer was about average to slightly above average.  I love how this beer how the pop carbonation.  It had the nice malty taste and extremely drinkable.  However, drinking this beer, I am looking forward to trying the rest of their beers.  This beer made me take notice to this brewery.  I will  be hunting down the rest of their brews.  Let me know what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Ale Asylum Hopalicious


Starting new tab, we are going to take a look at the final beer from Ale Asylum and it is called Hopalicious.  This is their flagship beer from this young brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a nice copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a nice citrus to grapefruit smell. The taste is carbonation grapefruit notes. There is really no aftertaste to this beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Eleven separate additions of cascade hops give this American pale ale its lush cirtus aromas and bold hop flavor without crazy bitterness.  Hopalicious is all natural and unfiltered for superior flavor and quality.  It is brewed with passion and is best enjoyed that way.

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

5.8% abv.

Available: Year Round Style: American Pale Ale (APA) Motto: Local hopheads granted asylum.

Hopalicious is a refreshing American Pale Ale unique enough for the connoisseur, approachable enough for the novice, and drinkable to everyone. Sure, we could have made it “Bitterlicious”, or even “Maltalicious” for that matter. But we didn’t. We made it Hopalicious. And we made it for the everyday hophead who wants bold, citrus hop flavor without crazy bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.aleasylum.com

Twitter:   @ale_asylum

Closing out, this was a pretty great beer.  It has a ton of flavor while being very well balanced.  I love the packaging.  For the few beers, I have had from this brewery.  I am really impressed by this one.  I am looking forward to making it up to the brewery to check out the rest of their line up.  If you are in the area, go there and try them.  The porter is the only one I have questioned but there is a good reason for it.  I recommend their beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Upright Brewing Bird Calls


When in Portland, our last stop of the breweries tour from Brewvana.  It took us in the basement of a bar where Upright Brewing is located.  This brewery specializes in French and Belgian Farmhouse brews.  There is really no history on this brewery.  It was pretty neat to go in the basement of this building to see a brewery.  They are small but they make some really good beers.  Let us get into the brew.  Sorry there was no spot to put the beer down to take a photo so I had to use the restroom counter.  LOL!  It keep this unique.

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It has a nice brown color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a nice sweet malty to a little maple to it.  The taste is a sweet little carbonation malty with a dry caramel aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Bird Calls Brown follows the Safe as Milk, using the same British ale yeast and equally well hopped, using a mix of willamette and magnum hops over a toasty grist reminiscent of midwest and east coast brown ales. It finishes quite dry and is perfect for people who enjoy darker beers with a bite. Named after one of Charles Mingus’ most exciting compositions, from the 1959 album Mingus Ah Um. 6%

Here is a website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uprightbrewing.com

Twitter:  @uprightbrewing

Closing out, I really loved the unique scene of this brewery.  I did enjoyed their Bird Calls Brown.  It was nice balance and extremely drinkable.  I am not a huge fan of farmhouse beer styles.  I would love to come back to this brewery and try them.  Who knows maybe they will make a fan of that beer style.  I am glad I made this trip to Portland and I am glad we went with Brewvana (thanks for showing us around.) I highly recommend this brewery.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Breakside Brewery Beer Flight


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When in Portland, the next stop on the beer tour was Breakside Brewery.  Breakside Brewery has very little to no history on the internet.  Here is a little something from the website called www.beerpal.com.

Breakside Brewery is the invention of Scott Lawrence and Tony Petraglia. Some
mutual friends introduced the two after learning they both had a desire to leave
their corporate jobs in order to pursue their dream of opening a brew pub. They
jumped in head first and committed their minimal financial resources and made it
happen.

We brew many of our beers in house on our 3 barrel brewery.
These beers range from classic styles to experimental concoctions. In addition
to our house beers, we offer a rotating selection of guest beers.

It is a young brewery that make some interesting beer but yet keeping the non craft beer drinker interested. Let us get into the brews.  There is a photo I took of their beer flight.

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This will go to right to left. First up is Kolsch, Wit, Dry Stout, Aztec Woodlawn IPA, IPA, and Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA.

Kolsch

It has a clear yellow color without a head on the beer.  The beer has a shunky smell to it.  The taste is a sweet carbonation slight fruity notes with a nice crisp finish.  It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Our new director of brewing operations Jacob Leonard has designed his first Breakside beer! We’ve made a number of kolsch-esque beers over the last few years, but they’ve all had something non-traditional about them. With this beer, Jacob takes us to the heart of true Cologne beer with an elegant and restrained interpretation, using German pils and wheat malts, and Hallertauer and Tettnanger hops.

5.1% ABV 16 IBU

Wit

This wit has a cloudy white color without a head on it.  It has a heavy yeast to lemon smell with other spices that I cannot figure out. The taste is a heavy lemon to a little wheat taste with a nice lemon aftertaste.  It is very drinkable beer.

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

Our summer seasonal is back for a six month run in our lineup! This beer is brewed in the style of the great wheat beers of Belgium. Spiced with orange peel, coriander, and chamomile, it is refreshing, slightly tart, and easy drinking.

4.4% ABV 16 IBU

Dry Stout

It is black in color without a head on it.  It has a roasted coffee smell to the beer. There is a heavy chocolate notes in the taste with a slight coffee aftertaste.

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

An Irish-style stout brewed in the tradition of Guinness. Dark in flavor but light in alcohol, this is a roasty and chocolaty beer that won’t make you feel stuffed. SILVER MEDAL, 2011 GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL; BRONZE MEDAL, 2012 WORLD BEER CUP

4.2% ABV 36 IBU

Aztec Woodlawn IPA

It has cloudy dark copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a burn citrus smell to the beer.  The taste is sweet carbonation hoppy and way too many spicy to it.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

A new addition to our full-time lineup, this second IPA showcases four pungent American hops that we don’t use in our regular IPA: Newport, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook. It is slightly darker, more full bodied and less bitter than our flagship beer, and at under 6% ABV, it’s a hoppy beer that you can drink all day long.

5.4% ABV 49 IBU

IPA

It has a cloudy copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a citrus to earthy smell to the beer. It has a nice citrus to piney taste with a nice dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Our take on the classic India Pale Ale style–the favorite craft beer of the Northwest. This amber colored brew is loaded with four different types of hops during the brew day and then gets dry hopped after fermentation is complete. Our IPA has a huge citrus and pine character with a strong, but refined bitterness.

6.9% ABV 65 IBU

Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA

It has a cloudy copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a nice copper color without a head on the beer. This beer has a nice citrus taste to it with nice dry aftertaste to it.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The final of our fresh hop beers is a true hop explosion: it’s a wheat-based double IPA using one of our favorite aroma hops. The tropical fruit notes in this beer are wildly intoxicating.

8.4% ABV ? IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.breaksidebrews.com

Twitter:  @breaksidebrews

In closing, here is another brewery that I wish I had a little bit more time to enjoy their beers.  There are not too many Kolsch I like in the market but this one from this brewery found a way to make a good one.  I do not know what it is but American Craft Breweries find ways to mess up classic German beer styles.   I am not a huge fan of wheat beers, which I had a chance to talk to the brewmaster about it.  I can see people liking this beer.  Their Dry Stout was pretty good.  This is a beer I could find myself drinking it all day.  Hello Mass produced Dry Stouts take notes on this one because this is what your stout is supposed to taste like.  Good job on this beer!  Aztec Woodlawn IPA, I was not fan of it.  I am not a fan of chili powder or peppers in the beer.  I hate the burning down the throat but this is the new thing in the craft beer world.  There are people are looking for this beer just because I do not like this beer does not mean you will not like it.  Please go try it and let me know what you think about  this beer.  There normal IPA was pretty good.  I really enjoyed it.  Fresh Hop Citra Double IPAis a really good beer.  I wish I had more time to try some of the fresh hop beers.

Here is the beers I love to unlike:

  1. Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA
  2. IPA
  3. Dry Stout
  4. Kolsch
  5. Wit
  6. Aztec Woodlawn IPA

This is my thought pattern and it is the golden word in craft beer world.  I am just an idiot with a ton of thoughts in the world.  However, this is a really good brewery, when you are in the Portland, you need to stop in and check this brewpub out.  I will be back at Breakside Brewery in Portland.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Cascade Brewing


When in Portland, Brewvana took us on a little brewpub tour around Portland, Oregon.  Our first stop was Cascade Brewing.  I was pretty excited to stop here because this brewery is known for their sour beers.  In my recent years, I have become a huge sour beer fan.  Here is a little history of the brewery.  Cascade Brewing was founded in 1998 by Art Larrance, who started in beer industry in 1986 with the Bridgeport Brewery.  Cascade Brewing brews several different beer styles but they are known for their sour beers.  They have two brewpubs around the Portland city limits.  They are being sold in a few states from the West and East Coast.  There are no states in the middle of the United States where their beer is sold.  They have won some awards at the Great American Beer Festival.

Here are a few photos from their back room where they storage the beer in oak barrels:

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Here are the beers I had a chance to try while I was there:

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It has a cloudy light copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a berry smell to the beer. It is a heavy sour taste to the beer.  Sour beers are not drinkable.  The drinker will have one and have to move on unless they are slipping on them through out the night.

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

Noyaux 8.94% ABV

This NW style sour ale features blonds and triples that were aged on oak between 18 and 24 months, then additionally aged for 12 months on raspberries and apricot noyaux. Sweet raspberry fruit, rose petals, almond and vanillin are noticed up front. Tart raspberries, oak and a soft almond note on the tongue lead to a finish of rich, tart raspberries with lingering hints of almond and maraschino cherries.

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This beer came straight from the fernating tank.  It has went through the packaging process.  This is their Blueberry Sour beer.  I cannot remember if he had a name on it.  I do not have it on their beer list.   It has a nice blue with a violent color head.  It has a slight blueberry smell with a little sour to the beer.  It is same as the taste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.cascadebrewing.com

Twitter:  @cascadebrewing

Closing, this was a great experience to get by this brewpub.  I know the next time I am around Portland.  I will make another visit to Cascade Brewing.  I just wished I would have picked up a few bottles but I did not know if I could have got them on the train the next day to Seattle, Washington.  I will be checking on some online shops or just make a trip there.  Both of these beers are slipping beers not drinking beers.  Not many beer drinkers get this process of drinking sour beers.  They are meant to be sipped over time.  They were both very enjoyable and I wish I had time to try their other sours.  My favorite from the two I had there was their Blueberry.  Good pick Ben and Brewvana!  Go get some or put a bird on it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Widmer Fresh Hop Columbia Common


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When in Portland, this is the second beer I had at the Widmer Brothers Brewpub.  It is their Fresh Hop Columbia Common.  If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a nice copper color with a semi white head on this fresh hop ale. There is really no smell to the beer but picking up a little citrus smell.  The taste has a sweet malty but yet has a citrus carbonation to the taste. It has a nice pale ale aftertaste, which is dry hoppy finish.  It is extremely drinkable.

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing out, the meaning of fresh hop is when  they start the brewing process.  There are fresh hops picked from the farm and then pour into the brew kettle.  There is not many breweries that have ability to do this process unless they are by a few hop farms.  Portland Breweries have this option and you see many fresh hop brews around the city.  Even the little brew pubs get into the action of making their own fresh hop brew.  We do not get many that make it out east because they are made in such a small batch.  There are times that the breweries do not make enough and they want to take care of their home market, which I totally understand.  I really enjoyed this one.  I believe I had three while I was out in Portland and Seattle.  This one was the best and impressed me.  I would love to try this same recipe but not fresh hop next to each other to see the difference.  I really enjoyed the citrus in the smell and taste.  It is drinkable and I could have drank this beer all day.  It is only available in their brewpub for a limited time only.  Go get some or just put a bird on it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser