Month: October 2012

New Blog Brooklyn Lager Vs Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Battle of Evermore, we are going to do something different. I am taking two well-known craft lagers and putting them up against each other. They are Samuel Adams Boston Lager, which is the flagship of the Boston Beer Company, and Brooklyn Lager, which is the flagship of the Brooklyn Brewery. The reason why this challenge has come to head is the fact when both breweries started out they contracted their beers out to one brewery to keep up with demand. Plus, it is Boston against New York City. Both cities hate each other from football, hockey, baseball, and I believe basketball. Both breweries were there from the beginning of the craft beer world. I do not need to go over the history of these two breweries because I have done blogs on both breweries. Let the fight begin!

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Lager has a slightly hazel copper color without a head on the beer. It has a sweet malty to a little caramel smell to the beer. It has a slight hoppy to malty taste with a nice crisp finish for the aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Amber gold, with a malty body and a floral hop character. Brooklyn Lager is a revival of Brooklyn’s pre-Prohibition all malt lagers. This is the brewery’s first and best-selling brand. Brooklyn Lager is brewed only with malted barley, hops, water and yeast.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Samuel Adams Boston Lager has a clear copper color without a head on the beer. There is really no smell to this beer. This lager is sweet malty carbonation to it with crisp malty aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Our original beer, brewed with Bavarian Noble hops. The balance of malty sweetness and hop spiciness in this brew sets the standard for all Samuel Adams beers.

What is the same between these beers?

Both beers are craft beers and are the flagship beers to each respected brewery. They are both pretty malty tasting lagers.

What is the differences between these beers?

Brooklyn lager is a little bit more hopper than Boston Lager and has a clean crisp aftertaste. Boston Lager is a little bit more maltier and has a malty crisp aftertaste that last longer than the Brooklyn Lager.

The end, respect to both breweries, they both make some good beers. Some of their beers are average to below average while some are above average. You will get that from many breweries. There are a very few that make all their beers really good. Brooklyn Lager has a little bit more of a hoppy feel but yet enough of malty taste to give the best of both worlds. Boston Lager is a little bit more maliter. I have to say Brooklyn Lager is better. Brooklyn is going with the old school taste that was going on in American before Prohibition. Boston Lager is more American Craft Lager with a classic twisted. I just feel Boston Lager is dying a fast death and needs to put down. To me, Brooklyn Lager wins this battle and I wish more people knew about this great beer. This is my thought pattern and I would like to hear your thought. Go get some Brooklyn Lager! Raise your glass to a beer that should be classic American lager before and after Prohibition era. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

In this fall beer blog, the beer that is being feature is Flying Dog Dogtoberfest. If you read my earlier blog on their Cherry Sour Ale, you know a little something about this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This fall beer has a nice clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a nice malty. The taste is a smooth malty without an aftertaste. This beer is a beer drinker malty delight or dream. It extremely drinkable.

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

alcohol by volume: 5.6%

availability: Fall release

hop bittnerness: 30 IBU

Specialty Malts: Light Munich, Munich 90, Munich 100, Vienna

hops: German Perle, Hallertau

yeast: Proprietary lager strain

Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients, it will cut spice while pulling out sweetness. Flavor notes: Full-bodied caramel sweet with a light toasted and crisp, clean finish Pairs with: Mexican and Pepper Jack cheeses; sweet Asian sauces; spiced desserts; German foods

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter: @flyingdog

Closing out, I really love this beer. There are three breweries that hit home runs on the fall seasonals and they are Flying Dog, Milwaukee Brewing Oktoberfest, and Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. This beer gives you the nice malty from a traditional German style lager. It has a nice balance but not boring like most fall seasonals. I have to say this fall season has been very disappointing and I hoping winter seasonals are not the same way. I hate fall and winter because the motorcycle is up for the winter. The beer normally gets me through that problem. This year fall has been very bad. I am glad to see a few breweries are stepping up to the plate and Flying Dog Dogtoberfest was one of them. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Harvest Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of the pioneers of the craft beer world in Chicago. The beer and brewery are Goose Island Brewery and the beer is Harvest Ale, which replace their Oktoberfest two to three years ago. Here is a belief history of this great Chicago Brewery. The brewery started in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The first beer that was brew was their Honkers Ale, which is an English Style Ale. Greg Hall, who is John Hall’s son, took over as a brewmaster and came up with this recipe for their Vintage Line, their winter seasonal, which is Mild Winter and several other brews. Greg Hall stepped down as brewmaster when Goose Island was sold to AB InBev. He is now making Cider, which is sold in Midwest only. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a constant white head on the beer. There is some fall earthly orange smell to the beer. This Harvest Ale has a slight citrus to malty taste without an aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed in honor of the Harvest season this copper colored ESB is made with Cascade hops and the richest Midwestern malts. A fruity American hop aroma and a toasty malt character make Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion.

Recipe Information:

Style: American Extra Special Bitter Alcohol by Volume: 5.7% International Bitterness Units: 35 Color: Copper Hops: Cascade Malts: 2 Row, Wheat, Caramel, Pale

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Willi Food Pairings: Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Sausages Cheese Pairings: Cheddar, Aged Gouda Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (September-October) Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Great American Beer Festival Recognition:

Judging Category: Extra Special Bitter 2011: Bronze Medal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

In closing, I love the hoppy taste that is in this Extra Special Bitter. This beer was design to have that when the trend was the over hop beers. This beer gives you a nice balance from the hops and the malts. This is not my favorite beer for the fall but I will at least enjoy a few six packs of it. As a beer drinker, this brewery gives you two different Extra Special Bitters. Fall is the hoppy one. Mild Winter, which is their winter seasonal, will give you the next malt drinkable in the middle of the harsh winters. Being a fall seasonal, I would go and get some soon! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Website: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Michigan Brewery called Arcadia Ales and the beer is Jaw-Jacker. Arcadia Brewing Company, which is also known as Arcadia Ales, was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1996. They brew several different beer styles and they are pretty close to the traditional beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel dark copper color without a head on the beer. This pumpkin ale has a cinnamon to nutmeg smell to this beer. The taste is a heavy cinnamon and nutmeg with a cinnamon aftertaste. There is really no pumpkin in this beer. It is kind of drinkable but not really to me.

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

This spiced amber-wheat ale is our celebration of the arrival of Autumn. Using the finest malted barley and little wheat for mouthfeel, Jaw-Jacker displays a brilliant orange-amber color, despite the absence of pumpkin in the recipe. The addition of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg (in the exact proportions of our brewer’s Grandmother’s pumpkin pie recipe) creates a refreshingly spicy, season brew.

Style

Spiced Beer

ABV

6.0%

IBUs

26

Food Pairings

Boiled Brisket with Root Veggies, Roast Duck or Turkey, Pumpkin Pie or Sweet Potato Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arcadiaales.com

Twitter: @arcadiaales

In closing, this is one of many Michigan Breweries. This brewery is everything that I look for in a brewery, which means they make traditional styles. I believe I love the crazy hoppy beers or weird beers so this brewery gives you something of the classic world. However, I really did not like this beer, I thought it was very heavy with the cinnamon and nutmeg taste and way to sweet. This beer to me was not drinkable. I know this brewery could do better. This is my thought pattern and my word is not the holy grail of beer blogs or craft world and if it was it should not be. You as a beer drinker might like this beer. I courage you to try it to get your judgement on this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this beer. They are available in many states in the midwest. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite pumpkin ale from Schlafly. If you read my earlier blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color without a head on the beer. This pumpkin has a cinnamon and nutmeg smell to it. It has a huge cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin, which is extremely rare in these beers. It is very drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Pumpkin ale Celebrate the bounty of harvest with this rich, malty ale brewed with pumpkin and flavored with spices to invoke the season of plenty.

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

Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.

Available September-October.

ABV: 8% | IBU: 16

Appearance: Copper-colored, bright

Process: Brewed with pumpkin squash and a blend of spices

Hops: Marynka (PL)

Malts: 2-row and Crystal malted barley, Munich malt, wheat malt, chocolate malt

Yeast: American Ale

OG: 18.5

SRM: 26.6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.schlafly.com

Twitter: @schlafly

Closing, I really love this beer and it is my favorite pumpkin beer on the market. Every year I have to work the phones to get a few six packs up here in Chicago. This beer has the sweetness of the nutmeg, cinnaom, and the taste of Pumpkin in it. Most Pumpkin ales or lagers do not have the taste of Pumpkin or just very little. It is very drinkable and full of flavor. I highly recommend this beer. This is what a pumpkin ale is suppose to be not what is out in the market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Dogfish Punkin Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another pumpkin ale, which is Dogfish Punkin Ale. This is Dogfish most poplar seasonal in their portfolio and every year they increase how much they will make. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know a little something about this brewery. If you have not please go back and read the first part of it. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden to a copper head without a head on the beer. The beer drinker can smell the cinnamon, nutmeg, a very little pumpkin, and a little brown sugar. The taste is brown sugar and pumpkin to nutmeg with a nice cinnamon aftertaste to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer for this beer style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg 7% Alc. by Vol.

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

A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.

Punkin Ale is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest. Yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business!

Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale, with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself, drop by and visit us.

Since its debut, we’ve brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around Sept. 1 each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it’s usually gone by Thanksgiving.

Every Beer Has A Story… here’s Punkin Ale

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.dogfish.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

In closing, this beer is one of their popular seasonal and beer for Dogfish. I just feel over the years that I am liking this beer less and less. The beer has not changed but there are other pumpkin beers on the market that are better. I just feel this beer is not very well balance and has too much cinnamon and nutmeg in it while there is barely any pumpkin taste. Please go try this beer and let me know what your thoughts on it. There are a ton of pumpkin beers on the market, if I was you I would becareful on what you buy. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Spotted Cow

In this beer blog, we are going to check out the second of seven beers from New Glarus Brewing Company. The beer is their flagship beer called Spotted Cow. If you read my blog yesterday on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you know a little bit about this brewery. If you have not, please go back and read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into beer.

It has a hazel straw color with a constant white head on the beer. There is a little smell but I cannot pick up what is in it. The taste is a creamy sweet with a very slight hop carbonation aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable. I could drink this beer all day.

Here is a description from beer bottle and their website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition. We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. We even give a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn.

Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.

Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow. Vielen Dank! Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I had this beer while I was up in Milwaukee visiting a few brewpubs and my friend gave me a few bottles when he went up there too. While I was up in Milwaukee, I did take note of all the Cream Ales from all the Wisconsin Breweries. I had one brewery tell me it is to get the mass-produced beer drinkers to come and try their beers. This does make so much sense but I cannot think of many St Louis Breweries making Cream Ales. New Glarus called their Spotted Cow a Farmhouse. To me, this is a Cream Ale and I am not going against this brewery or any brewery on the beer styles. They will know better than the drinkers. This beer is one of the best ones I had in this beer styles but I have not had too many Cream Ales in my life time. I did really enjoyed this beer and I would recommend this beer to you. Let me know what you think of it when you try it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Shiner Oktoberfest

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Oktoberfest but this time it is from Shiner Brewery. This little brewery could do anything. This German base brewery has been blogged about in my blogs in the pasted. If you have read my earlier blogs, you know about this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that Wild Hare post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the beer. It has a sweet caramel malty smell to the Oktoberfest. The taste is what you aspect from a German base brewery. It has a heavy malty to a little caramel taste with malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here in Shiner, TX, we’re suckers for tradition. Which is why this classic Oktoberfest brew is made with the highest quality two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, along with German grown Hallertau Tradition and hersbrucker hops. It’s our way of honoring our ancestors and the beer they loved to celebrated with So raise your stein to tradition and enjoy this utterly classic brew. Prosit!

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

Style:
This festive Marzen-style seasonal has a deep amber color and slightly toasted flavor. The initial rich malty aroma and sweetness fades to a moderately dry, hoppy finish.

Recipe:
Made with the highest-quality Two-Row Barley, Munich and Caramel malts, along with German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops.

Back Story:
First introduced to the Shiner family as our 96 Anniversary Brew, this Marzen-style brew has regained popularity among Shiner and Oktoberfest drinkers alike. It’s connection to tradition and celebration makes it a great fit for the Shiner seasonal portfolio.

Goes Well With:
Best when served with meaty dishes like sausage and roasted chicken, fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta with white sauces and seafood.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shiner.com

Twitter: @shinerbeer

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer and this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery. I believe this beer is just above Wild Hare Pale Ale for the top spot from this brewery. I had the chance to visit this brewery a few years ago and had a blasted. This brewery makes some good beers and I hope you had a chance to try some of their beers. This Oktoberfest is close to the classic style. It has a heavy malty taste that will make your malt drinker loving this beer to the end of the season. Plus, this beer just won Gold Medal in this Great American Beer Festival. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Ale Asylum Satisfaction Jacksin Double IPA

Starting new tab, I will be featuring three beers from Ale Asylum in the next three posts. The first beer is called Satisfaction Jacksin Double IPA. Ale Asylum was founded in 2005 in Madison, Wisconsin. They brew several ale styles. There is barely any information on this brewery on the web. Let us get into this ale.

This double IPA has a dark copper color without a head on the beer. It has a nice pineapple smell to the beer. It has a weird taste to the beer. It has a little pineapple and then some citrus to it. The beer has earthly to the taste. It is really balance with a nice malty backbone. It is extremely drinkable for being a Double IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Three pounds of Centennial hops per barrel give our double IPA a slightly punishing yet entirely pleasing bitterness that dances on t he tongue. Jacksin is unfiltered and all natural 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):

8.5% abv.

Available: Sep – Dec Style: Double IPA Motto: Slightly punishing, entirely pleasing.

Satisfaction Jacksin is a full frontal assault on the taste buds. The massive amounts of Centennial hops don’t tickle the taste buds as much as they beat them into submission. If hops make you hide and bitterness sends you cowering in the corner, steer clear of this hop monster. Pleasure? Check. Pain? Check. Satisfaction? Jacksin.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.aleasylum.com

Twitter: @ale_asylum

Raise Your Glass, this beer is pretty good but I will rotate it in and out of my regular line up of beer, if it was availabe in the Chicago Market. I had a friend bring me some bottles down from Wisconsin. I never heard of this brewery and it turns out that they are a very young brewery. I recommend you trying this brew and let me know what you think. I might have to make a trip up to Madison, Wisconsin some time soon. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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