Month: November 2012

New Beer Blog Great Lakes Christmas Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from this program at Countryside beer.  The brew that will be featured is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.  Great Lakes Brewery was founded in 1988 by Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio.  Great Lakes Brewery brews several different beer styles.   Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice clear copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and candy canes. The taste is a sweet carbonation cinnamon overload. This beer is like drinking a candy cane in a liquid form. There is a little cinnamon aftertaste. It is really not drinkable but it is on the borderline.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Our full-bodied, spirited ale is as festive as the season. Its copper color and flavorful taste are a combination of cinnamon, ginger and honey, so we ask that you “savor the flavor, responsibly ”

This beer is traditionally brewed from all natural ingredients: barley, hops, yeast, and water. No chemicals or preservatives are used.

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

A holiday ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @glbc_cleveland

In closing, this beer is one I will have one and I need to move onto another beer.  This does not mean this is a bad beer.  It is way too sweet to have one or more to me.  This beer is perfect for holiday desserts.  I did enjoy drinking and I try to have a few during every winter season.  If you like winter beers with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, I recommend you trying this beer.  I have a feeling you will enjoy this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Merry Christmas and Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Jackyl Best In Show

In this music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Jackyl.  Jackyl was founded in 1990.  Jackyl has seven studio record which is including the record in this post called Best In Show.  They have two live records in their career and two greatest hits records.  The band is best known for their song called “Lumberjack” that uses a chainsaw in the song.  Let us get into the music.

Best In Show

Best In Show starts with a classic guitar riff and Jesse singing over the top.  Solid drums and bass is backing up the rest of the band.   This is classic Jackyl from the music and the lyrics.  This is a nice driving song and great opening track.  There is a nice slow point in the song which is perfect for the pace before in the song and then picks back up.

Encore (It Makes Bic Dig Her)

I love the drums and then Jesse singing with the drums and then a nice simple bass line that comes in to the scene.  The guitar is a classic Jackyl sound that made them famous.  This song is the rest why I love this band and grew to love them.  I love had they put the focus on the back bone of the band, which is bass and drums.  This band knows what they are doing in their songs.  This song has some well written lyrics.  Great false ending and then they come back in for a great finish.

Screw Driver

Screw Driver starts out with a nice driving drum beat and a nice smooth and simple guitar.  The bass is dancing in the back ground while singer’s singing with the moves of the music.  The lyrics are something else that makes dream of some girl in the strip club.  This song is rock and roll because it is all about sex in a rock and roll style.

Horns Up

Once again Horns Up starts up with drums, which there is nothing wrong with that.  I love the beat that the drummer has set forth in the song and has an awesome bass line.  This song makes me want to pick up my bass guitar again and start a band.  This song sounds like something off their Push Comes To Shove record back in the 1990’s.  Horns Up has everything going on which is nice singing, bass, drums, and solid guitar play.  I am loving the music and the lyrics.  I also love the trade-off on the guitar solos.

Golden Spookytooth

Golden Spookytooth starts out with a nice guitar riff and a simple bass with the drum beats.  This is a calming song compare to the rest of the songs on the record.  Jesse has a smooth and silk melody over the music.  I love the short guitar solo before Jesse comes back in to the singing.  I am not sure on how I feel on the lyrics but I love the music on this song.

Cover Of The Rolling Stones

This is a classic song from Bob Dylan.  I have heard a ton of hard rock and metal bands doing a covers of this song.  I have to say this has to be the best one with an honor to Queen in the back ground. Can you say We Are Champions?  Yes, I can but it fits.  They also move into the classic Queen and then back to Bob Dylan. Of course, it is not Jackyl without the chainsaw.  They had the chainsaw doing melody from We are Champions.  I love it!

Walk My Mile

The guitar has a slight overdrive but it is not over the top.  I love how the guitar sounds at the beginning of the song.  Jesse has a nice blues sound on his vocals and drums are simple but very powerful.  Wow!  This song has a ton of feeling going on in it.  There is a ton of going on in this song.  I love the lyrics.  They have emotion, feeling, and a powerful meaning in them.  Jesse is showing his soul in this song along with the rest of the band.  This is my favorite song so far on this record.  I love where they place the guitar solo and it is perfect for this powerful song.

Better Than Chicken

Better Than Chicken has a nice beginning and classic Jackyl lyrics.  It has nice music and great singing from Jesse.  This song is simple and to the point.  Great party song!  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Don’t Lay Down On Me

Don’t Lay Down On Me has a nice acoustic guitar riff and singing over top of it from the singer.  This is another song I could see on their Push Comes To Shove record.  This is a nice thinking song on a cold winter day with a nice craft beer and a cigar.  There is a nice guitar break that is awesome work.  Nice touch on the finish of this song.

Eleven

I love the guitar riff at the beginning of this song.  It follows with Jesse’s singing and then drums and bass does the same movement.  This is a nice in your face song that will wake you up in the morning.  I love bass movement behind the scenes.  Thank god they got a producer that respects the low-end of the bands.  They seem to ignore the bass player in most bands’ record.  I am not talking about Jackyl.  I am talking about other bands.  This is a great song.

What I DO

What I DO starts with nice singing from Jesse and acoustic guitar.  This song seems lower in volume to the rest of the record.  It is like an unplugged song.  I love the bass playing and simple drums.  At first I thought the guitar solos were over the top but they fit towards the end of the solo.  I just feel this song is lower in volume to  the rest of the record.

Open Invitation

I love the beginning of the song.  Talk about being in your face.  This song shows the proud of Patriotic and proud to be part of the USA.  I love talk samples throughout the song.  I love the lyrics and meaning behind it.  God Bless the United States of American!

It’s Tricky

It’s Tricky is a cover of a classic Run DMC with one of the members.  It was one of their hits back in the day.  It fits the hard rock and metal sound that Jackyl did to the song.  I love it.  Great cover guys.

Here is the current line up of Jackyl:

  • Jesse James Dupree – Lead vocals / Guitar / Chainsaw
  • Jeff Worley – Guitar
  • Roman Glick – Bass guitar
  • Chris Worley – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.jackyl.com

Twitter:  @jackyljesse

Closing, I really enjoyed this record just like all their records.  This band has not put out a bad record.  There are very few bands from the 1990’s that I enjoyed to listen to throughout their era and now.  My favorite track is “Walk My Mile” and “Best In Show.”   There is not more to say about this great record that it is a very great record.  I highly recommend this record if you are a fan of this band or just love straight in your face rock and roll.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Heavy Sea Winter Bock

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another brew from Heavy Sea Brewery.  The beer is their winter seasonal and it is called Winter Bock.  If you read my earlier blog on their flagship beer, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter bock has a dark amber color. There is a little earthy to a bit nutty malty smell. The taste has a ton going on the beer. It has a nutty, earthly, and malty taste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With a full ruby hue, rich malty character, and earthy hop aroma. Winter Storm is an original– an Imperial ESB for the winter months. 7.5% Alc./Vol.

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

Winter Storm

Pyrate Fleet Fleet

Winter Storm may be Hugh’s favorite beer in the Heavy Seas catalogue. Our winter ale draws on hops from the West Coast and the UK for its pronounced bitterness. A mix of pale and darker malts give it its tawny color and its bigger body. True to the style, Winter Storm’s aroma is nutty malts and earthy hops. This is a perfect fall beer, especially because of its warming qualities.

BEER DETAILS
  • Style: Imperial Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
  • ABV: 7.5%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: October-December
  • Hops: Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade, Centennial
  • Malts: 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt, Chocolate Malt
SUGGESTIONS
  • Food Pairings: Brie or Havarti cheese, pan-seared steak, barbecued pork

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hsbeer.com

Twitter:  @heavyseasbeer

Closing, this beer is awesome and it got me in trouble, which I am still recovering from two days later.  This Winter Storm is extremely drinkable for being 7.5% ABV.  There is a ton going on this beer.  I really enjoyed this beer and I wished I could have brought some back from Michigan.  I am happy to see them around Michigan stores but I wish they were in my Chicago liquor stores.  At least, they are getting closer and it is reason to go back to Michigan.  This is what ESB should taste like not what I have been drinking here in the Chicago area or wherever.  I recommend you trying this beer at least once.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog MacTarnahan’s Brewing Spine Tingler

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to check out MacTarnahn’s Brewing and the beer is called Spine Tingler.  MacTarnahan’s Brewing was founded in 1986 by Robert Malcolm “Mac” MacTarnahan, who was one of the investors in the Brewery.  At one time, this brewery was called Portland Brewing.  Pyramid Brewery brought this brewery in 2004.  Pyramid Brewery was sold to Magic Hat Brewery in 2008 and they later sold in 2010 to North American Breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a golden clear color with a semi head on it but there is a heavy carbonation when pouring from the bottle. It has a nice hoppy Belgian smell. The taste is a carbonation with Belgian species aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Spine Tingler

Malts: Pilsner Malt, Wheat Hops: Northern Brewer, Perle Spice: Candied Sugar Bitternes: 23 IBU Alcohol By Volume: 8.5%

A surprisingly sublime Belgian-style triple offering an electrifying blend of spicy aromatics balanced with a lively malt palate that is so good it’s scary.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.macsbeer.com

Twitter:  @macsbeer

Closing, I was pretty stun at how close this beer is to a real Belgium Triple.  If anyone in the United States can make beer good, it is Portland.  There are very few beers I had from Portland that are just flat-out bad.  I love the aroma from the beers.  The taste of the nice hop character.  This is brewery has nailed it.  I will have this beer again when I am in Michigan because I do not believe I have seen this brewery around Chicago.  I will put this brewery on my list when I make it out to Portland again.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know something on 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 clear color with a white head on it.  There is a slight citrus smell to it.  It is very fate to the beer.  The taste is a carbonation citrus with a slight dry bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Behold the Bitter Hysteria

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

Pandemonium Pale Ale

This coppered colored American pale ale lends its hue to hearty two row malts and hand selected specialty grains. Hop additions balance the wort, resulting in a tasty union of flavors and earthy aromas. Behold the bitter hysteria!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out the beer tab, this pale ale is pretty good but it is not one of my favorite from this brewery.  If I cannot find their India Pale Ale, this one is around.  I will be drinking this pale ale.  I will throw this beer in the mix once in a while but I cannot get it in Chicago.  When I come back to Michigan, I will be drinking it.  If I get it all the time, it will be on my radar once in a blue moon.  If you do not like IPA’s, you will enjoy this beer.  If you like Pale Ale, you will like this beer.  If you like beer, you better try.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Soft Parade

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, Short’s Brew Soft Parade is the brewery and beer that will be featured in this blog post.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light amber color that is not clear with a nice white head on the beer.  The smell is all the fruit that the brewery put in during fermenting. There is some raspberry to blackberry smell to this fruit beer. The taste is sweet carbonation fruit with a raspberry to blackberry aftertaste. The strawberry and blueberry are in the taste but in the background. This is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

High Gravity Ale fermented with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

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

The Soft Parade

This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two-row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, I am not a huge fan of fruit beers.  I am not a fan of many of the Belgian beers.  This is a pretty good beer but it is not my favorite beer I had from this brewery.  I have to say I did enjoy drinking this beer.  It reminds me of summer.  I love the name and I wonder if it was named after the classic The Doors song.  There is a question for Joe Shorts.  If you pour this beer out and did not let me see the bottle, I would have thought this came from Belgian Brewery.  For the beer style, Short’s Brew made an excite fruit beer.  If you are a fan of fruit beers, you will like this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiseer

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew.  The beer is called Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their India Pale Ale, you know the history of this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a nice light brown color. It has a nice sweet malty smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a dry aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Bellaire Brown

A full flavored brown ale that derives sweet caramel and toasted qualities from four different kinds of malt and specialty grains. Select hop varieties add enticing aroma to the nose and create a dry finish. This ale is so dark and rich, it’s hardly classifiable as brown, but is certainly considered a delicious masterpiece.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, just like the other beers, I have review.  I really enjoy this beer too.  This beer I would put in my line up like their India Pale Ale.  Since I live in Chicago, I will have to enjoy this beer when I come back to Michigan.  I love the smoothest to nice malty taste.  I love the aftertaste and how easy this beer goes down your throat.  This beer was very shocking good.  This is one of the best American Brown Ale from a Michigan Craft Brewery.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pontius Road Pilsner

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brew Company.   The beer is called Pontius Road Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery from Michigan.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

The beer is a clear straw to bright yellow color with a constant bubbles.  It has a ton of carbonation with a big white head on the beer.  There is no smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation with a nice hoppy to it. There is a little bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Quality lies just off the beaten path.

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

Pontius Road Pilsner

A true American style Pilsner where the malted barley, when blended with flaked maize (corn), produce a deliciously distinct flavor. It is light in body and color, with a surprisingly full flavor that gives way to crisp refreshment. Handfuls of hops provide pleasant aromatics and a wonderful dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Ending, I love craft pilsner but this one was a little different then the rest.  It reminds me of a fresher version of Stella.  I am not saying that this beer is a bad beer but it is not my style in the pilsner.  This beer is well made and designed to the classic style.  I did enjoy it but it is not one of my favorite beer from this brewery.  I can see people who will enjoy this beer.  It has a nice balance and easy to drink this beer.  I recommend people trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Huma Lupa Licous India Pale Ale

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While in Michigan for Thanksgiving, I was able to pick up some local beers that I have never tried.  There is going to be six beer posted on the Short’s Brew Company.  The first beer is called Huma Lupa Licous India Pale Ale, which is their flagship beer.  Short’s Brew was founded in 2004 by Joe Short in Bellaire, Michigan.  They brew several different beer styles with unique packaging on their beer bottles and six-pack holders.  Let us get into the beer.

This IPA has a clear copper without a head on the beer.  The smell is a little grapefruit to some mango. The taste is a carbonation citrus with a little bit of pineapple. There is really no aftertaste. It is a little drinkable but to me, it is drinkable.

Here is a little description from the beer bottle:

A complex malt and hop theme park on your mouth.

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

Huma Lupa Licious

This gem is honored with the name of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus, and is Short’s best selling India Pale Ale. It has such an abundant amount of hops that it sensually provides a punch to the palate. The numerous hop varieties used in its creation render a delicious bitter taste and enticing citrus aroma. The hearty malt bill melds with the hops to create a perfect balance.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Still in Michigan, I was really excited to try out these beers when I had a co-worker told me about this brewery.  I have to thank my sister for picking up the beers.  I really love the hop that they use in this beer.  It gives off a nice aroma and tasting profile that you do not get from most hops.  It is nicely balance with just the right malty backbone.  I wish I could get this in Chicago but this will be a nice beer to enjoy when I am back home seeing family and friends.  If you are a hop head like myself, you will need to try this beer down the road.  This is a great beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Lake Louie Coon Rock Cream Ale

When in Milwaukee, this beer I had at a restaurant near our hotel and my phone was dead.  I had some notes just sitting by my computer for a few weeks while I was trying to caught up on my posts.  I am sorry to the brewery and my readers that it is taking me this long to put this post up.  Lake Louie Brewing was founded in 1999 by Tom Porter.  Lake Louie brought land in the city of Arena, Wisconsin from Tom’s Uncle Louie, which is where they came up with the name of the brewery.  In January 2012, they signed an agreement to see their beers being sold throughout the state of Wisconsin.  Let us get into the beer.

Lake Louie Coon Rock Cream Ale has a clear golden color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a little different.  It has a smell of fresh air or no smell at all.  I am from Chicago so that could be the Wisconsin area.  LOL!  It has a weird taste that I could not figure out but has a crisp hoppy finish.  It has a sweet carbonation almost like a pilsner.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

A Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale, using flaked corn for a very creamy and full-bodied beer.  Lightly hopped with traditional varieties that would have been grown in Wisconsin a hundred years ago.  The ultimate “Lawn Mower beer.”  ABV 5.7%  IBU 16

Closing, this is a really good beer and this beer tells me anything about the rest of their beers.  I believe the rest of their beers are really good too.  I will be making another trip up to Wisconsin in the winter and I will be looking up their other beers.  This beer is so true to the Wisconsin beers as a Lawn Mower Beer.  It is a beer you can drink all day.  This is a very good beer and I highly recommend this beer to any mass-produced beer or a craft beer drinker looking for a great session beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser