Month: December 2012

New Thirsty Thursday Beer Blog Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the Longboard Island Lager, which is the flagship beer of Kona Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a yellow color with a semi white head on the beer.  This beer is light body with a malty smell. The taste is sweet malty without an aftertaste to the beer.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Waikki Beach in Honolulu is the birth place of Longboard surfing.  Kona Brewing pays tribute to this iconic place with our own Longboard Island Lager.  A spirited, crisp and refreshing brew.  Longboard is a smooth ride all the way in.  Thirst’s Up!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing Co. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

Here is a description from the website (www.konabrewingco.com):

Exceptionally Smooth

Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Closing out, this flagship beer lives up to the spirit of Hawaii and rich history of the surfing.  I am not a fan of most craft lagers but this one is a gem of Hawaii.  It is light in body but has enough flavor to make you dream of islands and beaches.  This beer is extremely drinkable and I can see ton of six packs selling through stores throughout the country.  However, it is a craft lager, do you think craft beer drinker is ready to put down their over hopped ales to pick up craft lagers?  I believe craft beer drinker is starting to change to drink less hoppy beers and more classic styles or traditional beer styles.  I recommend you trying this beer and I believe you will be pretty stun on this Longboard.  Go get a Longboard Lager!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Koko Brown Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the spring seasonal from Kona Brewing Co and it is called Koko Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a brown color with a white head on this beer.  The smell is a heavy coconut to the beer. The taste is a sweet hazel and coconut with a roasted coconut aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer for heading into the spring and summer seasons.

Here is a description the beer bottle:

Koko Brown’s distinctive, nutty aroma and flavor comes from real.  Toasted coconut blended into each brew.  One sip of this roasty.  Smooth, mahogany colored ale and you will feel like you are on a warm sun-drenched beach in Hawaii.  Aloha!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing CO.  has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

A Nut Brown Worth Cracking

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste.

Available Winter/Spring

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.knonabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @knoabrewingco

Closing, this beer is different then what is out in any market asides Hawaii or any other warm spot.  I did enjoy this beer but I just feel that the brown ale is a wrong mix with the coconut.  Please, do not get me wrong this is a great beer and I can see people liking this beer.  I enjoyed this beer.  The taste is hazel nut cover coconut.  I just feel that the coconut goes better with a porter or a stout.  I could dream of a milk stout with a coconut in it.  I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on this beer.  I can see this beer being a home run in the Midwest and the colder areas of the United States.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Fire Rock Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, Kona Brewing Fire Rock Pale Ale is being featured and it is the first time this brewery will be in the Midwest.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a copper color without a head. The smell is like Big Red Gum without cinnamon kick to it. It is a great smell.  The taste is a sweet malty to a slight piney with a malty aftertaste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Active volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii leave visitors awestruck by their power.  The glow of lava as it meets the ocean is an amazing sight our Fire Rock Pale Ale is inspired by this place with a bright copper color and rich roasted malt taste.  Aloha!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing CO. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

Crisp & Refreshing

Fire Rock Pale Ale is crisp, refreshing “Hawaiian-style” pale ale. Its signature copper color results from the unique blend of specialty roasted malts. The pronounced citrus-floral hop aroma comes from the liberal amounts of Galena, Cascade & Mt.Hood hops added to each brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer and this beer is one of my favorite beers from this brewery.  I enjoyed this one and their Big Wave Golden Ale, which I will get to later on in the week.  I love how light and drinkable this beer is to other pale ale on the market.  There is enough malty backbone but not too much to over take the hops that are dancing in this beer.  This is a great beer and I am glad this brewery is in Chicago.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Schlafly T IPA Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about a new beer from Schlafly Brewing.  The beer is called Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a yellow color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is between pineapple and hint of grapefruit to mango. The taste is a heavy mango and a hint of pineapple. The aftertaste is a drop off fast almost like it is not there and hard to explain it. This beer is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Tasmanian Style IPA is a brewed with 100% Australian hops.  They impart a unique citrus flavor to the ale.  A special Release IPA, TIPA is available for a limited time, with a new IPA every few months.

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

Tasmanian IPA

Available October – January

ABV:   7.2%   |   IBU:   60

  • Appearance: Golden, bright
  • Process: Dry hopped, single hop/single malt beer
  • Hops: Galaxy (AU)
  • Malts: 2-row malted barley
  • Yeast: American Ale
  • OG: 17.5
  • SRM:

Schlafly Tasmanian IPA is brewed with 100% Australian hops. The Tasmanian hop, Galaxy, is a strong, aromatic variety that is different from traditional strains of the Pacific Northwest. Our brewers developed a recipe that showcases the hop’s unique flavors of citrus and pineapple.

India Pale Ales (IPAs) were first brewed in England during the late 1700s for export overseas to British soldiers in India. To keep their beer from spoiling during the long voyage, English brewers fortified their traditional pale ale recipes with natural preservatives: more malted barley, for a higher alcohol content, and more hops. In recent decades, with growing appreciation for highly hopped beers, American craft brewers have revived the style, embraced it, and incorporated new hop varieties. Our Special Release IPAs further those traditions and showcase the distinctions of hops from different hemispheres.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

Closing, this was a pretty interesting India pale ale.  These hops are the new trend in the craft beer world.  I have to say this brewery has hit a home run.  I have not had too many beers with these hops.  The ones I had are average to below average.  I just seems like these breweries do not know how to use the hops correctly.  I love the pineapple and mango taste from the hops.  This beer makes me feel like I am in the warm place.  This is beyond far my favorite IPA I have ever had in my life.  I recommend this beer and it is must hunt down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Br. De Ranke Pere Noel

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a Christmas Ale from Belgium.  De Ranke was founded in 1994 by Nino Bacelle.  They brew several different Belgian Beer Styles all year-long.  There is not too much information on this brewery on the web.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color with a big white head on this Belgian ale. The smell is a heavy spices.  The taste is sweet carbonation spices.  The aftertaste has a hint of caramel.  It is a kind of drinkable beer.  There is a ton going on in the beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.deranke.be):

Père Noel

Père Noël is a Christmas ale, though very different from any other Christmas ales you might know. While most Christmas ales are rich & sweet, this one is amber-coloured, 7% vol. Alc. strong and tastes quite bitter. The complex taste is completed with the addition of liquorice. In the recipe we can also find pale malt, Munich malt, Caramel malt, Brewers Gold hops and Hallertau hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deranke.be

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, this beer is just like all the rest of the Belgian Strong Ales on the market.  I am not saying it is a bad beer.  I rather spend my money on Duvel and get more liquid.  It will give the beer drinker more of a value.  I did enjoy this beer and it was great on New Year’s Eve.  I am glad I try it once.  I recommend you trying it and maybe you will find something in that I did not find in it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewery Norm! Pilsner And Tap Party

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about the Tap Party at The Ram in Schaumburg, Illinois.  They were tapping their Norm! Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  This beer post we were talk about the beer and the food at the Tap Party.  Let us do this.

Norm!  Pilsner

This beer has a copper color with a white head that will disappear over the drinking experience.  The smell is of fresh air which I always get from pilsners. It has a slight earthly smell to the beer.  The taste is a full body sweet malty carbonation with an earthy aftertaste. This pilsner is pretty well balance and extremely drinkable beer

Here is a description of the beer from the brewery:

Norm!  Pilsner is a pleasant, thirst quenching lager hopped with plenty of Czech Saaz hops to please the palate.  This golden pilsner is slightly heavier than the Blonde and is about 4.8% ABV.

The Food

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We had the Border Burger and Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  Ram never disappoints when it comes to their food.  They do a great job with their food.

Here is a description of the food:

Border Burger:

Guacamole, bacon, pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, salsa, lettuce and tomato.

Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich: 

Amber ale marinated chicken breast, Porter BBQ sauce, slaw, tomato, onion crisps, roasted tomato-chipotle mayonnaise, and pretzel bun.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this was my first Tap Party from The Ram and I had a ton of fun.  This is not a bad pilsner and it is pretty good beer.  The food fits and pairs perfectly with the food that we order from the brewery.  As far as the food, I really enjoyed the Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  It was perfect with the pilsner.  I was not a big fan of the burger but it was still really good.  I believe my guest said the same thing.  If you are not a Mug Club member, you should become a member.  I cannot wait for the Tap Party at Wheeling in January.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog State Of Miami Dolphins

In this sport blog, we are going to talk about my favorite team in the NFL and it is the Miami Dolphins.  As many of you know I am a huge Fins fan so I am going to give my thought on the future of the Dolphins.  You might disagree or agree with these thoughts. Here is my thought.

Offensive

I believe Fins have found their quarterback for the future.  They have a great set of wide receivers (they will need a deep threat at WR) and tight end.  We have some great running backs.  The one thing we need is a deep threat at the wide receiver position and we need some guards.  I believe the Fins will keep Jake Long since the Left Tackle is hard to find.  If they let Jake go, I would say buyer beware. Not too many Left Tackles make it to free agents market. Even though, I believe I am starting to see a decline in him.

Special Teams

Every team needs special teams help.  I believe we are found at our kick and punt returns.  Our kicker Dan Carpenter has come back around from a rough season but maybe a back up plan.  I love our punter.

Defensive

I believe we need little help on the line just like all the team in the NFL.  I believe we need help in our secondary.  I hope we draft in our corner back position and maybe a linebackers in the later rounds of the draft.  Asides that, I love our defensive.

Why do I think they will win and make the playoffs next year?

I believe the Dolphins will be a threat next year to make the playoffs.  Our quarterback will have year under his belt and we give him a good deep threat down the field and improve the offensive line.  Ryan will have time in the pocket.  It will also improve our running game since we have two under rated running backs.  Jets and Bills will take several steps back because of coaching and upper management changes.  New England, I believe will start to take steps back.  Tom is not getting younger and there is no back up plans.  There defensive started out bad this season but improved I can not see their defense being good in New England.  Do they have a great offensive?  Of course, I just believe that offensive will have to take some steps backwards.

In closing, I might be a little meatballish here but this is my thought pattern.  I loved how Dolphins played this year and they were with most of the elite teams in the league when they were playing them. This is why I believe they are a few players away to start making some noise.  Did they get blow out in some games?  Yes, but they are a young team that is learning.  I love our head coach and he has this team going forward and in the right direction.  I am looking forward to seeing my Dolphins in the playoffs next year.  I am not saying Super Bowl but you get in you do not know what will happen.  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Testament Dark Roots Of Earth

In this music blog, we are going to get into one of the godfathers of thrash metal.  The band and record is called Testament Dark Roots Of Earth.  Testament was founded in 1983 under the band name Lagacy but later had to their change the name to Testament because of another band using that name. Testament has put out ten studio albums, three live records, and two EPs in their thirty year career.  Their latest record has them the highest on the US music charts in their career, which is twelve.  This band has went through so many lineup changes but they still found success.  Let us get into the music.

Rise Up

Nice start to the record is right in your face and classic thrash metal guitar playing.  Drumming is holding up its end.  This is a great start to the record.  Billy Chuck is stronger than ever with his singing.  I am loving the lyrics.  This song sounds like something you would hear in their 1980’s heyday.  I love the guitar solo in this song.  This is what thrash metal is and always will be in its lifetime.  This is a great opening track.  Perfect ending.

Native Blood

Native Blood starts out with some killer guitar playing and nice back up from the backbone of the band, which is the bass and drums.  I love the pace of this song.  It is not as fast as the opening track but has a great pace to the song.  I love the rhythm of the singing and drums.  The drummer is the most under rated drummer in the world of music.  This is a well written song.  This is a strong start to Dark Of Earth.  There is a simple and straight to the point guitar solo that gets a little complex towards the end of its run.  Nice touch of having singer sing on top of it for a bit.  The lyrics are little average but the music brings it to above average.  I am loving the build up for the ending to the song.  Classic thrash metal ending.

Dark Roots Of Earth

I am loving the acoustic guitar with distorted guitar at the beginning of the title track of the record.  I am loving the lyrics and the pace of the singing.  The drums and bass are pretty solid in the song.  The guitar work is over the top but in good way.  Nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  This song has a nice pace.  This is my favorite song so far on the record.  I love the pick up of speed towards the back half of the song and the guitar solo.  Then the moving back to the opening the riff and enters back to the main riff.  The opening riff is the closing riff which is perfect for this track.

True American Hate

I love how everyone starts at the same time on the True American Hate.  I love the guitar solo at the beginning.  This is a strong in your face main guitar riff.  Billy Chuck is in your face on his singing.  I am love the theme of the lyrics.  There is some great drumming and bass playing on this song.  I am loving the double bass action from the drums.  To be honest, True American Hate could live without a guitar solo but that is just me.  If it was going to have one, it should be simple and straight to the point like the lyrics and the rest of the song.  It is still a good guitar solo but it drags the song too long.  This is one song that needs to get to the point and end it.

A Day In The Death

I am loving the opening bass line and the drums with guitar coming in over it.  Nice start to A Day In The Death!  This song is not too fast but not too slow.  I am loving the lyrics and theme.  There is some pretty solid guitar work on the song.  There is some well placed back up vocals.  I am loving the build up to the guitar solo.  There is a well place guitar solo and an extremely well written one.  I love how the band is putting a little focus on the bass player.  Most bands do not do that too much.

Cold Embrace

Cold Embrace starts out with some acoustic guitar with another guitar dancing in the background.  The drums come in with the bass with a simple and smooth beat.  The singer comes with a nice calming singing.  Cold Embrace is showing the talent in this classic metal band.  This is a great thinking song and a very well written song.  Testament did a great job on this track.  Here is another track that is in my favorite column.

Man Kills Mankind

Man Kills Mankind gets back to the old school thrash metal.  This song has a great pace and solid playing all the way around.  Nice pace on the singing.  I am loving the lyrics.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  Man Kills Mankind has a solid finish. This is another song I could hear back in the day.

Throne Of Thorns

Throne of Thorns has a nice acoustic guitar riff with a heavy guitar over the top of it.  The drums and bass are pretty solid in the song.  The main guitar riff is pretty something else.  This band has always found some great guitar riffs.  I am loving the theme of the lyrics.  It is has fantasy feeling to it.  There was a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This a pretty good song but I know for a fact I could not sit through the extended version of this song.  Nice ending to the song!

Last Stand For Independence

Here is a nice in your face metal song.  I am love the drum break at the beginning of the song and throughout it.  There is solid playing from the drums, bass and the guitar players.  I love the lyrics and the singing.  This song has a nice pace.  There is a pretty good guitar break and solo towards the back half of the song.  I love the ending to Last Stand For Independence.

Dragon Attack

This is a Queen cover song.  The music is solid.  I am a fan of bands doing covers but I could do without this one.  If I still had my radio show, I would throw this into the my cover show.

Animal Magentism

This is a Scorpions cover song.  I could do without this song.  Not a fan!

Powerslave

This is an Iron Maiden cover song.  Just like Animal Magentism, I pass on this song too.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.testamentlegions.com

Twitter:  @testamentband

Closing out, I have been a huge fan of this band for a while.  I believe they are the most under rated band coming out of the thrash metal scene.  I did not see them topping their last record, which was The Formation Of Damnation.  Dark Roots Of Earth is an awesome follow-up to their last one.  I hope they put out another record sooner than later.  I could do without the covers but the original songs are pretty solid.  I really enjoyed the title track, Cold Embrace, and Rise Up.  If you are a fan of thrash metal, you need to get into the pit and check out Testament new one. If you are a fan of this band back in the day and have been gone, go get this record.  It is a solid great and gives you everything that your thrash metal heart seeks.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2012

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out this years Christmas Ale from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog on one their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read  the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

Goose Island Christmas Ale has a nice amber color without a head on it. The smell is a caramel to malty to it.  The taste of this ale is a hazel to almond with a slight dash of caramel for the aftertaste.  It is not that drinkable but the beer drinker could have a few of these beers.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate

Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, this is the first of Goose Island Christmas Ale where the beer will not change over the years or can not be aged like Christmas Ales from the past.  It is pretty disappointing because a ton of us craft beer drinkers love to age beer to see what is like next year.  I was pretty disappointing with this beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  I just feel this beer is missing something like other years.  I do not know what it is and I am not a brewer to make to explain my thought pattern.  I can see most people liking this beer and I want you to try it.  This beer does pair really well with food.   I just do not like this year’s Christmas Ale from Goose Island and that does not mean you will not like this beer.  Let me hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011

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In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island.  It is their Christmas Ale 2011.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers.  If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer.   The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 5 years

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years.  Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good.  This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012.  When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well.  It is complex with a ton of flavor.  It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year.  If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser