Month: December 2012

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Sierra Nevada. It is their winter seasonal called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Beer Camper, 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 beer from Sierra Nevada is called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. It has a deep hazel copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is citrus to the beer. The taste is dry carbonation citrus with a dry aftertaste.

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

Festive fresh hop holiday fun.

The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing out, this is one of my favorite beers in the winter season and Sierra Nevada Brewery. This is everything that I want out of a winter seasonal. I love the hoppy taste and a great malty backbone. Most winter seasonals are jacked up with nutmeg or cinnamon and this brew gives you a different side of the season l. I realize that craft breweries are going back to more the traditional beer styles and getting away from the over hop beers. If you have not had this beer, I recommend you picking up a six-pack and try this great beer. Let me know what you think of 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 Bell’s Winter White Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Michigan brewery known as Bell’s. The beer is their winter seasonal which is called Bell’s Winter White Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Pale Ale, 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 White Ale from Bell’s is part of the 12 Beers of Christmas at Countryside. It has a hazel straw like color without a head on this winter seasonal. There is a yeasty to wheaty smell with a little corridor smell to it. The taste is yeasty and species with a dry slight lemon aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

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

Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter: @bellsbrewery

Closing, I do not know why craft breweries put out White, Wheat, etc in the middle of the winter. It is different then the rest of the craft breweries. I am not saying this is a bad brew. I am not a fan of it but they did a great job on it. I always see this beer in my market in the middle of the summer. The distributor does a really bad job with this brewery’s beer. This brewery will sell more of this liquid in the spring and summer. I recommend this beer, if you are a fan of white, wheats, and hefeweizen. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another brewery that I have been wanting to try their brews out for a while. Anderson Valley was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen in Boonville, California. This brewery was sold to Trey White with two silent partners in 2010. They still brew several of David Norfleet’s beers and have added on since he sold the company. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a strong cinnamon and a little caramel to the beer. The taste is a smooth and silk caramel with a touch of cinnamon. There is really no aftertaste to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brilliantly clear dark copper color with a dense tan head. Caramelized malty and spicy aromas redolent of cinnamon, allspice, black currant, and black licorice. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, hints of seasonal spices and a clean, malty finish.

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

The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker, weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys, cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. WinterSolstice Seasonal Ale evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium sweetness.

As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized.

6.9% ABV6 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.avbc.com

Twitter: @avbc

Closing, this beer was an awesome beer. I was pretty stun on how good it was to the rest of the winter beers I had so far this season. It is kind of drinkable beer. I love all the flavors that this beer has kicking around in my mouth. I really hate when breweries uses the term “winter warmer.” It is really not a beer style but more and more it is starting to become a beer style. This is why. Most brewmasters I talk to about their beers and I bring up what is the beer style of your “winter warmer.” Pretty much all of them could not nail it down to a beer style. With all of this said, I recommend you as a craft beer drinker to try this beer. Please, let me know what your thoughts on 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 Ska Euphoria Pale Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Ska Brewing. The winter seasonal is called Ska Brewing Euphoria Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Ska Mole Stout, you know a little history on this brewery. If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is part of the 12 days of Christmas at Countryside Bar. It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on the beer. There is a slight sweet malty citrus smell to it. The taste of the beer is a carbonation citrus with a grapefruit aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.skabrewing.com

Twitter: @skabrewing

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer. I love the fact you can get in cans, which is starting to become a huge trend in the craft beer world. This a good beer for the winter season but I wish it was a beer all year long. I enjoy the beers I had from this brewery asides their Mole Stout. I can only drink 6oz and I need to move onto another beer. It is still good but just do not like the feel that beer does to my throat. If you love pale ales or india pale ales, you will enjoy 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 Smuttynose Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at a beer called Winter Ale from Smuttynose Brewery. I do not know this brewery that well so I was looking at trying this beer out at Countryside Bar. Smuttynose Brewing was founded in 1994 by Peter Egelston in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They brew several different beer styles. I will be trying some other brews from this brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear brown color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty with a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty warm beer going down the throat. It is a nice beer for the winter months. I would say this is a marathon beer not a speed drinking beer. It is a nice Dubbel.

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

Smuttynose Winter Ale is a full-bodied, amber beer brewed with a special Trappist ale yeast. Stylistically reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey Double, it features fruity aromas and flavor, balanced by soft Crystal hops. Warming, mellow & pleasantly complex, Smuttynose Winter Ale is your perfect cold weather companion.

SMUTTYNOSE WINTER ALE CONTAINS NO SPICES

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.smuttynose.com

Twitter: @smuttynosebeer

Closing out, I did enjoy this beer and I am looking forward to checking out their other beers that they have out in my market. I love the looks to the taste of this beer. This is a great beer sitting by the fireplace with a nice cigar. I recommend you trying this beer and let me know what your thoughts. If you had some of their beers, please let me know which is the next brew I should have from this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Music Blog Accept Stalingrad

In this music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Accept which is called Stalingrad. Accept started back in the late 1960’s in Germany. They started picking up speed in 1976 as a professional band. Accept has went through several line up changes throughout the years. They have also split up a few times in their career. However, they have a wealth of music, Accept has put out thirteen studio albums including the one we will talk about here, which is Stalingrad. They have three live records and four greatest hits records. They also put out two EP’s. This band is best known for helping the speed metal era. The song that everyone knows from Accept is “Balls To The Wall.” The band reunion in 2009 with new lead singer, who is Mark Tornillo, from T.T. Quick. They put the “Blood Of The Nations” in 2010. This band is climbing up the charts here in the states. Let us get into the latest record, which is Stalingrad.

Hung, Drawn and Quartered

This opening song on this record has the nice classic Accept intro to Hung, Drawn and Quartered. This is some great speed metal music. Mark did not leave the last recording session from “Blood Of The Nations.” Mark has written some awesome lyrics. The guitar, drums, and bass work is hell of a job on this song. The production is nicely done from the producer. There is a nice guitar break and solo with a good ending. This is a great opening track.

Stalingrad

The second song has a strong driving intro to start of it. It also has a nice guitar and drum work. There is also a great guitar solo break in it. This song has powerful lyrics and singing from Mark. There is also nice well placed back up vocals. Mark has written some great lyrics. Nice touch on the snare drums and great guitar work towards the end of this song. Stalingrad has a strong ending.

Hellfire

I love the effect on the bass and nice touch on the drums and guitar working around the bass. There is a great break and then well written guitar riff. Mark has strong singing and great lyrics, which I love. This is a pretty nice driving song which is classic Accept. This is a great song all the way around. Accept is stronger than they have ever been. Wolf has an awesome guitar solo along with nice trade-off with the other guitarist. Hellfire has a nice strong finish. This is my favorite song on the record so far.

Flash To Bang Time

This song has heavy guitar and driving drums with well placed vocals from the lead singer. Mark is singing great with some well written lyrics. I love the guitar work on Flash To Bang Time. I wish you can hear the bass a little bit more throughout this record. I love the guitar solo and the ending of the song.

Shadow Soldiers

The beginning of Shadow Soldiers has a nice effect on one of the guitars along with nice acoustic guitar. It then snaps into a nice heavy guitar riff with a short guitar solo over the top of it. I love the pace of this song. Mark is singing great with a well placed melody. I love the theme of this song and nice touch on the back vocals. I believe this song is too long but still good. This song has a nice fitting ending.

Revolution

I love the drum work at the beginning of the song. Great touch on the fade in with the guitars and well written lyrics and singing from Mark. Revolution is a simple music and it hits the point of the song with perfect back up vocals in the song. The guitar work on this records is something else and I love the nice dueling guitar solo in this song. The ending is a complex ending to Revolution.

Against The World

Great beginning for the music. I love the lyrics on Against The World. Mark has always wrote some great lyrics. This is a nice driving song like most on this record. Nice guitar solo and I love the build up to the solo. Against The World has a great finish to the song.

Twist Of Fate

I love the guitar work in the beginning of the song. Mark is singing great in this song with some powerful lyrics. The guitarist wrote a nice main guitar riff. Twist of Fate has a nice slow to medium pace to the song, which gives the listener a different mood than the rest of the record. I love it and it is perfect. I love the build up to the end of the song and the guitar solo at the end. This is in your face ending. Nice touch on the fading out of the song.

The Quick And The Dead

I love the guitar work and drums at the beginning of the song. It has a nice pace to it. Mark is singing strong with some great lyrics. He has written a nice melody. The chorus is a little weak but the main part of the song is pretty strong. This is still pretty strong song. I am loving the dueling back and forth between the guitar players and bass player. I am hearing more bass in this song than the rest of the record which is great. The Quick And The Dead has a strong finish to it.

The Galley

There is an awesome spooky guitar riff with the drums. I love the main guitar riff. It is well written and perfect for the theme of the song. The Galley has a nice touch to bring the bass forward than pushing it to the back of the music. Mark is singing great and wrote some great lyrics. This song is too long and could be shorter. I love the acoustic and the slowing down of the song towards the end it. This song has a great finish and perfect way to end the record.

Current Line Up of Accept:

Mark Tornillo – Lead vocals
Wolf Hoffmann – Guitar
Herman Frank – Guitar
Peter Baltes – Bass guitar
Stefan Schwarzmann – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.acceptworldwide.com

Twitter: @accepttheband

In closing, I really enjoyed this record. Accept has a great record and I believe they are getting stronger with age. Stalingrad brings back the good old days of speed metal in the 1980’s. Stalingrad is a classic Accept record. Any of these songs could have been on Breaker, Balls To The Walls, or Metal Heart. I really enjoyed the following songs Hellfire, Twist Of Fate, and Shadow Soldiers. If you were a fan of Accept back in the day, you will not be disappointed with this new line up and the music they are putting out now. You as a listener will be stun by Mark’s singing and lyric writing with the legendary guitar player. Congrats to Accept to have the balls to put out new music and writing great new music. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Southern Tier 2xmas

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Southern Tier 2xmas. Southern Tier was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York by Phineas DeMink and Allen Yahn. They ship beer around the world and of course most of it is in the United States. They brew several different beer styles and putting their stamp on these classic beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon to nutmeg to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation cinnamon to nutmeg. The aftertaste is a dry slight bitter with cinnamon and nutmeg to it. It is perfect for winter and not really drinkable.

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

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a Gloggy party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2xMas Ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. Its a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter: @stbcbeer

Ending, I will be honest on this beer. I do not know how I feel about this beer. There is a ton going on in the beer. It is complex and ton of flavor. To me, it just seems like this beer wants to be sweet but then wants to be hoppy for the winter season. It is not one of my favorite but it is not a bad beer. There are fans out there for this beer. I am starting to think I do not like Christmas beers and it is not because of this beer. I love winter warmers and winter seasonals. I wanted to try this beer and it is out of my system. I will have at least a few every Christmas or winter season. This is a beer you can have pass Christmas and yes, it is still in code after Christmas. There are beer drinkers that see Christmas on beer packaging and think the beer went bad. I recommend this beer and this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Hibernation Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to do the 12 days of beer at Countryside Bar. The first beer of the twelve days of Christmas is Great Divide Hibernation Ale. Great Divide was founded in 1994 by Brian Dunn in Denver, Colorado. They brew several different beer styles. Their Denver Pale Ale was one of three craft beers to be feature at the Denver Broncos new football stadium in 2001. Let us get into the beer.

It is a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer. There is really no smell maybe slight malty to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation to caramel with a little hazel aftertaste to the beer. This beer is the type of beer that the drinker will have one maybe two and will move on to the next beer.

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

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Awards:

1997 Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal, Strong Ale/ English-Style Old Ale
1998 World Beer Cup, Silver Medal, Strong Ale/English-Style Old Ale
2003 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Old Ale
2006 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Aged Beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, I enjoy the balance this beer has and warmth that it peers out with every sip. This is a good and easy to drink. I could have a few and I need to move onto the next beer. There is not too many good English-Style Old Ale in the market. I have been wanting to try this beer a few winter seasons ago. This program that Countryside had going made me try it. I recommend you trying this beer if you are a fan of English Ales or winter beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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