Month: July 2013

New Beer Blog Blue Point Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite India Pale Ales. I am talking about Blue Point Brewing and the beer is their Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those beer posts, please, read them to know everything about this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden color without a head on the beer. The smell is weird malt to the beer. There is really no hop smell. The taste of this full body IPA is earthy to piney with a slight dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

We won’t go as far as saying you’ll see things after partaking in a few, but one or two will leave you craving more. Ancient Egyptians stuffed their pillows with fresh hops, believing the hop’s aroma brought on intense, vivid dreams. Today, our classic, American-style India Pale Ale (IPA) features a rare hop grown exclusively on a small farm in Oregon. One taste and you’ll understand why we bought the entire crop. Our Hoptical Illusion IPA is brewed with a generous amount of this select hop that’s added five different ways for maximum hop flavor. The delicious, resiny, citrus-burst that you taste is the “Essence of the Hop” which is balanced by a malty backbone yielding an intense, golden ale. Hoptical Illusion tantalizes beer lovers’ taste-buds, while its colorful, psychedelic packaging is candy for the eyes.

1.064 OG and 66 IBU’s 6.8% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @bluepointbrewer

Ending, I miss getting this beer in the Chicago market. However, I was visiting friends and family in Michigan, I was able to pick up some beer and this one of them. I love this India Pale Ale while I was there. I always call this beer the “Hippie Package” or “Hippie IPA.” I love the hops that they are using in this beer. I highly recommend you trying this great beer from the Long Island, New York brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Fuller’s ESB

In this beer blog, we are going to get into an import and craft brewery from England. It is Fuller’s and the beer is their ESB. This is family owned business since 1845. This brewery is just outside of London, England. They brew several different beer styles that is true to classic England beer styles. There beers are not over hopped like most American craft brews. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is almost like a caramel. The taste of medium body beer is carbonated caramel with dry hazelnut hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Fuller’s ESB is the famous winner of many awards around the world; bursting with powerful, sustained malt and hop flavors, it is the world’s original and the one by which others are judged!

The Griffin Brewery in Chiswich, London, has been brewing fine ales since 1654.

The Fuller, Smith & Turner partnership, dating back to 1845, brews an excellent range of award-winning ales, many of which are available in the USA, including London Pride pale ale and the world’s original ESB. I hope you will enjoy trying all our fine ales.

Here is a description from their website (www.fullers.co.uk):

ESB was launched into the Fuller’s family in 1971, as a winter brew to replace a beer named Old Burton Extra. The potential of the beer was soon realised and ESB was installed as a permanent fixture, creating an immediate impact.

Not only was it one of the strongest regularly brewed draught beers in the country (at 5.5% ABV), it was also one of the tastiest, and as the awareness of the beer grew, so did its popularity. ESB’s reputation was soon enhanced after being named CAMRA’s (Campaign for Real Ale) Beer of the Year in 1978, and the beer has not stopped winning since!

With three CAMRA Beer of the Year awards, two World Champion Beer awards, and numerous other gold medals to speak of, ESB is, quite simply, the Champion Ale.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.fullers.co.uk

Twitter: @London_Pride

In closing, what can you say about this beer? It is a classic beer and this brewery shows most craft breweries in the United States how to brew the classic beer styles. They keep teaching their wrongs or maybe they are not paying attention to it. I am talking the old and new world breweries. There is some rich flavors here and I really enjoyed drinking this brew. I love the malt characters that this brew produces to the beer drinker. I am not much into import breweries but this brewery pops off the shelf. I had to give it a try again. I recommend you trying this brew to get an idea what ESB is supposed to taste like. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Fruli Strawberry Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into import fruit beer. I am talking about Fruli and the beer is their Strawberry Ale. There is not too much history on this brewery. I could not find any history. I do know they are an extremely small brewery in Belgium. Let us get into the beer.

It has a reddish to amber color without head on the beer. The smell is a heavy strawberry. The taste of this medium beer is heavy strawberry notes with light carbonated. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Fruli is a high quality Strawberry Belgian fruit beer, produced at a craft brewery near Ghent. It is a unique blend of white beer and strawberry juice. The juice complements the zestiness of the wheat beer and the result is a balanced and refreshing beer that is packed with strawberry fruit flavour.

It is simply delicious.

Fruli is a high quality Strawberry Belgian fruit beer, produced at a craft brewery near Ghent. It is a unique blend of white beer and strawberry juice. The … has a delicious and refreshing taste that has been compared by Time Out magazine to a smoothie with bite….a completely different experience in beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.fruli.be

Twitter: @Fruli

Closing, I do get into some fruit beers but I am not a huge fan. I have to say this import craft fruit beer is really good beer. It is pretty well balanced with the beer and the fruit in the beer. It is pretty refreshing and perfect for the hot summer days. They did a great job on this beer and 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 Blue Point Brewing Blueberry Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Blue Point Brewing. It is their Blueberry Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Long Island, New York brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color without a head. The smell is heavy blueberry. The taste of this light body beer is heavy blueberry notes. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Who knew that throwing some blueberries into a batch of beer one day would have worked out so well? While there’s no Oompa-Loompas involved in its production; there’s definitely something special that makes Blueberry Ale one of our top-sellers. First brewed in 1998, this delicious golden ale quickly became a year-round favorite. Our fresh Blueberry Ale offers an unusual twist on brewing that turns out to be a wonderful blend of fresh blueberries matched with a distinctive, thirst quenching ale. We carefully add 732 pounds of fresh, plump and juicy, handpicked, USA Northern Highbush Blueberries to every batch. Even before your first sip of Blueberry Ale, a strong, refreshing sweet fruit aroma emanates from the bottle, kicking your taste-buds into overdrive.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @bluepointbrewer

Closing, I do get into my fair share of fruit beers. I love pretty much everything I have had from Blue Point Brewing. I had this beer for the first time in Cooperstown, New York. I have to say I was pretty impressed. I picked up this bottle on my way back to Chicago from Detroit. I wanted to re-try this brew just to make sure I still like it. This beer is pretty balanced from the golden ale and the blueberries. It is sweet but not overly sweet. I recommend you trying this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Three Floyds and the brew is Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale. If you read my read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the history of this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper to light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a fruity notes like mango. The taste is a huge and heavy mango notes with a dry fruit hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer. For an experience beer drinker, it is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A dry and stupendous hopped medium bodied Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Canadian 2-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops. Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aroma’s of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness. Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

9.5% ABV 100 IBUs

A massive IPA that will leave your palate its hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

In closing, I will be first to say I am not a huge fan of this brewery because I believe their beers are overrated and over priced. I have to say I have been pretty impressed by this brew. I love the hops and the balanced from the malts. I love the aroma and the nice hops taste is really good. This brewery took their time to find the right hops for this brew. This is a well made beer and nice balance. I recommend you trying this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew and the brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

In this beer blog, we are going to get into our second brew from Three Floyds Brewery. The beer is their Evil Power Imperial Pilsner. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Christmas Porter, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head. There is no smell to the beer. The taste of this medium body beer has a slightly crisp citrus with malt notes with a clean crisp dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A fortified Euoropean Style Pils langered to perfection, brewed with Heavy Metal warriors Lair Of The Minotaur in commemoration of their 4th Full-Lenght release “Evil Power.” Available now at lairoftheminotaur.com 3floyds.com prosit skol cheers.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

Closing out, I have a problem with most craft breweries when they try to make a lager or pilsner. I will have to say I have had some really bad version of this classic beer styles. Three Floyds Brewing is one of the few craft breweries in the United States that made a great Imperial Pilsner. I have to say this brew has challenged Uinta Imperial Pilsner. I wish I could find this in the City of Chicago but I have to drive down to their brewpub. It has a beautiful color that welcomes you to drink this brew. There is a nice hop character but a nice malty blend with a nice crisp dry finish. I highly recommend you trying this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

New Beer Blog Paw Paw Brewing K.U.A. Extra Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from Paw Paw Brewing on this blog. I had a chance to try their beer at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. I stopped by their booth and talked to them along with sampling their beers. I was back in Michigan this last weekend to see Tesla and Uncle Ted. I did stop by their brewpub but they were closed. I might make a trip back in to check out this brewery. Paw Paw Brewing is located in Paw Paw, Michigan by Ben Fleckestein and Ryan Sylvester in 2010. They had their grand opening in 2011. They brew several different beer styles and package them in bottles. I am looking forward to stopping in and trying everything straight from source. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel copper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to this extra pale ale. The taste is smooth caramel with a citrus hop finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This American pale ale carries tropical citrus notes and announces itself first with a golden color and wonderful aroma. Inspired by cyclists nationwide that ride the urban streets, this brew is sure to refresh.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter: @pawpawbrewery and @2pawsbeer

In the end, this is an awesome beer. I have to say the newer craft breweries raising up in Michigan put the newer ones in Chicago to shame. Michigan is growing into a pretty important state for craft beer. They are a long ways off from Oregon and Washington. They are gaining ground pretty quickly. I love the hops that they use on this beer and yet there is a nice balance from the malt. This a well-built beer and you can tell that this brewery put some thought behind this beer. I will be looking forward to try rest of their beers. I recommend you driving to Michigan to get this beer in your hands. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Tornado Black IPA

In this special beer blog from Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest, we are going to get into my one of my favorite craft breweries and beer from Michigan. The brewery is Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Tornado Black IPA. I have been wanting try this beer for a long time. I could not find it whenever I was in town. I was happy to see it being poured at this beer festival. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, read those posts to get to know the beers and the brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer. There is a slight coffee and chocolate to pine and citrus. The taste is a chocolate circus with a dry fruity notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @fb1862

Closing out, I really enjoyed this brew. This beer did not disappoint me at all. This is a pretty unique beer and it is hard to master on the brewery side of things. It is hard for most craft beer drinkers to get to know and enjoy this beer style. I believe this beer will bring some experience craft beer drinkers over to the Black IPA beer style. I was pretty stun on how drinkable this brew is too. The other thing that makes this beer pretty impressive is the fact it is coming from German base brewing style. They did a great job and I am proud and honor they are making great beer in Michigan. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bastone Brewery Peanut Butter Noir

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer I had at the Summer Beer Festival in Michigan. The brewery is Bastone Brewery and the beer is their Peanut Butter Noir. The brewery is located at Royal Oak, Michigan in 2004. The brewery is named after a Belgian city. Their beer and food is theme after this great Europe country. I found this information on their website (www.bastone.net). Let us get into beer.

It has a peanut butter color without a head on it. There is not a smell to it. The taste is sweet peanut butter with a dry peanut butter aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bastone.net

Twitter: @bastonebrewery

In the end, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this beer. Everyone with me was looking at me weird when I brought it over to the group. This brewery did think out of the box which is a good thing. I am willing to try beers like this all the time. I have to say this was a really good tasting beer. I loved the aftertaste. I hate to say this. I could only have maybe 12oz pour of this beer. It is not thick but heavy. I just feel it is heavy and not drinkable. I really enjoyed this beer and I could not find anything on their website about this brew. I am looking forward to making a trip to this brewery the next time I am in town. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Dead Kettle IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery from Michigan I have been waiting to try for a while. It is Right Brain Brewery and the brew is their Dead Kettle IPA. I had a chance to try this beer at Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. Right Brain is located on the north-west part of the state and the City Of Traverse City, Michigan. There is not too much information on this young brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head. The smell is hints of grapefruit. The taste is ripping the skin off a grapefruit without aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Working as a brewer means practicing your craft, knowing your equipment, and always being able to think on your feet.

Many years ago a dead brewing kettle was the spark that lead to eventual creation of this Right Brain Classic.

Showcasing heavy citrus notes and hop aroma, Dead Kettle is light bodied and refreshing. Strong Grapefruit notes make way for a pleasantly bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter: @rightbrainbrew

In closing, this beer is something else. Of course, it is in a good way. I love my IPA’s and this one is on my top ten beers. I love the huge and heavy grapefruit beer. It is extremely balance and this beer is done up right. I love the packaging and the story about the name of the brewery. I hope in the future they put out 12oz bottles or cans or 16oz cans. I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles. I highly highly HIGHLY recommend this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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