In this beer blog, we are going to get into a newer brewery in the last ten years in the southeast part of Michigan. The brewery is called Liberty Street Brewery. They opened back in 2008. There is not much history on this young brewery. I did find some information on their website. Let us get into the beer.
American IPA
It has a clear copper color without a head on it. There is really no smell to me. The taste is piney to earthy notes with a weird but good aftertaste. It is almost like Jolly Rancher or candy aftertaste. It is a mild IPA but pretty drinkable beer.
A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale. American hop character can be described as being citrusy, piney, fruity and resiny.
Starkweather Stout
It has a jet black color with a tan color. There is chocolate to a touch of coffee smell to this stout. The taste is a heavy coffee but a smooth taste to it. THe aftertaste is dry chocolate notes. It is drinkable for the type of stout.
This stout is full of chocolate flavor and aroma coming from grain only. A rich mouth feel mellows the slight hop bitterness and makes this an easy drinking stout, even in warmer weather.
Porter
It has a dark brown to black color with a fluffy tan color head. The smell is of burned chocolate. The taste is the same as the smell. There is an aftertaste but pretty fade. It is like dry chocolate. It is drinkable like the porter for the type of beer style.
American Farmhouse IPA
It has a cloudy bright yellow color without a head. The smell is a heavy farm like smell. This is a Belgian Saison. The taste is like a saison with some citrus to funky spices. It has citrus to slight dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.
Closing, I have been wanting to stop by this brewery and check out their beers. I had a chances a few months ago and I am glad I did. I have been a little behind on my posts and I am glad I am getting it out now. I became a fan of this brewery pretty quickly. I loved both of their IPA’s. I had their C-Monster at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. I thought that was pretty good too. I love their porter and stout. Since I have moved back to Michigan, I will be by this brewpub a lot more. I highly recommend this brewery and now they are packaging their beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into their fourth studio record, which his called “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1.” There will be a volume 2 release in the later part of 2013 and that will their fifth studio record. We are going to get into the history of this band and then the music. Let us get into the history.
History:
Five Finger Death Punch was formed in 2005 by Zoltan Bathory, who is the guitar player, and Jeremy Spencer, who is the drummer. Zoltan Bathory was a bassist in his old band which was called U.P.O. Matt Snell joins the band in 2006. The band recorded music and then send it to Ivan Moody in Denver. The band named themselves after some classic martial arts movies. Ivan later that year flew out to Los Angeles. They began to record their first studio record, which was called “The Way Of The Fist.” The band did not have a second guitar player, however, Stevo “Shotgun” Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan recorded parts on the record while being mixed by guitarist Logan Mader. Caleb Andrew Bingham joined the band for a few shows as their second guitar player. He was later replaced by Darrell Roberts. During this time, the band signed with the record company, which was “The Firm.” In 2007, the band released their first EP, which was called Pre-Emptive Strike through American Itunes. “The Way Of The Fist” was released in 2007 and enter the Billboard Charts Top 200 at #199. They went on several major tours to support their first record. They were on the Maythm Festival and Korn’s Family Values Tour. They supported Disturbed during this time too. The band re-release “The Way Of The Fist” in 2008 with few bonus tracks. “Never Enough” was added on to the record and became the band’s second single off the record. Darrell Roberts was asked to leave and was replaced by Jason Hook in 2009. The band stop touring and supporting their first record at this time too. “War Is The Answer” which is their second studio record was release in 2009. It entered the Billboard Charts at #7. The record had several singles including the cover of Bad Company’s song, which was “Bad Company.” This is one of my favorite cover songs from a hard rock and metal band. The band went into the studio to work on their third record, which was called “American Capitalist.” The record was released in the later part of 2011. The band brought in bassist Chris Kael to replace Matt Snell, who departed from the band. The band had some success with this record but like their first two studio records. They had several singles off “American Capitalist.” Early part of 2013, the band began to work on their fourth record. By May of 2013, the band announced they will be putting out two records. “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1,” which is their fourth record and the one that will be review on this posted, and later in the year Volume 2 will be released. The band realize they were writing some good tunes and they did not want to stop writing. They dropped some tunes for a double studio record. The band brought in several special guests and one was Rob Halford from Judas Priest. They performed this song with Rob at 5th Annual Golden God Awards. The second volume will be released in November, however, they just release the first single off that record called “Battle Born.” Let us get into Volume One.
Track List:
Lift Me Up (Featuring Rob Halford Of Judas Priest)
There is some nice heavy guitars with the drums and bass. The drums have a nice beat to it. Ivan has a nice melody to his singing. I am loving the lyrics. I love how they are using Rob Halford on this song. Their voices match really well. This is a great opening track to this song. Metal God still sounds great when he is singing. I love the pace of this song. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. I love the ending of this opening track.
Watch You Bleed
I love the reverb on the singer’s voice and the nice acoustic guitar at the beginning. I love the heavy guitars and the drums during the main part of the song. Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on this song. I love the fact that the drummer is using double bass during the main part of the song. There is a nice guitar break that turns into a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. Nice touch on the ending of this song.
You
There is some nice music at the beginning. I love the melody of this song. Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on “You.” I love the slower pace on this song. It gives this record a different element. This band reminds of Pantera back in the day. I have to say they are today’s Pantera. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. It kind of feels forced into the song. I am not a fan of the ending.
Wrong Side Of Heaven
I love the acoustic guitar with the second over the top of it in a semi guitar solo. I love how they had the drums in the distance and it comes front. I love Ivan’s clean vocals. I love the lyrics. They wrote some nice music on this title track. There is a pretty good guitar solo towards the middle of the song. I love how Ivan sings over the top of the back half of the guitar solo.
Burn MF
I love the heavy guitars and the drums highlighting parts at the beginning. There is some solid bass playing on this song. I am not fan of Ivan’s singing, however, the lyrics are solid. The drums are insane on this song. This song is straight to the point. I love the ending.
I.M.SIN
I love the music at the beginning of this song. I love singing and lyrics on this song. It fits the song and the theme. Ivan wrote a nice melody to this song. They pull a page out of Pantera’s music book and did the spoken words before a nice guitar solo. I love the ending of this song.
Anywhere But Here (Featuring Maria Brink)
I love the heavy guitars at the beginning with a nice backing from the drums and bass. I love the acoustic guitar with the heavy guitar at the front. I love the melody and lyrics from Ivan. I love the guitar solo at the back half of the song. I wish they would use Maria more on this song. There is another version of this song towards the end of this record. It is part of the bonus tracks. Why even have her on this song if you are not going to use her.
Dot Your Eyes
I love the drums and the guitar playing is pretty good at the beginning. There is a simple but to the point bass playing. This song reminds of “When Worlds Collide” from Powerman 5000. The rhythm and melody from the singer and how the music is playing. You can see that this band was influenced from the bands from the 1990’s. I love how they are using the back up singers. There is a nice guitar break at the end of the song.
M.I.N.E (End This Way)
There is some nice acoustic guitar playing at the beginning of this song. I wish they used it more and more. Ivan’s singing is good with some good lyrics. I love how the bass and drums calm to fit theme of this song. This song has a nice pace to it. There is another forced guitar solo towards the middle of this song. Can this band go one song on this record without a guitar solo? They are well written but some are just forced into the song.
Mama Said Knock You Out (Featuring Tech N9Ne)
I love the guitar and drums at the beginning of this song. This is the first cover on this record. It seems like they always has a cover on all their records. This is really bad. I wish they did not do this song. Are you kidding? Really?!?!?!?! This is the worse cover I have heard in a very long time. I am good. I cannot finish this song.
Diary Of A Deadman
I love the music at the beginning. I am really not a fan of the spoken words on this song. I love the guitar break. These last two songs at the end of this record have been really disappointing. I feel this is a bad way to end this great record.
I.M.SIN (Featuring Max Cavalra)
This is the first of three bonus tracks with guest singers. “I.M.SIN” has lead singer from Soulfly, who is Max Cavalra. I love the music as I said above. I want to see how they work Max into this song. They did a great job working him into this song. I love this version better than the regular record one.
Anywhere But Here (Duet With Maria Brink)
This song features Maria Brink, who is the lead singer of In This Moment. I love how they are using her on this version. This is a better version. They should have used this version on the main record not the other one. There voices work well together.
Dot Your Eyes (Featuring Jamey Jasta Of Hatebreed)
“Dot Your Eyes” features Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed. I love this version like the rest of the bonus tracks. The second lead singer gives another element to the songs and music from this band. This is a great song to end this record with the bonus tracks.
Closing, this record is by far their best work to date. I am pretty impressed because I thought their last two records were their best. This band is at the top of metal world right now and I do not see them going away anytime soon. They remind me of a modern-day Pantera. Is this what Pantera would be doing today if they were still around? It is a great question. There were only two songs on this great that I would do without. It was the last two songs before the bonus tracks. This is a solid record and I can see them doing really well with it along with their Volume 2. Volume 2 will be out later part of 2013. I highly recommend you checking out this great record. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Redhook Brewery Game Changer Ale is the featured brewery and beer on this beer blog. This is a beer that is exclusive to Buffalo Wild Wings. If you read my earlier beer blog on Redhook Brewery, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear copper color with constant small bubbles raising up from the middle. There is a creamy like white head on this pale ale. The smell is notes of citrus and slight malty. The taste of this light to medium body is carbonated citrus with slight caramel notes. The aftertaste is creamy caramel. It is extremely drinkable.
Redhook Game Changer Ale is a sessionable ale with rich color to distinguish it as craft, just enough hops to cut the spiciness of wings, and the right amount of malt to cool the burn.
Closing, I am excited with every brew this brewery puts out on the market. I am a huge fan of Redhook Brewery and I am not going to hide that fact. I love the Dan Patrick beer, which is Audible Ale. Audible Ale has grown since its release. When I heard about this beer with Buffalo Wild Wings, I thought maybe they just rename Audible Ale. It turns out I was totally wrong. They are two different pale ales using different hops and malt. Game Changer is a little bit more on the copper color and maltier. These brews are really good and well made. However, I just feel Game Changer is the weak link in Redhook beer collection, it is still a great beer. Buffalo Wild Wings will sell a ton of this beer to make it worth wild for Redhook. I recommend you trying this brew at least once. Please let me know what you think of it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Starting a new tab, Oskar Blues Brewery is the feature brewery and the beer is their Mama’s Little Yella Pils. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dale’s Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery better. Let us get into beer.
It has a clear golden color with small constant bubbles. It has small constant white bubbles. The smell is of import pilsner and lager. It has a malty notes. The taste of this light body has malty backbone but the hops shine through it. It is a drinkable beer.
Oskar Blues’ Mama’s Little Yella Pils is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic, famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops. While its rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.
Closing out my tab, I have said this once and I will say it a few more times. There is not too many craft breweries that can make a good craft pilsner. Oskar Blues has brew a great pilsner. I am talking about great pils. This beer is well-balanced. I love selection of the hops. Mama’s Little Yella Pils can be consumed in the winter and middle of the hot summer. I highly recommend this brewery and beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub Scotch Ale is the featured craft brewery and scotch ale on this beer blog post. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Dale’s Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you not read those beer blog posts, please, read the blog post on Dale’s Pale Ale. Let us get into the beer.
It has a dark amber or dark brown color with fluffy white head on this scotch ale. The smell is caramel, malty, and hazelnut notes. The taste of this light to medium body beer is heavy hazelnut notes with a dry malty notes. It is a pretty drinkable beer.
This jaw-dropping Scottish strong ale (8% ABV) is brewed with bodacious amounts of malted barley and specialty grains, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malt. Old Chub features semi-sweet flavors of cocoa and coffee, and a wee-bit of smoke. A head-turning treat for malt heads and folks who think they don’t dig dark beer.
In closing, there is not too many craft breweries that make a scotch ale. However, it makes senses why this brewery makes one, they are located in an area where most of the year. It is cold more than it is warm in an average year. This is a great brew. This brewery makes some killer brews but I just feel they are all overpriced. Please, do not get me wrong. Oskar Blues Brewery makes some great brews. I just wish they were a little cheaper. In the Detroit market, they are little bit more of a value than the Chicago market. It is not by much and I hope you let me know your thoughts on this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
MacTarnahan’s Brewing Goose Bump Imperial Stout is the brewery and beer featured on this beer blog post. This beer is no longer being made. If you are interested in trying this brew, you better go out and find this beer. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Belgian Style Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know them. Let us get into the beer.
It has a jet black color with a constant tan color. The smell is like burned chocolate with slight coffee notes. The taste of this big body beer is creamy and smooth chocolate notes with notes of coffee. The aftertaste is dry crisp coffee bean that fades out. It is a sipping beer.
Closing, I brought up a ton of this brew because it was marked down. I know for past experience with Imperial Stout. They can last for a good five years. I was not worried about buying this beer out of code this year. This brew is really good right now and it will get better over time. The coffee is pretty heavy at first but it calms down in the later part of the bottle or the drinking experience. This is a great beer and I am sad they stop making this brew. If you can find, I would try it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into a fall seasonal from Liberty Street Brewing. It is their Pumpkin Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Liberty Street Brewing. If you have not, please, read those beer blog post to get to know this young Michigan brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear dark golden color with a creamy white head. The smell has slight cinnamon and nutmeg. The taste has a slight cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of pumpkin notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Closing out, I was pretty stun to see this beer on draught at my local Buffalo Wild Wings. I had to order it for two reasons. One, I am a pretty big fan of this brewery and two, it was on draft. I like this beer however, it is not the best pumpkin ale on the market. It is not the worse pumpkin ale on the market. I love the bend from the nutmeg and cinnamon. The pumpkin is there but just enough to make me happy. It is like drinking a pumpkin pie. I recommend it, if you can still find it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Deschutes Brewery Obsidian Stout is the feature craft brewery and beer on this beer blog post. If you read my earlier beer blog on their other brews, you know the rich history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this west coast craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a jet black color with a constant tan to off white color head. The smell is a roasted to chocolate notes. The taste is a smooth creamy chocolate roasted notes. The aftertaste is dry roasted chocolate notes. For being a stout, it is pretty drinkable beer. I can see most people think it is not drinkable beer.
Deep, robust and richly rewarding, this is beer to linger over. Obsidian has distinct notes of espresso, chocolate, roasted malt and black barley, with just enough hop bite to cut the sweetness. Malt: Pale, Crystal, Carapils, Munich, Black Barley, Roasted Barley, Wheat Hops: Nugget, Millennium, Willamette, Northern Brewer
In the end, I know many of you readers know I am a huge fan of this brewery. I know many of my friends know I am a huge fan. This brew is not a disappointment. There is not a drop off from their flagship to this brewery. This brewery makes some great beers and I cannot wait for them to make to the Michigan market. If they do not, I know when I make trips back to Chicago. I will be picking up some beer. As craft beer industry keeps on growing, Deschutes Brewery will be there still pushing the limits of the craft beer drinkers like they did from the beginning in 1988. I highly recommend this stout. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Green Flash Brewing and it is an unique brew, which is Green Bullet Triple India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear dark golden color with a thick, creamy, and constant white head on this IPA. The smell is piney notes. The taste is a carbonated piney notes with dry hop aftertaste. For being a big and high-end beer, it is pretty drinkable beer.
Named after a super-robust New Zealand hop, Green Bullet™ is a well-balanced Triple IPA being bottled today for the 1st time ever. Brewmaster, Chuck Silva initially released this Pacific Gem to celebrate the Green Flash 9th Anniversary in 2011, and it was an immediate hit! Now, this cult favorite will be available from coast-to-coast as a seasonal release from September through December 2013. Be on the lookout for this high-caliber addition to our arsenal in 4-packs, 22oz bottles and on draft, because you do not want to miss the release.
Closing, leave it to a west coast craft brewery to try to create a new beer style in the IPA world. This is pretty much what Green Flash from California has done. This Green Bullet Triple India Pale Ale has everything for the hop head is looking for on the next level in their beers. I love the hops they are using in this brew. New Zealand hops have grown on brewers and hop lovers in the last few years. It is not a surprise that newer hops are popping up from New Zealand like Green Bullet. Green Flash named their brew after the hop. I love malty backbone to cut down on the hop’s intense feel. This is a great brew and I sad it is a seasonal. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, Sprecher Brewing from Wisconsin is the feature brewery with their Bootlegger’s Bourbon Barrel Hard Root Beer. Sprecher Brewing was founded in 1985 in Milwaukee by Randal Sprecher. They brew several different beer styles and pops. They are best known for their soda pops or I like to say pop. They won several different beer awards for their brews. Let us get into their brew.
It has a root beer color like a cloudy brown color without a head on the beer. The smell is root beer with some alcohol notes. The taste is root beer that you would find your neighborhood grocery store. The aftertaste is root beer alcohol notes. It is pretty drinkable.
In closing, I am not a huge fan of taking pop and mixing alcohol. I was a little nervous trying this brew or pop. This is a pretty big and growing segment in the alcohol world. I was pretty curious on this beverage. I have to say I am pretty impressed by it. This beer has a heavy root beer taste and you can barely taste the alcohol in this brew. I recommend you trying this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
DJ Weiser 