Month: October 2013

New Beer Blog Goose Island Brewing Upstream IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from the brewpub from Goose Island Brewing.  The beer is their Upstream IPA.  This beer is not in package.  It is beer they brew at their brewpub for their bar.  If you read my past blogs, you know the history of Chicago craft brewery.  If you have not read them, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this brewer.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is citrus in the beer.  The taste has carbonated citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland and @GooseClybourn

In the end, I had a chances to go down to the Goose Island Brewpub for one of my going away parties.  I had a few brews and this was one of them.  I had a chances to try the Alt and a one of their wheat ales.  I cannot think of the names of those beers.  I am a huge fan of India Pale Ales.  It was a no brainier to pick this beer.  I love the hops but not a fan of the malty backbone.  I just felt the hops were attacking it a little too much for my liking.  It is a drinkable beer and that is what won me over on this brew.  If this beer is still on draft, I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Laughing Dog Brewing Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out first brew from a brewery, which is Laughing Dog Brewing. I was excited to try it.  The beer is their Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter.  Laughing Dog Brewing is a young company.  It was stated in 2005 in Sandpoint, Idaho.  They brew several different beer styles.  They brew up to 15 different beer styles.  They have won several awards for their brews.  The dog that is featured on their beer bottles, logos, etc is their family dog, who is Ben.  There is not too much information for this eight year old company.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head on this coffee porter.  The smell is toffee and hints of coffee.  The taste of this imperial coffee porter is a creamy sweet black strong coffee with roasted coffee notes.  It is not drinkable beer unless the beer drinker is a coffee porter and stout and then it is drinkable.

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

Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

A complex Imperial Coffee Porter made with Evans Brothers cold-pressed coffee. Subtle chocolate, and coffee notes are balanced by black malt bitterness and malt sweetness. Available year-round in 22oz. bottles and kegs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.laughingdogbrewing.com

Twitter:  @LaughingDogbrew

In closing, this brew is pretty good.  I was not too familiar with this brewery.  I was pretty interested to sit down to try this beer and do some back history.  Some reason, I believed I saw their brews in the State of Illinois.  However, this brew is pretty complex that is extremely good thing, the notes go from chocolate and coffee notes.  I will have to trade with my friend to get a few more of their beers.  I believe they are not available in the a Michigan. I recommend 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 Starr Hill All Access Cryptical Imperial Stout

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Starting a new beer tab, we are going to sample out another beer from Starr Hill Brewery.  This blog will feature All Access Crypitcal Imperial Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Amber Ale, 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 jet black color with a tan color head on this stout.  The smell has a roasted malts with some chocolate notes.  The taste of this Imperial Stout is roasted dark chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is burn chocolate notes.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

Cryptical packs a wallop of dark malt flavor. The beer weighs in at 8.8% ABV and has dark, fruity flavors, like raspberry, plum and star anise. Cryptical is dry-hopped with American Hops to balance out its full body with a floral aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.starrhill.com

Twitter:  @starrhill

Closing out the beer tab, this brewery, just what I have been saying in the past beer blogs posts, knows how to brew beer.  This Imperial Stout is not drinkable beer but it packs a ton of flavor in this 22oz bottle.  I enjoyed drinking this beer and I wish I could get more in the Michigan market.  I guess I will have to trade more with my friend.  I love the hops they use in this brew and there is some nice chocolate notes.  I recommend this beer if you can find 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 Starr Hill Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy Ale The Gift Of Great Beer

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Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Starr Hill Brewery.  The beer that will be feature is one of their high-end or 22oz bottle line.  It is their Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy Ale The Gift Of Great Beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get to know  this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark blood-red color with a slight white to tan color head. The smell is sweeter caramel to some kind of sweet fruit notes.  It is hard to make out.  The taste is an extremely malty with  smooth caramel notes.  The aftertaste is a smooth but fade caramel finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Starr Hill’s Psycho Kilter is a full-bodied Wee Heavy brewed in the style of traditional Scottish ales. Its huge malty nose, with hints of to a roastiness, gives way to a full, sweet palate with low, but perceptible hop bitterness. A lingering warmth balances the rich and dominant maltiness.

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

Starr Hill’s Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy is characterized by its huge malty nose with hints of roastiness. A full, sweet palate with very little hops, this high-gravity brew is the Scots’ unique specialty.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website;  www.starrhill.com

Twitter:  @starrhill

Closing out tab, this craft brewery is something else.  I had nothing bad from this brewery.  There was one which was their spring seasonal.  It was not a bad beer but not a really good one.  This beer is true to the classic beer style.  Starr Hill Brewery knows that they are doing and they are doing it right.  There is a nice malty notes but a nice hop to off set it just enough.  It is sweet enough to not notice high alcohol percentage.  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 Heavy Seas Uncharted Waters 2013 The Greater Pumpkin

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into a brew on this blog from Heavy Seas.  I am a huge fan of this brewery and I cannot wait to get into their beers a little bit more.  I could not get them while living the Chicago market but I can here in the Michigan market.  Heavy Seas Brewery was founded in 1992 by Hugh Sisson Baltimore, Maryland.  Heavy Seas brews several different beer styles.  Their beers are sold in eighteen different states and they go as far west to Michigan.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this high-end Fall Seasonal.  The smell is like a vanilla bean with hints of oak.  It also has smell notes of pumpkin and other species. The taste has bourdon, oak, and pumpkin with slight spices like cinnamon and slight nutmeg.  The aftertaste is burn nutmeg bourdon notes. It is sip able to drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Uncharted Waters explores the unique changes that happen to beer when exposed to wood. Each beer showcases a robust style, carefully matched with a wood treatment to produce a range of complex flavors. Vintage dating encourages further exploration of the aging process. As much about the voyage as the destination, we hope you enjoy these beers in the spirit which they were brewed.

The Greater Pumpkin

As fall approaches and thought turn to Halloween, we roll out the Great er Pumpkin. A coppery ale with forward notes of vanilla oak and flavors of autumnal spice, the ale is brewed with actual pumpkin and imported English malts. Pairs well with turkey legs, sweet potatoes, and an evening looking at the stars….

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

In the most worthy of pumpkin patches and during the silence of the midnight hour, the Greater Pumpkin raises up and pours a rich deep and burnished orange color.  Heady aromas of bourbon, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and clove linger seductively over the thick white head of this tremendous brew.  Its love at first sip as the full malt body, dominated by British crystal malt, brown sugar and pumpkin, slowly washes over your tongue.  Bourbon barrel aging rounds out the flavors with notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon.  Pairs well with crisp autumn weather, crunchy fallen leaves, and the knowledge that your kids will be asleep soon so you can raid their Halloween candy bags.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website;  www.hsbeer.com

Twitter:  @HeavySeasBeer

Closing out, this pumpkin ale is something else and I mean that in a good way.  The bourdon does not take over the beer.  There is a nice balance from the beer and barrel.  The barrel gives you a vanilla notes that gives a different twist on the beer notes.  This is a big beer that gives you everything you expected from a beer like this.  You will not be disappointed with this brew.  Heavy Seas did a great job and I highly recommend you trying this brew.  I thought Uinta Brewing made a great barrel age pumpkin ale. 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 Pumpkin Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Blue Point Brewing.  It is their Pumpkin Ale.  I know it is another pumpkin beer.  This one is a little different.  If you read my earlier beer blogs on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper to light amber color with constant white head on this pumpkin ale.  The smell has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and light pumpkin in this Fall Seasonal.  The taste has cinnamon and nutmeg in the front, however, there is a light pumpkin notes on the back half of the drinking experience.  The pumpkin lives in the aftertaste.  This is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

According to Linus there are 3 things never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. Our Pumpkin Ale, on the other hand, has made quite a buzz from New Hampshire down to Florida. Every season has its pleasures. Harvest your own with our Pumpkin Ale and reap all that Autumn has to offer. Brewed with pumpkins from only the most sincere patches, this seasonal brew is golden orange, crisp and delicious, with an innocent hint of cinnamon and nutmeg that articulates our favorite season. Gather with friends and family and enjoy the change of seasons while savoring a pint of Pumpkin Ale. Just like the leaves, it’s gone after Thanksgiving.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @bluepointbrewer

Closing, I know what you are asking.  Why is this pumpkin beer different from the rest on the market?  It is pretty simple.  This pumpkin ale gives you the pumpkin but it is not over the top in your face that goes with the spices.  You taste the nutmeg and cinnamon up front and the pumpkin at the end of the drinking experience.   I love this beer for that because it makes it pretty drinkable unlike most pumpkin beers.  I believe this is the best pumpkin beer on the market or one of the best on the market.  I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Upland Brewing Harvest Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a seasonal ale from Upland Brewery.  It is their Harvest Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this up and coming from Indiana.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post about their flagship ale.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on this Fall Seasonal.  The smell is piney to slight citrus notes.  The taste of this hoppy pale ale has a slight malty notes with a piney to  slight citrus notes.  The aftertaste is a heavy bitterness from the hops.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

An American Pale Ale by design, but an even more vibrant rendition by loading up our hopback with freshly harvested Citra hops. Expect huge wafts of tropical fruit notes, balanced by a moderate bitterness and light tasted malt character. A showcase for one of our four favorite ingredients and a delight for all the hopheads.

ABV: 5.5 |  IBUs: 62 | SG: 14 | SRM: 13

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter:  @uplandbrewco

Closing, this seasonal ale gives the craft beer drinker something else.  Normally for the fall, the craft beer drinker will have to reach for the countless list of Oktoberfest, Pumpkin ales, or start looking at porters and/or stout.  Upland Brewery and a few more craft breweries are looking at this as opportunity to give their drinkers something a little different.  This brew is something different.  It is a west coast pale ale.  It is hopped up and it is very good.  They did a nice job on this brew.  It is well balance from the malty backbone to the hops.  I will have to say they were not shy on making the hops shine through this beer.  I wish this beer was available all year-long but it would loss that special shine that it has right now.  I recommend you hunting this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser