Month: December 2013

New Beer Blog Magic Hat G-Thing

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Magic Hat Brewing.  It is their Winter or Christmas Seasonal, which is G-Thing Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Magic Hat Brewing.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this northeast craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this ale.  The smell is hints of cinnamon and ginger.  The taste is a cinnamon and hints of malty notes.  The aftertaste is a cinnamon with a slight ginger notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

G-Thing! is a Ginger Spice Ale led by a fresh ginger zing that’s followed by a bready malt backbone. Its subtle roasty notes and mild hop bitterness slowly give way to a serene cinnamon spiciness as the malt tones melt away.

Stats

  • MaltsPale, Caramel Vienna, Caramel Munich, Victory, Chocolate, Wheat
  • HopsMagnum, Northern Brewer
  • YeastEnglish Ale
  • ABV5.7%
  • IBUs25
  • SRM25
  • Original Gravity14° Plato
  • AdditivesGinger Juice, Cinnamon

Availability / October – January

Variety Packs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, when I saw this beer in package, I was wondering how it was.  I had a chance to try this brew and I jumped onto it.  I have to say I was pretty impressed but kind of disappointed at the same time.  I believe I pumped up myself to be disappointed.  I love how they did a Christmas Ale but not like the rest on the market.  I love how this brewery thinks outside the box.  Overall, I enjoyed drinking this beer.  I love the cinnamon but yet a nice malty backbone.  The other thing that I love about this brew is the fact they did not use a porter, brown, or a stout ale.  They used English ale or English mild ale.  I highly 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 Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout (2013)

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In this limited edition beer run, we are going to sample out a beer that makes Black Friday Shopping different after Thanksgiving Day.  I am talking about the run of beers that are released around the country by Goose Island Brewery.  This one is their Bourbon County Coffee Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout.  The smell is a heavy coffee notes.  The taste is a heavy coffee with bourbon notes.  The aftertaste is chocolate with hints of coffee.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea. This world class roaster puts the same passion and skill into their coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made with a different coffee from our friends next door each year. With the change in coffee comes a change in the flavor profile, making each release truly unique from the previous years.

2013 Release – Intelligentsia Los Inmortales 2012 Release  – Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans 2011 Release – Intelligentsia Anjilanaka Beans 2010 Release – Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial Coffee Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels Alcohol by Volume: 13.4% International Bitterness Units: 60 Color: Midnight Hops: Willamette Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black Coffee: Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Coffee Cake Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle up to 5 years

Availability:

Limited Release Bottles: 12oz Draft: 1/6 bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

Closing out, Goose Island is heading into the right direction now since being took over by evil empire.  I never doubted any of their products and I still look at them as craft brewery.  I like the fact they are putting out more and more of Bourbon County Stout into the markets.  It is still limited but it is expanding.  I love the no balance of these stouts.   They are designed like that and Goose Island was the first to the party to do this type of beer stytle.  Some little craft brewery in Europe can stop being jealous of this brewery.  I love the heavy coffee notes and how bourbon does not overpower the coffee stout part.  If you can get a bottle, this is a must try for a craft beer drinker.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing Company Mr. Delicious Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Arbor Brewing Company.  It is their Mr. Delicious Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has cloudy dark copper to a light amber color with a small white bubble head.  The aroma is fated and hard to pick up.  It is like a citrus notes for the smell.  The taste is a light carbonation with grapefruit notes with a grapefruit aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

This beer leads off with a stiff round-house punch of citrusy hops, follows up with a quick kick of bready malts and warming alcohol, and finishes with a powerful and lingering bite of complex layered hops.

This popular brew was inspired by ABC founder, head brewer and spiritual leader Matt Greff whose cartoon enhanced image graces the label.

  • ABV9%
  • IBU90
  • OG1.088

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ArborBrew and @ArborBrewYpsi

Closing, as many of you readers know, I am a huge fan of this brewery.  I am glad to be back to Michigan to enjoy their beers and Frankenmuth on regular basis.  I love checking out some of the new craft breweries that are popping out around the state, however, I have always go back to my favorite breweries to check out their new beer that hit the market.  It leads to this brew from Arbor Brewing.  I love the hops and nice balance from the malt.  They did a great job on this beer.  I did not think they were able to make an imperial IPA.  They made one and a really good one here.  I could live without name and packaging on this beer.  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 Green Flash Brewing Double Stout Black Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Green Flash Brewing from California.  Thanks again to my friend Jay for sharing this brew with me.  If you read my beer blog post earlier, you know the history of this brewery from the southern part of California.  If you have not, please ,read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a creamy tan color head on this stout.  The aroma is chocolate, hint of coffee, and toffee notes.  The taste is a creamy chocolate with a chocolate and caramel aftertaste.  This double stout is a scary drinkable.

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

Double Stout Black Ale

Golden naked oats mashed with dark crystal and robust roasted malts create a luscious black brew with satin-smooth finish. An old-world style, done the Green Flash way. Big, bold, flavorful and complex.

ALC. BY VOL. 8.8% | IBUS: 45

  • World Beer Cup   2010 Silver–Other Strong
  • California State Fair   2009 1st Place – Foreign-style Stout 2008 1st Place – Imperial Stout
  • Los Angeles County Fair   2009 Silver – Imperial Stout
  • San Diego County Fair   2012 Bronze – Bold Stout

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenflashbrew.com

Twitter:  @Greenflashbeer

In the end,  this is a big beer and stout.  It is nicely balance and extremely drinkable.  It rich and full of flavor.  This brewery knows how to make some great beers asides India Pale Ales.  They are not like most breweries that know how to make one beer style great and rest of their beer styles are bad or good.  This brewery took some time and learn how to brew beer.  They put some thought behind this beer and rest of their line up.  I love this beer and I will be drinking it again down the road. 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 Dogfish Head And Sierra Nevada Life And Limb Rhizing Bines India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew that had two craft brewery, who are Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, teamed up to brew this beer.  It is Life And Limb Rhizing Bines IPA.  I want to say thanks to my friend Jay for the share.  If you read my beer blog posts so far, you know history of both of these breweries.  If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get up to speed on both of these breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a citrus notes.  The taste has slight caramel to citrus notes with a dry bitter citrus aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer from Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Brewery.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Rhizing Bines is a collaborative IPA using the best of both coasts:  Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual-hopping from the East and Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown caramel malt and Torpado dry-hopping from the West.

Here is a descripation from Dogfish Head’s website (www.dogfish.com):

Rhizing Bines

ABV: 8
IBU: 70
Availability: Limited
Original Release Date: 02/2013

Deepening our bond with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., forged with the 2009   collaboration Life & Limb, we’ve brewed an East-meets-West Imperial IPA called Rhizing Bines.“We had a lot of fun brewing the original dark and roasty Life &   Limb in Chico with the Grossmans and Sierra Nevada’s extended family,”   says Dogfish Head President and Founder Sam Calagione. “We are very   proud of the way that beer turned out. Now it’s our turn to repay that   hospitality and brew a very hop-centric IPA in Milton with our pals from   Chico, incorporating innovative ingredients and techniques from both   breweries.”On the hot side, Rhizing Bines went through Dogfish’s signature   continual-hopping process with floral and citrusy Bravo hops. On the   cold side, it was dry-hopped with an experimental varietal so new it   doesn’t yet have a name, just a number: Hop 644. A component of Sierra   Nevada’s aroma-boosting Torpedo system made a pit-stop in  Delaware  for dry-hopping duty before it headed to Sierra’s new North  Carolina  brewery. To celebrate Sierra Nevada planting East Coast roots, Dogfish Head tracked down a Carolina heirloom wheat grown and milled at Anson Mills. The soft red winter wheat contributes subtle sweet and nutty notes to this hop-forward ale.“It gives my wife and myself great comfort to know that although  we’re  leaving our home and friends on the West Coast, we’re joining our  craft  brewing friends on the East Coast,” says Sierra Nevada General  Manager  Brian Grossman. “Here’s to great beer!”The label for Rhizing Bines depicts the pairings behind this beer:  two  hop varietals, two yeast strains (Chico and Doggie), two unique  hopping  processes and two family-owned breweries. These bonds start at  the root –  or rhizome – and stretch throughout the mature bines.“Sam and his family and the entire Dogfish crew have been friends of   ours for a long time,” says Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman. “When  we  started talking about doing another collaboration we jumped at the   chance, especially since this version will be the hoppy counterpoint to   the last brews. We couldn’t say no! We’re looking forward to joining   forces again.”

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dogfish.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @dogfishbeer and @SierraNevada

In closing, when two or three craft breweries get together to brew a beer, it makes me a little nervous to purchase these beers.  This is the big reason why.  One, I feel at times that I do not get my money worth from the liquid in the bottle.  Two, I feel that way about many of 750ml bottles from Dogfish Head.  I hate to say it.  They are great beers I just feel they are overpriced.  I have to say my attitude changed with this brew.  This is a great beer and well balance India Pale Ale.  I enjoyed drinking this beer.  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 Greenbush Brewing Brother Benjamin Imperial India Pale Ale

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In the beginning, we are going to get into the first brew from Greenbush Brewing on this blog.  It is their Brother Benjamin Imperial India Pale Ale.  I cannot find the year they opened but their brewery system came from San Francisco Brewery company, which is closed now.  They are located in the western part of the State of Michigan.  They are off Exit 12.  Greenbush Brewery was founded by brewmaster Scott Sullivan.  There is really not much history on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head on this Imperial IPA.  The smell is a sweet citrus and piney notes.  The taste has citrus and hints of creamy honey notes.  The aftertaste is dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here at Greenbush we’ve always known that good ideas often start over beer.  We also know that there’s nothing like taking a good idea too far.  Your’re reading this, so you must be one of us.  Enjoy the first step in taking your own idea too far.

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

Prepare to be Mystified

Be prepared, be prepared I say, to receive the mighty powerful taste of this truly heavenly Imperial India Pale Ale! It is a true force of nature my children! It’s a mystification!

Grain: Maris Otter Pale, Belgian Munich, Belgian Aromatic, Caramel Malt 60, Honey Malt, Honey

Hops: Columbus and Cascade

Yeast: House yeast

Extras: Clover Honey and Beet Sugar

Specs:

114 ibu

alc. 10.1% by vol.

15º Lovibond

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @Greenbush_Brew

In the end, I have had several different India Pale Ales and Imperial India Pale Ales brew with honey.  I have to say this one was one of the best one on market.  It is one of the best that is brewed in the State of Michigan.  They did a great job on the malty backbone.  I love the hops they used on this brew and the honey cuts through the hops to balance it.  This is a great beer and I will be hunting down more of this product.  Thanks again Jay for the share.  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 Cisco Brewers Island Reserve Russian Imperial Stout

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In the beginning, we are going to get into a brew, which is Reserve Russian Imperial Stout, from Cisco Brewers Island.  It was founded by Randy and Wendy Hudson in 1992 Nantucket, Massachusetts.  They are part of a winery.  There is not much history on the web about this brewery.  They brew several different beers in many forms.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan to light brown color head. The smell is chocolate to coffee notes.  The taste is smooth slight creamy chocolate and coffee notes.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ciscobrewers.com

Twitter:  @CiscoBrewers

In the end, I do not know this craft brewery that well.  I just know the few things I had from them.  I was not really a big fan of it.  I am not say it was bad.  I believe their everyday beers were in the middle of the road but I have not had them all.  I am a huge fan of stouts so I saw this one.  I thought I would give this brewery one more chance.  This Island Reserve Russian Imperial Stout has some creamy chocolate and coffee notes.  It is a sipping beer with a nice cigar.  I was pretty impressed with this brew.  This beer has to be their best brew at this brewery.  Of course, I have not try everything from 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 Tallgrass Brewing Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer seasonal from Tallgrass Brewing.  It is their Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, 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 black color with a light tan head on this vanilla stout.  The smell is heavy vanilla with some chocolate notes.  The taste is smooth and creamy vanilla to slight chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is a hint of vanilla notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style: Oatmeal Cream Stout Brewed with Vanilla Beans ABV 5.0% IBU 20 Full Brew Birthday: November 2012 Interesting Fact: There are free-roaming buffalo just ten miles from our brewery.

To create Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat we start with our best-selling beer, Buffalo Sweat. We carefully infuse this award- winning oatmeal cream stout with whole Ugandan vanilla beans. This enhances the beer’s natural dark-roasted flavors of espresso, chocolate, and creamy sweetness. “Liquid chocolate chip espresso cookies” is how one fan described its unique flavor.

The perfect treat on a winter’s day.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @TallgrassBeer

In closing, I was getting worried when I moved out of Chicago that I would not have a chance to get my hands on this brew.  I was happy to make it in town to move more things back to Michigan to get my hands on this beer.  I was pretty excited.  This brewery cannot make a bad beer.  They are like Tesla and Iron Maiden.  Both of those bands never put out a bad record and Tallgrass Brewery has not put out a bad beer.  The vanilla bean cuts through the chocolate and creamy stout.  The chocolate notes are still there but vanilla shines through this beer like some kind of prime time movie star.  If you are a fan of stout and/or vanilla bean, you will need to find a can of this great liquid.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Tallgrass Brewery Zombie Monkie Robust Porter

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In the beginning, Tallgrass Brewery wanted to do something special for the most popular adult holiday.  Halloween has grown in young adults or adults in their 30’s is out of sight, however, the holiday drops to kids tricking and treating.  Tallgrass came out with Zombie Monkie Robust Porter.   The can on this brew was supposed to have a hand grab so you can run away from the zombies.  I guess the cost was a little too much for the price they had to charge to their beer drinkers.  I love the packaging either way.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a tan color head on this porter.  The smell is a heavy chocolate notes.  The taste is chocolate and coffee notes with a dry cocoa notes.  This rich robust porter is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style: Post-Apocalyptic Porter ABV: 6.2% IBU: 35 Full Brew Birthday: September 2013

A robust porter inspired by approximately true events… 

Zombie Monkie is a dark, rich porter, carefully brewed for the post-apocalyptic world to come. Crafted with lots of roasty dark chocolate and specialty malts, then inoculated with enough hops to add a floral/citrus character in the finish. It’s hardy, complex, and interesting, because you might be drinking it for a long time. Zombie Monkie…

Grab A Can. Make A Plan. Take A Stand.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @TallgrassBeer

In the end, I have to say this beer was worth the trip back to Chicago to pick up this brew.  I really enjoyed this brew.  I just wished I would have picked up more than one four pack.  When I am back in town in a few weeks, I will be picking up more this beer.  This is a well balance beer.  I love the chocolate and coffee notes in this porter.  If you are in the far western part of the midwest, I would hunt this beer down.  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 Buckle Down Brewery Fiddle Sticks Belgian IPA

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One beer before the road, this is the last beer, which is Fiddle Sticks Belgian IPA, that I had at Buckledown Brewery. If you read beer blog post two days ago, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post on their American IPA, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a bright yellow to straw like color with a white head.  The smell is citrus with hints spices.  The taste is a slight lemon to citrus notes with some spicies.  It is nicely balance and pretty drinkable.

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

Fiddlesticks

Belgian-Style IPA

This hybrid brings together all of the best qualities of Belgian brewing and American hopcentricity — spicy, hoppy, dry and complex.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.buckledownbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BuckleDownBeer

Closing,  there is not too many good Belgian IPA’s that are good on the market.  There is not too many craft breweries that have Belgian IPA as their first four beer styles.  This brew brings some nice spicy, hoppy, and complex notes to the beer drinker.  I like that about this beer and has a nice balance to it.  Plus, it is pretty drinkable beer.  I really did not have their Belgian Single but just a sip.  This brewery has a nice core of four beers to start with.  I just want to thank Sean and Ike for a good times at their brewery.  When I am back in town, I will stop by the brewery in the near future.  I highly highly recommend this beer and brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser