Month: February 2014

New Beer Blog Stone Brewery Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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In the beginning, Stone Brewery took their Arrogant Bastard Ale to the next level.  We are talking and will sample their Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those postd to get to know Stone Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark red to amber color with a nice white color head.  The aroma has a strong alcohol notes with hints of earthy and oak notes.  The taste has a warm alcohol notes with slight vanilla to oak notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty alcohol.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Arrogant Bastard Ale:  This is an aggressive ale.  You probably won’t like it.  It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth.  We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal.  Perhaps you think multimillion dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better.  Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

The Arrogance Grows:  Too many strive towards complacency as a goal.  They stop their urge and desire for discovery somewhere between youth and adulthood.  And when they find their complacency threatened, they do everything to recover the warm, fuzzy feeling of that last complacency as quickly as possible.  Throughout every culture, every country, and every way of thought you will find it.  We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life.  True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth.  The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion.  Passion threatens the complacent and fills them with fear.  Fear of the new, the deep and the different.  We, on the other hand, seek it out.  Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively.  To this end we bring the “Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.”  Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

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

This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.
Too many strive towards complacency as a goal. We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life. True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth. The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion. Passion threatens the complacent, and fills them with fear. Fear of the new, the deep and the different. We, on the other hand, seek it out. Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively. To this end we bring you the “OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale.” Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrew.com

Twitter:  @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, I love their Arrogant Bastard Ale.  I love their glassware for it.  I kind wish I could get more of them.  I guess I will have to go on their website and order some more.  I have been eyeing this beer for a while.  I was pretty excited to see them finally do a sampler pack.  I was getting ready to pick up a bottle when I moved back to Michigan.  You can buy single bottles unlike Chicago market.  I am glad I went for the sampler pack.  It is worth the price.  This is a perfect beer along with their Arrogant Bastard Ale for the Michigan Winters.  I can see myself drinking some during the hot summers.  Either way, this is a great brew and I recommend you trying it.  Please, let me know what you think.  Go drink some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewery Hi-Res Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another and a new brew from Sixpoint Brewery.  It is their Hi-Res Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this Brooklyn Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Sixpoint Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has citrus to slight grapefruit notes.  The taste is a medium to full body with some grapefruit to tropical fruit notes.  It is extremely drinkable Double IPA.  The aftertaste has a nice mango or grapefruit notes.  It is hard to pick up.

Here is a video from their website (www.sixpoint.com) and YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In the end of the night, I will have to say this beer put me down for the night. It is extremely drinkable and does not taste like a Double or Imperial India Pale Ale.  Sixpoint has out did themselves again on this beer.  I never thought I would find another Imperial IPA better than their Resin.  I love the aroma and taste notes of the tropical fruits or grapefruit.  If I still lived in Chicago, this would be my go to beer on a regular basis along with Resin.  I have turn on mass-produced lager drinkers to this beer.  I know how that sounds but they love it.  If you are in the market where Sixpoint sells their beers, you need to run to the store RIGHT NOW and get yourself a four pack.  You will thank me later.  Share your Sixpoint love with others!  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 Michael Faricy’s Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to drink another beer from Arbor Brewing.  I am talking about their Michael Faricy’s Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Arbor Brewing Company.  If you have not read them, please, read those posts to get to know this great craft brewery from Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a nice constant tan color head.  The aroma is both chocolate and coffee notes.  The taste has a burned to smokey malty to slight chocolate notes with a smooth dry cocoa notes.  The aftertaste is smokey notes that fades away.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Description

This crowd-pleaser has a dark coffee-like appearance with a creamy head and smoky, roasted grain aromas. It is rich and creamy on the palate with chalky, burnt flavors balanced by lush dark chocolates and never turns too dry through the smoky finish. Full-flavored yet highly drinkable—rich and creamy without being thick or heavy.

New Beer Blog Blue Point Imperial Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Blue Point Brewery.  It is their Imperial Red Ale that they brew for Ashley’s Ann Arbor and Westland for their 30th Anniversary.  Ashley’s Bar is a nice craft bar with 48 taps and over 100 bottles.  They had several craft breweries around the country brewing a special beer for their celebration.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Blue Point Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this East Coast Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear red or amber color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has hoppy malty like a sweet hoppy candy notes.  The taste is a sweet malty notes with a lightly carbonated notes.  Aftertaste has malty dry finish.  It does not last long.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With half a dozen different malts, including Abbey, Carafa, Munich, and Victory – plus Citra, Mt. Rainier, and Styrian Bobek hops, there’s bound to be something for everyone in this big, red ale that we’ve handcrafted especially for Ashley’s. Cheers! Mark and Pete

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, how can I go wrong with this brew.  I have my favorite craft beer bar and one of my favorite craft breweries.  I am not a huge fan of Red Ales.  I was pretty impressed with this beer.  I have to say this beer aged pretty well.  This red ale has a big hop bite with a nice drinkable malty backbone finish.  I love the aroma to the taste and the color.  There is everything going on in this brew.  I hope you have a chance to try this brew.  I recommend this brew.  I hope to find this beer in draft again and soon.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Old Dominion Brewing Double D Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Double D Double IPA from Old Dominion Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Morning Glory Espresso Stout, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know Old Dominion Brewing.  Let us get into the brew.

This Double IPA has a clear slightly dark copper color with a nice  white head on it.  The aroma has tropical fruit notes.  The taste has mango to citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Her parents named her Deanie Davis.  Uncle Same assigned her call letters: Double D.  This daring Imperial IPA detonates at 50 IBU’s and 9% ALC. by Vol.

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

Double D Double IPA

Double D is a full-bodied Imperial India Pale Ale, flaunting sultry guava, mango, and tropical fruit aromas as a result of dry hopping with Citra, Zythos and Crystal hops. Brewed with light toasted malt and Bravo bittering hops, this double delights with smooth warming alcohols and a torrid finish.

  • 9.0% alc/vol
  • 90 IBUS
  • Best IPA Atlantic City Beer Festival
  • Pale, Munich and Chocolate Malts
  • Zythos, Crystal, Citra and Bravo Hops
  • Available In 12oz bottles, draft and in the Pinup Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fordhamanddominion.com

Twitter:  @DominionBrewing

In the end, I have enjoyed most of their beers.  I know being a reader and someone who knows me away from the words of this blog.  I am pretty big fan of this brewery.  I love how this Double IPA drinks.  It has all the hop character that I love.  I love how the hops kick off tropical fruit notes.  I just think it is pretty funny how I am not a fan of tropical fruits.  LOL!  I love them in my beer. This beer is not a drinkable beer but it is a nice sipping beer for a hot summer day or night.  This is a great beer with nice packaging.  I love the play on words for the name of this beer.  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 Flying Dog In Heat Wheat

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While at Ashley’s Westland, I had a chance to sample another brew from Flying Dog.  It is their In Heat Wheat.  It is a German Style Hefeweizen, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite beer styles.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Doggy Style Pale Ale, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read to get to know Flying Dog Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy golden color with out a head.  It had a white head at first but disappeared pretty quickly.  The aroma has notes of wheat, yeast, and banana.  The drinking experience is light in body with light carbonated wheaty notes.  The aftertaste is a nice banana notes finish that leaves the palate fast.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @FlyingDog

In the end, I am not a huge wheat beer fan but Hefeweizen has won me over.  I love my porter, stouts, and India Pale Ales.  For the longest, I have kept myself in the area of brews.  Since I am writing and blogging now, I have been exploring more beer styles for reviews asides my favorite beer styles.  The first thing I love about In Heat Wheat.  It is a refreshing and a nice drinkable beer.  I love the aroma and tasting experience.  It has a nice banana notes. I highly 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 Harpoon Brewery Rich And Dan’s Rye IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Harpoon Brewery.  It is their Rye India Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blog post from two days ago, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read it to get to know Harpoon Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with nice white head on this Rye IPA.  The aroma has a spicy hop notes.  The taste has a slight carbonated spicy citrus notes with a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A new take on IPA style, this beer has a dry, subtly spicy character derived from the rye malt, and a complex body balanced by a marked hop flavor and aroma.  Cheers!

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

After 25 years of running a brewery, Harpoon founders Rich and Dan thought it was high time they brewed a beer together.  Truth be told, they didn’t want their name on it.  Truth really be told, they have a running joke as to whether it’s Rich and Dan’s Rye IPA or Dan and Rich’s Rye IPA. Regardless of the order, the point is the same: they’ve been friends for three decades and still love having a beer together. It’s a testament to great beer and friendship, and it made sense, in this case, to name names. Grab your pals and toast to friendship with this Rye IPA!

Description

This beer is brewed with hops, a variety of malts, our proprietary yeast – the same yeast we’ve used since first brewing Harpoon Ale – and more hops. A lot more hops. Centennial and Chinook, and the dry hop addition of Falconer’s Flight add a multidimensional hop character, and the combination of Pale, Rye, Caramel 60, Flaked Rye, and Vienna yield a complex malt body that stands up to the spiciness of the rye and the pronounced hop flavor.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance:  hazy, deep orange with a reddish hue
  • Aroma: citrus, fruity aroma with an underlying spice note
  • Mouth feel:  medium-bodied, slightly chewy
  • Taste: the spice from the rye is balanced by the malt blend
  • Finish: dry, distinct hop finish

Here is a video from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com) and YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

Ending, Rye IPA are fastly becoming a very popular and growing beer style in the India Pale Ale styles.  It gives the craft beer and hophead drinker something else then the normal India Pale Ale.  White IPA, IPL, and Rye IPA are new and growing.  There are craft breweries pushing the limits of their brewery to give the craft beer drinker something different.  I like this Rye IPA but I know there are better ones on the market.  This one is in my top five of Rye IPA’s.  Unlike most Rye IPA’s on the market, this is one of the few that is available all year-long.  I highly 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 Harpoon Brewery Leviathan IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the first beer on this blog from Harpoon Brewery.  It is their Leviathan IPA.  I have been meaning to get around to write reviews on this brewery.  I am a fan of their IPA.  Harpoon Brewery was born in 1986 by Rich Doyle on a piece of paper while in Harvard Business School.  He teamed up with Dan Kenary and George Ligeti to start brewing their beers.  Harpoon Brewery brews several different beer styles and cider. They are best known for their IPA and Hefeweizen. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear copper color with a nice white head.  The aroma has some tropical fruit notes.  The taste has some tropical fruit notes with a nice malty backbone.  The aftertaste is a bitter hop finish.  It is not over overpowering.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Massive and complex hop additions yield a powerful bitterness that is steadied by sweet malt backbone in this colossal IPA.

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

We welcomed the challenge of brewing a 90 IBU Imperial IPA that would showcase glorious American hops while maintaining a multi-dimensional character. Bring on the hops!

Description

This Imperial IPA is brewed with loads of pale malt and just enough caramel malt to provide a sweet malt backbone to balance the hop intensity. We used a mix of our favorite American hops including Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, and Amarillo to create a complex hop flavor and lingering bitterness. Harpoon’s proprietary yeast lends fruity esters, while dry-hopping at the rate of over one pound per barrel produces this beer’s massive aroma.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Clear, yellow/orangey in color
  • Aroma: Tropical fruit hop
  • Mouth feel: Full-bodied
  • Taste: Tropical fruit hop
  • Finish: Dry, bitter finish

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

In the end, Harpoon Brewery did a great job on this brew.  I love the color and aroma.  The aroma comes from the hops that kick off some nice tropical fruit notes.  The drinking experience is the same as the aroma.  The presentation is nice from the color and head on this Double India Pale Ale.  I really enjoyed drinking this brew.  It has everything that a hophead could want in an Imperial IPA.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser