Month: June 2014

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from my beer trade with my friend Matt from the East Coast.  I have been wanting to try this beer and I was pretty excited to get a few bottles.  It is Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA.  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 them to get to know Widmer Brothers.  Let us get into Upheaval IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The aroma has a heavy citrus to slight grapefruit notes.  The taste profile of this medium to full body beer is a carbonation citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish.  It is pretty drinkable IPA but I find myself sipping it.

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

Upheaval IPA is the result of our brewers’ relentless pursuit of the perfect IPA. With more than two pounds of hops per barrel, Upheaval IPA unleashes a huge hop flavor and aroma with serious bitterness and balanced finish. Brewed with wheat, the result is a hazy, bold IPA that’s Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetic. Uncompromised.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome brew.  I really enjoyed it.  I just find it funny.  When I make this trade with my friend, package finds its way into my market but it is still a drive.  I am cool with that because now I can pick up a six-pack.  I love big malty backbone with some Northwest hops.  It has a nice bold and powerful hop character but nice enough to make it drinkable beer.  Widmer Brothers did it again.  They pushed the limits of craft beer.  This is the new standard of IPA’s.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog What Is Good Beer?

In this special beer blog, we are going to take in-depth look at beer. What is good or bad? How do we come up with this conclusion? Many of you know, I have been drinking beer for a while. I started like everyone from the Bud Lights and moved up to all the craft beers. Most craft breweries around the country know of me or know me. I started as a Metal DJ on STFU.Fm. The station shut down but before that I started to feature craft beer on the air while playing music. After the station, I started document the beers that I had in my life time. This blog was for me to go back and see if my thoughts grown. Plus, I have always wanted to be a writer. I know I am not the best on spelling and grammar, however, I believe I have improved because of this blog. I just want to say thank you for coming by reading, and putting up with my errors. This blog also made me a better beer drinker. I have learned more about each beer style. I am finding out I like all styles and it is including wheat beers. I am still writing music and sports review. I wanted to give you a little more about myself. When I thought about writing this “What Is Good Beer?” I will not point out breweries. I am not calling out anyone. Let us see if we can answer this question.

What Is Good Beer?

I know several craft beer drinkers will jump to the answer.  It is the little guys, who are Craft Breweries.  Is that because they do not make a golden lager or the companies that make it?  Craft Breweries make different beer styles asides the American Style Lager.  They will make Pale Ales to Porter to Stouts and sometimes even a German Style Lager.  Is Good Beer is more selection or “Flavor”?  “Flavor” has been toss out there.  A little style of the American Golden Lager.  German immigrants wanted to have their beers here in the States. This is where American Golden Lager came from.  Is it a ton of Ads to make the beer better?  Mass produced?  There is a brewery in the big Midwest brewery that puts their beer through hard test make sure their quality is the highest. It is make sure that their beers are up to their standards and constant. Is that a bad thing?

There are other things wrong with the mass-produced beer companies.  It is the fact they put other things into their beers.  However, it adds to their cost, they make less on their beers.  Mass produced beer market is getting smaller everyday.  They put these items into their beers to get it as close to their old country style. More and more people are drinking craft beers.  The question is their beer better or good.  Yes, it has a ton more flavor and that is the first thing anyone says.  I agree with that.  I see in every state, please, drink local.  There is nothing wrong with that.  The problem that I have is most of the newer beer companies out there are making some bad beer.  I do not mean bad in the beer will hurt you.  I mean it is just not good beer.

What about the craft breweries?

Some of the smaller breweries do not put their beers through as many tests like the bigger breweries. This leads to inconstant batches of beer. This is not a good thing when you like that beer. When you try the beer for the first time and do not like it, the quality might be the issue. Beer drinkers might be turn off and never try it again. Is this a good beer? I get it that most breweries do not have the capital to do all tests. I am not saying this is a case for all these small craft breweries.  Some little craft breweries do not even have labs to test anything.

Closing, I love craft beer and I will keep on searching for better version of my favorite beer styles.  The local guys are making beer but I am open-minded to say there are some bad or not so good beer coming from those craft breweries.  I enjoy some of the mass-produced beers but I will not go out of my way to buy them nor drink them.  Many people will not like this statement I am going to put out there.  If the beer you are drinking is good to you, it is a good beer.  We all have thoughts on beers and they are all correct.  This goes for all mass-produced beer.  If there is a bad beer on the market, the beer drinkers vote with their wallet and they will let beer companies know that it is not good.  It will disappear off the market.  Please, share your thoughts with me.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Greenbush Brewery Dunegräs India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew, which is Dunegräs India Pale Ale, from Greenbush Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts about their beers, you know the history of this west side Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a dark copper color to light amber with a constant white head.  The aroma has a slight floral to citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonation with a sweet notes to citrus like notes towards the middle of the drinking experience.  The dry bitter hop aftertaste at end.  It is kind of drinkable to a nice sipping 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.  You’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):

A justly hopped india pale ale with absolutely no dunegrass.

Combining west coast and noble hops, we created our own IPA with a shining finish. And as an environmental treat, absolutely no dunegrass was killed in order to make our fine beer, so drink up!

Grain: Golden Promise, Gambrinus, Munich, Belgian Aromatic, Crystal 60L

Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Cascade, Spalt

Yeast: House yeast

Specs:
67 ibu
alc. 6.7% by vol.
12º Lovibond

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @Greenbush_Brew

Closing, I have had several of their brews.  This one was pretty good and I did enjoyed drinking it.  I have to say I was a little disappointed compared to rest of their beers.  This beer is still a great beer.  I love two out of four of hops that they use in this brew.  I do not know why I am pretty disappointed with this beer but it is still good.  I guess every craft breweries has that beer in their line up.  This beer is the weakest in their line up but this beer could be some craft breweries best beer.  This Michigan craft brewery makes some great beers.  I recommend this beer and I want to hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing RyeClops Imperial Rye PA

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In this beer blog, we are going to same RyeClops Imperial Rye PA from Arbor Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts from Arbor Brewing, you know the history of this southeast Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Rye IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this Rye IPA. The aroma has a slight malty notes. The taste has a sweet malty notes with a spicy and rye notes for an aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer box:

Arbor Brewing Company has been a pioneer in the craft beer industry since opening our Ann Arbor brewpub in 1995.  Our passion for handcrafted beer, local courcing, community involvement, and environmental stewardship has been our foundation for nearly two decades.  In 2006 we opened our microbrewery in Ypsilanti to brew and package our award-winning beers for distribution.  In 2012 we expanded our operation and became the first solar brewery in Michigan and also became the first American craft brewery in India with the opening of an Arbor Brewing Company pub in downtown Bangalore.  We hope you’ll pop in next time you find yourself in southeast Michigan (or southern India).  Cheers!

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

Description

Ryeclops is dominated with a mouthful of distinct rye malt character complimented by the spicy fruity hoppiness of American high-alpha simcoe hops.

Use caution when confronted with the Ryeclops, as it’s delightful aroma and complex flavor camouflage a might, boozy-backboned single-hopped monster of a brew!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ArborBrew and @ArborBrewYpsi

In the end, I had many Rye IPA or Rye PA’s.  There are not too many Imperial Rye IPA’s.  Maybe I am missing them in the market or did not realize how many are out there.  This brewery might be a head of the curb as far as the Imperial Rye IPA side of things.  Anyways, back to this review, I can always search out and see if there are other Imperial Rye IPA’s on the market later.  I really enjoyed the hop character and the build up on the malty backbone in the beer.  This is an excite beer and Arbor Brewing did a great job like the norm on it.  I highly recommend this beer while it is still in season.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Wieser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Dragonmead Brewery Crown Jewel IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Crown Jewel IPA from Dragonmead Brewery.  This is the first appearance for this brewery and beer.  We will do a belief history of this Michigan craft brewery and then get into this beer.  Dragonmead Brewery opened in 1997 in Warren, Michigan.  It was founded by Earl Scherbarth, Larry Channel, and Bill Wrobel.  They brew several different beer styles.  Their packaging and brewpub has a Medieval era theme.  Let us get into this beer.

This Michigan craft India Pale Ale has a dark amber to dark copper color.  If you glance at it, it looks almost looks like a brown color. The smell has earthy tones and notes with hints of toffee to malt notes. The taste profile of this medium body has earthy notes to toffee and slight caramel with dry hop bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dragonmead.com

Twitter:  @Dragonmead

In closing,  This is not American IPA. It is an English style IPA. There is a huge malty backbone that is overpowering the hops. They picked some nice hops.  It is a bad version of IPA and I am not liking the metallic notes.  I just find it pretty funny that this beer is not on their website.  Is it still being made?  Or did this beer found itself in grave?  These are some pretty important questions.  This is beer is in a four pack and it is overpriced.  I believe this craft brewery needs to look at their beer a little bit more.  I believe they need to take a hard look at their recipes.  They have a shot of making some good beers. I just feel they are at a cross roads. With all new craft breweries and beers in the market, this craft brewery needs to take some notes. I do not recommend this beer but it is worth trying at least once.  Don’t go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium And Odell Brewing FOCOllaboration American Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into collaboration from New Belgium and Odell Brewery.  It is their FOCOllaboration American Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on both of these breweries’ beers, you know the history of this craft breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know these craft breweries.  Let us get into this American Pale Ale.

This American pale ale has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has grapefruit to piney notes with a slight but fated citrus notes. The taste has a sweet fruity to piney notes with citrus to grapefruit notes for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We teamed up with our hometown hop heroes at Odell to brew a FOrt COllins collaboration. Our proximity allowed sharing of ingredients to create this unique Pale Ale. If only we could employ the prairie dogs that inhabit the space between us to courier the Fawcett malt, an Odell standard, we used to complement our favored Centennial, Cascade and Citra hops. Best enjoyed with a neighbor!

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

We teamed up with our hometown hop heroes at Odell Brewing to brew a FOrt COllins collaboration. Our proximity allowed sharing of ingredients to create this unique Pale Ale. If only we could employ the prairie dogs that inhabit the space between us to courier the Fawcett malt, an Odell standard, we used to complement our favored Centennial, Cascade and Citra hops. Best enjoyed with a neighbor!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com and www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter:  @OdellBrewing and @newbelgium

In closing, I love both of these breweries and their beers they come out with.  Odell’s, I wish was in the State of Michigan.  I will have to do trades to get some of their beers.  I have had pretty much all of their beers and blogged about them.  I was happy to see this beer make it to the state.  It was a no brainer to pick up this brew.  It is an American PAle Ale but just a little different.  I really enjoyed the hops and nice malty backbone.  I highly recommend this brew and I would get out to find it as soon as possible.  There is a limited of bottles in the market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery Blood Orange Wheat

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the second brew from Cheboygan Brewery.  It is their Blood Orange Wheat.  If you read my beer blog posts on their Lemongrass Wheat a few days ago, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read to get to know Cheboygan Brewery.  Let us get into this wheat.

It has a cloudy straw to a light golden color with a semi white head.  The aroma has a heavy orange notes.  The taste profile of this light to medium body has a wheat orange notes with a nice orange aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A unique twist on a great American-style wheat beer, with the addition of fresh local wildflower honey mixed with blood orange zest, and blood orange puree. The result is a medium bodied beer that is very smooth with a residual sweetness, and creaminess from the honey, and an exhilierating nose of citrus from the orange. Ahh, summertime. 5.7% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @CheboyganBrew

Closing, compare to the Lemongrass Wheat, this is not as good but it is still a solid beer.  It is a great beer.  I did not like this beer as much as I enjoyed their Lemongrass Wheat.  I am not a huge fan of oranges and there is nothing wrong with it.  This is why we have several different beer styles in the market.  The orange notes are not overpowering the wheat ale.  It is a nice refreshing 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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Cinnabilly Doppelbock

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Cinnabilly Doppelbock from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Short’s Brewery.  Let us get into doppelbock.

It has a clear amber to brown color with a tan color at first but over time, there is no head.  The smell has a sweet malty to cinnamon notes.  The taste has sweet malty notes with a rush of cinnamon on the back-end. The aftertaste has a heavy cinnamon that rushes away.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Cinnabilly has an appealing look and aroma. This clear, caramel colored gem emits a soft potpourri of cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and hints of vanilla. Sweet malt flavors allow for an array of sensations, ranging from toasted almonds to cinnamon graham crackers. The pleasant addition of cinnamon creates wonderful accents throughout the beer that are never overwhelming.

7% ABV

30 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, at one time this Michigan craft brewery was in my top ten.  Since moving back to Michigan, I have been retrying their beers and have been pretty disappointed.  I have to say there is some things you do not add in some beer styles.  This brewery would have noticed it but they keep making more and more different beer styles to their family of beers.  I bet they are in double-digit for seasonals.  There is nothing wrong making a ton of beer styles.  As long as your quality does not take a hit.  I believe their demand is pretty high on most of their beers and they are rushing beer to the market. Quality is more important than quantity.  This beer style is a great beer style and I have seem craft breweries do different things with it.  I thought this was a great idea.  I was wrong thinking that.  I put some thought while drinking it.  I was wondering why I was thinking that.  The cinnamon overpowers great things that are in Doppelbock.   I am really disappointed and I wish I never try it.  It is hard for me to say that because I love beer and craft beer.  I do recommend it to try it at least once but I bet you will be disappointed.  I will give them credit for trying something. It seems that is all I am doing now with Short’s. Don’t go get some!  Drink it!  Not enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Woodchuck Summer Cider

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In this summer cider blog, we are going to sample Woodchuck Summer Cider.  If you read my earlier blog posts on Woodchuck’s ciders, you know the history of this Cider Legend.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Woodchuck.  Let us get into this Hard Cider.

It has a clear yellow to light golden color without a head on this cider.  The aroma has hint of blueberry and apple notes. The taste has blueberry notes with some apple notes.  The aftertaste has blueberry finish that hangs around for a bit.  It is extremely drinkable cider.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Summer Cider is a the perfect refreshment on a warm, summer’s day.  Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full robust flavor followed by a rich taste reminiscent of New England blueberries.  All crafted in Woodchuck tradition… Indepented to the core.

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

The sounds of the lapping lake-shores, the mountain views, and memories of fresh picked blueberries, now in a convenient six-pack. Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full, robust flavor followed by a rich summertime taste.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @woodchuckcider

In the end, as many of you know, I have been slowly getting into ciders.  The huge growth of ciders is making me open my eyes to these beverages.  Ciders are growing faster than Craft Beers. I love the blueberry notes, which is not strong, with the apple hard cider in it.  The tartness is what makes this cider along with the blueberries.  It is extremely easy to drink while being refreshing.  I highly recommend this cider.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery Lemongrass Wheat

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is Cheboygan brewery.  It is their Lemongrass Wheat.  I want to thank my friend Mike for bring this beer and two others beer from this craft brewery.  Hentschel brothers open Cheboygan Brewery in 1872.  The lumber industry was growing and the brewery growing at the same time.  As the lumber industry slowed down and moved out of Michigan.  The brewery closed in 1911.  After about 100 years later, this brewery reopen their doors with newer beers and one throw back brew which will be reviewed down the road.  Let us get into this Lemongrass Wheat.

It has a clear dark golden color without a head on this wheat ale.  The smell has hints of hay and slight lemon notes.  The taste has earthly with a smooth lemon notes.  The aftertaste has a lemon finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Pale malts are mixed with whole kernel and flaked wheat. This combined with a low rate hopping schedule create a light bodied beer with little bitterness. Fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon grass provide an invigorating finish. Mix with sunshine, and enjoy. 5.0% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @CheboyganBrew

Closing, the history of this craft brewery is pretty interesting.  This craft brewery is really the oldest craft brewery in the State of Michigan.  I believe Frankenmuth brewery has it because they did not close.  Anyways, I was pretty shocked that I enjoyed this beer as much as I did.  I am not a wheat beer fan.  I love Hefeweizens.  This beer has a nice light to medium body with some nice lemon notes.  This is a great beer for the spring and summer.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13