Month: July 2014

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Bell’s Mallard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer of twelve in this Beer Camp sampler pack. Sierra Nevada Brewery teams up with Bell’s Brewery out of Michigan. It is their Maillard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on either one of their craft breweries, you know the history of this Midwest and West Coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know both of these breweries. Let us get into Imperial Dark Ale.

It has a jet black color with a nice tan color head. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has chocolate to coffee notes with a dry coca notes for the aftertaste. It is scary drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This robust dark ale is layered with complex malt flavors of toffee, caramel, chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit.

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was our shared vision, and Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that, taking its name in part from the famed Maillard reaction-the “browning” of sugars and amino acids-that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

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

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was the concept Bell’s beer guru John Mallett aimed for and, true to John’s vision, Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that. Its name honors the Maillard reaction—the “browning” of sugars and amino acids—that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

Bell’s has done a lot to raise the Midwest’s craft beer bona fides. They are masters of many beer styles from their portfolio of top-notch American stouts all the way through to the alpha acid assault of their Hopslam Ale. Bell’s constantly reinvents beer styles and refines recipes with artful mastery and an oddball slant.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @BellsBrewery and @sierranevada

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this beer in bottle and draft. I had it at first on draft at Ashley’s in Westland, Michigan. I am not a huge fan of Bell’s Brewery. I love my dark ales and lagers. There is a ton of notes going on in this brew. It is pretty complex ale. I love that because you are paying a nice penny to get this sampler pack and you are getting your money worth. I would hope all these breweries look at this time to give something different to the craft beer drinker. I believe that Sierra Nevada and Bell’s Brewery did just that for the craft drinker. This is a great dark ale and I hope either brewery pick up the recipe to make it everyday beer or seasonal. I love it. I highly recommend this beer. I hope you can find it on draft or this sampler pack. Good Luck! 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 Local Option Kentucky Common

While in Chicago, we are going to sample Kentucky Common from Local Option Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts at the beginning of the week, which is a few days ago, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read the beer blog posts to get to know this Midwest craft brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.

It has a clear golden copper color without a head. The smell has sour notes. The taste is a sour malty notes with a nice sour finish. This is a sipping beer.

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

Kentucky Common is a modern interpretation of an ale style native to pre-prohibition Louisville. Historically the beer was dark in color, creamy, and tart as a result of the introduction of lactobacillus bacteria by sour mashing. Local Option Bierkwerker took up the task of brewing this once familiar style – electing to use specialty grains rather than a large percentage of corn – yielding an adventurous taste profile befitting both conventional and courageous palates. Bourbon Barrel Aged Kentucky Common was first served at The Festival in Worcester June 2012 and made available in very limited quantity in the Chicagoland area soon thereafter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, This beer is something else in a very good way. It reminds me of a beer I use to have a regular basis without sour notes. It is like Kentucky Bourbon Ale with a sour note finish. This is a totally different beer than that one from Alltech Brewery. This is old recipe from Probation time. The brewery uses a sour mash to give off sour notes. Local Option Brewery did a great job bring this old recipe back to life. This is the last review I have from my trip to Chicago. I am really glad and happy that I made it to this brewery. I will be back to see my friends at Local Option. They have great food, music, and of course beer. I highly recommend this beer and checking out their brewpub. 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 Local Option Brewery Morning Wood

While in Chicago, we are going to sample another brew, which is Morning Wood, from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog posts a few days ago, you know the history of this small but upcoming craft brewery. If you have not, please, read Sweet Leaf review to get to know the history of this Chicago craft brewery. Let us get into Morning Wood.

It has a jet black color with a semi white color head. The aroma has a heavy coffee notes. The taste has a sweet malty to coffee notes. There is a slight caramel to caramel liquor notes but really fate to weak. The aftertaste is a sour coffee notes. It is a sipping beer.

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

Local Option Morning Wood: Local Option Morning Wood is an oak-aged coffee ale developed and brewed by Local Option Bierwerker. Fresh American oak used during the aging process and Dark Matter’s El Salvador San Jose pulp-natural coffee aromatically drive the beer; while remaining subtle components of the beers’ complete flavor profile. The amber-colored, medium-bodied, and extraordinarily well-balanced ale was first unveiled at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers in November 2011. Morning Wood’s taste is delicate and should be appreciated by beer drinkers of all palates.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, I like this beer and I mean I really like this beer. I love how they took an amber style beer. Rather then, what most craft breweries do and they take porter or stout. I love when craft breweries think outside the box. This craft brewery did that idea with this brew. I love the coffee notes and it is not overpowering the rest of the beer. It is a nice balance and I will be looking for this beer in bottle in my market. I will be back to the brewpub. I love their brewpub from their food, beer, service, and music. 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 Finch’s Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had more time to check out another brewery. It is a little brewery that was founded three years ago in Chicago. They are known for packaging their beers in cans. They are up to seven different beer styles in cans and they also package some beer in tall single bottles, which is 22oz bottles. The brewery is named after the founder, who are Benjamin and Paul Finch. They are located on the Northside of Chicago. They started out at this location and has expanded, however, they started out with two beers, which are Cut Throat Pale Ale and Gold Wing Blonde Ale.

Tour Guide:

In this photos above, the guy in the green shirt, who is Nick, in the middle of this crowd was the tour guide. Nick is a teacher for his full-time job and does this part-time. He is also a homebrewer and I am not sure if he helps around the brewery. However, he works on the brewery tours and sets up tour dates and times. He is an awesome tour guide. He knew the history and the beers. He is not reading off paper or memorizing history scripts unlike some tour guides. He is a student of this craft brewery and he puts a personality into this brewery tour.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.finchbeer.com

Twitter: @finchbeer

Closing, I learn something from this tour and that is a huge apprise to this tour. I enjoyed my time at the brewery and glad I went to check out this brewery. The one thing that I learned during this brewery tour was the discontinuing of two of their beers. Both beers were the first two beers they started brewing. Both are going to be discontinued and replace with two new beers. The Cut Throat Pale Ale will still be a pale ale but a different one. The Gold Wing Blonde Ale will be replace with Hardcore Double IPA. I believe that is the name. I love the direction of this craft brewery. They have a bright future and I believe their newer beers will take this craft brewery to the next level. I highly recommend getting down and take a brewery tour. If you do not have the chance, go and try some of their beers. I promise you will not be disappointed with their Black IPA and Stout. This craft brewery makes some great beers and they are extremely under rated. 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 Lagunitas Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had a chance to get by the new brewery in Chicago from Lagunitas Brewery. I want to thank my boy, Tony for the hook up. Everyone was great at the brewery from tour guide, bar, to Jack. I had several different beers but I did not have time to take tasting notes. I really do not want to guess, however, I saved all the photos of the beers and during the brewery tour. You will see them below. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest Craft Brewery. Let us get into this brewery.

Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

Imperial Red Ale

Brewery tour!!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.lagunitas.com

Twitter: @lagunitasbeer

Closing out, I had a great time at the brewery and I will be back there when I am back in Chicago. I might have to eat and get beer to go. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this craft brewery. I always throw their IPA into my line up of regular IPA’s. I was able to get turn on to other beers that they make. I will be checking them out and adding them to my line up of beers. For example, I am adding Daytime IPA. I will be switching back and forth with their IPA and Daytime. As far as the brewery tour, it is like every other craft brewery tour. This craft brewery is set up for expanding and they are growing it everyday. It is also set up awesome for brewery tours unlike other craft breweries. The whole tour is on a catwalk above the craft brewery. You can see everything. I highly recommend jumping on this craft brewery tour. If you know their beers, I would still make a point to checking this brewery out. This brewery is very important for us on the eastern part of the country. We will be able to get fresher and enough of their beers for the demand in this area. It also gives us a chance to get their beers cheaper. I highly recommend checking this brewery out in Chicago. They have great food, service, and of course, great beers. Thanks again, Tony! 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 Local Option American Muscle Double IPA

While in Chicago, we are going to sample American Muscle Double IPA from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog review on their Sweet Leaf from yesterday, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery from Chicago. Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a slightly clear copper color without a head on this Imperial IPA. The aroma has hints of earthy notes. The taste is a nice smooth earthy notes with a dry hop finish. It pretty drinkable for an Imperial IPA.

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

American Muscle – New World Double IPA is massive hop-bomb brewed by the Local Option Bierwerker. Aggressively late-kettle and dry hopped with four quintessential varietals of American hops; this beer is built like houses used to be built. A strong malt backbone balances a rich, flavorful palate of citrus fruit with floral and earthy notes. No adjuncts or extracts of any type were used in this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, this is by far my favorite beer from Local Option Brewery. I love the name and packaging. I love the hop selection and the strong malty backbone to cut through those hops. This beer is pretty drinkable for Imperial IPA. It is pretty extremely and scary drinkable. The craft beer drinker needs to be careful at how much he is drinking. This is an awesome beer and I will be looking for it in package in Michigan. I hope some bottles make it to my market. I highly recommend this beer and this brewpub if you are around the Chicago area. 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 Local Option Sweet Leaf

While in Chicago, we are going to sample some beers the next four days from Local Option. The first one beer up is their Sweet Leaf Ale. There is really no history on the internet for Local Option. They are based in Chicago. What I do know when visiting this brewpub, it is a metal bar. They play some extreme metal. The food was amazing and the bartender when I was there knew his beers. This brewery tries to do something different with their beers and I believe they are successful at it. Let us get into this beer.

It has a cloudy golden color without a head. The smell has a heavy tea notes. The taste has medium pallet malty sweet notes with a sweet tea note finish. It is extremely drinkable brew.

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

Sweet Leif is a Bière de Garde infused with Chinese Sencha Green Tea. The beer pours deep gold with aromas of earthy spice and fruit esters. Flavors of grass, toasted malt and slightly sweet caramel are immediately present, augmented by a smooth, medium body and a dry finish. You will love Sweet Leif though it can’t hear you.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, this beer reminds so much of Milwaukee Brewery O-Gii Ale. The difference between these beers is O-Gii Ale is a Belgian Style White Ale and this one is a French to Belgian base beer style, which is Bière de Garde. I have to say between the two. I love this one better. The tea shines through out the beer drinking experience and it is not overpowering. It has a nice refreshing and easy drinking beer. I am not sure if they package this but I hope they do in the first. This is one brew that they brew in Marshall, Michigan at Dark Horse Brewery. I do not know that Dark Horse Brewery has anything to do with this brew. I wonder if they name this beer after the classic Black Sabbath song. I highly recommend this beer. If you are visiting Chicago, you need to stop by their brewpub. You will not be disappointed from the food and the beer selection. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into West Coast Double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewery. This is a beer they made to kick off Beer Camp. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know history of Sierra Nevada Brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this West Coast Craft Brewery. Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a clear slightly dark golden color with a white constant head. The aroma is citrus to orange notes. The taste has a nice light carbonation citrus notes with a dry hop bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for a Double IPA.

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

Heading to most states in limited quantities, the Beer Camp Across America West Coast Double IPA clocks in at 8.5% ABV and features five hop varieties, two of which went into Sierra Nevada’s “Hop Torpedo” dry-hopping device and impart hints of grapefruit and a floral note that recalls orange blossom. A light malt body and dry finish complement the bold hop profile.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

In the end, this was a great beer and it is a perfect beer to kick off beer camp. I was pretty happy to get a Beer Camp 12pk. I wish they would have made more because some of the liquor stores are over charging. I am still happy that I have at least one. I am pretty big fan of their Extra IPA. They took that one and they hop it up. I love the aroma to the color of the beer. I love the packaging. I love the hops and the malt backbone is a perfect match. 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 Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA

While dog sitting, I had a chance to sample Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery. If you have not read them, please read them to get to know Dogfish Head Brewery. Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear dark copper to almost bronze color like with a nice white constant head. The aroma has a slight earthy, oak, vanilla, and citrus notes. The taste has a nice smooth slight vanilla notes along with an oak and citrus notes. The aftertaste has smooth oak and vanilla notes. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

ABV:

10.0

IBU:

70

Availability:

Year Round

Original Release Date:

11/2004

This oak-aged hybrid has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round.

For Burton Baton, we brew two “threads,” or batches, of beer: an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA.

After fermenting the beers separately in our stainless tanks, they’re transferred and blended together in one of our large oak tanks. Burton Baton sits on the wood for about a month.

When enjoying the Burton Baton, you’ll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak. The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.dogfish.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

Closing, I did not realize this brew is all year-long now. I always thought this was a seasonal. I am pretty happy to see Dogfish Head realizing the demands for their beers. It is a nice sipping and relaxing type of beer. This is a beer you will not be able to pound a few down in a day. There is some nice notes from oak, vanilla, to citrus notes. This is right way of making Oak IPA. There is a brewery in Michigan called Round Barn. They make similar beer called Oak IPA. I believe and it is not really good. I give them credit for trying. Dogfish Head Brewery did this beer right and gives the hopheads a little different. I recommend this beer and it should be pretty easy to find now since it is all year-long. 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 Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the flagship beer, which is 312 Urban Wheat Ale, from Goose Island Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Goose Island Brewery. Let us get into this wheat ale.

It has a slightly cloudy straw to golden color with a snow white constant head. The smell has a refreshing lemon notes along with yeast to wheat notes. The taste has a wheat to slight lemon notes with a nice refreshing aftertaste finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that’s immensely refreshing.

Recipe Information

Style: Urban Wheat

Alcohol by Volume: 4.2%

International Bitterness Units: 18

Color: Hazy Straw

Hops: First Gold, Mt. Hood, Cascade

Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

Closing, as many of you know, I am not a fan of wheat or white ales. It has been forever since I had a 312 Urban Wheat Ale. I would have to say about a year. I picked up a sampler pack and this beer was in it. I am a pretty big fan of the hop Cascade. I would hope so because most beers in the market has that hop in it. Since it has been a while, I was pretty shocked on how much I liked it. Could this be start of liking wheat ales? The second bottle about half way I started having problems finishing it. This is a great refreshing beer. I am just not a wheat ale fan and I might never be. If you are a wheat ale fan, this is the beer for you. I know many people that love this beer and this is their go to wheat ale. 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

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