Month: July 2014

New Beer Blog Hop City Brewery Hopbot IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going sample a beer from a little craft brewery, who is Hop City Brewery, from Canada.  This is one of their new beers and it is Hopbot IPA.  There is really no history about this craft brewery.  I do know they are from Canada and by looking at their website they are a young brewery.  The article where I found the description below says they are part of the Moosehead Brewery.  This beer is not listed on their website.  Be careful, there is a brewery in the south named Hop City too.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with constant small bubbles.  The white constant head is showing itself off on this IPA.  The aroma has a nice citrus notes to hints of sweet malt.  The taste has a nice tropical to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a tropical fruit finish like mango almost. It is a drinkable beer from Canada.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Programmed with 5 West Coast American hops, Hopbot IPA brings out waves of absurd citrus and tropical aroma and flavor. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide 70 IBUs which are perfectly balanced by a solid malt backbone.

Here is a description from article in Canada website (www.canadianbeernews.com):

The latest brew from the guys at Hop City is their boldest yet, packed with five different West Coast American hops crafted to bring out waves of absurd citrus and tropical notes with just the right notes of spice and pine. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide a serious hop kick, while a blend of Canadian Pale 2-Row, Carastan, Crystal and Black malts provide a solid balancing malt backbone.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hopcity.com

Twitter:  @hopcitybrewing

In the end, I like this beer but I would not say it is my favorite brew.  I love the five different hops they picked.  I am happy to see more craft breweries popping up in Canada.  Even though, it is under the company of Moosehead Brewery.  There is nothing wrong with that.  There are some craft breweries like that in the states.  It looks like they are allowed to do their thing unlike most craft breweries that are in this situation.  This is a great IPA and I would be interested to see if they try to make Double IPA.  I recommend you trying this brew at least once or twice.  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 Oddside Ales Chocolade Koffie Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer, which is Chocolade Koffie Stout, from Oddside Ales.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this Michigan craft brewery, you their history.  If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know Oddside Ales.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan to light brown color head.  The aroma had a heavy coffee notes.  The taste profile of this full body beer is a chocolate to heavy coffee notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable to a sipping beer.

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

If you’re a fan of chocolate stouts this is the one to try! A great mixture of thick, sweet, dark chocolate fudge, and light espresso bean undertones will immediately appeal to your senses. Your taste buds will dance when the creamy stout takes flight. 6%ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  @oddsideales

Ending, I am a pretty big fan of this brewery and I will try anything new or beers I have not had yet from this brewery.  I am a pretty big fan of stouts, porters, pale ales, and India Pale Ales.  I do not like my coffee but only if it is in my beer.  I know this craft brewery knows how to use their coffee bean.  They shown me that in Bean Flicker Ale.  To me, there is something a little off in this brew.  I do not know if it is the stout or the coffee bean is over the stop.  I am starting to think that I might have picked up an old beer.  The problem is there is no code dates on their bottles.  I recommend this beer but I hope you get a better bottle.  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 Destihl Brewery Hoperation Overload Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Hoperation Overload Double IPA from Destihl Brewery. Matt Potts switch careers from Lawyer to a brewmaster and CEO of Destihl Brewery in 2007.  They brew several different beer styles and they package most of their beers in cans.  Asides that, there is not much history from this young craft brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a dark copper color with a semi constant white head.  The aroma has a citrus to some floral notes.  The taste has some citrus to a slight caramel to sweet malty notes.  The aftertaste has a sweet caramel finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Hoperation Overload

Our mission for this Imperial or “Double” India Pale Ale is overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension.  This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well.  Cheers!

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

Imperial India Pale Ale / overloaded with hops

ABV: 9.6% IBU: 85 Color SRM: 11 First Brewed: 06-19-09

Our mission for this Imperial or ‘Double’ India Pale Ale is to overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension. This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well. World Beer Championships Award: Bronze Medal 2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.destihlbrewery.com

Twitter:  @DESTIHLBrewery

In the end, I am a hardcore hophead.  I love my hops and I love every level of IPA’s.  Yes, I have grown to love White IPA’s.  There are some unique ones out there that I fall in love with.  However, we are talking about this Double IPA, I have to say I love it.  I love the fact it is package in cans and I love design of the label.  I love the play on words and I believe they are honoring those who serviced.  I love the finish of this beer.  For being Imperial IPA, it is pretty drinkable and that is a plus for us hopheads.  It is drinkable to the experience IPA drinkers.  I am not saying the guy that drinks wheat ales is going to say this is drinkable.  It is a sipping beer to him.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium And 3 Floyd’s Grätzer Ale

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from New Belgium and 3 Floyd’s.  It is Grätzer Ale.  This is an old and ancient Polish beer recipe.  If you read my beer blog posts on both of these breweries’ beer, you know the history of these breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know these craft breweries.  Let us into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head.  The smell a chocolate to cocoa notes.  The taste has a burned to smokey caramel to chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is dry cocoa notes with hints of smoke that disappears fast.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

It’s not dead. But Grätzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland.  Together with 3 Floyds we unearthed its robust smokiness with oak smoked wheat and midnight wheat.  Polish Lublin hops for a bitter bite and lacto for a slightly sour finish.  This pours out a billowing, foamy mouth worth indulging.

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

It’s not dead, but Gratzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland. And together with 3Floyds we have unearthed the best of beer zombies. Full of bold flavors from oak-smoked wheat, and along with Midnight Wheat, this beer presents a pure black pour. A subtle, spicy note from the Polish Lublin hops hides in the aroma, just below the dark and smoky surface. Despite all appearances, the Gratzer is very drinkable at 4.5% ABV, and walks itself with a nice, light body. Cheers to drinking smoky, undead beers. Prost!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com and www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium and @3floyds

Closing, this is a great beer and I enjoyed drinking it very much.  The Midnight Wheat is featured pretty well in this beer.  I enjoy it like most hops in the beer world. This beer is a limited release and kind of rare.  However, I just feel the beer is average, I enjoyed drinking. I just wish the price was a little lower but it is worth the try. This is a great 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 New Holland Brewing Michigan Awesome Hatter IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a special beer from New Holland Brewing.  It is their Michigan Awesome Hatter IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know New Holland Brewing.  Let us get into Michigan IPA.

It has a nice dark copper color with a nice white constant head on this Michigan IPA.  The aroma has a citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonation citrus notes with hints of malty to light caramel in taste profile.  The aftertaste has a slight dry hoppy finish but it is pretty clean finish.  It is extremely drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The epitome of Hand Crafted, Michigan Awesome Hatter celebrates community, collaboration and local agriculture, Centennial hops from the Leelanua Peninsula provide bright citrusy counterpoint to the delicious and earthy malt notes from Michigan grown and malted 2-row barley.

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

The epitome of Hand Crafted, Michigan Awesome Hatter celebrates community, collaboration & local agriculture. Cascade hops from the Leelanau Peninsula provide bright citrusy counterpoint to the delicious and earthy malt notes from Michigan grown and malted 2-row barley. Thanks to our collaborators, Michigan Awesome.

Beer Style

Michigan-grown IPA

Degrees Plato

14

Alcohol by Volume

5.8%

IBUs

55

Grains

2-row, munich, crystal

Hops

Cascade, Nugget

Yeast

American Ale

First Brewed

2013

Pairings

Sharp cheddars, herbed poultry and curry

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newhollandbrew.com

Twitter:  @newhollandbrew

Closing, I love supporting my local craft brewery.  I am honest to myself if a beer or brewery is bad.  I am not saying this beer or brewery was bad.  New Holland Brewery makes some average to slightly above average beers.  I do like some of their brews.  I have to say this beer is pretty good.  I just feel for the price gives me a different aspect of this brew.  I just feel it is just does not live up to the price. This beer is nothing special.  I do not care where everything comes from because it is not anything special. However I had this on draft, it is better on draft than bottle.  I thought it lived up to price on draft. I will give this brewery credit for trying.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13