Month: October 2014

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery IPA #11

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the only IPA from Cheboygan 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 this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a nice copper color with a with constant head. The aroma has a light citrus notes.  The taste has a light malty to citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty balance. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Named out of respect for our Brewmaster’s family at Fire Station #11, this is a golden ale that is built with over 40 pounds of hops. The malt bill provides a balanced backbone and the big hop finish gives a pleasant bitterness and a nose full of herbal and citrus notes. A real palate cleansing experience. 5.7% ABV IBU 58

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  CheboyganBrew

Closing, I enjoyed this beer.  There is a nice balance in this IPA.  I wish it was in a package.  This is a nice gift for myself when my friend makes a trip up to the craft brewery once a year.  It is not one of my favorite IPA’s but is still a pretty good beer.  It is a nice gateway beer to get more craft beer drinkers into good beer world.  They picked up some nice hops to make this beer special.  I believe this beer is a great brand.  I love the story behind this beer.  I highly recommend this beer.  I hope you get a good batch.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite beer from Bell’s Brewery.  It is their Special Double Cream Stout.  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 this craft brewery.  Let us get into this cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan color head. The smell has some chocolate, coffee, to alcohol notes.  The taste has a chocolate to burn coffee notes with a dry coffee aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a blend of 10 different malts, Double Cream is an incredibly rich stout composed of dark, sweet, and smooth tones intermingled with a soft, roasty finish.

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

Special Double Cream Stout derives its name from its smooth, creamy texture, not the ingredients. Completely dairy-free, this stout blends ten different specialty malts to yield a remarkable depth of flavor. With only a touch of burnt notes, Special Double Cream Stout focuses on the softer, cocoa & espresso-like aspects of roasted malt.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I love this beer and I enjoy it very much.  I had the chance to have this beer in a Firkin.  It was even better brew.  I love the fact the shelf life is a year but I bet I can get it to age for a few years.  I just wish this beer was available all year-long.  This beer I know cost a little bit more to make and let it age to quality to the beer.  This beer has some nice creamy chocolate notes but a nice burn coffee notes.  This beer will sneak up on you because it does not drink like a high alcohol beer.  I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Nitro Oatmeal Stout

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Founders Brewery is the featured craft brewery in this beer blog.  We will be looking at one of three draft only beers and it is nitro draft from Founder’s.  It is their Nitro Oatmeal Stout. 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 this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Nitro Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with tan color head.  The aroma has a chocolate and coffee notes. The taste has a creamy chocolate to slight coffee notes. There is a slight burn notes that also echoes in the taste and aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A Founders take on a classic style, brewed with a generous amount of flaked oats, chocolate malt, roasted barley and a healthy helping of Nugget hops, Founders Oatmeal Stout is nitrogen-infused to give it an extra smooth and creamy mouthfeel. An attractive cascade effect gives this beer its forthright visual appeal—and the body and clean flavor delivers on that initial promise.

  • ABV: 4.5%
  • IBUs: 38
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I was out on a NFL Football Sunday to watch my Miami Dolphins.  I saw this on draft and it was a slam dunk to try it and drink it.  I also noticed it was hooked up to a Nitro line.  Nitro makes everything good but not every beer.  It was pretty excited to try this beer.  It was not too bad but it is pretty average.  I will have to say it is so much better than Summit Brewery Oatmeal Stout.  This is a pretty average beer but it is pretty than some of their everyday beers.  Just because it is made in Michigan, it does not make it good.  This is better than most Michigan craft brews.  I highly recommend this beer.  I had this one at One Under Bar in Livonia.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Best Brown Ale (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Bell’s Brewing.  It is Best Brown Ale.  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 this midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a cloudy brown to dark brown color with a tan constant color head. The smell has a slight malty, nutty, and toffee notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a dry toffee aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in our fall lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

In the end, It is a nice English brown ale. There is not too many really good English style brown ales from an American Craft breweries.  I like it.  I know Brooklyn Brown Ale and Goose Island Nut Brown Ale are around.  Brooklyn version is pretty weak and not very good but Goose Island try to match the Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, which was the first brown ale ever made.  I love that Goose Island Nut Brown Ale.  Too bad, they do not make that beer anymore.  There is a nice English Brown Ale from Frankenmuth Brewery that is Brewpub only brew.  Brown Ales are a tough sell in the spring and summer.  When the fall and winter season, it is a little easier.  Now a days, most craft beer drinkers want everything but a brown ale and in most part lagers.  This is a good English Brown Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Holland Brewing The Carhartt Woodsman Barrel Aged Pale Ale

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New Holland Brewery Carhartt Woodsman Barrel-Aged Pale Ale is the brewery and beer featured in this blog.  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 them to get to know New Holland Brewery.  Let us get into this Pale Ale.

It has a cloudy copper to darken golden color with a white head on this pale ale. The aroma has a faded to slight notes. I cannot pick up what it is. The taste has a light citrus to earthy with oak notes.  The aftertaste has oak notes finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descriptions from the beer bottle:

Locally-grown Cascade hops bring a brightness to this barrel-aged American pale ale.  Malt sweetness and toasted oak combine for a smooth, refreshing finish.

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

Celebrates craftsmanship and hard work. Locally-grown Cascade hops bring a brightness to this barrel-aged American pale ale. Malt sweetness and toasted oak combine for a smooth, refreshing finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newhollandbrew.com

Twitter:  @newhollandbrew

Closing, I do not know how I felt about this brew.  I am trying to keep positive about this beer and craft brewery.  I just find myself at times looking at New Holland as an average craft brewery.  They do make some good beers. They shine the most in their high-end beers.  I am talking about 22oz and four packs.  I was interested in this beer because this could be the beer to turn around their six-pack line.  It is an average brew.  I love their effort and out of the box thinking.  I did liked it but I just feel the Pale Ale does not work too well with aging in barrels.  I love when it is a Brown, Stout, or Porter.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island Rambler IPA (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Goose Island Brewery.  It is next seasonal release, which is Rambler IPA.  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 them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into this Red IPA.

It has a clear red to amber color with a tan color head. The aroma has an herbal to citrus notes with a slight hint of earthy tones. The taste has earthy to caramel and citrus notes with dry malty hoppy aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Red Ale

A bold ale with a mix of herbal, woody, and citrus aromas from Mt. Hood and Amarillos hops.

6.7% ALC. 65 IBU

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

Rambler IPA

Brewer’s Notes

Aroma and Taste:

Herbal, woody, and citrus aroma. Spicy, resinous hop flavors with enough sweetness to balance the Mt. Hood hops.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Spicy hop flavor lingers on the palate with a malty, dry finish.

Recipe Information

  • Style: IPA
  • Alcohol by Volume: 6.7%
  • International Bitterness Units: 65
  • Color: Auburn
  • Hops: Amarillo, Mt. Hood
  • Malts: Special Pale, C-120, Cara Red

Availability

Seasonal (September – December)
Bottles: 6 & 12pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, I love this brew.  This brew is the best of all the seaonals by far.  I love their Endless IPA but this Red IPA takes it home.  I was pretty impressed with their Ten Hills Pale Ale but after going through the year, it is the weakest of the seasonals.  They did a great job on their Oktoberfest this year.  I can’t wait to retry their Ten Hills Pale Ale. I might need to remind myself of this brew. I know their Christmas Ale will be out.  It is American Brown Ale. This is a nice Red IPA for the fall season.  It is not over hopped but just enough to make you get through the cooler fall days or part of the winter months.  There is some nice malty notes and Amerillo hops just shine throughout this brew.  This is a great brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Why And Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a hot issue in the huge growing market of craft beers, ciders, and breweries.  There has been a huge growth and it is coming out of the mass produced beer companies.  There is home brewers taking their passion of beer making to the public.  The questions that I am going to try to answer for myself are “Why And Why Not Drink Local Beers And Ciders?”

Why Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

It is pretty simple.  Money stays in the state and/or the local area.  There will be more jobs created because of these breweries.   The money keeps coming in and out of the brewery.  It works if the brewery is buying supplies from local companies and most do this practice.  Most craft breweries take homes in old and empties buildings.  They resolve these old buildings back to the way they were back in their heyday.  Of course, they put their brewery and restaurant in them.  The other things that these breweries in most cases.  They create more jobs at distributors.  They hire a marketing firm or their own people to run it.  Just like most businesses, they will put money back in the economy.

Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

I get beat up about half of the time when I bring this up to people at craft beer bars or stores in my local market.  I get it because everyone wants to support their local businesses and I am one of them.  I have to be honest with myself and others around me.  I heard this when I lived in Chicago and now here in the Michigan.  When traveling to other cities around the US, I saw these same signs and heard it from the locals.  When trying these beers or ciders at home or your local watering hole, be honest to yourself because it will save you from the painful drinking experience.  I had a pretty ugly drinking experience with a local craft brewery in Chicago.  I kept on telling myself that I love this beer and brewery.  I just finally admitted to myself that they are not that good.  I started to look at local craft brewery in a different light.  I give breweries credit when they put a good beer to the market.  I also give them credit for thinking outside the box.

In closing, I am not saying do not drink local beers and ciders.  If their beers are good, drink them and support them.  If their beers are not good, you as a beer drinker, customer, and buyer needs to send them a message.  They need to improve or go away.  This is the ugly side to the business world.  I am catching myself doing it it again.  Just be honest with yourself about these beers or ciders in your area.  There is new craft breweries opening every day and there will be more good to great beers and bad beers.  Remember, you are voting with your wallet.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Support the local good beer and let the bad go away.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Harvest Ale Wet-Hopped Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another limited release beer known as Harvest Ale from Founders.  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 them to get to know Founders Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head.  The smell has a citrus to piney notes.  The taste has a piney, citrus, and a slight tropical notes. It is light and refreshing beer with a nice crisp hop finish for the aftertaste.  The hop aftertaste hangs but it disappears. It is a pretty drinkable wet hop ale.

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

This liquid dream pours a hazy golden straw color with a white, two-finger head. Your first sip rewards you with a super juicy hop presence bursting with fresh citrus, then finishes to introduce toasted malt undertones.
  • ABV: 7.6%
  • IBUs: 70
  • Availability: October

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end,  I love this beer. This is by far the best product that they make.  I really love this wet hopped ale.  They picked some nice hops and build a nice malty backbone.  There is some nice packaging.  I also love the color and presentation of this ale.  This is a beer if they can pull it off.  It should be all year-long but I get why it is not because it is the harvesting of the hops that makes beer special.  I really like this beer and I will have a few more before the end of the season.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Venus The Bringer Of Peace

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample the second beer in the planet series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Venus The Bringer Of Peace.  The first one was Mars which was double IPA.  I did not get a chance to write-up a review on it and all bottles were sold out.  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 Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this ale.

It has a slight cloudy golden to honey tone to the color without a head.  The smell has a nice sweet honey apricot notes. The taste has a sweet honey apricot. The apricot is pretty heavy but the vanilla notes take over the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.”Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.

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

The Bringer of Peace

STYLE: Blonde Ale Brewed With Honey, Apricot, Cardamom, and Vanilla

RELEASE DATE: October 2014

ABV: 7.5%

COLOR: Light blondish orange, very slight haze

GLASSWARE: Snifter

TASTING NOTES: The second release in our Planets Series starts with spicy, fruity and light citrus notes along with herbal notes from cardamom in the aroma. Apricots contribute a very distinct tart character and sweetness from the vanilla rounds out the finish. More than 60 pounds of hand sliced vanilla beans were used to ferment this strong fruit and spice beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, yay, another gimmick to sell beer.  I will have to say at least this series of beers have a story behind.  I know there is a few other Michigan craft brewery would use a gimmick to sell beer.  I was pretty impressed with the first two beers from this series.  I like it. It is totally different. I have more faith in Bell’s after this one.  I am not a Bell’s fan but this one made me turn my head a little more to their direction.  There is some nice notes from Apricots and honey.  It is not too heavy.  I love the vanilla aftertaste notes.  I just wish it was not limited but it is what it is.  If you can find a bottle, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Boston Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going into sample Boston Ale from Samuel Adams.  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, please, read them to get to know Boston Beer Company.  Let us get into this English style Pale Ale.

It has a nice bronze color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a malty to caramel notes. The taste has a nice sweet malty with a hint of caramel.  The aftertaste has a dry to slight caramel finish. It is a drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.samueladams.com):

When we opened our Boston Brewery in 1988, we created a special brew, Boston Ale, to mark the occasion.  A “stock” ale with a distinctly American character, it’s spiced with English hops, sweetened with caramel malts, fermented as an ale and aged at cool temperatures.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I am be the first to say I am not fan of Samuel Adams.  I love how this brewery hides all their other projects like Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard, and Shandy Traveler.  This brewery does make some good beers but the rest is below average to average.  Their high-end beers are awesome in most cases.  This brew I was pretty impressed.  It is a nice English pale ale.  There is a nice malty backbone with a nice hop selection.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13