Month: December 2014

New Sports Thought Thursday Blog Jon Lester And Cubs Playoff Team

In this Sports Thought Thursday blog, we are going to dig into the exciting offseason from my Chicago Cubs.  This MLB throughout the league has been really exciting offseason.  I am pretty excited because Chicago Cubs are getting ready to start winning in two years.  What does the Joe Madden and Jon Lester move means for this upcoming seasons in 2015?

The Chicago Cubs are not winning the World Series in 2015.  They are going to make the playoffs but some of their kids might take a few steps back.  Baez came up and started hitting some nice home runs. The excitement shot through Cubs nation. MLB took notice to the kid. He stroke a ton.  His Minor League numbers show it.  He had in last season 388 At Bats and stroke out 133 times.  He had 23 home runs.  He played 52 games with 213 At Bats and stroke out 95 times.  The league will caught up with these kids on their weakest and strength.  Soler when he came up he was pretty hot and then cool down.  He batted .143 in the last seven games.  I am not saying this doom.  These kids will need to make some changes just like the league had too.  I love our farm system and the upcoming kids on the roster.  Jon Lester will give us that Ace they needed to fill out the rotation.  He puts rest of our starters in line.

Here is the Rotation:

  1. Jon Lester
  2. Jake Arrieta
  3. Jason Hammel
  4. Kyle Hendricks
  5. Jacob Turner
  6. Travis Wood (Bullpin)
  7. Edrwin Jackson (Bullpin)

I believe they will spit up that Lefty to Righty at the top of the rotation.  It is pretty strong and I know Travis Wood had a rough year.  I can see him bouncing back but I would not be shocked to see him traded to have one of other young pitchers come up in his spot.  He might start the season in the bullpen because of the resigning of Jason Hammel.  I know Edwin Jackson will be in the bullpen.  I cannot see him starting and I would not be shocked to see him traded.  He is owned a ton of money so maybe a bounce back year and traded before the trade deadline. He will start if there is some injuries. The Cubs has something they did not have in 2014.  They have depth in the starting rotation.  They will have some more kids ready half way through the year or September call ups.  The lineup has some interesting looks.  I know Joe Madden will have some fun here. Let take a look at that now.

Here is the Lineup:

  1. C. Coghan LF
  2. J. Baez 2B
  3. S. Castro SS
  4. A. Rizzo 1B
  5. J. Soler RF
  6. M. Montero C
  7. L. Valbuena 3B
  8. A. Alcanara CF
  9. Pitcher

There is a ton of things can be moved around.  You know Castillo will be traded because I cannot see team carrying three catchers.  I also love pick up of Tommy Le Stella to back up Baez.  If Baez starts out slow or just struggle, he can step in at second.  We know Ross will be behind the plate when Lester is pitching so he will be in the 7th or 8th part of the line up.  There is some choices and I know they are not done trading and signing players.  I am not getting into the bullpen because I want to see what other moves they make. Joe might have a different way of looking at this line up.

Closing, I am liking what I am seeing from my Chicago Cubs.  They will make the playoffs next season or just miss it.  I can see them come out with a strong start or finish to the season.  I can see a few more moves before spring training.  I can see them doing some kind of moves before the trade deadline to add for the push to the playoffs or moves for 2016.  Either way, Cubs fans are excited this season as they should be for this team.  The last few years teams around the league believe they had a win playing us. This is not the case anymore.  2015 is a promising season and I am excited.  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 Short’s Brew Thirst Mutilator Munich Helles Style Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the last beer from their Fall Sampler Pack.  Short’s Brew made this beer, which is Thirst Mutilator Munich Helles Style Lager.  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 Brewing.  Let us get into this Helles Lager.

It is a cloudy golden color with a constant white head. There is no aroma to this lager beer style. The taste has a sweet malty notes with crisp aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Thirst Mutilator is a light straw-blonde lager with sharp doughy yeast esters that gather atop a perfectly retained head. Kilned barley produces perfect bready and flour-like qualities that blend pleasantly with the beer’s mild hop bitterness. Aided by a wonderful effervescence, these delicate flavors fade into a crisp clean refreshing finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I will say it again and again.  If you do not make a good lager or pilsner as a brewery, please do not make them.  Any style in the lager and pilsner world are hard to make just like sours.  Short’s Brewery is like most craft brewery.  They make average to below average lagers and pilsners.  I have them credit for trying.  There is something wrong when you have to add things to hide your faults in your beers.  They did not have to in this beer and their alt that reviewed yesterday same thing.  I have seem them do it in the past.  This is an average beer.  I just feel they could drop this beer and focus on their everyday or other beer styles.  This is my thought and I know others do enjoy their beers.  I like that and they do make some good ones.  If you see this one, try it.  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 Short’s Alter Spalter Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Alter Spalter Ale.  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 into this beer.

This German style Alt Ale has a cloudy amber color with a white head. The aroma has no smelling notes. The taste has a slight carbonation with hints of malty notes. The aftertaste is a dry malty finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Alter Spalter is true to the old world German style ale with a light brown color and pleasant nose. The malt character is low with soft, caramel notes and a unique banana-like sweetness. The beer is well-balanced with a crisp clean nature and a lack of lingering malty flavors.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I am a huge fan of this beer style.  This beer is pretty close to the traditional beer style but I just feel like it is missing something.  I do not know what it is.  It is pretty boring.  It is not like the rest of the Alt beers that I had in the past.  I know it is not water because Michigan has one of the best water supply in the world for brewing.  I believe it is between the malt and hops.  Do not get me wrong, this is a pretty good beer.  I know it is missing something.  I just feel I could be drinking something else.  This is a beer they could cut and make sure their everyday beers are good and better.  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 Short’s The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the sampler pack from Short’s Brewing.  It is their The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale.  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 red ale.

It has a cloudy dark red to ruby red  color with a nice white head. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes. The taste has a very light carbonation with a dry sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has water like malt finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The Magician is a lustrous dark-red London Ale with a rich grain bill. The grain combination lends complex notes of toasted caramel, raisins, chocolate, and roasted toffee. Very light hop additions let the true malt characters show throughout this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have to say this is one of the better English style red ale from a craft brewery.  I am pretty stun.  This goes back to the arguments that I had in yesterday’s blog posts on their Dan’s Pink Skirt IPA.  This brewery’s seasonal are so much better than their everyday beers.  At least, this Michigan craft brewery makes some good beer unlike most craft breweries in this state.  I love the balance in this red ale.  I am not a huge fan of red and amber ales.  I love my Fat Tire once in a while.  If you can find this beer, 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 Short’s Brew Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into yet another IPA from Short’s Brewery.  It is Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale.  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 IPA.

It has a cloudy golden to yellow color with a nice foamy white color head on this India Pale Ale. The aroma has a slight citrus notes. The taste has a nice light carbonated notes with some citrus notes. The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Dan’s Pink Skirt is an American IPA brewed with Summit and Simcoe hops. Malt characteristics are mild and practically undetectable in the nose. Dan’s Pink Skirt has pronounced floral and citrus aromas, with a pine resin hop bitterness that attacks the palate.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, how many IPA’s and how many seasonals does a craft brewery really need to pumped out in the market.  This is has been the aged old question in the craft brewery.  If you make all these beers, is your product still good.  I believe you are good at a few things and have to work on other things.  It is pretty sad when a seasonal IPA is better than their everyday IPA.  This is my thought and I know many would disagree with my thought pattern.  I believe this craft brewery makes way too many beers and it makes it tough for them make good beers.  I know there is many that would disagree with that thought.  I just feel their seasonals are so much better than their everyday beers.  I love this IPA and this is their best IPA.  There is a nice balance from the hop bittest and malty backbone.  They did a great job on this beer.  If you can get 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 Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample another special release from Sierra Nevada.  It is their Wet Hop 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 Sierra Nevada.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a nice hue of copper and light bronze color with a white constant head. The smell has an earthly, rose, piney, and grapefruit notes. The taste has a carbonated grapefruit with a nice dry slight bitter aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The fourth in our 2014 harvest series, Northern Hemisphere Harvest spans a flavor spectrum from bold, earthy, green hop flavors to hints of citrus, fresh herbs and pine.

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

Available September 2014.
Northern Hemisphere was the first wet hop ale and it inspired the wet hop craze here in America. Wet—undried—hops go straight from the fields into our kettles within 24 hours. Because hops are incredibly perishable, using hops wet preserves all of the precious oils and resins for a unique drinking experience as evidenced by the intense herbal green flavors and citrus-like and floral aromas. Northern Hemisphere is part of our five-bottle Harvest series which features single hop, fresh hop, wet hop, and wild hop beers.

Wet Hop versus Fresh Hop

Over recent years, there has been some confusion about the difference between fresh and wet hops. While it may seem like semantics, to us it’s an important distinction.

Wet Hops are un-dried hops, picked and shipped from the growing fields within 24 hours.

Fresh Hops are the freshest dried hops to come from the fields, typically within seven days of harvest.
Over 90% of the world’s hop harvest happens between August 31 and October 31, and these hops are used throughout the calendar year. Can hops possibly be the same on November 1, one day after harvest, as they are on July 25, nearly one year after growing in the fields? The answer is no. We think of hops like dry kitchen spices—the flavor of thyme or rosemary right after the jar is opened is far more intense than it is six months later. The same can be said for hops. There are ways to control the way hops age and to reformulate and readjust as some of the aromas fade, but there’s nothing like the magic of the first bales of hops as fresh as can be. That is the stuff dreams are made of!

Dry Hops

We work hard to get strong hop flavors into our beers and one of the ways we do that is through dry hopping. Dry hopping refers to the addition of whole-cone hops to the fermentation tanks. The addition of hops to cold beer allows the aromatic oils and resins to infuse the beer with flavor and aroma without adding any additional bitterness.

Experimental Hops

Hop farmers, breeders, brewers, and brokers are always looking for new and interesting hop varietals with compelling flavor characteristics and intriguing properties. Sierra Nevada has a unique relationship with hop growers, and often has access to limited and experimental varieties. Some of the varietals, while interesting, don’t add enough value and never make it into commercial production, while others—like the recent hop Citra—take the brewing world by storm. Every day new varietals are being tested and some have become signature flavors for Sierra Nevada.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I am always looking forward to the next single hop beers from Sierra Nevada.  I enjoyed these brews very much.  I have always just brought one bottle but starting this year editions.  I will be picking up more than one.  I just picked up one because they are one of the hardest beers to find in the Midwest.  This beer was no different then the rest of their limited releases.  Of course, the beer was different.  I mean is it was awesome brew.  They have all been awesome beers.  They know how to build a nice malty backbone.  They picked some nice hops throughout this hop series.  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

New Beer (Cider) Blog Blake’s El Chavo

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In this cider blog, we are going to the first cider from Blake’s.  It is their El Chavo.  There is not much history on their website.  I do know they have been in business less than five years.  They make several different Hard Cider.  There is about 12 different Hard Cider on tap in their Taproom.  Let us get into this Hard Cider.

This cider has a clear light yellow color without a head. The smell has a slight mango and hints of Habanero peppers. The taste has a mango to earthly notes with pepper hot aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable but I can see becoming sipping cider.

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

We like spicing things up.  That’s why we put dimmers on the lights in our Cider House.  And it’s why we created this sweet, heated blend of Habanero Pepper, mango and our famous Blake’s apple.  Experience a hard cider that’s really, honestly, truly like no other.  Experience El Chavo.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blakeshardcider.com

Twitter:  @BlakesHardCider

Closing, I have to say I am not a huge hard cider fan.  I am always willing to try it at least two times to see if I can find one that I like.  I have to say between Woodchuck and Blake’s Hard Cider.  I have found two cider companies that I enjoyed drinking their products.  In the few times, I had some of Blake’s Hard Ciders.  I did not have time to write tasting notes. I had to write-up for this special and unique cider.  I like it. I did not know how the peppers would go over with apple and mango notes.  The Habanero Pepper starts to shine through the end part of the pint.  It is not overpowering which I liked.  There is a nice balance in this Hard Cider.  I highly recommend this cider.  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 Sierra Nevada Brewery Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite porters in the craft beer world.  It is Sierra Nevada Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this California craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know one of the legends in the craft beer world.  Let us get into this porter.

This porter has a black color with a semi on light brown color head. The smell has a burned to slight notes of chocolate. The taste has a creamy roasted chocolate with a roasted malty to dry chocolate aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Sierra Nevada Classic Porter is a testament to roasted malts which give it a rich bittersweet and roasted coffee like flavor.  This all-American adaptation of the traditional workingman’s ale is well-balanced and a perfect complement to a variety of foods.

Before Sierra Nevada was a reality, nights were spent perfecting homebrew recipes and dreaming of starting a brewery.  One of our favorite beers was a porter.  Made before roasted  malts were readily available, we spent time in the kitchen roasting barley for our own malt.  The result is big malt flavor – rich, bittersweet, and roasted.

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

Porters were invented as a fortifying drink for the rough-and-tumble working class of London’s bustling markets. It was brewed for good folks with calluses on their hands, doing work that needed to be done. We salute those working-class heroes with our classic Porter, brewed in the hop-forward American style and featuring a depth of malt flavor and complexity with roasted notes of black coffee and cocoa.

Origin of Porter

The origins of porter are shrouded in mystery, but most agree that by the middle 1600s there were many beers of various styles referred to as porters not because of a singular flavor characteristic, but because of their intended audience—the hardworking folks shuttling gear in England’s bustling markets. In fact, porter as we know it today—roasty, dry and dark as midnight—would have been impossible to achieve because efficient and reliable malt roasters weren’t invented for another hundred years. One thing is certain though, porters developed alongside the Industrial Revolution and as brewing technology improved, so did the technique and quality of the beer. Porter was the first mass-produced style of beer and the beer that helped build the mighty British brewing industry. It will forever be associated with London’s working class.

Stout versus Porter

While the exact origins of porter are hazy, the development of stout is more straightforward. By the 1700s bolder, high-alcohol versions of any style of beer were referred to as “stout” or strong. By then, porter was far and away the most popular beer style in the British Isles, and clever breweries began advertising the stronger versions of their beers as “stout porter.” By the late 1800s, regular porters had fallen out of favor and stout porter, or simply stout, took their place. There are many different varieties of stout ranging from the light bodied, low-alcohol Dry Irish Stout to the vicious, rich and strong Imperial Stout.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, Sierra Nevada is so beyond under rated to us here in midwest and east coast.  I am not sure on how they are viewed on the west coast.  I believe pretty highly. I just feel most craft beer drinkers just see Sierra Nevada as the brewery that makes one really good brew, which is their Pale Ale.  I love their Pale Ale but they offer so much more to their beer drinkers.  This porter is one of their finest brews that they make.  I can enjoy this beer in any season.  It is pretty drinkable and full of flavor.  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

New Beer Blog Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample a special limited beer, which is Backwoods Bastard Ale, from Founders 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 them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark ruby-red color without a head on this barrel aged ale. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight bourdon along with some vanilla and other earthly notes. The taste has a sweet malty, alcohol, and earthly notes. The aftertaste has a nice warm alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.
  • ABV: 10.2%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I kept on hearing this is the beer that you need to try from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is a must find and try.  When I hear it was released, I rushed out and found a few bottles.  I was pretty excited this beer.  I love ales aged in barrels.  I am a huge fan of old ales, wheat wines, and barley wines.  I have said it is a nice sipping beer.  I love the sweet malty to alcohol notes.  There is a pretty nice balance.  I have to say for the price and I was looking for more out of this beer.  I just believe it is not worth it.  I will get at least a bottle every year but I am not going out of my way like I did this year.  It is beyond overrated.  Let me put it this way.  It is very good beer but not the best in this beer style that I have had in my lifetime.  If you see it, try it.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13