Month: May 2015

New Beer Blog Blake’s Hard Cider Wake Fire

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In this beer (cider) blog, we are going to get into the summer seasonal from Blake’s Hard Cider.  It is their Wake Fire Cider.  If you read my earlier cider blog posts on their ciders, you know the history of this cider maker.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan cider makers.  Let us get into this summer cider.

It has a white to lemonade color without a head on this summer seasonal. The aroma has a faded apple and slight orange notes. The taste has a heavy sweetest of orange and apple with a sweet tart cherry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable cider.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blakeshardcider.com

Twitter: @BlakesHardCider

In the end, I am pretty excited for everything that comes from this cider maker.  This is their new summer seasonal.  I like how the cherry comes off as a tart like notes.  The front part of the cider notes are sweet with apple and orange notes.  This is a perfect cider for the hot summer days if it ever comes to a town near you.  It is different. I like it and I can see others that will love it.  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 Canton Brew Works

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a new craft brewery that just open in late April. I am talking about Canton Brew Works in Canton, Michigan. It has the Motor City theme in name, brewpub, and names of their beers. The theme of brewpub taproom is like old factories down in Detroit. The owners are super nice and willing to talk beer and other things with their guests. They do not service food but you can order food from restaurants in the area. They have snacks, water, and of course Faygo. Let us talk about beer.

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It is all about the beer. People are not walking in to have peanuts. Their beer range from a light body Pale Ale, which is called Shakedown, to brown stout, which is called Twist ‘n Stout Brown Stout. Their stout has the nice American brown ale but finish like dry American stout. Of course, they have IPA, which is like English style, and Double IPA. Asides their stout, they made amber saison that is called Say Whaaat?!? It reminds me a lot of Milwaukee Brewery Booyah Saison. Arizona Pale Ale is dry hopped with hot peppers. Hot peppers are not overpowering but right amount of heat. They will be making more beer and new beers will be hitting their tap lines.

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Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.cantonbrewworks.com

Twitter: @CantonBrewWorks

In closing, I will be back. They are better than some of newer craft breweries that are opening in Michigan. I will say they are better than most craft breweries. They make good beer and they have filled a need between Livonia to Plymouth area. I am excited to see what new beers they will be releasing next. They do flights and sell their beer in tasters. Of course, they will have pints, growlers, and howlers. They do offer a mug club for a 20oz pour for same price as a pint price. I highly recommend this place and if you see me, come by and say hi. I always love talking beer with anyone. I will be there on the weekend and I will be a regular. 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 Belgium Porch Swing Single Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a revisit of an old seasonal from New Belgium.  It is Porch Swing Single Ale.  Every sampler pack, New Belgium brings back a seasonal from the past is in it.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of New Belgium Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Belgian style single ale.

It has a clear golden color with a semi on white head on this ale. The smell has a sweet malty notes. The taste of this light to medium body has a sweet malty with a funky and spicy Belgian aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Porch Swing Single Ale completes our tribute to the trilogy of abbey style beers produced here and in Belgium. This single ale differentiates itself from our abbey and trippel ale with simplicity: forthright American Northwest hops rounded with a subtle, eatery Belgian yeast strain. Like the basic pleasure of swaying on a porch swing, this beer beckons you to kick back and enjoy a momentary sojourn away from demands and deadlines.

Porch Swing Single Ale completes our tribute to the trilogy of abbey style beers produced here and in Belgium. This single ale differentiates itself from our Abbey and Trippel ales with simplicity: forthright American Northwest hops rounded with a subtle, estery Belgium yeast strain. Like the basic pleasure of swaying on a porch swing, this beer beckons you to kick back and enjoy a momentary sojourn away from demands and deadlines.

Visual

Bright golden yellow, clear, hefty white foam with sticky lacing
Phenolic and bubblegum isoamyl acetate, light general fruitiness leaning towards citrus, and perfume. Slight herbal, peppery, and grassy. Underlying malty caramel. Overall aroma is delicate.
Flavor
Mild sweetness and bitterness are balanced with one another.
Mouthfeel
Smooth drinking with a crisp, slightly drying finish.
Body
ABV – 5.22%
IBU – 37
Calories – 158

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing,I have been liking New Belgium Brewery more and more of late. Every time a new sampler pack comes out with a revisit seasonal.  I jump on it every time because it has been a while since I had that old seasonal or I never had it.  Porch Swing Single Ale, you can see that it use to be an old spring seasonal.  It is pretty light in body to give it a pretty drinkable with some favor.  It is not my favorite but I can see what New Belgium Brewery was trying to do.  It is pretty balance brew. I love malty notes. 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 Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a classic amber ale.  I am talking about Fat Tire Amber Ale from New Belgium Brewery.  If you have 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 Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this Amber Ale.

It has a clear amber to red color to a constant white head. The aroma has a biscuits to caramel notes. The taste has a sweet malty, caramel, and biscuit notes with a dry malty aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Fat Tire Amber Ale perfectly balances biscuits like malt flavors with hoppy freshness. Named in honor of a storied bike ride through Europe, Fat Tire cruises with Belgian imagination and inspiration.

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

Named in honor of our co-founder’s bike trip through Europe,

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I have slowly becoming a big fan of New Belgium Brewery. I love the story of Fat Tire Amber Ale.  Co-founder using a fat tire bike to travel around Europe.  I am not a huge fan of their Lips of Faith series but I will try them here and there.  When comes to their everyday beers, I just find that they are really good.  I am not a huge fan of amber and red ales.  I love to try them and revisit them.  This is a great amber ale. I am not a huge fan but I go back to now and then. I have told people if you have not had Fat Tire, go retry them.  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 Great Lakes Brewery Alberta Clipper Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Great Lakes Brewery.  It is Alberta Clipper Porter.  I just realize that I have not blogged about their seasonals and special releases.  I am going to be blogging about their everyday beers here soon.  if you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know they history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Ohio base craft brewery.  Let us get into this brew.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan or a light brown color head. The aroma has a heavy raspberries notes. The taste has a smooth chocolate to light raspberry notes with a nice chocolate aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable even though it is almost 8%.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Bid farewell to winter’s cruel tyranny with the creamy, bittersweet dark chocolate flavors and fresh raspberry tartness of Alberta Clipper Porter.  Named for the intense winter storms that sweep the Midwest and Great Lakes Regions, making us all a little tougher (and a lot colder), Alberta Clipper is the perfect treat to celebrate the return of wintry winds goodbye . . . at least for a little while.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @GLBC_cleveland

In the end, I love their special release and seasonal beers from Great Lakes Brewery.  If anyone in craft beer world to make a special porter, let it be Great Lakes Brewery.  The raspberry is not over powering in this beer.  It is heavy in the aroma.  There is a nice balance and it is really smooth brew.  I like it. I will get more.  I cannot wait to see the new labels next season.  This is the last seasonal and limited release to have their old labels.  You will start to see new labels from Great Lakes Brewery.  Of course, the liquid will stay the same. 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 Small Town Brewery Not Your Father’s Root Beer

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into an unique product from Small Town Brewery.  It is their Not Your Father’s Root Beer.  This is the first time. This brewery and beer is being featured on this blog.  Here is the history of this young brewery from their website (www.smalltownbrewery.com):

Small Town Brewery

My great-great-grandfather from the 1600s was the captain of a ship in England. He was also a bit of a gambler. As legend has it, he won a brewery during a high-stakes card game, which led him to start crafting his own beers. He began brewing beer on the ships he sailed. This allowed him to travel further than other vessels because beer stayed fresh during long journeys. The story goes that his beer was even consumed on a fleet of ships he commanded that transported some of the earliest settlers to America.

Growing up, I had never heard the complete story about my great-great-grandfather until I expressed an interest in making my own beer. When I told my mom that I planned to open a brewery, she finally revealed my family’s beer making history and why brewing was “in my blood.” Using some of my great-great-grandfather’s recipes as inspiration, I founded Small Town Brewery. At Small Town, our goal is to honor my family’s beer making tradition by creating handcrafted, specialty beers with unique and flavorful ingredients.

I just learned something from that description above about the history of this brewery and packaging.  It now makes senses why there is an old sailing ship on the package.  Let us get into this root beer.

It has a black color with the pop bubbles on side of the glass and in it. There is not head on this ale. The smell has a sweet root beer notes. The taste has an old fashion root beer notes without alcohol notes. The aftertaste has a dry root beer finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Small Town Brewery

Not Your Fathers Root Beer – 12 oz bottle

Tasting Notes: Silky, smooth and satisfying finish is unmatched in flavor. It appeals to craft beer aficionados as well as those who don’t typically drink beer but crave something unique.

Because of the overwhelming response to Not Your Fathers Root Beer, we have had thousands of requests from all over the country for this product in a package format. We’ve worked relentlessly with experts that make up over 80 years of brewing experience for almost two years to figure out how to increase production to meet demand while keeping the cost to consumers reasonable.

At long last…it’s here.

Serving Temperature: 38°-50°F
Availability: Year Round
Package: 12oz Bottle, 6 Pack

Description: Ale with the Taste of Spices
ABV: 5.9%
Profile: Bold, Sweet, Smooth, Spicy

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.smalltownbrewery.com

Twitter:  @smalltownbrewer

In the end, I heard a rumor that this root beer will be making its way to the Michigan market here soon.  I did not know how to feel about root beer with alcohol in it.  I have to say I am pretty impressed.  I love balance of the root beer and they did a great job on it.  I cannot get any alcohol notes maybe towards the end in the aftertaste.  This is a great product. This is by far best root beer with alcohol on the market.  I have had a few Hard Root Beer.  I have to say I did not like most of them.  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 Petoskey Brewing Mind’s Eye PA India Pale Ale

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We are going to sample Petoskey Brewing for the first time on this beer blog.  We are to get into their Mind’s Eye PA India Pale Ale. Petoskey Brewing was founded 1898.  They stopped making beer in 1915.  Since 1915 to 2012, it was used as retail space and warehouse.  In 2012, Patrick Dowd and Lou Gostinger became new owners of the “Old Brewery.”  They redid the brewery and began flowing beer from the “Old Brewery.”  This might be an old building but this is a young and upcoming craft brewery from Michigan.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The carbonation is a lot in this beer. The beer drinker will need to be careful with it. The aroma has a nice citrus and slight caramel notes. The taste has a nice sweet caramel, malty, and citrus notes. The aftertaste has a dry bitter and slight caramel finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is description from the beer can:

Burnt copper color and giant hop aroma come to the forefront in this traditional American IPA.  Rich caramel malt and red wheat balance the dry, wheat balance the dry, bitter finish of this full-flavor craft brew.

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

Mind’s Eye P.A (I.P.A.)

Burnt copper color and giant hop aroma come to the forefront in this traditional American IPA. Rich caramel malt and red wheat balance the dry bitter finish of this full-flavor craft brew.
6.7% ABV, 74 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.petoskeybrewing.com

Twitter:  @petoskeybrewing

Closing, I am due to travel this great state to check out all the brewpubs and craft breweries.  I will say this brewery is on the list.  I have to give a huge shoot out to my friend Bill for bring me a few cans back of this brew.  Let us talk about this beer.  First thing that I like, it is in cans and I know most people around do not like their beers in cans.  Bottles are nice but they do not do a good job of protecting the beer from sun light and oxygen.  The beer itself has a color tone that invites beer drinker to drink it.  This is pretty good IPA. It is not one of my favorite brew but I will drink it again.  I will drink it again to help a Michigan craft brewery that has some promise.  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 Cigar City Brewing Tocobaga Red Ale

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in this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Cigar City Brewing.  It is their Tocobaga Red Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Florida craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Cigar City Brewery.  Let us get into this red ale.

It has a clear red color with a constant white head. The smell has a sweet malty to slight and I mean very slight caramel notes. The taste has a sweet malty notes with a dry and slight bitter aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Tocobaga® | Cigar City Brewing

The Tocobaga lived off the bounty of Tampa Bay hundreds of years before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500’s. They were potters, tool makers and the only Florida natives to grow maize. The large platform mounds they built are still with us today, with one of the largest found near Old Tampa Bay in Safety Harbor, Florida. Climb to the top, and with a little imagination, you can see Tampa Bay as they did.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cigarcitybrewing.com

Twitter:  @cigarcitybeer

Ending, I am not a fan of red and amber ales.  I love trying new beers from around the world.  I was happy to see this in my case that my friend brought back from his trip.  There is some nice tasting notes that this beer gives you.   I would not be upset if this is the only Cigar City beer that I get rest of my life.  Cigar City Brewery makes some good beer and I love the back story of each of their beers.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13