Month: January 2016

New Beer Blog Atwater Brewery Black & Cran Bourbon Barrel Cranberry Impartial Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Atwater Brewery.  It is Black & Cran Stout.  If you had read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Detroit base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head at first. It disappears over time. The aroma has a chocolate to slight cranberry notes. There is a nice earthly oak notes. The taste has a chocolate cover cranberry notes at first, however, it finishes with a heavy cranberry aftertaste. I do pick up a slight oak note. There is not much in this beer from barrel in taste profile. This is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter:  @atwaterbeer

Ending, I know that I told everyone out there that I was not going to pick up anymore of their beers.  I am holding to true to to that unless they have a special and very limited beer release.   This is why I picked up this brew.  I like Imperial Stouts.   I am not a huge fan of cranberries but I can live with them.  First thing first, I wished this craft brewery would have taken a little time making a great Russian Imperial Stout.  The base of this beer is that that beer style.  I have to say it is below average version.  It makes this beer overall pretty below average. I am not a fan and not worth the price.  If you see it, try to buy a single bottle.  I do not think you will be happy after buying a six-pack.  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 Rochester Mills 12 Days Of Milkshake Stout (2015)

Rochester Mills now has 11 distribution deals in Michigan, close to ...

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a holiday tradition around the Michigan area with Rochester Mills Beer Company.  It is their 12 Days Of Milkshake Stout.  They are making 12 different versions of their milk stout.  They are using the play on words of 12 Days Of Christmas.  They have been doing this for 2 years now and I know many people are looking forward to it.  I know I was introduced to it when visiting Ashley’s in Westland last year.  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 these stouts.

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This year the start date was December 9th and went to the 20th.  Each day, the bar or restaurant will tap one beer a day.  For example, the photo shows us what the stouts that will be feature in this year’s 12 Days Of Milkshake Stout.  It will go in order so the first one is Chocolate Cheesecake.  I do not take any tasting notes so I will do my best on these beers. Here is the order of how I liked them.  Here is my ranking:

  1. Cinnamon Roll
  2. Chocolate Cheesecake
  3. Blueberry Pancake
  4. German Chocolate Cake
  5. Bourbon Barrel Aged
  6. Imperial
  7. Toasted Marshmallow
  8. Chunky Money
  9. Christmas Toffee
  10. Peach Cobbler
  11. Creme de Menthe
  12. Vanilla Mocha

I am not saying that the ones at the bottom are bad beers.  They are great but I liked Cinnamon Roll over than the Vanilla Mocha.  I know from last year they brought back only six and put six new ones in this year’s 12 Days.  They have everything going on that would make just about everyone happy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.beercos.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

Closing, since moving back from Chicago, I have been always looking for this beer event.  I love my stouts and this is the best milk stout on the market.  They took their milk stout and did different version of this great beer.  They keep the six favorites and change the other six.  It is not the same stouts each year.  I believe that what this beer event special.  Rochester Mills Brewery out did themselves this year.  I highly recommend all these beers.  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 Abbey Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from New Belgium Brewery.  It is their first brew that they ever brewed.  It is their Abbey Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this third biggest craft brewery in the United States.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Mile High craft brewery.  Let us get into this Dubbel.

It has a slightly cloudy dark amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a sweet candy to malty like notes. There is a slight alcohol notes also in the aroma. The taste has a sweet malty to slight alcohol burn notes. The aftertaste has a sweet to dry malty finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

The story of New Belgium begins with an abbey: Not only were Belgium’s monastic beers the inspiration behind our Colorado brewery, but Abbey, a Belgian-style dubbel, was one of the first beers we released way back in 1991. Since then, it’s become our most award-winning offering, and in 2015, we updated the recipe. This garnet brown hued Belgian-style dubbel is strong on character and rich in flavor. Seven malts, including caramel Munich and chocolate, and a definitive Belgian yeast, waft off sweet, spicy aromas. Rich tones of chocolate and dark caramel mix with nuanced dried cherries, burnt sugar and figs. Sweet and roasty upfront, followed by a slightly bitter finish, Abbey is a lovely representation of the monastic beers of Belgium. Sip Abbey, and sip New Belgium’s tradition.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, this was the very first beer that this craft brewery ever made.  They sat down and revisited the recipe along with their Trippel.  They did not change it.  They made sure they used the best malt and hops in both beers that is available today.  I have to say they did a great job to improve this beer.  This beer is the same great beer but it just seems it has more depth of tasting notes.  I love beer. This is a great beer.  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 Ballast Brewery Dorado Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Ballast Brewery.  It is their Dorado Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Electric Ray IPL that they teamed up with Sierra Nevada, you know the history of this West Coast Craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this California craft brewery.  Let us get into this double IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head. The smell has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a smooth citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

A huge, hoppy brew that will test your sea legs.
Our Dorado Double IPA immediately hooks you with massive hops that never stop. Mash hopping, kettle hopping and dry hopping makes this beer a serious hop lover’s prize catch. It’s an amazingly drinkable, award-winning beer that’s as beautifully balanced as it is big.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ballastpoint.com

Twitter:  @bpbrewing

In the end, I am so happy to see this craft brewery in the Michigan beer market.  I believe that this craft brewery can teach some other craft breweries somethings.  I like it but I am not going out of my way to find this beer.  I will pick it up when I see it.  I 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 Ballast Point Brewing Commodore Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Ballast Point Brewery.  It is their Commodore Stout.  If you read my earlier beer, which is Electric Ray IPL, blog posts on their beer that they team up with Sierra Nevada, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know this California base craft brewery.  They were brought up on Constellation Brands. The deal will be finalize at the end of 2015.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan constant color head. The aroma has a dry chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has a dry chocolate to coffee notes. The aftertaste finishes with a dry coffee bean finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

The Commodore came out of our search for a medium-bodied American Stout. The recipe began at our R&D pilot brewery, but quickly became a favorite of our crew. Strong flavors of roast coffee and bittersweet chocolate balance with light citrusy hop aromas, highlighted by a crisp, bitter finish. One sip of this gold medal-winning stout will have you ready to take command of your own fleet.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ballastpoint.com

Twitter:  @BPbrewing

Closing, I do enjoy many of their beers.  I was pretty happy to see their beers come to Michigan beer market.  This is a really good stout. I like it. The problem with this stout is price point. It is slightly higher.  There is so many good stout being made by Michigan craft breweries.  This beer is a little different than the other Michigan craft stout.  This beer is more on the English style stout.  I will be adding it to my porter and stout line up this winter.  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