Import Beer

New Beer Blog Steen Brugge Triple Ale

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Starting a new beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer, which is Triple Ale, from Steen Brugge.  In 1084, this brewery was founded in West Flanders.  The secret of brewing this beer has been passed down to get brewmaster and is locked away from the public.  Palm Breweries are brewing Steen Brugge family of beers starting in 2003.  Asides that information, there is really not too much information on this brewery or their beers.  Let us get into this Triple Ale.

It has a slightly clear golden color with a white constant head on this triple ale.  The aroma has Belgian spices notes.  The taste has a slight citrus with a carbonated spicy notes.  The aftertaste has a dry and heavy spicy notes.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their beer bottle:

The historic Steenbrugge Abbey was founded in 1084 by St. Arnold, the patron saint of brewers.  Distinguishing itself from other abbeys.  Steenbrugge continues the medieval tradition of using “grunt”, a herbal mixture that is one of the secrets to creating a divine drinking experience.  And to further uphold century’s of high quality, secondary fermentation is painstakingly applied to each bottle.

In closing, I was pretty interested in trying this beer.  There was a nice Belgium sampler pack in a beer store by me.  There is a lot of flavor and spicy notes.  I love the description from the bottle.  I am a little surprise they give out as much information on this brew.  The beer recipe is a secret like most beers on the market.  It is kind of drinkable.  I enjoyed drinking but I cannot see the price for a six-pack.  I bet that is why it is not on the shelf at most beer stores or high-end beer stores.  If you see it, I would try this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Troubador Obscura

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In a foreign land, we are going to sample out of Troubador Obscura during Belgian Week at Ashley’s Westland.  The brewery was founded in 2000 by Kristof De Roo, Rikkert Maertens, Stefaan Soetemans and Sven Suys.  They are known around Europe as the 4 ‘Musketeers’.  They brew in the traditional and classic Belgian beer styles in past.  This brewery brew several beer styles and they do them well.  They do not let anything out of their brewery unless it is up to their standards.  I like that.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark brown with some reddish tones for the color with a constant white head.  The aroma has slight chocolate with notes of cherry to fruit.  The taste has an aged malty chocolate notes with a cherry aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Troubadour Obscura is a dark red-brown colored beer, with a rich, malty body combined with different touches of a stout but in a very nice balanced way: roast, chocolate, coffee, vanilla. A mild stout with a Belgian body!

Specifications:

Alcohol (V/V): 8,2%

Stamwort: 18

Plato EBC: 110

IBU: 35

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.troubadourbeers.com

Twitter:  @Troubadourbeer

In first glance, it took one sip of Obscura.  I was in love with this brew.  It took me a few sips to get to know everything that is going on in this complex ale.  I love the chocolate cover cherry notes I received out of the this brew.   I can see the vanilla and coffee notes also.  I tasted that towards the end of the glass.  There is a ton going on in this beer and I love that.   It is a drinkable beer but I found myself sipping it.  I wanted to taste everything that was going on in this brew.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Beer Stores In Southeast Michigan And West Of Detroit Part 1

(www.509beerstore.com)

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about liquor stores in my area of Michigan.  I just moved back in October so please, give me feed back if I missed a store.  As you know, I am a huge beer fan and a craft beer fan.  I will be the first to say I was spoiled in Chicagoland area with great beer stores.  It was between Binny’s, Cardinal Stores, and some of the chain stores there.  When I moved back, I knew Michigan craft beer market was huge on Michigan beers, which should be the case.  There are so many beers, and breweries in every market around the country.  I know Michigan is in that same situation.  Where do I go to buy some great beers?  I had no idea.  I did Google search after Google search.  I came up with a list.  I even did something I hate doing walking in and out of stores.  I do have a list and I am going to be up front and honest.  Here we go!

Beer Baron (Livonia, MI)

Beer Baron is a little bit north of Wine Palace by 7 mile on Middlebelt.  When I went, they were working on the store.  The staff there was nice and let me walk around.  He let me take my time and asked if I needed help.  This was the opposite of Wine Palace.  They have a great beer selection and some pretty good prices.  I was pretty impressed.  This is a beer store and it is pretty clear to that fact.  The two things I did not like about this store.  One, the store is in chaos.  There is beer everywhere.  Two, when I went, the staff did not know anything about beer.  Their parking lot is a lot easier than Wine Palace.  I recommend this beer store.

Wine & Barrel (Livonia, MI)

I did not want to drive up to Beer Baron and I am staying away from Wine Palace.  I just went to Wine & Barrel that is right down the street from my place.   There is some nice parking at the side of the building and they are not that busy like the last two stores.  The first thing, I did not like is the guy does not take pop cans.  You are a liquor store that sells rum and you do not sell pop.  I guess not rum and coke for someone in the area.  I am just saying.  I was not happy by that.  Now, I have to go two places to get my errands done for returns.  Who will go there and buy their liquor just to go somewhere else to get their pop?  I was not too impressed by their beer selection.  I did not like the fact you could not buy single beers (12oz).  They had beer store selected ones available.  It was like it came from their breakage area.  I thought their prices where too high like Wine Palace.  I get it that these stores need to make some money.  There is a level where it will keep people out of your store.  This store has a huge area for beer brewing supplies.  I thought that was really cool when I was walking through but after looking at that the beer selection.  I started to have a different attitude towards the store.  Their beer area is all over the place.  I mean you have craft beer with imports beers and the other way around.  This is so not profitable for the store.  Their beer customers that are looking at crafts beers are not seeing all their crafts or import beer customers in one area.  They have to walk around the store and I know I might have missed something.  It can be the same for their mass-produced beer customers.   I just feel they make more money off their beer supplies.  There is nothing wrong at being just a brewing supply store.  I will pass on this store.

Mid-Joy Liquor Store (Livonia, MI)

The first weekend I was back in Michigan.  I wanted to go beer shopping so I thought I would go back to my old liquor store when I first lived in the area.  They have a pretty nice selection.  I was enjoying it until I started noticing that everything I was picking up was out of date.  I was pretty disappointed pretty quickly.  This store went hard into the craft beer without the consumers to support it.  I never went back into this store.  I might again but I think I just might stay away.

Keg & Wine Party Store (Redford, MI)

I found this store looking for a Cider from Woodchuck Hard Cider on their website.  The parking lot could be better but that is not point of this review.  The store inside is pretty nice and clean.  Everyone is nice and helpful.  They have a great selection on beers and spirits.   I was pretty impressed.  I will have to say it is better than Wine Palace.  The only thing I do not like about this store.  I can not buy single bottles and/or cans of beer (12oz).  You have to buy the six or four pack.  I will be back to this store and I recommend this store.

Holiday Market (Canton, MI)

Whenever I would come in town, this was the store I would go to in the beginning.  They had whole warm shelf aisle in this grocery store for craft beer.  I was amazed at the selection.  I always picked up beers that I could not get in Chicago.  I started to realize pretty quickly that they were not selling through most their beers.  This store at that time had a ton of out of code beers.  This is a great store but buyer beware.

Super Fines (Canton, MI)

This store is at the top of my list.  They have just about everything in this liquor store.  If they do not have it, they will get the beer or whatever you are looking for at that time.  If it is sold in the state, they will get it.   You can do mix six packs in every price range.  You can buy single beers too.  They have a pretty big spirit selection.  This is a great beer store and I highly recommend it.

Closing, I know I have not covered everything liquor stores in the Southeast Michigan.  I am looking at just craft liquor beer stores.  I am not going to just the neighbor store.  I went to ones that claim they are a craft beer store or I know they have a pretty big selection.  I know there are more out there.  I will keep searching.  I loved Super Fines in Canton, Beer Barton in Livonia, and Key & Wine Party Store in Redford.  I will never go back into Wine Barrel and Mid-Joy Liquor Store in Livonia.  If there are any other stores, please, let me know.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these stores.  I will be writing a new review here shortly.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

2013 in review Thanks For All The Support!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks For The Support!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer Blog Fuller’s ESB

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into an import and craft brewery from England.  It is Fuller’s and the beer is their ESB.  This is family owned business since 1845.  This brewery is just outside of London, England.  They brew several different beer styles that is true to classic England beer styles.  There beers are not over hopped like most American craft brews.    Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber color without a head on the beer.  The smell is almost like a caramel.  The taste of medium body beer is carbonated caramel with dry hazelnut hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Fuller’s ESB is the famous winner of many awards around the world; bursting with powerful, sustained malt and hop flavors, it is the world’s original and the one by which others are judged!

The Griffin Brewery in Chiswich, London, has been brewing fine ales since 1654.

The Fuller, Smith & Turner partnership, dating back to 1845, brews an excellent range of award-winning ales, many of which are available in the USA, including London Pride pale ale and the world’s original ESB.  I hope you will enjoy trying all our fine ales.

Here is a description from their website (www.fullers.co.uk):

ESB was launched into the Fuller’s family in 1971, as a winter brew to replace a beer named Old Burton Extra. The potential of the beer was soon realised and ESB was installed as a permanent fixture, creating an immediate impact.

Not only was it one of the strongest regularly brewed draught beers in the country (at 5.5% ABV), it was also one of the tastiest, and as the awareness of the beer grew, so did its popularity. ESB’s reputation was soon enhanced after being named CAMRA’s (Campaign for Real Ale) Beer of the Year in 1978, and the beer has not stopped winning since!

With three CAMRA Beer of the Year awards, two World Champion Beer awards, and numerous other gold medals to speak of, ESB is, quite simply, the Champion Ale.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fullers.co.uk

Twitter:  @London_Pride

In closing, what can you say about this beer?  It is a classic beer and this brewery shows most craft breweries in the United States how to brew the classic beer styles.  They keep teaching their wrongs or maybe they are not paying attention to it.  I am talking the old and new world breweries. There is some rich flavors here and I really enjoyed drinking this brew.  I love the malt characters that this brew produces to the beer drinker.  I am not much into import breweries but this brewery pops off the shelf.  I had to give it a try again.  I recommend you trying this brew to get an idea what ESB is supposed to taste like.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Fruli Strawberry Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into import fruit beer.  I am talking about Fruli and the beer is their Strawberry Ale.  There is not too much history on this brewery.  I could not find any history.  I do know they are an extremely small brewery in Belgium.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a reddish to amber color without head on the beer.  The smell is a heavy strawberry.  The taste of this medium beer is heavy strawberry notes with light carbonated.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.fruli.be):

Fruli is a high quality Strawberry Belgian fruit beer, produced at a craft brewery near Ghent. It is a unique blend of white beer and strawberry juice. The juice complements the zestiness of the wheat beer and the result is a balanced and refreshing beer that is packed with strawberry fruit flavour.

It is simply delicious.

Fruli is a high quality Strawberry Belgian fruit beer, produced at a craft brewery near Ghent. It is a unique blend of white beer and strawberry juice. The … has a delicious and refreshing taste that has been compared by Time Out magazine to a smoothie with bite….a completely different experience in beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fruli.be

Twitter:  @Fruli

Closing, I do get into some fruit beers but I am not a huge fan.  I have to say this import craft fruit beer is really good beer.  It is pretty well balanced with the beer and the fruit in the beer.  It is pretty refreshing and perfect for the hot summer days.  They did a great job on this beer and I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ayinger Brewery Celebrator Doppelbock

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In this import beer blog, we are going to get into one of my flavorite beer styles.  This is straight from Germany.  The beer we will be sampling is from Ayinger Brewery and the  beer is their Celebrator Doppelbock.  Ayinger Brewery was started in Munich in 1878.  They brew several different beer styles in the shadow of the Alps.  They are best known in the styles for this brew.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark brown color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight toffee notes in the aroma.  The taste is slight toffee to a touch of caramel and liquid chocolate. There is no aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The History of Celebrator Doppelbock

Originally brewed at a monastery in northern Italy, “double bock” was quickly introduced by Bavarian brewers to compete with bock. Doppelbock names end with the suffix “-ator.”

Taste

A rich, dark elixir with cascading layers of malt complexity balanced by elegant hops. Notes of toffee, caramel, elegant dark-malt roastiness, and pure malt. Pinpoint conditioning and semi-dry finish.

Serving Suggestion

Pastries and desserts, roast goose, cured ham, smoked duck, wild turkey, filet with Dijon sauce, chanterelles, Tournedos Rossini, Châteaubriand. Enjoy with a fine cigar after dinner. Serve in stemmed tumbler at 50 °F.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.merchantduvin.com and www.en.ayinger-bier.de

Twitter:  @AYlNGER

Closing out, I really love this beer.  I drink this beer once in a blue moon.  I enjoy this beer and the smoothest of the brew.  This is a nice fall to winter beer, however, I can enjoy this brew on hot summer day like today.  There is a few craft brewery that could make a doppelbock.  There are some craft breweries that came pretty close or nail it.  They are Capital Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, and Frankenmuth Brewery.  If I am missing a brewery or breweries, please, let me know.  I will add them to the list.  This is The Godfather of Doppelbock.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

New Beer Blog 3 Fonteinen Zwet.be Belgian Porter

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Happy 4th of July, we are going to get into 3 Fonteinen Zwet.be in this beer blog.  It is a pretty unique beer.  It is a Belgian Porter, which is unique as it is, but they use the Begian yeast during the brewing process.  3 Fonteinen was founded in 1887 in Belgium.  They were brewing lambics beers.  It is style of blending old and young beer into one.  It was sold 1953 to Gaston De Belder and it has been the family since.  The current owners have expanded the brewery and they have been exploring into different beer styles like the one we are review here.  Let us get into this unique beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan to light brown color head. The smell is a dark chocolate cover fruit.  The taste of this full body is a dark chocolate with a tart aftertaste. It is a sipping beer with a cigar.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This unusual ale is the brainchild of Armand Debelder, brewer and blender of the world-famous Drie Fonteinen lambics.  A Belgian Porter, brewed with wild yeast cultured from Armand’s casks of lambic.

Here is a description from their website (www.3fonteinen.be):

Zwet.be, unusual “black” beer mixed gistingis is brewed with wheat, Maris Otter malt and cara malt.

Specifically, the mixed fermentation, yeast culture on the one hand from the Beersel Blonde, other lambic yeast. The lambic, brewed by Armand Debelder, a specific type of Brettanomyces geïsolleerd. This yeast gives this beer of 7% alc. volume slightly tart finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.3fonteinen.be

Twitter:  @3Fonteinen

In the end, I hope this would be my last beer on the planet.  This is amazing sipping beer.  I am a huge porter fan and I have not really been a fan of Belgian beers.  This beer is in my top five list of best porters ever had so far in my life.  This porter has everything that will make the Belgian fans happy and non Belgian fans happy.  There is the dark chocolate to tart notes.  This is dark chocolate cover fruit because of the tart.  I am pretty speechless on what to say about Zwet.be.  It just tells you how much I liked this beer.  I will say this just because I like this beer.  It does not mean you will like it too.  I would keep an open mind and draw your own thought pattern.  This is great beer and I highly highly HIGHLY 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

New Beer Blog Evil Twin and Local Option Plastic Man

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Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Evil Twin Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer post on Evil Twin Brewing, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post.  However, this beer has Local Option teamed up with Evil Twin Brewing to brew this beer, Let us get into the history of Local Option.  There is really no history on the internet for Local Option.  They are based in Chicago.  Let us get into the beer.

It is cloudy peach color with a constant white head. It is like they put whole peaches in the bottle without the skin. The smell has a peach aroma to this Saison Style Ale. The taste is a slight carbonated peaches with peach aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Taste the Colors, Hear the Aromas, Smell the Carbonation.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.eviltwin.dk and www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter:  @LocalOption and @EvilTwinBrewing

Closing out, this beer was something else.  Local Option and Evil Twin teamed up and did a great job on this beer.  I am pretty impressed with this beer.  I have not had too many beers from Local Option.  I will be heading down to check out their brewpub.  Evil Twin, I had several different brews from Evil Twin Brewing.  I am not a fan of peaches but the peaches in this brew are awesome.  I highly recommend this beer and I want you to hunt this beer down.  Please, let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Evil Twin Brewing Aun Mas Cafe Jesus

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew on this blog ever from Evil Twin Brewing.  The beer is their Aun Mas Cafe Jesus Imperial Stout.  Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø founded Evil Twin Brewing in 2010.  Evil Twin Brewing started out as a rogue brewery, which means he would use other people’s brewery to brew his beers.  There are several breweries like that out there in the market.  To-Ol and Stillwater are two other popular craft breweries on the market right now.  The state of Denmark beers styles made him and a few of his friends to start brewing their own beers.  Evil Twin was not the only craft brewery to pop up in Denmark.  He knows and is friends with the founder from Mikkeler Brewery.  Evil Twin has teamed up with several different breweries to make brews together.  They also brew several different beer styles and pushing the limits of classic beer styles.   Two Rogue Breweries or they like to called themselves Gypsy Breweries has teamed up to build their own brewery together.  I do not know how true this right now.  It is all a rumor and I cannot find any facts on this rumor.  It is an Urban Legend and do not hold this to me, however, Evil Twin has been working moving more brewing to The States.  Let us get into this brew.

This Imperial Stout has a jet black color with a nice tan and light brown constant head. The smell is slight toffee and chocolate with some coffee bean. The taste of this full body beer is a chocolate and toffee with a heavy coffee notes.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the bottle:

On a pilgrimage for immortal craft beer we tripped on these heavenly coffee beans – threw them in and created damn good aromas, a thick fudge-like body, pitch black color and obviously only made it in limited amounts.  And the taste… furthermore jesus!!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.eviltwin.dk

Twitter:  @eviltwinbrewing @twelve_percent

In closing, I am speechless on how good this beer is and was in my beer glass.  I have had some great Imperial Stouts and Coffee Stouts in my time on this planet.  This is one of my favorite beer styles.  I have to say this beer from Evil Twin is up there in my top ten in the stout styles. In every sip, that I take from my beer glass I pick up something new and exciting from this beer.  There is a nice balance between the stout and the coffee beans itself.   I will have to explore more Evil Twin brews in the near future.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser