Craft Beer

Craft Beer or Mirco brews from small breweries!

New Beer Blog Harpoon Gingerland UFO (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Harpoon Brewery and it is their Gingerland UFO.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Harpoon Brewery.  Let us get into this German style Hefeweizen style.

It has a cloudy slight golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a ginger to slight yeast notes. The taste has a refreshing ginger to corridor notes. The aftertaste has a ginger to lemon notes. It does not last long. It is kind of drinkable.

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

It took a while for us to come up with a UFO beer that could withstand the darkest days of the year, but the warmth of ginger combined with the seasonal spice of cinnamon and clove form a perfect companion for a visit to Gingerland. Brewed, not Baked. Poured, not sliced. Inspired by a classic tale. Deliciously spiced. Welcome to Gingerland.

Description

Cinnamon, clove and ginger combine with an unfiltered wheat beer in this deliciously spiced, gingerbread-inspired beer.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: slightly hazy, deep orange
  • Aroma: ginger snap
  • Mouth feel: medium bodied and rounded
  • Taste: malty sweetness from the blend of cinnamon and Munich malt
  • Finish: sweet with a clean crisp finish of ginger

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

In closing, it makes a ton of senses for Harpoon Brewery to take their UFO to the next level.  They do have their ever popular Pumpkin UFO along with their Raspberry UFO Ale.  It makes sense for them to do a nice brew for the Christmas and winter season.  I am not a huge fan of it and this is not my kind of beer style.  I can see this being pretty popular brew for the winter season.  This brew will start a new trend in the craft beer world.  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 Sixpoint Sensi Harvest

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In this beer blog, we are to sample another brew from one of my favorite east coast craft brewery, who is Sixpoint Brewery.  It is their Sensi Harvest.  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 Sixpoint Brewery.  Let us get into this pale ale.

It has a nice clear copper color without a head on this harvest pale ale. The aroma has a floral to citrus notes. The taste has a nice malty with hints of citrus notes. The aftertaste has a citrus aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

A copper ale bursting with fresh, undisturbed hop character.
Juicy wet-hops carefully selected by the Mad Scientists make SENSI HARVEST a unique delicacy available only at harvest time.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

Ending, if you read my earlier beer posts on their beers, you know that I am a huge fan of their beers.  They make some awesome beer.  I was pretty excited when I made a road trip down to Ohio and saw their beers on the shelf.  I saw this one and I thought this is no brainer.  I love some fresh or harvest hop ales.   I love the color and aroma from this pale ale.  I am not too sure on how I feel about the taste profile.  I like it but I think the hops or malt are not going good together.  This is a great beer but I only can have one.  I need to move on to another brew.  This is what the taste profile does to me.  I highly recommend this brew at least one.  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 Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into one of the first and original christmas beer of the modern era.  It is from Anchor Brewing and it is their Our Special Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Anchor Brewery.  Let us get into this Christmas Ale.

It has a dark brown color with non constant light brown color head. The smell has roasted malt to toffee and nutty notes. The taste has a roasted to burn malt notes with a burn malt aftertaste. It is a kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is the fortieth annual “Our Special Ale”  from the brewers at Anchor.  It is sold only from early November to mid-January.  The Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same; joy and celebration of the newness of life.  Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.

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

This is the fortieth annual Christmas Ale from the Anchor brewers. It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Our tree for 2014 is the Giant Sequoia. It was hand-drawn by James Stitt—who has been creating Christmas Ale labels for us since 1975—to look as a “Big Tree” planted in 1975 might look today.

“The Big Tree is Nature’s forest masterpiece, and…keeps its youth far longer than any of its neighbors. Most silver firs are old in their second or third century, pines in their fourth or fifth, while the Big Tree growing beside them is still in the bloom of its youth, juvenile in every feature at the age of old pines, and cannot be said to attain anything like prime size and beauty before its fifteen hundredth year, or under favorable circumstances become old before its three thousandth.”–John Muir

We chose the Giant Sequoia for our fortieth Christmas Ale in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Act. Signed into law by President Lincoln during the Civil War, it granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California “for public use, resort, and recreation.” The first such land grant in American history, it marked the beginning of the California State Parks.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter:  @anchorbrewing

Ending, winter and fall seasonal beers are my favorite of all the seasons.  I love the spring and summer for motorcycle riding.  I am finding out that the winter seasonals this year are so much better than last years.  It was the same case for the fall seasonal brews.  I had a hard time liking this beer every year but at end of season, it always ends in my top five. I love burn from the roasted malts. This is a great beer.  It is a nice sipping brew to get you through the winter cold days.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Tiwtter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Alaskan Winter Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Alaskan Brewery.  It is their Winter 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 northwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this winter ale.

It has a clear copper color with a white to off white constant head. The aroma has hints of spruce tips notes. The taste has a sweet malty with a heavy focus spruce tips notes. The aftertaste has a crisp aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style:

English Olde Ale. Traditionally malty with the warming sensation of alcohol, Olde Ales are brewed in the fall as winter warmers.

Flavor Profile:


Brewed in the style of an English Olde Ale, this ale balances the sweet heady aroma of spruce tips with the clean crisp finish of noble hops. Its malty richness is complemented by the warming sensation of alcohol.

History:
From the seafaring adventurers of the 1700s to the homebrewers of today, adding spruce tips to beer has a rich history in Southeast Alaska. Alaskan Winter Ale was first released by the Brewery in 2000.

Ingredients:
Alaskan Winter is made from glacier-fed water, Sitka spruce tips and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from the more than 90 inches of rainfall we receive each year.

Recommendation:
Perfect winter warmer by the fireside or an accompaniment to holiday fare. Serve with roast goose, turkey, ham or lamb. A nice complement to holiday breads, pound cake, or apple pie.

The Story Behind The Label:
Throughout Southeast Alaska, bald eagles can be spotted landing atop the towering old growth forests of Sitka spruce trees. As many as 3,000 bald eagles congregate among these evergreen trees on the shores of the Chilkat River for the last large run of salmon before winter. Sitka spruce trees carry a significance of their own to local Alaskans. The tender new growth of the spruce tips lends a delicious, yet subtly sweet floral aroma to teas, jelly and now our Alaskan Winter Ale.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter:  @alaskanbeer

In the end, I have been wanting to this beer for a long time.  I was pretty excited to them enter the State of Michigan.  I was pretty stun that they skip the City of Chicago.  Chicago is a pretty big market for craft beer.  Most craft breweries did not want to enter that market because of the laws.  On the other side, most craft breweries did not want to enter the Michigan Market because the huge push for Michigan craft beers.  Beers that are outside of state get pushed away and do not get a fair shake.  I did not know if they will be pushing out their seasonal beers right away.  I was pretty happy to see this beer on the shelf.  I had to pick up a bottle and try it.  I was interested to see how Spruce would work in this beer.  There is a Michigan craft brewery that used spruce tips and failed on their beer.  The beer was terrible.  I knew experienced craft brewery would know how to work it correctly in this beer.  They did a great job and it is pretty good.  There is a nice balance in this 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 Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Lagunitas Brewery.  It is their Brown Shugga’.  This is their 2014 edition.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Lagunitas Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice copper to bronze color with a small white bubble head color. The smell has a sweet malty to alcohol notes. The taste has a sweet malty to slight but faded alcohol notes. The aftertaste has a dry hoppy bitter finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Originally a failed attempt at our 1997 batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale resulting in an all-new-beer-style we like to call…Irresponsible.

AVAILABLE: NOVEMBER 2014 thru JANUARY 2015 (whoa!)
ABV: 9.99%
Sold as: 6-packs & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @lagunitasbeer

Closing, this is a pretty unique beer.  It has a nice color and appearance.  The packaging is a nice just like all the rest of their beers.  It is pretty hard to explain this beer.  I know that I love it.  I look forward to every year it is released.  There is some nice malty notes along with some alcohol notes.  It is pretty drinkable for the ABV.  I highly recommend this beer.  This is one of their best 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 Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams White Christmas (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Samuel Adams Brewery.  It is their White Christmas.  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 White Ale.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head color. It disappears over time. The aroma has a yeasty, corridor, to a lemon notes. The taste has a wheat to corridor notes. The aftertaste has a dry cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of orange to lemon notes finish. It is pretty drinkable winter beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

As crisp as the first snowfall of the year, this unfiltered white ale is blended with holiday spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel.  The familiar citrus and wheat characters of the ale are complemented by the warmth of the spices for a festive brew that’s perfect for the season.

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

A special time of year calls for a special brew. For us, this brew combines the crispness of a white ale with the warmth of familiar holiday spices.

HOP VARIETIES

Spalt Spalter Noble hops

MALT VARIETIES

Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, wheat, IdaPils malt

YEAST STRAIN

Samuel Adams ale yeast

COLOR

SRM: 6

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

Cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel

ALC. BY VOL/WT

5.8% ABV – 4.4% ABW

IBUs

8

CAL PER SERVING

190

AVAILABILITY

12oz: 6pk, Winter Classics

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

Closing, I am not a fan of Samuel Adams or the Boston Beer Company. I give them a ton of credit to be one of the pioneers of the craft beer world.  Now days, they are looked as one of the big beer companies.  They are now known as one of the big three.  Jim Koch does not like to hear this but he is in that group.  Most of his beers are starting to be viewed like that too.  The kids today are looking at his beers like their Dad or Grandfather’s beer.  They are still pushing the limits but not as much as they did back in the 1980’s.  This brew is something a little special that they have been putting out in the last few years.  I am not a fan of but I can see people liking it.  There is a ton of spices going on this brew.  There is a nice light body but yet some complex notes.  I am not a fan of this beer style and 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 Atwater Winterbock (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Atwater Brewery.  I really do not know why I picked up their Winterbock.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this brew.

It has a clear dark copper color with an off white color head.  The smell has a sweet malty notes. The taste is a sweet malty notes. The aftertaste is a sweet dry malty finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This malty, sweet, caramel colored German bock beer is brewed with imported malt and hops.  It’s uncommon smoothness and impeccable taste make it the perfect companion on a cold night.

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

Atwater
Winter Bock (High Gravity Lager)

ABV 7.5% IBU 30
Color: Dark Caramel

This malty,sweet, caramel colored German bock beer is brewed with imported malt and hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter:  @atwaterbeer

Closing, I pretty much done with this brewery.  I do not know why I keep coming back to this craft brewery.  I always find myself buying or ordering one of their beers.  I am officially done.  This beer is full of alcohol.  It is a poor and bad version of a German bock.  They did a really bad job on this brew.  I just feel their is no balance.  It is like they dumped a ton of sugar to jack up the alcohol.  This beer is missing creative thought and passion towards this beer style and brewing beer.  I am not really a fan.  I do not recommend you trying this beer.  Do NOT go there!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Motor City Works Winter Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample Winter Ale from Motor City Works.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their India Pale Ale, 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 winter ale.

It has a cloudy amber to bronze color with a white head on this winter ale. The smell is non existed. I cannot pick up anything. The taste has a sweet malty notes with notes of spruce tips notes. It has a nice malty aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Motor City Winter Ale is a rich barley wine style ale.  Deep amber in color, full and malty in taste complemented with a hint of spruce and an ABV that will keep you warm all winter long.

The thin layer of sediment at the bottom of each bottle is the mark of our all natural brewing process.  Unfiltered, Unpasteurized… Naturally!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.motorcitybeer.com

Twitter:  @motorcitybeer

Closing, I do not why I keep trying their beers.  They are like Atwater Brewery.  They do not make good beer.  I rather drink a Budweiser before I have to force another beer from either brewery down my system.  I have not had everything from them.  It is too late because the beers that I already had.  I am not a fan. Spruce tips and spices are not a good mix.  They did a bad job using spruce tips.  It did not go over well in this ale.  I believe they should take some notes from Alaskan Brewery.  I do not recommend this brew.  Don’t 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 Foothills Brewing Hoppyum IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a beer from a brewery that I have been trying to get a bottle.  I have to say thanks to Mike and Mike for the share.  I am talking about Foothills Brewing and it is their Hoppyum IPA.  Foothills Brewing was founded in 2005.  They are located in the State of North Carolina.  There is not much history on their website and the web.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It is a clear copper color with a white constant head on this IPA. The aroma has a malty to earthly notes.  The taste has a malty to earthly notes with a heavy bitter aftertaste. It is pretty good drinkable IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

An American India Pale Ale full of pungent Simcoe, potent Columbus, and citrusy Centennial and Cascade hops.  A medium dry finish ensures that Hoppyum makes an excellent session beer.  ALC. 6.25% by VOL.  SRM: 7.1 IBU 78

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

The recipe is simple. Take some hoppy. Add some yum. Nutty malts lend a surprisingly sweet base to copius additions of tangerine-y Simcoe™ hops. Great aroma, superior taste, clean dry finish. One sip will show you why this is our most popular beer . . . followed closely by a strong desire to take another sip.

Closing, I am so happy that I was able to get a bottle to finally enjoy this brew.  It says on the bottle it is an American IPA.  I do not look at it as an American IPA.  I bet they use American yeast so they are kind of forced to call it American IPA.  It is not hoppy enough for me to call it American IPA.  Craft Breweries can call their beers whatever they want.  I respect that.  I view this beer as a nice English IPA. I love it for it’s nice taste profile. The aftertaste is extremely bitter that is where they can call it American IPA. Overall, it is a great brand.  If you are able to get 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 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