Craft Beer

Craft Beer or Mirco brews from small breweries!

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Beer Co. Cornerstone IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Rochester Mills Beer Co. I am talking about their Cornerstone IPA. It is their flagship beer. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Milkshake Stout, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on this India Pale Ale. The smell is mango notes. The taste is mango notes with nice malty backbone to cut through the hops. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Cornerstone IPA – 6.6% abv. India Pale Ale

This unfiltered amber ale is packed full of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. IPA is the most bitter beer style and it is enjoyed by people we refer to as “hopheads.” We dry hop this beer with a combination of English and American hop varieties for a wonderfully aromatic finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.cplanet.com

Twitter: @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, I love this IPA from Rochester Mills Brewery. I love the hops from aroma and taste it gives off in the beer. It has a nice malty backbone that supports this India Pale Ale. This beer reminds me of something the beer drinker would get from Summit Saga, Maui Brewery IPA, and/or Epic IPA. It has a nice tropical notes. I love this IPA and I will be drinking this brew as much as Frankenmuth Batch 69 IPA. 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 New Belgium Accumulation White India Pale Ale

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into the new winter seasonal from New Belgium Brewing. I am talking about Accumulation White India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Pumpkick Ale, you know the history of this green and employee owned craft brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear to slight cloudy strew like color with a white head on it. The smell is a citrus notes. The taste is slightly wheat that makes this beer smooth to creamy with citrus notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter. At least that’s what our rebellious brewer Grady Hull likes to claim as he shovels in plenty of new hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white.

Birthdate: October, 2013

Body: Medium-light body.

ABV: 6.2%

IBU: 70

Calories: 170

Hops: Target, Centennial, dry hopped with Mosaic and Amarillo

Malts: Pale, Wheat

Yeast: Ale Yeast for bright, fruity notes

Aroma: Strong hop aroma that displays all of our hop varieties: tropical fruits, bright citrus, spicy/herbal from the heavy dry hopping. This beer is a hoppy wonderland!

Mouthfeel: Resinous and slightly cloying from all those hop oils but finishes as clean and crisp as all of our seasonal family does and should.

Flavor: Big and bitter, just what this IPA ordered. Sweetness just barely dents its IBU armor. Nevertheless the addition of wheat really smooths out the rough bitter edge.

Visual: Cloudy haze, pale golden. Billows of white foam and gorgeous foam.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newbelgium.com

Twitter: @newbelgium

Closing out my tab, I have made it known that I really dislike wheat ales and mix wheat and IPA. I was like what the hell. I tried several white IPAs. I have to say they were really bad. I was really down on this new beer style. New Belgium came out with their new winter seasonal called Accumulation White India Pale Ale. I was a little nervous about this brew. I have to say I have a new thought pattern towards White India Pale Ale. There is a nice balance from the hops and wheat ale itself. It is creamy smooth and the wheat brings out the hops character. I can see this brew bring new beer drinkers into the craft beer world and IPA beer style. Even your normal hophead will like this brew. This is different beer style for the winter time. This beer should and will pop out to craft beer drinkers. I will hunt this beer down and 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 Cranker’s Brewery Professor IPA

In this beer blog, Cranker’s Brewery Professor IPA is the beer and brewery that we will be sampling out. I had a chance to try this beer at Buddy’s Pizza in Livonia, Michigan. I thought I would write my thoughts on this brew. There is not much history or information on this brewery. I know they are young and they are from Big Rapids, Michigan. There is not much history on this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It is hard to see in this restaurant because of the lighting. It has a clear copper to light amber color with a white constant head. The smell is a citrus notes. The taste is carbonated citrus notes. The aftertaste is dry hop finish. It is kind of drinkable.

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

A West Coast style IPA, the Professor is golden and sports a large frothy white head. Hops leap out of the glass, citrus, apricot, and herbal notes define this brew. There is enough malty body to keep you coming back for more.

6.6% ABV – 65 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.crankersbrewery.com

Twitter: @CrankersBrewery

Closing, I saw this brew and I was pretty interested in this beer. I love my India Pale Ales. I have to say I was not really impressed this brew. It is not a bad beer but average brew. I will say this brewery did a better job with their India Pale Ale over a few Michigan craft breweries and around the country. This beer is better than Atwater Brewery Grand Circus IPA, New Holland Mad Hatter IPA, and Motor City IPA to name a few. I would have this beer again but not all the time. It would be once in a blue moon. I will be retrying this beer in the near future. I want to hear your thoughts on this brew. I will be searching out the rest of their beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Munsterfest Lager

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Three Floyds Brewing. It is their Munsterfest Lager. The beer is named after the city where their brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery’s beers, you know the history of Three Floyds Brewing. If you have not and want to know about this brewery, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel cooper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty notes with a sweet caramel aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

This Bavarian style Oktoberfest Bier is brewed with the finest german ingredients in accordance with the Reinheistgebot or German Purity Law. This malty and crisp lager is one of the few that remain true to the Fest Biers of old. “Es ist nicht normal.” September release.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

Closing out a tab, as many of you know, I am not a huge fan of this brewery. However, I have been retrying and trying new brews to me from Three Floyds Brewery, I have grown to love this brewery. This brew is one of the few American version of the classic beer style. This brewery did a great job on it. This is a limited release and if you want to try it, I would go hunt it down pretty quickly. It comes out around the fall season. I 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 Gigantic Brewing Hellion

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from one of my favorite craft brewery from Portland, Or. I am talking about Gigantic Brewing and their Hellion. If you read my earlier beer blog on this brewery, you know the history of this little brewpub. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this brew. The smell is a sweet Belgian notes. It has a farmhouse smell notes. The taste is citrus notes of spices with a crisp dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Hellion

To some a Hellion is a troublemaker, to others a messiah. Our dry-hopped Belgian-style golden ale will bring out one or both in you. Which will it be?

“The tall tree catches much wind” -Japanese Proverb

Beer Style: Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Golden ABV: 8.5% 23 IBU

Label Artist: Shohei Otomo www.Hakuchi.jp

Notes: Dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace and Simcoe = lemon, grapefruit and dill aromas. Complex aroma and flavor of ester and spice from a Belgian yeast strain.

Availability: July-October 2013 in Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, Alaska, Vermont and Chicago.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.giganticbrewing.com

Twitter: @GiganticBrewing

Closing out of the tab, this is a great beer and I really enjoyed drinking this brew. This is a well made beer and they brew this beer as close to the classic beer style. It is an American craft version of Duvel. I love Duvel and I found hints of this beer when I was drinking it. I can see many craft beer drinkers thinking this a great version of Duvel. I highly recommend you trying 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 Revolution Brewing Fistmas

In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of many winter seasonal. I am talking about Revolution Brewing Fistmas. I had a chance to try it when I was visiting in Chicago over a few weekends ago. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Revolution Brewing’s beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper color with a constant white head. The smell is a heavy citrus. The taste is a slight carbonated ginger with citrus. The aftertaste is a hint of ginger. It is not really drinkable.

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

Red ale brewed for the holiday season with specialty malts to achieve a beautiful deep red hue and the aromas of fresh-baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits. Steeped with ginger root and orange peel.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.revbrew.com

Twitter: @RevBrewChicago

Ending, in the last few years, I have not been overall impressed with many winter seasonals. I am hoping this year is the turning point for winter seasonals. I have to say this brew is a pretty good start. It might not be drinkable but it is pretty enjoyable for the time it is in your glass. I love the smelling notes to the tasting. There is a ton going on in this brew and it is a good thing for a winter and/or Christmas ale. If you are in the Chicago area, I recommend you trying this brew. If not, I would find a way to get some of 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 Rochester Mills Beer Company Milkshake Stout

In this beer blog posts, we are going to get into the first brew on this blog from Rochester Mills Beer Company. I am talking about Milkshake Stout. Rochester Mills Brewery started in 1998 in Rochester Mills, Michigan. It is located just off the downtown around. This brewery is in one of the oldest buildings in the city. They brew several different beer styles and package them in 16oz cans. Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout. The smell is a chocolate coffee. The taste is smooth creamy chocolate with a dark chocolate aftertaste. It is drinkable beer but not really drinkable beer.

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

Milkshake Stout – 5.0% abv. Sweet Stout (ale)

Milkshake Stout is a sweet stout style Ale that combines four different malts along with a low hop level creating a deep dark beer featuring rich, roasted flavors. The addition of lactose (milk sugar, thus the name milkshake) adds complexity, body, and a residual sweetness that lends a smooth, creamy texture to this delightfully full-flavored brew.

Here is their website and twitter addesses:

Website: www.beercos.com

Twitter: @Rochmillsbeerco

In closing, this brewery has been on my radar before I moved back to Michigan from Chicago. When I had a chance to try this beer and several of their beers, I did it and I am really glad I did. This brew is smooth and creamy milk chocolate notes. This beer is like a beer milkshake like most milk stout. It is well balance and really good. I am glad I try it. I am looking forward to stop by their Brewpub in the near future. I 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 Frankenmuth Brewery Hefeweizen

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Frankenmuth Brewery. It is their Hefeweizen. This beer style has really started to grow on me. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of Michigan’s oldest brewery. If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a hazel, unfiltered, and strew color without a head on it. The smell is banana. The taste is a banana with a wheat aftertaste. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Hefeweizen Ale A sweet mixture of spices & fruit with hints of clove and banana, this refreshingly pale German wheat is top fermented, unfiltered and lightly hopped to achieve its smooth, pleasant flavor and unmistakable cloudy appearance.

ABV 5.2% IBU 13 Great with lighter foods, salads and seafood. Pairs well with lighter desserts.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @fb1862

Closing, if you asked me a year ago, I would be living back in Michigan and loving Hefeweizen. I would have said you are crazy. Both of these facts have come true. I am do not like whites and wheat ales just Hefeweizen. I love how the Germans make their Hefeweizen and how they influenced the beer world. I love the cove and banana notes. Frankenmuth Brewery, who is a German base brewery, knows how to brew those classic German beer styles. I can drink this beer anytime of the year. 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 Upland Brewing Strawberry Lambic

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a project that Upland Brewing did not know was going on in their brewery. One of their assist brewmasters started a sour and package it. Everyone at the brewery loved his sours. Sour ales take years to make and is one hardest beer style to make. If you mess it up, you need to start over. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.

It is a cloudy strawberry color without a head on the beer. The smell is a sour strawberry. The taste is extremely sour strawberry and tart with sour aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

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

Man, that’s sour. Made with real strawberries.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter: @UplandBrewCo

Closing, I have to say I am a huge fan of sours and Upland Brewery. I was excited to get my hands on this brew. I know this sour is hard to get on the market. I have to say this brew is pretty sour. I like it but I wished I had cork to save it for the next day. The color, smell, and taste are sour strawberry notes. This is an awesome beer and they have done a great job on this brew. I hope to get a chance to try their other sours in the near future. I highly recommend their sours. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Liberty Street Brewery My Beer Flight

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a newer brewery in the last ten years in the southeast part of Michigan. The brewery is called Liberty Street Brewery. They opened back in 2008. There is not much history on this young brewery. I did find some information on their website. Let us get into the beer.

American IPA

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. There is really no smell to me. The taste is piney to earthy notes with a weird but good aftertaste. It is almost like Jolly Rancher or candy aftertaste. It is a mild IPA but pretty drinkable beer.

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

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale. American hop character can be described as being citrusy, piney, fruity and resiny.

Starkweather Stout

It has a jet black color with a tan color. There is chocolate to a touch of coffee smell to this stout. The taste is a heavy coffee but a smooth taste to it. THe aftertaste is dry chocolate notes. It is drinkable for the type of stout.

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

This stout is full of chocolate flavor and aroma coming from grain only. A rich mouth feel mellows the slight hop bitterness and makes this an easy drinking stout, even in warmer weather.

Porter

It has a dark brown to black color with a fluffy tan color head. The smell is of burned chocolate. The taste is the same as the smell. There is an aftertaste but pretty fade. It is like dry chocolate. It is drinkable like the porter for the type of beer style.

American Farmhouse IPA

It has a cloudy bright yellow color without a head. The smell is a heavy farm like smell. This is a Belgian Saison. The taste is like a saison with some citrus to funky spices. It has citrus to slight dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.libertystreetbeer.com

Twitter: @Liberty_Brewer

Closing, I have been wanting to stop by this brewery and check out their beers. I had a chances a few months ago and I am glad I did. I have been a little behind on my posts and I am glad I am getting it out now. I became a fan of this brewery pretty quickly. I loved both of their IPA’s. I had their C-Monster at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. I thought that was pretty good too. I love their porter and stout. Since I have moved back to Michigan, I will be by this brewpub a lot more. I highly recommend this brewery and now they are packaging their beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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