Craft Beer

Craft Beer or Mirco brews from small breweries!

New Blog Blue Moon Summer Honey Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat Ale is going to be featured.  I told myself that I would never do a mass-produced beer.  Blue Moon is still kind of looked at as a craft beer still, which is kind of sad.  Blue Moon was launched in 1995.  It was created by Keith Villa, which was a brewer at Sandlot Brewery.  This brewery was own by Molson Coors which is now Miller Coors.  This Summer ale was launched in 2011, which was original called Honey Moon in 2006.  Let us get into this beer.

This is a clear yellow color without a head.  It has a constant bubbles in the beer. It has a slight honey smell. There is a ton of honey taste but no wheat taste in the beer.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A refreshing wheat ale crafted with clover honey for a hint of sweetness and a touch of orange peel for subtle citrus notes.

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

Ahhh…Summer Honey Wheat at Last.
When we first opened our doors in 1995, our summer seasonal was one of the first beers we brewed. Back then, we called it Honey Blonde Ale, and it was a favorite of baseball fans coming to a game during the heat of the Colorado summer. It took an extended summer break in 1999, reappearing in 2006 in time to win a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival® under the name Honeymoon Summer Ale and then again in 2010 as Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat.
The beer with more name changes than a professional athlete, today Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat is crafted with Colorado clover honey and orange peel for a refreshing taste that makes the most of sun-soaked days.
Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival®—Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat, Specialty Honey Beer Category.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I am not a fan of wheat ales and pretty much all mas-produced beers.  This beer is pretty bad.  I am only tasting a ton of honey and no wheat notes.  It is very drinkable that I will agree with.  There is better beers in the market that will give you same beer tasting notes.  All this beer is for the beginner in the craft beer world.  Once they explore this new beer world to them.  I know for a fact they will never go back as much as these beer companies think they will with their television ads.  I am not shocked that I did not like this beer.  I would say to pass on this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

In this blog, we are going to get into another beer from Roscoe’s Hop House, which is called Belgian White.  Please, go back and read for the small and lack of information on this brewery in my blog on their Pale Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a Belgian Style White. Why is it clear?  It is clear golden color without a head. It has a heavy coriander smell to the beer. This beer taste like Blue Moon and has that American Belgian Style White Ale taste on it. This beer could fool a lot of beer drinkers because it looks like a pilsner in the glass.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth highly complex flavors of citrus, coriander and subtle spice.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced unfiltered ale has a uniquely crisp taste and exceptionally smooth finish.

Here is a list of awards that this beer won from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

88 Points/ Silver Medal “Highly Recommended” – BTI,

World Beer Championship 2012

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, the problem I have with this beer is simple.  It does not look like a Belgian White Ale.  They claim that is unfiltered but it is very clear and looks like a pilsner.  If you are at a party, this beer could fool a few beer drinkers.  It has the taste and smell of a Belgian White Ale.  I am not a fan of an of these beer styles, which are whites, wheat, and hefweizen.  I have tryed several of these beers I have to say this one is not that good.  The only thing this beer has going for it.  It is at a very low price then the rest of the craft beers in the store.  I would not make a special trip to hunt this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Craft Pale Ale

While shopping at Meijer, I came across these four craft beers in their beer aisle.  There are several grocery and drug stores that are doing their name brand craft beer.  I believe this is the Meijer Brand Name Craft beer.  After doing some research, I have discovered that is not the case.  This is a real brewery from New York.  There is not a lot of information on this brewery but they are from Rochester, New York.  This brewery is own by the Genesee Brewing Company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice copper color with no head. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste of this American Pale Ale is a sweet carbonation with a slight citrus malty in it. It is loss between an English Pale Ale and West Coast Pale Ale.  It is drinkable but without a lot of flavor to the body of the beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright-flavored Pale Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for a unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is a some awards that they won with this beer on their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Pale Ale

Gold Medal – Monde Selection, 2011

Silver Medal / 86 Points “Highly Recommended”- BTI,

World Beer Championship 2011

86 Points – Wine Enthusiast, June 2010

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, I am pretty stun on pretty good this Pale Ale.  I am not saying this is a staple of Pale Ales but for the price you are paying for this beer.  It is kind of worth it and is a great value.  The only problem for us in Chicago, it is only available at Meijer stores.  It has a good hop and malt balances.  I really enjoy drinking this beer and I might have to add it to my regular lineup of beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sixpoint Resin

In this blog, Sixpoint Resin is going to be the feature beer.  Sixpoint Brewery is from Brooklyn, New York City which was founded in 2004.  They brew several different beer styles and put a twist on them.  I have blogged on this brewery several times.  I believe the only beer that I am not a really big fan of their Rightlous Ale.   I need to retry that beer again.  I am not a big fan of Rye Ales.  Asides that I really enjoyed the rest of their line up and it includes this beer.  Let us get into this beer.

Sixpoint Resin is an Imperial India Pale Ale.  It has a nice copper color with a little white head in the beer. It has a heavy citrus to piney smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation citrus with the dry hop aftertaste.  It is very drinkable for the style of beer.

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

Resin

Whatever flames upon the night. Man’s own resinous heart has fed.  A beer that celebrates the extraction of hop resin for a concentrated yet balanced brew. View the story of the Resin below.
Here is a video on their website (www.sixpoint.com):

Sixpoint Resin

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In closing, I am a huge hop head and this lives up to the hop muscle that I am looking in an Imperial India Pale Ale.  I love the overall beer taste.  It has a nice malty backbone which is important with these Imperial and Double IPAs.  There is not too many craft breweries that has done this right to their beers.  Some breweries can not even get their normal India Pale Ale right.  I love how it is drinkable with a serious big punch of 9.1%.  This is my go to Imperial IPA and it is pretty much always in my refrigerate.  Go find this beer and I will be disappointed if you do not fall in love with it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lucky Bucket Pre – Prohibition Style Lager

In this blog, we are going to get into the second beer, which is Lucky Bucket Pre-Prohibition Lager Style, from my Beer of the Month.  I did a blog post yeasterday on their Heartland Wheat Ale and I wrote a little history on the brewery.  Let us get into their Flagship beer.

Lucky Bucket Pre – Prohibition Lager is one of their everyday beers. When poured in the glass, it has a nice clear and amber color with no head on the beer. It has a s’more like smell, which I mean it has a malty smell to the beer. The beer has a malty dry and crisp aftertaste to it. This beer style shows us beer drinkers what an American Lager should be than the water down beer that is being shoved down our throats. Also, what beers were like way back in the day.

Here is a video off their website (www.luckybucketbrewing.com):

Lucky Bucket Pre-Prohibition Lager

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A lot of things go into making a great beer.  This Pre-Prohibition style lager, for example, combines 100% malted bareley with just the right amount of hops, making it smoother and more flavorful than today’s typical lagers.  But the most important ingredient isn’t on the label; it’s our passion for quality that goes into every Lucky Bucket Brew.  So take another drink and savor what real beer is all about.

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

Everyone loves a great drinking beer; a brew you can drink again and again and enjoy every sip every time. Lucky Bucket Pre-Prohibition style Lager is exactly what the palate craves.

Pre-Prohibition style salutes a time when lagers had greater character and more distinct flavor, when beer wasn’t full of the additives found in many of today’s mainstream lagers. Lucky Bucket’s version has a light, malty flavor that’s easy on the palate. Filtered twice, the subtle maltiness nicely balances a floral hop. Dry-hopped with a fresh blend of aromatic West Coast hops, Lucky Bucket Lager is a great session beer with an ABV of 4.5% and 20 IBU’s.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.luckybucketbrewing.com

Twitter:  @luckybucketbrew

In closing, Lucky Bucket Brewery has done a really great job on this lager.  I do not understand why we have the normal American Lager that we have today.  It is sad when you hear lager; I bet you think of the the mass produced American Lager.  There is nothing wrong with those beers.  The problem I have is Prohibition put several breweries that brew this great style of beer out of business.  Since the Craft Beer movement, they have been dead or loss.  It is nice to see this Lager Beer Style coming back to life.  Now the mass produced beer companies are starting to see this movement and now they are bring their recipes back to life.  One is from Coors with their Batch #19 that is only available in draught only.  Lucky Bucket Brewery for being a young brewery has a bright future and their Pre-Prohibition Style Lager is going to push them into the light of craft beer drinkers around the country.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lucky Bucket Heartland Wheat Beer

In this blog, we are going to try a few beers from my Beer of the Month.  This time around is Lucky Bucket Brewing Company Heartland Wheat Beer.  Lucky Bucket Brewing Company was founded in 2008.  There is really no more information on this brewery since it is very young.  There website has some great information that is where I found when this brewery was founded.  Let us get into the beer.

Lucky Bucket Wheat Beer is part of their everyday beers. When in the glass, it is of a bright yellow and a little cloudy without a head. There is a smell of citrus with a little lemon in the beer. The taste of this wheat beer has a citrus to slight lemon along with carbonation.  The aftertaste is non existence in this beer.  Lucky Bucket Wheat Beer is very drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Lucky Bucket Heartland Wheat Beer is a refreshing ale.  Brewed with the same high quality water, yeast, hops and bareley as our other beers, this beer also includes a special fifth ingrediend, golden wheat from the American Heartland.  Adding weat creates a soft-bodied beer that pairs perfectly with the citrus variety hops that we add during the brewing process the result is a tasty beer with a fresh finish.  Enjoy!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.luckybucketbrewing.com

Twitter:  @luckybucketbrew

In closing, I am not a fan of wheat beers and I have said it before in earlier blogs.  I make myself laugh because I still keep trying them.  Lucky Bucket with their Heartland Wheat Beer has won me over.  This is a tasty beer with a lot of good things going on in the beer.  It has a nice balance to make this hop head happy.  I am excited to say but yet sad this would be a beer I would be drinking if I could get it.  There was no information on their website so I do not know if they still make this beer.  It might be a seasonal but if you see it, pick it up and try it.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lost Coast Alleycat Amber Ale

In this 99th blog post, we are going to get into the second beer from Lost Coast Brewery from my Beer of the Month.  The first one we did was their Great White Ale.  You can read that post to get a little history on the brewery.  Lost Coast Alleycat Amber Ale is part their everyday beers and now let us start pouring the beer into the glass.

Lost Coast Alleycat Amber Ale is a different pace for an American Amber Ale. When poured in the glass, it has a nice amber color without a head. There is really no smell to this amber ale. The taste has a spicy malty without any aftertaste. It is very drinkable beer.

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

ABV 5.5%

A full-flavored amber ale made with roasted caramel malt. Richly colored and medium-bodied, Alleycat is an assertive blend of malts with a sprightly cascade of hops.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Full-flavored amber ale made with roasted caramel malt and spicy German and American hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:   www.lostcoast.com

Twitter:  @lostcoastbrewer

In closing, I did not like this beer very much.  The spices that are in the beer just threw me off when I was drinking it.  However, I can see other people liking this beer, there is nothing wrong liking Lost Coast Alleycat Amber Ale.  I have a  hard time finding an American Amber Ale that I really like so I believe it is not the beer.  It is just me. It is drinkable and will give the beer drinker a nice experience.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lost Coast Great White Beer

In this blog, we are going to try one of two beers from my Beer of the Month from Lost Coast.  The first beer we are going to sample out is their Great White Beer.  Here is a little history about the brewery.  The brewery was opened in 1990 by Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound.  They brew several different styles of beer.  They are in 22 states and Canada.  They are the 33rd largest brewery in the United States.  Let us get into the beer.

When in the glass, the beer takes on a cloudy yellow color but more white for the color with no head.  As far as the smell of the beer, it has a coriander to a slight citrus to it. When tasting the beer, the beer drinker will experience an easy drinking beer that is full body flavor along some lemon, citrus and coriander in it.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.lostcoast.com):

ABV 4.8%

A Crisp beer with a hint of citrus, made with two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water and ale yeast.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

This light, unfiltered beer is made with two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, crystal clear mountain water and ale yeast.   It is spiced with Coriander and a secret belnd of Humboldt herbs that give it a delicate citrusy flavor.  Because Great White is unfiltred, natural yeast settling may appear at the bottom of the bottle.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:   www.lostcoast.com

Twitter:  @lostcoastbrewer

In closing, just what I said in my earlier blog, I am not a really big fan of this beer style.  This beer is very drinkable and they did a great job doing something different to a classic beer style.  Most craft breweries do something different and it comes out terrible.  I am not a fan of this beer style but this is a pretty good beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Starting a new blog, we are going towards the south of the United States to take a look at Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  The Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company has been in business since 2000.  A doctor that was doing beer brewing as a hobby wanted to do something he loves doing and that is making beer.  That is really how this brewery was born.  Let us get into the beer!

Kentucky Ale is put into some fresh drain bourbon barrel and is aged to make this beer called Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  This beer is a nice amber color with a constant white head to it.  The smell is a nice earthly wood.  As far as the taste, it has an oak, vanilla to heavy bourbon going on in it.  It is very drinkable and dangerous for the ABV being 8.2%

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

Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon.  Our Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.

Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels.  Pleasantly smooth and robust, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale may also be served as an aperitif or after dinner drink.

Here is a video from their website (www.kentuckyale.com) and Youtube (www.youtube.com):

Kentucky Ale

Here is their website and twitter addreses:

Website:  www.kentuckyale.com

Twitter:  @kentuckyale

Closing the tab, let me say this once and I know the brewery will love to hear this from me.  We, Chicago, gave birth to Goose Island Bourdon County Stout and when we hear Barrel Age Beers, we think it is going to be a stout.  This beer is NOT a stout.  Before the beer is put into the barrel, it is a their normal Kentucky ale, which is between an English Pale Ale and Irish Red Ale.  I really like this beer.  I am a huge fan of barrel age beers and this gives me a little something different then a porter or stout in a barrel.  You can taste more of the bourdon in this beer then a stout that is aged in it.  Stout over takes all the taste from the bourdon barrel.  This beer is very drinkable and I can drink this beer anytime of the year.  I can see a new trend in the craft beer world and I am proud to say this brewery has started.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Outboard Cream Ale

In this blog, we are going to try yet another brew from the Milwaukee Brewing.  We are going to touch one of many summer seasonals from them.  It is called Outboard Cream Ale.  If you read all my blogs on this brewery, you know a little bit of this brewery.  Let us get into this brewery.

It has a nice bright clear yellow color with no head on the beer. There is a smell but I just do not know what it is right now.  It kind smells like a pilsner. The taste is very smooth and creamy lager like but not as hoppy like a pilsner.  This beer style is not a classic style. It was created by Germans that came to the states trying to create their beers here but came up with new beer styles. It is very refreshing and drinkable.

Here is a descriation from their webiste (www.mkebrewing.com):

Beer

Cream Ales are true American styled brews. Mimicking European light lagers, the Cream Ale is brewed utilizing the top fermenting Ale yeast resulting in a more complex flavor and nose. Cream ales traditionally are brewed with a blend of malted barley and corn grits for a light body and golden straw color. A very slight hop presence helps round out this simple but refreshing beer.

History

The terms “Outboard” and “Evinrude” have become synonomis. The first practical Outboard motor was invented by Ole Evinrude in 1909 as a way to give your arms a break from rowing that boat! It’s said that Ole and his girlfriend Bess were enjoying their day on Okauchee Lake on a hot summer day when she asked for some ice cream. Ole rowed to shore and by the time he had gotten back the ice cream had melted.

Always facinated by motors, Ole was self taught. He spent 5 years hopping from job to job learning about steel, manufacturing and engineering. He came back to Milwaukee and set up shop. Eventually he employed 300 people.

Cheers to Ole, and the way he changed the way we use water today!

Brewer

After a long day of post digging, the Outboard is what I reach for.

The simplicity of this classic American style has only a handful of ingredients. The few ingredients we use leave little room for error, although the recipe is straight forward, mistakes will be very noticeable. We use a high quality pilsner malt and a clean citrus smell during the boil. The ale fermentation for this brew leans on the cool side just to cut back on ester production.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I really did not like this beer.  It is a summer seasonal and what I have been saying in most of my blog post.  I am not a fan of Summer Seasonals.  Milwaukee Brewing Company Outboard Cream Ale is a very drinkable beer.  I believe what turns me off about this brew it is the light in body.  I believe to me it does not have enough flavor to it.  Asides that, I am a huge fan of this brewery and this is the first time I do not like one of their beers.  Just because I do not like this beer.  It does not mean you will not like it. Please, go try this beer and reach your own judgement on this Cream Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser