Craft Beer

Craft Beer or Mirco brews from small breweries!

New Blog Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew

In this blog, we need to travel west to visit one of the original craft breweries here in the states.  The brewery and brew is Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew.  I wrote earlier post on Widmer Brothers Russia Imperial Raspberry Stout and there is a nice belief history on that blog.  If you have not read it, please, go back and read it.  If you have, we will now move on to this Summer Beer.  Let us do this beer.

Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Brew is their Summer Seasonal from this brewery.  This beer is a very bright golden clear in color with no head.  It has a slight citrus smell to it.  It has a very light in body with a slight lemon carbonation taste. The aftertaste is very light. This is a very sessionable and refreshing beer for the summer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.widmerbrothers.com):

Citra hops lend their name to this interpretation of a golden ale. But that’s not all they bring to the party. Their striking citrus aroma and thirst-quenching flavor are the perfect pairing for soft malt notes. Together they create a beer that’s full in flavor and uniquely refreshing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

In closing, I am not a fan of many summer seasonal but this one is not bad.  However, I know myself, I know I will get very bored with this beer pretty quick.  This is just me and it might not be the case for you.  This is a very drinkable and refreshing beer and perfect for the hot summer days.  This brewery has taken classic beer style and put their twist on it.  I just feel this beer is missing something to me.  It is still a good beer and I could see myself enjoying it the rest of this summer.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lake Placid Craft Brewing Hefeweizen

In this blog, we are going to get into the second beer that I received from my Beer of the Month.  This brew is called Lake Placid Craft Brewing Hefeweizen Wheat Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Barkeater Amber Ale, you know a little bit of this brewery.  Let us get into this all year-long beer.

This beer ia a nice cloudy golden color with a little constant head to it.  You can smell lemon to citrus in the beer. The taste is a little citrus and a lot of banana clove in it. This beer is very drinkable and stays true to the German Beer Style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Lake Placid Hefeweizen is brewed with German wheat and barley as well as authentic German yeast, resulting in tasty esters, a touch of clove spiciness, and a cloudy, golden appearance.  It’s a perfect complement to sunny, summer days and cool, Adirondack nights.  Here’s to summer!

Here is a description from their website (www.ubuale.com), which I believe this is the right beer:

5.0% ABV

High Peaks Hefewiezen is a German Style Wheat Beer. It is yellow/pale orange in color and is cloudy in appearance. It is a very unique beer that is fermented with an ale yeast from Weihenstephan, Germany (pronounced Vine-Schte-fawn). Hefewiezen (pronounced Hefay-vite-zen) actually means “wheat beer with yeast”, which is why we do not clarify this beer. The thick cloudiness is actually the yeast suspended in the beer. The yeast contributes a unique flavor with a strong banana and clove character.  It has a very spicy aroma with hints of banana and clove in the aroma as well. It is brewed with 50% malted wheat, in place of malted barley, and hopped with noble hop varieties originating in Germany. It is not a bitter beer style, therefore letting the wheat flavors and yeast flavors dominate.  Traditionally, this beer is often served with a lemon in it, however, we do not recommend it. This beer will be on tap throughout the summer until roughly mid September.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ubuale.com

Twitter:  @ubuman

In closing, just like their Barkeater Amber ale, this beer style is not my flavorite out in the market.  I HATE this beer style along with whites, and wheat ales.  I realize that “hate” is a very strong word to use but that is how I feel about this classic beer styles.  If you read any of my blogs, I am very honest about the beers but I will tell you if it is a good beer or not.  Plus, just because I say the beer is not good that does not mean you will not like it.  With that all said, this beer is pretty good but I canot see myself drinking this in my regular lineup.  They did a very good job keeping it to true to the German Beer Style with a little twist.  With the huge growth of Wheat Ale, I believe this beer should be doing very good right now. I know the ones in my market, which is Chicago, are doing very well.  I have to say this brew has to be one of the best one in the Craft Beer market.  Good job on this brew!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lake Placid Craft Brewing Barkeater Amber

In this blog, we are going to check out a new brewery for me and a beer from my Beer of the Month.  The brewery is Lake Placid Craft Brewing and the beer is Barkeater Amber.  The brewery was founded in 1996 by Christopher Ericson in Lake Placid, New York.  They started out as a small brewpub and started to grow from there.  Their Flagship beer Ubu Ale has been the shining star in their lineup.  It has been enjoyed by countless locals and tourist that heard stories from others.  The great story of this brewery and brew came from their website when President Clinton requested several cases for a White House party.  Let us get into this great beer.

Lake Placid Barkeater Amber Ale is one of their seasonal.  This beer has a dark amber color without a head. It has a heavy malty smell to the beer. The taste is of carbonation to sweet malty taste. The aftertaste is dry with along carbonation.  This beer is very drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“Barkeater” is a translation of the Mohawk word for the Adirondack mountains, but we prefer drinking a beer rather than chewing on trees.  Deep amber in color, Barkeater Amber blends a smooth, medium body with the subtle balance of American hops.  Here’s to the Adirondacks!

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

5.3% ABV

This is an American-style amber ale that has been around for many years. It is one of two amber ales that we regularly brew at the pub, this being the drier hoppier of the two. Barkeater Amber is brewed with a variety of crystal malts which gives its red color and slightly sweet malt flavor. It has four hop additions, with the last addition being a relatively large addition of Willamette hops.  This beer has a fairly dry finish and has been a local favorite for about 15 years

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ubuale.com

Twitter:  @ubuman

In closing, there is not too many American Craft Breweries that can get this classic beer style corrected.  This brewery has found a way to get this classic beer style correct while making it their own unlike other craft breweries. I am for one not a huge fan of this beer style.  However, this beer is right up my alley because of the time frame it is available, it is very drinkable and a ton of flavor going on in this beer.  I cannot see myself drinking this all year long but I would rush to the store when it comes out as a seasonal beer.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Hoptimum Ale

Starting other new blogs, we are going to take a look at a brewery called Sierra Nevada Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog then you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery, the beer is called Hoptimum Whole Cone Imperial India Pale Ale.  This beer only comes out once a year.  Everything depends on the hop harvest that goes on throughout the country and even the world on these speciality craft beers. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a deep dark copper with a nice white big head. A big grapefruit smell to the beer. It is very nice smell and I do not like grapefruits.  As far as the taste of the beer, it is sweet carbonation with a hint of grapefruit.  The aftertaste is a very nice dry hoppy kick to it. This big India Pale Ale of ABV of 10.4% and over 100 IBU is very extremely drinkable.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Hoptimum is the biggest whole – cone IPA we have ever produced — a 100 IBU, whole – cone hurricane of flavor.  Aggressively hopped,  dry – hopped, AND torpedoed, Hoptimum delivers ultra – intense flavors to hop fanatics everywhere.

Here is a descripation form their website (www.sierranevada.com):

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Resinous “new-school” and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In closing,  I really love their beers and this beer is no question at the top of my list.  It took this brewery a long time until they came out with an India Pale Ale in package form.  When they did finally came out with it, then they made this awesome beer.  This is a very drinkable Imperial India Pale Ale and I can see many people getting in trouble drinking this beer.  I love this beer for the hop taste, nice malty backbone, and the smoothest of it.  I highly recommend this beer and I would go and search it since it is a seasonal brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Yuengling Brewery Traditional Lager

In this blog, we are going drive to a brewery that I really wished they would come to Chicago.  The brewery and the beer I am talking about is Yuengling Brewery Traditional Lager.  On their label on their beer bottle tells us a little history of this brewery.  They are American’s Oldest Brewery started in 1829 by David Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.  They brew several different beer styles.  They are tied with Boston Beer Company for most sales from an American owned brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a dark copper to light amber in color with no head.  There is a smell. I make it out to explain it but it smells really good. The taste is a sweet carbonation.  It is very drinkable.  This is what an American Lager should taste like not what is being put in your glass today.

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

An iconic American lager famous for its rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor – with roasted caramel malt for a subtle sweetness and a combination of cluster and cascade hops, this true original delivers a well- balanced taste with very distinct character.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.yuengling.com

Twitter:  @yuengling_beer

In closing, I really enjoy this beer and just what I said at the top of this blog.  I wish it was here in Chicago and I understand why they do not come here.  This would be my everyday beer if it was here.  This beer is really old school in a very good way.  It is very drinkable with a ton of flavor for being one of the mass produced breweries.  I still believe they are a craft beer but I know many craft beer drinkers do not look at this brewery as a craft brewery.  This is a very good beer and I hope to get back east coast to try their beers.  I hope you can go and get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon Milk Stout

image

Starting a new blog, we are going to get into another beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pull Chain then I do not have to bored you about the history of this brewery,  the beer that will be feature in this blog is Polish Moon Milk Stout.  Let us start get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a dirty white head. This milk stout has a ton of carbonation in the bottle. Be careful pouring out the beer into the glass.  The smell of the beer is chocolate to roast malts with some hints of coffee.  This stout is very smooth with some burn chocolate to coffee notes flowing through the drinking experience.  For being a dark beer with ABV 4.5%, it is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Beer

This pitch black stout is teaming with rich roasted malt and coffee flavors. The addition of milk sugar tames these intense flavors with a silky sweetness. A very easy drinking, full bodied beer.

History

Built in 1962, the Allen-Bradley clock tower has become a Milwaukee landmark. Until recently, it was the largest four sided clock in the world, rising 280 feet in the air with each face having a diameter of 40 feet.

Located on Milwaukee’s south side, the clock tower quickly got the nickname “Polish Moon” because of the large Polish population in the neighborhood. With a bar on every corner, it was a fun place for neighbors and friends to get together and have impromptu parties

Brewer

One of my favorite winter warmer beers, it’s also a fun beer to brew. First you get the super rich chocolate coffee aroma from all the dark malts. Then you add a couple hundred pound of sugar to the brew kettle, it’s almost like adding sweetner to a giant cup of coffee. What makes this a milk stout is the addition of milk sugar, or lactose sugar, to the wort. Yeast can’t eat this sugar so it remains behind after fermentation as a natural sweetner. Trying to get the balance between the milk sugar sweetness and the bitterness of the roasted malts is probably the trickiest part of this entire brew. We’ve been working on that balance for a couple of years now and I think we’re on the right track.

Here is a youtube video on their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Finishing up the beer, I really love this beer and it is in my top three beers from this brewery.  It is hard not to pick this one or their Hop Happy India Pale Ale.  It is smooth with a ton of flavor.  I love the chocolate and roasted malt notes throughout the drinking experience.  It is very well made and drinkable to where you could drink it even on the hot summer days or warm spring days.   You cannot say that about all the stouts that are in the market.  This beer has taken down Left Hand Milk Stout.  This is my number Milk Stout.  I would  try them side by side and you will see what I am talking about.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Rhinelander Brewing Company Chocolate Bunny Stout

In this blog, we are going bunny hunting.  We are going to try a beer from the Rhinelander Brewing Company.  The beer is called Chocolate Bunny Stout.  I never heard of this brewery so this will be a learning lesson for me just like you.  Unless you hit up every brewery in Wisconsin.  Rhinelander Brewing Company is from Monroe, Wisconsin and was founded in 1882 as the orignal company.  Bad luck came to the brewery as it burned down in 1897.  They rebuild and then closed again because of Prohibition era.  They open in 1933 like every brewery and was in business until 1967.  They were purchased by Joseph Huber Brewing Company and then moved their brewing of their beers to Monroe, Wisconsin.  They are looking to move their brewing back to Rhinelander by 2014 with a two million project.  It sounds like this brewing a long history of up and downs is on its way to a very bright history.  Well here is the beer we will be trying.

This beer is black in color with a small constant white head. A ton of cocoa to chocolate smell going on in the beer along with a roasted to burn smell in it too. The taste of the beer is a sweet carbonation chocolate overload with ton of coco bitter aftertaste. It is very drinkable beer and worth the price.

Here is a description from their bottle:

Dark and silky rich stout loaded with chocolate flavor.  Is there chocolate in my beer or beer in my chocolate?

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rhinelanderbrewery.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In the end, this was a very interesting drinking beer experience for me.  The cocoa powder in this beer pops out too much during the experience.  The stout part in this beer is really solid but then add the cocoa powder that is added during the brewing process.  This beer is kind of drinkable but I can see many beer drinkers finishing this beer and then moving on to another one.  I really did not like this beer but I respect this brewery for doing something different.  Also I love the price.  It was only $3.99.  It comes with a huge value but at the same time you will get what you pay for in this beer.  If you are looking for something different with a good price, this beer might be the way to go for your next beer.  This beer is average to slightly below average.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

(History information came from their website (www.rhinelanderbrewery.com) and Wikipedia)

New Blog Uinta Brewery Sum’r Summer Ale

In this blog, we are going to take another look at the the small brewery from Utah.  If you read my earlier on their Uinta Brewery Hyve Honey Ale then you know a little bit of this brewery, let us get into the beer.

This beer is a clear golden color with no head to it.  The smell is a little earthy or fresh air.  The taste of this summer seasonal is very smooth and very light to make this beer very drinkable. It has a nice sweet carbonation with a slight citrus taste in this beer.  There is really no aftertaste to this summer ale. It kind of reminds me of a kolish but I know it is not the beer style.

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

Description

Citrusy and thirst-quenching, this refreshing golden ale is highlighted by the use of unique hops.

Tasting Notes

Appealing Sorachi hops, an uncommon hop from Japan, balanced with lighter malts. Citrusy, fresh, clean. Sum’r Organic Summer Ale pairs well with summer. It is an easy companion to most foods on the summer grill, such as chicken, fish, and burgers. Pairs well with curries and spicy foods. Try it with sushi!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter: @uintabrewing

In closing, I am not a big fan of most Spring and Summer Seasonal beers.  This Summer Ale from Uinta is a little bit better then their Spring Season, which is Uinta Hyve Honey Ale.  I really did not enjoy this beer and here are my reasons.  The first thing that turn me off about this beer is the light in body of it.  It is very light in body to fit the hot summer days, which makes sense.  I am a weirdo because I will drink some heavy and full body beers in the hot summers.  I do not care what season it is.  I love my big beers.  This beer has more flavor then their Hyve Honey Ale but I would rather drink a pilsner.  Overall, Uinta did a good job on this beer and it will sell to fans of Summer Seasonals and light body beers.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron IBA

In this blog, we are going to dig into another beer from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  I have done a history in one of my earlier blog.  We are going to be sampling out one of their seasonal.  The name of the beer is Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron India Black Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a white constant head.  The smell of chocolate to toffee is filling the air around your nose.  As far as the taste of this India Black Ale is smooth with chocolate and carbonation taste with a slight citrus aftertaste.  This beer is very drinkable and the ABV being 7.4%.  It is danger Mr. Robinson.

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

History of the Beer

The history of blacksmithing in Milwaukee really centers around Cyril Colnik. After the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, he was convinced to move to Milwaukee by Captain Frederick Pabst. The master blacksmith went on to do iron work iconic Milwaukee landmarks just ask the Pabst Mansion and Villa Terrace.

We tip our hats to Kent Knapp and his love for the craft. This dark hefty beer goes hand in hand mimicking the shop and the medium in which he works.

Beer

Brewed with a dehusked German malt that gives it a black and silky look, without the bitter roastiness you find in other dark beers. A variety of Columbus and Cascade hops were used quite generously to help balance out the large malt bill. This beer is abundant with in complex flavors and hop character and yet quite smooth for a beer that sits at 7.5% abv and 48 IBUs. Cheers!

From the Brewer

The style “India Black Ale” is so new, that there’s no one, all authoritative beer that we need to compare to. The trick is to get the balance between the malt bitterness and the hop bitterness. In this case we used non-astringent roasted malts to add the roasted flavors. The malt is a de-husked German black malt, it provides the color, and the roast flavor without the risk of extra acidity. It creates this intense roasted coffee and chocolate aroma. When we add the hops you’ll get that pine and citrus smell. When we released the test batch last year it went over really well. I drink the IBA when I have the time to really savor it and when it has the chance to come up to room temperature.

Here is a youtube video from their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Milwaukee Brewing Company Black Iron Ale

In closing,  I really love this beer.  If it was anything close to their Hop Happy India Pale ale, I knew I would love this Black Iron.  I know their Black Iron is an India Black Ale not what all the rest of the craft brewery called their beers called Black India Pale Ale.  I love how this beer is drinkable and the punch of citrus from hops while it is cutting through the roasted and chocolate notes.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Sixpoint Brewery Sweet Action

In this blog, we are going back to New York City in the Brooklyn area.  We are going to check out another beer from the young and upcoming brewery called Sixpoint Brewery.  After talking about Blondes, Redheads, and Brunettes from Fireman’s Brew, it is time for some Sweet Action.  If you read my earlier blog on their Apollo then you have an idea on this brewery, let us get into this great beer.

This beer has a nice copper color with next to no head to it.  The smell is earthy to piney. The taste is a carbonation to citrus overload with a hoppy aftertaste.  It is very drinkable beer. It ia full body with a ton of favor going on in it.

Here is a description from their can:

Ah love is bitter and sweet, but which is more sweet the bitterness or the sweetness, none has spoken it.  Sweet Action is an idea; a concept.  It is simple representation of what makes beer great – the marriage of barley and hops, in a harmonious balance of sweet and bitter.

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

Ah love is bitter and sweet, but which is more sweet…
The original Sixpoint style- hard to define, but perhaps that’s why people love it. Part pale ale, part wheat, part cream ale- all Sweet Action.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Twitter: @sixpoint

In closing, this beer is different beer then what is out there and I have had in a long time.  It has the best of three different worlds.  The three worlds are part wheat, pale, and cream ale.  I was pretty scary to try this beer because of the part wheat in it, which if you read my earlier blogs you know I am not a fan of wheat ales.  I will try a beer at least three times before I draw my judgement on it.   I am not going to say this is my favorite beer from this brewery or on the market because that would be a flat-out lie.  I love their Resin, which I do need a write a blog on it, but I could see myself buying this beer here and there to enjoy it.  This is a very good beer and I can see many beer drinkers enjoying it.  I have been writing blogs on beers that are not in Chicago Market and I am happy that this brewery and their beers are available in Chicago.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser