amber ale

New Beer Blog Shiner Brewery Birthday Beer Chocolate Stout

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the first stout from Shiner Brewery. It is their #106 Birthday Beer and it is called Birthday Beer Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Texas craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Shiner. Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan constant head. The smell has a heavy chocolate notes. It also has a fresh chocolate cake notes. The taste has a sweet to heavy chocolate notes with a dry cocoa chocolate aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Happy Beer-Day to Shiner!

To celebrate the 106th birthday of the “Little Brewery” in Shiner, we crafted this special limited-edition brew that’s a sweet treat for all. Brewed with chocolate malt and real cocoa, this year’s Shiner Birthday Beer is a delicious stout with a soft creamy head, chocolate aroma and taste and a slightly sweet finish. Drink this beer that’s as rich as Shiner’s heritage while it lasts – once it’s gone, you’ll have to wait until next year for another birthday surprise!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shiner.com

Twitter: @shinerbeer

In closing, I am very proud of Shiner Brewery. When I was down there, they were getting ready to open their Ale Brew House. This brewery has come a long way in 100 years. Happy Birthday, Shiner! This is their first stout and their new winter seasonal. I will have to say it is not disappointing. I love it. It is like a chocolate cake taste but in liquid form. It has a nice aroma and taste profile. There is nothing more to say but this is an awesome 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 Short’s The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the sampler pack from Short’s Brewing. It is their The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale. 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 this craft brewery. Let us get into this red ale.

It has a cloudy dark red to ruby red color with a nice white head. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes. The taste has a very light carbonation with a dry sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has water like malt finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The Magician is a lustrous dark-red London Ale with a rich grain bill. The grain combination lends complex notes of toasted caramel, raisins, chocolate, and roasted toffee. Very light hop additions let the true malt characters show throughout this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter: @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have to say this is one of the better English style red ale from a craft brewery. I am pretty stun. This goes back to the arguments that I had in yesterday’s blog posts on their Dan’s Pink Skirt IPA. This brewery’s seasonal are so much better than their everyday beers. At least, this Michigan craft brewery makes some good beer unlike most craft breweries in this state. I love the balance in this red ale. I am not a huge fan of red and amber ales. I love my Fat Tire once in a while. If you can find 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 Mountain Town Brewing Train Wrack Amber Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery for the first time on this blog which is Mountain Town Brewing. It is their Train Wrack Amber Ale. Here is a little history from their website (www.mountaintownbrew.com):

In 1996 Mountain Town Station Brewing Co. & Steakhouse opened its doors as a premier restaurant, wine cellar and micro brewery; and has grown ever since in its menu concept, wine inventory and beer recipes. In 2007, a separate company was formed called Mountain Town Brewing Company. This new brewery operation is strictly manufacturing and packaging using the same recipes that have been successfully developed for years at the brewpub. In 2008, shipments of beers such as the Gamblers Golden Ale, Railyard Raspberry Wheat and Cow Catcher Red Ale were flying out of the brewery and into restaurants and bars across Michigan. Look for these and many more beers at your favorite bar and restaurant. If they don’t have our beers request that they be put on tap!

As you can see they brew several different beer styles from cans and bottles. We are going to get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color with a nice white head. There is really no smell. It is pretty fade. The taste has a malty notes with a hint of honey aftertaste. The honey makes the aftertaste smooth and a crisp finish. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Trainwreck Amber Ale

An American Amber Ale brewed with maple syrup and honey to give it a full body and smooth sweetness

Approach with caution. This one will sneak up on you! Brewed to keep us warm in the winter months, but easily enjoyable any time of the year. Syrup and honey give this beer an irresistible sweetness that makes it impossible to have just one. No matter what you pair this one with make sure you get plenty to eat or you might find out how this beer got its name.
ABV – 8.2%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.mountaintownbrew.com

Twitter: No Twitter Address

Closing, this beer is pretty interesting brew. I was taken a little back when tasting this beer. I did enjoy it. I did not know how the honey would work with this amber ale. I had honey in beers and amber lagers. I was pretty interested to see how some of the malty to some fruity notes would react with the honey sweetness. This is average beer and it is nothing special. I recommend you trying this beer just because how unique it is. 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 Brewery Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale from Anchor Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Anchor Brewing IPA post, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read it to get to know this west coast craft brewery. Let us get into this fall beer.

It has a nice clear red to amber color with a white head. The aroma has a sweet malt to hints of maple syrup. The taste has a carbonated malty to slight nutty notes. The aftertaste is a dry slight burned maple syrup to malty notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle and website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

Our fall seasonal, BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, was inspired by a native California tree, its incredible leaves, its delicious syrup, and the best colors of fall. Bigleaf maple thrives along the banks of California’s mountain streams. Native Californians once made rope and baskets from its bark. Today, artisans handcraft its wood and burl into custom guitars. In autumn its huge leaves, up to a foot across, can display a full range of color as they slowly turn from green to gold to red. Bigleaf maple sugaring in California dates to the 1800s; yet this tree’s unusually flavorful syrup remains the product of a small group of hobbyists. A hint of maple—including bigleaf maple—syrup in every brew perfectly complements the malty complexity, balanced hoppiness, and rich fall hue of BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, a red ale like no other.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter: @anchorbrewing

In closing, I was looking forward to trying this beer. I was pretty interested on how the maple syrup would go over with the red ale. I liked it. The aftertaste is pretty dry aftertaste. There is some nice flavor and some complex notes. I enjoyed drinking this beer. I might be picking up some more before the end of the season. There is so many fall seasonals that I want to get into. I like this beer if it was for dessert or a late night beer. I know there are some people that can drink this while they are tailgating. This is a great beer. I recommend it. 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 Local Option Brewery Morning Wood

While in Chicago, we are going to sample another brew, which is Morning Wood, from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog posts a few days ago, you know the history of this small but upcoming craft brewery. If you have not, please, read Sweet Leaf review to get to know the history of this Chicago craft brewery. Let us get into Morning Wood.

It has a jet black color with a semi white color head. The aroma has a heavy coffee notes. The taste has a sweet malty to coffee notes. There is a slight caramel to caramel liquor notes but really fate to weak. The aftertaste is a sour coffee notes. It is a sipping beer.

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

Local Option Morning Wood: Local Option Morning Wood is an oak-aged coffee ale developed and brewed by Local Option Bierwerker. Fresh American oak used during the aging process and Dark Matter’s El Salvador San Jose pulp-natural coffee aromatically drive the beer; while remaining subtle components of the beers’ complete flavor profile. The amber-colored, medium-bodied, and extraordinarily well-balanced ale was first unveiled at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers in November 2011. Morning Wood’s taste is delicate and should be appreciated by beer drinkers of all palates.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, I like this beer and I mean I really like this beer. I love how they took an amber style beer. Rather then, what most craft breweries do and they take porter or stout. I love when craft breweries think outside the box. This craft brewery did that idea with this brew. I love the coffee notes and it is not overpowering the rest of the beer. It is a nice balance and I will be looking for this beer in bottle in my market. I will be back to the brewpub. I love their brewpub from their food, beer, service, and music. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale

We are going to sample Right Brain Brewery Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale in this beer blog. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Northwest Michigan craft brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know The Throwdown winner at Ashley’s Westland in 2014. Let us get into this Amber Ale.

It has a nice amber color with a nice white constant head on this amber ale. The aroma has sweet candy caramel notes. The taste has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes with a crisp finish. This beer is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter: @rightbrainbrew

In the end, Right Brain Brewery makes some great brews and I have not had a bad beer from them. This beer is no different. Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale is their flagship beer. This beer style is not one of my favorites but Northern Hawk will adding it to my beer list. It is sweet candy caramel notes with a nice finish. It is drinkable like most amber ale in the world. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Fat Tire Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to sample a flagship beer, which is Fat Tire Amber Ale, from New Belgium Brewery. It was a beer inspired from a bike ride in the Belgian county side. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know New Belgium Brewery. Let us get into this Amber Ale.

It has a clear amber color with semi constant white head on this Amber Ale. The aroma has a malty to biscuit notes. The taste of this light to medium body beer has a malty to biscuit notes with a hint of light carbonated caramel. The aftertaste has a caramel to nice refreshing hop finish. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Fat Tire Amber Ale perfectly balances biscuit-like malt flavors with hoppy freshness. Named in honor of a storied bike ride through Europe, Fat Tire cruises with Belgian imagination and inspiration.

Here is a descriatin from their website (www.newbelgium.com):

Named in honor of our co-founder’s bike trip through Europe, Fat Tire Amber Ale marks a turning point in the young electrical engineer’s home brewing. Belgian beers use a far broader palette of ingredients (fruits, spices, esoteric yeast strains) than German or English styles. Together with co-founder Kim Jordan, they traveled around sampling their homebrews to the public. Fat Tire won fans with its sense of balance: toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness. Fat Tire: Pairs well with people.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newbelgium.com

Twitter: @newbelgium

In closing, this light to medium body amber ale packs a ton of flavor and punch. It is drinkable for anytime of the year. It is a nice craft beer to get your American Lager drinkers to try. It is also a great beer for the experience craft beer drinkers to revisit and enjoy it all over it again. I love the story behind this beer and I love the fact they made American version of De Koninck. It is fresher and packs more of a drinkable style. This beer can pair with any food dish that is what their website says. It is better with people. I recommend you trying this beer or retrying it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Troegs Craft Brewery Hop Back Amber Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first review on this blog on a Troegs Craft Brewery brew. The beer that will be reviewed is Hop Back Amber Ale. Troegs Craft Brewery was founded by brothers, who are John and Chris Trogner in 1996 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They sold their first keg in 1997. They later moved their brewery to Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2011. They brew several different beer styles and won several different awards. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber color without a head on the beer. The smell has a malty to caramel with a touch of citrus. The taste of this well balance beer is malty and caramel to citrus notes. There is no aftertaste to this hoppy amber ale. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Each batch of HopBack Amber Ale flows through a bed of whole flower hops creating a fresh aroma, spicy taste and rich caramel note that defines our signature beer.

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

Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%Hop Bitterness (IBUs): 55Color (SRM): AmberAvailability: Year RoundMalts: Pilsner, Munich, CrystalHops: Cascade, Williamette, NuggetHopBack Hops: Nugget, CrystalYeast: Ale

Tröegs HopBack Amber gets its unique name and taste from the hopback vessel in our brewhouse. Packed full of whole flower hops, each batch circulates through the vessel, creating a fresh hoppy aroma, spicy taste and a rich caramel note that defines our signature Amber Ale.

TASTING NOTES

Deep amber in color under a huge creamy head. HopBack Amber Ales aroma is very apparent, bold and spicy with a slight floral character. Balanced with caramel malt, this well-rounded amber ale has an up-front floral spice that builds with a flush of sweetness.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Big, robust flavors like red meats and strong cheeses. The assertive flavors of our HopBack will hold up against strong cheeses like Stilton and Smoked Cheddar.

Serving Suggestions: Temp: 50-55° F Glassware: Bavarian Tumbler or Pint Glass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.troegs.com

Twitter: @jtroegs

In closing, I really enjoyed this brew. This is a great hoppy amber ale. I had a few brews from this brewery. I have enjoyed them. I love the hop touch and malt that kicks off the caramel notes. It has a nice balance from the hops and caramel notes. I wish I could get their beers in the Chicago market. It is drinkable and has a ton going in it. It was a pretty enjoyable beer. I am happy that I was able to try. I also thanks to my friend, who is Matt, from Maryland for sending me the beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Speakeasy Brewery Beers

In this special Saturday Beer Blog, we are going to get ahead of everyone in the Chicago market on these beers. Speakeasy Brewery is coming to Chicago starting next week and I was able to get hold of some bottles to review them before it hits the shelves. When I heard about them coming, I was excited to have them available everyday in Chicago. Speakeasy going with the theme of the Prohibition era or I like to say one of the dark times in American history. This brewery was founded in 1997 by Steve Bruce and Forest Gray. They are known for their over the top hoppy beers that range from 5% to 10% in their beers. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear golden color without a head on it. The smell is a heavy mango to this Extra Pale Ale. The taste of this medium body is a carbonation mango with a bland aftertaste. I can see some think this beer is drinkable and others might not think it is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tallulah mesmerizes with tropical fruit aromas and a radiant golden glow. This show-stopper is dry-hopped with Calyso and El Dorado hops and will leave you begging for an encore.

This beer has an amber brown color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet caramel malt. The taste is a smooth creamy caramel with a dry finish. It is drinkable beer and is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Prohibition Ale is a boldly hopped amber ale that strikes a perfect balance between caramel maltiness and its aggressive hopping.

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

Prohibition Ale is the first beer we bootlegged back in the early days of the brewery. Anything but traditional, Prohibition pours a deep reddish amber hue, with a fluffy tan head that leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass. A lush, complex aroma teases the senses with juicy grapefruit, citrus, pine, spice and candied caramel malts. Mouthfeel is creamy, with a silky, medium body and modest carbonation.

Style: American-Style Amber Ale

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: 45

Color: 15L – Copper, Dark Amber, Red

Barley: Two Row Pale, CaraMunich, Chilean Caramel

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

This beer has a red color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet malty caramel to the beer. The taste is carbonation malty to a slight spicy from the rye with a dry malty to a touch of hop finish. It is a drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Scarlett Red Rye Ale captivates with an act that ranges from sweet hop highs to spicy rye tones. Scarlett hits the notes that will set your heart on fire.

This beer is a clear golden with a semi white head on it. The smell is a heavy piney. The taste of this full body is a heavy piney to earthy with a dry earthy aftertaste. It is a sipping beer and it is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and clean dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

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

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and a clean, dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

Big Daddy IPA is a hop-head’s delight, a generously dry-hopped yet surprisingly drinkable American-style India Pale Ale. Poured into a standard American pint glass, the beer is a golden straw color, with tight carbonation and a slightly off-white head that leaves a lovely lacing. The aroma is floral, fresh grass, pine needles, grapefruit and subtle notes of fresh bread.

Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 55

Color: 5L – Golden

Barley: Two Row Pale, Light Munich

Hops: Columbus, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.goodbeer.com

Twitter: @SpeakeasyBeer

Closing out, all of these beers are really good and I enjoyed trying them. Some of these beer styles are not up my alley but good. Speakeasy did a great job on their beers and packaging. This brewery is a complete package. Big Daddy IPA is line with the rest of the west coast IPA but I feel gives you something more than the rest. I do not know what it is. Their Prohibition Ale is little bit more hopper than the normal Amber Ales. Plus Prohibition Ale is a session beer which I like it. Their Tallulah Ale has a wonderful smell and tasting experience. The Scarlett Red Rye Ale is kind of like Prohibition Ale but has a spicy kick to it. So you have to ask which one did I like and did not like. I loved these beers in this order Tallulah, Prohibition Ale, Big Daddy IPA, and Scarlett. I am not a huge fan of red ales and I am not saying that Scarlett is a bad beer, which it is not. It is not my favorite beer style. I love Big Daddy but I liked the Prohibition Ale and Tallulah even more. I highly recommend you trying these beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Odell Brewing Levity Amber Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Odell Brewing and the beer is called Levity Amber Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog post to get up to speed on this great Colorado brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has an amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a sweet malty caramel to it. The taste is sweet malty without an aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Levity is our lighter take on an amber ale — a real crowd pleaser. Munich and honey malts give it full-bodied flavor, bright copper color, and a relaxed taste profile. We let the finishing hops shine, for a beer that’s crisp instead of bitter. Levity was named by our brewers partly for its light color — and partly for the way it just refuses to take itself too seriously. We could all use a little levity once in a while.

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

Levity Amber Ale

Levity is our lighter take on the amber ale. Munich and honey malts give it a full-bodied flavor and a happy-go-lucky personality. Then we let the finishing hops shine, for a beer that’s crisp instead of bitter. Levity was named by our brewers partly for its light color – and partly for the way it just refuses to take itself too seriously. Hey, we could all use a little levity once in a while.

5.1%Alc. by Vol. 24IBUs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter: @odellbrewing

In the end, this is not one of my favorite beer styles but I wanted to try this beer at least once in my lifetime. This is a really good and well made beer. If you are an Amber Ale or Lager fan, this is the beer for you. The one thing that I love about this beer is how drinkable this beer is and pack of flavor. I recommend you trying this beer so go out and hunt it down. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

TASTING NOTES

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

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