american farmhouse

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack

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In this beer blog, 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack is the feature beer in this post.  I have blogged about this brewery a few times in the past.  If you have not read those beer post, you know the history of this brewery.   If you have not, please, read those beer post to get an idea of this great brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

The color of the beer is yellow without head on it l. The smell is a lemon peppermint to the beer. The taste is a heavy lemon with a hop finish. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

You might not expect a Saison in winter. But the enemy didn’t expect Washington to cross the icy Delaware, either. Expectations be damned, we say. We’re sneaking up on winter with a boatload of bravado and this Belgian-style farmhouse ale. Dry hopped with whole organic cardamom pods, our Saison has an assertive spiciness. In your face, winter.

Sneak Attack is our late winter seasonal beer available from January through March in six-pack cans and on draft. The perfect antidote to the big beers of winter, Sneak Attack is crisp, dry and palate cleansing. It pairs perfectly with the rich and warming foods of winter: Bouillabaise, sausages, smoked meats and full flavored cheeses.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter:  @21stamendment

At the end, I pretty much love everything that I have had from this brewery.  I have to say this beer kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  I am a fan of this beer style, which is Saison.  I am a little stun that I did not like this beer.  I do not know if it is between the pepper or the lemon that is kicking through out the beer experience.  I was a little disappointed, however, with that all said this does not mean you will not like this beer.  I recommend you trying it because I would like to hear your thoughts on 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 Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery that I have been wanting to get into for a long time.  The brewery and the beer is Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale.  Odell was founded in 1989 by Doug, Wynne and Corkie Odell in the Fort Collins, Colorado.  This brewery was started in personal kitchen like most craft breweries.  This one started in Seattle, Washington in a kitchen by Doug.  Until all the brothers moved to Fort Collins to start-up this great brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This ale is a clear golden color with a white constant head on the beer. The smell is a heavy grapefruit to it. The taste is has a grapefruit with a touch of lemon. The aftertaste is a dry sweet citrus to the beer. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers.  Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.

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

Myrcenary

Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers. Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.

Available Year Round
9.3%ABV 70IBU’s

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter:  @OdellBrewing

Closing, this was a pretty unique beer I have had in a long time.  I did not know how to react to the tropical notes I was picking up during the tasting experience.  However, this beer is pretty good, I wish this was in the Chicago market.  It is a great beer to enjoy by sipping and there is not too many double IPA that are sipping beers.  I will order this on the net again or buy it in the store.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Br. De Ranke Pere Noel

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a Christmas Ale from Belgium.  De Ranke was founded in 1994 by Nino Bacelle.  They brew several different Belgian Beer Styles all year-long.  There is not too much information on this brewery on the web.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color with a big white head on this Belgian ale. The smell is a heavy spices.  The taste is sweet carbonation spices.  The aftertaste has a hint of caramel.  It is a kind of drinkable beer.  There is a ton going on in the beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.deranke.be):

Père Noel

Père Noël is a Christmas ale, though very different from any other Christmas ales you might know. While most Christmas ales are rich & sweet, this one is amber-coloured, 7% vol. Alc. strong and tastes quite bitter. The complex taste is completed with the addition of liquorice. In the recipe we can also find pale malt, Munich malt, Caramel malt, Brewers Gold hops and Hallertau hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deranke.be

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, this beer is just like all the rest of the Belgian Strong Ales on the market.  I am not saying it is a bad beer.  I rather spend my money on Duvel and get more liquid.  It will give the beer drinker more of a value.  I did enjoy this beer and it was great on New Year’s Eve.  I am glad I try it once.  I recommend you trying it and maybe you will find something in that I did not find in it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Spotted Cow

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In this beer blog, we are going to check out the second of seven beers from New Glarus Brewing Company.  The beer is their flagship beer called Spotted Cow.  If you read my blog yesterday on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you know a little bit about this brewery.  If you have not, please go back and read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into beer.

It has a hazel straw color with a constant white head on the beer.  There is a little smell but I cannot pick up what is in it. The taste is a creamy sweet with a very slight hop carbonation aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable.  I could drink this beer all day.

Here is a description from beer bottle and their website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition.  We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale.  Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts.  We even give a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn.

Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.

Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying.  You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.  Vielen Dank!  Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:   www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

In closing, I had this beer while I was up in Milwaukee visiting a few brewpubs and my friend gave me a few bottles when he went up there too.  While I was up in Milwaukee, I did take note of all the Cream Ales from all the Wisconsin Breweries.  I had one brewery tell me it is to get the mass-produced beer drinkers to come and try their beers.  This does make so much sense but I cannot think of many St Louis Breweries making Cream Ales.  New Glarus called their Spotted Cow a Farmhouse.  To me, this is a Cream Ale and I am not going against this brewery or any brewery on the beer styles.  They will know better than the drinkers.  This beer is one of the best ones I had in this beer styles but I have not had too many Cream Ales in my life time.  I did really enjoyed this beer and I would recommend this beer to you.  Let me know what you think of it when you try it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Space Was Cool Full-Length Record

In this 100th  blog post, we are going to check out the full-length record from Space Was Cool in this metal blog.  I did a blog on their EP please go back and re-read it to get a little back history of this band and the memebers of it.  Space Was Cool is a local Chicago band that came from another local band called Left Setter.  Let us get into the music.

Band features the follows:
Nick Langis (lead singer)
Rick Lyons (guitar)
Kevin Rodgers (bass)
Miro Krivens (Drum)

They are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spacewascool).

Fader

Fader starts out with a weird space out music and then slowly comes to a focus point on the music.  The guitar and bass work is awesome.  I am loving the sound effects they are using in this song.  The drums are a nice backbone of support to the rest the band.  This is a nice thinking man’s music.  Nice back up singing from the rest of the band.  Few words from the singer but straight to the point at what this song is all about.  I am really enjoying the nice guitar and drums trade-off in later part of the song.  This song has a nice simple and to the point guitar solo.  It is very nicely written song.

Dude Lee

The beginning of the song has a nice drums and bass line kicking then a nice guitar that floats above it.  This song has a nice groove to it.  The singing from the back up is perfect along with the lead singer punching and kicking through the song.  The singer takes charge of this song.  I like the lyrics in it.  They just seem to flow with the song.  There is some nice guitar and bass work in this song.  I love the drums in the later part of the song just before the inter loop.  It has a nice ending.

Celozzi

Celozzi has a nice guitar riff.  This song reminds of something you would hear out of the 1980s.  It has a nice rythm to the song. I really like this song.  It is calm and easy but yet has it peaks of a rush.  Nick is singing his heart out in this song.  This is a nice driving song that you do not see from today’s artist.  This song is a blast from the past with a nice modern flare.

Run, Cops!

Here is a song I am digging the beginning, it has a very nice bass line that everything needs to focus around.  The bassist put the guitar player in his place in a very nice way.  The drums backing up with the punch from the bassist.  The singer comes in with drama form that makes you wish the music from the past was still around today.  The past meaning the well written songs of the 1970s, 1980s, and earlier 1990s.  This song reminds of something that the band Cold would have written in the 1990s.    This is a very written song.  I love how the song slows down at the end.

Orions Boogie

This song has nice beat and movement to it.  I really love the bass and drums after the first versus.  I wish the guitar would kick that annoying guitar effects.  It is just too much over the top.  He is a better player to pile effects on his guitar.  I really hate to say it but the guitar effects has killed this song for me but the bass, drums, and singing has saved him.  I am really loving that bass line with that normal guitar solo over it.  It is very nicely done.   I do not like the ending of this song.

Mary Poppins vs Natalie

Once again less effects on the guitar would be better but at least the guitar goes to normal during the song.  I love the guitar riff when the singer is singing along with the bass and drums.  This is a nice cruising song.  I love the belief slow down part of this song.  This song has a nice movement.

Da Beats

I love the guitar at the beginning and the support from the drums and bass.  Singer is loving everything about space.  I feel this song could be part of a kill scene in a movie.  It would be a slow bloodbath.   I love the punch of this song and the guitar work is not overly done.  I wish they would give him a nice long guitar solo.  The lyrics are very well written.  I really like all the songs so far asides that one with the over the top guitar effects.  Once again what I wrote on their EP, they put back up singing where it should be and not too much.   Back up singing needs to be perfect but you do not it if you have a very talented singer, which this band has a great front man. Nice ending.

(It’s a) Click

I love the begginning because everyone starts at one time with a nice smooth shot in the arm.  (It’s a) Click is a very well written song with a nice guitar riff.  This song has all the elements to be a hit.  I love the flow of the song and the direct point the band toolk on this song.  I would not be shocked if this song  is their first or second single off this record.

Space Was Cool

The beginning has a happy Black Sabbath Black Sabbath theme to it.  Nice guitar work with cool lay back bass line to it.  I do not like the flow of this song but still really good song.  I believe this song will grow on me over time.  I just feel that one part with the forcus on the drums should be a beginning of the song or use once in the middle.   This drum part is breaking up the flow of the song but that could have been what the band was looking to do with this song.  This is just thoughts from an idoit that has played bass for over ten years.  I am not sure about the middle of ths song.  This song has put me in dreamland.  I love prog but I feel this song could be shorter.  I just feel they wanted to make this song long but there is no point for this song being over eight minutes.  There is some good guitar, bass, drums, and singing in this song that is so true. Overall the song is not bad and comes with a nice ending.

Closing out, overall the record from Space Was Cool is very well done from some very talented artist.  I love all the songs but Space Was Cool and Orions Boogie.  I just feel that Space Was Cool the song could have been shorter.  There are songs that should be played out and there are songs that should be three minutes long.  There are songs that should have guitar solos and songs that should not have them.  This is just my thoughts and I would love to hear your thoughts on this artist’s songs.  Orions Boogie is good but the over the top guitar effects was too much for me and took away from the focus of the rest of the bandmates.  I have really enjoyed listening to this record and hope you are available to find a copy for yourself.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Liefmans Cuvee – Brut

In this blog, we are going back over to Belgium to sample out Liefmans Cuvee-Brut.  Here is a little history of this brewery.  There is not too much on this brewery but they were founded in 1679.   Duvel Moortgat Brewery brought them in June 2008 after they went into Chapter 11.  They want to be known as a Benders.  I found this video on their website and Youtube.

Here is the video from Youtube (www.youtube.com) and their website (www.liefmans.be):

Liefmans Brewery

This video tells you the rich history of this brewery in moving pictures then in words.  It will also show their other beers along with description. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark cherry color with no head.  This sour ale has a nice cherry smell. There is a touch of old attic smell in it. The taste is a sweet cherry with a sour kick to it. Shocking this beer is very drinkable for the type of beer style.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Aged with cherries, flavored with cherries and cherry juice.  Contains sugar and barley malt.  6% ABV

Here is a descripation form their website (www.liefmans.be):

This Kreik is made with a completely different method from Kreik Lambic.  It starts with old brown beer which is macerated with fresh whole cherries in shallow, horizontal tanks [every 100 liter brown beer holds 13kg cherries].  Then it matures for about 1 year, afterwards it is blended with old Oud Bruin and Goudenband of different ages.  The result is a well  balanced sour and sweet Kreik of great complexity.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.liefmans.be

Twitter:  @liefmansusa

In closing, it took me forever to starting loving this beer style, which is sours.  However, I pick this beer up for a special event, I thought I would give my thoughts on this beer. This is a very well made beer and they did an awesome job.  I am loving the fact they stayed true to what they were and what they are right now.  I love the drinkablity and the complexs nature of this beer.  Beer drinkers can drink this beer any time of the season.  This beer would be perfect for any special event for being a highend beer.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  If you like fruit beers, Cuvee- Brut is right up your alley.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser Lipka

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Weihenstephan Infinium Ale

In this blog, we are going to dig into my first review on a joint journey between Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company) and Weihenstephan Brewery. Both breweries have done this brew, which Infinium Ale, together for the last few years. If you read my earlier blog on Sam Adams beer then you know about this brewery, Sam Adams is a well known brewery so you might already know about them. Weihenstephan Brewery is new to me so let us get into the history of this brewery. There are documents saying this brewery was brewing beer back in 768, however, most people feel they were founded in 1040. To this day, they claim to be the oldest working brewery in the world. This beer that they did with the Boston Beer Company better be a really good beer with the rich history of this brewery. Speaking of which, let us sampling out this beer.

The carbonation is very heavy extreme as like all Belgian Style beers but it is controlled unlike most beers in this style. The beer color is light copper.  The smell is a slightly citrus with a spicy kick going on in the beer. The taste is very strong citrus with a ton of spices checking you in the boards throughout the beer drinking experience.  It is a very drinkable beer and next to nothing as far as the aftertaste.

Here is a description from the bottle and website (www.samueladams.com):

Our brewers worked for two years with the world’s oldest brewery, Germany’s Weihenstaphan to create this unique new beer style. A ground breaking brew, made with only the four traditional ingredients, malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, Infinium™ is a crisp champagne-like beer with fine bubbles and a fruity, spicy aroma. The crisp clean malt character and delicate fruit notes in this beer are complemented by a slight citrus flavor from dry hopping with Bavarian Noble Hops. Bottle conditioning adds another layer of complexity and light spice notes.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:

http://www.samueladams.com

http://www.weihenstephaner.de/

Twitter:

@samueladamsbeer

@weihenstephanfs

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer. With the rich history from both breweries, this beer did not disappoint me one bit. The complex taste of the beer did not take away anything from the drinkablity of the beer. I would love to pick up another bottle to see how this beer will ages in a year. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Savor 2012 Part Two (Beer Event)

Sury Brewery Smoked Lager

This beer is black in color with no head. It has a nice smoky chocolate smell. It has a nice smoky chocolate taste with a burn smoky aftertaste. It is not bad and pretty drinkable. I would say to try this beer.  Cheers!

Flying Dog Chocolate IPA

Shocking this beer is not dark in color which is refreshing to see any brewery do with the trend of black IPAs out there. It is yellow with a slight cloudy look to it in the glass.  It is very well balance for IPA. It is sweet then a slam of carbonation and a slight coco aftertaste. I really enjoy this beer. Very well done!  Cheers!

Flying Dog Wildeman Farmhouse IPA

This beer has the Belgian Farmhouse Saison look to it but this dog bites pretty hard in and out of the glass. It has a nice cloudy yellow look in the glass. You can smell the earthy farm smell from the beer. It is very drinkable which this style is suppose to be and keeping to the tradition. The aftertaste is ok but I could live for the beginning of this great beer. Go get some! Cheers!

Devil’s Backbone Brewery

Any brewery has the word Devil or Slayer better live up to the name. That old bastard will do some crazy on you.  This brewery does not disappoint. This BPA is light cloudy yellow with a sweet carbonation piney taste. The aftertaste is very interesting.  It comes with almost a chili punch to the beer. I love this brewery. Cheers!

Flying Fish Chestnut Brown Ale

It has a nice brown color to the beer. It has a marriage of nutty and ginger kicking around in the beer. The taste is something out of Belgian. It is very sweet and a ginger hunting in it this beer. It is a very well done beer. Cheers!

New Blog Savor Part One (Beer Event)

Swamp Head Black IPA

It is black in color in the glass. Chocolate smell is going on in the beer. Not over hopped and a ton of porter chocolate roasted taste going on. This beer is very drinkable.  I am disappointed with it. It is nothing like other black ipas. Cheers!

Surly Brewery Coffee Blender Ale

The beer in the glass is a light brown with a white head.  It has a nutty and that coffee smell going on. It is very smooth and taste. It has a nice slam of coffee aftertaste.  This is a very good beer. I love it!  Cheers!

Maui and Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena’ole

This beer I am really excited to try. It is a cloudy yellow in the glass. It is really hard to see in the room. It doesn’t have a smell to it. It has a nice sweet sour cherry taste. The aftertaste is a longing dry sweet kick to the beer.  I really love sours and everything this brewery had done in the past.  This is an excite beer for the style. Cheers!

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Just like most IPAs, it had s nice copper tune to the beer. It has a nice circus smell to it but very light. It is very smooth and drinkable for a west coast IPA.  I have been wanting to try this beer and it did not disappoint me. Good IPA. Cheers!

Epic Brewing (Utah)

I was disappointed it was not the brewery down under but whatever I can not be mad.  This is free beer.  This beer is cloudy yellow in color.  It has s heavy peach smell for this fruity beer. It is very sweet peachy and sour in taste with a very peachy aftertaste. It is very drinkable for what it is for the style. It is not my beer in my pint glasses but I could see this sell in the market. Well done. Cheers!

New Blog Savor in DC 2012 Day Two (Story)

We are heading for lunch at Big Board. This place has wallstreet board for beer. The more beer is sold the cheaper the beer is throughout the day. This place has really bad services but food sounds good. The food was really good. The burgers and fries were off the chart. I was really hoping Slayer would have ate all the fries.

See Starr Hill Amber Ale for the beer blog.

We went to a brewpub that I wanted to try after lunch. The brewpub was called Old Dominion. I will have have a serparete blog for this brewpub.

See Old Dominion for about the brewpub and their beers.

For dinner, we went to Rosa Mexicano. It was an upscale restaurant in the city. I believe Kevin and Lolia picked this place. had the red snapper. Wow it was awesome just of a ton of favor. It was a nice time. After dinner, we were off to Savor. Of course, you know that story and dance.