beer taste

New Beer Blog Magic Hat Wilhelm Scream Pumpkin Ale (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new fall seasonal from Magic Hat Brewery.  The new fall seasonal is a Wilhelm Scream Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this East Coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this fall beer.

It has a clear dark copper to almost a light amber color with a constant white head.  The aroma is really faded.  I kind of picked up some notes of nutmeg and cinnamon.  The taste has a sweet malty notes with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.  There is some hints of creamy caramel that blends into the aftertaste. The aftertaste has a nutmeg finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold.  Our mysterious melange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to create this unique beer to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

The distant drums of change are thumping, signaling the coming of chilling frosts, falling leaves and ghoulish screams. In a patch ripe with orange glow, Wilhelm Scream awakens and unleashes his season-stirring call for fall. His revelers listen for his echo across the ripened dancing days and prepare their seasonal celebration of harvest and ale.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

In the end, I am so happy to start seeing fall seasonals hitting the market.  I love this time of the year and winter for the beer that comes out.  I hate the two seasons for many reasons.  Of course, my guys that have the weird going on in their brewery are up to giving the craft beer drinker some unique.  This is a new seasonal from Magic Hat.  There are so many pumpkin ales on the market.  Why should anyone try this beer?  This is why.  One, it is a new beer and seasonal in the market.  This might be the beer that might be better than your favorite pumpkin beer.  Two, you know Magic Hat makes good beer and they like to put a twist on their beers in a good way.  What I like about this beer, it is well balance beer from the pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Other pumpkin beers on the market have too much nutmeg or cinnamon.  This is a great beer and I will have a few more pints before winter comes.  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 Alaskan Icy Bay IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer from Alaskan Brewery.  It is their Icy Bay IPA.  This is a newer beer from them.  I had their regular IPA a few years back.  I loved it along with their Black IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog from a few days ago, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know this craft brewery from Alaska.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head.  The smell has a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus notes with a dry hop finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style:

India Pale Ales are characterized by intense hop flavor and aroma accompanied with medium maltiness and body while also being crisp and dry.

Flavor Profile:

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Cascade, Bravo, Calypso, Summit and Apollo hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts.

History: 

India Pale Ale is a style of ale originally derived from a colonial thirst for British-brewed beers. By initially brewing the beer to high specific gravities it could continue to ferment during the journey to British colonies. Larger amounts of hops were also added for their preservative properties and resulted in a golden beer with a hoppy flavor.

Ingredients:

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Summit, Apollo and Cascade hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from more than 90 inches of rainfall each year.

The Story Behind The Label:

The surfers who ride the waves around Yakutat and Icy Bay have to be prepared for all of the extremes that come with Alaska’s maritime climate. That can mean air temperatures well below freezing, and water temperatures not too much higher. It’s sometimes called blue face surfing, and it requires a special breed of adventurer to seek out the rugged shorelines that yield the best breaks.

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA comes from the heritage of a beer brewed to endure the long ocean journey from England to India, with a bold taste, brisk bitter bite, and a citrus hoppy aroma. For the surfers who venture into the cold waters of Icy Bay, it’s a beer to match the intensity of a remote ride on a wave breaking on a solitary Alaskan beach.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter:  @alaskanbeer

Ending, I am so happy to see this craft brewery in Michigan.  I had a rock show on a Friday at Freedom Hill.  I will be enjoying some Alaskan at the tailgate.  This IPA is just right.  It makes me happy as a Hophead, however, it will bring some border line IPA drinkers over.  This will bring new drinkers to the IPA beer style.  It has a nice mild and refreshing brew that makes you coming back for more. The malty backbone has a nice bite to fight against the over the top hoppy notes. This is a great IPA and welcome to Michigan.  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 Griffin Claw Norm’s Gateway Session IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery that I need to stop drinking.  I am talking about Griffin Claw and it is their Gateway Session IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this young Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read it, please, do so to get to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this Session IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head.  The color is like an American lager.  The aroma has a fresh piney to a slight grapefruit notes.  The taste has some grapefruit to piney notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop bitter finish.  It is extremely drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @Griffinclaw

In the end, this is a really good beer.  I was pretty impressive.  I really have not liked many of their beers that I have had.  I will be hunting down their Pumpkin Ale because there is a rumor that it is the same recipe of Michigan Brewery Company one.  There is an ongoing theme with this brewery and their beers.  Their batches of beer are not constant.  This makes it challenging for the craft beer drinker.  I had this beer a few times already before writing this beer blog post.   Yesterday, I had a great batch but this one that I have today is not really good.  If this craft brewery corrects this problem, they could have some success in this tough Michigan craft beer market.  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 Alaskan Free Ride APA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer, which is Free Ride APA, from Alaskan Brewery.  This is the first time this craft brewery is being feature on this blog.  Alaskan Brewery opened their doors in 1986.  They were founded by a young couple, who is Marcy and Geoff Larson.  They were the frist brewery in the state since Prohibition.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this APA.  The smell has a floral like to tropical fruit notes.  The taste is a lightly carbonation tropical fruit notes with a dry crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style:

American Pale Ale. Arguably the style that triggered the craft beer movement in the United States, the American Pale Ale showcases the floral, fruity, and citrusy aroma and flavors of Pacific Northwest hops in balance with a medium malt body


Flavor Profile:

Alaskan Freeride APA features a lush, green, almost tropical hop aroma paired with the unique taste combination of these three, distinctive hop varieties, making it both full in flavor and crisply thirst-quenching.
History:
Freeride APA started as a springtime staple for Alaskan’s backcountry skiing and snowboarding crew, then became a perfect beer to savor with summertime kayaking, biking, and just about every other outdoor activity.
Ingredients:
Alaskan Freeride APA is brewed with Cascade, Citra, and Centennial hops, premium two-row and specialty crystal malts, and Juneau’s glacier-fed water.
Recommendations:

Freeride APA pairs well with gourmet pub fare, especially a BLTA or club sandwich with peppered bacon, a spicy chicken quesadilla, or freshly battered Alaska halibut and chips.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter:  @alaskanbrewing

In closing, I am pretty happy to see them finally make it to Michigan.  I am been a huge of this craft brewery for a long time.  I am loving the fact that I get to try all the newer beers and favorites.  I am happy I do not have to trade with anyone out west. I am happy to walk into my beer store and get this craft brewery.  I am a huge fan of PA and APA.  I was pretty interested in this beer. I love hop aroma and taste of the tropical fruit notes.  This is a great and balance beer.  It is pretty drinkable and refreshing.  This is one beer you can have it any part of the season.  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 Short’s Key Lime Pie (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Key Lime Pie.  It is a fruit beer and dessert beer.  If you ready my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper to light amber color without a head on this fruit beer.  The smell has of graham crackers and a slight lime notes.  The taste has some interesting and complex notes.  It is a sweet heavy lime but there is notes of sweet marshmallow to graham crackers.  The aftertaste is sweet lime notes.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Key Lime Pie is made with fresh limes, milk sugar, graham cracker, and marshmallow fluff. The prominent flavors are immensely sweet, then tart, with subtle hints of graham cracker coming through in the nose and remain on the back of the palate. Key Lime Pie is a Gold Medal Winner at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.

5.5% ABV

21 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing,  I had to crack this beer open to get rid of the bad taste from the Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale.  I was hoping this fruit and dessert beer would better.  I have to say it is so much better.  I love my key lime pie so I knew this would be a no brainer.  I love blueberry pie so I thought the same thing about Atwater Brewery brew.  You can kind of taste the graham crackers and sweetest of the marshmallow notes.  It is pretty complex and that is a good.  You can pick up notes and something new in each sip.  I highly recommend this beer, if you can find another bottle.  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 Atwater Brewery Blueberry Cobbler Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer and I am thinking the last one from Atwater Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into this fruit beer.

It has a black color with an off white color head.  The aroma has a heavy blueberry notes.  The taste has a heavy blueberry notes but not really balance beer.  The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish but not from the hops.  It is kind of drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Nothing says autumn like this refreshing ale brewed using local blueberries from our home State of Michigan.  It’s beer just like Grandma would make, if Grandma was a brewmaster.  Prost!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter:  @atwaterbeer

In the end, I do not know why I keep doing this to myself.  This craft brewery is not really good and they only really put out one good beer.  The one good beer is just an average beer.  I am talking about Java Vanilla Porter.  Their Dirty Blonde could be in the talk of a good beer or not.  The point that I am getting at is this craft brewery makes some pretty bad beers.  They are not constant all around their beers.  Their IPA’s, I refuse to drink even if they are the only craft beer in the bar.  I was thinking maybe their fruit beers might be good.  I was completely wrong.  I mean really wrong.  This blueberry ale is not balance at all.  It is not really good.  It is missing something.  I can not put my figure on it.  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Oddside Ales El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Oddside Ales.  It is their El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, 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 Double IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this Double IPA.  The aroma has a slight grapefruit to tropical fruit notes.  The taste has dry bitter front that leads to slight caramel to tropical fruit notes.  The aftertaste has a dry grapefruit hop finish.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  @oddsideales

Closing, this is a great beer.  I love the play on words for the name of the beer.  There is some aroma notes and tasting notes.  The malty backbone is a perfect match with the hops picked.  The caramel and tropical fruit notes are a nice blend.  This beer might be a sipping beer but I could see some experienced hopheads saying that it is kind of drinkable beer.  I do not think I had one bad beer from this craft brewery.  This brewery makes good beers and this one lives up to that line.  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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Cigar City Yonder Bock Tropical Maibock

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the last beer from this Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp.  This time around Sierra Nevada is teamed up with Cigar City Brewery and it is Yonder Bock Tropical Maibock.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both breweries’ beers, you know the history of the both of these craft breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know East and West Coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this Maibock.

This Maibock has an amber color with a white head.  The smell has a sweet malty to tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to slight tropical fruit notes.  The aftertaste has a dry tropical fruit finish.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Brewed in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, FL, Yonder Bock is a Latin-inspired twist on a traditional in Maibock.  Cigar City finds inspiration in the Cuban roots of their hometown, which is a long way from our home base in Chico, but our friends down yonder in Floridasure can brew a great beer.  Yonder Bock blends a silky malt body with bright, fruity hop aromas of guava, mango and passion fruit from the use of Calypso, Azacca and experimental 366 hops as a nod to Cigar City’s tropical locate.

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

Tampa is a long way from our home base in Chico, but the guys down yonder in Florida sure can brew a great beer. Our friends at Cigar City find inspiration in the Cuban roots of their hometown, and that Latin-inspired flair is evident in Yonder Bock. This tropical take on the Maibock adds a Latin island flair to this traditional German style beer.

Enamored with the Latin roots of their Tampa home, Cigar City always tries to channel a bit of local history into their beers, e.g. the Humidor Series whose beers age on Spanish cedar as an homage to Tampa’s cigar making roots. Only five years old, this brewery deserves the fast praise that’s come its way.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com and www.cigarcitybrewing.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada and @cigarcitybeer

Closing, I am a huge fan of both of these breweries and I cannot wait to see Cigar City on Michigan beer store shelves in the future.  Cigar City Brewery in on this beer, you know they are going to put come kind of Tropical twist on this beer.  I love it and I was pumped up to try this beer.  I know this beer received some good reviews from my beer friends.  I have to say I was not one bit disappointed with this beer.  This one beer was tied for first place as far as the best beer in this pack.  I know I said the Double Latta was something else.  I cannot put my figure on which one was better.  I highly recommend this beer and pack.  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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Victory Brewery Alt Route Altbier

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the eleventh of twelve beers from Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp.  This one is teamed up with Victory Brewery and it is their Alt Route Altbier.  If you read earlier beer blog posts on both breweries, you know both craft breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know these two great breweries.  Let us get into Altbier.

It has a nice amber color with a white head on this German beer style.  The aroma has a sweet caramel notes.  The taste profile has a sweet malty to some citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a citrus dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This take on a German Altbier is anchored by a layered, slightly sweet malt body supported by citrusy hop flavor and aroma.

Breweries are notorious for refusing to take the easy path.  Alt Route is a tribute to this stubborn spirit that drove us to dodge the status quo and build breweries of our own.  Together we chased the siren song of beer with this revamped take on an antique beer styles.

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

Brewers are notorious for refusing to take the easy path. Instead, we lead with our hearts and pursue our passions no matter how difficult the road ahead. Alt Route is a tribute to this stubborn spirit that drove us to dodge the status quo and found breweries. Together we chased the siren song of beer with this revamped take on an antique beer style.

Like us, Victory is one of the few brewers with an allegiance to whole-cone hops. They do extensive work with hop flavor, especially focusing on clever and delicious single-hop beers highlighting the same hop grown in different regions. They too share our roots in home brewing and never lost their passion for working with new beers and styles solely for the joy of making something new.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.victorybeer.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @victorybeer and @sierranevada

In the end, I was pretty excited to see this beer style in this pack.  This is one of my favorite German beer styles and then it is coming from Victory.  What else is there to say, I am pretty stun that I did not pick this beer up first.  I figured I would save this beer to the end.  I love the color of the beer and the aroma.  However, the taste was great, I was thrown by the citrus notes throughout the drinking experience.  It just took me off guard.  I do not know how I feel about it.  I did get use to it towards the end.  This beer is a great example that should be feature in this pack.  I like it towards the end.  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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Firestone Walker Brewing Torpedo Pilsner

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into this tenth of twelve beers from Sierra Nevada Beer Camp.  This Pilsner is teamed by Firestone Walker Brewery and it is their Torpedo Pilsner Hoppy Pilsner.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts from both of these West Coast craft breweries, you know the history of both of them.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Firestone Walker and Sierra Nevada Brewery.  Let us get into this Pilsner.

This Hoppy Pilsner has a light golden to straw color with a constant white head.  The aroma has a light earthy to sweet malty notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to earthy tones with a dry hoppy crisp finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This hoppy lager features intense fruity and floral notes from fresh New Zealand hops balanced against a crisp and clean malt body.

Torpedo Pilsner is a hop-forward take on the crisp, classic lager.  We and the folks at Firestone Walker share a passion for New Zealand hop varietals, so we loaded our legendary Hop Torpedo with the southern hemisphere’s finest hops for a fruity, floral twist on the pilsner style.

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

Torpedo Pilsner is a hop-forward take on the crisp classic lager. We and the folks at Firestone Walker share a passion for New Zealand hop varietals, so we loaded our legendary Hop Torpedo with southern hemisphere hops for a fruity, floral twist on the pilsner style.

Just down the road from us in California’s Central Coast wine country, this rock star brewery has earned “Mid-size Brewery of the Year” at the World Beer Cup four times. Like us, Firestone is passionate about hops. Their skill with the ingredient shines in their Pale Series and elsewhere in a long beer lineup driven by a premier brewing team.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.firestonebeer.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @firestonewalker and @sierranevada

In the end, I am still looking for an awesome pilsner and/or lager from a craft brewery.  Does it take two craft breweries to delivery one?  I hate to say it but these two great breweries were almost there.  I believe it is the hop selection.  I am looking for a traditional or classic pislner and lager.  This one does not delivery it, however, it does give me something different.  I like that.  The hops that they picked gives off some tropical fruit notes.  I am in love those hops from New Zealand.  Both of these breweries did a great job on this beer.  I will keep searching for a great traditional and classic lager or pislner style.  If you can find a pack, do it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13