beer taste

New Beer Blog Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog. It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale. It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head. The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade. It is hard to pick up. The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish. It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style. I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist. It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one. Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on their version of Duvel. I have to say I was pretty impressed about it. I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong. I would love to talk about beer with you. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Great Divide Brewing. It is their Colette Farmhouse Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this great Denver brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear bright yellow to golden color with constant small bubbles. There is yeast in the bottle that will change it from clear to cloudy. The head is a constant white. The smell is a slight farmhouse but a fresh farm smell. The taste of this light body ale has slight lemon with some spices with a spicy to lemon but refreshing finish. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast stains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

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

COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

ABV.: 7.3%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: 6 packs, 5 gal and 15.5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter; @greatdividebrew

Ending, this is a pretty tricky ale to make for most craft breweries. There are several different Saisons on the market. It could be hoppy amber saison, hoppy saison, and a refreshing saison. This one to me is in the refreshing saison. It echos the classic beer style. It is well balance and gives everything that a saison fan is looking for in this beer style. I recommend you trying. Please, let me know what you think of 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 Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new summer brew from my favorite Michigan brewery which is Frankenmuth Brewery. The new brew, which is one of my favorite German beer style, is Twisted Helles Summer Lager. If you read my earlier beer bogs on this brewery’s brews, you know the long and rich history of Frankenmuth Brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the brew.

It has a hazel strew to light golden color with constant small bubbles. It also has a constant white head. The smell is of malt with a fade orange to lemon notes but to me it is the pilsner malt smell. The taste of this light body and refreshing lager is malts with a notes of orange and lemon zest. The aftertaste is crisp with lemon zest finish. It is extremely drinkable beer and perfect for the hot summer day.

Here is a description from the beer can:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks. Tinged with mild, yet memorable notes of citrus, this crisp, full-flavored lager is indigenous to happy hours, tailgates and block parties.

Crafted by a brewery that’s lived and loved over 150 summers, Twisted Helles doesn’t just tastee like summer… It feelslike it.

Here is a description from the beer packaging:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers – and so, by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness, reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager.

Full-bodied, yet pleasantly quenching… and then there’s the “twist.” The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is a description from their website (www.twistedhelles.com and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com):

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers–and so by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager. Full-bodied yet pleasantly quenching…and then there’s the “twist.”
The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this in one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.twistedhelles.com (it is a fun site) and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In the end, when I heard Frankenmuth Brewery was coming out with a summer beer, I was like another summer beer that I will not be drinking. I will have to just keep drinking my IPAs and Pales Ales. I am not a fan of most spring and summer seasonals. However, I heard it was a classic German beer style, I was pretty excited and upset because I could not get it here in Chicago. When I made it back to Michigan, I made it a point to find this brew to try it and write a review on it. Helles is one of my favorite German beer style. I have to say if any craft brewery in the states can do German beer styles. It is Frankenmuth Brewery. This Twisted Helles Summer Lager is well made and it is one of the few summer seasonals I will go out of my way to pick up. The other two summer brews are Sierra Nevada Summer Lager and Two Brothers Dog Days Lager. I have to say I am not too impressed with those brews but that is what I was force to drink if I wanted a summer brew. This is a perfect brew for the hot Michigan Summer Days. Trust me I know all about those days and extremely hot Chicago Summer Days. Thank you Frankenmuth Brewery for giving this Hophead hope and something to drink in the summer time! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City. It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA. Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter. Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through. It has a constant white head on the beer. The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt. The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue. It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend. This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market. I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one. I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five. Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe. To me, this one is made with their stout. There is a nice balance from the hops and malt. Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around. I love the packaging and the fact it is in cans. I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling. This is another seasonal release and tap party. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head. The smell is a citrus to piney. The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s. It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate. ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub. I enjoyed drinking their beers. They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food. This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts. They did a great job with picking the hops. I love the hop character in this brew. I really recommend you driving and trying 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 Great Divide Hibernation Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first of three brews from Great Divide. Great Divide was founded in Denver, Coloroda by Brain Dunn in 1994. They have been ranked as one of the best breweries in the world from a few beer website. They also brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a light brown to dark amber color with a constant tan color head. The smell is of the malt to a slight caramel notes. The taste of this medium body is a malty caramel with touch of honey with a dry malty finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

Here is descation from their website (www.greatdivide.com):

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, there is a ton going on this well made beer. I enjoyed this beer a ton. I can also see why this brew was made because of where the brewery is located. It has a beautiful color and a nice aroma. It has a nice taste from this well balance beer. There is a ton going on in this beer. I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out our first beer from Firestone Walker and the brewery is their Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout. This is brewery is from California and founded 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker. The brewery name from the last names from the founders. They brewery several different beer styles but they are known for their hoppy beers like most west coast breweries. Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color without a head on it. The smell is chocolate to toffee. The taste of this full body ale is chocolate to touch of coffee notes. It is a sipping to almost kind of drinkable.

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

A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas. This beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers. Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.firestonebeer.com

Twitter: @firestonewalker

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer. I love how it is not a drinkable beer because I can sit there and enjoy it. I want to pick up everything that is going on in the beer. I love the coffee to toffee notes from the beer. This is one of my favorite stout beer style. I love how their website tells you to make sure you have fresh beer and how to store your beer. This is a great beer and I highly recommend you trying this stout. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Ruin Ten IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale. The smell is a piney to earthy notes. The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes. The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter: @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here. I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much. Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me. It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel this way. I have to say it is a great beers. Please, do not think this is a negative note. There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one. I love my fair share of them. This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time. I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while. I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party In Schaumburg Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into two brews from Ram Tap Party in Schaumburg location. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

This Barrel ’71 Pale Ale has heavy cloudy mud color with a constant white head on it. The smell is a sweet slight chocolate bourbon to the beer. The taste is a heavy bourbon to a slight citrus from pale ale side. It is pretty drinkable beer.

The Firecracker IPA has a dark amber color with a constant fluffy white head on it. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste is like their IPA but the aftertaste has burning from the peppers. It does sit around a bit. It is kind of drinkable at first and then becomes a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

Closing, I have been away from the Tap Parties because of being out-of-town. I was pretty excited to get back into the Tap Parties. I will have the Wheeling location this week but I was able to get by the Schaumburg location to try their two beer release. The first one was Ram’s 71 Pale Ale aged in Bourdon barrels for seven months. Yes, agree it looks like chocolate milk because of the flash from my phone. It had a mud to wood color to it. I had my fair share of bourdon ales. I have to say this one is heavy bourdon to it. I cannot taste any of the pale ale. I do not mind the bourdon in the beer. I need some beer taste. I thought it was below average, however, this does not mean you will not like this beer. The next one brew was their Firecracker IPA. It is dry hopped with Habanero peppers. I have to say the India Pale Ale, which is their Big Red, part is still there. The hops were mild down a bit. Peppers kick in aftertaste with a slight burn in the throat. At first, it was pretty mild on the hot to burn side. However, it will build up over time, for me, it became too much. This beer should be in a smaller glass like 10oz. I think a 120z pour is too much and pint is out of the question. I recommend these beers because of how unique they are to the market. Please let me know what you think of these brews. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog DC Brau Else Here Speaks

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from a brewery I want to visit one day. It is DC Brau and it is their seasonal or limited release called EL Hefe Speaks Limited-Release German-Style Wheat Beer. If you read my earlier blog on their stout, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this up and coming brewery from the DC area. Let us get into this brew that I received from a friend.

It has a cloudy yellow with a white head on the beer. The smell is of bananas in this beer. The taste is of a heavy bananas to this wheat ale. The aftertaste is a slight fading banana. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

This traditionally brewed German-Style wheat is our collaboration with Chris Frashier and John “Solly” Solomon, who are both well-known for their delicious brewing work in the Washington DC area.

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

EL HEFE SPEAKS™

We crafted EL HEFE SPEAKS!, our fond farewell to summer, as a collaboration with John Solomon and Chris Frashier. The pair are well known for their fine (and tasty!) work at Old Dominion in Ashburn, VA, during the mid 90’s.

EL HEFE SPEAKS! is a traditionally brewed German-style Hefe. It is fermented around 65°F and hopped with German Tettnang hops. 11 IBUs and 5.3% ABV make this one extremely drinkable.

If you think it speaks to you as well, definitely try a glass… because it will be gone before you can say “sweater weather”.

“We’re tremendously excited to bring this specialty brew to the District,” said DC Brau Co-Founder and CEO, Brandon Skall, “Working with other local brewers on this project has made presenting the final product even better.”

The beer was brewed at DC Brau in early August. “El Hefe Speaks” uses the Weihenstephaner yeast strain, a classic, popular German wheat beer strain used worldwide.

John Solomon and Chris Frashier have been a part of the DC brewing community for years. The two worked together at Old Dominion Brewing Company in Ashburn, VA before opening Solly’s U Street Tavern. Frashier brewed at Capital City Brewing Company for 7 years before brewing at Old Dominion for 5 years. Solomon worked at Old Dominion for a total of 11 years.

COMING SOON IN 22oz BOMBERS!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.dcbrau.com

Twitter: @dcbrau

In closing, as many of you know, I am NOT a fan of wheat beers. However, I have grown a love towards German wheat or German what styles, this is one of those beers. I really enjoyed this brew and I stun everyone in the room and on twitter. This is a great brew and it is well balance. It gives you everything you are looking for in a German wheats. There is bananas in the aroma and the drinking experience. I wish I had more and I know they are working on making it in 22oz bottles. So far everything, I had from this brewery is great. I highly highly recommend you trying this brew and this brewery’s beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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