bell’s brewery

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Hop Hunter IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new beer and new technique to brew an IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewery.  It is called Hop Hunter IPA.  If you read earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft  brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada Brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear golden color with small not constant bubbles. There is a nice white constant head. The aroma has an earthly to hop oil notes. The hop bitterest will burn the craft beer drinker’s nose. The taste has an earthly to evergreen notes. The aftertaste has a hop bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from this beer bottle:

Steam distilled hop oil, gathered right in the hop fields, gives a mighty boost to the floral and citrus notes of traditional whole-cone hops for intense, unmatched hop aromatics.

Hop Hunter IPA is the first beer to feature oil from wet hops steam distilled directly in the field, minutes after harvest.  We use this pure, powerful hop essence in concert with whole-cone hops in our brew kettle and in our Hop Torpedo to create the ultimate IPA experience.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, when I heard what Sierra Nevada Brewery was doing for their new IPA, I said WHAT?!?!?!?  I have to say I was pretty stun between the taste profile and aroma.  You can smell the hop oil and I believe this will start a new trend in the craft beer world.  I love this beer.  This beer is one of my favorite IPA’s in the beer market.  This is a great IPA but it is still not a Goose Island IPA. I have that beer as my #1 IPA. I have to say this beer is not that far off.  Sierra Nevada is my #1 brewery to get my IPA fixed.  I highly recommend this brew.  I have been talking to everyone about 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 Bell’s Brewery Jupiter The Bringer Of Jollity Brown Ale

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the Planet Series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Jupiter The Bringer Of Jollity Brown 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 to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Brown Ale.

This special release ale has a nice brown color with a constant off white to slightly tan color head. The aroma has a sweet nutty, malty, and a little to fade alcohol notes. The taste of this fourth release from the planet series has a slight alcohol burn in the front of the pallet with some nice malty and nutty notes in the back part of the tasting experience. The aftertaste has a nutty notes that hangs around for a bit. It is kind of drinkable but it is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustavo Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.” Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece. Mars to Neptune.

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

Bell’s Brewery Planet Series

Jupiter – The Bringer of Jollity

TASTING NOTES: The fourth release in our Planets Series shines the spotlight on specialty malts, while the hops take on more of a supporting role. Brewed with seven different varieties of malt and hopped for a balanced bitterness, this Imperial Brown Ale has bready, biscuity, toasty notes along with light chocolate and roast flavors. This beer is robust, warming and satisfying like the piece of music it was named after.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, I was pretty excited to see this series of beers to hit the market.  There has been some really good beers and there are a few bad ones.  I should say they are good but did not live up to the price that was being charged.  Series of beers like this makes the beer drinker retry their everyday beers.  I have to say that I have not revisited any of their everyday beers.  I will now get into this brew.  This is a great beer. There is not too many really good Imperial Brown Ale.  I do not believe there is not too many Imperial Brown Ales period in the market.  There is a nice balance that the beer drinker will be sipping or dare he or she to make it a drinkable.  I hope they bring it back full-time or a seasonal. They did a great job on it. A ton of flavor and I love the nice nutty notes.  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 Bell’s Mercury The Winged Messenger Belgian Style Ale

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into third brew from this Planet series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Mercury The Winged Messenger Belgian Style Ale.  After a major recall, I took my chances to try this beer because of glass being in it. I filter this beer twice.  I am still alive and I did not see any glass.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery legend.  Let us get into this Belgian style ale.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a white constant head. It has a big bubbles in the head. The smell has a floral to herbal notes. The taste has an herbal to species.  The aftertaste has a nice dry finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition.  “The Planets,” strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.

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

The Winged Messenger

STYLE: Belgian Single

RELEASE DATE: December 2014

ABV: 4.8%

COLOR: Pale, straw

GLASSWARE: Snifter

TASTING NOTES: Light and sessionable like its namesake, the third release in the Bell’s Planet Series, Mercury: The Winged Messenger, was inspired by the Belgian Single, a style traditionally brewed by monks in Belgium for their own consumption.

This interpretation has bready and grainy notes from Belgian malt, herbal and balanced characteristics from the hops and a subtle, but spicy character from the Belgian yeast. Fruity notes of pear are also present in this light, bright and complex session beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

Ending, I did enjoy this beer. The problem that i have with this beer is the price.  I am paying so much for a session Belgian Ale.  I get what they were doing.  It was not really good for the price.  If it was cheaper or everyday brew, it would make a little bit more senses.  There is a little rumor out there.  Bell’s did a recall because the liquid was not up to their standards.  It has nothing to do with glass in the bottles.  They made something up to get this liquid off the market.  This is just a rumor and I heard it in a few craft beer bars.  If you can find a bottle, drink it at your own risk.  I believe this is once in a lifetime brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Christmas Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Bell’s Brewing.  It is their Christmas 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 Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this Christmas Ale.

It has a clear dark copper to amber color with a white constant head. The smell has sweet malty to other spices that are fated to hard to pick up. The taste of this winter warmer has a slight carbonation to sweet malty with a slight alcohol burn for theaftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The basic inspiration for Bell’s Christmas Ale was to create a sessionable holiday beer, using locally grown malt, which would stand apart from the array of spiced winter warmers that are typically introduced this time of year. In contrast to many other seasonals, Christmas Ale doesn’t contain any spices: all of the dry, toasted notes & subtle toffee flavors come from the 100% Michigan-grown barley, custom malted by Briess Malting, while a blend of hops from Michigan & the Pacific Northwest lend earthy, herbal aromas. At 5.5% ABV, it stands as a smooth, highly drinkable beer intended to complement holiday menus, not overshadow them.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I enjoyed this winter or Christmas beer.  I have to say this.   Christmas has come and gone once again.  This does not mean that is beer is bad or out of code, if it is still on the shelf.  This goes for all seasonals.  Will it go out of code later on?  Yes, I am not an idiot.  I just hate hearing beer drinkers saying these beers are out of code the day after the holiday.  There is a nice balance but I love the nice alcohol notes for the finish.  This is one of my favorite beers from Bell’s Brewery.  If you see this beer, I would try 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 Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite beer from Bell’s Brewery.  It is their Special Double Cream Stout.  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 cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan color head. The smell has some chocolate, coffee, to alcohol notes.  The taste has a chocolate to burn coffee notes with a dry coffee aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a blend of 10 different malts, Double Cream is an incredibly rich stout composed of dark, sweet, and smooth tones intermingled with a soft, roasty finish.

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

Special Double Cream Stout derives its name from its smooth, creamy texture, not the ingredients. Completely dairy-free, this stout blends ten different specialty malts to yield a remarkable depth of flavor. With only a touch of burnt notes, Special Double Cream Stout focuses on the softer, cocoa & espresso-like aspects of roasted malt.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I love this beer and I enjoy it very much.  I had the chance to have this beer in a Firkin.  It was even better brew.  I love the fact the shelf life is a year but I bet I can get it to age for a few years.  I just wish this beer was available all year-long.  This beer I know cost a little bit more to make and let it age to quality to the beer.  This beer has some nice creamy chocolate notes but a nice burn coffee notes.  This beer will sneak up on you because it does not drink like a high alcohol beer.  I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Best Brown Ale (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Bell’s Brewing.  It is Best Brown 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 midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a cloudy brown to dark brown color with a tan constant color head. The smell has a slight malty, nutty, and toffee notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a dry toffee aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in our fall lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

In the end, It is a nice English brown ale. There is not too many really good English style brown ales from an American Craft breweries.  I like it.  I know Brooklyn Brown Ale and Goose Island Nut Brown Ale are around.  Brooklyn version is pretty weak and not very good but Goose Island try to match the Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, which was the first brown ale ever made.  I love that Goose Island Nut Brown Ale.  Too bad, they do not make that beer anymore.  There is a nice English Brown Ale from Frankenmuth Brewery that is Brewpub only brew.  Brown Ales are a tough sell in the spring and summer.  When the fall and winter season, it is a little easier.  Now a days, most craft beer drinkers want everything but a brown ale and in most part lagers.  This is a good English Brown Ale.  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 Bell’s Venus The Bringer Of Peace

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample the second beer in the planet series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Venus The Bringer Of Peace.  The first one was Mars which was double IPA.  I did not get a chance to write-up a review on it and all bottles were sold out.  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 Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this ale.

It has a slight cloudy golden to honey tone to the color without a head.  The smell has a nice sweet honey apricot notes. The taste has a sweet honey apricot. The apricot is pretty heavy but the vanilla notes take over the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.”Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.

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

The Bringer of Peace

STYLE: Blonde Ale Brewed With Honey, Apricot, Cardamom, and Vanilla

RELEASE DATE: October 2014

ABV: 7.5%

COLOR: Light blondish orange, very slight haze

GLASSWARE: Snifter

TASTING NOTES: The second release in our Planets Series starts with spicy, fruity and light citrus notes along with herbal notes from cardamom in the aroma. Apricots contribute a very distinct tart character and sweetness from the vanilla rounds out the finish. More than 60 pounds of hand sliced vanilla beans were used to ferment this strong fruit and spice beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, yay, another gimmick to sell beer.  I will have to say at least this series of beers have a story behind.  I know there is a few other Michigan craft brewery would use a gimmick to sell beer.  I was pretty impressed with the first two beers from this series.  I like it. It is totally different. I have more faith in Bell’s after this one.  I am not a Bell’s fan but this one made me turn my head a little more to their direction.  There is some nice notes from Apricots and honey.  It is not too heavy.  I love the vanilla aftertaste notes.  I just wish it was not limited but it is what it is.  If you can find a bottle, 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 Bell’s Midwestern Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer, which is Midwestern Pale Ale, from Bell’s Brewery.  If you read 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 midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer from Bell’s Brewery.

It has a copper color with a white head that fades over time.  The smell has a citrus notes with a slight lemon notes.  The taste has a carbonated citrus notes with a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

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

Brewed with barley from our farm in central Michigan, Midwestern Pale Ale stands apart from the model of completely hop-dominated pale ales, offering a noticeable degree of malt body to counter the hop bitterness. A blend of floral & herbal hop notes provide the aromatic & flavor highlights, alongside the distinctive contribution of our house ale yeast. A crisp bitterness finishes the experience without being harsh.

Alcohol by Volume: 5.2%
Original Gravity: 1.050
Shelf Life: Six months
Dates Available: Year-round
Available Packages: Bottles, draft

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, this is a great pale ale.  It is not the greatest but it is not below average.  It is very hard finding this beer in date.  I know I went to several stores and I have been finding it out of code.  It is a newer brand to their every day line up.  I do not think many people have try it yet.  If they did, they did not like it and sales have slow way down for pull through at retail.  It is not too hoppy but hoppy enough to make the hopheads happy.  I will be looking for a fresh six-pack of beer.  I recommend you trying 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 Bell’s Hopslam Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out a limited release from Bell’s Brewery that they bring out once a year.  It is their Hopslam ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the blog post on their Winter Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear light copper color with a white constant head on this ale brewed with honey.  The smell has hints of honey and a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a sweet, smooth, and honey notes with earthly notes.  The aftertaste is slight honey with hops dry finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer and it is a big beer.  Please, be careful!

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

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

Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repertoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

Closing, I had this beer a few times a few years ago.  This is a great Double India Pale Ale.  I enjoyed drinking.  I love how the honey cuts through the hops and honey builds the malty backbone ever stronger.  This is an unique and different from the rest of Double India Pale Ale on the market.  I had one other double IPA brewed from honey and it is 3 Sheep’s First Kiss. I wished I had a bottle to compare these two big beers. From what I can remember, First Kiss is better but I recommend this brew.  I get why everyone rushes to the stores to pick up this brew when it comes out.  It is released once a year.  I believe this brew was available all year-long.  It would not sell as much as it does now.  Once a year is good for me. And you?  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer Blog Bell’s Winter White Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Michigan brewery known as Bell’s.  The beer is their winter seasonal which is called Bell’s Winter White Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Winter White Ale from Bell’s is part of the 12 Beers of Christmas at Countryside. It has a hazel straw like color without a head on this winter seasonal.  There is a yeasty to wheaty smell with a little corridor smell to it.  The taste is yeasty and species with a dry slight lemon aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

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

Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, I do not know why craft breweries put out White, Wheat, etc in the middle of the winter.  It is different then the rest of the craft breweries.  I am not saying this is a bad brew.  I am not a fan of it but they did a great job on it.  I always see this beer in my market in the middle of the summer.  The distributor does a really bad job with this brewery’s beer.  This brewery will sell more of this liquid in the spring and summer.  I recommend this beer, if you are a fan of white, wheats, and hefeweizen.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser