brewery

New Beer Blog Smuttynose Winter Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at a beer called Winter Ale from Smuttynose Brewery.  I do not know this brewery that well so I was looking at trying this beer out at Countryside Bar.  Smuttynose Brewing was founded in 1994 by Peter Egelston in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.    They brew several different beer styles.  I will be trying some other brews from this brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear brown color with a constant white head on the beer.  There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty with a dry aftertaste.  It is a pretty warm beer going down the throat.  It is a nice beer for the winter months.  I would say this is a marathon beer not a speed drinking beer.  It is a nice Dubbel.

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

Smuttynose Winter Ale is a full-bodied, amber beer brewed with a special Trappist ale yeast. Stylistically reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey Double, it features fruity aromas and flavor, balanced by soft Crystal hops. Warming, mellow & pleasantly complex, Smuttynose Winter Ale is your perfect cold weather companion.

SMUTTYNOSE WINTER ALE CONTAINS NO SPICES

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.smuttynose.com

Twitter:  @smuttynosebeer

Closing out, I did enjoy this beer and I am looking forward to checking out their other beers that they have out in my market.  I love the looks to the taste of this beer.  This is a great beer sitting by the fireplace with a nice cigar.  I recommend you trying this beer and let me know what your thoughts.  If you had some of their beers, please let me know which is the next brew I should have from this brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Southern Tier 2xmas

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Southern Tier 2xmas.  Southern Tier was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York by Phineas DeMink and Allen Yahn.  They ship beer around the world and of course most of it is in the United States.  They brew several different beer styles and putting their stamp on these classic beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a cinnamon to nutmeg to the beer.  The taste is sweet carbonation cinnamon to nutmeg. The aftertaste is a dry slight bitter with cinnamon and nutmeg to it. It is perfect for winter and not really drinkable.

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

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country.  Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits.  We were inspired by a Gloggy party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition.  2xMas Ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root.  Its a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

Ending, I will be honest on this beer.  I do not know how I feel about this beer.  There is a ton going on in the beer.  It is complex and ton of flavor.  To me, it just seems like this beer wants to be sweet but then wants to be hoppy for the winter season.  It is not one of my favorite but it is not a bad beer.  There are fans out there for this beer.  I am starting to think I do not like Christmas beers and it is not because of this beer.  I love winter warmers and winter seasonals.  I wanted to try this beer and it is out of my system. I will have at least a few every Christmas or winter season.  This is a beer you can have pass Christmas and yes, it is still in code after Christmas.  There are beer drinkers that see Christmas on beer packaging and think the beer went bad.  I recommend this beer and this brewery.  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

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to do the 12 days of beer at Countryside Bar.  The first beer of the twelve days of Christmas is Great Divide Hibernation Ale.  Great Divide was founded in 1994 by Brian Dunn in Denver, Colorado.  They brew several different beer styles.  Their Denver Pale Ale was one of three craft beers to be feature at the Denver Broncos new football stadium in 2001.  Let us get into the beer.

It is a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer.  There is really no smell maybe slight malty to it.  The taste is a sweet carbonation to caramel with a little hazel aftertaste to the beer.  This beer is the type of beer that the drinker will have one maybe two and will move on to the next beer.

Here is a description 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

Awards:

1997 Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal, Strong Ale/ English-Style Old Ale
1998 World Beer Cup, Silver Medal, Strong Ale/English-Style Old Ale
2003 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Old Ale
2006 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Aged Beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter:  @greatdividebrew

In closing, I enjoy the balance this beer has and warmth that it peers out with every sip.  This is a good and easy to drink.  I could have a few and I need to move onto the next beer.  There is not too many good English-Style Old Ale in the market.  I have been wanting to try this beer a few winter seasons ago.  This program that Countryside had going made me try it.  I recommend you trying this beer if you are a fan of English Ales or winter beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Lakes Christmas Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from this program at Countryside beer.  The brew that will be featured is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.  Great Lakes Brewery was founded in 1988 by Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio.  Great Lakes Brewery brews several different beer styles.   Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice clear copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and candy canes. The taste is a sweet carbonation cinnamon overload. This beer is like drinking a candy cane in a liquid form. There is a little cinnamon aftertaste. It is really not drinkable but it is on the borderline.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Our full-bodied, spirited ale is as festive as the season. Its copper color and flavorful taste are a combination of cinnamon, ginger and honey, so we ask that you “savor the flavor, responsibly ”

This beer is traditionally brewed from all natural ingredients: barley, hops, yeast, and water. No chemicals or preservatives are used.

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

A holiday ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @glbc_cleveland

In closing, this beer is one I will have one and I need to move onto another beer.  This does not mean this is a bad beer.  It is way too sweet to have one or more to me.  This beer is perfect for holiday desserts.  I did enjoy drinking and I try to have a few during every winter season.  If you like winter beers with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, I recommend you trying this beer.  I have a feeling you will enjoy this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Merry Christmas and Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Heavy Sea Winter Bock

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another brew from Heavy Sea Brewery.  The beer is their winter seasonal and it is called Winter Bock.  If you read my earlier blog on their flagship beer, 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 bock has a dark amber color. There is a little earthy to a bit nutty malty smell. The taste has a ton going on the beer. It has a nutty, earthly, and malty taste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With a full ruby hue, rich malty character, and earthy hop aroma. Winter Storm is an original– an Imperial ESB for the winter months. 7.5% Alc./Vol.

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

Winter Storm

Pyrate Fleet Fleet

Winter Storm may be Hugh’s favorite beer in the Heavy Seas catalogue. Our winter ale draws on hops from the West Coast and the UK for its pronounced bitterness. A mix of pale and darker malts give it its tawny color and its bigger body. True to the style, Winter Storm’s aroma is nutty malts and earthy hops. This is a perfect fall beer, especially because of its warming qualities.

BEER DETAILS
  • Style: Imperial Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
  • ABV: 7.5%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: October-December
  • Hops: Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade, Centennial
  • Malts: 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt, Chocolate Malt
SUGGESTIONS
  • Food Pairings: Brie or Havarti cheese, pan-seared steak, barbecued pork

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hsbeer.com

Twitter:  @heavyseasbeer

Closing, this beer is awesome and it got me in trouble, which I am still recovering from two days later.  This Winter Storm is extremely drinkable for being 7.5% ABV.  There is a ton going on this beer.  I really enjoyed this beer and I wished I could have brought some back from Michigan.  I am happy to see them around Michigan stores but I wish they were in my Chicago liquor stores.  At least, they are getting closer and it is reason to go back to Michigan.  This is what ESB should taste like not what I have been drinking here in the Chicago area or wherever.  I recommend you trying this beer at least once.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog MacTarnahan’s Brewing Spine Tingler

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to check out MacTarnahn’s Brewing and the beer is called Spine Tingler.  MacTarnahan’s Brewing was founded in 1986 by Robert Malcolm “Mac” MacTarnahan, who was one of the investors in the Brewery.  At one time, this brewery was called Portland Brewing.  Pyramid Brewery brought this brewery in 2004.  Pyramid Brewery was sold to Magic Hat Brewery in 2008 and they later sold in 2010 to North American Breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a golden clear color with a semi head on it but there is a heavy carbonation when pouring from the bottle. It has a nice hoppy Belgian smell. The taste is a carbonation with Belgian species aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Spine Tingler

Malts: Pilsner Malt, Wheat Hops: Northern Brewer, Perle Spice: Candied Sugar Bitternes: 23 IBU Alcohol By Volume: 8.5%

A surprisingly sublime Belgian-style triple offering an electrifying blend of spicy aromatics balanced with a lively malt palate that is so good it’s scary.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.macsbeer.com

Twitter:  @macsbeer

Closing, I was pretty stun at how close this beer is to a real Belgium Triple.  If anyone in the United States can make beer good, it is Portland.  There are very few beers I had from Portland that are just flat-out bad.  I love the aroma from the beers.  The taste of the nice hop character.  This is brewery has nailed it.  I will have this beer again when I am in Michigan because I do not believe I have seen this brewery around Chicago.  I will put this brewery on my list when I make it out to Portland again.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know something on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear color with a white head on it.  There is a slight citrus smell to it.  It is very fate to the beer.  The taste is a carbonation citrus with a slight dry bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Behold the Bitter Hysteria

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

Pandemonium Pale Ale

This coppered colored American pale ale lends its hue to hearty two row malts and hand selected specialty grains. Hop additions balance the wort, resulting in a tasty union of flavors and earthy aromas. Behold the bitter hysteria!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out the beer tab, this pale ale is pretty good but it is not one of my favorite from this brewery.  If I cannot find their India Pale Ale, this one is around.  I will be drinking this pale ale.  I will throw this beer in the mix once in a while but I cannot get it in Chicago.  When I come back to Michigan, I will be drinking it.  If I get it all the time, it will be on my radar once in a blue moon.  If you do not like IPA’s, you will enjoy this beer.  If you like Pale Ale, you will like this beer.  If you like beer, you better try.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Soft Parade

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, Short’s Brew Soft Parade is the brewery and beer that will be featured in this blog post.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light amber color that is not clear with a nice white head on the beer.  The smell is all the fruit that the brewery put in during fermenting. There is some raspberry to blackberry smell to this fruit beer. The taste is sweet carbonation fruit with a raspberry to blackberry aftertaste. The strawberry and blueberry are in the taste but in the background. This is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

High Gravity Ale fermented with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

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

The Soft Parade

This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two-row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, I am not a huge fan of fruit beers.  I am not a fan of many of the Belgian beers.  This is a pretty good beer but it is not my favorite beer I had from this brewery.  I have to say I did enjoy drinking this beer.  It reminds me of summer.  I love the name and I wonder if it was named after the classic The Doors song.  There is a question for Joe Shorts.  If you pour this beer out and did not let me see the bottle, I would have thought this came from Belgian Brewery.  For the beer style, Short’s Brew made an excite fruit beer.  If you are a fan of fruit beers, you will like this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiseer

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew.  The beer is called Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their India Pale Ale, you know the history of this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a nice light brown color. It has a nice sweet malty smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a dry aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Bellaire Brown

A full flavored brown ale that derives sweet caramel and toasted qualities from four different kinds of malt and specialty grains. Select hop varieties add enticing aroma to the nose and create a dry finish. This ale is so dark and rich, it’s hardly classifiable as brown, but is certainly considered a delicious masterpiece.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, just like the other beers, I have review.  I really enjoy this beer too.  This beer I would put in my line up like their India Pale Ale.  Since I live in Chicago, I will have to enjoy this beer when I come back to Michigan.  I love the smoothest to nice malty taste.  I love the aftertaste and how easy this beer goes down your throat.  This beer was very shocking good.  This is one of the best American Brown Ale from a Michigan Craft Brewery.  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

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pontius Road Pilsner

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brew Company.   The beer is called Pontius Road Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery from Michigan.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

The beer is a clear straw to bright yellow color with a constant bubbles.  It has a ton of carbonation with a big white head on the beer.  There is no smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation with a nice hoppy to it. There is a little bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Quality lies just off the beaten path.

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

Pontius Road Pilsner

A true American style Pilsner where the malted barley, when blended with flaked maize (corn), produce a deliciously distinct flavor. It is light in body and color, with a surprisingly full flavor that gives way to crisp refreshment. Handfuls of hops provide pleasant aromatics and a wonderful dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Ending, I love craft pilsner but this one was a little different then the rest.  It reminds me of a fresher version of Stella.  I am not saying that this beer is a bad beer but it is not my style in the pilsner.  This beer is well made and designed to the classic style.  I did enjoy it but it is not one of my favorite beer from this brewery.  I can see people who will enjoy this beer.  It has a nice balance and easy to drink this beer.  I recommend people trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser