In this beer blog, we are going to sample Double D Double IPA from Old Dominion Brewing. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Morning Glory Espresso Stout, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know Old Dominion Brewing. Let us get into the brew.
This Double IPA has a clear slightly dark copper color with a nice white head on it. The aroma has tropical fruit notes. The taste has mango to citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Her parents named her Deanie Davis. Uncle Same assigned her call letters: Double D. This daring Imperial IPA detonates at 50 IBU’s and 9% ALC. by Vol.
Here is a description from their website (www.fordhamanddominion.com):
Double D Double IPA
Double D is a full-bodied Imperial India Pale Ale, flaunting sultry guava, mango, and tropical fruit aromas as a result of dry hopping with Citra, Zythos and Crystal hops. Brewed with light toasted malt and Bravo bittering hops, this double delights with smooth warming alcohols and a torrid finish.
- 9.0% alc/vol
- 90 IBUS
- Best IPA Atlantic City Beer Festival
- Pale, Munich and Chocolate Malts
- Zythos, Crystal, Citra and Bravo Hops
- Available In 12oz bottles, draft and in the Pinup Pack
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.fordhamanddominion.com
Twitter: @DominionBrewing
In the end, I have enjoyed most of their beers. I know being a reader and someone who knows me away from the words of this blog. I am pretty big fan of this brewery. I love how this Double IPA drinks. It has all the hop character that I love. I love how the hops kick off tropical fruit notes. I just think it is pretty funny how I am not a fan of tropical fruits. LOL! I love them in my beer. This beer is not a drinkable beer but it is a nice sipping beer for a hot summer day or night. This is a great beer with nice packaging. I love the play on words for the name of this beer. 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 Stone Brewery Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Stone Brewery. It is their Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Stone Brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a jet black color with an off white color head. The aroma has a slight chocolate but a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a chocolate to citrus notes with a dry chocolate to hoppy bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
We’re brewers whose substantial mettle and idiomatic approach to brewing allows us to consistently creat works of art such as this justifiably self-righteous ale. Its bitterness hits our sweet spot. Its blackness lightens our hearts. Its liquid dichotomy pulls it all together in this sublimely sacrosanct ale. Thus the name we are compelled to give it – Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale – serves as a remember of just how good we are, in both liquid and verbal form.
First brewed in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this ale was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn’t last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn’t be any more. For us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we now bless ourselves, and you, the enlightened, with this ale full-time. Thusly, you may now revel in you own self-righteousness as you see it with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure.
Here is a description from their website (www.stonebrew.com):
- Style: Black IPA
- Alc/Vol: 8.7%
- IBUs: 90
- Available in: 22oz, 12oz Bottles & draft
We’re brewers whose substantial mettle and idiomatic approach to brewing allows us to consistently create works of art such as this justifiably self-righteous black IPA. Its bitterness hits our sweet spot. Its blackness lightens our hearts. Its liquid dichotomy pulls it all together in this sublimely sacrosanct ale. Yes, we damn well know our stuff here at Stone, and it would be irresponsible of us not to acknowledge how remarkable this heavenly creation of ours is. Thus the name we are compelled to give it — Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA — serves as a reminder of just how good we are, in both liquid and verbal form.We’re certainly not perfect. Too often, we allow our modesty to get the best of us as we’re simply not inclined towards senseless braggadocio. When you’re good, you’re good. And when you do something great, the least you can do is acknowledge it. Others benefit from knowing. In this case, we find that we are compelled to point out how amazing this ale is that we rightly call the Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale.
First brewed in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this ale was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn’t last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn’t be any more. For us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we are now blessing ourselves, and you the enlightened, with this ale. Thusly, you may now revel in your own self-righteousness as you see fit with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.stonebrew.com
Twitter: @stonebrewing
In closing, I enjoy myself a nice Black IPA. I have been searching for a better one that would top the last one. I am a huge fan of Porters, Stouts, and IPA’s. This is a great combination for the Hophead and Porter or Stout fans in the world and it is Black IPA. I love the hop character of the citrus with some nice chocolate notes. The hops are pretty strong on this Black IPA. I enjoyed this Black IPA. I hope you try this beer and let me know what you think. Stone Brewery did a great job 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 Beer Stores In Southeast Michigan And West Of Detroit Part 1
(www.509beerstore.com)
In this beer blog, we are going to talk about liquor stores in my area of Michigan. I just moved back in October so please, give me feed back if I missed a store. As you know, I am a huge beer fan and a craft beer fan. I will be the first to say I was spoiled in Chicagoland area with great beer stores. It was between Binny’s, Cardinal Stores, and some of the chain stores there. When I moved back, I knew Michigan craft beer market was huge on Michigan beers, which should be the case. There are so many beers, and breweries in every market around the country. I know Michigan is in that same situation. Where do I go to buy some great beers? I had no idea. I did Google search after Google search. I came up with a list. I even did something I hate doing walking in and out of stores. I do have a list and I am going to be up front and honest. Here we go!
Beer Baron (Livonia, MI)
Beer Baron is a little bit north of Wine Palace by 7 mile on Middlebelt. When I went, they were working on the store. The staff there was nice and let me walk around. He let me take my time and asked if I needed help. This was the opposite of Wine Palace. They have a great beer selection and some pretty good prices. I was pretty impressed. This is a beer store and it is pretty clear to that fact. The two things I did not like about this store. One, the store is in chaos. There is beer everywhere. Two, when I went, the staff did not know anything about beer. Their parking lot is a lot easier than Wine Palace. I recommend this beer store.
Wine & Barrel (Livonia, MI)
I did not want to drive up to Beer Baron and I am staying away from Wine Palace. I just went to Wine & Barrel that is right down the street from my place. There is some nice parking at the side of the building and they are not that busy like the last two stores. The first thing, I did not like is the guy does not take pop cans. You are a liquor store that sells rum and you do not sell pop. I guess not rum and coke for someone in the area. I am just saying. I was not happy by that. Now, I have to go two places to get my errands done for returns. Who will go there and buy their liquor just to go somewhere else to get their pop? I was not too impressed by their beer selection. I did not like the fact you could not buy single beers (12oz). They had beer store selected ones available. It was like it came from their breakage area. I thought their prices where too high like Wine Palace. I get it that these stores need to make some money. There is a level where it will keep people out of your store. This store has a huge area for beer brewing supplies. I thought that was really cool when I was walking through but after looking at that the beer selection. I started to have a different attitude towards the store. Their beer area is all over the place. I mean you have craft beer with imports beers and the other way around. This is so not profitable for the store. Their beer customers that are looking at crafts beers are not seeing all their crafts or import beer customers in one area. They have to walk around the store and I know I might have missed something. It can be the same for their mass-produced beer customers. I just feel they make more money off their beer supplies. There is nothing wrong at being just a brewing supply store. I will pass on this store.
Mid-Joy Liquor Store (Livonia, MI)
The first weekend I was back in Michigan. I wanted to go beer shopping so I thought I would go back to my old liquor store when I first lived in the area. They have a pretty nice selection. I was enjoying it until I started noticing that everything I was picking up was out of date. I was pretty disappointed pretty quickly. This store went hard into the craft beer without the consumers to support it. I never went back into this store. I might again but I think I just might stay away.
Keg & Wine Party Store (Redford, MI)
I found this store looking for a Cider from Woodchuck Hard Cider on their website. The parking lot could be better but that is not point of this review. The store inside is pretty nice and clean. Everyone is nice and helpful. They have a great selection on beers and spirits. I was pretty impressed. I will have to say it is better than Wine Palace. The only thing I do not like about this store. I can not buy single bottles and/or cans of beer (12oz). You have to buy the six or four pack. I will be back to this store and I recommend this store.
Holiday Market (Canton, MI)
Whenever I would come in town, this was the store I would go to in the beginning. They had whole warm shelf aisle in this grocery store for craft beer. I was amazed at the selection. I always picked up beers that I could not get in Chicago. I started to realize pretty quickly that they were not selling through most their beers. This store at that time had a ton of out of code beers. This is a great store but buyer beware.
Super Fines (Canton, MI)
This store is at the top of my list. They have just about everything in this liquor store. If they do not have it, they will get the beer or whatever you are looking for at that time. If it is sold in the state, they will get it. You can do mix six packs in every price range. You can buy single beers too. They have a pretty big spirit selection. This is a great beer store and I highly recommend it.
Closing, I know I have not covered everything liquor stores in the Southeast Michigan. I am looking at just craft liquor beer stores. I am not going to just the neighbor store. I went to ones that claim they are a craft beer store or I know they have a pretty big selection. I know there are more out there. I will keep searching. I loved Super Fines in Canton, Beer Barton in Livonia, and Key & Wine Party Store in Redford. I will never go back into Wine Barrel and Mid-Joy Liquor Store in Livonia. If there are any other stores, please, let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts on these stores. I will be writing a new review here shortly. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Juniper IPA
In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Juniper IPA from Samuel Adams. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know the Boston Beer Company. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this winter IPA. The smell is a heavy Juniper Berries. The taste is a piney with hints of Juniper Berries with a quick bitter aftertaste that disappears fast. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from their website (www.samueladams.com):
For this special release, we wanted to brew a flavorful winter IPA that captured the aroma of the season. This brought us to juniper berries, which add a slightly sweet, piney character. Complemented by citrus notes from American hops, this balanced IPA will brighten the holidays.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.samueladams.com
Twitter:
@SamuelAdamsBeerIn the end, I was pretty interested in this brew. I did not know how the Juniper Berries would mix with the IPA. I know they made an English style IPA because I believe that West Coast IPA would not go well with the berries. I believe the hops would have overpowered the berries. There is a nice balance from the hops, malty backbone, and Juniper Berries. I love the aroma and beer drinking experience. This beer is good but it is not that good. It is average beer, however, I will give Boston Beer Company some credit for being unique and original. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
2013 in review Thanks For All The Support!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
Thanks For The Support!
Bill DJ Weiser
New Beer Blog Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale
In this new beer release blog, we are going to get into one of the first new beers from Goose Island Brewery from Chicago. I am talking about their first beer, which is their Ten Hills Pale Ale, in the series called “Limited Release.” If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of Goose Island Brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.
This new brew from Goose Island has a clean copper color with a white head. The smell has some piney to earthy notes. The taste has some earthy notes with a dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):
Ten Hills traces its story to Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho, famous for growing hops of exceptional quality and character. With hops from the “first ten hills” grown for Goose Island at Elk Mountain, we crafted a pale ale that delivers both a herbal and citrus hop character. We hope you’ll find the intriguing balance of flavors in this beer to be truly unparalleled.
Recipe Information:
Style: Pale Ale Alcohol by Volume: 6.2 International Bitterness Units: 48 Color: Copper Hops: Perle, Cascade, US Saaz Malt: 2-Row, Caramel 20, Caramel 40, Munich
Availability:
Seasonal (December – March) Bottles: 4/6pks 2/12pks Draft: 1/2bbl 1/6bbl
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.gooseisland.com
Twitter: @GooseIsland
In the end, just what, I said in review of their Coffee Stout from the Bourbon County Stout line. I love the direction that Goose Island is going with Bret Porter as their Brewmaster. I love the hops and I am glad they are only available for Goose Island use only. It makes this brew a little bit more special. It has a nice balance between the hops and malty backbone. I am really not a fan of the aftertaste but overall, this is a great beer. I just cannot wait for the next release. I highly recommend 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 Arbor Brewing Company Mr. Delicious Double IPA
In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Arbor Brewing Company. It is their Mr. Delicious Double IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into beer.
It has cloudy dark copper to a light amber color with a small white bubble head. The aroma is fated and hard to pick up. It is like a citrus notes for the smell. The taste is a light carbonation with grapefruit notes with a grapefruit aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.
Here is a description from their website (www.arborbrewing.com):
This beer leads off with a stiff round-house punch of citrusy hops, follows up with a quick kick of bready malts and warming alcohol, and finishes with a powerful and lingering bite of complex layered hops.
This popular brew was inspired by ABC founder, head brewer and spiritual leader Matt Greff whose cartoon enhanced image graces the label.
- ABV9%
- IBU90
- OG1.088
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.arborbrewing.com
Twitter:
@ArborBrew and@ArborBrewYpsiClosing, as many of you readers know, I am a huge fan of this brewery. I am glad to be back to Michigan to enjoy their beers and Frankenmuth on regular basis. I love checking out some of the new craft breweries that are popping out around the state, however, I have always go back to my favorite breweries to check out their new beer that hit the market. It leads to this brew from Arbor Brewing. I love the hops and nice balance from the malt. They did a great job on this beer. I did not think they were able to make an imperial IPA. They made one and a really good one here. I could live without name and packaging on this 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
New Beer Blog Green Flash Brewing Double Stout Black Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Green Flash Brewing from California. Thanks again to my friend Jay for sharing this brew with me. If you read my beer blog post earlier, you know the history of this brewery from the southern part of California. If you have not, please ,read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into beer.
It has a jet black color with a creamy tan color head on this stout. The aroma is chocolate, hint of coffee, and toffee notes. The taste is a creamy chocolate with a chocolate and caramel aftertaste. This double stout is a scary drinkable.
Here is a description from their website (www.greenflashbrew.com):
Double Stout Black Ale
Golden naked oats mashed with dark crystal and robust roasted malts create a luscious black brew with satin-smooth finish. An old-world style, done the Green Flash way. Big, bold, flavorful and complex.
ALC. BY VOL. 8.8% | IBUS: 45
- World Beer Cup 2010 Silver–Other Strong
- California State Fair 2009 1st Place – Foreign-style Stout 2008 1st Place – Imperial Stout
- Los Angeles County Fair 2009 Silver – Imperial Stout
- San Diego County Fair 2012 Bronze – Bold Stout
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.greenflashbrew.com
Twitter: @Greenflashbeer
In the end, this is a big beer and stout. It is nicely balance and extremely drinkable. It rich and full of flavor. This brewery knows how to make some great beers asides India Pale Ales. They are not like most breweries that know how to make one beer style great and rest of their beer styles are bad or good. This brewery took some time and learn how to brew beer. They put some thought behind this beer and rest of their line up. I love this beer and I will be drinking it again down the road. 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 Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Three Floyds and the brew is Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale. If you read my read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the history of this brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear dark copper to light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a fruity notes like mango. The taste is a huge and heavy mango notes with a dry fruit hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer. For an experience beer drinker, it is drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
A dry and stupendous hopped medium bodied Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Canadian 2-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops. Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aroma’s of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness. Cheers!
Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):
9.5% ABV 100 IBUs
A massive IPA that will leave your palate its hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.3floyds.com
Twitter: @3floyds
In closing, I will be first to say I am not a huge fan of this brewery because I believe their beers are overrated and over priced. I have to say I have been pretty impressed by this brew. I love the hops and the balanced from the malts. I love the aroma and the nice hops taste is really good. This brewery took their time to find the right hops for this brew. This is a well made beer and nice balance. I recommend you trying this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew and the 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
DJ Weiser 