calfornia

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Oktoberfest that I did not know that Sierra Nevada Brewery made.  This beer came out of their new Fall Sampler Pack twelve pack bottles.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada Brewery.  Let us get into this Oktoberfest.

It has a reddish-brown color with slightly off-color white head.  The aroma has a sweet malty, toffee to nutty notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a slight burned caramel notes for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable fall beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Everyone loves a great party, and there are few quite as famous as Germany’s Oktoberfest.  Inspired by that rollicking celebration, we bring you our version of this classic festival beer.  Oktoberfest is medium bodied and rich with malt flavor, but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral hops.

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

Oktoberfest

Our take on the classic, malty festival beer.

Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage and the health of the fall harvest—which in Bavaria, means brewers, barley and hops! Today, Oktoberfest is considered one of the world’s greatest parties, and in honor of that rollicking bash we bring you our version of the classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium-bodied and rich with bready and toffee-like malt flavor but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral and spicy hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I love this brewery and I hope one day to make a trip to see this craft brewery.  They make some awesome beers and I am always looking for any and all new beers to hit the market.  I never had one bad beer from this west coast craft brewery.  I was happy to see them put out a sampler packs.  They released their 4-way IPA, Beer Camp, and now this one, which is Fall Pack.  This Oktoberfest keeps the awesome season roll going for the fall beers.   I have to say this is my favorite Oktoberfest.  It is not like Goose Island and Great Lakes Oktoberfest where it has a sweet caramel notes.  This one has a sweet malty notes to nutty but I love the aftertaste, which is like a burned caramel 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 Lagunitas Brewery Tour

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While in Chicago,  I had a chance to get by the new brewery in Chicago from Lagunitas Brewery.  I want to thank my boy, Tony for the hook up.  Everyone was great at the brewery from tour guide, bar, to Jack.    I had several different beers but I did not have time to take tasting notes.  I really do not want to guess, however, I saved all the photos of the beers and during the brewery tour.  You will see them below. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this brewery.

Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
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Imperial Red Ale

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Brewery tour!!

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Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @lagunitasbeer

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Closing out, I had a great time at the brewery and I will be back there when I am back in Chicago.  I might have to eat and get beer to go.  As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this craft brewery.  I always throw their IPA into my line up of regular IPA’s.  I was able to get turn on to other beers that they make.  I will be checking them out and adding them to my line up of beers.  For example, I am adding Daytime IPA.  I will be switching back and forth with their IPA and Daytime.  As far as the brewery tour, it is like every other craft brewery tour.  This craft brewery is set up for expanding and they are growing it everyday.  It is also set up awesome for brewery tours unlike other craft breweries.  The whole tour is on a catwalk above the craft brewery.  You can see everything. I highly recommend jumping on this craft brewery tour.  If you know  their beers, I would still make a point to checking this brewery out.  This brewery is very important for us on the eastern part of the country.  We will be able to get fresher and enough of their beers for the demand in this area.  It also gives us a chance to get their beers cheaper.  I highly recommend checking this brewery out in Chicago.  They have great food, service, and of course, great beers.  Thanks again, Tony! 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 Lagunitas Nighttime (Cask Ale)

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While at the Michigan Cask Ale Fest, we are going to sample Nighttime Ale from Lagunitas.  This is the first this beer made it to Michigan.  It is in a Cask Barrel.  This is the true form and best way to drink beers.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this west coast and midwest craft brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Lagunitas Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark brown color with a nice white creamy head.   The aroma has slight chocolate to earthy notes.  The taste has a chocolate, earthy, and alcohol notes with nice alcohol burn bite for the aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @lagunitasbeer

In the end, I had a great time at Ashley’s Westland for their Cask Ale Fest.  I was pretty excited to see this beer and had a chance to talk to the brewery rep.  I was spoiled living in Chicago for many years.  There beers were everywhere.  Here in Michigan, I have a hard time finding their beers in the bars.  I have no problem finding their beers in liquor stores. I have a go to store. I love my black IPA’s and I had to jump on this beer.  I did not know how long this beer would last during the event.  I had this beer in package before but this time it was in a cask barrel.  I have to say the color is a little lighter and better.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be looking for it in bottle here soon.  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 Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into The Hairy Eyeball Ale from Lagunitas Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast Brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Lagunitas Brewery.  Let us get into this American Strong Ale.

This American Strong Ale has a dark amber color with a fluffy to a cream head.  The aroma has a strong malty to an alcohol notes.  The taste of this full body ale has a strong malty alcohol snap.  The aftertaste has a malty dry finish with alcohol burn down the throat.  This is a nice relaxing sipping beer.

Here is a desciriation from their website (www.lagunitas.com):

A roasty, toasty, malty, hangover-halting beer. Especially formulated for when you wake up feelin’ like you need to shave your eyeballs to see the new day.

AVAILABILITY: NOVEMBER 2013
ABV: 9.4% IBU: 56.66
Sold as: Bombers & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Closing, this beer has a ton going on in it. It has nice flavor yet a nice sipping beer anytime of the year. I love the back story on this brew. It has a nice alcohol bite and nice malty notes to keep you coming back for more. 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 Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new project called Stochasticity Project from Stone Brewery.  It is their Grapefruit Slam IPA.  There will be a series of different beers released under this name.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this big beer.

It has a clear copper color with a nice white head on this IPA.  The aroma has a heavy grapefruit and hints of citrus notes.  The taste of this medium body beer is a heavy grapefruit notes.  The aftertaste is a dry bitter hop finish that will keep you drinking more of this brew.  This India Pale Ale is a sipping beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Stochasticity

There is no happenstance or coincidence.  Dumb luck is a fallacy and randomness a commonly accepted mistruth.  Much of what seemingly falls into place and seems so natural is a result of Stochasticity, a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredicatable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.

Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA

India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice and citrus.   In some cases, those botanincals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles.  Such is the case with Centennials hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit.  That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project, a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel.  The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is a once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.

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

Stochasticity™ Project

Grapefruit Slam IPA

STYLE: Double IPA ABV: 8.2% IBUs: 95
Description

India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice, and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project–a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stochasticity.com

Twitter:  @STCHPRJCT

Closing, this beer was something else and that is all in a very good way.  I love the heavy aroma and taste of grapefruit.  I just found it funny that I hate the taste and smell of real grapefruit.  This is a pretty big beer and the beer drinker should not take this brew lightly.  It is a sipping brew, however, it is very nice to drink in any part of the year.  I wish this beer was all year long and was put in 12oz bottles.  I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles.  At least, it came with a good price.  Most 22oz bottles are overpriced and that is my thought.  I get it.  These beers cost a little more than most beers to make. I recommend you trying this beer. I will be looking for one more bottle befoe they disappear.  Plus, the next beer when it is released to the public.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Ram Brewery Ice Breaker Oatmeal Stout

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When in Chicagoland area, I was able to stop by one of my old watering holes.  I am talking about the Ram Brewery.  I was able to try their Ice Breaker Oatmeal Stout.  If you read my earlier blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of it.  If you have not, please, read those post to get to know this brewpub.  Let us get into this Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan head.  The smell is a chocolate and coffee notes for this stout.  The taste has a chocolate and coffee at the middle of pallet to watery notes on back half.  The aftertaste has chocolate that hangs around a bit.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theRAM

In closing, this would be a stout if I still lived down the street.  I would be filling my growlers up on weekend with this stout. This is an awesome stout.  This is one of the best brews that this little brewpub made.  I also love their IPA’s.  I know the brewmaster pretty well and I was happy to see the assistant moved over to the other location in the Chicagoland area.  I know for a fact he will be brewing some awesome beers and improving the beers from the last brewmaster.  The last brewmaster was good but not good enough.  If you are in the area, I recommend you getting by the Wheeling location to try to brew.  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

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 Dogfish Head And Sierra Nevada Life And Limb Rhizing Bines India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew that had two craft brewery, who are Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, teamed up to brew this beer.  It is Life And Limb Rhizing Bines IPA.  I want to say thanks to my friend Jay for the share.  If you read my beer blog posts so far, you know history of both of these breweries.  If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get up to speed on both of these breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a citrus notes.  The taste has slight caramel to citrus notes with a dry bitter citrus aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer from Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Brewery.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Rhizing Bines is a collaborative IPA using the best of both coasts:  Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual-hopping from the East and Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown caramel malt and Torpado dry-hopping from the West.

Here is a descripation from Dogfish Head’s website (www.dogfish.com):

Rhizing Bines

ABV: 8
IBU: 70
Availability: Limited
Original Release Date: 02/2013

Deepening our bond with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., forged with the 2009   collaboration Life & Limb, we’ve brewed an East-meets-West Imperial IPA called Rhizing Bines.“We had a lot of fun brewing the original dark and roasty Life &   Limb in Chico with the Grossmans and Sierra Nevada’s extended family,”   says Dogfish Head President and Founder Sam Calagione. “We are very   proud of the way that beer turned out. Now it’s our turn to repay that   hospitality and brew a very hop-centric IPA in Milton with our pals from   Chico, incorporating innovative ingredients and techniques from both   breweries.”On the hot side, Rhizing Bines went through Dogfish’s signature   continual-hopping process with floral and citrusy Bravo hops. On the   cold side, it was dry-hopped with an experimental varietal so new it   doesn’t yet have a name, just a number: Hop 644. A component of Sierra   Nevada’s aroma-boosting Torpedo system made a pit-stop in  Delaware  for dry-hopping duty before it headed to Sierra’s new North  Carolina  brewery. To celebrate Sierra Nevada planting East Coast roots, Dogfish Head tracked down a Carolina heirloom wheat grown and milled at Anson Mills. The soft red winter wheat contributes subtle sweet and nutty notes to this hop-forward ale.“It gives my wife and myself great comfort to know that although  we’re  leaving our home and friends on the West Coast, we’re joining our  craft  brewing friends on the East Coast,” says Sierra Nevada General  Manager  Brian Grossman. “Here’s to great beer!”The label for Rhizing Bines depicts the pairings behind this beer:  two  hop varietals, two yeast strains (Chico and Doggie), two unique  hopping  processes and two family-owned breweries. These bonds start at  the root –  or rhizome – and stretch throughout the mature bines.“Sam and his family and the entire Dogfish crew have been friends of   ours for a long time,” says Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman. “When  we  started talking about doing another collaboration we jumped at the   chance, especially since this version will be the hoppy counterpoint to   the last brews. We couldn’t say no! We’re looking forward to joining   forces again.”

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dogfish.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @dogfishbeer and @SierraNevada

In closing, when two or three craft breweries get together to brew a beer, it makes me a little nervous to purchase these beers.  This is the big reason why.  One, I feel at times that I do not get my money worth from the liquid in the bottle.  Two, I feel that way about many of 750ml bottles from Dogfish Head.  I hate to say it.  They are great beers I just feel they are overpriced.  I have to say my attitude changed with this brew.  This is a great beer and well balance India Pale Ale.  I enjoyed drinking this beer.  I recommend this brew.  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

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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