calfornia

New Beer Blog Speakeasy Payback Porter

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Speakeasy out of San Francisco.  If you read my earlier beer blog post with all their six-pack beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this great brewery from California.  Let us get into the beer.

It is a jet black color with a tan color head. The smell has a heavy chocolate to the beer. The taste is between chocolate to toffee with a coco aftertaste. For a dark beer and a dark beer drinker, it is a pretty beer drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

American hops provide a smooth distraction for Payback Porter’s robustness, which is concealed within the shadows of imported dark malts.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goodbeer.com

Twitter:  @SpeakeasyBeer

In closing, this brewery has not disappointed me at all.  Speakeasy makes some good beers and lived up to the hype that is being said throughout the country.  Their Payback Porter brings up the back-end of their beer line up and lives up as a great beer.  This beer has a ton going on and craft beer drinker will be picking this up throughout the year.  I am slowly getting around to try all their beers.  Just like the rest of their line up, I recommend this one and the rest of their beers.  Let me know your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack

image

In this beer blog, 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack is the feature beer in this post.  I have blogged about this brewery a few times in the past.  If you have not read those beer post, you know the history of this brewery.   If you have not, please, read those beer post to get an idea of this great brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

The color of the beer is yellow without head on it l. The smell is a lemon peppermint to the beer. The taste is a heavy lemon with a hop finish. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

You might not expect a Saison in winter. But the enemy didn’t expect Washington to cross the icy Delaware, either. Expectations be damned, we say. We’re sneaking up on winter with a boatload of bravado and this Belgian-style farmhouse ale. Dry hopped with whole organic cardamom pods, our Saison has an assertive spiciness. In your face, winter.

Sneak Attack is our late winter seasonal beer available from January through March in six-pack cans and on draft. The perfect antidote to the big beers of winter, Sneak Attack is crisp, dry and palate cleansing. It pairs perfectly with the rich and warming foods of winter: Bouillabaise, sausages, smoked meats and full flavored cheeses.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter:  @21stamendment

At the end, I pretty much love everything that I have had from this brewery.  I have to say this beer kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  I am a fan of this beer style, which is Saison.  I am a little stun that I did not like this beer.  I do not know if it is between the pepper or the lemon that is kicking through out the beer experience.  I was a little disappointed, however, with that all said this does not mean you will not like this beer.  I recommend you trying it because I would like to hear your thoughts on 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 Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

image

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another brewery that I have been wanting to try their brews out for a while.  Anderson Valley was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen in Boonville, California.  This brewery was sold to Trey White with two silent partners in 2010.  They still brew several of David Norfleet’s beers and have added on since he sold the company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it.  The smell is a strong cinnamon and a little caramel to the beer.  The taste is a smooth and silk caramel with a touch of cinnamon.  There is really no aftertaste to the beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brilliantly clear dark copper color with a dense tan head. Caramelized malty and spicy aromas redolent of cinnamon, allspice, black currant, and black licorice. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, hints of seasonal spices and a clean, malty finish.

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

The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker, weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys, cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. WinterSolstice Seasonal Ale evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium sweetness.

As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized.

6.9% ABV6 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avbc.com

Twitter:  @avbc

Closing, this beer was an awesome beer.  I was pretty stun on how good it was to the rest of the winter beers I had so far this season.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  I love all the flavors that this beer has kicking around in my mouth.  I really hate when breweries uses the term “winter warmer.”  It is really not a beer style but more and more it is starting to become a beer style.  This is why.  Most brewmasters I talk to about their beers and I bring up what is the beer style of your “winter warmer.”  Pretty much all of them could not nail it down to a beer style.  With all of this said, I recommend you as a craft beer drinker to try this beer.  Please, let me know what your thoughts on 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 Breakside Brewery Beer Flight

image

When in Portland, the next stop on the beer tour was Breakside Brewery.  Breakside Brewery has very little to no history on the internet.  Here is a little something from the website called www.beerpal.com.

Breakside Brewery is the invention of Scott Lawrence and Tony Petraglia. Some
mutual friends introduced the two after learning they both had a desire to leave
their corporate jobs in order to pursue their dream of opening a brew pub. They
jumped in head first and committed their minimal financial resources and made it
happen.

We brew many of our beers in house on our 3 barrel brewery.
These beers range from classic styles to experimental concoctions. In addition
to our house beers, we offer a rotating selection of guest beers.

It is a young brewery that make some interesting beer but yet keeping the non craft beer drinker interested. Let us get into the brews.  There is a photo I took of their beer flight.

image

This will go to right to left. First up is Kolsch, Wit, Dry Stout, Aztec Woodlawn IPA, IPA, and Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA.

Kolsch

It has a clear yellow color without a head on the beer.  The beer has a shunky smell to it.  The taste is a sweet carbonation slight fruity notes with a nice crisp finish.  It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Our new director of brewing operations Jacob Leonard has designed his first Breakside beer! We’ve made a number of kolsch-esque beers over the last few years, but they’ve all had something non-traditional about them. With this beer, Jacob takes us to the heart of true Cologne beer with an elegant and restrained interpretation, using German pils and wheat malts, and Hallertauer and Tettnanger hops.

5.1% ABV 16 IBU

Wit

This wit has a cloudy white color without a head on it.  It has a heavy yeast to lemon smell with other spices that I cannot figure out. The taste is a heavy lemon to a little wheat taste with a nice lemon aftertaste.  It is very drinkable beer.

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

Our summer seasonal is back for a six month run in our lineup! This beer is brewed in the style of the great wheat beers of Belgium. Spiced with orange peel, coriander, and chamomile, it is refreshing, slightly tart, and easy drinking.

4.4% ABV 16 IBU

Dry Stout

It is black in color without a head on it.  It has a roasted coffee smell to the beer. There is a heavy chocolate notes in the taste with a slight coffee aftertaste.

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

An Irish-style stout brewed in the tradition of Guinness. Dark in flavor but light in alcohol, this is a roasty and chocolaty beer that won’t make you feel stuffed. SILVER MEDAL, 2011 GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL; BRONZE MEDAL, 2012 WORLD BEER CUP

4.2% ABV 36 IBU

Aztec Woodlawn IPA

It has cloudy dark copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a burn citrus smell to the beer.  The taste is sweet carbonation hoppy and way too many spicy to it.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

A new addition to our full-time lineup, this second IPA showcases four pungent American hops that we don’t use in our regular IPA: Newport, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook. It is slightly darker, more full bodied and less bitter than our flagship beer, and at under 6% ABV, it’s a hoppy beer that you can drink all day long.

5.4% ABV 49 IBU

IPA

It has a cloudy copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a citrus to earthy smell to the beer. It has a nice citrus to piney taste with a nice dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Our take on the classic India Pale Ale style–the favorite craft beer of the Northwest. This amber colored brew is loaded with four different types of hops during the brew day and then gets dry hopped after fermentation is complete. Our IPA has a huge citrus and pine character with a strong, but refined bitterness.

6.9% ABV 65 IBU

Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA

It has a cloudy copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a nice copper color without a head on the beer. This beer has a nice citrus taste to it with nice dry aftertaste to it.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The final of our fresh hop beers is a true hop explosion: it’s a wheat-based double IPA using one of our favorite aroma hops. The tropical fruit notes in this beer are wildly intoxicating.

8.4% ABV ? IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.breaksidebrews.com

Twitter:  @breaksidebrews

In closing, here is another brewery that I wish I had a little bit more time to enjoy their beers.  There are not too many Kolsch I like in the market but this one from this brewery found a way to make a good one.  I do not know what it is but American Craft Breweries find ways to mess up classic German beer styles.   I am not a huge fan of wheat beers, which I had a chance to talk to the brewmaster about it.  I can see people liking this beer.  Their Dry Stout was pretty good.  This is a beer I could find myself drinking it all day.  Hello Mass produced Dry Stouts take notes on this one because this is what your stout is supposed to taste like.  Good job on this beer!  Aztec Woodlawn IPA, I was not fan of it.  I am not a fan of chili powder or peppers in the beer.  I hate the burning down the throat but this is the new thing in the craft beer world.  There are people are looking for this beer just because I do not like this beer does not mean you will not like it.  Please go try it and let me know what you think about  this beer.  There normal IPA was pretty good.  I really enjoyed it.  Fresh Hop Citra Double IPAis a really good beer.  I wish I had more time to try some of the fresh hop beers.

Here is the beers I love to unlike:

  1. Fresh Hop Citra Double IPA
  2. IPA
  3. Dry Stout
  4. Kolsch
  5. Wit
  6. Aztec Woodlawn IPA

This is my thought pattern and it is the golden word in craft beer world.  I am just an idiot with a ton of thoughts in the world.  However, this is a really good brewery, when you are in the Portland, you need to stop in and check this brewpub out.  I will be back at Breakside Brewery in Portland.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Boulevard Brewery and Sierra Nevada Brewery Terra Incognita

image

While in Washington DC, we are going to take a look at a beer that I received at Savor.  The beer is Terra Incognita from Sierra Nevada Brewery and Boulevard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog from Sierra Nevada beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Bouldevard Brewery was founded in 1986 in Kansas City, Missouri by John McDonald.  They brew several different beer styles. They are the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States and they become the largest independent American Brewery in Missouri when AB was sold to Inbev.  Let us get into the beer.

This is a bottle I received while at the Savor 2012 in Washington DC. It has a pretty dark brown color with a white constant head. This beer has a heavy carbonation to it. The smell is of dark chocolate cherries. It has a very nice smell to it. The taste is a sweet roasted malts with a slight cherry and almond to it. There is a ton going on in this beer.  The aftertaste is a sour to the beer.  This is a pretty drinkable beer for the high alcohol percentage.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Situated at opposite ends of the California Trail, pioneering breweries Sierra Nevada and Boulevard have embarked upon a journey into the unknown, to a land where adventures in brewing and flavor await.  Terra Incognita is, fittingly, an earthy beer, celebrating the unique terroir of the two locations.  Beginning with Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown pale malt, and combined with amber-malt, wheat, and malted wheat, it is then assertively hopped with Bravo and Styrian Goldings, dry-hoppeed with East Kent Goldings and finally barrel aged with Brettanomyces in Missouri oak.

Here is their websites and twitter addresses:

Websites:  www.bouldevard.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitters:  @bouldevard_beer and @sierranevada

In closing, I have to say I was not really that impressed with this beer.  It was drinkable for being a big beer.  Since this was part of the package for Savor, I will not be mad or sad if I never drink this beer again.  They did a pretty good job on this beer but I just feel this beer is missing something to it.  When two breweries brew this beer, it was a big deal in the pasted.  I just feel that this adventure has loss its passion and excitement.  I normally do not care or get excited over these beers.  In most cases, they are overpriced and most cases not worth the money.  I am not saying you will like this beer but good luck getting a bottle on Ebay and other places.  I do have an extra bottle for sale if you are interested please email me.  I hope you can go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Pils Czech Style

In this blog, Lagunitas Pils Czech Style Pilsner is the beer that is going to be sampled and featured.  If you read my earlier blog on their Fusion 8, you are know a little something about this brewery.  If you did not read that blog, please, go back and read the first part of that beer.  Let us get into the beer.

This Pils has a golden color with a little white head on the beer.  It has that fresh air smell in the woods by a waterfall. The taste of this German style Pils is a sweet slightly malty carbonation to little hop aftertaste. It has a nice dry crisp finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Like Adam and Eve, Isaac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious, Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as can be.  Still, we must love each for who they are, separately but equally, with liberty, and justice, for all.  Cheers!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing out this blog, this is one of my favorite pilsner.  It has a ton of favor and I am really starting to dig into this brewery a little bit more.  I forgot how good their beers compared to the rest of the beers in the market.  This beer has a nice balance between the malt and the hops but keeping the classic beer style in mind.  This is an excellent beer and 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 Blog Lagunitas India Pale Ale

New beer tab, Lagunitas India Pale Ale is the feature beer in this new beer blog.  It is part of their everyday six-pack beer.  If you read my earlier blog on their Fusion 8, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not read it, please, go back to read the first part of it.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden color to copper color with a constant white head.  It has a citrus smell to this IPA.  The taste has a sweet slightly carbonation to citrus taste with nice citrus to piney aftertaste.  It is drinkable for being a West Coast India Pale Ale.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with the special homicidally hoppy ale.  Saavor the moment as the raging hop character engages the Imperial Qualities of the Malt Foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palate!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

Closing out the beer tab, this beer is a really awesome beer.  To me, this India Pale Ale is a dessert for IPAs.  It is very well balance and has a nice malty backbone.  It is drinkable and I cannot wait for their brewpub to open here in Chicago.  This brewery makes several great brews and puts their own twist on it.  Their beers are worth the value that you pay at the Beer Stores.   You can not say that about all the beers that are in the market.  If you are a hop head or looking for a good India Pale Ale, you need to find this beer and try it out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Brewery Fusion 8

In this blog, we are going to check out Lagunitas Brewery and the beer is Fusion 8.  Lagunitas Brewery was founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Petaluma, California.  They brew several different beer styles but they are known for their India Pale Ale.  This brewery is expanding to Chicago in 2013 and they are hoping to have their taproom open in late 2012. Let us get into the beer.

I was told when I was at the Blues Bar that this was a  special beer for Chicago.  I cannot find anything on their website or the internet.  It has a dark deep brown color without a head.  It has a chocolate and slight citrus notes for the nose. It has a sweet chocolate to slight citrus taste.  It is drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I have enjoyed many of their beers.  I cannot wait for their taproom to open and to see what they will do when they get their brewery up and running.  I heard some special things are coming to us craft beer drinkers. This is a really good beer and I wish it was in package.  Just what I said above, I believe this is just in Chicago so I hope they do some more brews like this beer.  Do not worry beer blog reader, I will be doing more blogging on this brewery soon.  Go get some if you can find it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Camp 2012

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another set of beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery.   If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  The set of beers is coming from a sampler pack called Beer Camp.  Here is the beers, which are Oatmeal Stout, Floral IPA, Imperial Red Ale, and Imperial Pilsner, that are being featured in this blog.  Let us get into the beers.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Pilsner

This beer has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this pilsner. It has a fresh air smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation with a crisp dry slight hoppy aftertaste. Sierra Nevada Imperial Pilsner is extremely drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble if they are not paying attention.  I recommend trying this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of “sticky,” resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt backbone.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Red Ale

The red ale in the glass is a dark amber color with somewhat of a white head on it. It has a sweet raisins smell to it. The taste is of a sweet carbonation malty with a weird aftertaste. I cannot really decide it to you. It is drinkable until that aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile found in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt.  It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon-balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Floral IPA

This beer has a copper cloudy color with a constant white head on it. The smell of flowers is what this India Pale Ale has going on with it. The taste is of a citrus to piney with a dry hoppy aftertaste to it. It is drinkable India Pale Ale.

Here a description from the beer bottle:

This unique take on the traditional IPA style pairs the bold and intense aromas of wholel-cone hop “flowers” with aromatic natural rose hips and petals for complex aromas and unexpected flavors.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Oatmeal Stout

It is black in color without a head on this stout. It has a chocolate to toffee smell to this Sierra Nevada Oatmeal Stout. The taste is burn malt to milky chocolate notes to the beer. It is extremely drinkable and will be troublesome to most beer drinkers.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

This big oatmeal stout is midnight black in color-with a big, roasty, mocha-like aroma.  It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.  Perfect as an after dinner treat.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com and www.sierrabeercamp.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, this was a really good set of beers in this sampler pack with a great value.  There are a few higher end beers for $19.99 price point, which makes this a great value.  I love all the beers in this pack but the Imperial Red Ale.  I believe that is the weakest one of the four.  This is the order of the beers I like and it is Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Pilsner, Floral IPA, and Imperial Red Ale.  I did blend the Imperial Red Ale and the Floral IPA into one glass.  It was pretty good.  I highly recommend you trying Beer Camp.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Hop Notch IPA

In this blog, we are going to take a look at this brewery’s, who is Uinta Brewery, flagship beer called Unita Hop Notch IPA.  If you read my earlier blog on this brewery, you are pretty much up to speed on Uinta.  Let us get into this beer.

Hop Notch is one of their everyday beers and it is not organic unlike some of their other beers.  It has a nice light copper color with a constant white head on it.  It has a slight citrus but more earthly smell to this IPA.  Hop Notch has a slight sweet citrus but more earthly to piney taste to it with nice hop finish. It is drinkable for being a 7.3% ABV.

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

Description

Bold and refreshing, this IPA combines an abundance of hops with a smooth malt profile.

Story

A play on “Top Notch” with a hoppy twist..setting new trends for beer vocabulary, “this IPA is Hop Notch.”

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer.  I love how it is drinkable and has a ton of flavor.  It might be have a nice hoppy to earthy taste but it has a nice malty backbone to balance everything in the beer.  This beer has a different twist on the west coast india pale ale style.  It is not a cookie cut west coast india pale ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser