can beer

New Beer Blog Tallgrass Brewing Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer seasonal from Tallgrass Brewing.  It is their Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a light tan head on this vanilla stout.  The smell is heavy vanilla with some chocolate notes.  The taste is smooth and creamy vanilla to slight chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is a hint of vanilla notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style: Oatmeal Cream Stout Brewed with Vanilla Beans ABV 5.0% IBU 20 Full Brew Birthday: November 2012 Interesting Fact: There are free-roaming buffalo just ten miles from our brewery.

To create Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat we start with our best-selling beer, Buffalo Sweat. We carefully infuse this award- winning oatmeal cream stout with whole Ugandan vanilla beans. This enhances the beer’s natural dark-roasted flavors of espresso, chocolate, and creamy sweetness. “Liquid chocolate chip espresso cookies” is how one fan described its unique flavor.

The perfect treat on a winter’s day.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @TallgrassBeer

In closing, I was getting worried when I moved out of Chicago that I would not have a chance to get my hands on this brew.  I was happy to make it in town to move more things back to Michigan to get my hands on this beer.  I was pretty excited.  This brewery cannot make a bad beer.  They are like Tesla and Iron Maiden.  Both of those bands never put out a bad record and Tallgrass Brewery has not put out a bad beer.  The vanilla bean cuts through the chocolate and creamy stout.  The chocolate notes are still there but vanilla shines through this beer like some kind of prime time movie star.  If you are a fan of stout and/or vanilla bean, you will need to find a can of this great liquid.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Griffin Claw Brewing Norm’s Raggedy Ass India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out two brews for the first time here on this blog.  I am talking about Griffin Claw Brewing.  This review will be their  Norm’s Raggedy Ass India Pale Ale and the other review will be their Grind Line Pale Ale that will be released tomorrow.  There is not much history on this brewery.  Their website does not say much, however, I believe they started this year.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell has malty to bad citrus notes.  The taste has a piney to bad wet citrus notes.  There is a bad hop taste to aftertaste.  It is like a bad import beer taste.  It is not really drinkable.

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

No corners are cut to brew our World Beer Cup champion Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA. The key is in the giant, wonderful combination of piney, citrusy, and fruity hops with a surprisingly low malt profile.   In other words, this is a powerhouse beer but it won’t make you drowsy. You’ll probably just want to order another pint

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @Griffinclaw

In the end, I was pretty excited to see this on shelves of my local liquor store.  Since getting back from Chicago, my goal is to try any Michigan craft beer  that I can get in my hand.  I have to say that I have had some good ones and some bad ones.  I heard somethings about Griffin Claw Brewing and I was happy to see their beers in cans.  I love beer in cans because it protects it from its two enemies, who are air and sunlight.  I love how this beer looked.  I did not like the aroma and the taste.  I just believe this beer is not balanced enough or the hops are just a bad mix.  It is not a good beer.  I do not know if I just brought a bad beer and I will try it again.  As of right now, I am pretty disappointed. I did retry this beer at Sports Locker in Livonia on draft. I know now I had a bad can or batch. It is better. I still do not like the hops that they are using in the beer. I recommend you trying this brew.  I am not a huge fan but it is better than the first can I had. This does not mean you will not like it.  Please, let me know what your thoughts are on this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser