In this beer blog, we are going to get into a nice English style porter from Great Lakes Brewery. It is their Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Ohio base craft brewery. Let us get into this porter.
It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head on this porter. The aroma has a smokey roasted malts along with hints of chocolate and coffee notes. The taste of this full body has a smooth sweet chocolate to coffee notes. The aftertaste has a dry chocolate to coffee finish. It is a sipping beer but this one is kind of drinkable.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Thanks to our craft brewing process, when you take a swig of our Edmund Fitzgerald, it will taste smoky, robust, dark, and bittersweet. Thanks to our environmental efforts, if you take a swig of Lake Erie, it won’t taste smoky, robust, dark, and bittersweet.
Named after the ship that frequently docked in Cleveland and sunk in Lake Superior in 1975, our porter combines a complex, roasty aroma with a bitterweet, chocolate-coffee taste.
In keeping with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, 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):
Edmund Fitzgerald® Porter | Great Lakes Brewing Company
Robust and complex, our Porter is a bittersweet tribute to the legendary freighter’s fallen crew—taken too soon when the gales of November came early.
FlavorBrewed in memory of the sunken freighter, with rich roasted barley and bittersweet chocolate-coffee notes.Packaging:
- 6-pack
- 12-pack
- Draft
ABV – 6.0%IBU – 37Pairs With Oysters, chocolate, and heartfelt balladryBeer Availability:
- Year-Round Beer
World Beer Championships12-Time Medal Winner Since 1991 (World Champion, Platinum, Gold, Silver)Great American Beer Festival Awards5-Time Medal Winner Since 1991 (Gold, Silver)Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Twitter: @GLBC_Cleveland
Closing, there is not too many craft breweries out there that has a dark beer as their flagship beer. Great Lakes Brewery is known for this brew. It is a nice English style porter and it is one that the craft beer drinkers use to compare to other porters. This beer is Midwest go to porter and dark beer. There is some nice tasting notes that will have you coming back to even in the hot summer days. It is really a sipping beer but some people make it a drinkable beer. This is one of my favorite English porters. I love it. I wished they did other versions in package. I mean a vanilla bean, cherry, etc versions of the porter. I know do it in draft but I am talking package. Speaking of package, I wish this beer was in cans and I pretty stun this brewery does not put any of their beers in cans. 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 Great Lakes Brewery Dortmunder Gold Lager
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another everyday beer from Great Lakes Brewery. It is their flagship Lager, which is Dortmunder Gold Lager. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Great Lakes Brewery. Let us get into this Golden Lager.
This Dortmunder Style Lager has a clear clear golden color with a white constant head. The smell has a slight hint of corn. The taste of this medium body has a sweet malty to hints of corn. The aftertaste has a clean dry crisp finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
our Dortmunder Gold is a consistent gold medalist and a balanced golden lager (do you see a pattern forming?). In the Middle Ages, this style brewed in Germany was so popular it required armed escorts when exported to surrounding towns. As you can see, this beer was and still is as good as gold!
Not as dry as a Pilsner or as malty as a Munich-style lager, our golden lager is a balanced beer named after Dortmund, Germany, the city where the Dortmunder style originated.
In keeping with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, this beer is traditionally brewed from all natural ingredients: barley, hops, yeast, and water.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Twitter: @GLBC_Cleveland
Closing, as many of you know, I have been on the hunt for the perfect craft lager. I know I have found one in St Louis. It is Urban Chestnut Brewery’s Zwickel. I cannot get that beer in my market. I am still looking for a good craft lager that I can get in my beer market. I believe I might have found it with Great Lakes Brewery Dort Gold. This Golden Lager is well balance but still gives you flavor unlike the mass-produced lagers. I have to say this is one of best lagers in my market. It is drinkable beer. 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 Great Lakes Brewery Eliot Ness Amber Lager
Great Lakes Brewery Elliot Ness Amber Lager is the feature brewery and beer in this beer blog. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Ohio base craft brewery. Let us get into this Amber Lager.
This Amber Lager has a clean Amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a sweet malty to hints of caramel and candy notes. The taste of this medium body has a sweet malty to caramel notes with a smooth crisp aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
In memory of Eliot Ness and his paddy wagon of guilty criminals, we have the “Fatty Wagon” (minus the criminals). Our eco-friendly Fatty Wagon and beer delivery truck both run or straight vegetable oil (SVO), which results in lower toxic emissions and a 25% savings over the cost of regular diesel fuel.
named after the one-time Cleveland Safety Director who frequented the original bar that is now the Great Lakes Brewpub, our deep amber lager has a faint hop nose and a slightly sweet finish.
In keeping with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, 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):
Eliot Ness® Amber Lager | Great Lakes Brewing Company//
Admittedly, it’s a bit of a paradox to name our Amber Lager for history’s most famous agent of prohibition. But it’s a smooth, malty (and dare we say, arresting?) paradox.
Flavor: Almost untouchably smooth–armed with lightly toasted malts and noble hops.Packaging:
- 6-pack
- Draft
Glassware:
- Mug
ABV: 6.1%IBU: 27Pairs WithSmoked meats, hearty breads, and a classy fedoraBeer Availability:
- Year-Round Beer
World Beer Championships: 12-Time Award Winner Since 1995 (Gold, Silver)Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Twitter:
Closing, I am a little slow but I am starting to realize that Great Lakes Brewery makes some great beers. I love their porter, pale ale, and their golden lager. I will be adding this brew to that list. There is a nice balance in this amber lager. This beer has a nice smooth creamy aftertaste. I love the caramel notes and the overall balance in this beer. This is a great Amber Lager. I love it. I will be adding this beer in the later summer and fall days. This beer and banana bread beer will a nice break in the fall from all the pumpkin and Octoberfest brews. I highly recommend this beer. Plus, this beer is so much better than Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Brooklyn Lager. 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 Perrin 98 Problems IPA
In this beer blog, we are going to sample 98 Problems IPA from Perrin Brewery. This is the first time that this craft brewery is being featured on this blog. Here is a little history on this brewery. Perrin Brewery was founded in 2012 just outside of Comstock, Michigan. Their goal is to make drinkable and session-able beers. They were sold to Osckar Blues in 2015. They will be releasing six-pack 12oz cans by the end of the year. Let us get into this IPA.
It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The smell has an earthly to floral notes. There is more floral notes. The taste of this medium body has a smooth earthy to slight piney notes. The aftertaste has a smooth but bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.perrinbrewing.com
Twitter: @PerrinBrewing
In the end, this is a pretty young craft brewery in Michigan. They are starting to make some noise around the state and country. I know many people outside of the State of Michigan that want their beers. They are the guys that started the whole Grapefruit IPA trend. I love this beer. I might be drinking this more when it is in package than Goose Island IPA. There is a nice balance in this India Pale Ale. Untappd says it is an American IPA. I believe it is like Goose Island IPA. They are both English style India Pale Ales. They use Michigan grown hops but they are all original from Europe. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Metal it! Enjoy it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser16@gmail.com
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog Beer Stores In Southeast Michigan Part 2
In this beer blog, we are going to talk more about the liquor stores in my area and market. This is a follow-up from a blog that I wrote about year ago. I just find some of these stores do things that are good or bad and craft or import beer drinkers should know. I see some stores that are under charging and there are others that are over charging. Let us get into each of the stores.
Wine palace
If you live in the Livonia or Westland area, you know about this liquor store. They have a great liquor and wine selection. I have been told that they have some gems over there too. We are here to talk about the beer selection. They have a great craft beer and import selection. Just like everywhere else, you do need to watch code dates. If they know you are one of their regulars, you will get some of the one off or limited releases. They have a great Import selection and a nice beer cave. Their prices are one of the best in town. Their prices go pretty well against the Meijer down the street. Overall, this is a place to check out.
Marcus Market
This place is located in the Wayne State area. They have an average to below average beer selection. The huge problem with this store is they are not on top of their stuff. What I mean, they do not know what most of their beer and product cost in their store. Their prices are pretty high or way too low. For example, which I have many, Blake’s 6 pack cans for $19.99, which should be around $9.99 and 10.99 like other stores. Bell’s Planet Series Uranus single bottle (12oz) for $4.99. While other stores are charges $2.99. There is some cider and beer that are under cost. There is a cider from Blakes that other stores charge $24.99. They were charging $9.99. They do not have too many rare beers or ciders, however, they have a great Mead selection just watch the prices. Their little restaurant in the back of the store is a most try. Asides that, stay away from this store.
Forrest
This is another place not far from Wayne State either. Their prices are pretty good. They are little high but not by much. They have a pretty good beer selection for craft beers and ciders. This is a great store when you want some cheap beer with a good craft beer. They get a ton of rare and limited craft beers and ciders. You will need to ask guys behind the counter. They have a nice staff and they are willing to help their customers. I highly recommend this store. If you are in the Wayne State area, come here and not Marcus Market.
Holiday Market Royal Oak
I have been here a few times. I have not been here in a while. I just know if I cannot find a beer in my area. I can take a trip to the east side of the City of Detroit to get it. They have an awesome craft beer and cider selection. I know many of friends said if you are a regular. You will get some of the one off and limited releases. If you live on the east side, I highly recommend this place.
Closing, I know there are so many other stores and I know that I keep forgetting some of them. Please, let me know about them and I will check them out. I will do a write-up on them. I hope you learn something from reading this post. Let me know about your thoughts. 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 Left Hand Brewery 400 Pound Monkey IPA
In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from Left Hand Brewery. It is one of their everyday brews, which is 400 Pound Monkey IPA. Left Hand Brewery was founded in 1993 by Dick Doore and Eric Wallace. They brought an old meat-packing building just outside the City of Longmont, Colorado. This brewery is in 29 states and sell their brands in parts of Europe and Japan. Let us get into this English Style IPA.
It has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this English India Pale Ale. There is not smell to this brew. The taste has an earthly notes with earthly to herbal aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: lefthandbrewing.com
Twitter: @lefthandbrewing
Ending, there is not too many English style IPA’s on the market in the States. On top of that, there is not too many good English style IPA. There is a nice balance and the malty backbone cuts nicely with the hops. The backbone lets the hops shine nicely in this brew. It is a good beer but not as good as Goose Island IPA. I use Goose Island IPA to compare to other English style IPA and some West Coast IPA. It is just nice to get a good English style IPA to break through all the West Coast IPA or American IPA. There is too many bad IPA’s on the market. They are normally over hopped to hide all the mistakes. I 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 Victory Hop Devil India Pale Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer that is one of Victory Brewery’s everyday beers. It is their Hop Devil India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this East Coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Victory Brewery. Let us get into this IPA.
It has a clear copper color without a head on this IPA. The aroma has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
The mythical HopDevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy, and menacingly delicious. He’s the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hopback and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion.
Here is a descriation from their website (www.victorybeer.com):
HopDevil IPA
American India Pale Ale
The mythical HopDevil® resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He’s the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hopback and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion.
Composition
Malt: Imported 2 row German malts
Hops: Whole flower American hops
ABV: 6.7%
Flavor
Bold, spicy and Menacingly Delicious™, this American hopped India Pale Ale offers an aromatic punch and then follows through with a lasting, full-bodied finish provided by quality German malts.
Food Pairings
Cheddar cheese, BBQ ribs and grilled meats
Serving Suggestion
Serve chilled in a Nonic or Imperial pint glass.
Availability
Available year-round in 12oz. bottles and on draft.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.victorybeer.com
Twitter: @victorybeer
In the end, I have always been a fan of this brew and craft brewery. I was looking at my blog and I was wondering why I never posted a review on this beer. They picked a few good hops. They have a great and well build malty backbone. Could you say it is like every other IPA on a market? You could be right. This beer is better than most IPA. I like it and I will buy more of this beer. It is drinkable and I just wished it was in a 12pk bottles. 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 Shipyard Smashed Blueberry
In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Shipyard Brewery. It is their limited release brew, which is Smashed Blueberry Stout. The first time Smashed Stout series are being put into a 12oz bottles. It is normally in a 22oz bottles and they are still putting it in a 22oz bottles. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get know Shipyard Brewery. Let us get into this stout.
It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head. There is not any aroma. The taste of this stout has a chocolate cover blueberries notes. The aftertaste has a chocolate to blueberry finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.shipyard.com
Twitter: @shipyardbrewing
Closing, this brewery has a nice balance and it is pretty smooth. It is kind of scary that Imperial Stout is pretty drinkable brew. Normally Imperial Stouts are heavy and sipping beers. It does not drink like an imperial stout. I like it, however, I cannot see the money that I spend on it. It is drinks like a normal stout. I recommend this beer but I just feel you will be mad about how much you paid for it. 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 Bell’s Brewery Uranus The Magician Black Double India Pale Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Bell’s Brewery Planet Series. it is Uranus The Magician Black Double India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this Black IPA.
It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head on this Black IPA. The aroma has a chocolate to citrus notes. The taste of this medium body has a creamy chocolate with a touch of citrus notes. The aftertaste has a bitter with hints of chocolate and coffee notes. It is sipping beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.” Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.
Here is a description from their website (www.bellsbeer.com):
Bell’s Brewery, Inc. :: Uranus – The Magician
TASTING NOTES: The sixth release in our Planets Series, Uranus, is a Black Double IPA. It is also our first large release of this style of beer. The hop profile is enormous and complex with help from Citra, Galaxy, Polaris and other hard to find hops. The use of de-bittered or de-husked black malt lends color without the overly astringent or roasty flavors normally associated with stouts and porters. Don’t let the illusion of The Magician deceive you. Dank, tropical, stone fruit, citrus, floral and pine hop characteristics with a touch of light chocolate are all revealed
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.bellsbeer.com)
Twitter: @bellsbrewery
Closing, Bell’s Brewery did a great job on this beer along with Mars Double IPA. I hope they revisit both of these beers. There is a nice balance and one of better Double Black IPA as a limited release. I love this beer. This is beyond far best one asides Mars. This series of beers has been pretty hit and miss. There is one more beer to come out from this series. I am looking forward to that stout. 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 New Belgium Pear Ginger Beer
In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from New Belgium Brewery’s Lips Of Faith. It is their Pear Ginger Beer. This beer is a limited released beer. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of New Belgium Brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.
It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The smell has a slight ginger and a little hint of pear. The taste of this light to medium body has a sweet ginger to pear notes along with some citrus notes. It is almost like a pear shandy. The aftertaste has a slight burn like hot peppers but it has some spicy notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Add fizz and flavor to the mix with this spicy ginger meets citrusy pear concoction. A tantalizing beer on its own, pear ginger is also eager to bring a crisp tartness to your cocktail creations. Recipes and mixology at www.newbelgium.com
Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):
Pear Ginger Beer
Our latest Lips of Faith release updates the Victorian-era ginger beer with whimsical additions of pear and lemon peel, creating a zesty, invigorating summer sipper crafted for beer glasses and mixologists’ cocktail shakers alike. Warming, spicy ginger punctuates a lively wash of sunny lemon, pear and bready white wheat for a sip that starts sweet, but finishes with just the right amount of heat. Drink it straight, no chaser, or put a new spin on a classic gimlet—either way, shake it up this season with Pear Ginger Beer.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.newbelgium.com
Twitter: @newbelgium
In the end, I have to be honest. I was not too sure how I was going to feel about this beer. This beer is pretty unique. I do not know of another beer like this in the market or in the craft beer world. I know their is ginger beers on the market. New Belgium took that beer style and made a beer that you can use to make mix drinks. i am not a fan of mix drinks and hard liquor, I like this beer. I just feel to me it is not worth the money. I believe there is some craft beer drinkers and beer drinkers that will enjoy this beer. I 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
DJ Weiser 