craft beer drinker

New Beer Blog Beards Brewery Serendipity Porter

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Beards Brewery.  It is their Serendipity Porter.  We will get into a little history and then into the beer.  Beards Brewery was founded in 2012 by Ben Slocum and Peter Manthei in Petoskey, Michigan.  Let us get into this porter.

It has a jet black color without a head on this porter. The aroma has a chocolate, coffee, and a slight smokey notes. The taste has a slight creamy chocolate with a smoke to coffee notes on the back end of the tasting experience. The aftertaste has some nice smokey notes. It is not really drinkable. It is one maybe two beers and move on to the next beer.

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

Exceptionally smooth with a pronounced chocolatey flavor and balanced sweetness. Subtle notes of cherry and smoke on the finish. Pairs well with desserts featuring peanut butter and chocolate, or a second glass of Serendipity

Here is their website and Twitter addresses:

Website:  www.beardsbrewery.com

Twitter:  @beardsbrewery

Ending, there is so many new craft breweries opening and entering the beer market.  I believe it is hard for new craft breweries to do something different than the other breweries.  It is a solid beer. I love it, however, it is not Great Lakes Fitz. I will buy  Great Lakes’ Porter over this porter.  I am not saying it a bad beer.  It is a great beer and they did a great job.  I can get Great Lakes Porter cheaper. 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 Almanac San Francisco IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from Almanac Brewery on this blog.  It is their San Francisco IPA.  I will get you a short history and then break down this beer.  Almanac Brewery started in 2010 by Jesse Friedman and Damian Fagan. The brewery is located in the northern part of California.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy bright golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to grapefruit notes. The taste has a citrus to grapefruit notes with a dry hop bitter finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

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

6.5% ABV |  Draft & 12oz cans

This West Coast IPA features an explosive aroma of citrus, tropical fruit and dankness from a blend of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Hallertau Blanc and El Dorado hops. Intensely hoppy without overt bitterness, a light malt backbone balances this IPA, giving it a clean finish and making it a beer to be enjoyed again and again. Inspired by San Francisco but brewed to be enjoyed everywhere. Enjoy with super burritos, hangtown fry, and rich cioppino.

Fresh Beer

Our Fresh Beer Series delivers the best in farm fresh beer. Big flavors, bold yeast characters and huge hop aromas reflect our rich California agricultural bounty. Every beer is brewed, packaged and shipped with an eye towards maximum freshness. All of our Fresh Beers are designed to pair with a wide variety of cuisine—so enjoy a pour of The Golden State’s most flavorful beer.

Here is their website and Twitter addresses:

Website:  www.almanacbeer.com

Twitter:  @almanacbeer

In the end, I did not know anything about this craft brewery until it entered my state.  Just like Ballast Point Brewery, the price point kills this beer.  It is good but the price point is too high.  There are some great IPA’s that have a lower price point.  I get it.  It is hard for smaller breweries to get their price down.  It is also hard for breweries that have to ship their beers over multiple states.  I recommend it because it is still a good 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 Mt. Pleasant Brewing Iron Horse IPA

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In  this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Mt. Pleasant Brewing and the beer is called Iron Horse India Pale Ale.  There is not a ton of information of when this brewery started but they are from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  The State of Michigan has been seeing a huge growth of up and coming craft breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a hazel copper color with a heavy constant white head. The smell of this full body has a heavy grapefruit to it. The taste is a heavy grapefruit to the beer has a grapefruit aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

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

Iron Horse I.P.A. An American pale ale with full hops flavor and aroma Don’t be shy, try it.  Like any good I.P.A. this one has plenty of hop presence but not so much that it is not approachable by our hop-weary friends.  Instead of biggering and biggering like so many I.P.A.s these days we are keepin’ it real with a beer that will make you want to drink more than just one.  Don’t worry though, hops heads, this beer still has enough bite to cut through any spicy dish you might want to pair it with.  Try one, or five, with buffalo wings or a spicy blackened chicken dish. Iron Horse can also go quite well with shrimp, crab, or other light fish, so we have heard from a few of our loyal patrons.  So, belly up and try Iron Horse if you have ever wondered what a good I.P.A is like.  We promise you won’t be disappointed.  ABV – 6.6%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mtpleasantbrew.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

In closing, I thought this beer was a little different to me.  It has a heavy grapefruit to this full body India Pale Ale.  If you love grapefruit, this will be a beer you need to try it.  I have some mix feelings towards this beer.  I would not say I do not like it but I would not say it is not one of my favorites.  I would like to try this beer on draft to get a better feel towards this beer.  I will have to say this beer is worth a shot of trying this India Pale Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewing Diesel

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite breweries out of New York City.  The brewery is Sixpoint Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Diesel Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know how I feel towards this brewery and the history of it.   If you have not, please, read the beer blog called Sixpoint Brewing Apollo.  Let us get into this great stout.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color with a light tan color head to the stout. The smell is a chocolate with a citrus to the beer. The taste is a complex full body beer. It has a chocolate to coffee with piney with a dry chocolate aftertaste. It is drinkable beer to me but I can see people thinking it is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Each dawn is clear cold air bites the throat.  Thick frost on the pine bough leaps from the tree snapped by the diesel.  On the darkest days of the year, light becomes a luxury.  Just when you think you cannot penetrate the darkness…SNAP!  Light pieces through the roasted pine forest.

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

Diesel

Winter

This undefinable black brew is part black IPA, part American Stout, but 100% Diesel powered. Robust chocolate and roasted flavors, with thick pine hop flavor and aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

Closing out the winter season, I am sadden by the fact that winter is ending because I love the fall and winter sesaonal beers.  Spring and summer seasonals beer are not one of my favorites.  I really loves this beer because it gives you something little different.  However Sixpoint Brewing gives the craft beer drinker something different, this is way I love Sixpoint.  The craft beer drinker will get the stout and then the snap of the piney at the back part of the tasting experience.  The piney hops echo in the aftertaste.  This is a beer that will give you more for the beer drinker.  If you are looking for the normal stout, this beer is not for you.  If you are a stout or hophead that is looking for something different in your beer, this beer is perfect for you.  I know this beer is not going to be for everyone.  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 Ghostrider White India Pale Ale

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While in Milwaukee again, we are going to get into a beer at John’s Hawks in downtown Milwaukee.  I have to say this bar has a great beer selection and awesome food.  It is a hidden gem in Milwaukee and I hope more people find this bar soon.  I could not find any information on this brewery.  I found the brewery site with the same name but this beer is not listed.  I do not want to give wrong information.  Let us get into this great beer.

The color is a hazel yellow without a head on the beer.  The smell is a fresh grass and more earthly to the beer.  The taste is a wheaty to yeast with a sweet carbonation earthly to the beer.  The aftertaste is not really there but fate. It is a pretty drinkable beer for wheat and IPA fans.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Legend has it the Ghostrider roams the high-desert seeking revenge on those who stole his recipe for the perfect IPA. … we might be in trouble.

Here is a description from a beer blogger like myself (www.utahbeer.blogspot.com):

It’s looking to be a White Xmas this year at Wasatch Brewing. Yesterday we had the debut of Switch, a Port barrel aged Belgian style Witbier. Today we have its cousin, an aggressively hopped – hybrid beer called Ghostrider White IPA.

First of all it has one of the best looking labels to adorn a local bottle in quite some time. Inside is a beer style that’s becoming very popular in the U.S., the White IPA.

At it’s most basic, a White IPA is a beer that mixes the hop-character and brewing techniques of an India Pale Ale with the wheat base and spice additions of the refreshing Belgian witbier.

GhostRider pours a cloudy, light straw color with a nice sudsy white cap. The nose is full of citrus with hints of wheat and coriander.  The beginning of each sip starts out like a wheat beer with notes of biscuit, coriander, lemongrass, and orange peel. Mid palate big citrusy tangerine hops “pop” adding a bit of bitterness to the back of the tongue. Swallowing the beer releases more of the soft and grainy wheat flavors with an emphasis on coriander & cloves in the finish. 6.0% ABV in 12 oz. bottles

This is a nice twist on an IPA. It takes many of the traditional characteristics of a Witbier and combines them with an intense hop character. The flavors come together quite nicely to make this easy to drink, smooth, enjoyable beer.

In closing, I am not a huge fan of this new trend in the IPA sub categories.  I am hoping it is a trend because White India Pale Ales are growing pretty fast.  There is new White IPA popping on the market everyday.  I have to say I did enjoy  this beer very much.  It was not over the top with yeast or wheaty taste.  It was pretty balance.  I have to say I pick up more hints of the hops.  I would add this to my line up if it was available in Chicago.  I recommend this beer if you can find it in your market.  I know this is not available in the Chicago market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Anodyne Brown

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While in Milwaukee again, I went on the Milwaukee Brewing Brewery Tour and I saw this brown ale.  This was experimental beer and it is called Anodyne Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

This coffee brown has a brown color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is a coffee. The taste is hazelnut cover coffee with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewco.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Closing out, this American brown ale infused with coffee has a ton going on in it.  I love the smooth and drinkablity of it.  The brown and coffee is not overpowering.  It has a nice balance between the two elements in this beer.  Just what I said above and about Dark Matter, this is a experimental beer.  I have to say this brewery has found ways to push themselves forward and the craft beer world.  I just wish more people would get to know their beers and brewery. I wish more beer bloggers would share more love to them.  This is a great beer and I hope to see it in bottles or cans in the future.  Go do their brewery tour.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Double IPA

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While in Milwaukee again, I was up in Milwaukee to see my friends from Milwaukee Brewing.  The name of the beer is called Dark Matter.  If you have read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This Double IPA has a golden to amber color with a white head.  There is not a smell to the beer.  It is hard to smell in while on the brewery tour.  It has a sweet silky citrus taste without aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer for being a big beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I do not know if this is one I had back in the fall but this Double IPA is amazing.  I really enjoyed the one in the fall and I loved this one too.  It was hard to smell the beer in the brewery so if there is a smell I am sorry I did not pick it up.  I love the taste of the hops and the balance of the malty backbone.  This was a smooth Double IPA.  Uinta Detour Double IPA is my favorite but I have to say this one sets the standards for me for some double IPA’s in the Midwest Breweries.  I wish this was in bottle or cans.  I hope they do it in the future.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Dark Matter

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While in Milwaukee again, I went back up to Milwaukee to visit my friends from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  I wanted to meet Kurt and try some beers I can not get down in Chicago.  Kurt is a very nice guy.  I have to say he has to be the nicest brewer I have ever met.  Believe me, I have met several ones.  I hope to have a beer with him really soon.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

Dark Matter has a jet black color with a brown to tan head on it. The smell is a chocolate to toffee to the beer.  It is hard to smell while on a brewery tour. The taste is a chocolate malty sweet with light carbonation. The aftertaste is a smooth burn down the throat. This is true to German style but took to the next level.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, this was experimental beer.  I have to say it was very smooth, rich, and with full body flavor.  I love the smell, taste, and the aftertaste.  This beer does not drink like a 10.5% ABV beer.  I am glad I was up in Milwaukee to try this beer.  I do not know if I have ever saw Imperial Schwarzbier.  I have had normal Schwarzbier and I love this German beer style.  I hope they get a response to this beer and they put it into cans in the future.   I recommend you trying this beer and their brewery tour.  It is one of the best ones in Milwaukee.  I believe I learn something new the last two times I went 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 Tallgrass IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my one of my favorite brewery that is not in the Chicago market.  The beer is Tallgrass India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog post on their 8-Bit Pale Ale, you know about this brewery.  If you did not, please, read that beer post on their flagship beer.  Let us get into this beer.

The color is light cooper with a hint of amber with a semi white head on the beer.  The smell is earthly. The taste is earthy with a dry piney aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their beer can:

Bombastically Hopped.  Surprisingly Malty.  Pour a Pint…..

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

IPA (ABV 6.3%, 60 IBU)

Our third beer, Tallgrass IPA, is an India Pale Ale that is rich, complex, and flavorful. We are proud to be the first brewery here in the Great Plains to have the first brewed, cans, and draft IPA out on the market!

Tallgrass IPA originally came to life as a creation during Jeff’s early homebrewing days (batch Numero Uno), and it was consumed in short order by his friends who came over to cook out and help with the next batch. After some modifications over the years (because nobody’s rookie homebrew batch tastes all that great, but your friends will tell you it does) the recipe was dialed in to become what is now Tallgrass IPA. We love this beer and think you will too!

What is with the name “India Pale Ale”? Well, India Pale Ales have a history that reaches way back to the days of the British Empire and the need for good and proper British beer for the soldiers in India. It just so happens that hops not only taste and smell great, they also have natural preservative properties that help keep beer fresher. Obviously, there was no way to keep beer cool on the long voyage around Cape Horn from England to India, so the intellectual forebearers of modern microbiology (genius brewers of course!) figured that if some hops were good for storage then heaps of hops would be great!

With this technique, these hero brewers and their hops kept the beer good and the soldiers of the empire inebriated, even in the furthest corners of the globe. Even more, the hoppiness of the IPA preserved not only the beer itself, but the great taste it created has preserved the style as one of the most popular beer styles in the world in the 21st century. If those brewers weren’t knighted by the empire back then, they should have been!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @tallgrassbeer

Closing out, so far all the beers that I had from this brewery.  I have loved to death.  I love their packaging to the liquid.  This India Pale Ale is great but I do believe this beer is not an American India Pale Ale.  It has more a feel of English style IPA and with the description from their website, I believe they are embracing it.  Most American IPA are very hoppy and this beer is not.  That is why I am basing my facts on that.  I am not a brewer.  If they believe it is American IPA, it is American IPA.  This is my thought pattern.  I highly recommend this beer and I love this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser