craft beers

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 Ballast Point Manta Ray Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Ballast Point.  It is their Double IPA, which is called Manta Ray.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this California base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to Ballast Point Brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a tropical fruit to slight grapefruit notes. The taste has a nice juicy grapefruit to slight tropical notes with a dry bitter hop finish. It is almost like grapefruit notes. It is kind of drinkable for the beer style.

Here is a description from the website (www.ballastpoint.com):

This new IPA rises above the rest.
We’ve developed many IPA recipes in our R&D program, but right from the tank, our Manta Ray Double IPA was a winner. Aromas of fresh, citrusy tangerine, melon and light pine leap from the beer and linger over a smooth finish. Like its namesake, this brew can sneak up on you – a big beer without a bite.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ballastpoint.com

Twitter:  @bpbrewing

Closing, I am not a huge fan of Ballast Point.  They make great beer but the price is too high.  I will try all the new beers that hit my market.  I love trying beers that I never had it.  I saw this beer and it was a no brainier.  The tasting notes are just what I have been looking for from this craft brewery.  They hit a home run.  I love it. I will be picking up some more.  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 Payette Brewing Outlaw India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Payette Brewing for the first time.  The beer that will be feature is Outlaw India Pale Ale.  Mike Francis, who is the founder, studied at Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology after leaving his corporate job.  He founded his brewery in 2010 at Boise, Idaho.  They opened their new brewery in 2016 and they have six every day beers in cans.  They are the first craft brewery in the state that package their beers in cans.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy light amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a sweet malt forward with a citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a slight bitter aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.payettebrewing.com

Twitter:  @payettebrewing

Closing, I am a huge hophead.  I love my hops and IPA’s.  This was mine first beer that I had in my Beer Of The Month.  This beer is missing something to me.  I am not saying it is a bad beer.  I am not a huge fan of it.  I am glad that I have tried it. I believe this craft brewery does not make this beer anymore.  I cannot find it on their website.  I recommend it to try it at least once.  If you can find 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 Founders Brewing Sumatra Mountain Brown Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Founders Brewing.  It is their Sumatra Mountain Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a cloudy dark brown color with a tan constant head. The smell has a heavy coffee notes. The taste profile of this brown ale has a smooth nutty to coffee notes with a smooth slight milky coffee notes aftertaste. It is drinkable and scary because it is a 9% ABV beer.

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

Sumatra Mountain Brown

This bold, imperial brown ale gets its body from a team of malts including Caramel malt for sweetness, flaked barley for dense foam, a bit of Chocolate malt for its deep color and Aromatic and Munich malts to add even more depth. German and Perle hops add a touch of bitterness to balance the malty sweetness. The addition of rich Sumatra coffee takes this perfectly balanced imperial brown ale to a decadent level.I love this beer. I will get more. Best beer from Founders

Here is their website and Twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Closing, I was pretty speechless when trying this beer.  I was really impressed.  I felt like Founder’s Brewery was just staying in their way.  Not really doing anything new and different.  While new and upcoming craft breweries in the state were starting to take from them.  I am glad to see them doing new and different things but take their time putting it out.  There are other breweries that are living on their name and need to step up to the plate.  I am not going to say who they are.  This is a solid coffee brown ale.  This has to be my favorite or close to favorite coffee brown ale.  Great beer with a great price point in a four pack bottle.  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 Sierra Nevada Brewery Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite porters in the craft beer world.  It is Sierra Nevada Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this California craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know one of the legends in the craft beer world.  Let us get into this porter.

This porter has a black color with a semi on light brown color head. The smell has a burned to slight notes of chocolate. The taste has a creamy roasted chocolate with a roasted malty to dry chocolate aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Sierra Nevada Classic Porter is a testament to roasted malts which give it a rich bittersweet and roasted coffee like flavor.  This all-American adaptation of the traditional workingman’s ale is well-balanced and a perfect complement to a variety of foods.

Before Sierra Nevada was a reality, nights were spent perfecting homebrew recipes and dreaming of starting a brewery.  One of our favorite beers was a porter.  Made before roasted  malts were readily available, we spent time in the kitchen roasting barley for our own malt.  The result is big malt flavor – rich, bittersweet, and roasted.

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

Porters were invented as a fortifying drink for the rough-and-tumble working class of London’s bustling markets. It was brewed for good folks with calluses on their hands, doing work that needed to be done. We salute those working-class heroes with our classic Porter, brewed in the hop-forward American style and featuring a depth of malt flavor and complexity with roasted notes of black coffee and cocoa.

Origin of Porter

The origins of porter are shrouded in mystery, but most agree that by the middle 1600s there were many beers of various styles referred to as porters not because of a singular flavor characteristic, but because of their intended audience—the hardworking folks shuttling gear in England’s bustling markets. In fact, porter as we know it today—roasty, dry and dark as midnight—would have been impossible to achieve because efficient and reliable malt roasters weren’t invented for another hundred years. One thing is certain though, porters developed alongside the Industrial Revolution and as brewing technology improved, so did the technique and quality of the beer. Porter was the first mass-produced style of beer and the beer that helped build the mighty British brewing industry. It will forever be associated with London’s working class.

Stout versus Porter

While the exact origins of porter are hazy, the development of stout is more straightforward. By the 1700s bolder, high-alcohol versions of any style of beer were referred to as “stout” or strong. By then, porter was far and away the most popular beer style in the British Isles, and clever breweries began advertising the stronger versions of their beers as “stout porter.” By the late 1800s, regular porters had fallen out of favor and stout porter, or simply stout, took their place. There are many different varieties of stout ranging from the light bodied, low-alcohol Dry Irish Stout to the vicious, rich and strong Imperial Stout.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, Sierra Nevada is so beyond under rated to us here in midwest and east coast.  I am not sure on how they are viewed on the west coast.  I believe pretty highly. I just feel most craft beer drinkers just see Sierra Nevada as the brewery that makes one really good brew, which is their Pale Ale.  I love their Pale Ale but they offer so much more to their beer drinkers.  This porter is one of their finest brews that they make.  I can enjoy this beer in any season.  It is pretty drinkable and full of flavor.  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 Rochester Mills Beer Co. Cornerstone IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Rochester Mills Beer Co.  I am talking about their Cornerstone IPA.  It is their flagship beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Milkshake Stout, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is mango notes.  The taste is mango notes with nice malty backbone to cut through the hops.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Cornerstone IPA – 6.6% abv. India Pale Ale

This unfiltered amber ale is packed full of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. IPA is the most bitter beer style and it is enjoyed by people we refer to as “hopheads.” We dry hop this beer with a combination of English and American hop varieties for a wonderfully aromatic finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cplanet.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, I love this IPA from Rochester Mills Brewery.  I love the hops from aroma and taste it gives off in the beer.  It has a nice malty backbone that supports this India Pale Ale.  This beer reminds me of something the beer drinker would get from Summit Saga, Maui Brewery IPA, and/or Epic IPA.  It has a nice tropical notes.  I love this IPA and I will be drinking this brew as much as Frankenmuth Batch 69 IPA.  I highly 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 To Ol Brewery Launch Party In Chicago

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer launch in Chicago.  The brewery is To Ol Brewery from Denmark.  To Ol Brewery was founded in 2005 by Tobias Emil Jensen and Tore Gynther.  They are traveling rogue brewers.  Where they think their beer styles will be brew best that is where they will go to.  They brew in Europe and United States.  This is what makes this brewery unique and their beer is pretty much one and done, which makes their beer pretty special.  Let us get into the beers.

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Goliat Coffee Stout

This stout has a black color with a tan head on the beer.  The smell is a strong coffee and chocolate to the beer. The taste is a strong chocolate to toffee with a heavy aftertaste. This is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the website (www.to-ol.dk):

Goliat Coffee Imperial Stout

The great warrior of Gath. The mighty champion of the Philistines. Embedded in ancient folklore and religion. Coming from the World of Old. His size and stature is not human. He is bigger. The armor of Goliat is black. Creamy black lacings. Stands with a towering height. He can grab elements from both earth and heaven. Earthy, roasted, notes from the earth. Warming, pungent, sweet notes from the skies. His heart is beating slowly, almost endlessly slow. This man is thought to be invincible!

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, roasted barley, dark cassonade sugar, flaked oats, hops, gourmet coffee and yeast.

10.1% ABV / Net content 375 ml (12.7 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium.

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San Frontiere

This Belgian Blonde has a golden clear color with a white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a carbonation sweet with a tart and barnyard aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Sans Frontiere Belgian Ale

“Heaven knows no frontiers, and I’ve seen heaven in your eyes”

This is how the Frontier beer series lost their ground, missed direction and finally found themselves again. This beer has no frontiers, meaning that it can now pick and choose among brewing specialties. Instead of being an IPA, this is a rather a Belgian ale, hopped and dryhopped with continental european hops and refermented with brettanomyces. A tart, picturesque and rural beer.

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, Rock Candy, yeast and brettanomyces. 7% ABV / Net content 750 ml (25.4 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium.

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Final Frontier

This double IPA has a light copper color with a white head on it. The smell is a citrus to the beer. The taste is a strong citrus and carbonation with a dry hop to mango aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Final Frontier DIPA

“Nature is Satan’s Church”

This is it! The sequel to the hop success of First Frontier. This beer is the final in every way. We recommend it as the final of your evening! This is an extremely potent and yet well-balanced Double India Pale Ale. This beer is well suited in extreme environments, whether it be Siberian winter, Volcano eruptions on Java, Danish earthquakes(They exist!) or rush hour. This beer is seeking out frontiers and built for the test.Ingredients: Water, barley malt, flaked oats, Hops (Simcoe, Centennial, Columbus) and yeast.

9% ABV / Net content 330 ml (11.2 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

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Black Ball

This porter has dark brown to black color with a tan head on the beer. The smell is a chocolate to roasted coffee to the porter. The taste is a carbonation sweet chocolate with a burn roasted to the beer. The aftertaste is a roasted citrus to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Black Ball Porter

Black Ball is a potent porter, boasted with dark cassonade sugar and a good heap of American hops to rebalance the edgy and full-flavoured malt profile. You will find notes of chocolate, caramel and sulphur. This results in a porter with a broad and delicate mouth feel, capable of a good kick and does not leave the mouth voluntarily.

Black IPA? No way! Hoppy Porters is here to stay!

For a perfect evening, Black Ball blends perfect with a Black Rocket from the Pivovar Matuška brewery and Mikkeller Black Hole (Royalties to Theis!)

Ingredients: Water, barley malt (Lager, smoked, chocolate, cara munich and brown), roasted barley, flaked oats, dark cassonade, hops and yeast.

7.1% ABV / Net content 330 ml (11.2 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

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Mine Is Bigger Than Yours

This ale has a light clear copper color without a head on the beer. There is a slight to fate sweet malty smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet with a strong wine to the beer. The aftertaste is sweet raisin to it. The aftertaste is like a whiskey burning down your throat but calm. It is a sipping beer.

Here is description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Mine is bigger than yours Barley Wine

“When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite”

This beer is a big fat beast packed with every potent ingredient we had at the brewery. This tons of malts and hops combined in one big fat, yet balanced brew.

It  jumps higher than yours, it builds houses bigger than yours, It’s mama is fatter than yours, it chops wood faster than yours, it’s father is could beat yours…. No reason to say, but Mine is bigger than yours!

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, flaked oats, light candy sugar, hops (Columbus, Simcoe, Citra) and yeast.

12.5% ABV / Net content 375 ml (12.7 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

Here is their webiste and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.to-ol.dk

Twitter:  @toolbeer

In closing, I enjoy all of these beers.  As a rule, I like to age my Barley Wines at least a year before trying them.  I believe this Barley Wine is ready now, which is pretty rare.  I am not saying Barley Wines are not ready now.  Some barley wines are just too young coming out to the market and they are better when they age in the bottle.  The porter is like any other porter but it is pretty good beer.  I really enjoyed the stout and I believe it is best beer of all these beers.  Their Double IPA is really smooth and drinkable.  It is not over the top hoppy like most Double IPA.  I recommend you trying these beers.  I believe you will like at least a few of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Red Chair NWPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the seasonal for Deschutes Brewery.  The beer is called Red Chair NWPA (Northwest Pale Ale).  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

This seasonal pale ale has a clear copper color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is vague piney to earthly to the beer. The taste is a carbonation earthly with a dry piney aftertaste that linger. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Witness the subtle aromatic seduction of the original Northwest Pale Ale.  Another slap at brewing convention.  Another kick in the pants.  Enjoy.

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

The citrus punch of a big IPA, minus the one-dimensional hop sledgehammer.   Seven select European and domestic malts round out the edges for a complex, copper-colored brew.  Like its namesake ski lift, it’s an insider’s ride to fresh thrills.

Malt: Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carapils, Pilsner, Carastan Hops: Cascade, Centennial

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

Closing, this was a pretty enjoyable beer.  The problem I have with this beer is the bottle says pale ale and the website is saying this is India Pale Ale.  I will be honest this does taste like an IPA but more like an English style India Pale Ale.  If this is a Pale Ale, which I do not believe it is, this is better than their Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  I really love this beer.  I will add it to my line up until the season ends.  I recommend you trying this beer if you are a pale ale to india pale ale fan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at another beer from the Deschutes Brewery.  The beer is their flagship called Black Butte Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know about this brewery.  If you have not, please, the first part of that beer blog.  This brewery has been around for a while so you might know about this brewery pretty well.  Let us get into the beer.

This porter dark brown to black in color with a light tan color head on the beer.  The smell is a slight coffee to the beer. The taste is a dry chocolate to a little coffee to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

AHH, Our creamy contrary flagship a dark zig to the usual zag.

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

With a dark beer as our first and flagship brand, Black Butte defined Deschutes as a radical player.   A slight hop bitterness up front enhances the distinctive chocolate and roasted finish.  It’s prized for its creamy mouthfeel and intense complex flavors.

Malt: Pale, Carapils, Chocolate, Crystal, Wheat Hops: Cascade, Bravo, Tettnang

Watch Brewer Veronica Vega talk about the wisdom in failure and the brewery’s flagship beer, Black Butte Porter.

Awards

Bronze Medal, Brown Porter

2009 Great American Beer Festival

Best Porter

2007 Readers’ Choice Awards, Northwest Brewing News
Gold Medal, Porter Category
2007 Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal, Porter Category
2006 Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal (88 – Highly Recommended)
2005 World Beer Championships
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

Closing out, this is an extremely creamy and drinkable porter.  It is a little different then the rest of the porters on the market.  The key to this porter it is the fact it is drinkable and sessionable.  In other words, you can have several of these beers in a seating.  It is pretty balances with the hops but yet gives you a ton of chocolate notes.  Black Butte being a full body beer has a ton of flavor and I am glad it is in Chicago.  This is a great beer for any season and any weather.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser