craft ipa

New Beer Blog New Belgium RyePA

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While in Fort Collins, Co, we are going to sample another brew, which is RyePA, from New Belgium Brewery.  I was pretty excited to get out there. I had a great time at the brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Top Five Craft Brewery in the States.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this Rye IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a nice constant white head.  The aroma has piney, earthy, and spicy notes.  The taste has a medium carbonation with malty and piney notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hoppy finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Artisan maltster River Bend Malt House of Asheville, North Carolina, kiln a perfect rye. And when you pair gobs of their spicy rye with heaps of spicy hops you get a great Hop Kitchen Beer. This unique, and collaborative, Rye IPA boasts a bold blend of Simcoe, Galaxy, Cascade, and Mosaic hops to bring a thunderous 75 IBU. Have a sip and feel the bang.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing out my day at New Belgium, I had a great time at the brewery and I hope to return their again soon.  I had a chance to go through a whole brewery tour and try several beers.  I trird to get take notes on as many beers as I could.  When I sipped this beer, I knew I had to write a review on this RyePA.  I love the sweet and bitter from this beer.  It is in that order on the tasting experience.  There is a nice malty backbone that holds up to a nice selection of hops used in this beer.  Rye IPA’s are quickly becoming a pretty popular beer style in the IPA world.  I will have to say this is the best Rye IPA that I have ever had.  I love Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA.  New Belgium has topped it and took it to the next level.  I wish I could get this in Michigan but I guess I will have to find someone to trade with to get a few bottles.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Old Dominion Brewing Double D Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Double D Double IPA from Old Dominion Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Morning Glory Espresso Stout, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know Old Dominion Brewing.  Let us get into the brew.

This Double IPA has a clear slightly dark copper color with a nice  white head on it.  The aroma has tropical fruit notes.  The taste has mango to citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Her parents named her Deanie Davis.  Uncle Same assigned her call letters: Double D.  This daring Imperial IPA detonates at 50 IBU’s and 9% ALC. by Vol.

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

Double D Double IPA

Double D is a full-bodied Imperial India Pale Ale, flaunting sultry guava, mango, and tropical fruit aromas as a result of dry hopping with Citra, Zythos and Crystal hops. Brewed with light toasted malt and Bravo bittering hops, this double delights with smooth warming alcohols and a torrid finish.

  • 9.0% alc/vol
  • 90 IBUS
  • Best IPA Atlantic City Beer Festival
  • Pale, Munich and Chocolate Malts
  • Zythos, Crystal, Citra and Bravo Hops
  • Available In 12oz bottles, draft and in the Pinup Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fordhamanddominion.com

Twitter:  @DominionBrewing

In the end, I have enjoyed most of their beers.  I know being a reader and someone who knows me away from the words of this blog.  I am pretty big fan of this brewery.  I love how this Double IPA drinks.  It has all the hop character that I love.  I love how the hops kick off tropical fruit notes.  I just think it is pretty funny how I am not a fan of tropical fruits.  LOL!  I love them in my beer. This beer is not a drinkable beer but it is a nice sipping beer for a hot summer day or night.  This is a great beer with nice packaging.  I love the play on words for the name of this beer.  I highly recommend 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 Harpoon Brewery Rich And Dan’s Rye IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Harpoon Brewery.  It is their Rye India Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blog post from two days ago, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read it to get to know Harpoon Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with nice white head on this Rye IPA.  The aroma has a spicy hop notes.  The taste has a slight carbonated spicy citrus notes with a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A new take on IPA style, this beer has a dry, subtly spicy character derived from the rye malt, and a complex body balanced by a marked hop flavor and aroma.  Cheers!

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

After 25 years of running a brewery, Harpoon founders Rich and Dan thought it was high time they brewed a beer together.  Truth be told, they didn’t want their name on it.  Truth really be told, they have a running joke as to whether it’s Rich and Dan’s Rye IPA or Dan and Rich’s Rye IPA. Regardless of the order, the point is the same: they’ve been friends for three decades and still love having a beer together. It’s a testament to great beer and friendship, and it made sense, in this case, to name names. Grab your pals and toast to friendship with this Rye IPA!

Description

This beer is brewed with hops, a variety of malts, our proprietary yeast – the same yeast we’ve used since first brewing Harpoon Ale – and more hops. A lot more hops. Centennial and Chinook, and the dry hop addition of Falconer’s Flight add a multidimensional hop character, and the combination of Pale, Rye, Caramel 60, Flaked Rye, and Vienna yield a complex malt body that stands up to the spiciness of the rye and the pronounced hop flavor.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance:  hazy, deep orange with a reddish hue
  • Aroma: citrus, fruity aroma with an underlying spice note
  • Mouth feel:  medium-bodied, slightly chewy
  • Taste: the spice from the rye is balanced by the malt blend
  • Finish: dry, distinct hop finish

Here is a video from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com) and YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

Ending, Rye IPA are fastly becoming a very popular and growing beer style in the India Pale Ale styles.  It gives the craft beer and hophead drinker something else then the normal India Pale Ale.  White IPA, IPL, and Rye IPA are new and growing.  There are craft breweries pushing the limits of their brewery to give the craft beer drinker something different.  I like this Rye IPA but I know there are better ones on the market.  This one is in my top five of Rye IPA’s.  Unlike most Rye IPA’s on the market, this is one of the few that is available all year-long.  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 Surly Brewing Furious Beer

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Surly Brewery.  It is their flagship beer, which is called Furious Beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Over Rated!  IPA, you know the history of this craft brewery that made it back to the Chicago Market in 2013.  If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It is cloudy light amber color with a white head that disappears over time.  The smell is a heavy grapefruit notes.  There is a slight carbonation grapefruit notes in the tasting experience.  The aftertaste is a grapefruit notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

A tempest on the tongue or a moment of pure hop bliss?  Brewed with a dazzling blend of American hops and Scottish malt, this crimson-hued ale delivers waves of citrus, pine and caramel-toffee for those who favor, flavor, Furious has the hop-fire your taste buds have been screaming for.

Here is ta description from their website (www.surlybrewing.com):

Furious

A tempest on the tongue, or a moment of pure hop bliss? Brewed with a dazzling blend of American hops and Scottish malt, this crimson-hued ale delivers waves of citrus, pine and caramel-toffee. For those who favor flavor, Furious has the hop-fire your taste buds have been screaming for.

STYLE: American India Pale Ale
MALT: Pale Ale, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Medium Crystal, Roasted Barley
HOPS: Warrior, Ahtanum, Simcoe, Amarillo
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15º Plato
ABV: 6.2% v/v
COLOR: 27 ºSRM
IBU: 99
AVAILABILITY: Cans and Kegs Year Round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.surlybrewing.com

Twitter:  @surlybrewing

In closing, this is a pretty good IPA.  I was excited to try them when I was at Savor a few years ago.  I did live blog on a few of their beers when I was there.  I hope this brewery makes it to Michigan.  I understand these beers are made in small batches and these breweries can buy what they can as far as supplies.  I just feel they are a little over priced that is the only problem I have with their beers.  I would rather be drinking Stone IPA.  However, this is a great IPA and this brewery makes some awesome beers, I would pick it up now and then.  I do not live in a market where I can get them.  I 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 Arbor Brewing Company Mr. Delicious Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Arbor Brewing Company.  It is their Mr. Delicious Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has cloudy dark copper to a light amber color with a small white bubble head.  The aroma is fated and hard to pick up.  It is like a citrus notes for the smell.  The taste is a light carbonation with grapefruit notes with a grapefruit aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

This beer leads off with a stiff round-house punch of citrusy hops, follows up with a quick kick of bready malts and warming alcohol, and finishes with a powerful and lingering bite of complex layered hops.

This popular brew was inspired by ABC founder, head brewer and spiritual leader Matt Greff whose cartoon enhanced image graces the label.

  • ABV9%
  • IBU90
  • OG1.088

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ArborBrew and @ArborBrewYpsi

Closing, as many of you readers know, I am a huge fan of this brewery.  I am glad to be back to Michigan to enjoy their beers and Frankenmuth on regular basis.  I love checking out some of the new craft breweries that are popping out around the state, however, I have always go back to my favorite breweries to check out their new beer that hit the market.  It leads to this brew from Arbor Brewing.  I love the hops and nice balance from the malt.  They did a great job on this beer.  I did not think they were able to make an imperial IPA.  They made one and a really good one here.  I could live without name and packaging on this beer.  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 Dogfish Head And Sierra Nevada Life And Limb Rhizing Bines India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew that had two craft brewery, who are Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, teamed up to brew this beer.  It is Life And Limb Rhizing Bines IPA.  I want to say thanks to my friend Jay for the share.  If you read my beer blog posts so far, you know history of both of these breweries.  If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get up to speed on both of these breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a citrus notes.  The taste has slight caramel to citrus notes with a dry bitter citrus aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer from Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Brewery.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Rhizing Bines is a collaborative IPA using the best of both coasts:  Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual-hopping from the East and Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown caramel malt and Torpado dry-hopping from the West.

Here is a descripation from Dogfish Head’s website (www.dogfish.com):

Rhizing Bines

ABV: 8
IBU: 70
Availability: Limited
Original Release Date: 02/2013

Deepening our bond with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., forged with the 2009   collaboration Life & Limb, we’ve brewed an East-meets-West Imperial IPA called Rhizing Bines.“We had a lot of fun brewing the original dark and roasty Life &   Limb in Chico with the Grossmans and Sierra Nevada’s extended family,”   says Dogfish Head President and Founder Sam Calagione. “We are very   proud of the way that beer turned out. Now it’s our turn to repay that   hospitality and brew a very hop-centric IPA in Milton with our pals from   Chico, incorporating innovative ingredients and techniques from both   breweries.”On the hot side, Rhizing Bines went through Dogfish’s signature   continual-hopping process with floral and citrusy Bravo hops. On the   cold side, it was dry-hopped with an experimental varietal so new it   doesn’t yet have a name, just a number: Hop 644. A component of Sierra   Nevada’s aroma-boosting Torpedo system made a pit-stop in  Delaware  for dry-hopping duty before it headed to Sierra’s new North  Carolina  brewery. To celebrate Sierra Nevada planting East Coast roots, Dogfish Head tracked down a Carolina heirloom wheat grown and milled at Anson Mills. The soft red winter wheat contributes subtle sweet and nutty notes to this hop-forward ale.“It gives my wife and myself great comfort to know that although  we’re  leaving our home and friends on the West Coast, we’re joining our  craft  brewing friends on the East Coast,” says Sierra Nevada General  Manager  Brian Grossman. “Here’s to great beer!”The label for Rhizing Bines depicts the pairings behind this beer:  two  hop varietals, two yeast strains (Chico and Doggie), two unique  hopping  processes and two family-owned breweries. These bonds start at  the root –  or rhizome – and stretch throughout the mature bines.“Sam and his family and the entire Dogfish crew have been friends of   ours for a long time,” says Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman. “When  we  started talking about doing another collaboration we jumped at the   chance, especially since this version will be the hoppy counterpoint to   the last brews. We couldn’t say no! We’re looking forward to joining   forces again.”

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dogfish.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @dogfishbeer and @SierraNevada

In closing, when two or three craft breweries get together to brew a beer, it makes me a little nervous to purchase these beers.  This is the big reason why.  One, I feel at times that I do not get my money worth from the liquid in the bottle.  Two, I feel that way about many of 750ml bottles from Dogfish Head.  I hate to say it.  They are great beers I just feel they are overpriced.  I have to say my attitude changed with this brew.  This is a great beer and well balance India Pale Ale.  I enjoyed drinking this beer.  I 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 Buckle Down Brewery Fiddle Sticks Belgian IPA

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One beer before the road, this is the last beer, which is Fiddle Sticks Belgian IPA, that I had at Buckledown Brewery. If you read beer blog post two days ago, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post on their American IPA, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a bright yellow to straw like color with a white head.  The smell is citrus with hints spices.  The taste is a slight lemon to citrus notes with some spicies.  It is nicely balance and pretty drinkable.

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

Fiddlesticks

Belgian-Style IPA

This hybrid brings together all of the best qualities of Belgian brewing and American hopcentricity — spicy, hoppy, dry and complex.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.buckledownbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BuckleDownBeer

Closing,  there is not too many good Belgian IPA’s that are good on the market.  There is not too many craft breweries that have Belgian IPA as their first four beer styles.  This brew brings some nice spicy, hoppy, and complex notes to the beer drinker.  I like that about this beer and has a nice balance to it.  Plus, it is pretty drinkable beer.  I really did not have their Belgian Single but just a sip.  This brewery has a nice core of four beers to start with.  I just want to thank Sean and Ike for a good times at their brewery.  When I am back in town, I will stop by the brewery in the near future.  I highly highly recommend this beer and brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Buckledown Brewery Belt And Suspenders American IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to review a craft brewery, which is Buckle down Brewery, that just opened in the southern part of Chicagoland market.  The beer is their Belt And Suspenders American IPA.  Buckledown Brewery opened in December of 2013.  Ike Orcutt and Sean Mahoney, who are owners, opened the brewery in Lyons, IL.  They brewery four different beer styles and in extremely small batches.  There is not much history on this young brewery but I am glad to see them open now to make some history.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head.  The smell is earthy to floral like to this American IPA.  The taste is an orange with hints of citrus notes.  The aftertaste is orange.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Belt & Suspenders

American IPA

Loads of Crystal and Sterling hops lead the way in producing huge citrus and pine aromatics.  Hoppiness is supported with a clean, slightly biscuity malt backbone.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.buckledownbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BuckleDownBeer

In closing, this is a great place to have a beer.  I love the fact they do not service food at their brewery.  You are there to have and try their beers.  Their beers are a work of art and they put some thought behind each of these brews.    There is a nice malty backbone and it is well designed.  They are not piling hops to hide the faults like most craft breweries in the City of Chicago or around the country.  I love the hops that they are using in this brew.  It kicks off some citrus notes.  It is drinkable and it is really good.  You might be able to find this brew around the city but I would make a trip to the south side of Chicago to enjoy beer with Sean, Ike, and their staff. I highly recommend this beer and this brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Atwater Brewery Grand Circus IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Grand Circus IPA from Atwater Brewery.  Atwater Brewery was founded in 1997 by the Detroit River.  City of Detroit has a rich history like most major cities in the United States in brewing.  There brew house was imported in from Germany.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark golden with constant small bubbles and a constant white head on this IPA.  The smell is earthy with some piney notes.  The taste of this medium body is earthy and piney notes with a dry hop aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Here is their website and twitter addesses:

Website:  www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter:  @atwaterbeer

Closing, Atwater Brewery is a few breweries located right in the City of Detroit.  I give them a ton of credit for where they are located in the city.  I have to say this about this brew and brewery.  They did a semi good job to bad job on this brew.  I am a huge hop head and I was pretty disappointed on this IPA.  I just feel there is not enough malty backbone.  I am not a fan of the hops they are using in it. I love their packaging and their Java Vanilla Porter.  I have to say just because I do not like this brew.  It does not mean you will not like this beer.  I am going to stop by their brewpub here soon since moving back to Michigan.  Please, go try this beer and let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

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