craft ipa

New Beer Blog Ballast Point Brewing Mango Evan Keel

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Ballast Point Brewing.  We are going to sample a session IPA.  This will be second from last session IPA that will be featured on this blog.  We will feature Ballast Point Brewing Mango Evan Keel Session IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this California base craft brewery.  Let us get into this session IPA.

It has a slightly dark golden color to a light cooper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to heavy mango notes. The taste has a nice mango notes with a nice mango aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Our Mango Even Keel is the ideal beer for easy drinking. This hoppy, session ale gets a flavor boost from mango, which perfectly plays off the citrusy hop bouquet. With fruit, hops, and a low ABV, this beer truly is on another level.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ballastpoint.com

Twitter:@bpbrewing

In closing, I am a pretty big fan of Ballast Point Brewing.  I am done with Session IPA but mangoes are what made me buy this brew.  Session IPA’s are Pale Ales.  I am sick of the marketing gimmick.  I am not a fan. Ballast Point, please, call it a Pale Ale. I hate session IPA’s and this is the second frkm last one that I will try.  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 Coronado Brewing Stingray IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Coronado Brewing.  It is their Imperial IPA, which is called Stingray IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus notes. The taste has a peach to tropical citrus notes with a dry bitter peach aftertaste. It is pretty easy to drink for Imperial IPA.

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

Named after a serene Coronado shoreline where locals soak up sun and suds. This easy-drinking IPA will transport you to a tropical paradise the moment it hits your lips. Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Southern Cross hops provide flavors and aromas of tropical fruits and sun-kissed citrus with soft accents of nectarine and peach.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.coronadobrewing.com

Twitter:  @coronadobrewing

Closing, I am a huge fan of IPA.  I am always love trying new IPA’s that I never had and coming back to old ones that I love.  I did not love peaches.  I did not realize this beer has peaches in this beer.  When I realize it, I kept an opened mind when sampling it.  It is different. It is a solid beer but it is not for me. I recommend it.  Go get some if you like peaches!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Fat Head’s Head Hunter India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Fat Head Brewery for the first time.  It is also the first time you will see Head Hunter IPA on this blog.  They opened their doors in 2009 outside of Cleveland, Ohio.  They team up with Fat Head Saloon from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that open their doors back in 1992.  They have several location around the country.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a grapefruit, citrus to hints of pineapple notes. The taste of this full body IPA has a citrus to grapefruit notes with a heavy dry bitter aftertaste. It is a sipping beer for some craft beer drinkers but others will find it is kind of drinkable beer.

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

No other ingredient stirs the passion of a Master Brewer like the hop. Inspired by this legendary flower we challenged ourselves to create a world class IPA. Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped, West Coast-Style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hops! Uncivilized? Yes. Aggressive? Absolutely. Award Winning? Hell yes!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fatheadsbeer.com

Twitter:  @fatheadsbeer

Closing, I was pretty impressed about this beer.  There is a nice balance from the hops and malt.  It is a well balance beer.  They did a great job on this beer.  There is a great selection of hops giving a some nice grapefruit to juicy citrus notes.  I love it and I will get more of this great beer.  I just wish it was in a six pack not a four pack.  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 Oddside Ales Jesse’s Party IPA

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In this  beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Oddside Ales.  It is their Jesse’s Party IPA.  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 IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to grapefruit like notes. The taste has a citrus to grapefruit notes with orange and citrus aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  @oddsideales

Closing, this is one of the seasonals that I do hunt down from Oddside Ales.  I am guessing it is a seasonal.  I would love to hear the story behind the beer name.  Is it named after a guy that wanted a IPA to drink at his party?  Or is it name for a guy that parties all the time?  These are great questions and the only way to find out is to ask the brewery.  There is a nice balance from the citrus to grapefruit notes in this beer.  IPA’s are normally heavy with grapefruit notes.  This beer lives up to both of them.  I like it and I will get more. There is a ton going on in this 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 Founders Azacca India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a new seasonal beer from Founders Brewery.  It is called Azacca 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 base craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a tropical to mango like notes. The taste has a heavy mango to tropical notes. I can pick up some passion fruit in there. The aftertaste has a dry tropical notes. It is a nice drinkable beer.

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

Named for the Haitian god of agriculture, the Azacca hop boasts intense, tropical fruit notes. Azacca IPA includes a touch of caramel malt to provide a sweet backbone to the citrus, mango and orchard fruit notes in this 7% ABV, 70 IBUs beer. The label artwork symbolizes the god of agriculture watching over a field where the ingredients used to make the beer are being grown.

  • ABV: 7%
  • IBUs: 70
  • RateBeer Rating: 96
  • Availability: Jan – Mar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Ending, Azacca Hop is the new trending hop to use in your beer today.  You will find this hop mainly in IPA’s.  I would not be shocked to see someone use it in a pale ale or session IPA.  I am a huge fan of Tropical fruits.  I am due to go to the fruit store to buy some mango, passion fruit, or star fruit.  I love this hop just like most of the tropical hop types.  There is a nice balance to this beer.  Plus, the hop is not overly bitter like most hops in IPA’s.  It is a nice drinkable beer and I love it.  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 Blackrocks 51K IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into brews from Blackrocks Brewery in the next few blog posts.  This is the first time that this brewery and their beers will be feature on this blog,  We are going to get into their flagship brew, which is 51K IPA.  Blackrocks Brewery was founded by David Manson and Andy Langlois in the upper part of Michigan.  This brewery just like other breweries was founded on a hobby and a dream.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant color head. The aroma has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a mild bitter citrus notes with a slight dry hop bitter aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Bursting hops all over your face, our American IPA is full of earthy grapefruit, apricot, and piney hop flavors and aromas with a nice balanced yet dry finish.

Style: American IPA

ABV: 7%

IBUs: 68

Availability: Always

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blackrocksbrewery.com

Twitter:  @blackrocksbrew

Closing, I have been wanting to try the brews from this Michigan craft brewery.  I always try the brew at least once if I never had it.  This brew and all the beers from this brewery is on my list.  I am a huge hophead so this beer was no brainer to pick up right away.  It was the first one that I put in my mix six pack.  I will say it was the first one that I cracked opened.  I love cans and they have nice packaging.  This is a good IPA.  I have to say it is pretty average brew.  I have had better IPA’s, however, this IPA is in a can so I will pick up when I go to beach or on a boat.  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 Stone And Sierra Nevada N & S IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a beer that had two breweries team up to brew it.  I am talking about NxS IPA from Stone Brewery and Sierra Nevada Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on either craft brewery from California, you know the history of both of these great craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know these legends of the craft beer world.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a complex citrus with other notes that I cannot pick out. The taste of this full body IPA has a citrus to whiskey bourbon notes with a nice rye spice note. It is pretty complex tasting profile.  The aftertaste has citrus and bourbon notes of gin and whiskey rye finish.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA

A California collaboration blend of dry-hopped IPA and barrel-aged IPA

For many, California is considered an epicenter for brewing innovation, particularly where hoppy IPAs are concerned. We teamed up with longtime craft compatriots and mutual hop admirers Sierra Nevada to create a truly one-of-a-kind IPA. This special-edition beer conveys the true character of collaboration with touches of inventiveness and creativity. Two batches of an IPA were brewed and expertly blended to craft this multilayered beer. The first batch was split down the middle, with 50% being aged in gin-infused bourbon barrels and the remaining half aged in rye whiskey barrels. These beers were blended with the fresh second batch of IPA, which was generously dry-hopped to impart rich aromas to accompany the citrusy, piney, woody, herbaceous flavors achieved from this truly one-of-a-kind collaboration.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @stonebrewingco and @sierranevada

Ending, when either of craft breweries puts out something, I am there to try their new beers.  It was a no brainier to pick up this beer.  I started to read the bottle and I was all in for this complex taste profile.  There is a ton going on in this brew.  Each sip will give you something different.  This is a well thought out beer with a high risk.  It paid off in this beer.  They did a great job on this brew.  I love this 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 Shiner Wicked Ram IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new brew from Shiner Brewery.  The little brewery can do it.  It is their Wicked Ram IPA.  This is the first IPA that is being made by a traditional German brewery.   If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Texas craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a golden to light copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a piney like notes. The taste has a earthy to piney notes with a dry hop bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shiner.com

Twitter:  @shinerbeer

Closing, I am a pretty big fan of this craft brewery.  I love the rich history of Shiner.  It is in a little town and this little brewery in the middle of it.  I do not understand why people do not like this brewery in Michigan.  This is a great brewery.  I was happy a few years back that they were going to get into the ale market.  I was pretty excited to see them making an IPA.  I like it but it is a nice beginner IPA. Asides that, a brewery that was making all lagers did a great job on their first IPA.  I will be adding this to my IPA rotation.  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 Flipside Red IPA

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another past fall seasonal from Sierra Nevada Brewery.  It is their Flipside Red IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this legendary craft brewery.  Let us get into this red IPA.

It has a dark red color with a white constant head. The aroma has a malty to citrus notes. The taste has a citrus to hints of tropical notes. The aftertaste has a bitter tropical finish. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flipside Red IPA is a rebuttal to the mild-mannered beers of summer.  Tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors from the use of whole – cone Citra, Simcoe, and Centennial hops are the perfect notes for this in – between season.

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

Flipside® Red IPA

A hop-forward fix for the first days of fall.

Just when it feels like the dog days will never end, suddenly, the switch is flipped, the air gets cooler and it’s clear that autumn is on the way. Featuring a ruby-red hue, restrained malt body and abundant tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors from the use of Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops, Flipside red IPA is the perfect beer for fall.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, I feel the same way on the Flipside Red IPA like I do on their Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale.  I miss this beer.  I am not a huge fan with Lager but I love their Pale Ale that are in their Fall Sampler Pack.  I have to be honest.  I love having this beer and their brown ale in six-pack or twelve-pack.  There is not too many good red IPA’s on the market.  This one is a good one.   There is a nice balance on this beer.  It is a nice drinkable but it can be a sipping beer.  It is perfect beer for a fall days.  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