craft lager

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Beer Co. Lazy Daze Amber Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Lazy Daze Amber Lager from Rochester Mills Beer Co.  If you have been reading my beer blog posts, you know I have wrote about their beers in the past and you know the history of this east side Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Michigan Craft Lager.

This Lager a clear amber color with a nice small white bubble head.  There is a smell, however, I can not pick up what it is in the aroma.  The taste has a light sweet carbonated notes with touch of caramel.  The aftertaste has a sweet caramel notes that hangs around your mouth for a bit.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from their website (www.beercos.com):

Lazy Daze Amber Lager – 5.1% abv

Boasting a rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor from a combination of Munich malt for a subtle sweetness and German hops, you’ll find Lazy Daze Amber is another easy drinking, well-balanced local brew from Rochester Mills.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.beercos.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, I am still looking for the best craft lager.  I just feel the Michigan Craft Breweries are making the best Craft Lagers and Pilsners in the United States.  I am not saying this is the best craft lager that I ever had in my lifetime.  I have to say it is pretty damn close.  It is in my top five beers.  It is well balance and full of a ton of flavor.   I love the caramel notes.  This is a great drinkable lager. It is a beer that is perfect all year long.  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 Wolverine Brewery Dark Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another Lager from Wolverine Brewery.  It is their Dark Lager.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read it, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It had a clear dark brown color with a nice snow-white color head.  The smell is burn to roasted malt.  The taste has chocolate to slight coffee malty notes with a crisp chocolate like finish for the aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable dark lager.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.wolverinebeer.com):

Wolverine Dark Lager 5% abv /19 IBU – Always on Tap

Are you afraid of the dark? Don’t be. This is Michigan’s smoothest dark beer, a dark beer even people who don’t think they like dark beer will love. Wolverine Dark will win you over with a mild maltiness balanced by a crisp feel on your tongue and a smooth finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wolverinebeer.com

Twitter:  @wolverinebeer

Ending, this craft brewery out of Ann Arbor, Michigan is quickly becoming my favorite craft Lager brewery.  I am a fan of their IPL (India Pale Lager).  I have always loved imported dark or black lagers.  I was interested in getting my hands on this brew from Wolverine Brewery.  I love the color and tone of this brew.  I love the aroma it kicks out from the beer.  This brew is pretty drinkable for being a dark beer.  Most general or all beer drinkers think a dark beer means it is a heavy beer.  This is urban legend in the beer world.  It takes time to pass this on to the beer drinkers of the world.  The point I am trying to get across is just because it is a dark lager that does not mean it will drink heavy or light. Most dark beer could drink easier than a golden color beer. It is smooth and drinkable.  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 Church Street Brewing Heavenly Helles Lager

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In beginnings, Church Street Brewing Heavenly Helles Lager is the feature craft brewery and brew in this beer blog post.  If you read beer blog post from yesterday, you know the history of Church Street Brewing.  If you have not read that post from yesterday, please, read the post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color without a head on this Helles Lager.  There is no smell to this lager.  The taste has a slight carbonated malt to a light hop notes.  The aftertaste is a dry crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Heavenly Helles

One of Bavaria’s quintessential beverages, now the best lager in Chicagoland. Utilizing old world decoction mashing techniques for a truly unique malt complexity, this gentle drink also features a straw colored-clarity that’s clearly heavenly!

  • ABV 5.4%
  • IBU 30
  • SRM 6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.churchstreetbrew.com

Twitter:  @ChurchStBrew

In the end, I love this German beer style.  It is one of my favorite Lager beer styles.  One of my favorite Helles beer is out of the little brewery out of Shiner, Texas, who is Shiner Brewery.  I have always compare other Helles to that one.  It is my staple, however, it is not fair.  This is why it is not fair because they smoked  their malt.  It gave off a smokey notes in aroma and taste. I know for a fact that other craft breweries that make Helles do not that to their malt.  I could be wrong. I am going to stop judging other Helles Lager to the Shiner one, since, they do not make this beer anymore.  I like this one and this will be my staple until another one can knock it off the top of the list.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Church Street Brewing Continental Lager

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In this beer blog, Church Street Brewing is making its first appearance on this blog with their Continental Lager.  Joe Gregor traveled around checking out local beers around the world and found a nice location in the Northwest Burbs of Chicago.  Joe loves German Lagers and the craft beer drinkers will see a few Lagers in their beer line ups.  This brewery opened the doors for the first time in 2012.  They brew several different beer styles asides Lagers.  Let us get into this Lager.

It has golden color with a big white constants head.  The carbonation is heavy on this lager.  There is really no smell.  The taste has a light carbonation with a slight malty to hoppy notes.  The aftertaste is clean crisp finish.  It is a pretty drinkable lager.

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

Smooth and drinkable, yet malty and complex with a noble hop kick. Church Street’s Continental Lager marries four German malts with three German hop varieties to create our quintessential pilsner.  Notes of biscuit and grassy/floral hops make this a great beer to kick back with anytime. Enjoy!

  • ABV 5.3%
  • IBU 39
  • SRM 7

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.churchstreetbrew.com 

Twitter:  @ChurchStBrew

In the end, I have been on a search for a good craft lager.  I believe this one from Church Street Brewing has come pretty close to it.  This lager to me is too close to the European Lager Style.  It is still good brew.  I wished I could get another bottle of this brew but they are not available in the Southeast part of Michigan.   I really did enjoy this Lager and it is towards the top of my lager list. I recommend this brew and I hope to hear your thoughts on 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 Resignation Brewery And Redhook KCCO Black Lager

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In this tag team beer blog, we are going to get into a beer called KCCO Black Lager that is brewed by Redhook Brewery and Resignation Brewery.  If you read my beer blog posts on the Redhook Brewery, you know the history of this Northwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to Redhook Brewery.  Resignation is a multiple digital media company.  The black lager was brewed for the sharing around the office and to close friends and family.  Late in 2013, they teamed up with Redhook Brewery to get it into the market.  Redhook Brewery refined the beer and shipped it out to the following markets, which are New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  In the early part of 2014,  KCCO Black Lager will receive a  national roll out.  Let us get into the beer.

This Black Lager has a dark brown to a light black color with a nice creamy tan head at first.  It fades after a while.  There is really no smell.  The taste is a malty to chocolate notes with a dry chocolate crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Black Lager

A toast lager with notes of chocolate and coffee. Unlike a heavy porter or a stout it’s amazingly light, crispy, and sessionable. KCCO Black is a delicious misfit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.resignationbrewery.com and www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @resignationbrew and @Redhook_Brewery

1-2-3, I have to say for the victory and the match.  This beer has won it all.  I have been waiting to try this brew since I heard of its launch in a few markets.  I am not disappointed.  I am really looking forward to see how it will do in the Michigan market.  I am also looking forward to trying the other brands from both of these breweries.  I am a fan of black lager so I knew I was won over right away.  There is some nice chocolate notes and pretty drinkable with a nice balance.  I highly recommend this brew if you can find it.  It will be in your market sometime in 2014.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Wolverine Winter Lager

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Starting new beer tab, we are going to sample out the first brew from Wolverine Brewery.  It is their Winter Lager.  Wolverine Brewery was started by a few Michigan borne home brewers.  They brew beers in the lager styles.  They rarely do any ales.  There is not much history on this brewery.  I cannot find when they opened their doors.  I believe it was 2010.  Let us get into the beer.

This lager has a clear amber color with a white head that disappears over time.  The smell is heavy malty to caramel notes.  The taste is a light carbonated caramel notes with a crisp caramel finish.  It is pretty drinkable for a winter beer.

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

Wolverine Winter Lager
6.5% abv / 18 IBU – Available November through February
This cold-weather seasonal was designed to make your winter warmer rather than to match a particular style. We start with hearty Maris Otter malt from the UK. Then we add Special Roast barley from Wisconsin, before heading back across the pond for some dark German Munich malt and German Wheat malt for some added character. We top that off with a blend of dark, rich, caramel malts and the result is an extremely smooth and silky lager beer with a hint of alcohol in the flavor and a clean finish…the perfect beer for drinking by the fire.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wolverinebeer.com

Twitter:  @wolverinebeer

Closing out current beer tab, I am going to make it down to their taproom.  I do not care if they do not sell food.  I lived in Chicago for a good eight years before moving back to Michigan about a few month ago.  I have to say most of the new brewpubs do not service food.  I do not see an issue of not having food.  You want the people of focus on your beer.  If it is good they will come back to your brewpub.  I am a fan of lagers when they are done right.  There are not too many good craft lagers on the market and I believe Wolverine Brewing has something here.  If this winter lager tells me something, they know how to make craft lagers.  I love the malts they used in this brew.  It kicks off a nice caramel notes.  I highly recommend this brew and I am looking forward to trying their other brews.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Moonlight Brewery Death And Taxes

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer that I found while out in San Francisco.  The brewery is called Moonlight Brewery from Santa Rosa, California.  The brewery was started by Brian Hunt in 1992.  Death And Taxes is their flagship beer.  They do not package any of their beer.  They only sell their beers in kegs in the northern part of California.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a semi tan head on the beer.  The smell is roasted malts to coco notes.  The taste is smoked with coffee to slight chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is a dry crisp coco to it.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

A very dark yet surprisingly light-bodied Lager beer, crisp and refreshing with no heaviness.

Alcohol 5.0% vol

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.moonlightbrewing.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I found this beer at a bar, which is Toronado Bar, that my work took us to for a few beers.  I did not want anything heavy.  I wanted something with flavor but yet a light in body.  I will say this beer covered all those things that I was looking for in a beer.  This has some nice notes but yet pretty drinkable.  I recommend  you trying this beer if you are around the northern part of California.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Brewing Two Women

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from New Glarus Brewing Company.  The beer called Two Women Lager.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This lager has a beautiful copper color without a head on it. There is a lager malt smell to the beer. The taste is a carbonation malty with lager finish to light hoppy aftertaste. This is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and their website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

Four thousand years before Christ, Sumerian women created the divine drink of beer. Viking women brewed in Norse society. European Ale Wives were so successful as cottage brewers they were taxed. Artisanal women lost their domination of the daily ritual of brewing during the Industrial Revolution. Today’s brewing trade is controlled by men.

The collaboration of two Craft companies both led by women, New Glarus Brewing and Weyermann Malting, is unique. You hold the result “Two Women” a Classic Country Lager brewed with Weyermann’s floor malted Bohemian malt and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops. A tempting and graceful classic lager found…Only in Wisconsin!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

Ending, I am not a huge fan of craft lagers.  This is a pretty balance and drinkable beer.  I was pretty impressed and I am glad I had a chance to try this beer.  This is a pretty good craft lager.  I will have it once and move on to the next beer.  If you are a lager fan or craft lager fan, this is a beer you will need to try.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Thirsty Thursday Beer Blog Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the Longboard Island Lager, which is the flagship beer of Kona Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pipeline Porter, 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.

It has a yellow color with a semi white head on the beer.  This beer is light body with a malty smell. The taste is sweet malty without an aftertaste to the beer.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Waikki Beach in Honolulu is the birth place of Longboard surfing.  Kona Brewing pays tribute to this iconic place with our own Longboard Island Lager.  A spirited, crisp and refreshing brew.  Longboard is a smooth ride all the way in.  Thirst’s Up!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing Co. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

Exceptionally Smooth

Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Closing out, this flagship beer lives up to the spirit of Hawaii and rich history of the surfing.  I am not a fan of most craft lagers but this one is a gem of Hawaii.  It is light in body but has enough flavor to make you dream of islands and beaches.  This beer is extremely drinkable and I can see ton of six packs selling through stores throughout the country.  However, it is a craft lager, do you think craft beer drinker is ready to put down their over hopped ales to pick up craft lagers?  I believe craft beer drinker is starting to change to drink less hoppy beers and more classic styles or traditional beer styles.  I recommend you trying this beer and I believe you will be pretty stun on this Longboard.  Go get a Longboard Lager!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Love Rock Vienna Style Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at another beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company.  The beer is their Love Rock Vienna Style Lager.   If you read my earlier on their Pull Chain Pale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that blog, please read the first part of that blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color without a head on the beer.  There is really no smell to it.  It has a slight malty with shunky taste with a nice crisp finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Love Rock is a Vienna Style Lager. This type of lager beer has a subtle malt sweetness, balanced by the earthy tones of noble German Hallertauer hops.

The Rock is a story unique to Milwaukee and our freshwater coast. As part of the drinking water system for the city, the system draws from a big pipe in the Lake. The “intake” was marked by a big structure that was prominent off the Bradford Beach shoreline. Because of the privacy (in plain view!)the Rock was a popular lookout point for ambitious suitors. In the exciting free love days of the early ’70′s, a few ambitious Milwaukeeans paddled out to the Rock and memorialized the sentiment of the time.

The original version of Love Rock known as “Winter Lager” happens to be the second batch of beer brewer at our second street location, it was brewed on November 27th 2007. We have made a few adjustments to the recipe over the years, just to the body and to the color. The Love Rock is Milwaukee Brewing’s first year round production lager. The cold, long fermentation process that helps create such a smooth flavor. This recipe is pretty straight forward with the malts and two hop varieties. The Vienna style malt adds a nice toasty quality without overwhelming the beer. Our yeast guy tells us that this lager strain happens to be quite old. Many of the the major breweries in Milwaukee did, and still do, use this yeast. Love Rock is a refreshing and simple beer.

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I enjoy pretty much all beers from this brewery.  This is not my favorite beer from this brewery but it is still a pretty good beer.  If you enjoy craft lagers, you will need to check this beer out.  I really enjoyed this beer but I will enjoy it if I cannot find something else. Go get some and let me know what you think of this craft lager.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser