craft stout

New Beer Blog Great Lakes Brewing Blackout Stout

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Lights out, we are going to sample a beer from Great Lakes Brewing that was named after the “Blackout Of 2003.”  It is their Blackout Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Christmas Ale, you know history of this Ohio brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This stout has a jet black color without a head.  The smell of this Russian Imperial Stout has a chocolate to coffee notes.  The taste is a creamy chocolate with notes of burned malt with a slight burned chocolate bitterest.  It is a sipping stout.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Our robust Blackout Stout is named after the infamous “Blackout of 2003” that left the northeastern United States without power for days…. A nuisance for some, an enjoyable 36 hours of energy conservation and beer drinking with neighbors for others

Who needs the power grid when you’ve got the full moon, bright stars, good friends and Blackout Stout, our Russian Imperial Stout with a hearty malt body and bold hop favor.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @GLBC_Cleveland

Lights back on, I enjoyed this brew and I forgot how good this brew really is.  Every year this beer is released.  I used to pick up a few like a few years ago and I would see it.  I keep forgetting to pick up.  Shame on me, this is a great stout.  I almost want to make a road trip to try this as a barrel aged stout.  This is a nice sipping Imperial Stout.  I love the chocolate and slight coffee notes.  I know there is a code date but I could see this brew aging well in the bottle.  This is on my own thing and it did not come from the brewery.  I highly recommend this brew and I would hunt it down before it disappear until next season.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Cisco Brewers Island Reserve Russian Imperial Stout

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In the beginning, we are going to get into a brew, which is Reserve Russian Imperial Stout, from Cisco Brewers Island.  It was founded by Randy and Wendy Hudson in 1992 Nantucket, Massachusetts.  They are part of a winery.  There is not much history on the web about this brewery.  They brew several different beers in many forms.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan to light brown color head. The smell is chocolate to coffee notes.  The taste is smooth slight creamy chocolate and coffee notes.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ciscobrewers.com

Twitter:  @CiscoBrewers

In the end, I do not know this craft brewery that well.  I just know the few things I had from them.  I was not really a big fan of it.  I am not say it was bad.  I believe their everyday beers were in the middle of the road but I have not had them all.  I am a huge fan of stouts so I saw this one.  I thought I would give this brewery one more chance.  This Island Reserve Russian Imperial Stout has some creamy chocolate and coffee notes.  It is a sipping beer with a nice cigar.  I was pretty impressed with this brew.  This beer has to be their best brew at this brewery.  Of course, I have not try everything from 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 Magic Hat Heart Of Darkness Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Magic Hat.  It is their Heart of Darkness Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Magic Hat.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Magic Hat Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan to off white color head on this stout.  The smell has a slight coffee to chocolate notes.  The taste of this stout is chocolate to coffee notes.  There is a coffee or toffee aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The ancient ritual of brewing a distincity rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold.  Our mysterious melange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to create this unique beer to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

Filled with the howling of black dogs that haunt the long-forgotten shadows of the human soul. This dense liquid-silk summoned hope from hibernation and balanced winter’s endless white snows with a rich swirl of creamy black rapture.

An inky-black stout with a smooth, round palate and a dream-like undercurrent of bittersweet chocolate.

Stats

  • MaltsPale, Crystal, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Munich
  • HopsApollo, Goldings
  • YeastEnglish Ale
  • ABV5.7%
  • IBUs30
  • SRM80
  • Original Gravity15° Plato

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, I was not a huge fan of this brewery when I first saw it hit the market in Chicago.  I believe they hit that market about six or seven years ago.  I have from that time started to like Magic Hat a little bit more and more as the years edge to 2013.  I still have not retry their flagship #9.  I will be retrying that beer in the near future.  I saw this beer and I had to pick it up and try it.  I really like their packaging but it sometimes does not really say what the beer is in the bottle.  This one does.  I love the balance from the chocolate and coffee notes.  I really enjoyed drinking this brew.  I will be picking up more before it leaves for the season.  If you are a stout fan, you will need to find a bottle of Heart of Darkness.  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 MacTarnahan’s Brewing Goose Bump Imperial Stout

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MacTarnahan’s Brewing Goose Bump Imperial Stout is the brewery and beer featured on this beer blog post.  This beer is no longer being made.  If you are interested in trying this brew, you better go out and find this beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Belgian Style Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know them.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan color.  The smell is like burned chocolate with slight coffee notes.  The taste of this big body beer is creamy and smooth chocolate notes with notes of coffee.  The aftertaste is dry crisp coffee bean that fades out.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.portlandbrewing.com

Twitter:  @PortlandBrewing

Closing, I brought up a ton of this brew because it was marked down.  I know for past experience with Imperial Stout.  They can last for a good five years.  I was not worried about buying this beer out of code this year.  This brew is really good right now and it will get better over time.  The coffee is pretty heavy at first but it calms down in the later part of the bottle or the drinking experience.  This is a great beer and I am sad they stop making this brew. If you can find, I would try it.  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 Obsidian Stout

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Deschutes Brewery Obsidian Stout is the feature craft brewery and beer on this beer blog post.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their other brews, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this west coast craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan to off white color head.  The smell is a roasted to chocolate notes.  The taste is a smooth creamy chocolate roasted notes.  The aftertaste is dry roasted chocolate notes.  For being a stout, it is pretty drinkable beer.  I can see most people think it is not drinkable beer.

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

Deep, robust and richly rewarding, this is beer to linger over.  Obsidian has distinct notes of espresso, chocolate, roasted malt and black barley, with just enough hop bite to cut the sweetness. Malt: Pale, Crystal, Carapils, Munich, Black Barley, Roasted Barley, Wheat
Hops: Nugget, Millennium, Willamette, Northern Brewer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter:  @DeschutesBeer

In the end, I know many of you  readers know I am a huge fan of this  brewery.  I know many of my friends know I am a huge fan.  This brew is not a disappointment.  There is not a drop off from their flagship to this brewery.  This brewery makes some great beers and I cannot wait for them to make to the Michigan market.  If they do not, I know when I make trips back to Chicago.  I will be picking up some beer.  As craft beer industry keeps on growing, Deschutes Brewery will be there still pushing the limits of the craft beer drinkers like they did from the beginning in 1988.  I highly recommend this stout.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Starr Hill All Access Cryptical Imperial Stout

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Starting a new beer tab, we are going to sample out another beer from Starr Hill Brewery.  This blog will feature All Access Crypitcal Imperial Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Amber Ale, 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 jet black color with a tan color head on this stout.  The smell has a roasted malts with some chocolate notes.  The taste of this Imperial Stout is roasted dark chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is burn chocolate notes.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

Cryptical packs a wallop of dark malt flavor. The beer weighs in at 8.8% ABV and has dark, fruity flavors, like raspberry, plum and star anise. Cryptical is dry-hopped with American Hops to balance out its full body with a floral aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.starrhill.com

Twitter:  @starrhill

Closing out the beer tab, this brewery, just what I have been saying in the past beer blogs posts, knows how to brew beer.  This Imperial Stout is not drinkable beer but it packs a ton of flavor in this 22oz bottle.  I enjoyed drinking this beer and I wish I could get more in the Michigan market.  I guess I will have to trade more with my friend.  I love the hops they use in this brew and there is some nice chocolate notes.  I recommend this beer if you can find 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 Pipeworks Brewing Chai Dog Imperial Milk Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a second brew reviewed on this blog by Pipeworks Brewing.  The brew I am talking about is their Chai Dog.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you are up to speed on the history of this young and upcoming brewery.  If you have not, please, read the blog post from yesterday to get up to speed.  Let us get into the brewery.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan head on the beer.  The smell is a heavy chai spices.  The taste is extremely creamy with heavy chai spices.  The aftertaste has a heavy chai spices that last for a long time.  It is not drinkable unless you are a chai tea coffee drinker.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Chai Dog is our Eastern answer to the coffee-centric caffeine concoctions popular here in  the West.  This silky smooth milk stout is brewed with cacao nibs, green cardamom, vanilla bean, star anise, black peppercorn and cinnamon.  This delicious blend of spices creates a balance and complexity will transport you from your local watering hole to an authentic, old tea house in the heart of Mumbai.

Stop

Read Before Opening

This beer is Unfiltered.  Sedimentation may occur.  For best flavor, allow bottle to chill for two hours before serving allowing for the natural yeast to settle out.  Pour slowly into your favorite glass, being careful to leave sediment behind.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pipeworksbrewing.net

Twitter:  @PipeworksBrewin

In closing, I am not a fan of this brew and it was hard to put it down.  I passed it to a friend because I could not finish it.  I have said this several times on my blog posts just because I do not like it.  It does not mean you will not like it.  I write my thoughts on this blog with truth to me.  I will have to say this about this brew.  I believe you have to be a fan of Chai Tea.  I can see some people who do not like Chai Tea liking this beer.  Please, let me know what you think of 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 Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out our first beer from Firestone Walker and the brewery is their Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout.  This is brewery is from California and founded 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker.  The brewery name from the last names from the founders.  They brewery several different beer styles but they are known for their hoppy beers like most west coast breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color without a head on it.  The smell is chocolate to toffee.  The taste of this full body ale is chocolate to touch of coffee notes.  It is a sipping to almost kind of drinkable.

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

A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas.  This beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers.  Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.firestonebeer.com

Twitter:  @firestonewalker

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  I love how it is not a drinkable beer because I can sit there and enjoy it.  I want to pick up everything that is going on in the beer.  I love the coffee to toffee notes from the beer.  This is one of my favorite stout beer style.  I love how their website tells you to make sure you have fresh beer and how to store your beer.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend you trying this stout.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser