dark copper

New Beer Blog New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale

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In this retro beer blog, we are going to sample a beer, which is Mighty Arrow Pale Ale, from the past that came back in Folly Pack from New Belgium Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of New Belgium Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This pale ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head.  The aroma is a nice citrus notes.  The tasting experience has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hoppy citrus to dry bitter finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Mighty Arrow Pale Ale provides lots of pleasurable sniffs from Amarillo and Cascade hops with a fetching honey malt base. This is our brewed tribute to Arrow, Kim’s Aussie/Border Collie mix who ran (literally) New Belgium for 12 years. When she wasn’t patrolling the brewery grounds, she was famous for her office visits: She never met a tummy rub she didn’t like. Atta girl, Arrow. Mighty Arrow makes its return as the revival beer in Folly Packs from January to April 2014.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In closing, I was pretty sad when this beer was retired.  I learned at the beginning of the year that this brew was returning to the market.  I was a little upset that I had to buy a whole sampler 12 pack bottles to get the bottles.  I wished they would release it as 6 pack again.  I understand why they did not do that.  I love this beer and I love the hops to the malty backbone.   It is pretty drinkable and it is perfect for the spring and summer time.  I wish they would put this in their everyday beer line up.  This is a great brew and I would hurry to the store to get this beer before it disappears again.  I highly recommend this Pale Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Belgium And Red Rock Brewery Paardebloem Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from New Belgium and Red Rock Brewery.  I am  talking about Paardebloem Ale from New Belgium’s Lips Of Faith Series.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on New Belgium’s brew, you know the history of this Mountain area craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts on this Fort Collins brewery to get to know them.  Red Rock Brewery is located in Utah in the Salt Lake City.  It opened its doors in 1994.  Their goal is to make the highest quality product and great craft beer to their beer drinkers.  They are now packaging several different beer styles.  They are always looking to grow the different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

This ale has a cloudy golden color with a nice small bubble white head.   The aroma has a nice peach notes.  The taste has an up front sweet peaches note to a slight tartness notes with a nice oak and pepper aftertaste.  It is a nice refreshing sipping beer.

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

Using dandelion greens to bitter a Belgian-style ale blossomed from our brewers collaborating with Red Rock Brewing. These being our sixth interpretation together since 2008, expect a wonderfully complex ale fermented with wild Belgian yeast and blended with just a touch of wood-aged beer. Bitterness imparted from dandelion greens and grains of paradise will have you blowing wishes for sips.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com and www.redrockbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium and @redrockbrwing

Closing out, I normally get pretty nervous with beers that are in 22oz bottle.  I just feel sometimes I do not get my money worth.  I understand it cost the breweries a little bit more to make some of these special brews.  I am glad they do because they get pretty creative on this beers.  Paardebloem Ale is in that area of being creative.  I have to say I really enjoyed this beer and I feel it is well worth the money that I invested into it.  I am not a fan of Peach but I love the combination of the Peach and beer.  It is a nice refreshing but sipping beer.  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 Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from Surly Brewing.  If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know I posted a review on a live blog at Savor a few years ago in Washington D.C.  This beer is their Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA.  Surly Brewing was founded by Omar Ansari in 2005 at Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into this West Coast Style IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head that disappears over time. The smell is citrus with hints of orange. The taste is refreshing citrus notes with a dry hoppy aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

It’s been said; “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.”  And you known us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale.  “Surly’s a little gimmick beers,”  and maybe we ware OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer.  If you like it, great, so do we.  If you only liked us when we wer small, then leave this one on the shelf.  Let one of the fanboys grab it.

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

Overrated

It’s been said: “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy  beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you know us, we are always  looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA  Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little bit of a  one-trick pony, they just brew gimmick beers,” and maybe we are  OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it,  great, so do we. If you only liked us when we were small, then leave  this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.

STYLE: West Coast IPA
MALT: 2-Row, Belgian Crystal
HOPS: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, El Dorado
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15.5º Plato
ABV: 7.3%
COLOR: 4.5 º
SRM IBU: 69
AVAILABILITY: Cans, occasionally throughout the year

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.surlybrewing.com

Twitter:  @surlybrewing

In the end, I was pretty excited to see they landed in  the Chicagoland area.  When I was in town, I picked up a four back of this brew and their flagship beer.  I did not enjoy this IPA as much as I did their flagship, which is Furious IPA. I enjoyed this beer very much but the hops.  The hops make this brew pretty drinkable and light in body.  Unlike other west coast style IPA.  I believe that is what Surly Brewery was going for in making this beer.  This is a seasonal brew.  It is a good beer but I love their Furious IPA more.  I recommend you trying 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 Abita Purple Haze

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Purple Haze from Abita.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of Abita Brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know this southern craft brewery.  Let us get into this fruit beer.

It has a cloudy light amber to darker golden color with a white constant head on this fruit lager.  The aroma has a heavy raspberry notes.  The taste has a sweet raspberry notes with a hint of light carbonated notes.  The aftertaste is nice and clean with touch of raspberry notes.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Purple Haze is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration.  It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops.  The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you even may see fruit pulp in the beer.

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

Purple Haze® is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you may see fruit pulp in the beer.

This beer is best served with salads or light fruit desserts, such as soufflés or chiffon cakes. Many people enjoy it with chocolate desserts. Purple Haze® pairs well with certain cheeses, such as ripened Brie or any dessert made with mascarpone. It’s also great paired with entrees prepared with fruit, especially citrus. Consider enjoying Purple Haze® alone at the end of your meal as dessert.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

In closing, wheat and fruit beers are two beer styles that I normally do not go out of my way to hint down in the market.  I have to say Purple Haze from Abita is not a bad beer.  I love the rasphberry notes from the aroma and tasting profile.  This is a nice brew for a hot summer day or a just a beer to enjoy during a snow day.  There is a nice balances from the beer and the fruit notes.  This is a beer you can have one after and other.  Raspberries are not overpowering in the beer.  It is a nice balance and the aftertaste is clean but with a touch of raspberry notes.  I recommend this beer with dessert or it can be your dessert.  It will go good with lighter dishes like salads.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Controversial Ale (Hangin Frank)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Controbersial Ale Aka Hangin’ Frank from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Short’s Brewery, you know the history of this Northwest Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Controversial Ale comes with a controvasial story behind it.  Frank was one of the brewmasters at Short’s Brewery and he was one that came up with the recipe for this American Style IPA. He hung himself and the brewery released the beer with the recipe he came up with.  They named it Hangin’ Frank.  It recieved a ton of press but not in a good way.  It was pulled from the shelves and renamed as this brew as you can see in the above photo.  Below is the original label of the beer. Let us get into this brew.

It has a light hazel dark copper to light amber color with a nice white head that disappears over time.  The smell has some citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hop to slight citrus aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – “turned in an opposite direction,” from contra – “against” – and vertere – to turn, or versus (see verse), hence, “to turn against.”. Perennial areas of controversy include history, religion, philosophy, politics and beer labels.

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

ControversiALE, FKA Hangin’ Frank, is a tribute to Simcoe hops. Simcoe hops are extremely sought after and limited, so Short’s is excited to share this brew with Michigan craft beer lovers every spring. The earthy, citrus and pine-laced aroma is instantly delectable. A large amount of toasted grains and high alpha hops form a perfect union that creates the sensation of toasted sourdough covered with grapefruit hop marmalade. While this beer is hopped like IPA, it drinks like Pale Ale. The light, refreshing qualities of this beer make it perfect for springtime.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Websie:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ShortsBrewing

In closing, I love how this craft brewery honored one of their past late employees.  The story of ths beer is amazing and sad.  I hope Frank rest in peace.   I love how everyone is all about local and Michigan craft beer.  I heard it all about it when I lived in Chicago.  It is nice and a great idea to support your local business.  However, a line needs to be drawn, the product needs to be good.  I am not saying beer is bad because it is not.  It is a great brew.  I just feel it is not as good as everyone in the State of Michigan makes this beer out to be.  I just feel because it is made here that means good?  It is blind good to some.   I like this beer but it is not the best IPA that have ever had.  I 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 Abita Jockamo IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Jockamo IPA from Abita Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this southern craft brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know Abita Brewery.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a clear dark copper color with white head that fades over time.  The smell has some citrus to orange notes.  The taste has a light carbonated orange notes with a nice malty notes that cut through the hops.  The aftertaste is a dry hop finish.  It is a pretty drinkable IPA.

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

Abita Jockamo IPA® is an American IPA brewed with pale, red, and caramel malts. This copper-colored ale is liberally hopped and dry hopped with Willamette and Columbus hops. The flavor is bold like the “Mardi Gras Indians” who march through New Orleans in suits of feathers and beads.

Jockamo has a flavor that entices and excites the palate. The intense hop character adds more spice to the meal and makes it a perfect choice to team up with many spicy dishes. Cheddar and strong farmer cheeses stand up well to Jockamo’s hoppy character. Jockamo goes well with wild game, grilled meats and Thai or Mexican cuisine.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

In the end, I believe this is one of the best beers this brewery makes in their current line up.  I enjoyed this beer and their Purple Haze Ale.  There Turbo Dog and Strawberry Lager is not bad either.  I have not had everything from this brewery so there might be more beers I need to add to those statements.  I love aroma and taste profile that this beer offers to the craft beer drinkers.  It has a well made malty backbone to cut through the hops.  This is a well made brew that can go with pretty much any dish of food out there.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Abita Restoration Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Abita Brewing and it is their Restoration Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blog from yesterday on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog posts, please, read it to get to know this southern Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this Pale Ale.

It has a clear copper color with a nice white constant head.  The smell is there but hard for me to pick up.  I believe piney notes. The taste has a slight citrus notes with a nice dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Restoration Pale Ale®

Restoration Pale Ale® is brewed with pale, caramel and carapils malts. It is liberally hopped and dry hopped with Cascade hops. This golden ale has a rich body, mild bitterness, and a snappy citrus hop flavor and aroma. With your help Restoration raised over $550,000 for hurricane relief.

This beer can be paired with many different dishes according to your taste. The citrus flavor and aroma make it an excellent choice with most fish, especially ones that are prepared to match the flavor of the beer. American, Muenster, Havarti and Monterey Jack cheeses pair well with Restoration.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

Closing, I could not finger out what this beer smells like. This beer is pretty drinkable and I would hope so because of the type of beer style.  I love the back story of this brew.  It has raised a ton of money for hurricane relief for the city that the brewery is located.  I just feel this brew was rushed to meet deadlines.  There is nothing wrong with that because it was going for a good cause.  This is not one of the worse pale ales that I have ever had but it is still not a good one.  Most craft beer is brewed for the city or reign that it comes from.  I bet looking at half million dollars this brew raised.  It does really well in the south.  I bet you are thinking that I can not believe he does not like this brew.  I do not like it and that is my thought pattern.  This does not mean you will not like it.  Everyone has different taste for different things.  There is a reason why there is a ton of beer on the market.  Please, try it and share your thoughts with me.  I would love to hear them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Brewery Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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In the beginning, Stone Brewery took their Arrogant Bastard Ale to the next level.  We are talking and will sample their Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.  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 those postd to get to know Stone Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark red to amber color with a nice white color head.  The aroma has a strong alcohol notes with hints of earthy and oak notes.  The taste has a warm alcohol notes with slight vanilla to oak notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty alcohol.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Arrogant Bastard Ale:  This is an aggressive ale.  You probably won’t like it.  It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth.  We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal.  Perhaps you think multimillion dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better.  Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

The Arrogance Grows:  Too many strive towards complacency as a goal.  They stop their urge and desire for discovery somewhere between youth and adulthood.  And when they find their complacency threatened, they do everything to recover the warm, fuzzy feeling of that last complacency as quickly as possible.  Throughout every culture, every country, and every way of thought you will find it.  We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life.  True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth.  The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion.  Passion threatens the complacent and fills them with fear.  Fear of the new, the deep and the different.  We, on the other hand, seek it out.  Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively.  To this end we bring the “Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.”  Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

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

This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.
Too many strive towards complacency as a goal. We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life. True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth. The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion. Passion threatens the complacent, and fills them with fear. Fear of the new, the deep and the different. We, on the other hand, seek it out. Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively. To this end we bring you the “OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale.” Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrew.com

Twitter:  @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, I love their Arrogant Bastard Ale.  I love their glassware for it.  I kind wish I could get more of them.  I guess I will have to go on their website and order some more.  I have been eyeing this beer for a while.  I was pretty excited to see them finally do a sampler pack.  I was getting ready to pick up a bottle when I moved back to Michigan.  You can buy single bottles unlike Chicago market.  I am glad I went for the sampler pack.  It is worth the price.  This is a perfect beer along with their Arrogant Bastard Ale for the Michigan Winters.  I can see myself drinking some during the hot summers.  Either way, this is a great brew and I recommend you trying it.  Please, let me know what you think.  Go drink some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewery Hi-Res Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another and a new brew from Sixpoint Brewery.  It is their Hi-Res Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this Brooklyn Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Sixpoint Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has citrus to slight grapefruit notes.  The taste is a medium to full body with some grapefruit to tropical fruit notes.  It is extremely drinkable Double IPA.  The aftertaste has a nice mango or grapefruit notes.  It is hard to pick up.

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In the end of the night, I will have to say this beer put me down for the night. It is extremely drinkable and does not taste like a Double or Imperial India Pale Ale.  Sixpoint has out did themselves again on this beer.  I never thought I would find another Imperial IPA better than their Resin.  I love the aroma and taste notes of the tropical fruits or grapefruit.  If I still lived in Chicago, this would be my go to beer on a regular basis along with Resin.  I have turn on mass-produced lager drinkers to this beer.  I know how that sounds but they love it.  If you are in the market where Sixpoint sells their beers, you need to run to the store RIGHT NOW and get yourself a four pack.  You will thank me later.  Share your Sixpoint love with others!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Imperial Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Blue Point Brewery.  It is their Imperial Red Ale that they brew for Ashley’s Ann Arbor and Westland for their 30th Anniversary.  Ashley’s Bar is a nice craft bar with 48 taps and over 100 bottles.  They had several craft breweries around the country brewing a special beer for their celebration.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Blue Point Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this East Coast Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear red or amber color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has hoppy malty like a sweet hoppy candy notes.  The taste is a sweet malty notes with a lightly carbonated notes.  Aftertaste has malty dry finish.  It does not last long.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With half a dozen different malts, including Abbey, Carafa, Munich, and Victory – plus Citra, Mt. Rainier, and Styrian Bobek hops, there’s bound to be something for everyone in this big, red ale that we’ve handcrafted especially for Ashley’s. Cheers! Mark and Pete

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, how can I go wrong with this brew.  I have my favorite craft beer bar and one of my favorite craft breweries.  I am not a huge fan of Red Ales.  I was pretty impressed with this beer.  I have to say this beer aged pretty well.  This red ale has a big hop bite with a nice drinkable malty backbone finish.  I love the aroma to the taste and the color.  There is everything going on in this brew.  I hope you have a chance to try this brew.  I recommend this brew.  I hope to find this beer in draft again and soon.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser