dark copper

New Beer Blog Blue Point Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite India Pale Ales. I am talking about Blue Point Brewing and the beer is their Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those beer posts, please, read them to know everything about this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden color without a head on the beer. The smell is weird malt to the beer. There is really no hop smell. The taste of this full body IPA is earthy to piney with a slight dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

We won’t go as far as saying you’ll see things after partaking in a few, but one or two will leave you craving more. Ancient Egyptians stuffed their pillows with fresh hops, believing the hop’s aroma brought on intense, vivid dreams. Today, our classic, American-style India Pale Ale (IPA) features a rare hop grown exclusively on a small farm in Oregon. One taste and you’ll understand why we bought the entire crop. Our Hoptical Illusion IPA is brewed with a generous amount of this select hop that’s added five different ways for maximum hop flavor. The delicious, resiny, citrus-burst that you taste is the “Essence of the Hop” which is balanced by a malty backbone yielding an intense, golden ale. Hoptical Illusion tantalizes beer lovers’ taste-buds, while its colorful, psychedelic packaging is candy for the eyes.

1.064 OG and 66 IBU’s 6.8% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @bluepointbrewer

Ending, I miss getting this beer in the Chicago market. However, I was visiting friends and family in Michigan, I was able to pick up some beer and this one of them. I love this India Pale Ale while I was there. I always call this beer the “Hippie Package” or “Hippie IPA.” I love the hops that they are using in this beer. I highly recommend you trying this great beer from the Long Island, New York brewery. 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 Brewing Blueberry Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Blue Point Brewing. It is their Blueberry Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Long Island, New York brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color without a head. The smell is heavy blueberry. The taste of this light body beer is heavy blueberry notes. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Who knew that throwing some blueberries into a batch of beer one day would have worked out so well? While there’s no Oompa-Loompas involved in its production; there’s definitely something special that makes Blueberry Ale one of our top-sellers. First brewed in 1998, this delicious golden ale quickly became a year-round favorite. Our fresh Blueberry Ale offers an unusual twist on brewing that turns out to be a wonderful blend of fresh blueberries matched with a distinctive, thirst quenching ale. We carefully add 732 pounds of fresh, plump and juicy, handpicked, USA Northern Highbush Blueberries to every batch. Even before your first sip of Blueberry Ale, a strong, refreshing sweet fruit aroma emanates from the bottle, kicking your taste-buds into overdrive.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @bluepointbrewer

Closing, I do get into my fair share of fruit beers. I love pretty much everything I have had from Blue Point Brewing. I had this beer for the first time in Cooperstown, New York. I have to say I was pretty impressed. I picked up this bottle on my way back to Chicago from Detroit. I wanted to re-try this brew just to make sure I still like it. This beer is pretty balanced from the golden ale and the blueberries. It is sweet but not overly sweet. 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 Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Three Floyds and the brew is Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale. If you read my read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the history of this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper to light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a fruity notes like mango. The taste is a huge and heavy mango notes with a dry fruit hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer. For an experience beer drinker, it is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A dry and stupendous hopped medium bodied Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Canadian 2-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops. Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aroma’s of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness. Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

9.5% ABV 100 IBUs

A massive IPA that will leave your palate its hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

In closing, I will be first to say I am not a huge fan of this brewery because I believe their beers are overrated and over priced. I have to say I have been pretty impressed by this brew. I love the hops and the balanced from the malts. I love the aroma and the nice hops taste is really good. This brewery took their time to find the right hops for this brew. This is a well made beer and nice balance. I recommend you trying this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew and the brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Paw Paw Brewing K.U.A. Extra Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from Paw Paw Brewing on this blog. I had a chance to try their beer at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. I stopped by their booth and talked to them along with sampling their beers. I was back in Michigan this last weekend to see Tesla and Uncle Ted. I did stop by their brewpub but they were closed. I might make a trip back in to check out this brewery. Paw Paw Brewing is located in Paw Paw, Michigan by Ben Fleckestein and Ryan Sylvester in 2010. They had their grand opening in 2011. They brew several different beer styles and package them in bottles. I am looking forward to stopping in and trying everything straight from source. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel copper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to this extra pale ale. The taste is smooth caramel with a citrus hop finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This American pale ale carries tropical citrus notes and announces itself first with a golden color and wonderful aroma. Inspired by cyclists nationwide that ride the urban streets, this brew is sure to refresh.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter: @pawpawbrewery and @2pawsbeer

In the end, this is an awesome beer. I have to say the newer craft breweries raising up in Michigan put the newer ones in Chicago to shame. Michigan is growing into a pretty important state for craft beer. They are a long ways off from Oregon and Washington. They are gaining ground pretty quickly. I love the hops that they use on this beer and yet there is a nice balance from the malt. This a well-built beer and you can tell that this brewery put some thought behind this beer. I will be looking forward to try rest of their beers. I recommend you driving to Michigan to get this beer in your hands. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bastone Brewery Peanut Butter Noir

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer I had at the Summer Beer Festival in Michigan. The brewery is Bastone Brewery and the beer is their Peanut Butter Noir. The brewery is located at Royal Oak, Michigan in 2004. The brewery is named after a Belgian city. Their beer and food is theme after this great Europe country. I found this information on their website (www.bastone.net). Let us get into beer.

It has a peanut butter color without a head on it. There is not a smell to it. The taste is sweet peanut butter with a dry peanut butter aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bastone.net

Twitter: @bastonebrewery

In the end, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this beer. Everyone with me was looking at me weird when I brought it over to the group. This brewery did think out of the box which is a good thing. I am willing to try beers like this all the time. I have to say this was a really good tasting beer. I loved the aftertaste. I hate to say this. I could only have maybe 12oz pour of this beer. It is not thick but heavy. I just feel it is heavy and not drinkable. I really enjoyed this beer and I could not find anything on their website about this brew. I am looking forward to making a trip to this brewery the next time I am in town. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog. It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale. It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head. The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade. It is hard to pick up. The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish. It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style. I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist. It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one. Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on their version of Duvel. I have to say I was pretty impressed about it. I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong. I would love to talk about beer with you. 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 Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City. It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA. Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter. Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through. It has a constant white head on the beer. The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt. The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue. It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend. This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market. I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one. I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five. Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe. To me, this one is made with their stout. There is a nice balance from the hops and malt. Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around. I love the packaging and the fact it is in cans. I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling. This is another seasonal release and tap party. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head. The smell is a citrus to piney. The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s. It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate. ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub. I enjoyed drinking their beers. They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food. This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts. They did a great job with picking the hops. I love the hop character in this brew. I really recommend you driving and 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 Great Divide Hibernation Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first of three brews from Great Divide. Great Divide was founded in Denver, Coloroda by Brain Dunn in 1994. They have been ranked as one of the best breweries in the world from a few beer website. They also brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a light brown to dark amber color with a constant tan color head. The smell is of the malt to a slight caramel notes. The taste of this medium body is a malty caramel with touch of honey with a dry malty finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

Here is descation from their website (www.greatdivide.com):

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, there is a ton going on this well made beer. I enjoyed this beer a ton. I can also see why this brew was made because of where the brewery is located. It has a beautiful color and a nice aroma. It has a nice taste from this well balance beer. There is a ton going on in this beer. I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Ruin Ten IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale. The smell is a piney to earthy notes. The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes. The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter: @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here. I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much. Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me. It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel this way. I have to say it is a great beers. Please, do not think this is a negative note. There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one. I love my fair share of them. This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time. I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while. I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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