dark copper

New Beer Blog Schlafly T IPA Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about a new beer from Schlafly Brewing.  The beer is called Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, 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 white head on the beer.  The smell is between pineapple and hint of grapefruit to mango. The taste is a heavy mango and a hint of pineapple. The aftertaste is a drop off fast almost like it is not there and hard to explain it. This beer is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Tasmanian Style IPA is a brewed with 100% Australian hops.  They impart a unique citrus flavor to the ale.  A special Release IPA, TIPA is available for a limited time, with a new IPA every few months.

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

Tasmanian IPA

Available October – January

ABV:   7.2%   |   IBU:   60

  • Appearance: Golden, bright
  • Process: Dry hopped, single hop/single malt beer
  • Hops: Galaxy (AU)
  • Malts: 2-row malted barley
  • Yeast: American Ale
  • OG: 17.5
  • SRM:

Schlafly Tasmanian IPA is brewed with 100% Australian hops. The Tasmanian hop, Galaxy, is a strong, aromatic variety that is different from traditional strains of the Pacific Northwest. Our brewers developed a recipe that showcases the hop’s unique flavors of citrus and pineapple.

India Pale Ales (IPAs) were first brewed in England during the late 1700s for export overseas to British soldiers in India. To keep their beer from spoiling during the long voyage, English brewers fortified their traditional pale ale recipes with natural preservatives: more malted barley, for a higher alcohol content, and more hops. In recent decades, with growing appreciation for highly hopped beers, American craft brewers have revived the style, embraced it, and incorporated new hop varieties. Our Special Release IPAs further those traditions and showcase the distinctions of hops from different hemispheres.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

Closing, this was a pretty interesting India pale ale.  These hops are the new trend in the craft beer world.  I have to say this brewery has hit a home run.  I have not had too many beers with these hops.  The ones I had are average to below average.  I just seems like these breweries do not know how to use the hops correctly.  I love the pineapple and mango taste from the hops.  This beer makes me feel like I am in the warm place.  This is beyond far my favorite IPA I have ever had in my life.  I recommend this beer and it is must hunt down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Br. De Ranke Pere Noel

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a Christmas Ale from Belgium.  De Ranke was founded in 1994 by Nino Bacelle.  They brew several different Belgian Beer Styles all year-long.  There is not too much information on this brewery on the web.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color with a big white head on this Belgian ale. The smell is a heavy spices.  The taste is sweet carbonation spices.  The aftertaste has a hint of caramel.  It is a kind of drinkable beer.  There is a ton going on in the beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.deranke.be):

Père Noel

Père Noël is a Christmas ale, though very different from any other Christmas ales you might know. While most Christmas ales are rich & sweet, this one is amber-coloured, 7% vol. Alc. strong and tastes quite bitter. The complex taste is completed with the addition of liquorice. In the recipe we can also find pale malt, Munich malt, Caramel malt, Brewers Gold hops and Hallertau hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deranke.be

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, this beer is just like all the rest of the Belgian Strong Ales on the market.  I am not saying it is a bad beer.  I rather spend my money on Duvel and get more liquid.  It will give the beer drinker more of a value.  I did enjoy this beer and it was great on New Year’s Eve.  I am glad I try it once.  I recommend you trying it and maybe you will find something in that I did not find in it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewery Norm! Pilsner And Tap Party

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about the Tap Party at The Ram in Schaumburg, Illinois.  They were tapping their Norm! Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  This beer post we were talk about the beer and the food at the Tap Party.  Let us do this.

Norm!  Pilsner

This beer has a copper color with a white head that will disappear over the drinking experience.  The smell is of fresh air which I always get from pilsners. It has a slight earthly smell to the beer.  The taste is a full body sweet malty carbonation with an earthy aftertaste. This pilsner is pretty well balance and extremely drinkable beer

Here is a description of the beer from the brewery:

Norm!  Pilsner is a pleasant, thirst quenching lager hopped with plenty of Czech Saaz hops to please the palate.  This golden pilsner is slightly heavier than the Blonde and is about 4.8% ABV.

The Food

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We had the Border Burger and Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  Ram never disappoints when it comes to their food.  They do a great job with their food.

Here is a description of the food:

Border Burger:

Guacamole, bacon, pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, salsa, lettuce and tomato.

Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich: 

Amber ale marinated chicken breast, Porter BBQ sauce, slaw, tomato, onion crisps, roasted tomato-chipotle mayonnaise, and pretzel bun.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this was my first Tap Party from The Ram and I had a ton of fun.  This is not a bad pilsner and it is pretty good beer.  The food fits and pairs perfectly with the food that we order from the brewery.  As far as the food, I really enjoyed the Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  It was perfect with the pilsner.  I was not a big fan of the burger but it was still really good.  I believe my guest said the same thing.  If you are not a Mug Club member, you should become a member.  I cannot wait for the Tap Party at Wheeling in January.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2012

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out this years Christmas Ale from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog on one their beers, 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.

Goose Island Christmas Ale has a nice amber color without a head on it. The smell is a caramel to malty to it.  The taste of this ale is a hazel to almond with a slight dash of caramel for the aftertaste.  It is not that drinkable but the beer drinker could have a few of these beers.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate

Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, this is the first of Goose Island Christmas Ale where the beer will not change over the years or can not be aged like Christmas Ales from the past.  It is pretty disappointing because a ton of us craft beer drinkers love to age beer to see what is like next year.  I was pretty disappointing with this beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  I just feel this beer is missing something like other years.  I do not know what it is and I am not a brewer to make to explain my thought pattern.  I can see most people liking this beer and I want you to try it.  This beer does pair really well with food.   I just do not like this year’s Christmas Ale from Goose Island and that does not mean you will not like this beer.  Let me hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011

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In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island.  It is their Christmas Ale 2011.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers.  If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer.   The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 5 years

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years.  Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good.  This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012.  When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well.  It is complex with a ton of flavor.  It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year.  If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Pipeline Porter

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at the Kona Brewing Company and the beer is their winter seasonal called Pipeline Porter.  Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 on the Big Island of Hawaii by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa.  They are brewing beer to fit the lifestyle of people who live on the island and the tourist that visit Hawaii.  Their Longboard Lager is their flagship beer and is the top-selling craft beer in the state.  Kona Brewing is being sold in twenty-eight states in the United States.  They brew several brews like a pale ale, brown ale, golden ale, etc.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal from Kona Brewing, which is called Pipeline Porter,  has a black color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a heavy coffee bean to the beer.  The taste is a heavy coffee to a slight chocolate notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste. The aftertaste is like eating whole coffee bean. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

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.  Mahala!  Pipeline Porter is full-bodied with a rich, smooth dark-roasted malt flavor.  A selection of premium hops and 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee complete this limited brew.

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

Rich & Roasty

Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew.

Available Fall/Winter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer.  I was excited to hear that they are finally coming to Chicago and this is the first beer to land a shore.  When I went to Hawaii on vacation, I was drinking a ton of Big Wave Golden Ale.  This porter is smooth and taste is coffee and beer drinker can smelling it.  It is not a drinkable beer but it is a beer that will last in your glass and frig for a while.  I recommend this beer and get ready for rest of there beers being review here on this blog.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Brewing Brrr Seasonal Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Brrr Seasonal Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into brew.

Widmer Brothers Brrr seasonal ale has a light brown color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a citrus to it.  The taste is a sweet carbonation little malty with a citrus touch to the beer.  The aftertaste is a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable hoppy beer for the winter seasonal.

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

Warm Up with a Cold One. Or Two. Our winter red ale is the perfect treat, naughty or nice. The deep red body fills your glass and a citrusy hop aroma fills your nose. Then caramel and chocolate malts reward you with a perfectly balanced, malty sweet flavor and velvety finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome beer from the Widmer Brothers.  I really like what this brewery is doing.  They are going back to roots and pushing the limits of craft beer brewing.  This winter seasonal gives the craft beer drinker something you do not get from the other winter seasonal and it is hops and hops and more hops.  It has the malty and warming but gives it a hoppy finish.  It is like malty winter seasonal India Pale Ale.  Plus, it is extremely drinkable and it will get you in trouble so be careful.  This is a beer is part a sampler pack with Redhook Winter Hook and Kona Pipeline Porter.  It is hard to get so if you see it, you better grab it.  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 Redhook Winter Hook

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from the Redhook Brewery and the beer is their winter seasonal called Winter Hook.  If you read my earlier beer blog on one of their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

Redhook Winter Hook has a nice amber color with a semi white head on the beer.  It has a sweet caramel. The taste is sweet carbonation caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter seasonal.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Redhook likes a little nip in the air.

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

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder,  or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 28th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

Style………………….Winter Ale

Abv…………………….6%

IBUs…………………..45 IBU

Original Gravity..15 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1985

Time Frame………..Winter Seasonal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @redhook_brewery

Closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery and winter seasonals in this season.  I love the malty taste this beer gives you in every sip.  Redhook Winter Hook is part of that awesome sampler pack with Kona Pipeline Porter and Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale.  This gives you a nice malty and drinkable beer.  This beer is perfect for the coldest winter day but yet with a mild winter we are having in the Midwest, it is still perfect.  This is a great beer and I am glad to see it back in six packs in the Chicago market.  I recommend you 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 Tallgrass IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my one of my favorite brewery that is not in the Chicago market.  The beer is Tallgrass India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog post on their 8-Bit Pale Ale, you know about this brewery.  If you did not, please, read that beer post on their flagship beer.  Let us get into this beer.

The color is light cooper with a hint of amber with a semi white head on the beer.  The smell is earthly. The taste is earthy with a dry piney aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their beer can:

Bombastically Hopped.  Surprisingly Malty.  Pour a Pint…..

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

IPA (ABV 6.3%, 60 IBU)

Our third beer, Tallgrass IPA, is an India Pale Ale that is rich, complex, and flavorful. We are proud to be the first brewery here in the Great Plains to have the first brewed, cans, and draft IPA out on the market!

Tallgrass IPA originally came to life as a creation during Jeff’s early homebrewing days (batch Numero Uno), and it was consumed in short order by his friends who came over to cook out and help with the next batch. After some modifications over the years (because nobody’s rookie homebrew batch tastes all that great, but your friends will tell you it does) the recipe was dialed in to become what is now Tallgrass IPA. We love this beer and think you will too!

What is with the name “India Pale Ale”? Well, India Pale Ales have a history that reaches way back to the days of the British Empire and the need for good and proper British beer for the soldiers in India. It just so happens that hops not only taste and smell great, they also have natural preservative properties that help keep beer fresher. Obviously, there was no way to keep beer cool on the long voyage around Cape Horn from England to India, so the intellectual forebearers of modern microbiology (genius brewers of course!) figured that if some hops were good for storage then heaps of hops would be great!

With this technique, these hero brewers and their hops kept the beer good and the soldiers of the empire inebriated, even in the furthest corners of the globe. Even more, the hoppiness of the IPA preserved not only the beer itself, but the great taste it created has preserved the style as one of the most popular beer styles in the world in the 21st century. If those brewers weren’t knighted by the empire back then, they should have been!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @tallgrassbeer

Closing out, so far all the beers that I had from this brewery.  I have loved to death.  I love their packaging to the liquid.  This India Pale Ale is great but I do believe this beer is not an American India Pale Ale.  It has more a feel of English style IPA and with the description from their website, I believe they are embracing it.  Most American IPA are very hoppy and this beer is not.  That is why I am basing my facts on that.  I am not a brewer.  If they believe it is American IPA, it is American IPA.  This is my thought pattern.  I highly recommend this beer and I love 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 Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Flying Dog Brewing and the beer is called K-9 Winter Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this great brewery.

This beer is part of the 12 beers of Christmas from Countryside Bar.  It has a hazel copper color without a head on the beer.  There is no smell to the beer.  The taste is sweet carbonation malty without an aftertaste to it. It is very warmly so it lives up to being a winter warmer. This is a sipping beer.

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

Alchohol By Volume: 7.4%
Availability: Winter release
Hop Bitterness: 30 IBU
Specialty Malts: Changes with each release
Hops: Changes with each release
Yeast: English Ale

If it tastes like Christmas, it probably works with K-9. Flavor notes: Sweet malt base with roasted, nutty, and spicy flavors  Pairs with: Buttery cheeses; sweet breads; spice cake; squash, yams, and sweet potatoes; hearty meats and stews.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @flyingdog

Closing, this beer is not a session beer but it is just a great beer.  I love how complex the taste of this winter warmer.  This is a sipping beer and take your time in the cold winter days.  There is a ton going on in the beer.  I love the warmth when this beer goes down my throat and how sweet the beer comes across.  I love this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser