dark copper

New Blog Samuel Adams Octoberfest Lager

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Samuel Adams and the beer is their Fall Seasonal Samuel Adams Octoberfest Lager.  If you read my earlier blog, you know something about this brewery.  If you did not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog.  Samuel Adams is pretty well known and you might have known them before this beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest is their Fall Seasonal and is available in six pack, twelve pack, fall sampler pack. It has amber color without a head on the beer.  It has a sweet malty smell to the beer.  The taste of this Octoberfest Lager is a malt beer drinkers heaven. It has a sweet malty aftertaste. It is kind of a drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

In 1810, munich celebrated the wedding of their Crown Prince with a special beer.  After 16 days the party ended, but the tradition continues.  Our version of the calssic Oktoberfest lager blends 5 roasted malts for a rich, hearty flavor that’s perfect of the season, or whatever you’re celebrating.  Jim Koch

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

Brewed with five varieties of malted barley for a big, rich flavor.

The first thing you notice when pouring a glass of this seasonal beer is the color. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest has a rich, deep reddish amber hue which itself is reflective of the season. Samuel Adams Octoberfest masterfully blends together five roasts of malt to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. The malt is complimented by the elegant bitterness imparted by the Bavarian Noble hops. Samuel Adams Octoberfest provides a wonderful transition from the lighter beers of summer to the heartier brews of winter.

The märzen style gets its name from the month in which it was traditionally brewed.  Before refrigeration March was the last month that beers could be put down for the lagering, or cold storage process.  The beers would age during the summer months and be enjoyed around the time of the fall harvest.

This beer style became a staple beer of the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich.  The first celebration was originally held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the Crown Prince of Bavaria.  The village green on which it was first held is now a huge fairground known as the Theresienwiese, after the royal bride. The Oktoberfest tradition has become a world renowned celebration of beer, running for sixteen heady days every autumn in Munich, Germany.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest pays homage to the Bavarian tradition by using generous portions of five varieties of malted barley to create a rich, toffee sweetness that is the signature flavor of this popular style.

Flavor: Smooth with a deep malt complexity. Lightly hopped for a smooth sweet finish.

Color: Deep red amber, 20 SRM Original Gravity: 13.6° Plato

Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.3%ABV – 4.1%ABW

Calories/12 oz.: 187

IBUs: 15

Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Munich-10, and Caramel 60

Hop Varieties:  Tettnang Tettnanger and Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops

Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast

Availability: Seasonal (August – October)

First Brewed: 1989

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @sameuladamsbeer

Closing, at one time, this was one of the best Octoberfest.  Over time other breweries started to brew their verision and I just feel this beer did not change.  It just not as good as I once thought it was.  It is a malty beer drinker heaven but there are better ones.  However, I try to have one Samuel Adams Octoberfest when it is season, it is still a pretty drinkable beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Samuel Adams Hazel Brown

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample out Samuel Adams Fall Sampler pack.  The first beer up to sample is their Samuel Adams Hazel Brown.  If you read my earlier blog on Samuel Adams brews, you know about this brewery.  If not, please, go back and read the first part of it.  Samuel Adams is pretty well-known so you might know about them before these blogs.  Let us get into the beer.

Hazel Brown is part of their Fall Sampler Pack. It has a brown color without a head on the beer.  The smell is between a hazelnut and brown sugar.  It has a medium body with a caramel to sweet hazelnut taste.  The aftertaste is of slight bitter to dry to this american brown ale. It is not really a drinkable beer but I could see some beer drinkers trying to do that with this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This flavorful dark brown ale has a distinct hazelnut aroma and taste.  Slightly sweet caramel and toffee malt notes accentuate the pleasant roasted hazelnut character.  This medium-bodied brew finishes smooth with an underlying spiciness from the hops.  Cheers!  Jim Koch

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

In honor of the fall hazelnut harvest, we brewed this flavorful nut brown ale.  Its distinct hazelnut aroma and taste are accentuated by slightly sweet caramel and toffee malt notes.  Medium in body, it finishes smooth with an underlying spiciness from the hops making it a great choice for fall.

While nut brown ales do not have a particularly long history, brown ales have been around in England since the late 17th century.  This style became rare at the start of the 19th century as brewers began using pale malts as the base for their beers in place of more expensive brown malts.  The resurgence of this style began at the end of that century and by the 1920s, brown ales were fairly common again.
For the base of Samuel Adams® Hazel Brown, we decided to brew in the Northern English Brown Ale style, which is slightly more robust than Mild and Southern English Brown Ales (higher ABV and bitterness level).
For this beer, we wanted to brew something that would be appealing and satisfying during the fall when the days become crisp and cooler.  Brown ale, while a good beer any time of year, seemed like a great fit for this.  We used malts that would contribute a rich, dark brown color, roasted notes, and a slightly sweet flavor profile, including caramel and toffee notes.
While the brown ale was tasty by itself, but we wanted to do more with it so decided to add a nut character.  Hazelnut was the nut of choice due to its distinct, pleasant flavor and aroma.  After adjusting the base beer slightly, we were able to create the best balance of malt and hazelnut characters.

Flavor: Caramel and toffee notes with a slightly sweet maltiness & roasted hazelnut flavor

Color: Rich brown, 28 SRM

Original Gravity: 13° Plato

Alcohol: 5.2%ABV – 4.0%ABW

Calories 12/ oz.: 174

IBUs: 20

Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, Dingeman’s biscuit, Paul’s roasted barley

Hop Varieties: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops, East Kent Goldings

Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast

First Brewed: 2012

Availability: Limited Release in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I love a good brown ale but this one comes up a little short.  Let me expalain why this brown ale might be a pass but I say to try this beer to make your judgement.  It has a nice smell or aroma from the beer and it comes off with a ton of promise.  The taste of the beer has its malty to hazelnut but then it comes off a little water down It has hard to expalining it.  I believe they either rush this beer or did not put a ton of thought behind the making of this beer.  It is really a huge let down for me but I know a few people that like this beer and you could be one of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Two Brothers Outlaw India Pale Ale

Starting a new beer blog, this is the first beer from Two Brothers Brewery that I am blogging about and the beer is Outlaw IPA.  Two Brothers was founded in 1996 in Warrenville, IL by Jim and Jason Ebel.  They brew several different beer styles and some of them they do a twist to some of the classic beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a copper color without a head on it.  The smell is of earthly to piney.  The taste of this IPA is earthly to piney with dry hoppy aftertaste.  It is not really a drinkable beer.

Here is a descripation from the beer can:

As bold as the name suggests but as friendly as the masked man, comes our first world of cans.  This IPA is full of citrus and pine hop character and aroma.  The hop flavors play off the pleasant malt complexity like a good sidekick.   Giddy-up.  60 IBU 6.3% ALC/VOL

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.twobrosbrew.com

Twitter:  @twobrothersbeer

In closing, one of many new breweries being opened in Chicago area and this is one of the newer ones.  Two Brothers are growing at a rapid rate and I believe it is taking away from quality of the beer.  When I moved to Chicago, I was excited to try all the breweries at that time in 2005.  Two Brothers was on that list and I loved their beers back then.  I just feel their beers have loss something.  It could be passion or rushing the beers through the brewing process to keep up with demand. Outlaw IPA does not have enough malty backbone to my taste buds as a hop head.  It is all bitterest and that does not make this hop head happy. It kills the hop taste for me. This beer is a huge let down and I love my craft beer in a can.  This beer is selling pretty good and I believe it is because it is local brew.  General Chicago Craft Beer Drinkers’ pallets are still growing and I hope these local beer companies realize and step up to make some good beer.  I am not saying this the worse India Pale Ale.  I believe it is average India Pale Ale and this brewery could do better.  Just believe, I say this before.  It does not mean you might not like this beer.  Please, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Pils Czech Style

In this blog, Lagunitas Pils Czech Style Pilsner is the beer that is going to be sampled and featured.  If you read my earlier blog on their Fusion 8, you are know a little something about this brewery.  If you did not read that blog, please, go back and read the first part of that beer.  Let us get into the beer.

This Pils has a golden color with a little white head on the beer.  It has that fresh air smell in the woods by a waterfall. The taste of this German style Pils is a sweet slightly malty carbonation to little hop aftertaste. It has a nice dry crisp finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Like Adam and Eve, Isaac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious, Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as can be.  Still, we must love each for who they are, separately but equally, with liberty, and justice, for all.  Cheers!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing out this blog, this is one of my favorite pilsner.  It has a ton of favor and I am really starting to dig into this brewery a little bit more.  I forgot how good their beers compared to the rest of the beers in the market.  This beer has a nice balance between the malt and the hops but keeping the classic beer style in mind.  This is an excellent beer and 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 Blog Lagunitas India Pale Ale

New beer tab, Lagunitas India Pale Ale is the feature beer in this new beer blog.  It is part of their everyday six-pack beer.  If you read my earlier blog on their Fusion 8, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not read it, please, go back to read the first part of it.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden color to copper color with a constant white head.  It has a citrus smell to this IPA.  The taste has a sweet slightly carbonation to citrus taste with nice citrus to piney aftertaste.  It is drinkable for being a West Coast India Pale Ale.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with the special homicidally hoppy ale.  Saavor the moment as the raging hop character engages the Imperial Qualities of the Malt Foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palate!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

Closing out the beer tab, this beer is a really awesome beer.  To me, this India Pale Ale is a dessert for IPAs.  It is very well balance and has a nice malty backbone.  It is drinkable and I cannot wait for their brewpub to open here in Chicago.  This brewery makes several great brews and puts their own twist on it.  Their beers are worth the value that you pay at the Beer Stores.   You can not say that about all the beers that are in the market.  If you are a hop head or looking for a good India Pale Ale, you need to find this beer and try it out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Lager

The feature beer in this lastest edition is Brooklyn Lager.  If you read my earlier blogs on this brewery, you are pretty much up to date on Brooklyn Brewery.  If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of the Brooklyn Brown post to get to know this great New York City brewery.  Let us get into beer.

Brooklyn Lager is part of their everyday lineup of beers and is their flagship beer. It has copper to almost amber color with a constant white head on the beer.  It has a heavy malty smell to the beer.  This lager has a taste of a sweet malty and crisp malty finish to it. It is extremely drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Amber gold, with a malty body and a floral hop character, Brooklyn Lager is a revival of Brooklyn’s pre-Prohibition all malt lagers.  This is the brewery’s first and best-selling brand.  Brooklyn Lager is brewed only with malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, and will taste best before the freshness date indicated.  Please write us or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5pm, at #1 Brewers Row.  79th North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or our website at www.brooklynbrewery.com.

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

In the late 1800’s Brooklyn was one of the largest brewing  centers in the country, home to more than 45 breweries.  Lager beer in the “Vienna” style was one of the local favorites. It is amber-gold in color and displays a firm malt  center supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop  aroma. Caramel malts show in the finish. The aromatic qualities of the beer are enhanced by “dry-hopping”, the centuries-old practice of steeping the beer with fresh hops as it undergoes a long, cold maturation. The result is a wonderfully flavorful beer, smooth, refreshing and very versatile with food. Dry-hopping is largely a British technique, which we’ve used in a Viennese-style beer to create an American original.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Ending the beer tab, I will be honest about this beer.  I was not a fan of this beer at first but over the years it has grown on me.  I believe my taste buds are changing again.  This lager is what an American Lager should be not what the mass produced beer companies are putting out there.  I am not saying they are bad lagers and beers.  For me personally, I enjoy more of a malty taste.  This is a great beer with a ton of flavor and a nice hop touch to it.  If you enjoy lagers, I would give this beer a shoot and let me know what you think about this Brooklyn Lager.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale

Starting new tab, Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, which is an American Strong Ale, is going to be feature in this beer blog.  I have wrote about their Pale Ale in one of my earlier blog.  If you read that blog, you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please go back and read that first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Strong Ale has a clear blood red color without a head.  It has a amber like color to it. The smell is sweet carmel malty to it. The taste is sweet carbonation malty carmel with a dry sweet malty that last a while in the beer drinker.  It is extremely drinkable and dangerous for the beer drinker.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.gearybrewing.com):

Hampshire Ale

Once Maine’s legendary seasonal specialty, Hampshire is now available year round. Hampshire has a huge toasted malt flavor balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering with the malt and hop notes blending with alcohol warmth. Original gravity – 1070; alcohol by volume – 7%; two row English malts (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt. Hood and East Kent Golding hops.
Availability: Year round

Original gravity: 1070

Ingredients: Two row English Malt (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt Hood and East Kent Golding hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gearybrewing.com

Twitter:  @gearybrewing

Closing, I am glad to see this brewery in the Chicago market again.  I will be drinking and blogging on this brewery a little bit more.  This beer is full of flavor and comes with a huge value for the price you will be paying at the beer store.  I love the heavy malty and sweetness.  Plus, it does not taste like 7% ABV beer that is pretty dangerlous to the beer drinker.  This is an awesome beer and very well made.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy

In this blog, the beer that will be feature is Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy.  Leinenkugel’s Brewery was founded in 1867 by Jacob Leinenkugel and John Miller in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin,  It was sold to Miller Brewing Company in 1988.  They are known for their Summer Shandy.  Lemon Berry Shandy, which is a limited edition, is a line off their Summer Shandy.  Let us get into the beer.

Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is a limit edition and a summer seasonal.  It has a light cloudy copper color without a head on it. The smell is a ton of berry wheat to it. The beer taste is like their Berry Weiss but a small hint of lemonade to it.  The aftertaste is about the only time to me you will taste of beer.  To me, this beer is water down vision of their Berry Weiss. It is drinkable beer.

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

Light, crisp and perfect for every season. Our Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is Weiss beer brewed with blackberry juice and natural lemonade flavor. And the best part is this Shandy is available year round. So now every season is Shandy Season.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.leinie.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address.

Closing out, there was so many rumors about mixing three Leinenkugel’s beers.  I guess this brewery got wind of it and made this beer.  I am not saying this brewery is mixing their beers and then bottle it.  This beer is fishly like that.  I really did not like this beer.  It has a light body and too fruit to sweet for me.  I love sweet but this is not the right kind of sweet for me.  If you are a fan of their Summer Shandy, I would recommend you trying this beer.  I  believe you will like it.  Plus, just because I did not like, it does not mean you will not like it.  I just wanted to give my  thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA

Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA is going to be featured in this blog.  Magic Hat Company was founded in 1994 in Burlington, Vermont.  Magic Hat brought Pyramid Brewery in 2008 and later in 2010, they were brought out by North American Breweries from Rochester, New York.  Let us get into the beer.

Magic Hat Blind Faith is their India Pale Ale seasonal.  It is available in six-pack bottles and part of their sampler pack.  It is a slightly cloudy copper color with a white head at first.  It goes away after a while. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste is a grassy to earthly hop taste to it and has a dry mango aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Magic Hat is presenting our year long “Tour of IPAs!”  Please join us in welcoming to the stage our revolving roster of FOUR features, specially formulated to entertain the palates of hop lovers worldwide.  Smell the hops, taste the hops, love the hops…. and stay “On Tour” with our quarterly cabaret of IPAs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

In the end, I have to be honest which I am through these blogs.  It has got me in trouble at times.  I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  However, of late this brewery has been trying to do different things, this India Pale Ale is one of them.  In the craft world now, American Craft Breweries do not know when to stop  making their beers over hop.  It is nice to have a nice English India Pale Ale, which is what this Magic Hat beer.  They are flipping the hops for the turn of the seasonal, which I love to get a different twist on IPA.  I know Samuel Adams did that with their IPA but in a sampler pack which was a few years ago.  Widmer Brothers are doing that to their IPA and I really enjoyed their Fall, Winter, and Spirng IPA in that line.  Magic Hat Blind Faith IPA is coming out of its seasonal so I would go head out and find this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are doing the last one from Blue Moon Brewing Company.  The beer is Harvest Pumpkin Ale, which is their Fall Seasonal.  If you read my blog on their Summer Seasonal, we are pretty much up to speed with the brewery.  I will not bore you with the history again.  If you have not read it, please go back to read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale is their seasonal six-pack and twelve pack bottles.  It is also part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles. It has a deep dark copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell to the beer is a cinnamon and a ton of nutmeg and a slight pumpkin.  The taste is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little pumpkin.  The aftertaste is a little wheat to yeast to this fall seasonal. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A pumpkin ale crafted with autumn’s bounty of vine-ripened pumpkin and flavors of cloves, allspice, and nutmeg,  Then brewed with a touch of wheat for a smooth, lightly spiced finish.

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

In 1995, we crafted our first autumn seasonal—Pumpkin Ale. At the time, Oktoberfest beers were in high demand. For our version, we wanted to create a beer that was a little different than what was already out there and complemented the season by highlighting the flavors we’ve all grown to love during this time. It was so popular that it became the first nationally available pumpkin ale. Harvest Pumpkin Ale, as it’s called now, is crafted with pumpkin and spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for a taste you’ll want to fall right into.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Munich, Caramel
Hops: Hallertau
Our Twist: Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Allspice
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 15º Plato
ABV: 5.7%
Appearance:  Deep amber-colored ale with brilliant clarity and a rich, white head.
Aroma:  Very complex aroma consisting of malty spice notes.
Taste:  The taste starts out with assertive malty notes and is quickly balanced with the right amount of harvest spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. There’s a small amount of bitterness to keep the malt sweetness from building up.
Mouthfeel:  A medium-bodied ale with just enough carbonation to balance the rich caramel character.
Finish:  Finishes with a smooth, clean malt and spice taste. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and malt gradually fade.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In closing, being one of the first Pumpkin Ales, it does not mean that it is a good beer.  It is a drinkable beer but this is a really bad beer.  I had several different Pumpkin Ales so far this season and this is at the bottom of the list.  I am not saying it because it is made from a mass beer company.  I just gave them credit in a few post earlier.  This beer is really bad and you can find it everywhere.  I know for a fact if you do want to try, which I will suggest it, that you could find it for a pretty good price in a bar or where beer is sold down at the store level.  I just want to hear your thoughts on this beer. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser