dj weiser

New Beer Blog Magic Hat Snow Roller Hoppy Brown Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample the new winter seasonal from Magic Hat Brewery.  It is called Snow Roller Hoppy Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a clear brown color with a nice white head on this brown ale. The aroma has a fated nutty notes. The taste has a nutty notes with a hoppy malty dry finish for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter ale.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

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

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

Winter calls for walls of white and the Snow Roller begins his work. Riding in on wicked winds, he dusts the naked trees and covers the brown barren fields that gasp a bitter breath at the touch of snow. No place is left free of flurry by his icy surf, save for those gathered together in good spirits. Bundle up and let the Snow Roller take your soul for a roll.

Snow Roller rides a brisk hop wind that blows a bold bitterness across malt flavors of caramel and toasted biscuit.

Malts: Pale, Victory, Chocolate, Caramel 40L, Caramel 120L
Hops: Apollo, CTZ

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, this is beyond their best seasonal beer.  It is perfect for the season and it is kind of same as some of the winter seasonal but still unique to separate itself from the rest on the market. They are feeding the current theme in the craft world and it is hops and hoppy beers.  This is what makes this beer special.  It has a nice hoppy notes with malty to caramel notes.   I enjoyed this beer and I am looking forward to having a few more pints of this awesome liquid.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser16

New Beer Blog Goose Island Festivity Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the latest version of Goose Island Christmas Ale.  This year the brewery has rename the brew to Festivity Ale.  They felt calling it Christmas Ale that after the holiday, people stop drinking and buying it.  They are correct.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into this winter ale.

This brown ale has a nice bronze to brown color with an off white to light tan color head. The smell has a caramel with a slight floral notes. The taste has a creamy caramel with a dry nutty aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brown Ale

Caramel and dark fruit malt flavors swirl inside a creamy toasty brown ale.

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

Festivity Ale

Brewer’s Notes

Every year we brew a brown ale to celebrate the holidays. To make each year’s special, we alter the recipe. This year we wrapped caramel and dark fruit malt flavors inside a creamy toasty brown ale. May your holidays be filled with Festivity.

Recipe Information

  • Style: Classic Ales – Seasonal
  • Alcohol by Volume: 7.7%
  • International Bitterness Units: 50
  • Color: Ruby Brown
  • Hops: Pilgrim, English Golding
  • Malts: Special Pale, Bon Munich, Caramel-60, Caramel-120, Rice Hulls, ECJ Sugar

    • Availability

    Seasonal (November – December)


    Available
    Bottles: 6 Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Ending, every year, I get excited for Fall and Winter seasonals.  This beer is normally at the top of my list.  I will say the last few years.  I have been pretty disappointed with this American Brown Ale.  This year has been promising for the future years.  Goose Island is known to change the recipe slightly every year.  I love this year’s ale.  They did a great job.  It is so much better than last year.  This beer will have the malt head of the world wishing for more of this ale.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Snow Daze (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the winter seasonal, which is Snow Daze, from Rochester Mills.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a dark amber to brown color with a nice white color. The smell has a malty to alcohol notes. The taste has a sweet malty to alcohol notes with a heavy alcohol aftertaste. The aftertaste has a nice burn down the throat but it is slight.  It is pretty drinkable for the beer style and it will get some craft beer drinkers in trouble.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cplanet.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, this beer has a ton going on in it.  There is some nice complex notes that will keep the beer drinker sipping it until he or she figures it out.  This is a great beer and I love the alcohol notes.  It gives something different with the nice sweet malty notes.  This beer does not taste like 10.2% beer.  It is drinks like a 5% brew.  There is some nice malty notes that will get the malt head going crazy over this beer.  I do not see anyone drinking more than one.  This is a beer that you have one and have to move onto to another one.  I highly recommend this beer.  Draft only for this year but next year it will be in draft and package in 2015.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Lake Of Bays Old North Mocha Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Lake Of Bays Old North Mocha Porter.  This craft brewery is from Canada.  They are part of the government back company in Canada.  There is not much history on this craft brewery.  There is nothing on their website and not much on the website.  Let us get into this porter.

This porter has a jet black color with a light tan color head that is really not there anymore. The aroma has a coffee to chocolate notes. The taste has a nice creamy chocolate notes with a dry coffee finish for the aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Best enjoyed with a hearty meal and a nip in the air, this porter derives its rich character from roasted barley, chocolate malts and locally roasted coffee.  Bold and robust, Old North Mocha Porter is a faithful expression of the intrepid frontier spirit.

Here is a description from their website (www.lakeofbaysbrewing.ca):

Roasted barley and chocolate malt lend this porter its full, rich character, and the addition of locally roasted coffee takes the flavour profile still further. This is the fourth year we’ve brought you this delicious autumn seasonal, brewed in collaboration with Diesel House Coffee Roasters. A fitting tribute to the Old North we call home.

Tasting Notes

Pours almost black with beautifully creamy, mocha-coloured foam. Upon further inspection, the colours are actually deep ruby, garnet and dark brown. The aromas include cappuccino, mocha, chocolate and vanilla with a hint of molasses and pie crust. The flavours include subtle sweetness with dark chocolate, mild coffee and tiramisu. The mouth feel is dry (fairly mild) with some initial sweetness. The finish is medium-to-moderate bitterness that lingers and delivers a nice coffee profile that arrives quite late. 8% alc./vol.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lakeofbaysbrewing.ca

Twitter:  @LB_brewing

Closing, I have to say I enjoyed this beer.  I know most breweries in Canada makes some great brews.  Their weakest is beyond far better than most bad craft breweries in the states.  There is a nice balance from the coffee and the porter notes.  Porter has some burn chocolate and natural coffee notes.  Lake Of Bays added some coffee and made it a focus on in this brew.  They did a great job to make the coffee notes shine but not over take the beer.  This is a like an cold Mocha coffee.  I highly recommend this beer if you can find it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Latitude 42 Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from Latitude 42 Brewery.  It is their Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale.  There is not much history on this Michigan craft brewery.  I know they opened their doors some time last year.  They are one of the best young Michigan craft brewery. They are packaging their beers in cans like most Michigan craft brewery  Let us get into this Red Ale.

This Red IPA has a clear red to amber color with a nice white head. The aroma has a malty to a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a creamy malty to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty hoppy finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.latitude42brewingco.com):

Red Beard’s India Red Ale

Our red ale is a cross between a northwest red ale and an India pale ale hence the style India red ale. The dark amber-colored brew uses a variety of crystal malts and premium 2-row malt as well as Munich malt to create a full-bodied ale. Generous additions of Chinook, centennial and simcoe hops impart abundant hop character. Together the malts and hops generate a tasty rich and quaffable ale. 6.5%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.latitude42brewingco.com

Twitter:  @Latitude42Brew

Closing, I had a chance  to stop by this craft brewery when I was moving back to Michigan from Chicago.  I heard rumors they will be opening very soon.  I took a chance to stop for lunch and sample a flight of their beers.    This was one of the beer that I sampled.  I really enjoyed this one and a few of their other beers.  I would have sampled more of their beers but I had to drive to the other side of the state.  I like it but it depends on the price.  I am finding most of the Michigan craft beers are always but sometimes are over priced.  I believe I will be able to mix this beer into my regular beer line up.  There is not too many really good red IPA’s.  I will mix this one in to give me a different IPA once in a while.  It is not overly hoppy but just enough to drink a few of them.  I highly recommend this beer and I cannot wait to see their beers in liquor stores on southeast part of Michigan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Brewery And Perennial Artisan Ales Lips Of Faith Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into beer from a team of New Belgium Brewery and Perennial Artisan Ales.  It is part of New Belgium Brewery’s Lips Of Faith.  The brew is called Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both of these craft breweries, you know the history of  both breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to New Belgium and Perennial Artisan Ales.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a creamy tan color head. The aroma has a creamy milk chocolate with slight salt notes.  The taste has a slight salted creamy chocolate notes.  The aftertaste has a dry salted notes.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Dessert is best poured and the brewers at Perennial agree.  We dreamt up a beer that would bring together chocolate sweetness, Belgian yeast, deeply roasted malts and just the right shake of salt to pour a creamy stout worthy of a cherry on top.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, I will say New Belgium has been hitting some home runs of late between their everyday beers, new seasonal, and high-end brews.  I am a pretty big fan of Perennial Artisan Ales when I lived in Chicago.  I am still a fan but I can not get their beers here in Michigan.  They have not made it here.  I was pretty excited when I saw they teamed up with New Belgium Brewery.  I love the salt and chocolate mix in this beer.  It reminds me a creamy milk chocolate with sea salt notes on it.  This is a great liquid.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Sports Thought Thursday Blog Chicago Cubs And Joe Maddon

 

In this Sports Thought Thursday Blog, we are going to get into the new hiring and firing of their managers.  After another year of losing and celebrating 100 years of Wrigley Field, it was time for some more changes on the field and managing team.  There was some good things that happen under Rick Renteria.  Let’s get into the 2014 year.

 

2014 Season

The Chicago Cubs record was 73 – 89 record.  Winning percent was .451.  They had a winning record at home.  They started out the season really slow and former pitcher Jeff Samardzija struggled to get his first one in the first month of the season.  He gave the Cubs some good to excite games.  They were below .500 for the first half of the season but as soon as the trade deadline came around and they traded off some key pieces.  They kind of turn their season around.  You saw the growth of Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro and a come back year and career of Jake Arrieta.  They saw part of their second half season with long winning streaks.  They saw some of their top prospects come up to the majors and help them win.  The sad thing is Rick earn to come back and he helped the growth of the kids. This is what the front office wanted.


New Manager

This is a business decision and there is no way to be loyal to someone when the goal is to win the World Series.  When a top five manager in the game comes available, you hire him.  This goes for any business or any sport.  They are not saying this is going to happen or not.  This does not guarantee a World Series but this sends a huge message to their fans and rest of the teams in baseball.  They were entering free agency looking to sign a top pitcher for their rotation.  More kids are coming to the majors in a few years.  Joe Madden experience young but talented team a few years ago with Tampa Rays.  He won AL East when the Red Soxs and Yankees were still really good teams along with Orioles team up and coming.  He also took a team to the World Series for the first time in team history.  He was manager of the year. Joe Madden left the Rays because of his former GM, who was Andrew Friendman, now works for the LA Dodgers.

Closing, I agree with everyone and the front office of the Chicago Cubs.  Yes, it sucks and unfair.  He does deserve better.  However, when a coach of his standards and elite comes available, you go and hire him.  This improves the Chicago Cubs.  This makes it easier for free agents to come to Chicago to play for Cubs.  They have not won the World Series in over 100 years.  The attitude of the team has changed since Theo and company came to aboard.  Joe completes the message from the front office to the dugout.  The players of the Chicago Cubs are going to have so much fun on the field that is something Joe brings to the field. This is something that has not been there on the Northside in a long time. I feel better being a Chicago Cubs fan.  The front office is not saying it but I believe this is the coach that will bring my Chicago Cubs a World Series.  I cannot wait for next season and beyond.  Go get yours Cubs and Go Cubbies!    Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser16

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery IPA #11

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the only IPA from Cheboygan Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a nice copper color with a with constant head. The aroma has a light citrus notes.  The taste has a light malty to citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty balance. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Named out of respect for our Brewmaster’s family at Fire Station #11, this is a golden ale that is built with over 40 pounds of hops. The malt bill provides a balanced backbone and the big hop finish gives a pleasant bitterness and a nose full of herbal and citrus notes. A real palate cleansing experience. 5.7% ABV IBU 58

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  CheboyganBrew

Closing, I enjoyed this beer.  There is a nice balance in this IPA.  I wish it was in a package.  This is a nice gift for myself when my friend makes a trip up to the craft brewery once a year.  It is not one of my favorite IPA’s but is still a pretty good beer.  It is a nice gateway beer to get more craft beer drinkers into good beer world.  They picked up some nice hops to make this beer special.  I believe this beer is a great brand.  I love the story behind this beer.  I highly recommend this beer.  I hope you get a good batch.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite beer from Bell’s Brewery.  It is their Special Double Cream Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan color head. The smell has some chocolate, coffee, to alcohol notes.  The taste has a chocolate to burn coffee notes with a dry coffee aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a blend of 10 different malts, Double Cream is an incredibly rich stout composed of dark, sweet, and smooth tones intermingled with a soft, roasty finish.

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

Special Double Cream Stout derives its name from its smooth, creamy texture, not the ingredients. Completely dairy-free, this stout blends ten different specialty malts to yield a remarkable depth of flavor. With only a touch of burnt notes, Special Double Cream Stout focuses on the softer, cocoa & espresso-like aspects of roasted malt.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I love this beer and I enjoy it very much.  I had the chance to have this beer in a Firkin.  It was even better brew.  I love the fact the shelf life is a year but I bet I can get it to age for a few years.  I just wish this beer was available all year-long.  This beer I know cost a little bit more to make and let it age to quality to the beer.  This beer has some nice creamy chocolate notes but a nice burn coffee notes.  This beer will sneak up on you because it does not drink like a high alcohol beer.  I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Nitro Oatmeal Stout

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Founders Brewery is the featured craft brewery in this beer blog.  We will be looking at one of three draft only beers and it is nitro draft from Founder’s.  It is their Nitro Oatmeal Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Nitro Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with tan color head.  The aroma has a chocolate and coffee notes. The taste has a creamy chocolate to slight coffee notes. There is a slight burn notes that also echoes in the taste and aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A Founders take on a classic style, brewed with a generous amount of flaked oats, chocolate malt, roasted barley and a healthy helping of Nugget hops, Founders Oatmeal Stout is nitrogen-infused to give it an extra smooth and creamy mouthfeel. An attractive cascade effect gives this beer its forthright visual appeal—and the body and clean flavor delivers on that initial promise.

  • ABV: 4.5%
  • IBUs: 38
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I was out on a NFL Football Sunday to watch my Miami Dolphins.  I saw this on draft and it was a slam dunk to try it and drink it.  I also noticed it was hooked up to a Nitro line.  Nitro makes everything good but not every beer.  It was pretty excited to try this beer.  It was not too bad but it is pretty average.  I will have to say it is so much better than Summit Brewery Oatmeal Stout.  This is a pretty average beer but it is pretty than some of their everyday beers.  Just because it is made in Michigan, it does not make it good.  This is better than most Michigan craft brews.  I highly recommend this beer.  I had this one at One Under Bar in Livonia.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13