dj weiser

New Beer Blog Stone Brewery Coffee Milk Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new beer from Stone Brewery.  It is their Coffee Milk Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this new beer.

It has a jet black color with a brown color head.  The smell has a creamy chocolate to slight coffee notes.  The taste has creamy chocolate with a slight burned coffee notes.  The aftertaste has a heavy coffee finish.  It is a sipping beer but kind of drinkable.

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

There’s no shortage of talented people at Stone, and each makes their presence known in their own unique way. Brian Gallagher, a brewer who learned the art of fermentation in the UK, used the beer you now hold, a take on a traditional English milk stout, as his vehicle for personal expression. Originally brewed as a limited edition offering at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, this coffee-laced milk stout quickly became a favorite among Gallagher’s peers. Made bittersweet and creamy while remaining smooth and easy-drinking thanks to the addition of milk sugar, it’s clear in one sip why this is a brew we needed to share with fans everywhere.

Here is a youtube from the brewery about this beer and history:

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @stonebrewingco

In the end, I love this beer and I hope they make it as an everyday beer.  This is why.  I was stun by the pice for the alcohol percentage.  I just thought this would be a pretty simple beer to make.  The price is high because the limited cases in the market.  This is a great beer asides that one negative mark.  Milk stout shines with a nice blend of coffee.  It has a nice creamy easy drinking notes with a nice coffee aftertaste.  If you are not a fan of coffee or stout, you will not like this beer.  If you are a fan, you need to hunt this beer down and try it.  This is a great beer and I hope they make more to get a lower price in the market.  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 Saison Harvest Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into New Belgium Saison Harvest Ale.  This beer was their fall seasonal back in 2007.  Every season, New Belgium brings back seasonal back to life in their sampler pack.  The sampler pack comes with two bottles each of three of their selected everyday beers.   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 New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this Saison Ale.

It has a nice clear golden color with a nice white constant head.  There is some nice small constant bubbles in middle of the beer.  The aroma has a nice Belgian spicy notes.  The taste has a nice refreshing citrus notes with some spice kick.  The aftertaste has citrus finish.  It is extremely drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a yeast harvested from Belgium, our SAISON has a just-picked freshness reminiscent of the farm-house ales produced each fall in Blegium.  Pale bronze in color, this delicately hopped ale has a bright, yeasty, artisanal quality worthy of toasting those long autumn sunsets.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I really love this beer and I wish it was still in six packs form.  I love how this brewery change-up their seasonal every two to three years.  It could  be a good thing or a bad thing.  If there is a seasonal that you are not a fan of it, you will be looking forward to the new one to come out.  I love how they revisit some of their old seasonal in  their sampler pack.  This is a perfect and true to the classic saison style.  It is not overly hop but it is not under hop.  It is refreshing and keeps you coming back for more beer.  I recommend this beer and their fall sampler pack.  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 Buffalo Bill’s Brewery American’s Original Pumpkin Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the Oringal Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bill’s Brewery.  Buffalo Bill’s is one of the oldest brewpub in the United States.  It opened in 1983.  It was opened right after the laws changed.  Bill Owens, who is the founder and owner, wanted to serve homemade food with some great beers.  In 1994, Bill Owens sold the brewery to Geoff Harries.  Geoff worked with Bill in 1987 as the orinigal brewmaster.  Geoff grew the brewerey into 40 states in the United States.  This is information was pulled from their website (www.buffalobillsbrewery.com).  Let us get into this pumpkin ale.

It has a slightly cloudy amber color with a white head at first.  The smell has a light to slight cinnamon notes.  The taste of this medium body beer has a cinnamon notes with a crisp cinnamon finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin pie in a bottle

America’s Original Pumpkin Ale was first brewed in 1985. Made with real pumpkin, it has a golden amber color, and the sweet aroma of pumpkin pie. This brew is perfect for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin Ale is available from August – November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.buffalobillsbrewery.com

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, here is the pumpkin beer that started this mass trend right now.  Every fall, we have a flood of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers hit the market.  It is alwasy nice to go back and try the beer that started that trend.  I had this about four or five years ago and loved it.  I wanted to retry it.  I still love this beer.  I have to say it is better than most pumpkin ales on the market now.  There are some really bad pumpkin ales on the market.  It is so disappointed us beer drinkers have not send that message that these beers are not good.  I mean we vote with our wallet or money.  It is a nice message not to buy them.  This one is good and you need to try or retry 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 Harpoon Brewery UFO Pumpkin Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another Harpoon Brewery beer.  It is their UFO Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer bog 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 pumpkin ale.

It has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a nice creamy cinnamon to nutmeg notes with a cinnamon banana clove aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

It’s a simple story; we brew this beer because we like pumpkin (pumpkin pie, really) and thought an unfiltered pumpkin ale would be great, especially during the New England fall. Turns out it is.

Description

Imagine a pumpkin vine wound its way in a field of barley, and a brewer harvested it all to make a beer. Add Northwestern hops and a blend of spices, and you’ve got UFO Pumpkin. The malt combination provides a smooth body and slightly sweet flavor, which balances perfectly with the earthy notes derived from the pure pumpkin. And like all of our UFO beers, UFO Pumpkin is UnFiltered.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Amber and orange with a slight haze
  • Aroma: Malty with hints of pumpkin and spice
  • Mouth feel: Slightly sweet and smooth
  • Taste: A solid malt backbone highlighting German Vienna and Munich malts with a nice dose of pumpkin and spice, reminiscent of pumpkin pie
  • Finish: Easy drinking with a lingering pumpkin aftertaste on the back of the tongue

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

In the end, I was looking to try this beer for many seasons when they made it to the Chicago market.  It is average beer.  There is better pumpkin ales on the market.  I will say this beer is so much better than Blue Moon Pumpkin and Brooklyn Pumpkin Ale.  I did enjoy this beer but I just feel it could be a lot better.  I will try it again next season.  I recommend it at least once.  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 Harpoon Brewery Octoberfest (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Harpoon Brewery and the beer is their Octoberfest.  This is the first time this beer is being featured on this blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this 1980’s craft brewery.  Let us get into this Octoberfest.

It has a clear amber color with a white constant head.    The aroma has a sweet malty to nutty notes. The taste has a slight sweet malty to nutty notes with a dry malty finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This rich, full-bodied, malty beer – perfectly balanced with a generous dose of hops – calls out for lederhosen, dirndls, and oompah music!

Roll out the barrels!

And keep them coming, because this is going to be one festive, malty fall.  Come to the brewery and celebrate Octoberfest with us!  Prosit!

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

The original German Oktoberfest was brewed with one celebratory festival in mind. Harpoon Octoberfest is brewed with TWO festivals in mind; our Octoberfests at our breweries in Boston, MA and Windsor, VT. We love the style and it’s a great beer for the fall season. In true Octoberfest tradition, we threw our first festival here at the brewery in 1990. There were a couple thousand people here celebrating amidst the brewing tanks. We can’t quite fit everyone in the actual brewery now – last year nearly 18,000 revelers attended our Boston Octoberfest and nearly 7,000 joined us at our brewery in Vermont the following weekend. Prost!

Description

Harpoon Octoberfest is a malty tribute to fall, balanced by a gentle hop bitterness. In keeping with tradition, it is a Marzen-style beer, brewed with abundant quantities of Munich, Chocolate, and Pale malts. Those malts provide a solid, full body and create the beer’s deep color. It is a rich, flavorful beer.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: garnet-red color with a firm, creamy head.
  • Aroma: hop aroma, (not overpowering but present)
  • Mouth feel: full-bodied, smooth, and malty
  • Taste: gentle bitterness to balance any residual sweetness
  • Finish: soft and malty with a mild bitterness

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

Closing, I like this beer.  This beer gives you something different then the rest of the Oktoberfest on the market.  Most Oktoberfest are very sweet with a heavy caramel notes. There is some with a heavy malty notes.  This one is like this year’s Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest.  This beer is true to the classic beer style.  I love how it echoes the fall season which it should.  I will be picking up some more bottles before the end of the season.  I wish I could get this in cans.  I would to take this out to cook outs or tailgating.  This is a great beer and I recommend 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 Anchor Brewery Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale from Anchor Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Anchor Brewing IPA post, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know this west coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this fall beer.

It has a nice clear red to amber color with a white head.  The aroma has a sweet malt to hints of maple syrup.  The taste has a carbonated malty to slight nutty notes.  The aftertaste is a dry slight burned maple syrup to malty notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle and website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

Our fall seasonal, BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, was inspired by a native California tree, its incredible leaves, its delicious syrup, and the best colors of fall. Bigleaf maple thrives along the banks of California’s mountain streams. Native Californians once made rope and baskets from its bark. Today, artisans handcraft its wood and burl into custom guitars. In autumn its huge leaves, up to a foot across, can display a full range of color as they slowly turn from green to gold to red. Bigleaf maple sugaring in California dates to the 1800s; yet this tree’s unusually flavorful syrup remains the product of a small group of hobbyists. A hint of maple—including bigleaf maple—syrup in every brew perfectly complements the malty complexity, balanced hoppiness, and rich fall hue of BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, a red ale like no other.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter:  @anchorbrewing

In closing, I was looking forward to trying this beer.  I was pretty interested on how the maple syrup would go over with the red ale.  I liked it.  The aftertaste is pretty dry aftertaste.  There is some nice flavor and some complex notes.  I enjoyed drinking this beer.  I might be picking up some more before the end of the season.  There is so many fall seasonals that I want to get into.  I like this beer if it was for dessert or a late night beer. I know there are some people that can drink this while they are tailgating.  This is a great beer.  I recommend 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 Alaskan Brewery Hop Thermia Double IPA

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

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head.  The smell has slight citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus notes with a citrus hop bitter finish for the aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Style:

This American Double India Pale Ale, or IPA, is as big and bold as the mythical lone brewer himself. Legend has it that he first came up with this beer, with the help of his woodland friends, to fight against the long frigid winter nights endured by all of the pioneers of the Last Frontier.

Flavor Profile:

Hopothermia is a full-flavored representation of the Double IPA style with a robust malt body resting in easy harmony, like a massive grizzly bear in winter, with the big and drinkable American hop character.

History:

Much of the history of Hopothermia is lost to the mists of time. We know that the windswept lone brewer dreamt of a Double IPA so bold and packed full of hop flavor that it could keep the wild wolves from the door of his remote cabin. We know he was able to converse with the creatures of the woods – except for the bears who slept through the cold winter, and the mink, who were just really super rude. And we know he skillfully crafted a beer that became the stuff of legend.

There are strange brews made where glaciers cascade
By the brewers who know no bounds.
For they stuff in the hops ’til the temperature drops
And then call for a few more rounds.
In Alaska, it seems, every brewer dreams
of a bold Double IPA.
Hopothermia’s the beer, in the Last Frontier
That will keep the wild wolves at bay.

Story Behind The Label:

The legend of Hopothermia begins as any Alaskan tale should, on a frozen landscape with wolves howling and a vast dark moonless sky of swirling Northern Lights above. It was on that long-ago night that a lone brewer stood against the harsh winds with only his beard to protect him, and dreamt of a beer so full of hop flavor, so jam packed with the spirit of frontier Alaska, it could freeze your very soul and one of your thumbs.  All that winter, as moose, wolverines, and one beaver peered through his remote cabin window, he feverishly labored to make a beer that could face down the harsh elements – that could conquer not only thirst – but fear itself.  After the thaw, the lone brewer had vanished, leaving behind only a few recipes scrawled on scraps of paper, a sock puppet, and a hand-whittled keg. In that keg he left his legacy – Hopothermia.  Respect this beer. Wear layers. Lots of wool. Mittens? Open a bottle and then, sshh . . . Listen for the windswept cry of a lone wolf.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter:  @alaskanbeer

Closing, I know you know that I am a huge fan of this brewery.  I loved this brewery before they came to the State Of Michigan.  I was always excited when my friend Dean would bring some bottles back from the West Coast.  When they finally made it to Michigan, I have been going crazy finding out what is being released in the state.  There were several beers that are here that I never had.  I was excited to get them out-of-the-way.  This Double IPA was one of them.  I love the name and the packaging.  I love how it is a nice sipping beer.  There is some complex flavor going on in this beer.  I love it.  It has a nice color and aroma.  This is a great beer.  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 Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another pumpkin beer, which is Pumpkinhead Ale, from Shipyard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head on this pumpkin beer.  The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes but turns to water notes with a cinnamon to slight pumpkin finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:  @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I loved their Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  I wanted to try the normal seasonal in their everyday six pack line of the fall from this brewery.  I have been pretty curious on this craft brewery.  I do not know this brewery because most of their packaging does not help sell their beers.  It is pretty boring but most cases that means the beer is really good.  I have to say in this case with this Pumpkinhead Ale it is pretty average.  I was pretty disappointed and I have to say this is the weakest fall and pumpkin beer this season.  I will be searching out for their other beers.  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 Short’s Autumn Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Autumn Ale.  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 fall beer.

It has a slightly cloudy amber to bronze color with a semi white head.  The aroma has a floral to nutty notes with some hazelnut.  The taste has a slight carbonation malty with earthy hop bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Autumn Ale is a true-to-style London Extra Special Bitter (ESB). It has a medium body, amber color, and full flavor. This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of malty sweetness and floral hop bitterness. The result is an ideal bridge between malty and hoppy beer styles. Autumn Ale is a silver medal winner from the 2006 Great American Beer Festival.

6.5% ABV

45 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end,  I did not like this beer.  It just seems like it is missing something.  I love my ESB’s.  I love the old country-style of it.  This one is true to the classic beer style.  I do not know if maybe it threw me off because the flood of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers.  This was the first beer I had for the day.  So it was not like I was a few beers in and started to drink it.  If it was a normal price craft beer but not higher than the rest, this beer would be worth the price.  I recommend you trying it and this beer is better than most of the beers Short’s release in the market.  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 Sierra Nevada Vienna Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Vienna Lager, from Sierra Nevada’s new Fall Sampler Pack.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this lager.

It has a clear dark golden to light copper color with a white constant head.  The smell has some shunky notes.  The taste has a malty to light shunky notes with a nutty finish for the aftertaste.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Vienna-style lagers were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style.  It’s a good thing they did.  These delicate beers lean on light and bready malt flavors, but walk a fine, balanced line with whole-come European hope contributing a dry finish.

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

Vienna

The quintessential amber lager revisited.

Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These delicate and extremely balanced amber beers rely on semi-sweet and bready malt flavors but walk a fine line with both malt and hop character shouldering equal weight. Our take on the style features whole-cone European hops, which add to the dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I will pick up their fall pack for the Oktoberfest and their Autumn Brown Ale.  Just like those other two beers, this is the only way you can get these beers.  It is a nice perfect beer for the fall pack.  I just do not know how their Pale Ale fits with all this malty love going on this pack.  It is kind of two different beer drinkers.  Most people who buy these sampler packs are taking them to parties or tailgate parties.  I honestly think this brewery can brew just about every style.  I highly recommend this beer and the sampler pack.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13