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New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewery Old Howling Bastard

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While at Ashley’s Westland, you would think it is winter in summer with these last two beer posts.  We are going to sample Blue Point Brewery Old Howling Bastard.  If you read earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Blue Point Brewery.  If you have not, please, read to get to know this New York Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this Barley Wine.

It has a filter dark brown to amber color maybe dark bronze color.  The aroma has a sweet malty notes.  The taste has a sweet malty with a dry aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer throughout the winter season.

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

Some Long Island Winters can make just about anyone surly. Old Howling Bastard was named after a certain colorful local character years ago, but when the weather gets cold a lot of folks around here get cranky waiting on our bold barley wine to hit taps. Our special barley wine is made with English 2-row barley and Vienna malt. Its robust, malty, caramel flavor is balanced by lots and lots of hops, giving it a great depth of character. Drink only in moderation, the colorful name is not all that will grab your attention. Try an Old Howling Bastard in a snifter or wineglass – the trick is to never forget that after a few, you too, may turn into a howling bastard!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @bluepointbrewer

In closing, this brew has a ton of flavor and has aged very nicely in the keg.  I just feel at times when a Barley Wine is released to the public.  They are at times are too young and need to be aged.  I did not feel that way about this beer.  I have to say it is so much better aged.  This beer lives up to the classic beer style.  I really enjoyed this brew and pretty much any beer from Blue Point Brewery.  I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Greenbush Pete’s Red Hot

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Pete’s Red Hot from Greenbush Brewery.  Yes, it is a winter warmer.  It is rare to see a nice winter ale in the middle of the summer.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this western Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Greenbush Brewery.  Let us get into this winter warmer.

This winter warmer has a dark amber to redish brown color with a constant slightly off white to a light tan color head.  It has a slight smell of malt to other spices notes.  The taste has a light carbonation malty notes with other spices like nutmeg to cinnamon.  The aftertaste has a dry bitter hop finish.  It is a nice sipping beer for winter that can be kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @greenbush_brew

In closing, I did not realize what I order until it came to me.  I was not expecting to see a winter seasonal on tap at Ashley’s.  This is brew is one of their anniversity beers that some craft breweries did for them last year.  I guess they had a keg left over.  I am not complaining.  This is a great beer and I wish they would package this beer.  This beer has a ton of flavor with a full body.  If you have not had this beer, I recommend you getting up to Ashley’s to try it.  It will be gone here soon.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Oddside Ales Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale, from Oddside Ales.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their craft brews, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Oddside Ales.  Let us get into this glow in dark label Imperial IPA.

This Imperial India Pale Ale has a clear dark copper color with a semi white head.  The aroma has earthy notes.  The taste has earthy with some light carbonation.  The aftertaste is dry hop bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  @oddsidesales

In closing, I love this brew as far as the taste profile.  However, I am really not a huge fan of the dry hop bitter finish, it is a little too powerful for me.  I normally do not mind but today I was little turn off on it.  This is a great beer and I know many craft beer and hopheads drinkers will love this beer.  I love the hops they picked in this brew.  They did a great job designing the malty backbone.  I highly recommend this brew, plus, it glows in the dark.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Bourdon Sustanance

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Short’s Brewery Bourdon Sustanance.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their brews, you know  the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know Short’s Brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant off white color head.  The aroma has a heavy chocolate to bourdon notes.  The taste has a bourdon bite at the front and a nice smooth chocolate malty notes to finish it off.  The aftertaste is a nice crisp finish.  It is sipping beer.

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

Bourbon Barrel Soaked Sustenance Black Beer

Bourbon Barrel Soaked Sustenance Beer is our spring Schwarzbier (black lager) aged in bourbon barrels for 10 months. It features rich roasted malt qualities with bold flavors of vanilla, charred oak, and even a slight nuttiness. The light, crisp finish makes this bourbon soaked beer light in flavor, which is wonderful because it highlights the complexities of the bourbon aging process. The light body also makes it an ideal beer for a springtime refreshment.

6.5% ABV

22 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing,  I will be upfront and honest.  I am not a huge fan of Short’s beers.  I just believe almost everyone  in the State of Michigan over rates their beers.  With that said, I have to say most underrate Greenbush’s beers.  So I had the chance to try this beer and a beer from Greenbush at the same time. I can’t remember what beer.  I was so disappointed with the Greenbush and was really impressed with this beer from Short’s.  No, it is not odd.  I love my German Beer Styles and it took me a long time to come around to respect these beer styles.  This Black Lager that is aged in Bourdon Barrels gives the beer drinker something different from the normal German Black Lager.  Schwarzbier is name Black Lager in German.  I highly recommend this beer and I will be searching for this beer in bottles.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Stowaway Saison Ale

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Stowaway Saison Ale from Right Brain Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read my beer blog posts about their beers to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.

This Saison Ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head.  The head of the beer has small bubbles.  The aroma has Belgian spices with a citrus notes like lemon.  The taste has a light carbonation Belgian spice with citrus notes.  The finish is a refreshing slight hop aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

STOWAWAY
Style: Reclaimed Saison
ABV: 5.7%
A traditional Saison with a hazy golden color, fruit-forward aroma, crisp complex flavor, and mildly acidic finish. #RBB brewers cultivated the reclaimed yeast used for this beer over a span of 7-months.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

In closing, I will be perfectly honest with you.  I did not like this beer the first time I tried it.  I had to try this beer one more time just because I love this brewery and I am a huge fan of them.  I do not know if it was what I was eating or the beer I had before trying this beer.  The second time that I have had this beer is a positive thought towards this beer.  I really enjoyed this beer.  I love the refreshing taste profile that this beer provides to the craft beer drinker.  I love the hops used in this beer.  I will be looking for this beer again on my next beer run or at my neighborhood bar.  I highly recommend this beer if you are a light beer drinker or love your Saison Ales.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Coronado Brewery Islander IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Islander IPA from Coronada Brewery.  I had a chance to try this brew from a tap take over a few weeks ago. I was not impressed with this beer and rest of their brews.  I loved their Orange Wit but there was a few people who did not like and others that did.  Coronado Brewery was founded in 1996 by Ron and Rick Chapman.  They founded the brewery in Coronado City, which is their hometown.  The brewery brews several different beer styles.  However, like most West Coast craft brewery, they are known for their India Pale Ale.  Let us get into this flagship brew.

It has a clear golden color with a semi constant white head on this IPA. The aroma has a grapefruit to mango notes.  The taste has a heavy citrus notes like mango and grapefruit with a dry hop bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable.  The aftertaste keeps you coming back for more of this West Coast IPA.

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

Description:

Named after Coronado Island, our original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride. Centennial, Chinook and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and luscious notes of apricot, grapefruit and mango that are sure to evoke imagery of swaying palms and sun-kissed shores.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.coronadobrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @coronadobrewing

Closing, I do not know if it was dirty lines or a bad keg.  I have to say I was not a fan of this brew on draft at that tap take over.  It is possible that it could have been a bad keg.  I love this better in bottle and it was so much better than the keg.  There was a difference in this brew.  I love the hops that they picked for this beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer, however, the aftertaste is dry that will keep you coming back for more.  This is a great beer and 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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sweetwater Brewery Road Trip Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of their seasonal from Sweetwater Brewery.  It is their Road Trip Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read my posts on their India Pale Ale, please, do to get to know Sweetwater Brewery.  Let us get into Road Trip Ale.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this golden ale.  The smell has a sweet malty notes.  The taste profile of this light to medium body has sweet malty to hoppy notes with a nice dry hoppy finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Road Trips are carefree adventures that usually take unexpected twists, like when we crafted this beer.  It started out as a Pilsner recipe, but halfway through it blew a tire and ale yeast was put on as the spare.  The result was so good, it never could have been planned!

Enjoy the Ride!

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

Bikini Season – a fiery Pilsner fermented at ale temperatures for a fuller flavor, capped by and intense spicy-hop finish. Nobody Rides for Free

Specs – 5.2% alcohol available in six packs, Liter bottles, 15.5 Gallon ½ bbl kegs (US Sankey) and 5 gallon torpedo kegs.

Grain – Pilsner and Vienna Malt

Hops – Sterling and US Golding

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Twitter:  @sweetwaterbrew

In closing, I love the story of this brew.  I can see that happening all the time in the brewery kitchen.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I just wish more breweries take it and keep on going with it.  I remember a few years back when I lived in Chicago.  Goose Island Matilda came out as a bad patch but it was not bad.  It was not Matilda.  It came out as a sour ale.  They redid and called it something else. I am not saying it is the case with this beer from Sweetwater.  The point is sometimes mistakes can be a good thing in the brewing process.  This is a great and drinkable brew.  I enjoyed this beer and I could enjoy it by the beach to a nice summer day.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second brew of the day at their Throwdown Champs Saturday event in their Beer Garden.  It is Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA.  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 those posts to get to know this Michigan craft brewry.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a cloudy bronze color without a head on the beer.  The aroma has tangerine to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus to tangerine and some honey notes with a crisp citrus finish for the aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable but more of a sipping beer to me.

Here is a descriation from thier website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Freedom of ’78 is a medium bodied IPA with a wonderful, bright clarity and pleasing bronze hue. The aroma is a unique fusion of citrus fruit and subtle pine qualities. The distinct characteristics of the guava nectar are impossible to miss, and attributes of tangerine, nectarine, and even faint honey flavors are detectable. The finish quickly turns to an expected IPA bitterness that turns dry during prolonged tastings

6.9% ABV

89 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have been going back and forth with this brewery.   I mean liking or not liking Short’s Brewery.  I just feel like they make too many different type of beers and they are spreading themselves too thin.  I also feel like they are rushing batches to meet the demand of the market.  I believe their quality has taken a hit over time.  Their beers do sell and I am not hiding from that fact.  I am not saying all their beers are bad or good.  I just feel like this brewery and most of their beers are very overrated.  I have been wanting to try this beer.  I do like the hops that they picked for the beer.  This is one of the few beers from this brewery that I like.  They did a great job.  I will be looking for some more in the market.  I recommend it!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Greenbush Brewery PHD Malt Liquor

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While at Ashley’s Westland, it was the champion throw down and opening day for their patio.  I had PhD Malt Liquor from Greenbush 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 Greenbush Brewery.  Let us get into this Malt Liquor.

It has a cloudy golden color with a constant white head.  There is some smell but pretty fate.  I cannot make it out.  The taste has a sweet malty with a light carbonation corn frosted flake notes.  The aftertaste is a slight alcohol bites but finish a little clean.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @Greenbush_Brew

In the end, yep, it is what you are reading.  This is a craft brewery that made a malt liquor beer.  I was pretty excited to try it.  I drink every type of beer.  I might not like it but I will try it at least once or twice.  I have to say I was pretty impressed by it.  This is a better version of the mainstream malt liquors like Colt 45 to Steel Reserve.  I love how it is sweeter than the mainstream malt liquor.  I bet I will not get the pounding headache like the mainstream ones give the beer drinker.  I did like this beer but I could not finish.  It was too much in a 16oz pour.  I would have it again in a 10oz to 12oz pour. I believe you would have to make a trip to their brewpub to get this beer.  I recommend it if you want something different.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Epic Brewery Brainless IPA

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We are going to sample Brainless IPA that is the second brew from Epic Brewery on this blog.  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 those posts to get to know Epic Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

This Belgian Style India Pale Ale has a cloudy golden color with a nice constant white head.  It has a heavy carbonation with some big bubbles in the head.  The aroma has a spicy citrus notes.  The taste has a heavy carbonation notes with citrus to Belgian spicy notes.  The aftertaste is a heavy dry hop finish.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottles:

Our Brainless IPA pays tribute to the collaboration efforts of innovative brewers. The fruity Belgian yeast and powerful American hops relentless tease your pallet.

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

Our Brainless® IPA pays tribute to the collaborative efforts of innovative brewers. The fruity Belgian yeast and powerful American hops relentlessly tease your pallet.

Glassware: Pint, Snifter, Tulip
Food Pairings: Smoked or grilled meats, spicy foods, sharp cheeses, and very sweet desserts

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.epicbrewing.com

Twitter:  @EpicBrewing

Closing, I have been trying to get to know this Mountain area craft brewery.  Every time I see their beers on draft.  I have been getting at least a pint of it.  I have been mixing up some bottles when I go beer shopping.  I pick up this bottle because I have never had it.  I love my IPA’s and Belgian style IPA’s have been growing on me.  At one time, I really did not like this beer style in the world of IPA’s.  I love the notes that the Belgian yeast kicks off in the beer.  The strong malty backbone knocks the powerful American Hops down that they picked in this brew.  This is a great beer and I am glad I tried 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

Instagram:  @djweiser13