dj weiser

New Beer Blog Paw Paw Brewing K.U.A. Extra Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from Paw Paw Brewing on this blog.  I had a chance to try their beer at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  I stopped by their booth and talked to them along with sampling their beers.  I was back in Michigan this last weekend to see Tesla and Uncle Ted.  I did stop by their brewpub but they were closed.  I might make a trip back in to check out this brewery.  Paw Paw Brewing is located in Paw Paw, Michigan by Ben Fleckestein and Ryan Sylvester in 2010.  They had their grand opening in 2011.  They brew several different beer styles and package them in bottles.  I am looking forward to stopping in and trying everything straight from source.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel copper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to this extra pale ale.  The taste is smooth caramel with a citrus hop finish.  It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This American pale ale carries tropical citrus notes and announces itself first with a golden color and wonderful aroma.  Inspired by cyclists nationwide that ride the urban streets, this brew is sure to refresh.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter:  @pawpawbrewery and @2pawsbeer

In the end, this is an awesome beer.  I have to say the newer craft breweries raising up in Michigan put the newer ones in Chicago to shame.  Michigan is growing into a pretty important state for craft beer.  They are a long ways off from Oregon and Washington.  They are gaining ground pretty quickly.  I love the hops that they use on this beer and yet there is a nice balance from the malt.  This a well-built beer and you can tell that this brewery put some thought behind this beer.  I will be looking forward to try rest of their beers.  I recommend you driving to Michigan to get this beer in your hands.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Tornado Black IPA

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In this special beer blog from Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest, we are going to get into my one of my favorite craft breweries and beer from Michigan.  The brewery is Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Tornado Black IPA.  I have been wanting try this beer for a long time.  I could not find it whenever I was in town.  I was happy to see it being poured at this beer festival.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, read those posts to get to know the beers and the brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight coffee and chocolate to pine and citrus.  The taste is a chocolate circus with a dry fruity notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @fb1862

Closing out, I really enjoyed this brew.  This beer did not disappoint me at all.  This is a pretty unique beer and it is hard to master on the brewery side of things.  It is hard for most craft beer drinkers to get to know and enjoy this beer style.  I believe this beer will bring some experience craft beer drinkers over to the Black IPA beer style.  I was pretty stun on how drinkable this brew is too.  The other thing that makes this beer pretty impressive is the fact it is coming from German base brewing style.  They did a great job and I am proud and honor they are making great beer in Michigan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bastone Brewery Peanut Butter Noir

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer I had at the Summer Beer Festival in Michigan.  The brewery is Bastone Brewery and the beer is their Peanut Butter Noir.  The brewery is located at Royal Oak, Michigan in 2004.  The brewery is named after a Belgian city.  Their beer and food is theme after this great Europe country.  I found this information on their website (www.bastone.net). Let us get into beer.

It has a peanut butter color without a head on it.  There is not a smell to it.  The taste is sweet peanut butter with a dry peanut butter aftertaste.  It is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bastone.net

Twitter:  @bastonebrewery

In the end, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this beer.  Everyone with me was looking at me weird when I brought it over to the group.  This brewery did think out of the box which is a good thing.  I am willing to try beers like this all the time.  I have to say  this was a really good tasting beer.  I loved the aftertaste.  I hate to say this.  I could only have maybe 12oz pour of this beer.  It is not thick but heavy.  I just feel it is heavy and not drinkable.  I really enjoyed this beer and I could not find anything on their website about this brew.  I am looking forward to making a trip to this brewery the next time I am in  town.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Dead Kettle IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery from Michigan I have been waiting to try for a while.  It is Right Brain Brewery and the brew is their Dead Kettle IPA.  I had a chance to try this beer at Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  Right Brain is located on the north-west part of the state and the City Of Traverse City, Michigan.  There is not too much information on this young brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head.  The smell is hints of grapefruit.  The taste is ripping the skin off a grapefruit without aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Working as a brewer means practicing your craft, knowing your equipment, and always being able to think on your feet.

Many years ago a dead brewing kettle was the spark that lead to eventual creation of this Right Brain Classic.

Showcasing heavy citrus notes and hop aroma, Dead Kettle is light bodied and refreshing.  Strong Grapefruit notes make way for a pleasantly bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

In closing, this beer is something else.  Of course, it is in a good way.  I love my IPA’s and this one is on my top ten beers.  I love the huge and heavy grapefruit beer.  It is extremely balance and this beer is done up right.  I love the packaging and the story about the name of the brewery.  I hope in the future they put out 12oz bottles or cans or 16oz cans.  I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles.  I highly highly HIGHLY recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Unknown Music Thursday Blog Mad Architect Journey To Madness

In this Unknown Music Thursday blog, we are going to get into some music that most of the readers on this blog have never heard of before.  The band is a Swedish Dark Power Metal band called Mad Architect.  Their new record called “Journey To Madness” with their new singer Snowy Shaw.  After a ton of research on the internet, I can not find too much information on this band.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Echoes From Beyond

The keyboards and guitars start the song.  It is slow and mystery.  The guitar riff is pretty good.  Nice intro to the record.

Dreamworld

The opening track has some killer drumming and guitar work.  I love the singers vocals.  I am not really a fan of the back up vocals.  I believe it will grow on me.  I love the movement on the guitar playing.  Snowy wrote some solid lyrics on this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.

Universal Law

I love the guitar playing at the beginning of the song.  I love the melody from the singer.  This song has a nice pace to it.  The keyboards are simple but it fits this song.  I have to say this is my favorite song off this record so far.  I believe this song should be their first single.  I love the singing between the lead and back up vocals.  The drums have a good beat and bass playing is perfect.  I love the acoustic guitar about quarter into the song.  I really do not like the singing over the acoustic guitars.  The drums are calming with a nice simple bassline.  The pick up after the acoustic part.  It comes with a nice guitar break.  I am not a fan of the singing at this part of the song.  To me, it does not really fit the music, however, it is still good and this is their music style.  The back half of the song has some really killer guitar work along with some solid drumming.  I love the guitar solo towards the end with some great singing over the top.  The drummer really made this song great.  I love the ending to “Universal Law.”

Mad Architect

I love the driving pace of this next song.  The drums and guitars are solid.  Bass player has a nice, simple but perfect bass line.  The singing on this song fits the theme and the music.  I love the time changes on this song.  There is some nice lyrics on “Mad Architect.”  I love the keyboard playing.  It really adds a nice element to this band’s sound and style.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song but I just felt it was too short.  Nice touch on the ending.

Transitions – Part 1

Here is another instrumental song on this record.  I love the guitar work and keyboard playing.  It sounds full not like most instrumental songs without the drums and bass.

Sailing Away

I love the guitar, drums, and bass playing at the beginning.  I can barely hear the keyboards.  I love the singing and the lyrics on “Sailing Away.”  Snowy’s singing is extremely strong on this song.  The music is awesome.  The drumming is off the charts.  Snowy’s singing style is starting to grow on me.  I can now hear the keyboards on this song.  I just feel at the beginning they turn it down.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  It turns into a nice guitar solo.  This is one of their best songs off this record.  “Sailing Away” needs to be one of the singles off this record.  Damn!   I love the drumming at the end of the song.

Floating

There is some good acoustic guitar work with some nice effects on the guitar.  I love simple drum beat when Snowy comes in singing.  Snowy’s singing is by far the best on this record.  I love the lyrics.  “Floating” has some great music on it.   This song might be the slowest song on this record but it is pretty powerful one on this record.  They did a great job on the music and how they used the keyboards to push the limits of the song.

Strange Machine

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  I love the pick up on this song.  I love the singing with some great back up vocals.  They put some thought behind this song.  There is some nice lyrics on “Strange Machine.”  There is an awesome guitar solo towards the end of the song.  It is the best solo off this record.  There is a nice ending to this song.

Altered States

This is the bonus song off the CD version. I love the music at the beginning of the song.  There is some great guitar work with some nice support from the bass playing.  The drums have been off the charts throughout this record.  There is some great singing and well written lyrics on “Altered States.”  Snowy has a nice melody.  This song has a nice pace to it.  There is a nice guitar break towards the end that turns into a nice guitar solo.  This solo fits and flows nicely in and out of the song.  I love the acoustic guitar exiting and ending of the song and the record.  The keyboards and distorted guitar fading in and out.   Nice ending!

Current Line Up:

  • Snowy Shaw – Vocals
  • Magnus Daun – Guitars
  • Erik Ferentinos – Bass
  • Zven Lindsten – Drums
  • Jorgen Oscarsson – Keyboards

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.madarchitectofficial.com

Twitter:  @MadArchitect777

Here is their management team:

Website:  www.metalrevelation.com

Twitter:  @metalrevelation

In closing, I do not get into too much of the dark, extreme, or death metal.  However, I will listen to it, I love the music these bands come up with but I can do without the singing.  I do love some of the singing from these bands.  I am not saying that about Mad Architect is in any sub genre of the metal universe.  They put out a great record that will have me listen to more these styles. Snowy’s singing comes close to that area of the metal world.  As I listen to “Journey To Madness” more and more, I found myself loving his singing and style.  He has a different pace and sound to other singers.  The guitar playing is really good on this record and Magnus wrote some great guitar solos on this record.  I love the work from the bassist and the keyboard player.  The drumming is off the charts from Zven.  This drummer makes this record from good to great.  I was pretty impressed with his playing.  I recommend you checking this band’s music out and let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Tom Keifer The Way Life Goes

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the first solo record from lead singer Cinderalla, who is Tom Keifer.  There is two things I love about this singer’s first solo record.  First thing, it is so different than his band’s music.   Second thing, Tom Keifer voice is fine and health.  Tom went for vocal box surgery and no one knew as a fan base if he was going to sing again or at the level he did back in the 1980’s.  I am happy he is back.  I am going to back down his music career and then get into this great solo record.  Let us get into the history of Tom Keifer.

History

Carl Thomas Keifer was borned in 1961 in Springfield, Pennsylvania.  He grew up loving the blues and later founded Cinderella with bassist Eric Brittingham in 1980.  Jon Bon Jovi discovered  Cinderella in 1985 at Empire Rock Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  With a recording contract from Mercury/Polygram Records, Jeff LaBar, who is the lead guitar player, and Jim Dmec, who is the drummer, join the band that same year.  Fred Coury replaced Jim Dmec on drums to make it on their “Night Songs” record.  In 1988, Cinderella released their second record, which was called “Long Cold Winter.”  “Heartbreak Station” was released in 1990 as their third record.  Fred Coury left the band after a short tour and joined Arcade with lead singer of Ratt, who is Stephen Pearcy.  Tom lost his voice during the recording of their fourth record.  This delayed the recording of the “Stilling Climbing.”  He went for several operations to solve this problem  Fred was replaced Kenny Aronoff to finish drum tracks on the record.  The record had some poor sales and dropped off the charts.  Mercury Records drop the band and the band went on a hiatus or broke up in 1995.  In 1997, the band resurfaced to record a few new tracks for their first Greatest Hits record, which was called “Once Upon A…”  The band did tour in 1998 which led for a live record, which was called “Live At The Key Club,”  to be released in 1999 under Cleopartra Records.  Cinderella was singed to Sony Records in 2000.  However, before they could release their fifth record, they were dropped by Sony.  It led the band and Sony to be in court fights over the music.  The band has done several tour dates but in 2008, the band was forced to cancel their tour dates due to Tom’s vocal chords.   In 2009, the band stated that Tom’s voice is back to normal and went on a few more tours.  The band is still together and Tom is health.  Tom has been working on this record since 2003.  “The Way Life Goes” was record in 2013 under Merovee Records.  He worked on this record with his wife Savannah Keifer.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Solid Ground

There is some nice guitar work at the beginning of the song.  Tom screams over the top of some nice music.  He wrote some nice lyrics and music.  This is a different pace to his Cinderella music.  There is some nice drumming and bass playing on this song.  There is some nice guitar work.  Tom’s singing is solid.  This is a great opening track to his first solo record.

A Different Light

Tom comes in singing with an acoustic guitar.  There is some nice music and good lyrics.  I love how the chorus came together.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  This is a nice calming song.  The main versus reminds something he would write with Cinderella but the chorus is a little different.  This song sounds like a Bon Jovi song or one of Jon’s solo songs.  I love this song.  I love the fade out ending.

It’s Not Enough

I love the effect on the guitar.  Tom’s singing is strong with some great lyrics.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  This is a song I could see Cinderella do back in the day.  His vocals chords sound very strong so far on this record.  His wife’s back up singing is spot on and blends nicely with his vocals.  Savannah Keifer, who is Tom’s wife, is all over this record because she helped her husband write this record.  She has a beautiful voice.  I love the fade out ending to this song too.

Cold Day In Hell

I love the acoustic guitar and then the harmonica from Pat Buchanan.  Tom wrote some nice music and lyrics on this song.  I love the back up singing on this song.  It is perfect for this song.  I love the sax playing from Jim Horne.  It gives this song a nice change of pace to the rest of the songs on this record.  This is a killer chorus.  I love the build up to the ending of the song.  Once again, another fade out ending.

Thick And Thin

I love the piano playing on this song.  This song gives this record a different element.  He has some nice lyrics on this song.  I have crazy thought he wrote this song for his wife.  I love how there is guitar to expand the music from the piano.  The drums and bass are a nice support.  Man, these are some great lyrics.  He put some thought into these words.  I love the short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.

Ask Me Yesterday

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I love the lyrics.  He wrote some nice music for ten years and how time made them really good.  I love how the drums and bass are nice support throughout this record.  There is some nice music on this song.

Fools Paradise

“Fools Paradise” has a little pick up from the last two songs.  There is a programming on this song and you can hear it.  Midi Programming is coming from Mitch Goldfarb.  Tom is singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics.  I love the guitar work and the lays of guitars on this song.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  Drums and bass playing are spot on but I kind of wish he would do more with the drums and bass on this record.  I love the exiting guitar solo to end the song.

The Flower Song

“The Flower Song”  is his first single off this record.  I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning of the song.  I love the touch of the slide guitar playing on this song.  There is some nice back up vocals.  Tom’s singing is solid and wrote some great lyrics.  I love the music because it is almost like a folk song.  I love the calm drumming and bass playing on the song.  I love the trade-off from the slide guitar and the normal guitar players on a short solo.  There is some organ playing deep in the background.

Mood Elevator

I love the music on this song.  This song should have been a Cinderella song.  Tom’s singing is strong with some great lyrics.  The drums and bass playing have pick up.  I love the lyrics and the singing from the back up singers.  There is some nice guitar work on this song.  This song is so much a different pace to the rest of the song.  It kind of does not fit on this record, however, there is always songs like that on every record.  I still dig this song.

Welcome To My Mind

I love the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  There is an awesome main riff.  I love the midi programming on this song from Blair Daly.  He did a great job.  I love the music and lyrics.  I almost want to say this should be his second single off this record.  Svannah has some solid back up singing on this song.  I love the guitar break to a nice low-end guitar solo.  There is a nice fast pace on this song.  “Welcome To My Mind” makes “Mood Elevator” fit on this record.  It is a nice pace for the record now.  It makes sense.  This is a great song.

You Showed Me

“You Showed Me” brings it back down with some nice piano playing.  I love the support from the guitar playing.  The drums are perfect with a nice bass line on this song.  I love the lyrics.  Thank you, Tom for letting the bass player dance up and down that neck.  This is a great song.  This song needs to be a single off this record.  Tom’s singing is off the charts.  I love this record so far.

Ain’t That A Bitch

I love the the guitar riff on this song.  There is some nice music on this song.  Tom has written some nice lyrics with his wife and Conley White.  There is a nice pace to this song.  The drums and bass playing are pretty solid.  There is a nice short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I love the exiting guitar solo.  Nice touch!

The Way Life Goes

The beginning is a little weird and different but comes together.  It has a heavy Blues feel to it.  I have listen to Blues in my time but not a lot.  I know enough to love the music.  I love Tom’s singing and he wrote some great lyrics. I love the touch on the back up singers.  I love the meaning behind this song.  It has a nice theme to it.  Nice drumming and bass playing from Ben Strano and Michael Rhodes.  Pat Buchanan playing a nice harmonica.

Babylon

Mitch Goldfrab back on Midi Programming.  I love the playing from the bass and drums.  I love the music and lyrics on this song.  This is a perfect song to finish off this great first record from Tom Keifer.  I love how this song flows and the pace is perfect.  This is a great song.

Line Up For Tom Keifer’s Band

  • Tom Keifer – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, and Keyboard
  • Greg Morrow – Drums, Percussion
  • Michael Rhodes – Bass Guitar
  • Tony Harrell – Piano, B3 Organ, Wurlizer, Clvinet

Here is his website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tomkeifer.com and www.cinderella.net

Twitter:  @TomKeiferMusic and @Cinderellanet

In the end, this was pretty impressive solo record.  I knew it was in him.  Tom Keifer and his wife wrote some great music.  I have to say this is a different pace to his music with Cinderella.  Most artist release a solo record and they sound like their parent band.  I love when artist do something different from their parent band.  Geoff Tate from Queensryche did it twice.  Don Dokken from Dokken has done it twice.  There is other artist like former lead singer from Skid Row.  Bach solo music sounds like Skid Row.  Rob Halford has done it but still sounds like his Judas Priest.  The same can same about Ronnie James Dio and Ozzy.  This is no knock on their music.  It is still good but I love when an artist goes solo and does something different.  This is what music is all about.  Their guests were not the mainstream guys like you normally do see on most solo artist records.  Pat Buchanan did some great guitar works.  He has some great solo music records also.  You need to check him out.  Back to Tom, I am so glad he is back and fully heathy on the vocal cord side.  He sounds great.  I have been a fan of Cinderella for a long time.  This is a great record and I will be listening to this record non stop.  There has been some great new releases in 2013.  I have to say this record has to be in my top five of 2013.  I highly recommend this record if you are a Cinderella fan or just love some great rock to hard rock with a touch of blues.  Go get some!   Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  Thanks Tom for some great music over the years.  I has been an honor listening to your music.  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia.)

New Beer Blog Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog.  It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale.  It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head.  The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade.  It is hard to pick up.  The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish.  It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma.  Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

 ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter:  @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style.  I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist.  It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one.  Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on  their version of Duvel.  I have to say I was pretty impressed about it.  I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong.  I would love to talk about beer with you.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Great Divide Brewing.  It is their Colette Farmhouse Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this great Denver brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear bright yellow to golden color with constant small bubbles.  There is yeast in the bottle that will change it from clear to cloudy. The head is a constant white.  The smell is a slight farmhouse but a fresh farm smell. The taste of this light body ale has slight lemon with some spices with a spicy to lemon but refreshing finish.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries.  Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast stains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

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

COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

 ABV.: 7.3%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: 6 packs, 5 gal and 15.5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter;  @greatdividebrew

Ending, this is a pretty tricky ale to make for most craft breweries.  There are several different Saisons on the market.  It could be hoppy amber saison, hoppy saison, and a refreshing saison.  This one to me is in the refreshing saison.  It echos the classic beer style.  It is well balance and gives everything that a saison fan is looking for in this beer style.  I recommend you trying.  Please, let me know what you think of this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new summer brew from my favorite Michigan brewery which is Frankenmuth Brewery.  The new brew, which is one of my favorite German beer style, is Twisted Helles Summer Lager.  If you read my earlier beer bogs on this brewery’s brews, you know the long and rich history of Frankenmuth Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a hazel strew to light golden color with constant small bubbles.  It also has a constant white head.  The smell is of malt with a fade orange to lemon notes but to me it is the pilsner malt smell.  The taste of this light body and refreshing lager is malts with a notes of orange and lemon zest.  The aftertaste is crisp with lemon zest finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer and perfect for the hot summer day.

Here is a description from the beer can:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks.  Tinged with mild, yet memorable notes of citrus, this crisp, full-flavored lager is indigenous to happy hours, tailgates and block parties.

Crafted by a brewery that’s lived and loved over 150 summers, Twisted Helles doesn’t just tastee like summer…  It feelslike it.

Here is a description from the beer packaging:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers – and so, by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement.  The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness, reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager.

Full-bodied, yet pleasantly quenching… and then there’s the “twist.”  The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home.  Because this one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is a description from their website (www.twistedhelles.com and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com):

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers–and so by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager. Full-bodied yet pleasantly quenching…and then there’s the “twist.”
The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this in one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.twistedhelles.com (it is a fun site)  and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @FB1862

In the end, when I heard Frankenmuth Brewery was coming out with a summer beer, I was like another summer beer that I will not be drinking.  I will have to just keep drinking my IPAs and Pales Ales.  I am not a fan of most spring and summer seasonals.  However, I heard  it was a classic German beer style, I was pretty excited and upset because I could not get it here in Chicago.  When I made it back to Michigan, I made it a point to find this brew to try it and write a review on it.  Helles is one of my favorite German beer style.  I have to say if any craft brewery in the states can do German beer styles.  It is Frankenmuth Brewery.  This Twisted Helles Summer Lager is well made and it is one of the few summer seasonals I will go out of my way to pick up.  The other two summer brews are Sierra Nevada Summer Lager and Two Brothers Dog Days Lager.  I have to say I am not too impressed with those brews but that is what I was force to drink if I wanted a summer brew.  This is a perfect brew for the hot Michigan Summer Days.  Trust me I know all about those days and extremely hot Chicago Summer Days.  Thank you Frankenmuth Brewery for giving this Hophead hope and something to drink in the summer time!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City.  It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA.  Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter.  Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through.  It has a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt.  The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue.  It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend.  This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market.  I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one.  I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five.  Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe.  To me, this one is made with their stout.  There is a nice balance from the hops and malt.  Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around.  I love the packaging  and the fact it is in cans.  I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island  brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser