dj weiser

New Beer Blog Ninkasi Brewing Oatis Oatmeal Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer that was order from www.letspour.com.  The brewery and beer are Ninkasi Brewing Oatis Oatmeal Stout.  Ninkasi Brewing was founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge in Eugene, Oregon.  The brewery was named after Sumerian goddess of beer.  There is not too many information on this brewery because it is a young brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

This oatmeal stout has a black color without a head on the beer. The smell is a chocolate to the beer. The taste is a smooth and creamy chocolate to the beer. The aftertaste is a dry chocolate to it.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A rich complex Oatmeal Stout with just enough hops to balance the copious quantities of dark roasted malts, and the addition of oatmeal for a creamy smooth drinkablility.

The ancient Sumerians worshipped the beer they made, and praised the Goddess Ninkasi for the miracle of fermentation.  Beer is a staple of civilization.  Worship the Goddess.

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

Oatis Oatmeal Stout

Available in 12oz. 6-packs, 22oz. Bottles and On Draft, Year Round

  • Statistics
  • First Brewed: 2007
  • Starting Gravity: 1072
  • Bitterness: 50 IBUs
  • Alcohol %: 7.2
  • Malt: 2 Row Pale Malt, Chocolate Malt, Crystal Malt, Roasted Barley, Oats
  • Hops: Nugget

Description: A rich complex Oatmeal Stout with just enough hops to balance the copious quantities of dark roasted malts, and the addition of oatmeal for a creamy smooth drinkability.

Tasting Notes: Oatmeal Stout is characterised by a roasted front flavor, smooth rich oats, a touch chocolate flavor and dry finish. Oatis is bigger than the traditional style with more alcohol, body and a touch more bitterness to keep it balanced.

Food Pairings: Beef, Pork, Lamb, Stews, Chocolate, Berries, Brulees

Here is their website and twitter address:

Website:  www.ninkasibrewing.com

Twitter:  @ninkasibrewing

In the end, this was a nice drinkable oatmeal stout.  It is nice and creamy and smooth.  Ninkasi Brewing has a beer that you can drink anytime of the year, which is rare, to have an Oatmeal Stout.  However, I will drink any stout or porter in the hot summer, even if these beers are heavy and not drinkable.  I am not a fan of the packaging but the beer is pretty good.  I wish I could get this beer and their other beers in Chicago.  I will have to order it from www.letspour.com.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Wynkoop Brewing B3K Black Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out a new brewery that I brought from Letspour.com.  The brewery is called Wynkoop Brewing Company and their beer is their B3K Black Lager.  This brewery was founded 1988 by John Hickenlooper with partners Russell Schehrer, Mark Schiffler, and Jerry Williams.  This brewery is from the Denver, Colorado. In 2010, they started putting their beers in cans.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us try this Black Lager.

This black lager is a black color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is burn coffee. The taste is burn to roasted melts. It has a crisp finish but a little touch of the burn melts. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Our acclaimed German-style schwarzbier features roasted flavors, understated hops and a hint of smoke.  An uncanny, all-season version of dark beer, it’s spectacular and sessionable.

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

Our German-style schwarzbier features roasted flavors, understated hops and a hint of smoke. A 2008 GABF gold medal winner, it’s a thirst-quenching version of dark beer that’s scintillating and sessionable.

  • ABV 5.1%, 19 IBUs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.wynkoop.com

Twitter:  @wynkoop

Closing, this brewery has nice packaging for this great beer in the cans to support it.  It is true.  Good packaging will get the beer drinker to buy your product but the beer will have them coming back for more.  Wynkoop Brewing is a complete package.  This black lager is drinkable but still gives you that roasted flavors and smoke while a hint of hops.  There is not too many American hand-made craft beers like this beer style, which is schwarzbier.  I really enjoy schwarzbier but most of the German Import beers in the stores are normally out of code.  It is nice to see more and more craft beer breweries starting to make beer style.  I recommend you looking into www.letspour.com if you can not find it in your local liquor stores.  They have some hard to find beers from all around the country. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Belgian Paradise Tap Party

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In this special beer tapping party post, we are going to get into another beer from the Ram Brewery.  The beer is called Belgian Paradise.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This has hazel light amber color with a white head on the beer. This saison does not really have a smell but there is a slight melty to earthly farmhouse to it. The taste is leaning on the earthly side of the beer world. The beer has an amber saison Belgian taste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the brewery:

Brewed in the style of a Saison, this beer is also known as a Belgian Farmhouse Ale.  With this styel there may be quite a variety of flavor characters intermingled within this beer.  A refreshing, medium to strong, fruity and spicy ale with a distincitve orange color, dry finish and a quenching acidity.  To play off the natural spiciness of the yeast and the citrus character in  the hops, we added some grains of paradise that will add hints of earthiness and spice 6.4% alcohol by volume.

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Bacon Bonanza

Our signature bacon and beef blended patty, on Kaiser bun with mayo, sauteed crimini mushrooms, sliced Swiss cheese and house made maple onion ketchup on the side.  Served with Fries.

Turkey Num Num

A grilled, seasoned turkey patty on a wheat bun with garlic mayo, smashed avocado, iceberg lettuce, sliced cucumber, and daikon redish sprouts.  Served with Fries.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, I really enjoy this beer.  it is drinkable and refreshing.  This beer reminds me so much of Milwaukee Brewing Booyah, which is also a Saison.  I really enjoyed the amber but fresh hoppy farmhouse taste to it.  This is a great beer just like Milwaukee Brewing Booyah.  I recommend trying this beer and sample it along with Booyah.  Please, let me know your thoughts on both beers.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Nefarious Russian Imperial Stout Tap Party

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In this special beer blog, we are at a another tapping party at Ram Brewery.  The beer is their Nefarious Russian Imperial Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This stout has a jet black color with a tan color head on it. The smell is of chocolate to it.  The taste is a creamy chocolate to a little coffee notes. The aftertaste is a dry coco. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the brewery:

Nefarious Nelson is a full-bodied, extremely malty ale with some hop bitterness.  The very dark color and complex unique flavorsare a result of caramel, chocolate, and coffee malts and a substantial amount of roasted barley.  This very robust, rich, smooth beer is about 7.0% ABV.

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Ram’s Grand Reuben #504:  Corned beef piled high, havaril, sauerkraut, horseradish cream and thousand island on rye.

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Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

Closing, I had a chance to drink a great beer, eat good meal, and play some beer bingo.  It was a great time like the norm at a Ram Tap Party.  This stout is a hoppier stout than the North Coast Stout.  This is a pretty good beer.  I really enjoyed drinking it.  I just wished it was tapped at the Wheeling location.  If you are in the area, go and try this beer while checking out this brewpub.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Moerlein Barbarossa Double Dark Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery that I enjoyed a few years go in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The brewery is from Ohio and it is called Moerlein and the beer is their Barbarossa Double Dark Lager.  The brewery was started in 1853 in a German neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In 2004, this brewery was brought by Greg Hardman to carry on the rich history of this brewery.  It is brewery that is rich in German traditional brewery styles.  There is some ales they do but it is mostly lagers.  Let us get into this great Black Lager.

This dark lager has a clear dark brown to amber color without a head on it.  The smell has a slight chocolate. The taste is a sweet carbonation chocolate with a dry aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

You’re made a discovery a Double Dark Lager honoring Frederick I. Emperor of Germany, known as Babarossa.  Folklore says he never died…. instead he sits enchanted in a cavern until the ravens cease to fly, signaling for his triumphant return.  Moerlein Barbarossa is slow-aged with a deep reddish-brown color and a malt aroma derived from Munich dark malt.  The balanced finish invites a toast to the return of a legend.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.christianmoerlein.com

Twitter:  @moerleinbeers

In closing, this is a pretty enjoyable beer.  I was pretty stun by its drinkablity beer.  I love the roasted malts and the smooth and dry aftertaste in this beer.  This is a great beer and I wish I could find more of the beer in the Chicago area.  When I do find it in Chicago, it is normally out of code.  I have always enjoyed imported and craft dark lagers and it is kind of making me like the normal drinkable golden or yellow lagers.  I am not talking about the American Lager.  I am talking about the German classic Lagers.  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

New Beer Blog Tallgrass Brewing Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Tallgrass Brewing.  The beer is called Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout.  If you have not read my earlier beer blogs from this brewery, please, read the first part of that beer post.  If you have read it, you are up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This Oatmeal Stout has a jet black color with a tan color head on it. The smell is a heavy milk chocolate. The taste is a creamy chocolate with a dry burn aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer to almost session beer.

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

BUFFALO SWEAT (ABV 5.0%, 20 IBU)

We love this beer here at the brewery, and think you will have one of those “I’ve never-tasted-a-beer-like-that” kind of moments when you try it!

What we really like about this beer is the smoothness that brewing with cream sugar brings to the palate. This smoothness balances out the copious quantities of roasted barley used in the brewing process to create a rich, complex, and delicious beer. If you have not been a stout drinker in the past, give this beer a try. It might just change your mind about how dark beers should taste. It tastes so rich, but is surprisingly easy to drink!

Can’t find the sweat? Don’t sweat it. Just ask for Buffalo Sweat at your local liquor store or your favorite tavern.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @tallgrassbeer

Closing out, Tallgrass did a great job with the packaging all their beers.  It has a nice pop off the shelf in the liquor stores.  This is a great stout and I believe it is one of the best ones I had a in a long time.  It is the best stout I have ever had in a can.  This beer lives up to the name.  It is creamy and smooth with the complex taste from the chocolate of the roasted malts. I really enjoy drinking this beer and it is drinkable.  You can not taste the ABV % in the beer.  You can drink this beer in the coldest winter and the hottest summer.  Tallgrass Brewing Welcome to Chicago! Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter;  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bridgeport Brewing Smooth Rye Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from one of my favorite breweries from Portland.  It is their spring seasonal called Smooth Ryed Ale.  It is kind of play on words from motorcycle world.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice copper color without a head on the brew. The smell is a malty rye to citrus. The taste is a slight citrus with a touch of malt. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Beer’s a journey, not a destination.  Each sip of Smooth Ryed’s toasty malt flavor is worth savoring.  With a pound of Centennial Hops per barrel and a hint of spicy rye character, you’re sure to enjoy the ride.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter:  @bridgeportbrew

In closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery.  I have really becoming a fan of rye ales and I am putting this close to the top of the list.  I love the well balance and drinkablity of this spring seasonal.  I believe that craft breweries need to take note of this beer.  I kind of wish this was an everyday beer but I understand why it is not one.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout

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In this beer blog, Brooklyn Brewery Dry Irish Stout is a new spring seasonal from this great traditional beer styles brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this new brew from Brooklyn Brewery.

This stout has a jet black color with a white head on the beer. The smell is a heavy chocolate with coffee to it. The taste is a dry chocolate with a dry chocolate burn aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout is a very dark beer, but don’t let the color fool you.  In Ireland, stouts were originally brewed to be “session beers” that were light enough to stick with a long evening, but flavorful enough to be fun to drink.  We use large amounts of roasted grains to develop nice coffee and chocolate flavors and the famed East Kent Golding hop lends to the earthy aroma.  It’s brisk enough to pair with oysters, but bold enough to handle a burger.

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

The Irish Stout beer style was once produced by dozens of breweries in Ireland. These days it is only produced by three major breweries in Ireland, none of them Irish-owned, though several small breweries and brewpubs make stout as well. People are often surprised to hear that Irish stouts are among the lightest beers on draft, both in alcohol and in calories. These beers were originally designed as “session pints”, a term denoting beers that one can stick with for a long evening. These days, the major producers of Irish Stout dissolve nitrogen into the beer to produce the trademark head, a practice that started in 1960.

Brooklyn Irish Stout is brewed the old-fashioned way, without the nitrogen addition. A large portion of the grain is roasted like coffee beans, developing the typical color and flavor of this beer. Aside from British pale malts, the beer includes caramel malts, black patent malt, unmalted black barley and a proportion of flaked raw barley, which helps the beer develop a beautiful, thick natural head. The famous East Kent Golding hop lends to the earthy aroma. The beer is neither filtered, nor fined and has a light, brisk carbonation. The blend of grains gives the beer an espresso-like bite, followed by coffee and chocolate flavors. At 4.7% ABV, this is among the lightest beers we make, and one of our favorites. Be sure to serve it with “two fingers” of foam, and enjoy the flavor of Brooklyn Irish Stout. Slainte!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing out, Brooklyn Brewery has hit a home run Jackie Robinson style with this new brew.  It is everything you expect out of a stout.  This brew is strong and bold but yet soft enough that the beer drinker can enjoy it during the St. Patty’s Day.  It also comes with a ton of flavor and that is what the beer drinker wants from their craft beers.  This beer also shows the future of the craft beer world.  You are asking what am I talking about?  It is pretty simple.  The craft beer world is going back to more classic beer styles then the over hop that hints the errors of the brewmasters.  I am not saying that those beers will not be made.  They will be made.  With new beer drinkers entering the craft beers, these classic beers will be selling like crazy and brewers and breweries will look at that to make their bottom line profitable.  This is a great debate for the future.  I highly recommend you trying this beer and please put down the Guinness because this is a pretty good beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Monday Music Blog Left Setter Irene

In this Monday Music Blog, we are going back to 2009 where a local Chicago Hard Rock band, who is Left Setter, puts out a record called Irene.  I decided to go back and listen to this record to write a review because I heard they reunited for a few shows in Chicagoland area this summer of 2013.  There is very little information on the history of this band.  I will have to get with the band to get the history of it.  This is their third release from Left Setter.  Let us get into the music.

Refuse To Care

This song starts out like a 1990’s hard rock music.  It also has a little baby bedtime music theme.  There is a nice simple guitar and off beat bass line.  There is some nice drumming also in this song.  This song sounds like something that Stone Temple Pilots would do in their career.  I do not know about that heavy breathing in the later part of the song.  George has some nice guitar work towards the middle of the song.

Last Days With You

There is some nice heavy guitar work at the beginning and then simmer down.  There is some nice bass and drum work on this song.  It has a nice support to the guitar and vocals.  I like the lyrics on this song.  This song is in your face but you do not realize it until you get to the later parts of this song.  I am loving the bass work towards end of the song with the guitar over the top of it.  Nice touch on the ending.

Good Mourning America

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  I can hear the Beatles influence in this song and a touch of Stone Temple Pilots again.  I wonder if this is what the Beatles would have sounded like in modern-day.  The lyrics and musics has Beatles sound of their heyday or the 1960’s Classic Rock bands.  This song is short and gets to the point.  I like the ending of this song.

March Into The City

March Into The City starts out with a nice bassline and a perfect guitar riff.  It is not over the top like most guitar players normally do in their songs with the bassist.  I love the simple drum beat.  I am also loving the effects on the vocals.  I am loving the build up of this song.  I love the lyrics.  I am loving the endings of the last few songs.

Bobby Deniro

Boddy Deniro has a little punk feel to the song.  It is fast pace and with nice music.  I am not a real fan of the back up vocals on this song.  I just feel it is forced and it is not natural to the song.  George has some nice guitar work from clean to dirty effects on his guitar.  Nick is singing extremely well on this song.

Collide

Collide has some piano work on this song with a nice guitar work over the top of it.  I am love the drums and bass work on this song.  It makes this song powerful.  I am loving the lyrics and singing from Nick.  The back up vocals are perfect on this song.  The piano gives this band another element in a positive light.  George has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Thief Without A Conscience

I love the beginning of this song.  It has a little Red Hot Chili Peppers feel to it at the beginning.  I love the drums, bass, and guitar work to set the stage to this song.  I love the lyrics.  Nick kind of sounds like Don Dokken off Shadowlife.  This is a deep and well thought up song.  Left Setter put some thought when they wrote this song.

Women And Children First

Women And Children First starts out like an AC/DC song.  It goes to the main riff like something in your face.  I love the theme and the lyrics of this song.  The music is very well written.  I love the drumming and the bass work.  The backbone of the band is playing their ass off on this song.  It has a nice ending to the song.

Drowning Muse

The last song on this record starts off like something you would heard from Beatles or Pink Floyd in early part of their career.  This song more I think about it reminds me Dazed Or Confused from Led Zeppelin or Planet Cavern from Black Sabbath.   Nick wrote a nice melody and lyrics on this song.  I love the pick up towards the end of the song.  I am loving the drumming.  It comes back down to where it was before.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I am loving the ending with Nick just singing it out.

Here is the line up off Irene:

  • Nick Langis – Lead Vocals, Keyboards
  • George Langis – Guitars, Vocals, Piano
  • Sean Keenehan – Drums, Vocals, Percussion
  • Turan Yon – Bass Guitar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.leftsetter.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

Where to buy their records?

Their Website:  www.leftsetter.com

CD Baby:  www.cdbaby.com

Closing, I love this record and Left Setter did a great job on all of their songs.  You can hear their influences through out this record.  Neil Young move over Left Setter has taken your spot for today’s youth.  They had some thoughts of time on our government and this is what music is for and the art of it.  The songs that are my favorites are  March Into The City, Last Days With You, and Collide.  If you live in the Chicago area, you need to check out this band during this summer.  If you do not live in Chicago and is a fan of great music, you need to check them out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewing Hopcicle Imperial IPA

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In this craft beer blog, Big Horn Ram Brewing Hopcicle Imperial IPA is being feature in this post.  This is a limited run and seasonal brew from the Wheeling location.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the brew.

This Imperial India Pale Ale has a deep copper color with a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is a heavy citrus to the beer. The taste has a heavy citrus but a nice malty backbone to cut down the hops in this big beer. The aftertaste has a dry cirrus that lingers. For being a big IPA, this is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram and @rambrew

Closing, this Imperial India Pale Ale is not crazy over hop like other Imperial India Pale Ale.  I have to say this is what I thought of this beer.  If it was a solid, you would be licking this like crazy.  Since it is in liquid form, it is smooth and silky on your tongue for the mouth feel.  It is pretty drinkable and malt backbone is pretty solid.  These brewers at Ram Wheeling did a great job on this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser