dj weiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Soft Parade

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, Short’s Brew Soft Parade is the brewery and beer that will be featured in this blog post.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light amber color that is not clear with a nice white head on the beer.  The smell is all the fruit that the brewery put in during fermenting. There is some raspberry to blackberry smell to this fruit beer. The taste is sweet carbonation fruit with a raspberry to blackberry aftertaste. The strawberry and blueberry are in the taste but in the background. This is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

High Gravity Ale fermented with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

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

The Soft Parade

This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two-row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, I am not a huge fan of fruit beers.  I am not a fan of many of the Belgian beers.  This is a pretty good beer but it is not my favorite beer I had from this brewery.  I have to say I did enjoy drinking this beer.  It reminds me of summer.  I love the name and I wonder if it was named after the classic The Doors song.  There is a question for Joe Shorts.  If you pour this beer out and did not let me see the bottle, I would have thought this came from Belgian Brewery.  For the beer style, Short’s Brew made an excite fruit beer.  If you are a fan of fruit beers, you will like this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiseer

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew.  The beer is called Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their India Pale Ale, you know the history of this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a nice light brown color. It has a nice sweet malty smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a dry aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Bellaire Brown

A full flavored brown ale that derives sweet caramel and toasted qualities from four different kinds of malt and specialty grains. Select hop varieties add enticing aroma to the nose and create a dry finish. This ale is so dark and rich, it’s hardly classifiable as brown, but is certainly considered a delicious masterpiece.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, just like the other beers, I have review.  I really enjoy this beer too.  This beer I would put in my line up like their India Pale Ale.  Since I live in Chicago, I will have to enjoy this beer when I come back to Michigan.  I love the smoothest to nice malty taste.  I love the aftertaste and how easy this beer goes down your throat.  This beer was very shocking good.  This is one of the best American Brown Ale from a Michigan Craft Brewery.  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 Short’s Brew Pontius Road Pilsner

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brew Company.   The beer is called Pontius Road Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery from Michigan.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

The beer is a clear straw to bright yellow color with a constant bubbles.  It has a ton of carbonation with a big white head on the beer.  There is no smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation with a nice hoppy to it. There is a little bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Quality lies just off the beaten path.

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

Pontius Road Pilsner

A true American style Pilsner where the malted barley, when blended with flaked maize (corn), produce a deliciously distinct flavor. It is light in body and color, with a surprisingly full flavor that gives way to crisp refreshment. Handfuls of hops provide pleasant aromatics and a wonderful dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Ending, I love craft pilsner but this one was a little different then the rest.  It reminds me of a fresher version of Stella.  I am not saying that this beer is a bad beer but it is not my style in the pilsner.  This beer is well made and designed to the classic style.  I did enjoy it but it is not one of my favorite beer from this brewery.  I can see people who will enjoy this beer.  It has a nice balance and easy to drink this beer.  I recommend people 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 Short’s Brew Huma Lupa Licous India Pale Ale

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While in Michigan for Thanksgiving, I was able to pick up some local beers that I have never tried.  There is going to be six beer posted on the Short’s Brew Company.  The first beer is called Huma Lupa Licous India Pale Ale, which is their flagship beer.  Short’s Brew was founded in 2004 by Joe Short in Bellaire, Michigan.  They brew several different beer styles with unique packaging on their beer bottles and six-pack holders.  Let us get into the beer.

This IPA has a clear copper without a head on the beer.  The smell is a little grapefruit to some mango. The taste is a carbonation citrus with a little bit of pineapple. There is really no aftertaste. It is a little drinkable but to me, it is drinkable.

Here is a little description from the beer bottle:

A complex malt and hop theme park on your mouth.

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

Huma Lupa Licious

This gem is honored with the name of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus, and is Short’s best selling India Pale Ale. It has such an abundant amount of hops that it sensually provides a punch to the palate. The numerous hop varieties used in its creation render a delicious bitter taste and enticing citrus aroma. The hearty malt bill melds with the hops to create a perfect balance.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Still in Michigan, I was really excited to try out these beers when I had a co-worker told me about this brewery.  I have to thank my sister for picking up the beers.  I really love the hop that they use in this beer.  It gives off a nice aroma and tasting profile that you do not get from most hops.  It is nicely balance with just the right malty backbone.  I wish I could get this in Chicago but this will be a nice beer to enjoy when I am back home seeing family and friends.  If you are a hop head like myself, you will need to try this beer down the road.  This is a great beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Lake Louie Coon Rock Cream Ale

When in Milwaukee, this beer I had at a restaurant near our hotel and my phone was dead.  I had some notes just sitting by my computer for a few weeks while I was trying to caught up on my posts.  I am sorry to the brewery and my readers that it is taking me this long to put this post up.  Lake Louie Brewing was founded in 1999 by Tom Porter.  Lake Louie brought land in the city of Arena, Wisconsin from Tom’s Uncle Louie, which is where they came up with the name of the brewery.  In January 2012, they signed an agreement to see their beers being sold throughout the state of Wisconsin.  Let us get into the beer.

Lake Louie Coon Rock Cream Ale has a clear golden color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a little different.  It has a smell of fresh air or no smell at all.  I am from Chicago so that could be the Wisconsin area.  LOL!  It has a weird taste that I could not figure out but has a crisp hoppy finish.  It has a sweet carbonation almost like a pilsner.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

A Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale, using flaked corn for a very creamy and full-bodied beer.  Lightly hopped with traditional varieties that would have been grown in Wisconsin a hundred years ago.  The ultimate “Lawn Mower beer.”  ABV 5.7%  IBU 16

Closing, this is a really good beer and this beer tells me anything about the rest of their beers.  I believe the rest of their beers are really good too.  I will be making another trip up to Wisconsin in the winter and I will be looking up their other beers.  This beer is so true to the Wisconsin beers as a Lawn Mower Beer.  It is a beer you can drink all day.  This is a very good beer and I highly recommend this beer to any mass-produced beer or a craft beer drinker looking for a great session beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roit Immortal Soul

In this music blog, we are going to check out one of my favorite underground metal band called Riot.  The last record from this great band out of Brooklyn, New York is called Immortal Soul, which is their fourteen studio album.  Riot was formed in 1975 by the late great guitarist Mark Reale.  They reach their peak a little bit in the early 1980’s but had a long successful career.  The band went through so many line up changes but yet had a different sound in each of the eras which makes this band unique.  Riot had fourteen studio albums, three live albums, one greatest hits, and one ep album that was only released in Japan.  Let us get into the music.

Riot

Mark wrote a nice in your face guitar riff in this song.  It is a pretty fast pace song.  It has the classic sound from Thundersteel along with great singing.  Mark also wrote a nice guitar solo, which he has been known for throughout the years.  It is a well written song and great song opening song for this record.

Still Your Man

Still Your Man has a nice guitar and bass riffs throughout the song.  There are hard-hitting and in your face drums.  The singing is nice and fits the music along with great lyrics.  This song finishes nicely.   Nice job on this song!

Crawling

Crawling has a nice start to the song and I love how they did it.  There is a nice heavy guitars with a great short solo at the beginning of the song.  The singer has a nice vocal melody and great lyrics.  I love the feeling and the sound of this song.  There is a nice simple guitar solo towards the end of the song along with a great finish to it.

Wings Are For Angels

This song has a nice fast pace drums with a simple guitar riff to fill into the song.  I believe his singing and voice does not fit with the music.  I love the music.  They did an excite job on it.  The drummer is playing his ass off on this song.  There is an awesome guitar solo and it has to be one of the best ones on this record.  Wings Are For Angels has a nice ending with drums and guitar.

Fall Before Me

Fall Before Me has nice guitar and drum work along with a nice touch with the acoustic guitar.  The music in this song is a great fit for this singer.   He wrote some great lyrics.  This song sounds like a rock anthems form the late 1970’s.  I love it.

Sins Of The Father

Sins of the Father has a nice guitar at the beginning with drums.  Tony Moore is singing very nice here with some great lyrics.  So far this song is my favorite song on this record.  I love the fact with all the line up changes they stayed true to their sound that they have created throughout the years.

Majestica

This is an intro song for the next song.  It has great guitar riff that fits in the old 1980’s metal pop sound.

Immoral Soul

Majestica runs into a nice drums with guitar work in Immoral Soul.  There is also a great bassline.  Tony has written some great lyrics and is singing his ass off in this song.  Mark of course wrote a great guitar solo.  The band did a great job on the ending of this song.

Insanity

Insanity starts out with the singer and then the guitars enter with the drums and bass.  In this song, everything is floating around the singer, which is change of pace from the rest of the songs on this record.  This is a great song.  This song is showing the finest work from Mark’s guitar work.  Nice touch on the fading ending it fits the mood of the song.

Whiskey Man

Whiskey Man has a nice guitar intro.  I love the lyrics but some parts of this song his vocals really does not fit with the music.  The lyrics are sneak up in your face along with the singing.  This is not greatest guitar solo but it fits in the song and music.  Most bands get it.  Not all songs need guitar solos or drum fills.  Sometimes the most simple thing is the right thing.

Believe

Believe starts out with a nice angry guitar intro with the drums and bass.  This is a well written song all the way around.  Riot did a great job on this song.  I love the time changes and the great finish to the song.

Echoes

Echoes has great guitar work from high to low.  There is a nice flow with the lead vocals and nice touch on the back up vocals.  This is my favorite song on this record along with Sins Of The  Father.  This song was a the perfect song to finish up a record and a great career.  It is so sad because this band should have been bigger then what they were in the world of music.

Roit line up on this record:

  • Tony Moore – Lead Vocals
  • Mark Reale – Guitar
  • Mike Flyntz – Guitar
  • Don Van Stavern – Bass
  • Bobby Jarzombek – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.riotsweb.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, I really enjoyed this record and all their records throughout their career.  When I discovered this great band, I had to pick up all their records.  It is sad to see this be their last record but at least I have this great music to listen to rest of my days on this earth.  I love how they stayed true to their 1970’s sound but yet pulled off their slight thrash metal days in the 1980’s.  My two favorite songs on this record is Sins Of The Father and Echoes.  I wish I would have seen this band play live along with several other bands. I did not get a chance to see them live.  Go check this record out and let me know what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Central Waters Satin Solstice Imperial Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample some Central Satin Solstice Imperial Stout.  If you read my earlier blog on their Imperial India Pale Ale, you know the history of this small great brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into this awesome imperial stout.

It has a black color without a head on the beer. The smell is a chocolate, toffee to some coffee to the beer. The taste is between chocolate to slight coffee notes. This beer is very drinkable and dangerous because of the ABV.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The smooth creamy stout and a cracking fireplace are the perfect answer to a wintery evening in Wisconsin.  The rich coffee flavor compliments the “warm fuzzy feeling” you get from the abundant alcohol.  Enjoy in moderation.

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

SATIN SOLSTICE IMPERIAL STOUT
 This smooth, creamy stout and a crackling fireplace are the perfect answer to a wintery evening in Wisconsin. Enjoy in moderation.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.centralwaters.com

Twitter: @CWBrewing

Closing out, this is one of my favorite imperial stouts on the market.  It comes at a really good price for a six-pack bottles at $9.99 at most stores.  It is at the same price as the rest of their everyday beers.  It is even more a value to everyone asides the brewery.  Most breweries charge more their imperial  stout.  I love how easy this stout is to drink with the nice chocolate, with a little coffee and toffee.  This is an awesome stout 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

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Louie’s Demise Amber Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at the flagship beer, which is Louie’s Demise Amber ale, from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pull Chain, you know about this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This amber ale has a nice clear amber color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a little malty to it.  It has a sweet malty carbonation taste without an aftertaste. This is easy drinking beer.

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

Our flagship brand; this medium bodied amber ale starts with a rich malt flourish that’s kept in
perfect balance by a smooth hop finish. This MBC original is similar to a German style malt beers.

Jim McCabe (owner and founder) started as a homebrewer, brewing beer with his original partner in a farmhouse in Cedarburg. On the wall was a picture from the 19th century of several men drinking from dimple glasses, every time they would drink they would toast to these men. After looking into it, they found out they were at a distant relative’s wake. That distant relative was Louie, they decided that all this time they had been toasting to Louie’s Demise.

The next question they asked was how did Great Great Uncle Louie? Our friend Bruce was able to supply us with some of the answers we were looking for.

Sheboygan, 1886,  Great Great Uncle Louie was cracked over the head with a glass and killed. For several years we speculated with our friends; why was Louie killed?  Turns out, Louie had it coming, it was over a woman!  He was picking a fight with another bar patron over his beautiful wife.  After a scuffle moved outside, Louie was sent on his way bruised up.  But, near closing time, he had returned. The fight escalated, and the man whacked Louie over his head with a glass.  Legend has it, an onlooker pried the beer from Louie’s dying hands and toasted his lustful life.

After Bruce gave us the lowdown, he reluctantly told us it was his great great uncle that killed Louie.

I have been brewing the Louie’s recipe for 15 years now. Brewing this beer is like wearing a favorite shirt or old hat; it’s reliable and comfortable. I look forward to the rich and complex malt aromas that are released during the mash, you might also catch some caramel and earthy notes. A portion of the malt bill is honey malt from Garnbrinus Malting Co. It adds that sour and honey aroma to the ale. Since the malt is really the highlight of this brew we kept it simple on the hops and the yeast. The yeast strain we use produces a subtle dried fruit flavor. We changed the yeast strain about 12 years ago to cut down on the BU’s and the malt bill has changed very slightly since we started brewing it.

Here is a video from Youtube (www.youtube.com) and their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In the end, there are not too many amber ales that I can say I enjoy drinking day to day.  This is one of my favorite beer from this brewery just like their Hoppy Happy India Pale Ale.  There is not too Amber Ales I love in my market. For the ones, I had in my lifetime it is high on my list. I love malty and how easy it is to drink.  This is great example of American Amber Ale and I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some and let me know what you think of it.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Sasquash Ale

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at Sasquash Porter Ale from Milwaukee Brewing.    If you read my earlier blog on their Pull Chain, you are pretty much up to speed on this underrated craft brewery from Milwaukee.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into this beer.

This porter has a nice jet black color with a semi white head on it.  The smell is a heavy sweet potato. The taste is a little toffee and chocolate with some yam to pumpkin.  The aftertaste is dry. There is no other way to explain it. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

This recipe was created by our Brewer Kurt. Along with 400 pounds of pumpkin and 300 sweet potato he used a variety of specialty malts to keep your taste buds on an adventurous ride with each sip. You’ll find the roasty flavors are well-balanced with pumpkin which gives it a very smooth character. Kurt also added pumpkin spice to this Porter to give it that amazing aroma and finish.

Although Wisconsin is not known for Sasquatch sightings like the North West, we do have one very famous incident.

In October 1968 a group of six hunters were out near Deltox Marsh in Waupaca County, although they saw the creature from different view points, they all agreed, it was tall, muscular and covered in short dark brown hair. What stopped them from shooting was how human-like the creature seemed.

That same November, the group of hunters plus 6 more were hunting for deer near Deltox Marsh. Lined up for a deer drive, one saw the creature and one by one the dozen men came to a halt. When the creature ran back into the woods, the hunters waited for him to return to the marsh, but it did not.

Sasquash started as a homebrew. I really wanted to create something that wasn’t like the other pumpkin beers on the market. Sasquash has a big, malty body that backs up all the spices.

This year we used about 700 pounds of pumpkin and sweet potato and adding them to the wort has to be my favorite part of this brew. Along with the obvious pumpkin smells, we’ll also get the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg aromas from the spices. We added those spices because we really wanted it to taste like a pumpkin pie.

I love drinking this beer with spice cake, pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies.

Here is a video from Youtube (www.youtube.com) and their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, this beer put a smile on my face from the smell to the aftertaste.  I love the smell of yams and the taste of chocolate cover pumpkin with a touch of ginger and cinnamon with a dry punch for the finish.  I love this beer and I cannot get enough of this beer.  Most people cannot drink this beer all day but  I can.  I am always finding something new each sip from this pumpkin porter.  There is a limited amount of cases here in Chicago area so make sure you get a six-pack.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to check out Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter.  I realize I have not written up a review on this porter.  If you read my earlier blog on their Imperial IPA, you know a little something on this small brewery from Wisconsin.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

This porter has a nice dark brown to black color with a semi head on it. There is a slight coffee to chocolate smell notes from the beer. The taste is chocolate to a little toffee notes with a dry coco aftertaste.  This porter is pretty drinkable and that is even in the summertime.

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

MUD PUPPY PORTER
A robust, yet surprisingly refreshing porter, Mud Puppy is a favorite of dark beer lovers. Characterized by a thick, rocky head and luscious chocolate-like nose, the malty profile is balanced by liberal hopping for its style

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.centralwaters.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

In closing, I love this porter.  This porter is pretty much always in my refrigerator.  There is a nice balance in this porter.  It is an extremely drinkable porter.  There is not too many drinkable porters on the market.  You can drink this beer in the hottest summer days.  It has a nice chocolate to some coffee notes.  The aftertaste wants you to go back for more in a good way.  There is nothing else to say about this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser