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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

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling.  This is another seasonal release and tap party.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head.  The smell is a citrus to piney.  The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s.  It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate.  ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub.  I enjoyed drinking their beers.  They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food.  This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts.  They did a great job with picking the hops.  I love the hop character in this brew.  I really recommend you driving and 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 Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out our first beer from Firestone Walker and the brewery is their Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout.  This is brewery is from California and founded 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker.  The brewery name from the last names from the founders.  They brewery several different beer styles but they are known for their hoppy beers like most west coast breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color without a head on it.  The smell is chocolate to toffee.  The taste of this full body ale is chocolate to touch of coffee notes.  It is a sipping to almost kind of drinkable.

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

A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas.  This beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers.  Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.firestonebeer.com

Twitter:  @firestonewalker

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  I love how it is not a drinkable beer because I can sit there and enjoy it.  I want to pick up everything that is going on in the beer.  I love the coffee to toffee notes from the beer.  This is one of my favorite stout beer style.  I love how their website tells you to make sure you have fresh beer and how to store your beer.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend you trying this stout.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Ruin Ten IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale.  The smell is a piney to earthy notes.  The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here.  I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much.  Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me.  It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel  this way.  I have to say it is a great beers.  Please, do not think this is a negative note.  There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one.  I love my fair share of them.  This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time.  I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while.  I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog DC Brau Else Here Speaks

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from a brewery I want to visit one day.  It is DC Brau and it is their seasonal or limited release called EL Hefe Speaks Limited-Release German-Style Wheat Beer.  If you read my earlier blog on their stout, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this up and coming brewery from the DC area.  Let us get into this brew that I received from a friend.

It has a cloudy yellow with a white head on the beer.  The smell is of bananas in this beer.  The taste is of a heavy bananas to this wheat ale.  The aftertaste is a slight fading banana.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

This traditionally brewed German-Style wheat is our collaboration with Chris Frashier and John “Solly” Solomon, who are both well-known for their delicious brewing work in the Washington DC area.

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

EL HEFE SPEAKS™

We crafted EL HEFE SPEAKS!, our fond farewell to summer, as a collaboration with John Solomon and Chris Frashier. The pair are well known for their fine (and tasty!) work at Old Dominion in Ashburn, VA, during the mid 90’s.

EL HEFE SPEAKS!  is a traditionally brewed German-style Hefe. It is fermented around 65°F and hopped with German Tettnang hops. 11 IBUs and 5.3% ABV make this one extremely drinkable.

If you think it speaks to you as well, definitely try a glass… because it will be gone before you can say “sweater weather”.

“We’re tremendously excited to bring this specialty brew to the District,” said DC Brau Co-Founder and CEO, Brandon Skall, “Working with other local brewers on this project has made presenting the final product even better.”

The beer was brewed at DC Brau in early August. “El Hefe Speaks” uses the Weihenstephaner yeast strain, a classic, popular German wheat beer strain used worldwide.

John Solomon and Chris Frashier have been a part of the DC brewing community for years. The two worked together at Old Dominion Brewing Company in Ashburn, VA before opening Solly’s U Street Tavern. Frashier brewed at Capital City Brewing Company for 7 years before brewing at Old Dominion for 5 years. Solomon worked at Old Dominion for a total of 11 years.

COMING SOON IN 22oz BOMBERS!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dcbrau.com

Twitter:  @dcbrau

In closing, as many of you know, I am NOT a fan of wheat beers.  However, I have grown a love towards German wheat or German what styles, this is one of those beers.  I really enjoyed this brew and I stun everyone in the room and on twitter.  This is a great brew and it is well balance.  It gives you everything you are looking for in a German wheats.  There is bananas in the aroma and the drinking experience.  I wish I had more and I know they are working on making it in 22oz bottles.  So far everything, I had from this brewery is great.  I highly highly recommend you trying this brew and this brewery’s beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing and it is their Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their cherry ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery from the west side of Michigan.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without head on the beer.  The smell is a burn chocolate to the porter. The taste is a burn chocolate with a smoky chocolate aftertaste.  To average beer drinker, this is not drinkable.  To your craft drinkers, this is a drinkable beer.

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

Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders’ robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter.

  • ABV: 6.5%
  • IBUs: 45
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In closing, I love my porters and stouts.  I have to say Founders Brewing has a really good brew here.  I was pretty impressed with this brew and this brewery.  I believe I need to sit down and retry their beers.  This porter has everything that a porter fan would be looking for in their beer.  It has a nice chocolate taste.  I could drink a few of these beers in a round, however, I believe your average beer drinker would not think this is a session beer.  They might have one after dinner with their dessert.  I recommend trying this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Centennial IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing.  The beer that will be featured is their Centennial IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Cherry Ale, you know the history of this Michigan Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read that beer blog to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into beer.

The color is a clear copper color without a head on the IPA.  The smell is grapefruit.  The taste is carbonated grapefruit with a dry grapefruit that dies right away for the aftertaste.  It is drinkable beer.

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

Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

  • ABV: 7.2%
  • IBUs: 65
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  I do not know why but I will give breweries credits when credit is due.  I will honesty knock a breweries I am a fan if they put out a bad beer or a beer I do not like.  This is my thought pattern and I would not take this as the gold standards.  I am just idiot with thought.  With all said, I will have to say I am a fan of this brew.  It has a nice hop aroma and character with a great malty backbone.  It is pretty drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble at times.  I highly recommend this brewery.  Please, let me know what you think of this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog DuClaw Brewing Hellrazer IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from DuClaw Brewing.  The beer that will be feature is their Hellrazer IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Imperial IPA, you know the history of this east coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

The color is a fogging copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is a mango to the beer.  The taste of this light body beer is a mango to star fruit with bitter aftertaste.  It is not really drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

From first sweet sip to crisp, dry finish, this IPA gets in your face with the exotic flavors and aromas of New Zealand Motneka hops, yet maintains enough malt character to stay balanced but always ready to… Raze Hell

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

Hellrazer
Raze Hell                                                
This medium-bodied, golden IPA gets in your face from first sweet sip to crisp, dry finish with exotic tropical fruit flavors and aromas of New Zealand Motueka hops. With just enough malt character to keep the unruly hops and 7.5% abv in check, this brew was born to raze hell.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.duclaw.com

Twitter:  @DuClawBrewing

Closing, I really loved drinking this beer.  This was a nice drinkable India Pale Ale and still get hit with the a nice hop taste.  Motueka hops have been becoming the new hop trend a few years ago.  You had a ton of craft breweries jumping on this hop to brew a new India Pale Ale or just a Pale Ale.  I know Summit Brewing use this hop to make their new IPA.  I love aroma and taste this hop kicks off.  There is a nice malty backbone to balance this IPA.  This is a well made IPA and I 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 Beer Blog Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Flying Dog Brewery.  The beer is their Double Dog Double Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their flagship Doggy Style Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has at golden amber color with white head.  The smell is a grapefruit to this Double Pale Ale.  The taste is grapefruit with malt character.  The aftertaste has a huge hop finish.  It is sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @FlyingDog

In closing, this is a pretty big beer and I loved it.  This is not a drinkable beer and that is not a bad thing.  I love how it is a sipping beer.  This is a beer you can enjoy at the end of the day and relax with it.  I love the hops that they use in the beer.  It kicks off a huge grapefruit aroma and taste.  There is a nice malty backbone to this beer.  I highly recommend this beer and all their beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser