dogfish head

New Blog Blue Moon Carmel Apple Spiced Ale

In this blog, we are sampling out another beer from the Blue Moon Brewing Company and the beer is called Carmel Apple Spiced Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Ale, you are pretty much know about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Limited Autumn Release Carmel Apple Spiced Ale is part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles.  It has a copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is caramel apple with cinnamon and touch of nutmeg to it.  The taste is of cinnamon caramel to apple. It is sweet yet extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with caramel malts, cinnamon, and fresh apple juice to stir up the tastes of fall.

Thank you to all our fans that helped us craft this limited autumn release.  For this fall seasonal, we blended fresh apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste.

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

So Crisp, You’ll Want to Bite Right Into It.
Limited Autumn Release.
In anticipation of the blue moon on August 31, 2012, we reached out to our fans to help us craft our next Blue Moon®. We started by taking suggestions from our fans, and then we brewed three beers based on their input. Then came the hard part—tasting the beers. Our fans voted for their favorite, and with that we now welcome Caramel Apple Spiced Ale to our collection of limited seasonal releases. We blend apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste to stir up the tastes of fall.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, Brewmaster’s Autumn Sampler Pack
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Caramel, Munich
Hops: Spalt Select
Our Twist: Apple Juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 14º Plato A
BV: 5.8%
Appearance:  Rich copper with high clarity and a creamy head.
Aroma:  Warm spice aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of apples and caramel malt.
Taste:   A seasonal blend of spice and caramel malts that highlight the crisp apple taste.
Mouthfeel:  Medium to full-bodied ale.
Finish:  Spice gives way to a smooth apple finish that cleans up nicely.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In the end, this beer is shocking good and taste like by the name of the beer.  It is a liquid form of a Caramel Apple you would get out in a farm or what your Mom use to make.  This is the point why we drink these craft beers.  It should touch our past experiences.  This beer has done that to me.  I really enjoy this beer and it comes accross more as a dessert beer.  This is not a beer you can enjoy all day because it will be too sweet for after a while.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!   \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale is the beer that will be sampled out from their Fall Sampler Pack.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Seasonal, you are up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Pale Ale is available in six pack bottles and part of their seasonal sampler twelve pack bottles.  It is a clear copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a dull earthly smell to the beer.  This pale ale has a sweet malty to earthly and slightly piney taste to it. It is drinkable. It has an English Pale Ale taste to the beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with hibisccus, a touch of wheat, and Cascade hops for a smooth finish and subtle hop aroma.  We add a twist of orange peel and hibiscus for a well-rounded, balanced taste.

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

A Maltier Pale Ale.
While studying brewing in Belgium, our head brewmaster and founder, Keith,  met plenty of beer-minded friends who introduced him to local styles including  Belgian Pale Ales. On weekends, they’d road-trip north of Brussels to  Londerzeel—a small town famous for its Belgian Pale Ales. The malty taste  and pleasant hop aroma (without the overpowering bitterness) made a lasting  impression on Keith. So much so that when he returned to the States, he decided  to create his own interpretation of the classic style by adding hibiscus and  orange peel for a subtle citrus finish, making it a great beer to pair with a  wide variety of foods and occasions.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, Imported Caramel, Imported Light Caramel, White Wheat
Hops: Cascade
Our Twist: Orange Peel , Hibiscus
IBUs: 22
Original Gravity: 13º Plato
ABV: 5.4%
Glassware:  Pour in a tulip-shaped glass to capture the hop notes and allow room for a thick head on the beer.
Appearance:  The beer will have a brilliant amber color with a thick, creamy, white head.
Aroma:  Notes of caramel malt and citrus with an assertive Cascade hop aroma.
Taste:  Caramel maltiness balanced with a hint of bitterness.
Mouthfeel:  Medium body with a smooth malt character.
Finish:  A hint of hops with a slight citrus/floral taste from the orange peel and hibiscus.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing, Blue Moon is not on my rader at all but I pick up this sampler back for their Carmel Apple Ale.  This Pale Ale is shocking good but this is not a Belgian- Pale Ale.  It is an English Style Pale ale.  It has a nice malty taste with a nice hop finish.  It is has good flavor from one of the mass produced beer companies sub brewery.  It is drinkable beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email;  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA

Starting a new tab, Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA is the beer that will be featured in this beer blog.  Slumbrew was founded by Caitlin Jewell and Jeff Leiter in Sommerville, MA.  They bottle their beers in 22oz and draft beer.  They brew several different beer.  They take the classic beer styles and put their own twist on them.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a pretty cloudy copper color a head on it.  Slumbrew IPA has an earthly to slightly piney smell to it.  The taste is a sweet earthly to pine with a piney aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Sommerville, MA on January 1st, 1776.  This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.  Salute your hops!

Ale brewed with five grains, Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy Hops.  Dry-hopped with Galaxy.

Keep cold, enjoy, while fresh and serve at 45 to 50 degree.

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

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA on January 1, 1776. This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.

Huge aroma and resin-y flavors from the elusive Galaxy hops are the signature of this beer. Built on a solid base of pale malts, this double IPA makes generous use of hops from Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy with the Galaxy hops taking the lead during ten days of aggressive dry-hopping.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.slumbrew.com

Twitter:  @slumbrew

Closing out the beer tab, I really enjoyed this brewey’s beers.  As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of 22oz or 750ml bottles but I will reject my thought on that for this brewery’s beer. Many of you know I use to do a metal and beer show on STFU.FM and this brewery was one of the last breweries that was feature on that show. This India Pale Ale is a strong example of the great beers that this brewery makes in their everyday line up.  I really enjoy the hop character to its great malty backbone.  It has a nice balance and huge drinkablity. Those are huge plus for this beer. If you love West Coast Pale Ales or any India Pale Ale, I highly recommend you trying this beer out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Pilsner

Starting a new beer tab, we are going to get into another brew from Brooklyn Brewery and the beer is Brooklyn Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their other beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Brooklyn Pilsner is part of their everyday beers. It has a clear golden color with constant white head and bubbles.  There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a dry slight carbonated to it with crisp finish. Just like all Brooklyn beers, it has that classic European style to it. This pilsner is extremely drinkable and perfect for anytime of the year.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brooklyn Pilsner is a pale refreshing lager, brewed in the style flavored by New York’s pre-Prohibition German-American brewers.  Brooklyn Pilsner tastes best before the freshness date indicated.  Please write us or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5pm.  79 N 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or visit our website at www.brookynbrewery.com.

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

Brooklyn Pilsner is a refreshing golden lager beer, brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-prohibition brewers. In the 1840’s, the pilsner style emerged from central Europe to become the world’s most popular style of beer. Like its ancestors, Brooklyn Pilsner is traditionally brewed from the finest German two-row barley malts. Germangrown Perle and Hallertauer hops provide a crisp, snappy bitterness and fresh, floral aroma. The flavor of the malt comes through in the finish. We ferment Brooklyn Pilsner at cool temperatures, and then give it a long, gentle maturation (lagering), which results in a beer of superior complexity and smoothness. We believe that you will find there to be none finer. Unlike mass-marketed so-called pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner does not contain cheap fillers such as corn or rice, nor does it contain any preservatives or stabilizers. Brooklyn Pilsner is the real thing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing out the tab, I have really been enjoying Brooklyn beers.  This beer style is slowly becoming one of my favorite beer styles.  I really love the clean crisp finish and the medium body.  It has a ton of flavor and perfect for any season from the Summer to Winter.  If you love pilsners, this is one beer you need to try a few times.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Half Acre Brewery Over Ale

In this blog, we are going to check out one of many craft breweries from Chicago.  Half Acre Brewery was founded 2006 by Gabriel Magliaro in Chicago, IL.  They brew several different beers.  Being a young brewery, there is not too much information on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with an off white head. It has sweet malty smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty to it. The aftertaste is something that I could do without in a beer. It is drinkable asides the aftertaste.

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

Website is down right now!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.halfacrebeer.com

Twitter:  @HalfAcreBeer

In closing, there is some places that call this American Brown Ale and other call this American Style Bitter.  I believe this is an American Brown Ale.  This is a pretty drinkable beer but the aftertaste has killed it for me.  I am really not a fan of this beer.  Just because I did not like this beer, this does not mean you will not like this beer.  Half Acre Brewery does pretty good in Chicagoland and I know they have a fan base here.   I will keep trying their beers and I believe I will find something I like from them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Brewery Fusion 8

In this blog, we are going to check out Lagunitas Brewery and the beer is Fusion 8.  Lagunitas Brewery was founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Petaluma, California.  They brew several different beer styles but they are known for their India Pale Ale.  This brewery is expanding to Chicago in 2013 and they are hoping to have their taproom open in late 2012. Let us get into the beer.

I was told when I was at the Blues Bar that this was a  special beer for Chicago.  I cannot find anything on their website or the internet.  It has a dark deep brown color without a head.  It has a chocolate and slight citrus notes for the nose. It has a sweet chocolate to slight citrus taste.  It is drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I have enjoyed many of their beers.  I cannot wait for their taproom to open and to see what they will do when they get their brewery up and running.  I heard some special things are coming to us craft beer drinkers. This is a really good beer and I wish it was in package.  Just what I said above, I believe this is just in Chicago so I hope they do some more brews like this beer.  Do not worry beer blog reader, I will be doing more blogging on this brewery soon.  Go get some if you can find it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner

Starting a new tab, we are going to sample out a beer, which is Baderbrau Brewing Company, called Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.  The brewery, which is Pavichevich Brewing Company, was founded in 1988 by Kenneth Pavichevich, who was a former Chicago Police Officer.  He travel Europe and enjoyed find beers.  He believed that Chicago should have its own world class beer.  Kenneth filed for bankrupt and then sold to Goose Island Brewery in 1997.  It was later named Golden Goose Pils and later Goose Island Pils.  They stop brewing the beer in 2002 and lanched a beer called 312 Urban Wheat as a draft only and then bottles.  This pilsner was replace by one of the biggest craft brand in Chicago right now.  This beer returned in 2012 under Baderbrau Brewery Company in Chicago.  Let us get into the beer.

This pilsner has a dark golden color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste of the beer is the normal import pilsner. Even though the beer is a craft beer here in Chicago.  It is crisp dry and refreshing with a huge drinkable aspect to it.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Chicago’s Original Craft Beer

In 1989, when Barderbrau was first introduced in Chicago, its upstart spirit, revolutionary nature, and award-winning flavor won accolades and captured the imagination of a great city.  Rooted in the old-world ideas of Eastern Europe’s top craftmen and infused with bold American character, this beerdared to be greater.  This beer started Chicago’s craft revolution.  This Beer.  In your hand—now.

Its deep amber color, spicy hop-forward aroma, malty body, and creamy finish sets it apart from all others.  With an unconventional blend of the finest ingredients—North American water, exacting proportions of imported German aromatic Noble hops accenting Czech Saaz, an exclusive stain of European lager yeast, and robust malts from the USA—it defines a style all its own.  Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.baderbrau.com

Twitter:  @baderbrau

Closing out the tab, this pilsner has that old school European feel to it.  I am just now getting into pilsner beer style.  I have to say this beer is interesting.  I do enjoy this beer and I do remember seeing Goose Island Pils in the market when I first moved to Chicago.  I never had it and I wonder if they could resurface that beer.  I know they will not do that because they want to be known as an Ale House.  This beer has a ton of flavor and exetremely drinkable.  A beer drinker could drink this in a Chicago Summer days to Winter days.  I love this beer and I am glad to see it back in Chicagoland area.  It is drinking the history of Chicago Craft history in your hand.  Go try and tell me your thoughts on this beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Camp 2012

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another set of beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery.   If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  The set of beers is coming from a sampler pack called Beer Camp.  Here is the beers, which are Oatmeal Stout, Floral IPA, Imperial Red Ale, and Imperial Pilsner, that are being featured in this blog.  Let us get into the beers.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Pilsner

This beer has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this pilsner. It has a fresh air smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation with a crisp dry slight hoppy aftertaste. Sierra Nevada Imperial Pilsner is extremely drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble if they are not paying attention.  I recommend trying this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of “sticky,” resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt backbone.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Red Ale

The red ale in the glass is a dark amber color with somewhat of a white head on it. It has a sweet raisins smell to it. The taste is of a sweet carbonation malty with a weird aftertaste. I cannot really decide it to you. It is drinkable until that aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile found in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt.  It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon-balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Floral IPA

This beer has a copper cloudy color with a constant white head on it. The smell of flowers is what this India Pale Ale has going on with it. The taste is of a citrus to piney with a dry hoppy aftertaste to it. It is drinkable India Pale Ale.

Here a description from the beer bottle:

This unique take on the traditional IPA style pairs the bold and intense aromas of wholel-cone hop “flowers” with aromatic natural rose hips and petals for complex aromas and unexpected flavors.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Oatmeal Stout

It is black in color without a head on this stout. It has a chocolate to toffee smell to this Sierra Nevada Oatmeal Stout. The taste is burn malt to milky chocolate notes to the beer. It is extremely drinkable and will be troublesome to most beer drinkers.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

This big oatmeal stout is midnight black in color-with a big, roasty, mocha-like aroma.  It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.  Perfect as an after dinner treat.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com and www.sierrabeercamp.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, this was a really good set of beers in this sampler pack with a great value.  There are a few higher end beers for $19.99 price point, which makes this a great value.  I love all the beers in this pack but the Imperial Red Ale.  I believe that is the weakest one of the four.  This is the order of the beers I like and it is Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Pilsner, Floral IPA, and Imperial Red Ale.  I did blend the Imperial Red Ale and the Floral IPA into one glass.  It was pretty good.  I highly recommend you trying Beer Camp.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Revolution Brewing Company Anti Hero IPA

In this blog, we are going to get into one of many craft breweries, which is Revolution Brewing Company and the beer is called Anti Hero India Pale Ale.  Revolution Brewing Company was founded in 2010 in the Logan Square area in Chicago as a brewpub.  They brew several different styles and took several employees when they opened  from the Goose Island Brewery before they were brought by Budweiser.  In 2012, they opened their production brewery to start the packaging and kegging their beers.  This brewery is one of the best ones in the Chicagoland area and of course is the best one of the new breweries in Chicago.  This is totally my thought.  Let us get into this beer.

Anti Hero IPA is a new line of bottles, cans and draft that is coming from this new brewery. Revolution Brewing Anti Hero has a copper color without a head to the beer.  It has an earthy to slight citrus smell to it. As for the taste of the beer, it has a sweet to heavy carbonation to the beer with a citrus to slight grapefruit to it. It is a drinkable beer for the style with a ABV 6.5%.

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

An American hop assault for all the ambivalent warriors who get the girl in the end. “Look, I ain’t in this for your revolution, and I’m not in it for you, Princess.” This iconic ale features a blend of four hop varieties which creates a crisp bitterness and imparts massive floral and citrus aromas.

India Pale Ale

ABV  6.5%
IBU  70

Profile: An American hop assault

Color: Brilliant Copper

Availability: 1/6 & 1/2 bbl, 12oz cans

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing, it took me several times drinking this beer to really start to like it.  That is not a bad thing to the brewery nor the beer.  This beer has a nice balance from the hops to the malty backbone.  It has a the nice West Coast IPA feel but from a Midwest Brewery.  At least, I know I could go direction to the brewery and get it fresh asides guessing the code dates on any West Coast Breweries beers.  I had this beer on draft at the Blue Bar and I know I will be enjoying this beer on many football Sundays.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Three Floyds Brewing Robert The Bruce

In this blog, we are going to take a look at Three Floyds Brewing and their beer, which is Robert The Bruce. Three Floyds Brewing was founded in 1996 by Nick, Simon, and Mike Floyd in Hammond, Indiana.  They did move to Munster, Indiana in 2000.  They brew several different styles of beer and most they going crazy on the hops.  They are known for their Dark Lord Stout and putting most of their beers in 22oz bottles.  There are about five everyday six packs that are sold in the Chicago area.  Robert The Bruce is one of those six packs so let us get into this beer.

This beer has a dark amber color to it without a head.  It has a sweet malty smell to this Scottish Ale. When the beer touches drinkers tongue, the beer drinker will experience a sweet malty carbonation taste with a slight dry crisp aftertaste. It is not like a lager aftertaste but it is not like your normal ale aftertaste. Robert The Bruce is a well made and drinkable beer.

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

7.0% ABV 30 IBUs

A bold Scottish ale with a complex malty body derived from roasted and crystal malts balanced with just the right combination of hops. This ale pours a deep ruby color, has a sweet malty nose with layered caramel and roasted notes and a full body. Robust yet smooth, Robert The Bruce is a malt lover’s delight.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.threefloyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds and @3floydspub

In closing, I was pretty stun on how good this beer is on draft.  I have had Three Floyds Brewing beers and visit their brewpub when making trips back to Michigan.  This is a very well made beer and drinkable which I did say in my drinking notes.  The one thing I do not like about this brewery and I did not know if it is the brewery, retail, or the distributor but the prices of their brews are too high.  I love their beers but I just feel I can get some just about the same but cheaper.  This beer is a pretty good value on draft but their six pack prices is too high along with the rest of their beers.  I understand Gumballhead being high because they can not keep it in stock in the beer stores.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be going back to retry their other beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!   \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser