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New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into yet another IPA from Short’s Brewery.  It is Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy golden to yellow color with a nice foamy white color head on this India Pale Ale. The aroma has a slight citrus notes. The taste has a nice light carbonated notes with some citrus notes. The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Dan’s Pink Skirt is an American IPA brewed with Summit and Simcoe hops. Malt characteristics are mild and practically undetectable in the nose. Dan’s Pink Skirt has pronounced floral and citrus aromas, with a pine resin hop bitterness that attacks the palate.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, how many IPA’s and how many seasonals does a craft brewery really need to pumped out in the market.  This is has been the aged old question in the craft brewery.  If you make all these beers, is your product still good.  I believe you are good at a few things and have to work on other things.  It is pretty sad when a seasonal IPA is better than their everyday IPA.  This is my thought and I know many would disagree with my thought pattern.  I believe this craft brewery makes way too many beers and it makes it tough for them make good beers.  I know there is many that would disagree with that thought.  I just feel their seasonals are so much better than their everyday beers.  I love this IPA and this is their best IPA.  There is a nice balance from the hop bittest and malty backbone.  They did a great job on this beer.  If you can get a bottle, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample another special release from Sierra Nevada.  It is their Wet Hop IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a nice hue of copper and light bronze color with a white constant head. The smell has an earthly, rose, piney, and grapefruit notes. The taste has a carbonated grapefruit with a nice dry slight bitter aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The fourth in our 2014 harvest series, Northern Hemisphere Harvest spans a flavor spectrum from bold, earthy, green hop flavors to hints of citrus, fresh herbs and pine.

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

Available September 2014.
Northern Hemisphere was the first wet hop ale and it inspired the wet hop craze here in America. Wet—undried—hops go straight from the fields into our kettles within 24 hours. Because hops are incredibly perishable, using hops wet preserves all of the precious oils and resins for a unique drinking experience as evidenced by the intense herbal green flavors and citrus-like and floral aromas. Northern Hemisphere is part of our five-bottle Harvest series which features single hop, fresh hop, wet hop, and wild hop beers.

Wet Hop versus Fresh Hop

Over recent years, there has been some confusion about the difference between fresh and wet hops. While it may seem like semantics, to us it’s an important distinction.

Wet Hops are un-dried hops, picked and shipped from the growing fields within 24 hours.

Fresh Hops are the freshest dried hops to come from the fields, typically within seven days of harvest.
Over 90% of the world’s hop harvest happens between August 31 and October 31, and these hops are used throughout the calendar year. Can hops possibly be the same on November 1, one day after harvest, as they are on July 25, nearly one year after growing in the fields? The answer is no. We think of hops like dry kitchen spices—the flavor of thyme or rosemary right after the jar is opened is far more intense than it is six months later. The same can be said for hops. There are ways to control the way hops age and to reformulate and readjust as some of the aromas fade, but there’s nothing like the magic of the first bales of hops as fresh as can be. That is the stuff dreams are made of!

Dry Hops

We work hard to get strong hop flavors into our beers and one of the ways we do that is through dry hopping. Dry hopping refers to the addition of whole-cone hops to the fermentation tanks. The addition of hops to cold beer allows the aromatic oils and resins to infuse the beer with flavor and aroma without adding any additional bitterness.

Experimental Hops

Hop farmers, breeders, brewers, and brokers are always looking for new and interesting hop varietals with compelling flavor characteristics and intriguing properties. Sierra Nevada has a unique relationship with hop growers, and often has access to limited and experimental varieties. Some of the varietals, while interesting, don’t add enough value and never make it into commercial production, while others—like the recent hop Citra—take the brewing world by storm. Every day new varietals are being tested and some have become signature flavors for Sierra Nevada.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I am always looking forward to the next single hop beers from Sierra Nevada.  I enjoyed these brews very much.  I have always just brought one bottle but starting this year editions.  I will be picking up more than one.  I just picked up one because they are one of the hardest beers to find in the Midwest.  This beer was no different then the rest of their limited releases.  Of course, the beer was different.  I mean is it was awesome brew.  They have all been awesome beers.  They know how to build a nice malty backbone.  They picked some nice hops throughout this hop series.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample a special limited beer, which is Backwoods Bastard Ale, from Founders Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark ruby-red color without a head on this barrel aged ale. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight bourdon along with some vanilla and other earthly notes. The taste has a sweet malty, alcohol, and earthly notes. The aftertaste has a nice warm alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.
  • ABV: 10.2%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I kept on hearing this is the beer that you need to try from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is a must find and try.  When I hear it was released, I rushed out and found a few bottles.  I was pretty excited this beer.  I love ales aged in barrels.  I am a huge fan of old ales, wheat wines, and barley wines.  I have said it is a nice sipping beer.  I love the sweet malty to alcohol notes.  There is a pretty nice balance.  I have to say for the price and I was looking for more out of this beer.  I just believe it is not worth it.  I will get at least a bottle every year but I am not going out of my way like I did this year.  It is beyond overrated.  Let me put it this way.  It is very good beer but not the best in this beer style that I have had in my lifetime.  If you see it, try it.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Boomerang IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Boomerang IPA from Sierra Nevada.  This beer came out of the their new Snow Pack Sampler pack.  This is the only way to enjoy this brew.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this American craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

This India Pale Ale has a clear golden color with a nice white constant head. The smell has a citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Boomerrang is an American IPA that slings fruit-forward and floral flavors of Australian hops for an assertive intercontinental escape from winter’s grasp.

Over the years we’ve developed a love for hops from the Southern Hemisphere.  These ‘down under” varietals taste like no other, and we’ve thrown heaps of them into Boomrang IPA to showcase their unique tropical, floral and fruity aromas.

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

Certain regions produce hops whose flavors are simply unlike any others. This is the case for many of the hops coming out of the Southern Hemisphere—specifically, those from Australia where the hops are famous for their floral character and enticing fruit-forward aromas. These one-of-a-kind hops were the inspiration for Boomerang, a “Yankee-Aussie” IPA featuring the light malt body of an American IPA blended with the robust flavors of Southern Hemisphere hops.

Hop farmers, breeders, brewers and brokers are always looking for new and interesting hop varietals with compelling flavor characteristics and intriguing properties. Sierra Nevada has a unique relationship with hop growers and often has access to limited and experimental varieties. Some of the varietals, while interesting, don’t add enough value and never make it into commercial production, while others—like the recent hop Citra—take the brewing world by storm. Every day new varietals are being tested and some have become signature flavors for Sierra Nevada.

We work hard to get strong hop flavors into our beers and one of the ways we do that is through dry hopping. Dry hopping refers to the addition of whole-cone hops to the fermentation tanks. The addition of hops to cold beer allows the aromatic oils and resins to infuse the beer with flavor and aroma without adding any additional bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com):

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I loved this beer.  I just wish it was one of their everyday beers.  I understand why it is not one of their everyday six-pack.  They are using a special hops just like their single hop and harvest ales.  It makes a ton of senses why it is in their sampler pack.  There is some nice tropical to floral notes.  I really enjoyed aroma and taste profile from this beer because of the hops they picked in it.  There is a nice well build malty backbone.  Sierra Nevada has proved with this beer alone that they are pushing the limits of craft brewery.  If you can find this sampler pack, I highly recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Latitude 42 Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from Latitude 42 Brewery.  It is their Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale.  There is not much history on this Michigan craft brewery.  I know they opened their doors some time last year.  They are one of the best young Michigan craft brewery. They are packaging their beers in cans like most Michigan craft brewery  Let us get into this Red Ale.

This Red IPA has a clear red to amber color with a nice white head. The aroma has a malty to a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a creamy malty to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty hoppy finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.latitude42brewingco.com):

Red Beard’s India Red Ale

Our red ale is a cross between a northwest red ale and an India pale ale hence the style India red ale. The dark amber-colored brew uses a variety of crystal malts and premium 2-row malt as well as Munich malt to create a full-bodied ale. Generous additions of Chinook, centennial and simcoe hops impart abundant hop character. Together the malts and hops generate a tasty rich and quaffable ale. 6.5%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.latitude42brewingco.com

Twitter:  @Latitude42Brew

Closing, I had a chance  to stop by this craft brewery when I was moving back to Michigan from Chicago.  I heard rumors they will be opening very soon.  I took a chance to stop for lunch and sample a flight of their beers.    This was one of the beer that I sampled.  I really enjoyed this one and a few of their other beers.  I would have sampled more of their beers but I had to drive to the other side of the state.  I like it but it depends on the price.  I am finding most of the Michigan craft beers are always but sometimes are over priced.  I believe I will be able to mix this beer into my regular beer line up.  There is not too many really good red IPA’s.  I will mix this one in to give me a different IPA once in a while.  It is not overly hoppy but just enough to drink a few of them.  I highly recommend this beer and I cannot wait to see their beers in liquor stores on southeast part of Michigan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Why And Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a hot issue in the huge growing market of craft beers, ciders, and breweries.  There has been a huge growth and it is coming out of the mass produced beer companies.  There is home brewers taking their passion of beer making to the public.  The questions that I am going to try to answer for myself are “Why And Why Not Drink Local Beers And Ciders?”

Why Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

It is pretty simple.  Money stays in the state and/or the local area.  There will be more jobs created because of these breweries.   The money keeps coming in and out of the brewery.  It works if the brewery is buying supplies from local companies and most do this practice.  Most craft breweries take homes in old and empties buildings.  They resolve these old buildings back to the way they were back in their heyday.  Of course, they put their brewery and restaurant in them.  The other things that these breweries in most cases.  They create more jobs at distributors.  They hire a marketing firm or their own people to run it.  Just like most businesses, they will put money back in the economy.

Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

I get beat up about half of the time when I bring this up to people at craft beer bars or stores in my local market.  I get it because everyone wants to support their local businesses and I am one of them.  I have to be honest with myself and others around me.  I heard this when I lived in Chicago and now here in the Michigan.  When traveling to other cities around the US, I saw these same signs and heard it from the locals.  When trying these beers or ciders at home or your local watering hole, be honest to yourself because it will save you from the painful drinking experience.  I had a pretty ugly drinking experience with a local craft brewery in Chicago.  I kept on telling myself that I love this beer and brewery.  I just finally admitted to myself that they are not that good.  I started to look at local craft brewery in a different light.  I give breweries credit when they put a good beer to the market.  I also give them credit for thinking outside the box.

In closing, I am not saying do not drink local beers and ciders.  If their beers are good, drink them and support them.  If their beers are not good, you as a beer drinker, customer, and buyer needs to send them a message.  They need to improve or go away.  This is the ugly side to the business world.  I am catching myself doing it it again.  Just be honest with yourself about these beers or ciders in your area.  There is new craft breweries opening every day and there will be more good to great beers and bad beers.  Remember, you are voting with your wallet.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Support the local good beer and let the bad go away.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Bonafide Legit American IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Bonafide Legit American IPA from Short’s Brewing.  This is a special brew because they used Summit hops from Michigan.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Northwestern Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get ot know this brewery.  Let us get into this American IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color in the light with a white constant head. The aroma has an earthy to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus notes with a dry bitter hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A light bodied American Pale Ale brewed entirely with Northern Michigan grown Summit hops. An excellent sharp aroma of strong floral and fruity characteristics stings the senses with hop laced anticipation. A sticky hop filled mouthful of damp earthy pine with notable herbal accents coats the entire mouth, followed by a big resiny bitterness that lingers well into the finish, drying the palate and resonating boldly.
ABV 6%
IBU 85

6% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I love this beer. This is their real IPA.  This is so much better than their everyday beer.  I have to say there is something that is starting to bother me.  I love the fact that their website calls this a pale ale but the packaging says American IPA.  So which is it.  I starting to wonder if it was a print misprinted but if you look at the IBU’s, it is in the range of being an IPA.  I am calling this IPA not a pale ale.  In other words, this is a great beer and I am pretty impressed.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy i!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Lagunitas Sucks Brown Shugga’ Substitute Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Lagunitas Brewery.  It is their Sucks Brown Shugga’ Substitute Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer in quart bottle.

It has a clear bright golden copper color with a white constant head.  The smell has a heavy citrus notes with a slight caramel notes.  It is really fated.  The taste has citrus to a slight creamy caramel notes.  The aftertaste has crisp dry bitter finish that is pretty smooth.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Originally brewed in 2011 as a Brown Shugga’ substitute, due to construction-induced capacity issues. But we liked it so much it had to make a return trip.

AVAILABLE: LATE NOVEMBER thru JANUARY
ABV: 7.85%
Sold as: 6-Packs & Kegs (plus 32oz Quarts in select markets)
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @lagunitasbeer

Closing,  I have always loved Lagunitas Sucks.  I am always sad that this beer is only a seasonal.  This Sucks is their Brown Shagga edition.  Plus, I love that it comes out in 32oz or quart bottle.  I am saving my bottle.  When I visited the brewery in Chicago this last summer, they were selling these bottles and I wanted to take it home.  The problem was that I flew out of Chicago.  I love all nice caramel to citrus notes.  They picked a nice selection of hops and build a well design malty backbone.  I love this beer and I will have a few more bottles in the neat future.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another pumpkin beer, which is Pumpkinhead Ale, from Shipyard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head on this pumpkin beer.  The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes but turns to water notes with a cinnamon to slight pumpkin finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:  @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I loved their Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  I wanted to try the normal seasonal in their everyday six pack line of the fall from this brewery.  I have been pretty curious on this craft brewery.  I do not know this brewery because most of their packaging does not help sell their beers.  It is pretty boring but most cases that means the beer is really good.  I have to say in this case with this Pumpkinhead Ale it is pretty average.  I was pretty disappointed and I have to say this is the weakest fall and pumpkin beer this season.  I will be searching out for their other beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Stout (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another fall beer in this season of 2014.  The next is Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this  New York craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Southern Tier Brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin stout.

This fall seasonal has a jet black color with an off white color head.  The smell is pretty complex.  The aroma has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes with an almost chocolate ginger bread notes. The taste has a chocolate cinnamon to ginger bread notes with a chocolate nutmeg dry slight bitter finish for aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Warlock is brewed to enchant your palate on its own and also to counterpoint our imperial ale, Pumking.  Make your own black magic by carefully pouring this imperial stout into a goblet.

Master Of The Underworld

Dark and mysterious, the Blackwater Series is serious about high gravity.  Reanimate your senses with Warlock’s huge roasted malt character, moderate carbonation and spicy pumpkin pie aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this brew.  I am not a fan at all of their Pumking.  I just feel it is too full of cinnamon and nutmeg.  There is really no balance with that pumpkin beer.  This stout part has kind of overpower the rest of the beer.  It has a little bit more of a balance than Pumking.  I love the combine of the chocolate and cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  This is a great beer and this fall seasonal beer releases have been great this year.  This one is at the top of the list.  This is a great beer and I might have another bottle before the end of the season.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13