duvel

New Beer Blog New Belgium Brewing 1554 Black Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew from New Belgium Brewing. It is their 1554 Black Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark black clear with a constant white head on this black ale. The smell is a slightly chocolate with a nice crisp finish. The taste is a milky chocolate notes. It is pretty drinkable.

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

Born of a flood and centuries-old Belgian text, 1554 Enlightened Black Ale uses a lager yeast strain and dark chocolaty malts to redefine what dark beer can be. In 1997, a Fort Collins flood destroyed the original recipe our researcher, Phil Benstein, found in the library. So Phil and brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert, traveled to Belgium to retrieve this unique style lost to the ages. Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and mouthfeel.

Birthdate: July, 1999

Body: Light – Medium

ABV: 5.6%

IBU: 21

Calories: 198

Hops: Target

Malts: Pale, Carapils, Black, Munich, Chocolate

Yeast: Lager Yeast

Aroma: Slightly fruity, herbal, spicy, rooty, coffee, chocolate, toffee

Mouthfeel: Due to the lager yeast ferm at high temps and the chocolate and black malt- this beer starts and finishes dry yet the middle is round and malt rich. session!

Flavor: Starts bitter chocolate with bright acidity, roasty and toasty, sweetness to round it out sweet/spicy, rooty, peppery undertones, lingering fruit acidity,

Visual: Brilliant/clear, mahogany

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newbelgium.com

Twitter: @newbelgium

Ending, I remember the first time I had this beer. I was not really too impressed when it hit the Chicago craft beer market. I guess my taste buds have grown or I found a new way of liking this brew. There is several different things going on in this brew. I love the chocolate, fruit, coffee, and slight toffee notes. There is a nice balance in this brew. I love how it is not overpowering. I love the crisp finish and it is pretty drinkable brew. There is not much to say about this beer. It is really good and I recommend you trying to 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 Gigantic Brewing Hellion

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from one of my favorite craft brewery from Portland, Or. I am talking about Gigantic Brewing and their Hellion. If you read my earlier beer blog on this brewery, you know the history of this little brewpub. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this brew. The smell is a sweet Belgian notes. It has a farmhouse smell notes. The taste is citrus notes of spices with a crisp dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Hellion

To some a Hellion is a troublemaker, to others a messiah. Our dry-hopped Belgian-style golden ale will bring out one or both in you. Which will it be?

“The tall tree catches much wind” -Japanese Proverb

Beer Style: Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Golden ABV: 8.5% 23 IBU

Label Artist: Shohei Otomo www.Hakuchi.jp

Notes: Dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace and Simcoe = lemon, grapefruit and dill aromas. Complex aroma and flavor of ester and spice from a Belgian yeast strain.

Availability: July-October 2013 in Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, Alaska, Vermont and Chicago.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.giganticbrewing.com

Twitter: @GiganticBrewing

Closing out of the tab, this is a great beer and I really enjoyed drinking this brew. This is a well made beer and they brew this beer as close to the classic beer style. It is an American craft version of Duvel. I love Duvel and I found hints of this beer when I was drinking it. I can see many craft beer drinkers thinking this a great version of Duvel. I highly recommend you 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 Upland Brewing Strawberry Lambic

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a project that Upland Brewing did not know was going on in their brewery. One of their assist brewmasters started a sour and package it. Everyone at the brewery loved his sours. Sour ales take years to make and is one hardest beer style to make. If you mess it up, you need to start over. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.

It is a cloudy strawberry color without a head on the beer. The smell is a sour strawberry. The taste is extremely sour strawberry and tart with sour aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

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

Man, that’s sour. Made with real strawberries.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter: @UplandBrewCo

Closing, I have to say I am a huge fan of sours and Upland Brewery. I was excited to get my hands on this brew. I know this sour is hard to get on the market. I have to say this brew is pretty sour. I like it but I wished I had cork to save it for the next day. The color, smell, and taste are sour strawberry notes. This is an awesome beer and they have done a great job on this brew. I hope to get a chance to try their other sours in the near future. I highly recommend their sours. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Oskar Blues Brewery Mama’s Little Yella Pils

Starting a new tab, Oskar Blues Brewery is the feature brewery and the beer is their Mama’s Little Yella Pils. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dale’s Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery better. Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color with small constant bubbles. It has small constant white bubbles. The smell is of import pilsner and lager. It has a malty notes. The taste of this light body has malty backbone but the hops shine through it. It is a drinkable beer.

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

Oskar Blues’ Mama’s Little Yella Pils is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic, famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops. While its rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.brew.oskarblues.com

Twitter: @oskarblues

Closing out my tab, I have said this once and I will say it a few more times. There is not too many craft breweries that can make a good craft pilsner. Oskar Blues has brew a great pilsner. I am talking about great pils. This beer is well-balanced. I love selection of the hops. Mama’s Little Yella Pils can be consumed in the winter and middle of the hot summer. I highly recommend this brewery and beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Starr Hill Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy Ale The Gift Of Great Beer

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Starr Hill Brewery. The beer that will be feature is one of their high-end or 22oz bottle line. It is their Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy Ale The Gift Of Great Beer. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark blood-red color with a slight white to tan color head. The smell is sweeter caramel to some kind of sweet fruit notes. It is hard to make out. The taste is an extremely malty with smooth caramel notes. The aftertaste is a smooth but fade caramel finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Starr Hill’s Psycho Kilter is a full-bodied Wee Heavy brewed in the style of traditional Scottish ales. Its huge malty nose, with hints of to a roastiness, gives way to a full, sweet palate with low, but perceptible hop bitterness. A lingering warmth balances the rich and dominant maltiness.

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

Starr Hill’s Psycho Kilter Wee Heavy is characterized by its huge malty nose with hints of roastiness. A full, sweet palate with very little hops, this high-gravity brew is the Scots’ unique specialty.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website; www.starrhill.com

Twitter: @starrhill

Closing out tab, this craft brewery is something else. I had nothing bad from this brewery. There was one which was their spring seasonal. It was not a bad beer but not a really good one. This beer is true to the classic beer style. Starr Hill Brewery knows that they are doing and they are doing it right. There is a nice malty notes but a nice hop to off set it just enough. It is sweet enough to not notice high alcohol percentage. I recommend you 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 Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog. It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale. It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head. The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade. It is hard to pick up. The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish. It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style. I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist. It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one. Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on their version of Duvel. I have to say I was pretty impressed about it. I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong. I would love to talk about beer with you. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Great Divide Brewing. It is their Colette Farmhouse Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this great Denver brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear bright yellow to golden color with constant small bubbles. There is yeast in the bottle that will change it from clear to cloudy. The head is a constant white. The smell is a slight farmhouse but a fresh farm smell. The taste of this light body ale has slight lemon with some spices with a spicy to lemon but refreshing finish. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast stains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

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

COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

ABV.: 7.3%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: 6 packs, 5 gal and 15.5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter; @greatdividebrew

Ending, this is a pretty tricky ale to make for most craft breweries. There are several different Saisons on the market. It could be hoppy amber saison, hoppy saison, and a refreshing saison. This one to me is in the refreshing saison. It echos the classic beer style. It is well balance and gives everything that a saison fan is looking for in this beer style. I recommend you trying. Please, let me know what you think of 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 3 Fonteinen Zwet.be Belgian Porter

Happy 4th of July, we are going to get into 3 Fonteinen Zwet.be in this beer blog. It is a pretty unique beer. It is a Belgian Porter, which is unique as it is, but they use the Begian yeast during the brewing process. 3 Fonteinen was founded in 1887 in Belgium. They were brewing lambics beers. It is style of blending old and young beer into one. It was sold 1953 to Gaston De Belder and it has been the family since. The current owners have expanded the brewery and they have been exploring into different beer styles like the one we are review here. Let us get into this unique beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan to light brown color head. The smell is a dark chocolate cover fruit. The taste of this full body is a dark chocolate with a tart aftertaste. It is a sipping beer with a cigar.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This unusual ale is the brainchild of Armand Debelder, brewer and blender of the world-famous Drie Fonteinen lambics. A Belgian Porter, brewed with wild yeast cultured from Armand’s casks of lambic.

Here is a description from their website (www.3fonteinen.be):

Zwet.be, unusual “black” beer mixed gistingis is brewed with wheat, Maris Otter malt and cara malt.

Specifically, the mixed fermentation, yeast culture on the one hand from the Beersel Blonde, other lambic yeast. The lambic, brewed by Armand Debelder, a specific type of Brettanomyces geïsolleerd. This yeast gives this beer of 7% alc. volume slightly tart finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3fonteinen.be

Twitter: @3Fonteinen

In the end, I hope this would be my last beer on the planet. This is amazing sipping beer. I am a huge porter fan and I have not really been a fan of Belgian beers. This beer is in my top five list of best porters ever had so far in my life. This porter has everything that will make the Belgian fans happy and non Belgian fans happy. There is the dark chocolate to tart notes. This is dark chocolate cover fruit because of the tart. I am pretty speechless on what to say about Zwet.be. It just tells you how much I liked this beer. I will say this just because I like this beer. It does not mean you will like it too. I would keep an open mind and draw your own thought pattern. This is great beer and I highly highly HIGHLY recommend you trying this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Calabaza Blanca White Ale

Opening a tab, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is the brewery that is being featured in this blog. The beer is Calabaza Blanca White Ale. Jolly Pumpkin was founded in Dexter, Michigan in 2004 by Ron Jeffries. They have a brewery which is located in Dexter and two pubs in Ann Arbor and Traverse City, Michigan. They brew several different beer styles, however, they are best known for their sour ales. They are also known to age their beers in wine or oak barrels. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy yellow strew color with a constant white head on the beer. The smell of this light body has a chai tea along with other species. The taste is like Chai Tea without the hot cinnamon to it. There is no aftertaste to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Calabaza Blanca, an artisan white ale brewed in Belgium’s biere blanche tradition. Spiced with orange peel and coriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish. A year round favorite for sure!

Please enjoy our beers in good health, Cheers and Mahalo plenty!

Here is a description from the website (www.jollypumpklin.com):

Calabaza Blanca– Aged in large oak casks and refermented in the bottle, Calabaza Blanca is a Belgian Biere Blanche. Spiced with orange peel and corriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish.

Year round production 4.8% Alc./Vol. 750ml bottles – 12 case

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.jollypumpkin.com

Twitter: @jollypumpkin

Closing out tab, this is one of my first beers from Jolly Pumpkin on this blog. I have heard several things about this brewery when I lived in Michigan and now in the Chicago market. This is the first beer from this brewery that is not my favorite beer style. I have to say I was pretty stun on how it came out. I was pretty interested in a brewery that ages all their beers in barrels. I would not say this is not favorite beer but I will put this in the middle of the pack if I had to choose from beers at a bar or a store. I will pick this beer. I will give this beer a look at the liquor store when picking beer for the weekend. It has a nice refreshing and easy drinkable taste. I highly recommend you trying this beer that is coming from a guy that does not like wheat ales. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Evil Twin and Local Option Plastic Man

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Evil Twin Brewing. If you read my earlier beer post on Evil Twin Brewing, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. However, this beer has Local Option teamed up with Evil Twin Brewing to brew this beer, Let us get into the history of Local Option. There is really no history on the internet for Local Option. They are based in Chicago. Let us get into the beer.

It is cloudy peach color with a constant white head. It is like they put whole peaches in the bottle without the skin. The smell has a peach aroma to this Saison Style Ale. The taste is a slight carbonated peaches with peach aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Taste the Colors, Hear the Aromas, Smell the Carbonation.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.eviltwin.dk and www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @LocalOption and @EvilTwinBrewing

Closing out, this beer was something else. Local Option and Evil Twin teamed up and did a great job on this beer. I am pretty impressed with this beer. I have not had too many beers from Local Option. I will be heading down to check out their brewpub. Evil Twin, I had several different brews from Evil Twin Brewing. I am not a fan of peaches but the peaches in this brew are awesome. I highly recommend this beer and I want you to hunt this beer down. Please, let me know what you think of it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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