duvel

New Beer Blog Gigantic Brewing The Royale Beer

In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Gigantic Brewing. It is one of their everyday beer and it is called The Royale Beer, which is their Belgian Pale Ale. If you have not read the earlier beer blog posts, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this great brewery. If you have read those beer post, you know history and of this beer. Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head. The smell has a grapefruit to the it. The taste has a heavy grapefruit without an aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The Royale

A beer fit for sophisticates and flaneurs, The Royale is a golden concoction of fruity and citrusy flavors meant for whiling away one’s time in Brasseries, cafes and pubs, or anywhere friends can found.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.giganticbrewing.com

Twitter: @giganticbrewing

In closing, I am a huge fan of this brewery and Belgian Pale Ales. This beer has everything you expect from a Belgian style ale. It has a pretty big hop forward to it. It has a full body but yet easy drinkablity that will have the beer drinker coming back for more of it. I am not a huge fan of it and I believe this is not the best beer that Gigantic brews. However, it is not the bad, I just prefer their India Pale Ales. I recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Redhook Wise Cracker Wit

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out the Redhook’s summer ale. The brew is called Wise Cracker Wit. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get know one of the America’s Craft breweries. Let us get into the brew.

This Wit has a cloudy yellow color without a head on it. The smell is a citrus, lemon, and coriander along with yeast and wheaty to the beer. The taste has a lemon with species. It is very refreshing and drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Wheat beer brewed with Ginger, but still digs Mary Ann.

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

Redhook’s twist on the Belgian style is the addition of fresh ginger, which adds a refreshing snappiness to this lighter-bodied wheat beer. Redhook Wit is perfect for warm summer months of outdoor BBQ-ing, sitting by the pool, or just taking a break by hanging inside enjoying the AC and watching old re-runs of Gilligan’s Island.

Style………………….Belgian Wit

Abv…………………….5.3%

IBUs…………………..8.0

IBUOriginal Gravity..11.85 degrees plato

Brewed Since………2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

In closing, I will be the first to say that I am not a fan of wheat ales. This Wit is a great beer but I will not add it to my line up of beers. I will drink it if that is about the only craft beer at a bar or liquor stores. I will say if you are a fan of wheat ales, this is a beer for you. I can see the beer bring more American lager drinkers into the craft beer side. It is drinkable and has flavor. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack

In this beer blog, 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack is the feature beer in this post. I have blogged about this brewery a few times in the past. If you have not read those beer post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer post to get an idea of this great brewery. Let us get into the beer.

The color of the beer is yellow without head on it l. The smell is a lemon peppermint to the beer. The taste is a heavy lemon with a hop finish. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

You might not expect a Saison in winter. But the enemy didn’t expect Washington to cross the icy Delaware, either. Expectations be damned, we say. We’re sneaking up on winter with a boatload of bravado and this Belgian-style farmhouse ale. Dry hopped with whole organic cardamom pods, our Saison has an assertive spiciness. In your face, winter.

Sneak Attack is our late winter seasonal beer available from January through March in six-pack cans and on draft. The perfect antidote to the big beers of winter, Sneak Attack is crisp, dry and palate cleansing. It pairs perfectly with the rich and warming foods of winter: Bouillabaise, sausages, smoked meats and full flavored cheeses.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stamendment

At the end, I pretty much love everything that I have had from this brewery. I have to say this beer kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I am a fan of this beer style, which is Saison. I am a little stun that I did not like this beer. I do not know if it is between the pepper or the lemon that is kicking through out the beer experience. I was a little disappointed, however, with that all said this does not mean you will not like this beer. I recommend you trying it because I would like to hear your thoughts on 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 Uinta Brewery Birthday Suit Sour Brown Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Uinta Brewery. The beer is their Birthday Beer, which is their 20th and it is called Birthday Suit Sour Brown Ale from their Crooked Line. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of those beer blogs. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear brown color without a head on the beer. The smell is like sour air. The taste has a heavy sour with a sour aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer to have anytime of the season.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed in celebration of Uinta’s 20th Birthday, this American Sour Brown Ale flaunts significant acidity balanced by flavorful Abbey and Chocolate malts and a modest amount of hops. A distinct tartness on the palate combines with notes of toffee and earthiness.

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

Notes

Brewed in celebration of Uinta’s 20th Birthday, this American Style Sour Brown Ale flaunts significant acidity balanced by flavorful Abbey and Chocolate malts and a modest amount of hops. A distinct tartness on the palate combines with notes of toffee and earthiness.

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Travis Bone

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter: @uintabrewing

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I am in love with sour ales. This beer was right up my alley but the average beer drinker will not like sour ales. This beer is for the experience craft beer drinker. I am not saying that the beginner will not like this beer. It is possible. It has a heavy sour taste and smell. It is pretty drinkable beer for any season of the year. I highly recommend this beer. It is a limited release so if you do not get it this season. You will have to wait for next year and that is not a bad thing. I also want to thank for the Brewery for letting me try this beer and showing me around the brewery. Thanks Steve and Uinta Brewing! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Heavy Seas Brewing Gold Ale

In this beer blog, here is another beer from Heavy Seas Brewing and the beer is called Gold Ale. This is another brew from my Beer of the Month. If you read my earlier blog on their flagship beer while I was in Washington DC, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This gold ale is what it is a golden color without a head on the beer. The smell is very fade and hard to smell. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a small touch of hops. It is not overly hopped. The aftertaste is a dry earthly to a little malty. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

American gold ale with floral hop aroma. Well rounded, fruity, and complex.

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

Gold

Year Round

This easy-drinking session beer pours a deep golden color. It smells slightly floral and herbal, thanks to a hopback full of Cascade and Centennial hops. Gold is tasty and refreshing, with a round mouthfeel. In 2010, it took awards at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.hsbeer.com

Twitter: @heavyseasbeer

Closing, I am not a fan of most of these gold ales or golden ales. I went with a positive attitude to give this beer a chances. The one thing that I love about this beer it is a session beer. Sometimes you need to drink some of these beers to give you a break from the over hop to heavy stout and porters. However, this gold ale gives you some hop finish to keep the hophead happy, I recommend you trying this beer. If you are an experience craft beer or just an American lager drinker, this beer will give you a different pace as an experience beer drinker or set you on the road to drinking more craft beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog To Ol Brewery Launch Party In Chicago

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer launch in Chicago. The brewery is To Ol Brewery from Denmark. To Ol Brewery was founded in 2005 by Tobias Emil Jensen and Tore Gynther. They are traveling rogue brewers. Where they think their beer styles will be brew best that is where they will go to. They brew in Europe and United States. This is what makes this brewery unique and their beer is pretty much one and done, which makes their beer pretty special. Let us get into the beers.

Goliat Coffee Stout

This stout has a black color with a tan head on the beer. The smell is a strong coffee and chocolate to the beer. The taste is a strong chocolate to toffee with a heavy aftertaste. This is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the website (www.to-ol.dk):

Goliat Coffee Imperial Stout

The great warrior of Gath. The mighty champion of the Philistines. Embedded in ancient folklore and religion. Coming from the World of Old. His size and stature is not human. He is bigger. The armor of Goliat is black. Creamy black lacings. Stands with a towering height. He can grab elements from both earth and heaven. Earthy, roasted, notes from the earth. Warming, pungent, sweet notes from the skies. His heart is beating slowly, almost endlessly slow. This man is thought to be invincible!

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, roasted barley, dark cassonade sugar, flaked oats, hops, gourmet coffee and yeast.

10.1% ABV / Net content 375 ml (12.7 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium.

San Frontiere

This Belgian Blonde has a golden clear color with a white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a carbonation sweet with a tart and barnyard aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Sans Frontiere Belgian Ale

“Heaven knows no frontiers, and I’ve seen heaven in your eyes”

This is how the Frontier beer series lost their ground, missed direction and finally found themselves again. This beer has no frontiers, meaning that it can now pick and choose among brewing specialties. Instead of being an IPA, this is a rather a Belgian ale, hopped and dryhopped with continental european hops and refermented with brettanomyces. A tart, picturesque and rural beer.

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, Rock Candy, yeast and brettanomyces. 7% ABV / Net content 750 ml (25.4 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium.

Final Frontier

This double IPA has a light copper color with a white head on it. The smell is a citrus to the beer. The taste is a strong citrus and carbonation with a dry hop to mango aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Final Frontier DIPA

“Nature is Satan’s Church”

This is it! The sequel to the hop success of First Frontier. This beer is the final in every way. We recommend it as the final of your evening! This is an extremely potent and yet well-balanced Double India Pale Ale. This beer is well suited in extreme environments, whether it be Siberian winter, Volcano eruptions on Java, Danish earthquakes(They exist!) or rush hour. This beer is seeking out frontiers and built for the test.Ingredients: Water, barley malt, flaked oats, Hops (Simcoe, Centennial, Columbus) and yeast.

9% ABV / Net content 330 ml (11.2 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

Black Ball

This porter has dark brown to black color with a tan head on the beer. The smell is a chocolate to roasted coffee to the porter. The taste is a carbonation sweet chocolate with a burn roasted to the beer. The aftertaste is a roasted citrus to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Black Ball Porter

Black Ball is a potent porter, boasted with dark cassonade sugar and a good heap of American hops to rebalance the edgy and full-flavoured malt profile. You will find notes of chocolate, caramel and sulphur. This results in a porter with a broad and delicate mouth feel, capable of a good kick and does not leave the mouth voluntarily.

Black IPA? No way! Hoppy Porters is here to stay!

For a perfect evening, Black Ball blends perfect with a Black Rocket from the Pivovar Matuška brewery and Mikkeller Black Hole (Royalties to Theis!)

Ingredients: Water, barley malt (Lager, smoked, chocolate, cara munich and brown), roasted barley, flaked oats, dark cassonade, hops and yeast.

7.1% ABV / Net content 330 ml (11.2 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

Mine Is Bigger Than Yours

This ale has a light clear copper color without a head on the beer. There is a slight to fate sweet malty smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet with a strong wine to the beer. The aftertaste is sweet raisin to it. The aftertaste is like a whiskey burning down your throat but calm. It is a sipping beer.

Here is description from their website (www.to-ol.dk):

Mine is bigger than yours Barley Wine

“When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite”

This beer is a big fat beast packed with every potent ingredient we had at the brewery. This tons of malts and hops combined in one big fat, yet balanced brew.

It jumps higher than yours, it builds houses bigger than yours, It’s mama is fatter than yours, it chops wood faster than yours, it’s father is could beat yours…. No reason to say, but Mine is bigger than yours!

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, flaked oats, light candy sugar, hops (Columbus, Simcoe, Citra) and yeast.

12.5% ABV / Net content 375 ml (12.7 FL OZ)

Brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

Here is their webiste and twitter addresses:

Website: www.to-ol.dk

Twitter: @toolbeer

In closing, I enjoy all of these beers. As a rule, I like to age my Barley Wines at least a year before trying them. I believe this Barley Wine is ready now, which is pretty rare. I am not saying Barley Wines are not ready now. Some barley wines are just too young coming out to the market and they are better when they age in the bottle. The porter is like any other porter but it is pretty good beer. I really enjoyed the stout and I believe it is best beer of all these beers. Their Double IPA is really smooth and drinkable. It is not over the top hoppy like most Double IPA. I recommend you trying these beers. I believe you will like at least a few of them. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Big Wave Golden Ale

In this Kona beer blog, we are going to get into in my opinion is the best beer from this Hawaii Brewery. It is called Big Wave Golden Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer

This golden ale has a clear yellow color without a head and bubbles in the beer. The smell is very fade. It has a slight citrus smell. It gives a sense of a Tropical feeling in the smell and taste. The taste is sweet carbonation malty with a little citrus, which is very fade in the beer. There is no aftertaste. It is a beer the beer drinker can drink all day. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Year-Round. The waves that roll onto Hawaiian beaches are some of the best in the world. Catch the crest of a breaking wave and ride it all the way in our sun-drenched Big Wave Golden is a smooth. Refreshing brew inspired by what makes Hawaii great. Since 1994, Kona Brewing Co. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality. We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii. Mahalo!

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

Light, Balanced & Easy Going

Our brewers wanted to make a beer that went down easy after a day out on the water. Big Wave Golden Ale is just the ticket. Big Wave is a lighter bodied golden ale with a tropical hop aroma and flavor – a smooth, easy drinking refreshing ale. The use of caramel malt contributes to the golden hue of this beer and our special blend of hops provides bright quenching finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter: @konabrewingco

Closing, just like all the rest of their beers, this beer is extremely drinkable. Big Wave Golden Ale is drinkable with a huge Tropical feeling. This beer has a ton of flavor. I love the connection between the tropical hop and malts in the beer. It is refreshing and brings out summer in the coldest winter day. This beer is not heavy for the hottest summer days. Big Wave Golden Ale is a great beer to be pair with several foods like spicy meats and even an American Burger. I recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Br. De Ranke Pere Noel

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a Christmas Ale from Belgium. De Ranke was founded in 1994 by Nino Bacelle. They brew several different Belgian Beer Styles all year-long. There is not too much information on this brewery on the web. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color with a big white head on this Belgian ale. The smell is a heavy spices. The taste is sweet carbonation spices. The aftertaste has a hint of caramel. It is a kind of drinkable beer. There is a ton going on in the beer.

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

Père Noel

Père Noël is a Christmas ale, though very different from any other Christmas ales you might know. While most Christmas ales are rich & sweet, this one is amber-coloured, 7% vol. Alc. strong and tastes quite bitter. The complex taste is completed with the addition of liquorice. In the recipe we can also find pale malt, Munich malt, Caramel malt, Brewers Gold hops and Hallertau hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.deranke.be

Twitter: No Twitter address

In closing, this beer is just like all the rest of the Belgian Strong Ales on the market. I am not saying it is a bad beer. I rather spend my money on Duvel and get more liquid. It will give the beer drinker more of a value. I did enjoy this beer and it was great on New Year’s Eve. I am glad I try it once. I recommend you trying it and maybe you will find something in that I did not find in it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Unibroue Grand Reserve 17 Dark Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into beer called Grand Reserve 17 Dark Ale from Unibroue. Unibroue was founded in 1990 under the name of La Brasserie Massawippi Inc in Quebec, Canada. The name changed in 1993 to Brasserie Broubec Inc and then merged with Unibroue. It was then sold in 2004 to Sleeman Breweries. Sleeman Breweries was then sold to Sapporo. Unibroue Brewery brews several different Belgian beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with a white head on the beer. The smell is a sweet malty and other species. The taste is a sweet slight carbonation and no aftertaste to the beer. There is a lot going on in this complex dark ale. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Dark Ale on Lees. Ale Brewed with Spices, Aged with French Oak, and with Natural Flavors added

Inspired by the great Belgian brewing tradition of Trappist monks established over the centuries. Unibroue 17 was first brewed in 2007 to celebrate our brewery’s 17th anniversary. However, the overwhelming success of this specialty brew made it obvious that we could not let such great ale slip into the anonymity of retirement.

As testimony to its remarkable flavor profile which increases in complexity as it ages, the original batch bottled in 2007 was awarded an international platinum medal three years in a row and the prestigious title of “World’s Best Dark Ale” when it was well past three years in the bottle!

So in 2011, we proudly brought back this French Oak aged, bottle refermented dark ale, with the “Grande Reserve” appellation as a fitting endorsement of its exceptional quality for aging. Brewed only once a year, in limited quantities, and individually numbered “brasseur” bottles, this is truly a flavorful delight for the specialty beer enthusiast.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.unibroue.com

Twitter: @unibroue

In the end, I really enjoyed this beer and I have to thank my friend let me try it. There is a ton going on in this dark ale. It is a sipping beer but it is pretty smooth. I was pretty stun by this beer and I will be searching the rest of their beers down from this brewery. To be honest, how much this beer was good, I would rather drink a beer from Belgium. This brewery being from Canada is as close to the real thing from Belgium. I recommend this beer and I would like to hear your thoughts on this beer or other brews that Unibroue brew. Any you recommend for me to try from this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bell’s Winter White Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Michigan brewery known as Bell’s. The beer is their winter seasonal which is called Bell’s Winter White Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This Winter White Ale from Bell’s is part of the 12 Beers of Christmas at Countryside. It has a hazel straw like color without a head on this winter seasonal. There is a yeasty to wheaty smell with a little corridor smell to it. The taste is yeasty and species with a dry slight lemon aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

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

Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter: @bellsbrewery

Closing, I do not know why craft breweries put out White, Wheat, etc in the middle of the winter. It is different then the rest of the craft breweries. I am not saying this is a bad brew. I am not a fan of it but they did a great job on it. I always see this beer in my market in the middle of the summer. The distributor does a really bad job with this brewery’s beer. This brewery will sell more of this liquid in the spring and summer. I recommend this beer, if you are a fan of white, wheats, and hefeweizen. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Notes

Art

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Light, Balanced & Easy Going

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: