duvel

New Blog Savor 2012 in DC Day One (Story)

Old Ebbitt Grill

It is an old school DC bar and grill. It is after work place and a traditional place. It has a nice beer selection and food. Nice place for lunch with my friends, who are Kevin, Slayer, Aphrodite, and Lolita.

See Heavy Sea Loose Cannon Ale for the beer blog.

J&G Steakhouse

For drinks in the sun talking about life. It is a little too hot here but just right. Asides that is a beautiful day.

See Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA for the beer blog.

We are going to Church’s Key for beers before dinner. I heard this place has a nice beer menu while sitting of the lobby of the hotel. Two old friends meet for the first time. Talking about moments that are long gone, it was a really good moment. The bar is packed with guests talking about their plans for the weekend in this fancy upscale hotel that looks like something out of the 1940s with a modern flare. This bar is packed with a nice lay back feeling to it.

See Troggers Nugget, Upland Dragonfly ale for the beer blog.

Marvin

We are to have dinner. It is very soulful in the food. This was some off the charts food. I was full but I could not stop eating it. Very good dinner.

See Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace Ale for the beer blog.

There were many other places and many more beer. It was a great start to this trip. We will have Savor tomorrow and I will be visiting at least one brewpub in the city.

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @ djweiser

New Blog Bridgeport Summer Squeeze Bright Ale

Starting a tap, we are going to talk about one of my favorite west coast breweries, who is called Bridgeport Brewery. The beer I will feature in this blog is their Summer Seasonal called Summer Squeeze Blonde ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Hop Czar, then you know a little something on this brewery.

It is light copper to yellow color. There is really no smell to this beer.  This beer is very refreshing and light in body with a slight carbonation in taste. This is a very drinkable beer during the summer. The fruit used in the brewing process is from Japan that , I bet you can taste it but it is hard if you never had the fruit.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Meet your new Summer Squeeze. The Refreshing brew infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu, the exotic Asian citrus fruit. The result is bright and crisp with a complex citrus finish. Perfect for hot summer days.

This is one summer crush you won’t soon forget.  Infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter: @bridgeportbrew

Closing the tap, I am not a fan of many summer beers but I will keep on trying them very year until I start liking them. This brew is different and I respect what the assistant brewmaster, who is Jeff Edgerton, was trying to do in this summer seasonal. I had a chance a few years ago to meet the brewmaster and talk to him about many of his brews. He ask me about this seasonal and I was a little too honest to him about it. What I said to him, I will say on this blog. It is very well made and there is a huge market for this beer. This beer is not my pint of beer. If you like wheat ales, american lagers, white ales, I recommend you hunting this beer down. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Redhook Long Hammer IPA

In this blog, the beer that will be featured is from Redhook Brewery and it is called Long Hammer IPA. This brewery was founded in 1981 by Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker in Seattle, Wa. This brewery is known to have all of their beers be very drinkable for any event and time of the year.

This beer in the glass is a light copper color. The smell is citrus to almost earthy.  The taste of the beer is of carbonation to some citrus drinkable and able to drink it all day. It might be drinkable but it is not well balance. I feel the hoppies over take everything.

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

The generous addition of hops both during and at the end of the fermentation process (dry-hopping) gives our India Pale Ale its characteristic bitterness and piney citrus aroma and flavor.  The medium body, crisp finish, and moderate alcohol and IBU levels makes this one of America’s most drinkable and best-selling IPAs.

Style………………….India Pale Ale

Abv…………………….6.5%

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Malts…………………Pale, Caramel, MunichHops…………………..Alchemy, Cascade, WillametteColor SRM………….8.5–>IBUs…………………..44.0

IBUOriginal Gravity..14.4 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1984

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

In closing, this brewery was one of the first breweries that had me hooked on craft beer world. I use to drink their ESB (Extra Special Bitter) all the time. From there, I started to try other craft beers from other craft breweries. I want to thank this brewery for showing me the light on good beer. I like this beer for its drinkable but I believe it is not well balance and over hopped. It does not have enough malt backbone to it. I love this beer in the can but I will not buy it all the time. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Uncommon Brews Siamese Twin Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about another brew from a small brewery called Uncommon Brews. The name of the beer is called Uncommon Brews Siamese Twin Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Bacon Brown Ale, you know a little something on this brewery.

This beer pours into the glass as a light brown with a slightly yellow to white head.  After a while the head will be next to nothing.  You will smell the sweetest of a Belgian Dubbel. The taste of the beer is very complex. You will taste a very sweetness at the beginning then turns into a constant taste through out the pallet of lemon. You will taste sweetness of the malts in the aftertaste with the kick of the lemongrass that they brew in the beer.

Here is a description from the can:

There’s a longtreadition in Belgian brewing of using exotic spices to enhance a beer’s flavor.  Although many have been used, coriander is undoubtely the king.  In tribute to this heritage we present to you our Siamese Twin Ale.

It is traditional Belgian-style Double seasonal with coriander and entirely uncommon Thai spices.  At first surprising, the floral notes of lemongrass and sharper bite of kaffir lime blend with the deep malt of this double to produce a dangerously drinkable beer.

Served alongside a fiery curry or enjoyed on its own, the Twin brings a taste of the tropics to every occasion.  And who doesn’t need a taste of the tropics every now and then?

Here is their website and twitter address:

Website: http://www.uncommonbrews.com

Twitter: @uncommonbrews (Not sure if it is theirs and if it is active)

In closing, this is a really good beer until the lemongrass kicks in the beer. I love their Bacon Brown Ale. I respect this brewery to think outside the box and have the coverage to put this beer out in the market. I love when craft breweries do something different then the same thing that other breweries did in the past. Believe me, we have enough those beers in the market. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brewery and beer. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn 71 Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about another brew from the Big Horn Ram Brewery called 71 Pale Ale. You know the history of this brewery from my earlier blogs. This beer has the 71 for the year that the brewery was founded. In some cases, you can call this their flagship beer.

This beer sits in the glass as slightly cloudy golden color.  The smell of the beer is little earthy.  The taste is a nice well balance beer. It has a sweet then heavy carbonation taste. The aftertaste has a nice bitter hop kick to it. This beer is perfect in any season and very drinkable.

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

A distinctly drinkable pale ale brewed with a touch of rye and a blend of 5 hops. Deep copper in color with subtle spicy rye character and an enjoyable hoppy flavor.

Here is sources to get to know this brewery:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

On ending, like this beer and all the rest of the beers that are made at Big Horn Ram Brewery, they are designed for you to have more than one beer.  They are all very drinkable and sessional.  The 71 pale ale is one of my favorites at this great brewery.  It gives everything I am looking for in pale ale.  Go find your nearby Ram Brewery to eat and drink.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it !

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis

In this blog, we are going to talk about a brewery, who is called Perennial Artisan Ales, that was founded in 2011.  This brewery joins an awesome current lineup of craft breweries in and out of St Louis, MO. This blog will feature one, which is called Saison de Lis, and there will be two more blogs, which are called Hommel Bier and Hommel Bier,to follow.

Just like a normal farmhouse saison ale, it is cloudy and golden to yellow in color. The smell is slightly circus to very earthly.  This Saison just like others is very drinkable and refreshing, which is why this beer style is brew by farmers on their farms in Belgium for their workers.

Here is a few sources to get to know about this brewery:

Website: www.perennialbeer.com

Twitter: @PerennialBeer

On ending, this beer is in big bottles and I am really not a fan of beers in these big bottles.  Unless, it is a really big beer and this saison is only 5% in ABV.  This beer is pretty good but not for the packaging size and price.  They did a very good job doing the American version of this beer.  I would say try it and put your thoughts on this beer.  It would be neat to check out their Brewpub some time in the future.  I will have to hunt down their other beers.  They are brewing some interesting beers.  Overall, this beer has a market just like every beer but I am not the market.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Hommel Bier

In this blog, we are going to talk about the final beer from the Perennial Artisan Ales that I got my hands on in the Chicago market.  They have a few more beers that I believe will not be available just yet in this market.  The beer that will be feature is their Hommel Bier.  This brewery goal is take American and Belgian styles and do something different within reason.  Hommel Bier is a Belgian Style Ale.

This beer pours into glass with huge carbonation just like your normal Belgian Strong Golden Ale.  The head is very constant with a slightly cloudy golden color to the beer. It has species and slight circus smell. The taste is sweet and carbonation with a bit of a bitter aftertaste.   It is kind of dry for the aftertaste. This beer is drinkable at anytime of the year.  It has a nice spicy kicking in this beer just like your normal Belgian style.  Just reading the description, I believe the spices are coming from the Belgian Yeast.

Here is description from the bottle:

In the hop capital of Belgium, Hommel is the word for Humulus, the plant genus where hops reside. Our Hommel Bier defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific Northwest hops, and a Belgian yeast strain.  The result is a beer that combines earthy and spicy tones from the yeast with a slight orange note contributed by the hops.  We think it’s buzzworthy.

Here is a few places on the web to get some information about this brewery:

Website: www.perenialbeer.com

Twitter: @perenialbeer

Closing out the tap, this beer like their Saison.  I honestly do not think it is a good value in a 750ml bottle.  However, this beer has a lower ABV, which is 5.9%, then other Belgium or styel, it puts it at a value and drinkable then them.  What I mean by that, you can drink all day and do not have to worry about getting tank.  Duvel, for example, you will have to worry about the ABV because it is 8.5%.  Since this is a small brewery, there will be a limited supply in the market (I am assuming.  I could be totally wrong on this theory.  I am just using my experience at searching for beers from smaller breweries.  I hope I am wrong on this theory.).  I believe craft beer drinkers will hunt this beer down even more then other beers that are easier to find.  Go find this beer and let me know what you think. Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog La Chouffe Golden Ale

In this blog, I wanted to change it up a bit.  I have been blogging about Craft Beers and I wanted to a high-end Import Beer.  We are going to talk about beer from Belgium called La Chouffe Golden Ale.  This beer is under the Duvel  Moortgat USA Company.  Under this company you have Duvel, Ommengang, Deninck Amber Ale, etc.  A little history about this little company, it was founded in 1982.  This brewery’s beer is known for their cartoon elves on  their labels.  You will find all their beers 750ml in the Chicago market.  I don’t know about the rest of the states.  They have several different product sizes listed on his website, which is www.achouffe.be.

Description :

LA CHOUFFE is an unfiltered blonde beer, which is re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg.  It is pleasantly fruity, spiced with coriander, and with a light hop taste.     (from the website www.achouffe.be)

Here is the description from the  bottle:

 La Chouffe is brewed by the Artisons of la Brasserie d’Achouffe deep in the heart of Belgium’s Ardennes mountains.  The legend of gnomes (chouffes) who once brewed in this mysterious region provides the inspiration for this eccentric bottle conditioned, double fermented ale.

This beer is a Belgian Golden Strong Ale that pours as a golden color. If you pour completely out,  the beer will be cloudy at look from the yeast that is in the bottle. You can smell the spices from their Belgian Yeast.  A smooth, session, and refreshing beer that has a nice balance and carbonation finish.

Here is a few places to get information on this brewery:

Website: www.achouffe.be

Twitter: @ChouffeUSA

In closing, I am not a really huge fan of anything that comes out of Belgium or just about anything that comes out of Europe.  However, this beer is something else, it has everything going on.  I love the spices in this beer.  This beer is not your normal Belgium Golden Strong Ale.  I would say hunt this beer down.  It is a very well made beer and I would drink this on day-to-day basis.  You will find this beer any high-end liquor stores.  Go find this beer!  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Milwaukee Breweing Company Pull Chain

Welcome back to another craft beer blog by myself Bill DJ Weiser.  We are going to talk about The Pull Chain from this great from WI.  It is their American Pale Ale.  First before I get started I wanted to give you the information on how to get hold of this brewery.

Website is www.mkbrewing.com

Twitter is @MKEbrewco

I will be posting more on this brewery.  I am looking at making a trip up to the Brewery in May.  That depends on my motorcycle since I was in a crash today.  I am fine need not to worry about this metal head.  Well anyways let’s get into this beer.

This is a American Pale Ale that is what it is on the neck of the bottle.  I will say they are not lying about it.  It is a well balanced West Coast Pale Ale.  It is copper in looks.  Nice hop finish.  It is a pretty straight front Pale Ale.  It is not over bitter like most West Coast Pale Ale.

I really like this Pale Ale and I believe you should go out and look for this beer.  Drink it and enjoy it!

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

twitter @djweiser

email djweiser16@gmail.com

Ram Brewery Wheeling IL

I love supporting great brewpub with great food.  I didn’t realize I had one in my backyard.  I am talking about the multiple locations brewpub called The Ram Brewery.  Their beer is a really good for a great value for the price.  This is a perfect place to take people that are new to craft beer world that want to sample new Craft Beers.  The other one I would say in the Chicagoland market would be the #1 craft in Chicago which is Goose Island Brewery.  They have two location in the city but if you are in the burbs of Chicago The Ram has two location in the Northwest.

To get information and see updates and news on this company.

Twitter @theram or @therambrew (wheeling location)

Website is www.theram.com

The Wheeling location has special on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.  They have a sampler plate just like every other brewpub.  Go and drink to support some great craft beers!  Cheers!