east coast craft beers

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewing Diesel

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite breweries out of New York City. The brewery is Sixpoint Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Diesel Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know how I feel towards this brewery and the history of it. If you have not, please, read the beer blog called Sixpoint Brewing Apollo. Let us get into this great stout.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color with a light tan color head to the stout. The smell is a chocolate with a citrus to the beer. The taste is a complex full body beer. It has a chocolate to coffee with piney with a dry chocolate aftertaste. It is drinkable beer to me but I can see people thinking it is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Each dawn is clear cold air bites the throat. Thick frost on the pine bough leaps from the tree snapped by the diesel. On the darkest days of the year, light becomes a luxury. Just when you think you cannot penetrate the darkness…SNAP! Light pieces through the roasted pine forest.

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

Diesel

Winter

This undefinable black brew is part black IPA, part American Stout, but 100% Diesel powered. Robust chocolate and roasted flavors, with thick pine hop flavor and aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sixpoint.com

Twitter: @sixpoint

Closing out the winter season, I am sadden by the fact that winter is ending because I love the fall and winter sesaonal beers. Spring and summer seasonals beer are not one of my favorites. I really loves this beer because it gives you something little different. However Sixpoint Brewing gives the craft beer drinker something different, this is way I love Sixpoint. The craft beer drinker will get the stout and then the snap of the piney at the back part of the tasting experience. The piney hops echo in the aftertaste. This is a beer that will give you more for the beer drinker. If you are looking for the normal stout, this beer is not for you. If you are a stout or hophead that is looking for something different in your beer, this beer is perfect for you. I know this beer is not going to be for everyone. I 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 Thirsty Thursday Beer Blog Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the Longboard Island Lager, which is the flagship beer of Kona Brewing. If you read my earlier beer 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.

It has a yellow color with a semi white head on the beer. This beer is light body with a malty smell. The taste is sweet malty without an aftertaste to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Waikki Beach in Honolulu is the birth place of Longboard surfing. Kona Brewing pays tribute to this iconic place with our own Longboard Island Lager. A spirited, crisp and refreshing brew. Longboard is a smooth ride all the way in. Thirst’s Up! 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 the website (www.konabrewingco.com):

Exceptionally Smooth

Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter: @konabrewingco

Closing out, this flagship beer lives up to the spirit of Hawaii and rich history of the surfing. I am not a fan of most craft lagers but this one is a gem of Hawaii. It is light in body but has enough flavor to make you dream of islands and beaches. This beer is extremely drinkable and I can see ton of six packs selling through stores throughout the country. However, it is a craft lager, do you think craft beer drinker is ready to put down their over hopped ales to pick up craft lagers? I believe craft beer drinker is starting to change to drink less hoppy beers and more classic styles or traditional beer styles. I recommend you trying this beer and I believe you will be pretty stun on this Longboard. Go get a Longboard Lager! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Koko Brown Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the spring seasonal from Kona Brewing Co and it is called Koko Brown Ale. If you read my earlier beer 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 American Brown Ale has a brown color with a white head on this beer. The smell is a heavy coconut to the beer. The taste is a sweet hazel and coconut with a roasted coconut aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer for heading into the spring and summer seasons.

Here is a description the beer bottle:

Koko Brown’s distinctive, nutty aroma and flavor comes from real. Toasted coconut blended into each brew. One sip of this roasty. Smooth, mahogany colored ale and you will feel like you are on a warm sun-drenched beach in Hawaii. Aloha! 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):

A Nut Brown Worth Cracking

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste.

Available Winter/Spring

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.knonabrewingco.com

Twitter: @knoabrewingco

Closing, this beer is different then what is out in any market asides Hawaii or any other warm spot. I did enjoy this beer but I just feel that the brown ale is a wrong mix with the coconut. Please, do not get me wrong this is a great beer and I can see people liking this beer. I enjoyed this beer. The taste is hazel nut cover coconut. I just feel that the coconut goes better with a porter or a stout. I could dream of a milk stout with a coconut in it. I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on this beer. I can see this beer being a home run in the Midwest and the colder areas of the United States. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Pipeline Porter

In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at the Kona Brewing Company and the beer is their winter seasonal called Pipeline Porter. Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 on the Big Island of Hawaii by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. They are brewing beer to fit the lifestyle of people who live on the island and the tourist that visit Hawaii. Their Longboard Lager is their flagship beer and is the top-selling craft beer in the state. Kona Brewing is being sold in twenty-eight states in the United States. They brew several brews like a pale ale, brown ale, golden ale, etc. Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal from Kona Brewing, which is called Pipeline Porter, has a black color without a head on the beer. The smell is a heavy coffee bean to the beer. The taste is a heavy coffee to a slight chocolate notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste. The aftertaste is like eating whole coffee bean. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

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. Mahala! Pipeline Porter is full-bodied with a rich, smooth dark-roasted malt flavor. A selection of premium hops and 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee complete this limited brew.

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

Rich & Roasty

Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew.

Available Fall/Winter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter: @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer. I was excited to hear that they are finally coming to Chicago and this is the first beer to land a shore. When I went to Hawaii on vacation, I was drinking a ton of Big Wave Golden Ale. This porter is smooth and taste is coffee and beer drinker can smelling it. It is not a drinkable beer but it is a beer that will last in your glass and frig for a while. I recommend this beer and get ready for rest of there beers being review here on this blog. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Brewing Brrr Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Brrr Seasonal Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into brew.

Widmer Brothers Brrr seasonal ale has a light brown color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a citrus to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation little malty with a citrus touch to the beer. The aftertaste is a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable hoppy beer for the winter seasonal.

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

Warm Up with a Cold One. Or Two. Our winter red ale is the perfect treat, naughty or nice. The deep red body fills your glass and a citrusy hop aroma fills your nose. Then caramel and chocolate malts reward you with a perfectly balanced, malty sweet flavor and velvety finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter: @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome beer from the Widmer Brothers. I really like what this brewery is doing. They are going back to roots and pushing the limits of craft beer brewing. This winter seasonal gives the craft beer drinker something you do not get from the other winter seasonal and it is hops and hops and more hops. It has the malty and warming but gives it a hoppy finish. It is like malty winter seasonal India Pale Ale. Plus, it is extremely drinkable and it will get you in trouble so be careful. This is a beer is part a sampler pack with Redhook Winter Hook and Kona Pipeline Porter. It is hard to get so if you see it, you better grab it. I highly 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 Winter Hook

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from the Redhook Brewery and the beer is their winter seasonal called Winter Hook. If you read my earlier beer blog on one of their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into beer.

Redhook Winter Hook has a nice amber color with a semi white head on the beer. It has a sweet caramel. The taste is sweet carbonation caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter seasonal.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Redhook likes a little nip in the air.

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

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder, or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 28th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

Style………………….Winter Ale

Abv…………………….6%

IBUs…………………..45 IBU

Original Gravity..15 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1985

Time Frame………..Winter Seasonal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

Closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery and winter seasonals in this season. I love the malty taste this beer gives you in every sip. Redhook Winter Hook is part of that awesome sampler pack with Kona Pipeline Porter and Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale. This gives you a nice malty and drinkable beer. This beer is perfect for the coldest winter day but yet with a mild winter we are having in the Midwest, it is still perfect. This is a great beer and I am glad to see it back in six packs in the Chicago market. I 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 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 Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Flying Dog Brewing and the beer is called K-9 Winter Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into this great brewery.

This beer is part of the 12 beers of Christmas from Countryside Bar. It has a hazel copper color without a head on the beer. There is no smell to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation malty without an aftertaste to it. It is very warmly so it lives up to being a winter warmer. This is a sipping beer.

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

Alchohol By Volume: 7.4%

Availability: Winter release

Hop Bitterness: 30 IBU

Specialty Malts: Changes with each release

Hops: Changes with each release

Yeast: English Ale

If it tastes like Christmas, it probably works with K-9. Flavor notes: Sweet malt base with roasted, nutty, and spicy flavors Pairs with: Buttery cheeses; sweet breads; spice cake; squash, yams, and sweet potatoes; hearty meats and stews.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter: @flyingdog

Closing, this beer is not a session beer but it is just a great beer. I love how complex the taste of this winter warmer. This is a sipping beer and take your time in the cold winter days. There is a ton going on in the beer. I love the warmth when this beer goes down my throat and how sweet the beer comes across. I love 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 Smuttynose Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at a beer called Winter Ale from Smuttynose Brewery. I do not know this brewery that well so I was looking at trying this beer out at Countryside Bar. Smuttynose Brewing was founded in 1994 by Peter Egelston in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They brew several different beer styles. I will be trying some other brews from this brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear brown color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty with a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty warm beer going down the throat. It is a nice beer for the winter months. I would say this is a marathon beer not a speed drinking beer. It is a nice Dubbel.

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

Smuttynose Winter Ale is a full-bodied, amber beer brewed with a special Trappist ale yeast. Stylistically reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey Double, it features fruity aromas and flavor, balanced by soft Crystal hops. Warming, mellow & pleasantly complex, Smuttynose Winter Ale is your perfect cold weather companion.

SMUTTYNOSE WINTER ALE CONTAINS NO SPICES

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.smuttynose.com

Twitter: @smuttynosebeer

Closing out, I did enjoy this beer and I am looking forward to checking out their other beers that they have out in my market. I love the looks to the taste of this beer. This is a great beer sitting by the fireplace with a nice cigar. I recommend you trying this beer and let me know what your thoughts. If you had some of their beers, please let me know which is the next brew I should have 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 Southern Tier 2xmas

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Southern Tier 2xmas. Southern Tier was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York by Phineas DeMink and Allen Yahn. They ship beer around the world and of course most of it is in the United States. They brew several different beer styles and putting their stamp on these classic beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon to nutmeg to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation cinnamon to nutmeg. The aftertaste is a dry slight bitter with cinnamon and nutmeg to it. It is perfect for winter and not really drinkable.

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

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a Gloggy party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2xMas Ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. Its a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter: @stbcbeer

Ending, I will be honest on this beer. I do not know how I feel about this beer. There is a ton going on in the beer. It is complex and ton of flavor. To me, it just seems like this beer wants to be sweet but then wants to be hoppy for the winter season. It is not one of my favorite but it is not a bad beer. There are fans out there for this beer. I am starting to think I do not like Christmas beers and it is not because of this beer. I love winter warmers and winter seasonals. I wanted to try this beer and it is out of my system. I will have at least a few every Christmas or winter season. This is a beer you can have pass Christmas and yes, it is still in code after Christmas. There are beer drinkers that see Christmas on beer packaging and think the beer went bad. I recommend this beer and this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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