east coast craft beers

New Beer Blog Heavy Sea Winter Bock

When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to get into another brew from Heavy Sea Brewery. The beer is their winter seasonal and it is called Winter Bock. If you read my earlier blog on their flagship beer, 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 bock has a dark amber color. There is a little earthy to a bit nutty malty smell. The taste has a ton going on the beer. It has a nutty, earthly, and malty taste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With a full ruby hue, rich malty character, and earthy hop aroma. Winter Storm is an original– an Imperial ESB for the winter months. 7.5% Alc./Vol.

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

Winter Storm

Pyrate Fleet Fleet

Winter Storm may be Hugh’s favorite beer in the Heavy Seas catalogue. Our winter ale draws on hops from the West Coast and the UK for its pronounced bitterness. A mix of pale and darker malts give it its tawny color and its bigger body. True to the style, Winter Storm’s aroma is nutty malts and earthy hops. This is a perfect fall beer, especially because of its warming qualities.

BEER DETAILS

Style: Imperial Extra Special Bitter (ESB)

ABV: 7.5%

IBUs: 50

Availability: October-December

Hops: Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade, Centennial

Malts: 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt, Chocolate Malt

SUGGESTIONS

Food Pairings: Brie or Havarti cheese, pan-seared steak, barbecued pork

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.hsbeer.com

Twitter: @heavyseasbeer

Closing, this beer is awesome and it got me in trouble, which I am still recovering from two days later. This Winter Storm is extremely drinkable for being 7.5% ABV. There is a ton going on this beer. I really enjoyed this beer and I wished I could have brought some back from Michigan. I am happy to see them around Michigan stores but I wish they were in my Chicago liquor stores. At least, they are getting closer and it is reason to go back to Michigan. This is what ESB should taste like not what I have been drinking here in the Chicago area or wherever. I recommend you trying this beer at least once. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Autumnation

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Sixpoint Brewery. This beer is their fall seasonal called Autumnation. If you read my earlier blog on their Apollo, you are know the history on this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that post. Let us get into the beer.

This fall seasonal has a clear copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is a slight piney to it. There is no smell to this beer. The taste is a sweet carbonation to earthly with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seem in one autumnal face. One of the most special times of the year for craft brewers is the hop harvest. The Autumnation celebrates this season by harnessing pumpkin and fresh “wet hops” chosen by our fans.

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

Autumnation

Autumn

Our Autumnal brew is made with subtle pumpkin and spice, but its prominent feature is the fresh harvested “wet-hops” that are added. New hop strain and selection every year. Autumnation 2012 features Citra Hops.

ABV 6.7%

IBU 74

SRM 15

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sixpoint.com

Twitter: @sixpoint

In closing, I really enjoyed the change of pace that this beer gave me to the rest of the fall beers on the market. Do not give me wrong, I love my fair share of pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers. I love the hoppy taste and yet the beer pulled out some malty taste. I have not been disappointed with any of the beers that Sixpoint has put out on the market. I really need to make it to Brooklyn to check out the brewery. If you have yet check out their beers but read all my post, go get some and stop reading for a bit. You will not be disappointed with this brewery that is taking the traditional beer styles and put a twist on them in a good way. This beer is no different. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Lager Vs Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Battle of Evermore, we are going to do something different. I am taking two well-known craft lagers and putting them up against each other. They are Samuel Adams Boston Lager, which is the flagship of the Boston Beer Company, and Brooklyn Lager, which is the flagship of the Brooklyn Brewery. The reason why this challenge has come to head is the fact when both breweries started out they contracted their beers out to one brewery to keep up with demand. Plus, it is Boston against New York City. Both cities hate each other from football, hockey, baseball, and I believe basketball. Both breweries were there from the beginning of the craft beer world. I do not need to go over the history of these two breweries because I have done blogs on both breweries. Let the fight begin!

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Lager has a slightly hazel copper color without a head on the beer. It has a sweet malty to a little caramel smell to the beer. It has a slight hoppy to malty taste with a nice crisp finish for the aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Amber gold, with a malty body and a floral hop character. Brooklyn Lager is a revival of Brooklyn’s pre-Prohibition all malt lagers. This is the brewery’s first and best-selling brand. Brooklyn Lager is brewed only with malted barley, hops, water and yeast.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Samuel Adams Boston Lager has a clear copper color without a head on the beer. There is really no smell to this beer. This lager is sweet malty carbonation to it with crisp malty aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Our original beer, brewed with Bavarian Noble hops. The balance of malty sweetness and hop spiciness in this brew sets the standard for all Samuel Adams beers.

What is the same between these beers?

Both beers are craft beers and are the flagship beers to each respected brewery. They are both pretty malty tasting lagers.

What is the differences between these beers?

Brooklyn lager is a little bit more hopper than Boston Lager and has a clean crisp aftertaste. Boston Lager is a little bit more maltier and has a malty crisp aftertaste that last longer than the Brooklyn Lager.

The end, respect to both breweries, they both make some good beers. Some of their beers are average to below average while some are above average. You will get that from many breweries. There are a very few that make all their beers really good. Brooklyn Lager has a little bit more of a hoppy feel but yet enough of malty taste to give the best of both worlds. Boston Lager is a little bit more maliter. I have to say Brooklyn Lager is better. Brooklyn is going with the old school taste that was going on in American before Prohibition. Boston Lager is more American Craft Lager with a classic twisted. I just feel Boston Lager is dying a fast death and needs to put down. To me, Brooklyn Lager wins this battle and I wish more people knew about this great beer. This is my thought pattern and I would like to hear your thought. Go get some Brooklyn Lager! Raise your glass to a beer that should be classic American lager before and after Prohibition era. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

In this fall beer blog, the beer that is being feature is Flying Dog Dogtoberfest. If you read my earlier blog on their Cherry Sour Ale, you know a little something about this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This fall beer has a nice clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a nice malty. The taste is a smooth malty without an aftertaste. This beer is a beer drinker malty delight or dream. It extremely drinkable.

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

alcohol by volume: 5.6%

availability: Fall release

hop bittnerness: 30 IBU

Specialty Malts: Light Munich, Munich 90, Munich 100, Vienna

hops: German Perle, Hallertau

yeast: Proprietary lager strain

Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients, it will cut spice while pulling out sweetness. Flavor notes: Full-bodied caramel sweet with a light toasted and crisp, clean finish Pairs with: Mexican and Pepper Jack cheeses; sweet Asian sauces; spiced desserts; German foods

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter: @flyingdog

Closing out, I really love this beer. There are three breweries that hit home runs on the fall seasonals and they are Flying Dog, Milwaukee Brewing Oktoberfest, and Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. This beer gives you the nice malty from a traditional German style lager. It has a nice balance but not boring like most fall seasonals. I have to say this fall season has been very disappointing and I hoping winter seasonals are not the same way. I hate fall and winter because the motorcycle is up for the winter. The beer normally gets me through that problem. This year fall has been very bad. I am glad to see a few breweries are stepping up to the plate and Flying Dog Dogtoberfest was one of them. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Dogfish Punkin Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another pumpkin ale, which is Dogfish Punkin Ale. This is Dogfish most poplar seasonal in their portfolio and every year they increase how much they will make. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know a little something about this brewery. If you have not please go back and read the first part of it. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden to a copper head without a head on the beer. The beer drinker can smell the cinnamon, nutmeg, a very little pumpkin, and a little brown sugar. The taste is brown sugar and pumpkin to nutmeg with a nice cinnamon aftertaste to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer for this beer style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg 7% Alc. by Vol.

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

A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.

Punkin Ale is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest. Yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business!

Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale, with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself, drop by and visit us.

Since its debut, we’ve brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around Sept. 1 each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it’s usually gone by Thanksgiving.

Every Beer Has A Story… here’s Punkin Ale

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.dogfish.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

In closing, this beer is one of their popular seasonal and beer for Dogfish. I just feel over the years that I am liking this beer less and less. The beer has not changed but there are other pumpkin beers on the market that are better. I just feel this beer is not very well balance and has too much cinnamon and nutmeg in it while there is barely any pumpkin taste. Please go try this beer and let me know what your thoughts on it. There are a ton of pumpkin beers on the market, if I was you I would becareful on what you buy. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Yuengling Black & Tan

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another beer from Yuengling and the beer is their Original Black & Tan. If you read my earlier blog on their Flagship Lager, you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery. If you did not, please, go back and read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a black color without a head on it. This Black & Tan does not really have a smell to the beer. The taste of this Yuengling Beer is of sweet malty chocolate with a nice dry malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable and that will get many beer drinkers in trouble.

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

Black & Tan Combines our popular Dark Brewed Porter with Premium Beer. Rich and dark in color, it has a well-balanced flavor, with hints of caramel and coffee from the dark roasted malt that finishes smooth and satisfying.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.yuengling.com

Twitter: @yuengling_beer

Closing out, I have been looking forward to trying this beer. I just want to thank my boss for bring me a bottle. I just wished he would have saved me a bottle of their porter. I cannot complain to only getting one out of two of the beers. If you read my earlier one on their Lager, you know I enjoy drinking it. This Black and Tan is the best on the market and it is not the crap that Mississippi Mud puts out. I will never buy that beer again after trying this beer. The only problem I have is the fact that are not available in the Chicago market. This is a great beer with good taste and a nice balance. If you live in the market or know someone that does, go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Ommegang Brewery Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale

In this Fall Beer blog, we are going to get into Ommegang Brewery from Coopertown, NY. This is their first seasonal beer and it is called Scythe and Sickle Harvest Ale. Ommegang Brewery is under the Duvel Moortgat Brewery that brews beer in an old farmhouse and hop field in upstate New York. It was founded in 1997 and they brew several different Belgian style beer with an American twist. Let us get into this great beer.

Ommegang finally came out with a seasonal and they did a pretty good job with it. Scythe & Suckle is a nice dark golden color with a constant white head. There is a ton of carbonation and there is yeast in this bottle so be careful pouring it out in the glass. This beer has the malty smell but the Ommegang smell from their yeast. The taste of the beer is sweet, malty, and unique. There is a nice spicy malty aftertaste. This beer is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Scythe and Sickle is a seasonal brew that celebrates the richness of the grain harvest. Brewed with Barley, Wheat, Oats and – in a nod to traditional upstate New York Grains – Rye, this fine ale is malty, lightly hopped, and creamy n the palate. The flavors of the grains and the earth shine through so you can enjoy the refreshment of the season and joy of fine brewing.

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

Scythe and Sickle is Ommegang’s foray into honoring the harvest season. Using barley, oats, wheat, and rye, we’ve brought the mood of fall to life with vibrant and flavorful passion.

Farming is about precision, timing and care. At Ommegang we place the same emphasis a farmer has for his crops into the creation of our beers. Scythe and Sickle is a testament to the craft and care of farming, from which our farmstead-brewed beers benefit greatly.

Brewed with balance in mind, Scythe & Sickle reveals a smooth and creamy mouthfeel with light toastiness and gentle sweetness. Bright amber in color from the mixed malts, the beer is balanced with delicate hopping to counter rather than overpower the malt profile.

5.8% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.ommegang.com

Twitter: @breweryommegang

Closing out the beer tab, I am a huge fan of this brewery. I knew they were looking to do a seasonal and I was pretty nervous to try it. Most American craft breweries feel they have to make a seaonal beers. I did not know how all the grains being used in this beer would go over with my drinking experience. I will be really honest. I did not like this beer at first, however, I have grown to love this beer. It has a ton of flavor, balance, and pretty drinkable. I highly recommend this beer and the rest of their beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are sample out last beer from this Samuel Adams Fall pack. We are going to get into one of my favorite beer styles in the Fall Season. Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is going to be feature in this beer blog. If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery. Samuel Adams are pretty well-known and I know you about this brewery before you reading this beer blog. If you do not, please, go back to one of the earlier blogs and read the first part of it. Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is available in their Fall Sampler Pack. It has a dark amber color without a head on the beer. It has a cinnamon to nutmeg and a little pumpkin. This pumpkin taste like a cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. This is not a well balance beer. There is a point in the beer drinking experience that the drinker will get a little water hint. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Early New England colonists were nothing if not resourceful. Lacking traditional malts, they added pumpkin to their brews, & the first pumpkin ales were born. This modern adaptation uses 4 different malts, and over 17 lbs of real pumpkin per barrel, for a rich depth of flavor & unmistakable character. Cheers! Jim Koch

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

A perennial favorite at our brewery Halloween party, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is brewed with over 17 pounds of real pumpkin per barrel, adding a full body and sweetness to this dark reddish amber brew. Deep roasted malts, including a smoked malt, lend a distinct roasted character while traditional pumpkin pie spices give the beer a subtle spice note.

Pumpkin Ale is one of the oldest beer styles that originated in America. Early colonists lacked some of the classic beer ingredients, so in place of malt other fermentable sugars such as molasses or pumpkin were used. Pumpkin beers were not as popular at first since the pumpkin was used for its sugar alone rather than its flavor. More recently, pumpkins have been used in addition to malt and other spices to create flavorful pumpkin ales. For our take on the style we’ve used a large portion of real pumpkin to give it a natural richness of flavor.

To brew our version of this fall favorite, we used a significant portion of real pumpkin. The pumpkin is added to the mash to meld with the malt flavors, bringing out its true flavor in the final brew. In addition to our classic two-row pale malt and Caramel 60, we’ve added Special B and Smoked Malt for a deep roasted and nutty character that perfectly complements the pumpkin. Once in the kettle we also add clove and the classic pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg. The spices subtly enhance the character of the pumpkin and malt without overpowering it.

Flavor: Smooth and roasty, real pumpkin adds to a full body and sweetness while deep roasted malts lend a toasty finish to this subtly spiced brew.
Color: Dark reddish amber, 33 SRM
Original Gravity: 15° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.7%ABV – 4.4%ABW
Calories/12oz.: 199
IBUs: 14
Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, Special B, and smoked malt
Hop Varieties: East Kent Goldings and English Fuggles
Special Ingredients: real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice
Yeast Strain:Samuel Adams ale yeast
First Brewed: 2010
Availability: Seasonal (Sept. – Oct.) and in the Harvest Collection Variety pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

Closing, this pumpkin ale is one of the best one in the market. I am pretty stun since it is coming from Boston Beer Company. They found the classic American style and did it up right. It has a nice balance unlike most pumpkin ales in the market. Most Pumpkins ales have too much cinnaon or nutmeg in the beer. This beer is also in six pack bottles this year. I recomment this beer and you can take your time with it. This is because most of the smaller batches will be gone first. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blot Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen

In this next beer blog, we are going to take another look at a beer from the Samuel Adams Fall Sampler Pack. The beer is their Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know about this brewery. Samuel Adams is pretty well know so you might already know them before reading this blog. If you do not know this brewery, please, go back and read the first part of that blog. Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen is only available in their Fall Sampler. It has an amber color without a head on the beer. It has a malty and yeast smell. It has malty wheaty taste with a malty aftertaste. This Dunkelweizen is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This unflitred dark wheat beer is brewed with a traditional Bavarian yeast that createsa wide spectrum of flavors and aromas from clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. This is complemented by malted wheat for a crisp finish. Cheers! Jim Koch

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

Samuel Adams® Dunkelweizen,literally translated as “dark wheat” beer, is a darker version of the traditional Bavarian wheat beers dating back to the 15^th century. Dark amber-brown in color, this brew is coarse filtered, leaving a notable haze and offering a dense, white rocky head.

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen is brewed with authentic Bavarian wheat beer yeast, which imparts a wide spectrum of flavors and aromas from spicy clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. This traditional yeast is rarely used by American brewers so the flavors it creates are often unfamiliar, even to craft beer drinkers. The yeast character is complemented by the taste of the malted wheat that adds a cereal note. The result is a beer that, although quite complex and flavorful, is medium in body, with a crisp finish.

Dunkelweizen is a variation on the “weizen” or wheat style that originated in Bavaria around the 15^th century. Both hefeweizens and dunkelweizens are often staples of Southern German breweries’ repertoires. Dunkel simply refers to the darkness of the beer derived from the malt. Often smooth and rich with complex malt flavors, dunkelweizens still carry the distinct flavors imparted from the yeast that are common in traditional southern German wheat beers. This array of flavors ranges from clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. The crisp cereal note of the wheat remains making it a flavorful and refreshing beer.

In creating Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, we were inspired by the long history of this classic German style that’s difficult to find in the US today. Our version of the style is authentic to the Bavarian tradition with its combination of slight tartness from the wheat and full flavor from its dark malts as well as the notable yeast character. The traditional Bavarian yeast imparts a wide spectrum of flavors that make the beer unique.

Flavor: Caramel and toasted malt notes integrated with the traditional German weizen beer fermentation aromas of clove and banana.
Color: Dark amber brown, 20 SRM
Original Gravity: 12.6° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.1%ABV – 4.0%ABW
Calories/12 oz.: 168
IBUs: 13
Malt Varieties:Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, malted wheat, Carawheat® malt, and Carafa® malt
*Carafa® and Carawheat® are registered trademarks of Weyermann Malt, Bamburg, Germany
Hop Variety: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops
Yeast Strain: W-68 ale yeast
Availability: Seasonal (Aug. – Oct) in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack
First Brewed: 2009

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

In closing, as you know I am not a huge fan of wheat beers but I love the German style. I was looking forward to trying this beer since it was a Dunkelweizen. I have to say I was kind of disappointed. I am learning pretty quickly that American Craft Breweries can not make a good German Style Hefeweizen nor Dunkelweizen. It is not a really bad beer but I just did not enjoy drinking it. I am not going to love everything that Boston Beer Company, Dogfish Brewery or any other brewery. If you love wheat beer, please, go try this beer. I have a feeling if you love this style. I believe you will love it. Please, let me know. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Samuel Adams Octoberfest Lager

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Samuel Adams and the beer is their Fall Seasonal Samuel Adams Octoberfest Lager. If you read my earlier blog, you know something about this brewery. If you did not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog. Samuel Adams is pretty well known and you might have known them before this beer blog. Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest is their Fall Seasonal and is available in six pack, twelve pack, fall sampler pack. It has amber color without a head on the beer. It has a sweet malty smell to the beer. The taste of this Octoberfest Lager is a malt beer drinkers heaven. It has a sweet malty aftertaste. It is kind of a drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

In 1810, munich celebrated the wedding of their Crown Prince with a special beer. After 16 days the party ended, but the tradition continues. Our version of the calssic Oktoberfest lager blends 5 roasted malts for a rich, hearty flavor that’s perfect of the season, or whatever you’re celebrating. Jim Koch

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

Brewed with five varieties of malted barley for a big, rich flavor.

The first thing you notice when pouring a glass of this seasonal beer is the color. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest has a rich, deep reddish amber hue which itself is reflective of the season. Samuel Adams Octoberfest masterfully blends together five roasts of malt to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. The malt is complimented by the elegant bitterness imparted by the Bavarian Noble hops. Samuel Adams Octoberfest provides a wonderful transition from the lighter beers of summer to the heartier brews of winter.

The märzen style gets its name from the month in which it was traditionally brewed. Before refrigeration March was the last month that beers could be put down for the lagering, or cold storage process. The beers would age during the summer months and be enjoyed around the time of the fall harvest.

This beer style became a staple beer of the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich. The first celebration was originally held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the Crown Prince of Bavaria. The village green on which it was first held is now a huge fairground known as the Theresienwiese, after the royal bride. The Oktoberfest tradition has become a world renowned celebration of beer, running for sixteen heady days every autumn in Munich, Germany.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest pays homage to the Bavarian tradition by using generous portions of five varieties of malted barley to create a rich, toffee sweetness that is the signature flavor of this popular style.

Flavor: Smooth with a deep malt complexity. Lightly hopped for a smooth sweet finish.

Color: Deep red amber, 20 SRM Original Gravity: 13.6° Plato

Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.3%ABV – 4.1%ABW

Calories/12 oz.: 187

IBUs: 15

Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Munich-10, and Caramel 60

Hop Varieties: Tettnang Tettnanger and Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops

Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast

Availability: Seasonal (August – October)

First Brewed: 1989

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @sameuladamsbeer

Closing, at one time, this was one of the best Octoberfest. Over time other breweries started to brew their verision and I just feel this beer did not change. It just not as good as I once thought it was. It is a malty beer drinker heaven but there are better ones. However, I try to have one Samuel Adams Octoberfest when it is season, it is still a pretty drinkable beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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