east coast craft beers

New Beer Blog Why And Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a hot issue in the huge growing market of craft beers, ciders, and breweries.  There has been a huge growth and it is coming out of the mass produced beer companies.  There is home brewers taking their passion of beer making to the public.  The questions that I am going to try to answer for myself are “Why And Why Not Drink Local Beers And Ciders?”

Why Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

It is pretty simple.  Money stays in the state and/or the local area.  There will be more jobs created because of these breweries.   The money keeps coming in and out of the brewery.  It works if the brewery is buying supplies from local companies and most do this practice.  Most craft breweries take homes in old and empties buildings.  They resolve these old buildings back to the way they were back in their heyday.  Of course, they put their brewery and restaurant in them.  The other things that these breweries in most cases.  They create more jobs at distributors.  They hire a marketing firm or their own people to run it.  Just like most businesses, they will put money back in the economy.

Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

I get beat up about half of the time when I bring this up to people at craft beer bars or stores in my local market.  I get it because everyone wants to support their local businesses and I am one of them.  I have to be honest with myself and others around me.  I heard this when I lived in Chicago and now here in the Michigan.  When traveling to other cities around the US, I saw these same signs and heard it from the locals.  When trying these beers or ciders at home or your local watering hole, be honest to yourself because it will save you from the painful drinking experience.  I had a pretty ugly drinking experience with a local craft brewery in Chicago.  I kept on telling myself that I love this beer and brewery.  I just finally admitted to myself that they are not that good.  I started to look at local craft brewery in a different light.  I give breweries credit when they put a good beer to the market.  I also give them credit for thinking outside the box.

In closing, I am not saying do not drink local beers and ciders.  If their beers are good, drink them and support them.  If their beers are not good, you as a beer drinker, customer, and buyer needs to send them a message.  They need to improve or go away.  This is the ugly side to the business world.  I am catching myself doing it it again.  Just be honest with yourself about these beers or ciders in your area.  There is new craft breweries opening every day and there will be more good to great beers and bad beers.  Remember, you are voting with your wallet.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Support the local good beer and let the bad go away.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Boston Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going into sample Boston Ale from Samuel Adams.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Boston Beer Company.  Let us get into this English style Pale Ale.

It has a nice bronze color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a malty to caramel notes. The taste has a nice sweet malty with a hint of caramel.  The aftertaste has a dry to slight caramel finish. It is a drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.samueladams.com):

When we opened our Boston Brewery in 1988, we created a special brew, Boston Ale, to mark the occasion.  A “stock” ale with a distinctly American character, it’s spiced with English hops, sweetened with caramel malts, fermented as an ale and aged at cool temperatures.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I am be the first to say I am not fan of Samuel Adams.  I love how this brewery hides all their other projects like Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard, and Shandy Traveler.  This brewery does make some good beers but the rest is below average to average.  Their high-end beers are awesome in most cases.  This brew I was pretty impressed.  It is a nice English pale ale.  There is a nice malty backbone with a nice hop selection.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Cream Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the Boston Beer Company.  They are known around the world as Samuel Adams Brewery.  It is their Cream Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this east coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan head on this milk stout.  The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes with a slight caramel notes.  The taste has a creamy to roasted chocolate to coffee notes with a nice slight caramel to wrap up the tasting notes.  The aftertaste has a nice burned coffee notes. It is a sipping stout.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to the tradition of English sweet stouts, our cream stout has a rich smooth silkiness that differs from its Irish dry stout cousin.  Dark roasted malts give this brew its ebony color and deep notes of chocolate, caramel and coffee for a rich roastiness and subtly sweet finish.

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

Inspired by the traditional English sweet stouts, this rich and creamy brew is full of deep roasted character, with a subtle sweetness & indulgently smooth finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

Closing, it is a nice milk stout.  I saw this one on the shelf and I thought why not.  I never had this brew and I thought it cannot bad.  This is not like all the rest of the craft stouts on the market.  I was not a big fan of it but it was not that bad of a beer.  It is an average to slightly below average brew.  At least, the price was right on for the liquid.  Some of the stouts in the market are over price and are average or below average.  This is an average beer at the right price.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Southern Tier 2x Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Southern Tier.  It is their 2x Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this east coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this milk stout.

It has a jet black color without a head on it but there was a nice tan color head.  The aroma has a rich chocolate notes with hints of a burned coffee.  The taste has a smooth and creamy chocolate notes with a burned chocolate dry bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

STYLE: Double Milk Stout
BREWED SINCE: 2011
ABV: 7.5%
FERMENTATION: : Ale yeast, two varieties of hops, three varieties of malts and lactose sugars
COLOR: Dark
EFFERVESCENCE: Light carbonation
NOSE: Roasted malts, coffee, faintly creamy
FLAVOR: Roasted malt and light sweetness, creamy with chocolatey notes and dry malt aftertaste
BITTERNESS: Medium
BODY: Medium-heavy
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 40-45ºF
GLASS: Pub glass or snifter
 AVAILABILITY: Year-round / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg
CELLARING: 40-45ºF

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

In the end, I really enjoyed this stout.  I am a pretty big fan of the milk stout over all the rest of the stouts in the stouts world.  This is a great stout and it is perfect brew for dessert or just by itself.  It will go great with a nice cigar on a fall night.  There is some nice cream chocolate notes that makes you coming back for more.  I love the burned chocolate dry bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable but it is a nice sipping brew.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Evil Twin Brewery I Love You With My Stout

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Evil Twin Brewery is the brewery being featured with their beer called I Love You With My Stout in this beer blog.    If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this import craft brewery but now brewing in the states with Stillwater.  If you have not read them, please, read them to get to know Evil Twin Brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Stout.

This imperial stout has a jet black color with a tan to light brown color head.  The aroma has a burn chocolate to coffee notes.  The taste has a creamy burn chocolate to coffee notes along with an alcohol notes. The aftertaste has a creamy chocolate finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

When I copied the famous Even More Jesus, I had to ask myself as an artist why am I doing this?  I didn’t honestly know.  It was just an instinct about beer as pure form… in a sense this stout is like a metaphor for freedom – the sum of all the beauty that surrounds me and my perfect contemporary existence.  – Jeppe Jarrit-Bjergso, Brewer and founder of Evil Twin Brewing.

Here is a description from their website (www.eviltwin.dk):

“When I copied the famous Even More Jesus, I had to ask myself as an artist, why am I doing this? I didn’t honestly know. It was just an instinct about beer as pure form… in a sense this stout is like a metaphor for freedom – the sum of all the beauty that surrounds me and my perfect contemporary existence.”
– Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, Brewer and founder of Evil Twin Brewing

Style:Imperial Stout
Brewed:Two Roads Brewing Co
ABV: 12

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.eviltwin.dk

Twitter:  @eviltwinbrewing

In the end, this stout is something else.  This is a great beer and I really enjoyed it.  I just wish it was a little cheaper.  I just do not understand why this Imperial Stout cost more than Tri-City Giant Slayer.  I loved drinking this beer but I just feel is extremely over priced.  Evil Twin Brewery makes some great beers and they need to break away from their import company because I believe they are jacking the price up.  There is two companies between the brewery and retail.  This is why the price is too high in most cases.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  It is a great beer but just the price is too high.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Harpoon Brewery UFO Pumpkin Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another Harpoon Brewery beer.  It is their UFO Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer bog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin ale.

It has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a nice creamy cinnamon to nutmeg notes with a cinnamon banana clove aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

It’s a simple story; we brew this beer because we like pumpkin (pumpkin pie, really) and thought an unfiltered pumpkin ale would be great, especially during the New England fall. Turns out it is.

Description

Imagine a pumpkin vine wound its way in a field of barley, and a brewer harvested it all to make a beer. Add Northwestern hops and a blend of spices, and you’ve got UFO Pumpkin. The malt combination provides a smooth body and slightly sweet flavor, which balances perfectly with the earthy notes derived from the pure pumpkin. And like all of our UFO beers, UFO Pumpkin is UnFiltered.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Amber and orange with a slight haze
  • Aroma: Malty with hints of pumpkin and spice
  • Mouth feel: Slightly sweet and smooth
  • Taste: A solid malt backbone highlighting German Vienna and Munich malts with a nice dose of pumpkin and spice, reminiscent of pumpkin pie
  • Finish: Easy drinking with a lingering pumpkin aftertaste on the back of the tongue

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

In the end, I was looking to try this beer for many seasons when they made it to the Chicago market.  It is average beer.  There is better pumpkin ales on the market.  I will say this beer is so much better than Blue Moon Pumpkin and Brooklyn Pumpkin Ale.  I did enjoy this beer but I just feel it could be a lot better.  I will try it again next season.  I recommend it at least once.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Harpoon Brewery Octoberfest (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Harpoon Brewery and the beer is their Octoberfest.  This is the first time this beer is being featured on this blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this 1980’s craft brewery.  Let us get into this Octoberfest.

It has a clear amber color with a white constant head.    The aroma has a sweet malty to nutty notes. The taste has a slight sweet malty to nutty notes with a dry malty finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This rich, full-bodied, malty beer – perfectly balanced with a generous dose of hops – calls out for lederhosen, dirndls, and oompah music!

Roll out the barrels!

And keep them coming, because this is going to be one festive, malty fall.  Come to the brewery and celebrate Octoberfest with us!  Prosit!

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

The original German Oktoberfest was brewed with one celebratory festival in mind. Harpoon Octoberfest is brewed with TWO festivals in mind; our Octoberfests at our breweries in Boston, MA and Windsor, VT. We love the style and it’s a great beer for the fall season. In true Octoberfest tradition, we threw our first festival here at the brewery in 1990. There were a couple thousand people here celebrating amidst the brewing tanks. We can’t quite fit everyone in the actual brewery now – last year nearly 18,000 revelers attended our Boston Octoberfest and nearly 7,000 joined us at our brewery in Vermont the following weekend. Prost!

Description

Harpoon Octoberfest is a malty tribute to fall, balanced by a gentle hop bitterness. In keeping with tradition, it is a Marzen-style beer, brewed with abundant quantities of Munich, Chocolate, and Pale malts. Those malts provide a solid, full body and create the beer’s deep color. It is a rich, flavorful beer.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: garnet-red color with a firm, creamy head.
  • Aroma: hop aroma, (not overpowering but present)
  • Mouth feel: full-bodied, smooth, and malty
  • Taste: gentle bitterness to balance any residual sweetness
  • Finish: soft and malty with a mild bitterness

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

Closing, I like this beer.  This beer gives you something different then the rest of the Oktoberfest on the market.  Most Oktoberfest are very sweet with a heavy caramel notes. There is some with a heavy malty notes.  This one is like this year’s Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest.  This beer is true to the classic beer style.  I love how it echoes the fall season which it should.  I will be picking up some more bottles before the end of the season.  I wish I could get this in cans.  I would to take this out to cook outs or tailgating.  This is a great beer and I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another pumpkin beer, which is Pumpkinhead Ale, from Shipyard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head on this pumpkin beer.  The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes but turns to water notes with a cinnamon to slight pumpkin finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:  @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I loved their Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  I wanted to try the normal seasonal in their everyday six pack line of the fall from this brewery.  I have been pretty curious on this craft brewery.  I do not know this brewery because most of their packaging does not help sell their beers.  It is pretty boring but most cases that means the beer is really good.  I have to say in this case with this Pumpkinhead Ale it is pretty average.  I was pretty disappointed and I have to say this is the weakest fall and pumpkin beer this season.  I will be searching out for their other beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer (Cider) Blog Woodchuck Fall Harvest Hard Cider (2014)

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In this fall seasonal cider blog, we are going to get into one of two fall seasonals from Woodchuck Hard Cider.  This is their everyday seasonal cider.  It is apple pie cider.  If you read earlier beer blog posts about their ciders, you know the history of this cider makers.  If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know Woodchuck.  Let us get into this fall cider.

It has a clear dark golden color without a head.  The smell has an apple pie notes of cinnamon and apple.  The taste a cinnamon up front sweetest notes and finish like an apple pie aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the cider bottle:

The fall harvest brings farmers and communities together to celebrate another year of fruitful labor.  It is a time of shorter days, cooler nights, and great apples.  This cider has a complex and elegant character full of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg balanced out with a hint of american white oak.  A true taste of the season.

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

Fall Harvest

The fall harvest brings farmers and communities together to celebrate another year of fruitful labor, It is a time of shorter days, cooler night, and great apples. This cider has a complex and elegant character full of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg balanced out with a hint of American White Oak. A true taste of the season.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @woodchuckcider

In the end, I have to say this cider makers made me a fan of ciders.  I am on my fall seasonal kick and I like to start trying them early to get as many in as I can.  I know a few of these fall seasonals disappear from the market quickly.  I know this will not but it is nice to get it in early.  I know towards end of the season.   I will be burned out on them but I highly doubt it.  I say that every year.  There is a nice complex tasting notes going on in this cider.  It is not another boring hard cider.  They put some thought into it for this type of season.  I love the fact that it does taste like liquid apple pie.  I highly recommend this cider.  It is a nice way to kick off the fall season and wrap it before the winter season.  Go get some!  Drink it  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Stout (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another fall beer in this season of 2014.  The next is Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this  New York craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Southern Tier Brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin stout.

This fall seasonal has a jet black color with an off white color head.  The smell is pretty complex.  The aroma has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes with an almost chocolate ginger bread notes. The taste has a chocolate cinnamon to ginger bread notes with a chocolate nutmeg dry slight bitter finish for aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Warlock is brewed to enchant your palate on its own and also to counterpoint our imperial ale, Pumking.  Make your own black magic by carefully pouring this imperial stout into a goblet.

Master Of The Underworld

Dark and mysterious, the Blackwater Series is serious about high gravity.  Reanimate your senses with Warlock’s huge roasted malt character, moderate carbonation and spicy pumpkin pie aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this brew.  I am not a fan at all of their Pumking.  I just feel it is too full of cinnamon and nutmeg.  There is really no balance with that pumpkin beer.  This stout part has kind of overpower the rest of the beer.  It has a little bit more of a balance than Pumking.  I love the combine of the chocolate and cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  This is a great beer and this fall seasonal beer releases have been great this year.  This one is at the top of the list.  This is a great beer and I might have another bottle before the end of the season.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13