east coast

New Beer Blog Brooklyn Brewery Blast Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew that I have been searching for the last few years.  I even tried to trade with a friend on the east coast.  He could not find it last year.  I believe he did not want to share.  I am talking about Brooklyn Blast Ale, which is Double IPA.  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 Brooklyn Brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a slightly cloudy copper color with a white head on this double IPA. The smell has a citrus notes that shines strong in this brew. The taste has a strong malty backbone that let the citrus notes shine bright in this ale.  The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We brew our beer in New York, about halfway between the hop fields of the Pacific Northwest and the hop fields of Kent, England.  So in The rambuncious IPA we call BLAST! we use earthly English hops to build the foundation and bright citrusy American hops to bring the noise.  British and German malts brace up a beer that’s beautifully hoppy, strangely quaffable and oddly compelling.  You won’t even know what hit you.

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

We brew our beer in New York, about halfway between the hop fields of the Pacific Northwest and the hop fields of Kent, England. So we use earthy English hops to build the foundation and bright citrusy American hops to bring the noise in the rambunctious IPA we call BLAST! British Maris Otter and German Pilsner malts lends solidity, balance and bready flavors to brace up a beer that’s beautifully hoppy, strangely quaffable and oddly compelling. Minerally hop bitterness is followed by a shock wave of flavor and aroma. You won’t even know what hit you.

Style: Double IPA
Malts: Scottish Floor-malted Maris Otter, German Pilsner Malt
Hops: Willamette, Magnum, Cascade, Fuggle, Aurora, Zythos, Bravo, Simcoe, Sorachi Ace, Amarillo, Experiment 6300
Alcohol by Volume: 8.4%
IBUs: 53
Original Gravity: 18.8° Plato
Calories: 251 (per 12oz)
Food Pairings: Very spicy Thai dishes, fiery Indian vindaloos, Mexican dishes featuring habañero chilies, Jamaican jerk chicken, and robust cheddars.
Availability: Year-round
Format: 15.5 gal kegs; 5.2 gal kegs; 24/12oz bottles

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing,  I am not a huge fan of Brooklyn Brewery but I respect them from where they were and what they have done so far.  They brew more of the traditional beer styles.  It is fine.  I love their Pilsner and Brown ale in their everyday line up.  I was pretty happy to see Blast! as an everyday beer.  It is a smart move with the growth of IPA’s.  I love it. There is a nice balance and does not drink like a double IPA.  This is what makes beer pretty special.  This is one of their best beers asides their chocolate stout.  I highly recommend.  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 Ommegang Games Of Thrones Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the next installment of the Games Of Thrones from Ommegang Brewery.  It is Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale.  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 this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Dubbel ale.

It has a cloudy amber color with a constant tan color head. The smell has a sweet malty to candy notes. The taste has a sweet malty to candy notes. The aftertaste has a sweet malty to slight alcohol finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Tasting Notes

Valar Morghulis possesses a deep chestnut brown color with a persistent and creamy tan head. Rich aromas of caramel, toffee, ripe fruits and burnt sugar, with a hint of cloves. The taste is delicately balanced with rich malty sweetness, caramel and just enough bitterness to balance out its malty backbone. A surprisingly dry finish is light on the tongue, which belies the initial aroma.

  • Malt: Our carefully crafted mixture of specialty malts.
  • Sugar: Dark Candi
  • Hops: Apollo, Hallertau Spalt
  • Spices: None
  • ABV: 8.0%
  • Available on draft and in 750ml bottles.

Pair with savory dishes, roasted lamb or beef, marinated roasts and grilled venison. Strong cheeses such as Stilton, Gorgonzola and smoked cheddar will match well against the malty body.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ommegang.com

Twitter:  @breweryommegang

In the end, I always get excited when these beers are released from Ommegang.  I love their beers but there are times when they put one out a beer that I just feel it is not worth the price.  The beer is good but not worth the price.  Overall, they make some killer beers.  This brew is really good and it will sell because of the Games Of Thrones.  It is kind like their Abbey. I just feel like it is missing something. It is a little different brew.  If you can find it, 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 Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA

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We are going to into a special brew from Southern Tier Brewery in this beer blog.  It is their Oak Aged Imperial India Pale Ale Unearthly.  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 IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has an earthly to piney notes along with oak notes. The taste has a vanilla, sweet malty, and earthy hop notes. The aftertaste has a sweet malty finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration.

Oak Aged & Unearthly Union

Here, we take our unparalleled Unearthly IPA and age it with oak for a harmonious fusion of rich malts, grassy hops, and savory oak.  Oak Aged Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the focus of nature to produce a divine liquid.  pour a taste of this oak aged brew into a fluted glass.  Smell the enchanting aromas of hops as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul.  To underestimate Oak Aged Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely.

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

At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with our most aggressive offering yet. Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

In the end, I saw this beer on the shelf and I did not know how I felt towards it at first.  India Pale Ale in the Oak barrel is something that I did not think it would work very well.  I know that most craft breweries do have some standards at least the ones that have been in business for ten years plus.  There is some younger craft breweries that do not have standards.  This is not a good thing for the craft beer.  It has a nice balance from Oaked age and hop bitter notes. I love it.  This beer was well designed and thoughtfully put together. I was wrong on IPA in barrel. It did work. I 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 Yuengling Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew, which is the Porter, from Yuengling Brewery.  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 this Oldest Brewery in the United States.  Let us get into this porter.

It has a jet black color with tan color head. There is not any aroma in this porter. It is pretty faded and I cannot pick up the notes. The taste has a nice balance of chocolate to roasted malt with a nice slight alcohol burn for the aftertaste. There is a little chocolate notes within aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable porter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.yuengling.com

Twitter:  @yuengling_Beer

Closing, I just wish this brewery would make it to Michigan.  I happy to say that I can drive 60 miles south and pick up cases in Ohio.  I have not had their porter in a long time so I was happy to see it on the shelf.  I love it. This is a nice classic English style porter.  There is a nice balance in this porter.  I really enjoyed this beer.  What I love about this beer, it is really drinkable for the beer style.  I highly recommend this porter.  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 Prelude Special Ale (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another seasonal from Shipyard Brewery.  It is their Prelude Special Ale.  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 Shipyard Brewery.  Let us get into this winter warmer.

It has a clear dark ruby-red color with constant small bubbles feeding a constant white head. The smell has a sweet burned malty to light rum liquor notes. There is some alcohol notes in the aroma.  The taste has a sweet burned malty with a burn alcohol aftertaste. This beer will warm you up in the winter. It is a sipping winter ale.

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

Prelude Special Ale

 “This seasonal specialty is the perfect winter warmer.”

Prelude is a rich, nutty, full-bodied English ale with an inviting amber hue and hoppy finish.

First Brewed:  December 1993

Available:  November – December

Malt Style:  2-Row British Pale Ale, Crystal, Chocolate, Wheat

Yeast:  Top-Fermenting English

Hops:  Cascade, Tettnang, Fuggles

Color:  Deep Amber

IBUs:  47

OG:  1.070

ABV:  6.7%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:  @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I have seen this brew a few times on the shelf.   The question that I had every time is should I pick up this time?  I do not know whyI kept on walking away from it.  Is it the packaging? Or is it lack of information on the packaging?  Either way, I finally picked up this beer and I am glad I did.  I have been wanting to try it.   I kind of like this brew. This is a hidden gem for us in the Midwest. It is kind of unknown brew here. There is some nice balance but yet a nice complex notes.  I love the alcohol notes.   This is a nice beer to keep you warm in the winter months.  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