east coast

New Beer Blog Hop City Brewery Hopbot IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going sample a beer from a little craft brewery, who is Hop City Brewery, from Canada.  This is one of their new beers and it is Hopbot IPA.  There is really no history about this craft brewery.  I do know they are from Canada and by looking at their website they are a young brewery.  The article where I found the description below says they are part of the Moosehead Brewery.  This beer is not listed on their website.  Be careful, there is a brewery in the south named Hop City too.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with constant small bubbles.  The white constant head is showing itself off on this IPA.  The aroma has a nice citrus notes to hints of sweet malt.  The taste has a nice tropical to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a tropical fruit finish like mango almost. It is a drinkable beer from Canada.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Programmed with 5 West Coast American hops, Hopbot IPA brings out waves of absurd citrus and tropical aroma and flavor. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide 70 IBUs which are perfectly balanced by a solid malt backbone.

Here is a description from article in Canada website (www.canadianbeernews.com):

The latest brew from the guys at Hop City is their boldest yet, packed with five different West Coast American hops crafted to bring out waves of absurd citrus and tropical notes with just the right notes of spice and pine. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide a serious hop kick, while a blend of Canadian Pale 2-Row, Carastan, Crystal and Black malts provide a solid balancing malt backbone.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hopcity.com

Twitter:  @hopcitybrewing

In the end, I like this beer but I would not say it is my favorite brew.  I love the five different hops they picked.  I am happy to see more craft breweries popping up in Canada.  Even though, it is under the company of Moosehead Brewery.  There is nothing wrong with that.  There are some craft breweries like that in the states.  It looks like they are allowed to do their thing unlike most craft breweries that are in this situation.  This is a great IPA and I would be interested to see if they try to make Double IPA.  I recommend you trying this brew at least once or twice.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Du Claw Brewery Neon Gypsy India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Neon Gypsy India Pale Ale, from Du Claw Brewery.  It is another beer from my beer trade.  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 beer.

It has unfiltered copper color with a semi white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell has notes of citrus and grapefruit.  The taste of this medium body is a heavy grapefruit to citrus notes with a dry hop bitter finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Unplug with this golden IPA infused with grapefruit, citrus, and notes of pine by a Vagabond blend of seven hops that continues to roam your palate long after the beer’s crisp finish.  Pop the top, it’s time to … disconnect!

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

Neon Gypsy, our 6.5% abv India Pale Ale, new for 2014! It is medium-bodied and clear with a thin white head and crisp mouthfeel. A vagabond blend of 7 different hops dominates with grapefruit and citrus flavors and aromas, accented by notes of pine, that continue to roam your palate long after its clean, hoppy finish. Disconnect, and you will find your way.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.duclaw.com

Twitter:  @duclawbrewing

Closing, there is some nice flavors in this beer.  I really enjoy drinking this beer and I wish I could get this brewery in the Michigan market.  I love the hops and the malty backbone.  It is a medium body beer that is pretty drinkable beer.  There is a heavy citrus to grapefruit notes.  I am pretty amaze with the seven different hops that they used in this beer.  If you are able to get this beer, I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Union Craft Brewing Duckpin Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Union Brewing Duckpin Pale Ale.  This brewery was founded in 2012 by Kevin Blodger, Adam Benesch and Jon Zerivitz.  They brew several different beers and they package them in cans.  Their website does not say it but it looks like some of their beers are draft only.  Let us get into this pale ale.

It has a copper color with inconstant white head on this pale ale.  The aroma has a heavy hints of citrus to tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a nice sweet malty notes that rips into a bitter citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a heavy hop bitter finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can and their website (www.unioncraftbrewing.com):

This generously hopped pale ale is a strike in your mouth!  Brewed with lots of Pacific Northwest and Southern Hemisphere hops, this beer is ten frames of big citrus and tropical fruit aroma and flavor.  A strong malt backbone rounds it out and makes this pale ale a delight for the senses.  The pins may be small but the flavor is huge!  In our town, we roll Duckpin-a true Baltimore original.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.unioncraftbrewing.com

Twitter:  @unionbrewing

Ending, I was pretty stun how good this beer was.  I did enjoyed this beer very much.  I love the hops that they picked for this brew.  This pale ale kicks off some nice citrus to tropical notes.  They builded a nice malty backbone that takes control of the hops in this brew.  It is pretty drinkable beer and is easy to drink brew.  I made a trade with my friend Matt out east.  I will be doing more trades and I will try to get more brews from this craft brewery.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog DC Brau The Public Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the third beer from my beer trade.  It is DC Brau The Public Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blogs on their beers back in 2012, you know the history of this DC craft brewery.  If you have not read those blogs, please, read them to get to know DC Brau Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

This pale ale has a clear copper color with a white constant head.  The smell has a piney to citrus notes.  The taste has a light caramel to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop finish.  It is a pretty drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer can:

“New Columbia” is the name of the proposed U.S. State that would created by the admission of the district of Columbia into the United States as the 51st State according to legislation offered starting in the 98th congress in 1983.

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

THE PUBLIC™

The Public™ Pale Ale is brewed in the classic American Pale Ale style. Assertive bitterness backed by C-60 and Vienna malts which lend notes of rich, yet semi-dry caramel. Then followed up with a nice white grapefruit and citrus aroma that begs for a follow up sip.

“The Public” is DC Brau’s most popular offering and continues to be a sought after staple by imbibers and ale hounds in the Nations Capitol.

Can Factoids:

New Beer Blog The Brewer’s Art Ozzy Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get deeper into my beer trade.  This time, the beer is from The Brewer’s Art and it is Ozzy Ale, which is a BPA (Belgian Pale Ale).  The Brewer’s Art open their doors in 1996 in Baltimore, Maryland.  They brew several different beers.  In the early part of 2014, Ozzy Osbourne, who is a famous Metal Lead Singer of Black Sabbath, issued cease and desist order against The Brewer’s Art on this beer.  Stop the use of the name and packaging.  Let us get into this BPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head.  The aroma has lemon citrus to spicy Belgian notes.  The taste has a refreshing Belgian spices with a nice lemon citrus note finish for the aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Ozzy
Our answer to the Belgian «devil» beers (i.e. Lucifer, Duvel, etc.). Both rich and dry, this beer is all too easy to consume in large quantities. Hopped with Styrian Goldings.7.25%ab

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.thebrewersart.com

Twitter:  @brewersart

In closing, I am pretty upset that they might have to change the name of this brew and packaging.  I do understand why it is the case.  I really did enjoy drinking this beer and I will have to do some more trades to get this great brew.  I love the spicy notes from the yeast and kick from the hops.  It is a pretty drinkable and lives up the classic beer styles.  Brewer’s Art did a great designing the recipe of this beer.  I highly recommend this beer and saving the can because the name might change along with the packaging.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Devil’s Backbone Company Eight Point India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from my beer trade.  It is a brewery, who is Devil’s Backbone Company, made it on my blog but during a live blogging at the Savor in DC.  I was pretty impressed with their beers so I went out for a beer hunt for more of their brews.  I found out that I had to trade for them.  We are going to sample their Eight Point India Pale Ale.  This brewery was opened in 2008 in the mountains of Roseland, Virginia. They opened another brewery in 2012 in Lexington, Virginia.  They have won several metals for their beers.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant white head on this India Pale Ale. The smell has earthy watery to citrus notes. The taste is carbonated earthy notes to slight citrus notes with a dry hop finish for the aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

A cornucopia of hop varieties imparts a floral-citrus aroma and a crisp bitterness to this medium-bodied ale. Concocted from Pilsen and a dash of Caramel malts, this burnished-golden brew has a sweet malt backbone for balance. IBUs – 60, ABV – 5.9%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dbbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @dbbrewingco

Ending, I had their Congo BPA at Savor and I never stop looking for their beers. I had a total of two of their beers so far I am not disappointed.  I love the heavy hop bite of citrus and yet it is drinkable beer in any season.  I believe the aftertaste is what makes this beer.  I normally do not like the dry hop finish but in this case I do.  It makes you comes back for more of this great liquid.  This is a great craft IPA.  It is in my top five of IPA’s that I cannot get in my market.  They did a great job design every segment of  this beer.  If you are able to get hold of this brew, I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog What Is Good Beer?

In this special beer blog, we are going to take in-depth look at beer. What is good or bad? How do we come up with this conclusion? Many of you know, I have been drinking beer for a while. I started like everyone from the Bud Lights and moved up to all the craft beers. Most craft breweries around the country know of me or know me. I started as a Metal DJ on STFU.Fm. The station shut down but before that I started to feature craft beer on the air while playing music. After the station, I started document the beers that I had in my life time. This blog was for me to go back and see if my thoughts grown. Plus, I have always wanted to be a writer. I know I am not the best on spelling and grammar, however, I believe I have improved because of this blog. I just want to say thank you for coming by reading, and putting up with my errors. This blog also made me a better beer drinker. I have learned more about each beer style. I am finding out I like all styles and it is including wheat beers. I am still writing music and sports review. I wanted to give you a little more about myself. When I thought about writing this “What Is Good Beer?” I will not point out breweries. I am not calling out anyone. Let us see if we can answer this question.

What Is Good Beer?

I know several craft beer drinkers will jump to the answer.  It is the little guys, who are Craft Breweries.  Is that because they do not make a golden lager or the companies that make it?  Craft Breweries make different beer styles asides the American Style Lager.  They will make Pale Ales to Porter to Stouts and sometimes even a German Style Lager.  Is Good Beer is more selection or “Flavor”?  “Flavor” has been toss out there.  A little style of the American Golden Lager.  German immigrants wanted to have their beers here in the States. This is where American Golden Lager came from.  Is it a ton of Ads to make the beer better?  Mass produced?  There is a brewery in the big Midwest brewery that puts their beer through hard test make sure their quality is the highest. It is make sure that their beers are up to their standards and constant. Is that a bad thing?

There are other things wrong with the mass-produced beer companies.  It is the fact they put other things into their beers.  However, it adds to their cost, they make less on their beers.  Mass produced beer market is getting smaller everyday.  They put these items into their beers to get it as close to their old country style. More and more people are drinking craft beers.  The question is their beer better or good.  Yes, it has a ton more flavor and that is the first thing anyone says.  I agree with that.  I see in every state, please, drink local.  There is nothing wrong with that.  The problem that I have is most of the newer beer companies out there are making some bad beer.  I do not mean bad in the beer will hurt you.  I mean it is just not good beer.

What about the craft breweries?

Some of the smaller breweries do not put their beers through as many tests like the bigger breweries. This leads to inconstant batches of beer. This is not a good thing when you like that beer. When you try the beer for the first time and do not like it, the quality might be the issue. Beer drinkers might be turn off and never try it again. Is this a good beer? I get it that most breweries do not have the capital to do all tests. I am not saying this is a case for all these small craft breweries.  Some little craft breweries do not even have labs to test anything.

Closing, I love craft beer and I will keep on searching for better version of my favorite beer styles.  The local guys are making beer but I am open-minded to say there are some bad or not so good beer coming from those craft breweries.  I enjoy some of the mass-produced beers but I will not go out of my way to buy them nor drink them.  Many people will not like this statement I am going to put out there.  If the beer you are drinking is good to you, it is a good beer.  We all have thoughts on beers and they are all correct.  This goes for all mass-produced beer.  If there is a bad beer on the market, the beer drinkers vote with their wallet and they will let beer companies know that it is not good.  It will disappear off the market.  Please, share your thoughts with me.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Woodchuck Summer Cider

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In this summer cider blog, we are going to sample Woodchuck Summer Cider.  If you read my earlier blog posts on Woodchuck’s ciders, you know the history of this Cider Legend.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Woodchuck.  Let us get into this Hard Cider.

It has a clear yellow to light golden color without a head on this cider.  The aroma has hint of blueberry and apple notes. The taste has blueberry notes with some apple notes.  The aftertaste has blueberry finish that hangs around for a bit.  It is extremely drinkable cider.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Summer Cider is a the perfect refreshment on a warm, summer’s day.  Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full robust flavor followed by a rich taste reminiscent of New England blueberries.  All crafted in Woodchuck tradition… Indepented to the core.

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

The sounds of the lapping lake-shores, the mountain views, and memories of fresh picked blueberries, now in a convenient six-pack. Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full, robust flavor followed by a rich summertime taste.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @woodchuckcider

In the end, as many of you know, I have been slowly getting into ciders.  The huge growth of ciders is making me open my eyes to these beverages.  Ciders are growing faster than Craft Beers. I love the blueberry notes, which is not strong, with the apple hard cider in it.  The tartness is what makes this cider along with the blueberries.  It is extremely easy to drink while being refreshing.  I highly recommend this cider.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Magic Hat Hocus Pocus

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer, which is Hocus Pocus, from Magic Hat Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of Magic Hat Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into Summer Wheat Ale.

It has a light to normal copper color with a semi white constant head.  The aroma has a citrus notes but it is pretty fated.  The taste has a light carbonation to smooth lemon notes.  The aftertaste has a hoppy dry finish.  It is a nice refreshing drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold.  Our mysterious melange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to create unique beers to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

A light, crisp ale with a malty sweetness and delightfully tart finish.

A toast to weeds, rays and summer haze. Hocus Pocus is a light, crisp ale for mowing lawns, hitting lazy fly balls and communing with nature. It is offered up as a summer sacrifice to cloudless days. Its malty sweetness finishes tart and crisp and is best appreciated with a wedge of orange.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

In the end, this is a nice summer drinkable but yet refreshing beer.  It is a nice relaxing beer to put down while doing the summer things like lawn work or pick me up baseball game.  It has some nice wheat ale notes but yet light in body to keep you drinking it through out the day.  There is some nice sweet malty notes but a nice fruit to tart finish.  It is drinkable.  I am not a huge fan of wheat ales but it is still pretty average brew.  I recommend it if you like mass-produced or wheat beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Magic Hat Elder Betty Weiss

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Magic Hat Elder Betty Weiss.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, 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 Weiss.

It has a slightly cloudy golden color with a constant white head.  The smell has berry like notes.  The taste has blueberry to blackberry notes with a fruity aftertaste finish.  It is a refreshing drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold.  Our mysterious melange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to create this unique beer to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

The wisdom of ages hangs sweet and free from the branches of Elder Betty’s elderberry tree. She is the matriarch of the summer sun and the spirit in our bare dancing feet. Listen for her on warm waves and winds, as the joy of a thousand lifetimes flows from the earth through her branches, and drink her offering with ecstatic abandon.

A Weiss-style ale with bready malt flavor balanced by a touch of hops and complemented by the tart berry flavors of elderberry.

Here is thier website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, I have been wanting to this beer for a long time.  I keep missing it because it is a seasonal ale.  I am a huge fan of their Dram Machine and #9 and I know the brewery knows this fact.  I picked up the sampler pack because I wanted some #9 and Dream Machine for the weekend.  It came with this beer, which is Elder Betty Weiss, and Hocus Pocus Wheat Ale.  The berry that is used in this Weiss ale is something between a Blueberry and Blackberry.  It is pretty different but it gives this beer a nice fruit notes.  I like that.  I am not a Weiss fan but I like fruit beers.  I do like the fact that the Weiss base part of the beer has a nice refreshing notes to it.  This is a great beer and I recommend it.  I will search out this beer once in a blue moon.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13