In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new project called Stochasticity Project from Stone Brewery. It is their Grapefruit Slam IPA. There will be a series of different beers released under this name. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this big beer.
It has a clear copper color with a nice white head on this IPA. The aroma has a heavy grapefruit and hints of citrus notes. The taste of this medium body beer is a heavy grapefruit notes. The aftertaste is a dry bitter hop finish that will keep you drinking more of this brew. This India Pale Ale is a sipping beer.
Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:
Stochasticity
There is no happenstance or coincidence. Dumb luck is a fallacy and randomness a commonly accepted mistruth. Much of what seemingly falls into place and seems so natural is a result of Stochasticity, a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredicatable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.
Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA
India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice and citrus. In some cases, those botanincals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennials hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project, a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is a once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.
Here is a description from their website (www.stochasticity.com):
Stochasticity™ Project
Grapefruit Slam IPA
STYLE: Double IPA ABV: 8.2% IBUs: 95DescriptionIndia pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice, and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project–a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.stochasticity.com
Twitter: @STCHPRJCT
Closing, this beer was something else and that is all in a very good way. I love the heavy aroma and taste of grapefruit. I just found it funny that I hate the taste and smell of real grapefruit. This is a pretty big beer and the beer drinker should not take this brew lightly. It is a sipping brew, however, it is very nice to drink in any part of the year. I wish this beer was all year long and was put in 12oz bottles. I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles. At least, it came with a good price. Most 22oz bottles are overpriced and that is my thought. I get it. These beers cost a little more than most beers to make. I recommend you trying this beer. I will be looking for one more bottle befoe they disappear. Plus, the next beer when it is released to the public. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog New Belgium Trippel Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to sample Trippel Ale from New Belgium Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their their Fall Seasonal, which is Pumpkick Ale, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read the beer blog posts to get to know this 100% employee owned craft brewery. Let us get into their Trippel Ale.
This Trippel Ale has a clear golden color with a nice white constant head. The aroma has a heavy coriander and other spicy notes. The taste has a Belgium spices and heavy coriander notes. The coriander lives and hangs around a bit in the aftertaste. This Trippel Ale is kind of drinkable but it is more of a sipping ale.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
A Belgian yeast strain, a trace of coriander, and a blast of hops is the triple-threat this Belgian style ale struts out each time you reach for our bottles conditioned Trippel.
Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):
Our Trippel Belgian Style Ale (pronounced triple) opens with a bold blast of hops that slowly gives way to the fruity esters implied by our Belgian yeast strain. In the Belgian tradition of brewing singles, doubles and triples, Trippel is the strongest with the longest fermentation. Remarkably smooth and complex, our bottle-conditioned Trippel is spiced with a trace of coriander.
Here is ther website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.newbelgium.com
Twitter: @newbelgium
Closing, New Belgium has made several Belgium beer styles ales. This brew is not different than the rest of the beers in this beer style. There is not many Trippel Ales brewed with coriandor. I am not a fan of this brew because of the coriandor in it. However, this is a good beer and New Belgium made a great beer here, I highly recomend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Unknown Music Thursday Blog Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals Walk Through Exits Only
In this Unknown Music Thursday blog, we are going to get into solo record from former lead singer of Pantera. I am talking about Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals and their record Walk Through Exits Only. We will get into the history of the band and then the music. Let us get into the history.
History:
Phil Anselmo joined Pantera in 1987. The rest is history for this great 1990’s power house. Pantera had several hits in mainstream and several in metal world. Towards the middle of 1990’s with Pantera, Phil joined a super group called Down in 1991. It was a side project but later become his main band. Down had a few hits in the metal world. In 2003, Pantera broke up and that led to the shooting and death of one of the founding members of Pantera, who was Dimebag Darrell in 2004. There has been rumors after rumors of reuniting of Pantera. It might never happen. Down was his main band until Superjoint Ritual was formed early 1990’s but did not release their records until early 2000’s. In 2011, Phil decided to work on a solo record and it was later released in 2013. Let us get into the music.
Song List:
Music Media Is My Whore
It has a nice heavy and fast pace guitar. Nice drumming with well written bass playing. I love the pace. It reminds me of a faster heavier Pantera. I love the lyrics and singing. I love the guitar solo towards the middle of the song. The singing and some of the music reminds more as his days in the band called Down. This is a great opening track.
Battalion Of Zero
The music from the second track is just as fast and heavy as the opening track. I love the pace and the singing. I love the touch of the effects on this vocals. I love the drumming and bass playing. The guitar playing sounds the same as the first track. Phil has written some nice lyrics on “Battalion Of Zero.” The ending is pretty interesting. It has a nice creepy piano playing. I like it.
Betrayed
“Betrayed” is slower than the first two songs. I love the pace. This song sounds different from the first two songs. I love the guitar playing. Phil singing great with some great lyrics. There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song. To me, it sounds like the guitar player is playing the same riff over and over again through the song. They could not write another few riffs to break it up.
Usurper Bastard’s Rant
This song is beyond fast. It is a little too fast for my taste. This song sounds like pure white noise. I love Phil’s singing and lyrics. The music is pretty good asides for the speed of the song. The guitar playing is off the charts. I love the short guitar solos. I love the music and singing towards the end of the song.
Walk Through Exits Only
I love the music and singing at the beginning of the title track. The drumming on this song is awesome. This song is short and to the point.
Bedroom Destroyer
Some of Phil’s singing does not really go well with the music. This has to me my favorite song off this record so far. It is hard to understand the singing on this song. I can not comment on the lyrics. There is some nice guitar playing towards the end. I am not liking the effects on the bass guitar at the end.
Bedridden
This is a fast and to the point song. I love the lyrics. The music is better than the rest of the songs. I love how they call on his punk influence. I love the guitar playing towards the of the song. I love the ending of this song.
Irrelevant Walls And Computer Screens
This is the longest song on the record. I love the beginning with the music and the singing. They put some thought into the guitar playing on this song. I love the drumming and bass playing. I love the guitar solo and dueling between the two guitars. Even though there is only one guitar player in this band. I love how Phil has taken some other song titles and threw them into this song’s lyrics. The music on this track gets better and better as the song goes deeper. The ending and the back half of the song is pretty interesting music. It is the same thing over and over but it works.
Line Up:
- Phil Anselmo – Vocals
- Marzi Montazeri − Guitars
- Bennett Bartley − Bass Guitar
- Joe Gonzalez − Drums
Here is his website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.philanselmo.com
Twitter:
@philiphanselmoIn closing, I was pretty excited to see that Phil came out with some new music and I love the fact Phil is still out there making music. I was a pretty big fan of Pantera back in the early 1990’s. I love some of the songs off his first solo record. I just feel he could have done better than this record. I can see people enjoying this record. All the music from track to track sounds the same. It is like they took a few riffs and used them in all the songs. The last song was a little different. The guitar player put some thought and wrote some great riffs on it. This is not his finest work but it is not his worse. I love how the record is short and to the point. If you are a Pantera or just a Phil fan, I recommend you checking out this record. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager
While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample another beer from Abita Brewery and it is their Strawberry Harvest Lager. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you did not read those beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this summer season.
It has a clear golden color with nice small constant bubbles. This Lager has a nice white head on it. The aroma has a strong sweet strawberries notes. The taste profile has a strong sweet fresh strawberries notes. It is like fresh picked strawberries. The aftertaste is a nice strawberry finish that hangs around bit. This light body Lager is extremely drinkable.
Here is a descrition from their website (www.abita.com):
Abita Strawberry Harvest is a lager brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. Real Louisiana strawberry juice is added after filtration resulting in a crisp lager with a sweet strawberry flavor, aroma and haze. It is wonderful with desserts or lighter fare such as salads and pastas. Fresh cheeses such as Burrata, chèvre, Crescenza, mozzarella or Teleme pair well with Strawberry Harvest.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In the end, I am not a huge Lager or fruit beers. I have to say I was pretty impressed with this beer. I liked it but it is pretty average beer. I will not go out of my way to find this beer. If I see it, I will order it. It also depends what is in the bar or restaurant. It is extremely drinkable and has a ton of flavor. I really enjoyed drinking this beer. Go and try it. Please let me know what you think of 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 Abita Amber Lager
In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew, which is Amber Lager, from Abita Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know Abita Brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a slight amber color with a constant white head on this Lager. The aroma has a nice sweet caramel notes. The taste of this light to medium body has a nice carbonated earthly to caramel notes with a nice crisp finish for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:
Abita Amber is a Munich style lager brewed with pale and caramel malts and German Perle hops. It has a smooth, malty, caramel flavor and a rich amber color. One of our first and most popular brews. Amber pairs well with many foods.
Here is a description from their website (www.abita.com):
Amber
Amber is a Munich style lager brewed with pale and caramel malts and German Perle hops. It has a smooth, malty, slightly caramel flavor and a rich amber color. Abita Amber was the first beer offered by the brewery and continues to be our leading seller. Amber is Abita’s most versatile beer for pairing with food. It has been voted “best beer” in numerous New Orleans reader polls and is used frequently in recipes of great Louisiana chefs.
Because of its smooth, malty flavor, try it with smoked sausages, Louisiana boudin, or even with caviar. It’s great with crawfish and Cajun food. You might also enjoy it paired with a spicy gumbo or tomato-based pasta sauce. It also goes well also with fried catfish dipped in a tart, lemony tartar sauce. Parmesan, Pecorino and Romano cheeses are good pairings with Abita Amber.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @theabitabeer
In the end, I just find myself not drinking their beers as much as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada beers from their samplers. I brought those packs after I brought Abita Party Pack, which is their sampler. I am not saying I did not like their beers. I did but not as much as those other breweries beers. As many of you know, I am on the search for a good and great craft lager. This Amber Lager was on the list to retry it. I have to say it is pretty average. It is not any special. It has more flavor than the mass produced American Lagers. If you never had this beer, I would try it and draw your own thoughts on this Amber Lager. 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 Rochester Mills Beer Co. Lazy Daze Amber Lager
In this beer blog, we are going to sample Lazy Daze Amber Lager from Rochester Mills Beer Co. If you have been reading my beer blog posts, you know I have wrote about their beers in the past and you know the history of this east side Michigan craft brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this Michigan Craft Lager.
This Lager a clear amber color with a nice small white bubble head. There is a smell, however, I can not pick up what it is in the aroma. The taste has a light sweet carbonated notes with touch of caramel. The aftertaste has a sweet caramel notes that hangs around your mouth for a bit. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a descration from their website (www.beercos.com):
Boasting a rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor from a combination of Munich malt for a subtle sweetness and German hops, you’ll find Lazy Daze Amber is another easy drinking, well-balanced local brew from Rochester Mills.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.beercos.com
Twitter: @Rochmillsbeerco
In the end, I am still looking for the best craft lager. I just feel the Michigan Craft Breweries are making the best Craft Lagers and Pilsners in the United States. I am not saying this is the best craft lager that I ever had in my lifetime. I have to say it is pretty damn close. It is in my top five beers. It is well balance and full of a ton of flavor. I love the caramel notes. This is a great drinkable lager. It is a beer that is perfect all year long. 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 New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale
In this retro beer blog, we are going to sample a beer, which is Mighty Arrow Pale Ale, from the past that came back in Folly Pack from New Belgium Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of New Belgium Brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.
This pale ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head. The aroma is a nice citrus notes. The tasting experience has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hoppy citrus to dry bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a descriation from their website (www.newbelgium.com):
Mighty Arrow Pale Ale provides lots of pleasurable sniffs from Amarillo and Cascade hops with a fetching honey malt base. This is our brewed tribute to Arrow, Kim’s Aussie/Border Collie mix who ran (literally) New Belgium for 12 years. When she wasn’t patrolling the brewery grounds, she was famous for her office visits: She never met a tummy rub she didn’t like. Atta girl, Arrow. Mighty Arrow makes its return as the revival beer in Folly Packs from January to April 2014.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.newbelgium.com
Twitter: @newbelgium
In closing, I was pretty sad when this beer was retired. I learned at the beginning of the year that this brew was returning to the market. I was a little upset that I had to buy a whole sampler 12 pack bottles to get the bottles. I wished they would release it as 6 pack again. I understand why they did not do that. I love this beer and I love the hops to the malty backbone. It is pretty drinkable and it is perfect for the spring and summer time. I wish they would put this in their everyday beer line up. This is a great brew and I would hurry to the store to get this beer before it disappears again. I highly recommend this Pale Ale. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog New Belgium And Red Rock Brewery Paardebloem Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from New Belgium and Red Rock Brewery. I am talking about Paardebloem Ale from New Belgium’s Lips Of Faith Series. If you read my earlier beer blog post on New Belgium’s brew, you know the history of this Mountain area craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those posts on this Fort Collins brewery to get to know them. Red Rock Brewery is located in Utah in the Salt Lake City. It opened its doors in 1994. Their goal is to make the highest quality product and great craft beer to their beer drinkers. They are now packaging several different beer styles. They are always looking to grow the different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.
This ale has a cloudy golden color with a nice small bubble white head. The aroma has a nice peach notes. The taste has an up front sweet peaches note to a slight tartness notes with a nice oak and pepper aftertaste. It is a nice refreshing sipping beer.
Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):
Using dandelion greens to bitter a Belgian-style ale blossomed from our brewers collaborating with Red Rock Brewing. These being our sixth interpretation together since 2008, expect a wonderfully complex ale fermented with wild Belgian yeast and blended with just a touch of wood-aged beer. Bitterness imparted from dandelion greens and grains of paradise will have you blowing wishes for sips.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.newbelgium.com and www.redrockbrewing.com
Twitter: @newbelgium and @redrockbrwing
Closing out, I normally get pretty nervous with beers that are in 22oz bottle. I just feel sometimes I do not get my money worth. I understand it cost the breweries a little bit more to make some of these special brews. I am glad they do because they get pretty creative on this beers. Paardebloem Ale is in that area of being creative. I have to say I really enjoyed this beer and I feel it is well worth the money that I invested into it. I am not a fan of Peach but I love the combination of the Peach and beer. It is a nice refreshing but sipping beer. I highly recommend this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Surly Brewing Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA
In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from Surly Brewing. If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know I posted a review on a live blog at Savor a few years ago in Washington D.C. This beer is their Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA. Surly Brewing was founded by Omar Ansari in 2005 at Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into this West Coast Style IPA.
It has a cloudy golden color with a white head that disappears over time. The smell is citrus with hints of orange. The taste is refreshing citrus notes with a dry hoppy aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer can:
It’s been said; “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you known us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little gimmick beers,” and maybe we ware OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it, great, so do we. If you only liked us when we wer small, then leave this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.
Here is a description from their website (www.surlybrewing.com):
Overrated
It’s been said: “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you know us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little bit of a one-trick pony, they just brew gimmick beers,” and maybe we are OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it, great, so do we. If you only liked us when we were small, then leave this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.
STYLE: West Coast IPA
MALT: 2-Row, Belgian Crystal
HOPS: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, El Dorado
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15.5º PlatoABV: 7.3%
COLOR: 4.5 º
SRM IBU: 69
AVAILABILITY: Cans, occasionally throughout the year
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.surlybrewing.com
Twitter: @surlybrewing
In the end, I was pretty excited to see they landed in the Chicagoland area. When I was in town, I picked up a four back of this brew and their flagship beer. I did not enjoy this IPA as much as I did their flagship, which is Furious IPA. I enjoyed this beer very much but the hops. The hops make this brew pretty drinkable and light in body. Unlike other west coast style IPA. I believe that is what Surly Brewery was going for in making this beer. This is a seasonal brew. It is a good beer but I love their Furious IPA more. I recommend you trying this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Abita Purple Haze
In this beer blog, we are going to sample Purple Haze from Abita. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of Abita Brewery. If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know this southern craft brewery. Let us get into this fruit beer.
It has a cloudy light amber to darker golden color with a white constant head on this fruit lager. The aroma has a heavy raspberry notes. The taste has a sweet raspberry notes with a hint of light carbonated notes. The aftertaste is nice and clean with touch of raspberry notes. It is a drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Purple Haze is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you even may see fruit pulp in the beer.
Here is a descration from their website (www.abita.com):
Purple Haze® is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you may see fruit pulp in the beer.
This beer is best served with salads or light fruit desserts, such as soufflés or chiffon cakes. Many people enjoy it with chocolate desserts. Purple Haze® pairs well with certain cheeses, such as ripened Brie or any dessert made with mascarpone. It’s also great paired with entrees prepared with fruit, especially citrus. Consider enjoying Purple Haze® alone at the end of your meal as dessert.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In closing, wheat and fruit beers are two beer styles that I normally do not go out of my way to hint down in the market. I have to say Purple Haze from Abita is not a bad beer. I love the rasphberry notes from the aroma and tasting profile. This is a nice brew for a hot summer day or a just a beer to enjoy during a snow day. There is a nice balances from the beer and the fruit notes. This is a beer you can have one after and other. Raspberries are not overpowering in the beer. It is a nice balance and the aftertaste is clean but with a touch of raspberry notes. I recommend this beer with dessert or it can be your dessert. It will go good with lighter dishes like salads. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
DJ Weiser 