entertainment

New Blog Upland Dragonfly India Pale Ale

While in DC for Savor, this beer I had at Church Key Bar and Grill in DC.  Lolita had this beer first and I wished I order this beer as my first one.  It does not matter because I had the chance to have this great beer.  The beer I am talking about is Upland Dragonfly Ale.  Upland Brewery was founded in 1997 by Marc Sattinger, Russ Levitt and Dean LaPlante in Bloomington, Indiana.

This beer is a copper in color with a little head on it. It is piney to earthy in smell. It is a smooth sweet circus carbonation in taste. This beer is very drinkable brew.

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

India Pale Ale originated when the British Empire was at its height. British soldiers and civil servants were stationed all over the globe (including India), and regular ales could not survive the long journey by sea to reach them. The British solved this terrible dilemma by adding excessive amounts of hops to their beer–using the preservative properties of hops to increase the life of their beers.

Our Dragonfly India Pale Ale is true to this tradition, featuring seven hop additions to create a powerful hop profile. A solid malt base, however, tempers the bitter American hops, giving Dragonfly a balance not often found in this style. The end product is a well-balanced, malty beer with the crisp taste of hops and an exceptionally floral nose.

Here is their website and twitter address:

Website: www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter: @uplandbrewco

Empty beer glass, this is a very good beer.  I love drinking this beer.  It is very well made and balance for being an IPA.  This beer is very drinkable and sessional.  I just wished the Church Key Bar where I was at in DC had more beers from this brewery.  I will be hunting down more of their beers.  I will also be making a road trips to Indiana to visit the brewery, since, I live in the Chicago area.  If you live in the states where they sell their beers, I am jealous and you should try their beers.  Please let me know what you think about the beers.  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Troeg’s Nugget Nectar Ale

While in DC for Savor, I was really excited to see this beer on draft at the third bar, which was Church Key. The beer is called Troeg’s Nugget Nectar ale. I had a few brews from Troeg. I am kind of familiar with this brewery but let us get into the history of it. Troeg was founded in 1996 by John and Chris Trogner in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  They brew a wide range of beers but they central their brewing on seasonals and highend beers.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a copper color in the glasses. Nice earthy smell to the beer.  Nice sweet carbonation taste and a really bad aftertaste. I really do not not like this aftertaste. The beer is a well balance beer but once again the aftertaste kind of kills the romance of the beer experience. It is drinkable asides the aftertaste.

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

TASTING NOTES

Squeeze those hops for all they’re worth and prepare to pucker up: Nugget Nectar Ale, will take hopheads to nirvana with a heady collection of Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops. Starting with the same base ingredients of our flagship HopBack Amber Ale, Nugget Nectar intensifies the malt and hop flavors to create an explosive hop experience.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Cheese (Sharp, Blue, and Cheddar); Meat (Beef and Poultry)

Serving Suggestions: Temp: 45-50° F

Glassware:  Pint Glass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.troegs.com

Twitter: @troegs and @troegsbeer

At the bottom of the glass, I really hate to say it but I was really disappointed with the beer. The body of the beer is awesome but the aftertaste kills everything about this beer.  I get it most people like to have this aftertaste for their beer. I would recommend you trying this beer before taking my word.  I am just an idiot with many thoughts on the world. If you have had this beer, please let me know your thoughts on this beer. I really want to hear it. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

While in DC for Savor, there was a place we went to after lunch down the street. I had this beer from Dogfish Head Brewery called 60 Minute IPA Ale. If you read my earlier blog on Dogfish Head Pilsner, you a little bit about this brewery. Let us get into this brew.

This beer is clear yellow color in the glasses. There is no smell to the beer.  A little circus and carbonation taste to this beer.  For being an India Pale Ale, it is very drinkable and sessional.

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

60 Minute IPA is continuously hopped — more than 60 hop additions over a 60-minute boil. (Getting a vibe of where the name came from?)

60 Minute is brewed with a slew of great Northwest hops. A powerful but balanced East Coast IPA with a lot of citrusy hop character, it’s the session beer for hardcore enthusiasts!

Every Beer Has A Story…

In our Quick Sip Clip video below, Sam Calagione talks about the 60 Minute IPA. For some perspective, he compares this beer to its predecessor, 90 Minute IPA, and its big brother, 120 Minute IPA.

Sam stepped out of the brewery for the taping of this Quick Sip Clip and comes to us from the place where it all started: Dogfish Head, Maine.

Cheers!

Here is a few sources on the web to get information on Dogfish Head Brewery:

Website: www.dogfish.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

Closing, I hate to be very honest. I really did not like this beer at first drink, however, thinking about it, I really loved the drinkablity of this beer and the fact it is not overly hopped like most IPAs on the market. I would not say this is my favorite IPA but it is not the worse. Whenever, I think of Dogfish as far as IPAs, I always believe their IPAs will be hopped up but it is not the case. I respect all craft breweries but Sam is pushing the limits of beer drinkers. Go check this beer out. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Savor 2012 in DC Day One (Story)

Old Ebbitt Grill

It is an old school DC bar and grill. It is after work place and a traditional place. It has a nice beer selection and food. Nice place for lunch with my friends, who are Kevin, Slayer, Aphrodite, and Lolita.

See Heavy Sea Loose Cannon Ale for the beer blog.

J&G Steakhouse

For drinks in the sun talking about life. It is a little too hot here but just right. Asides that is a beautiful day.

See Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA for the beer blog.

We are going to Church’s Key for beers before dinner. I heard this place has a nice beer menu while sitting of the lobby of the hotel. Two old friends meet for the first time. Talking about moments that are long gone, it was a really good moment. The bar is packed with guests talking about their plans for the weekend in this fancy upscale hotel that looks like something out of the 1940s with a modern flare. This bar is packed with a nice lay back feeling to it.

See Troggers Nugget, Upland Dragonfly ale for the beer blog.

Marvin

We are to have dinner. It is very soulful in the food. This was some off the charts food. I was full but I could not stop eating it. Very good dinner.

See Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace Ale for the beer blog.

There were many other places and many more beer. It was a great start to this trip. We will have Savor tomorrow and I will be visiting at least one brewpub in the city.

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @ djweiser

New Blog Heavy Sea Loose Cannon Ale

While in DC for Savor, I went for lunch at this restaurant. I order Heavy Seas Brewery Loose Cannon Ale. I had this beer when I was in Coopertown, NY a few years ago. Heavy Seas Brewery was known as Clipper City Brewery which became in 1994.  The founder of Clipper City Brewery and Heavy Seas Brewery is Hugh Sisson.  This brewery has a nice pirate theme going on which is very nice and creative for a brewery.  This brewery is brewing in Baltimore, Maryland.  They have several different fleets of beers.  Loose Cannon Ale is part of the Pyrate Fleet.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a clear copper color. It does not really have a smell to the beer. This nice American IPA has a nice sweet carbonation circus taste. The aftertaste is very bitter but not bad for IPA.  This beer very drinkable and sessional.  You can drink this any season and pretty much all day.

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

Burnished gold with a rich citrus hop aroma, it is wonderfully drinkable with a big hop flavor. We’ve knicknamed it Hop3 (hop cubed) ale to reflect the enormous amount of hops in this beer: over 3 pounds per barrel! It is hopped 3 ways: in the kettle, in the hop back, and dry hopped. Pairs well with strong cheeses and steak. 2nd Place CAMRA award winner at the 2010 Great British Beer Festival

Here is a few areas on the web where you can get to know this brewery:

Website: www.hsbeer.com

Twitter: @heavyseabeer

Closing out the lunch tab, I really loved this IPA. I could drink it any season of the year. It is very drinkable and not too overly hopped up like most IPAs in the market nor the states.  I wish it was available close to my home of Chicag0. Just like most beers it will kill the thrill you will get when it is not available to you everyday. However, if you live where you can get it everyday, I would recommend you trying this beer. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Bridgeport Summer Squeeze Bright Ale

Starting a tap, we are going to talk about one of my favorite west coast breweries, who is called Bridgeport Brewery. The beer I will feature in this blog is their Summer Seasonal called Summer Squeeze Blonde ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Hop Czar, then you know a little something on this brewery.

It is light copper to yellow color. There is really no smell to this beer.  This beer is very refreshing and light in body with a slight carbonation in taste. This is a very drinkable beer during the summer. The fruit used in the brewing process is from Japan that , I bet you can taste it but it is hard if you never had the fruit.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Meet your new Summer Squeeze. The Refreshing brew infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu, the exotic Asian citrus fruit. The result is bright and crisp with a complex citrus finish. Perfect for hot summer days.

This is one summer crush you won’t soon forget.  Infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter: @bridgeportbrew

Closing the tap, I am not a fan of many summer beers but I will keep on trying them very year until I start liking them. This brew is different and I respect what the assistant brewmaster, who is Jeff Edgerton, was trying to do in this summer seasonal. I had a chance a few years ago to meet the brewmaster and talk to him about many of his brews. He ask me about this seasonal and I was a little too honest to him about it. What I said to him, I will say on this blog. It is very well made and there is a huge market for this beer. This beer is not my pint of beer. If you like wheat ales, american lagers, white ales, I recommend you hunting this beer down. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Summit Saga India Pale Ale

Starting a tap, we are going to explore a new brew from the Summit Brewing Company.  The new brew is called Summit Saga India Pale Ale.  Summit Brewing Conmpany was founded in 1986 by Mark Stutrud in St Paul, Minnesota.   It is nice to see this brewery trying to do something new in their beer portfolio.  When they started releasing their Unchained Series, there was a change in the air in the Summit Brewery.  They were doing beers that fit the St Paul area.  Now they are trying to grow even more in other areas of the states.  This beer is their second new beer this year. The first new one was their new Summer Ale replace their old seasonal, which was Summit Hefenizen Ale. Let us get into the beer.

It has a light copper color. It has a grapefruit to mango smell with a little spicy. The taste of the beer is of grapefruit and mango with a slight carbonation taste. This is a very drinkable beer. This is a slight different IPA then what is on the market.

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

Named after the Norse goddess Sága, drinking companion of the God Odin. With a divine tropical fruit hop aroma and clean, assertive bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.summitbrewing.com

Twitter: @summitbeer

Closing the bar, I love this beer and I am happy to see this brewery doing something new and different. There are a few beers that from this brewery. I love their EPA, maibock, porter, winter ale, and oatmeal stout that I wish was package. The rest of their beers are average. This is my thought pattern not yours. Make sure you try their beers and draw your judgment on them. However, this beer to me has brought them back to the front of the line, I cannot wait to see how this beer does against rest of the beer market. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:@djweiser

New Blog Couger Ace Music

In this blog, we are going to talk more in the music side of things. This is a different pace of music for me. When I was a DJ on STFU.FM, I use to cover the world of hard rock and metal. Just like most metal heads, we would only listen to that style of music. Before I started the Metal Warzone, I would listen to everything from Bosstones to The Doors. With all that said, if it was not for that show, I would not had a twitter account to have this band, who is Couger Ace, following me. I would not had the chance to write this blog or listen to their music. It is nice to follow them and have a chance to write this review on their music.

The first song we are going to listen to is called “Descent Into Hell Is Easy.”  For being a Rock Song, it has a drive to it.  Their sound is something out of the 1960s or 1970s.  The singer has singing rhythm of Jim Morrison from The Doors.  The recording has that nice raw sound to it.  I feel they are trying something different outside of their comfort zone but it works for them.

The second song is called “All My Fault.”  This song I can hear playing in some bars in the later part of the night.  To me, it is a perfect drinking song at the bar or sitting at home with friends.  I love the drums and the guitar. It is just right for this song.  The singing has a nice flow for it.  The length of the song is perfect because the lyrics get straight to the point.

The third song is called “I Wanna Holler.”  This song sounds like something out of The Doors collection of music without the organ player.  The singer in this song sounds like Jim Morrison between his singing and a little bit of the song writing style.  This song will take you on a journey for two minutes in the mind of these talented song writers.  Just like the first song, which is “Descent Into Hell Is Easy,” this song has that same drive and passion.

The fourth song we will be reviewing is called “FJ=BM.”  This song comes across as a folk rock song.  The singing has a little country theme to it.  I love how the drums bring out more of the guitar and vocals with a nice rhythm.  There is one point where the guitar stops and so I can so see the singer just getting in someone’s face.  This is a very fun song to listen to at night with a nice beer and cigar.  I love the pick up and slowing down towards the end and then in your face from the vocals again in this song.  I love how it ends the song with a great drum beat.

The fifth and finally song we will be reviewing in this blog is called “Just Like You.”  The singing sounds like something from a Johnny Cash record with a dirty guitar.  Then a nice slamming drums comes into the room.  I love how the drums echo guitar playing and the other way around.  I am starting to think this music from this band will be part of my relaxing time of day around my place.  This is a very well written song with a nice finish.

Here is a few ways to listen to their music and get information on them:

Websites:

www.myspace.com/cougaracetheband

cougarace.bandcamp.com/

Twitter:

@cougaraceband

In closing,  this is a very talented band and I hope they reach the success that they set out when forming this band.  Nice range of different kind of songs.  I love how a band does something different in every song.  It gives us listeners something to look forward to the next song.  Plus, a range of emotion is always a good thing for a healthly band and fan base.  To me, this band is the modern-day version of The Doors and Johnny Cash.  I will say more modern-day version of Cash, which is a very good thing.  I am not saying they are going to replace a legend.   They are clearly influenced by him.  I really enjoy their music and I cannot wait to hear what they are up to next.  Enjoy it!  Drink It! Metal (Rock) it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about one of my favorite breweries and beers. The beer that will be feature is called Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale. Brooklyn Brewery was founded in a run down side of New York City in 1987 by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. Later a very talented brew master, who is Garrett Oliver, that has several books out now joined the team at Brooklyn Brewery. That is a little history now let us get into one of their beers.

This beer pours into the glass as brown without a head. It is darker than New Castle Brown Ale.  It has a toffee to caramel smell in the beer.   The beer taste like a sweet carbonation nutty going on in the favor.  To me, Brooklyn Brown Ale is a fresher version of New Castle Brown Ale. I know the brewery would not like to hear that statement.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Richly mahogany in  color, Brooklyn Brown Ale is richer and hoppier than its mild and malty English forebears.  Chocolate and coffee flavors punctuate the roasty malt background.  Brooklyn Brown is  brewed with malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, and will taste best before the freshness date indicated.

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

This is the award-winning original American brown ale, first brewed as a holiday specialty, and now one of our most popular beers year-round. Northern English brown ales tend to be strong and dry, while southern English brown ales are milder and sweeter. Brooklyn Brown Ale combines the best of those classic styles and then adds an American accent in the form of a firm hop character and roasty palate. A blend of six malts, some of them roasted, give this beer its deep russet-brown color and complex malt flavor, fruity, smooth and rich, with a caramel, chocolate and coffee background. Generous late hopping brings forward a nice hop aroma to complete the picture. Brooklyn Brown Ale is full-flavored but retains a smoothness and easy drinkability that has made it one of the most popular dark beers in the Northeast.

Here is a few areas to get to know this great brewery:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter: @brooklynbrewery

In closing, this is a very drinkable beer with a ton of favor. I can drink this beer any of the season of the year. There is nothing more to say asides it is an awesome beer. Go check this beer out and let me know what you think of it. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Redhook Long Hammer IPA

In this blog, the beer that will be featured is from Redhook Brewery and it is called Long Hammer IPA. This brewery was founded in 1981 by Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker in Seattle, Wa. This brewery is known to have all of their beers be very drinkable for any event and time of the year.

This beer in the glass is a light copper color. The smell is citrus to almost earthy.  The taste of the beer is of carbonation to some citrus drinkable and able to drink it all day. It might be drinkable but it is not well balance. I feel the hoppies over take everything.

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

The generous addition of hops both during and at the end of the fermentation process (dry-hopping) gives our India Pale Ale its characteristic bitterness and piney citrus aroma and flavor.  The medium body, crisp finish, and moderate alcohol and IBU levels makes this one of America’s most drinkable and best-selling IPAs.

Style………………….India Pale Ale

Abv…………………….6.5%

<!–

Malts…………………Pale, Caramel, MunichHops…………………..Alchemy, Cascade, WillametteColor SRM………….8.5–>IBUs…………………..44.0

IBUOriginal Gravity..14.4 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1984

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

In closing, this brewery was one of the first breweries that had me hooked on craft beer world. I use to drink their ESB (Extra Special Bitter) all the time. From there, I started to try other craft beers from other craft breweries. I want to thank this brewery for showing me the light on good beer. I like this beer for its drinkable but I believe it is not well balance and over hopped. It does not have enough malt backbone to it. I love this beer in the can but I will not buy it all the time. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser