food

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Dead Kettle IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery from Michigan I have been waiting to try for a while. It is Right Brain Brewery and the brew is their Dead Kettle IPA. I had a chance to try this beer at Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest. Right Brain is located on the north-west part of the state and the City Of Traverse City, Michigan. There is not too much information on this young brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head. The smell is hints of grapefruit. The taste is ripping the skin off a grapefruit without aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Working as a brewer means practicing your craft, knowing your equipment, and always being able to think on your feet.

Many years ago a dead brewing kettle was the spark that lead to eventual creation of this Right Brain Classic.

Showcasing heavy citrus notes and hop aroma, Dead Kettle is light bodied and refreshing. Strong Grapefruit notes make way for a pleasantly bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter: @rightbrainbrew

In closing, this beer is something else. Of course, it is in a good way. I love my IPA’s and this one is on my top ten beers. I love the huge and heavy grapefruit beer. It is extremely balance and this beer is done up right. I love the packaging and the story about the name of the brewery. I hope in the future they put out 12oz bottles or cans or 16oz cans. I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles. I highly highly 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 Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog. It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale. It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head. The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade. It is hard to pick up. The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish. It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style. I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist. It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one. Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on their version of Duvel. I have to say I was pretty impressed about it. I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong. I would love to talk about beer with you. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Great Divide Brewing. It is their Colette Farmhouse Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this great Denver brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear bright yellow to golden color with constant small bubbles. There is yeast in the bottle that will change it from clear to cloudy. The head is a constant white. The smell is a slight farmhouse but a fresh farm smell. The taste of this light body ale has slight lemon with some spices with a spicy to lemon but refreshing finish. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast stains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

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

COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

ABV.: 7.3%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: 6 packs, 5 gal and 15.5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter; @greatdividebrew

Ending, this is a pretty tricky ale to make for most craft breweries. There are several different Saisons on the market. It could be hoppy amber saison, hoppy saison, and a refreshing saison. This one to me is in the refreshing saison. It echos the classic beer style. It is well balance and gives everything that a saison fan is looking for in this beer style. I recommend you trying. 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

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new summer brew from my favorite Michigan brewery which is Frankenmuth Brewery. The new brew, which is one of my favorite German beer style, is Twisted Helles Summer Lager. If you read my earlier beer bogs on this brewery’s brews, you know the long and rich history of Frankenmuth Brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the brew.

It has a hazel strew to light golden color with constant small bubbles. It also has a constant white head. The smell is of malt with a fade orange to lemon notes but to me it is the pilsner malt smell. The taste of this light body and refreshing lager is malts with a notes of orange and lemon zest. The aftertaste is crisp with lemon zest finish. It is extremely drinkable beer and perfect for the hot summer day.

Here is a description from the beer can:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks. Tinged with mild, yet memorable notes of citrus, this crisp, full-flavored lager is indigenous to happy hours, tailgates and block parties.

Crafted by a brewery that’s lived and loved over 150 summers, Twisted Helles doesn’t just tastee like summer… It feelslike it.

Here is a description from the beer packaging:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers – and so, by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness, reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager.

Full-bodied, yet pleasantly quenching… and then there’s the “twist.” The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is a description from their website (www.twistedhelles.com and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com):

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers–and so by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager. Full-bodied yet pleasantly quenching…and then there’s the “twist.”
The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this in one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.twistedhelles.com (it is a fun site) and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In the end, when I heard Frankenmuth Brewery was coming out with a summer beer, I was like another summer beer that I will not be drinking. I will have to just keep drinking my IPAs and Pales Ales. I am not a fan of most spring and summer seasonals. However, I heard it was a classic German beer style, I was pretty excited and upset because I could not get it here in Chicago. When I made it back to Michigan, I made it a point to find this brew to try it and write a review on it. Helles is one of my favorite German beer style. I have to say if any craft brewery in the states can do German beer styles. It is Frankenmuth Brewery. This Twisted Helles Summer Lager is well made and it is one of the few summer seasonals I will go out of my way to pick up. The other two summer brews are Sierra Nevada Summer Lager and Two Brothers Dog Days Lager. I have to say I am not too impressed with those brews but that is what I was force to drink if I wanted a summer brew. This is a perfect brew for the hot Michigan Summer Days. Trust me I know all about those days and extremely hot Chicago Summer Days. Thank you Frankenmuth Brewery for giving this Hophead hope and something to drink in the summer time! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City. It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA. Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter. Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through. It has a constant white head on the beer. The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt. The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue. It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend. This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter: @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market. I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one. I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five. Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe. To me, this one is made with their stout. There is a nice balance from the hops and malt. Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around. I love the packaging and the fact it is in cans. I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island brewery. 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 Earthen Grave Self Title

In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are going to get into the music of Earthen Grave. This is their self title and first release from this band. Earthen Grave is a Chicago base doom to the classic old school metal band. Ron Holzner, who is the bassist, was with the band Trouble. It was founded in 2008 by Jason Muxlow, who is one of the guitar players. There is an unique twisted on this band. They have Rachel Barton Pine. She plays the electric violin. The band has released their EP and now this first full length record. There is not much more on the history of this young band. Let us get into the music.

Track List

Earthen Grave

The opening track has sound effects or sampling of church bells with a little guitar feedback. I love the creepy guitar riff like a Black Sabbath style along with the drums and bass playing. I love the bass line during the singing part. Mark is a perfect fit for this music. I love the lyrics. I did not know how the violin would fit into the music but it is perfect it. There is some awesome music. I love the pick up towards the end of the song with a short guitar solo. This is a great opening track for this record.

Life Carries On

I love the play back and forth on the guitar side of things. The drums and bass are solid. There is a nice guitar solo at the beginning of the song. Mark comes in singing shortly after that solo. He has a different tone of singing than the opening track. I love the pace of this song. I love how they are using the violin in this song. It almost echoes the singing and guitar. I love how they put the violin at the front towards the end as a solo and guitar solo shortly after that. I love how both guitars sound a little different. I loving the trade-off solos towards the end of the song.

Burning A Sinner

There is a classic 1970’s guitar riff with the music having the same feeling. Mark’s singing is honorary those legend in the 1970’s. I love the back up vocals. It was a perfectly place and fits the song. It is not focused. There is some good lyrics on this song. This song sounds like something that would be from Deep Purple or Black Sabbath record. Nice touch on the guitar break and solo towards the middle of the song.

Blood Drunk

I love the acoustic guitar and the violin playing over the top of it. I love the calming drums and bass. Mark and Rachel’s singing are spot on to the song. This is a pretty calming song. This should be their first single off this record. I love how they pick up the pace to heaviest part of the song. I love the music. Earthen Grave looped back to the slower part after the heavy part. I love the time changes on this song. There is a pretty nice guitar solos at the end of the song. Both guitars are hitting it together hard. There is a nice short violin solo. Nice ending to the song.

Dismal Times

I love the drums and guitar action at the beginning. There is a nice acoustic guitar with the drums and bass. The violin plays over the top of the music. The heavy guitars roar in with Mark screaming over it. I love his melody on this song. I love the lyrics and music on this song. This is a pretty good record so far. Mark is showing off as a singer on this song. I really love how they used the violin on this song. There is a nice time changes to the song. There is some nice violin action at the end of the song. Rachel is playing is awesome and great work. “Dismal Times” has a great ending.

Tilted World

I love the trade-off from the guitar player and bassist. There is some awesome riffs at the beginning. I have always love the wah wah pedal on the bass. I know I over use it when I play my bass. I love the music on this song. There is some great lyrics and singing from Mark. The back up singing is good but I just feel this song and how Mark sings. The band can do without back up vocals. This is my thought not the bands. I love the acoustic guitar with violin playing over the top. I love the mood changes in all their songs. I love the ending to this song.

Beneath A Shovel Load

I love the feedback guitar that turns into a guitar solo with the acoustic guitar in the background. The drums and bass are solid back up and support to the acoustic guitar. I love the snap into the main riff. Mark’s singing and melody are awesome. He wrote some nice lyrics. I love the pace of the song. This is a nice driving song. This is my favorite song so far off this record. I could see this song being a single off this great record. I love the double bass at the end of the song from the drums. We need more double bass. I love the guitar and violin solos at the end of “Beneath A Shovel Load.”

Fall In

I love the drumming at the beginning with nice touch simple bass line. The guitar playing is awesome. I love the main riff for the versus. Mark kind sounds like Glen Danzing on this song. This is the first time I kind of say he sounds like someone. He has his unique way of singing that is a good thing. This is a very good song and I enjoyed it. I just feel this song is a little too long. I love the effects on the guitars and the hard-hitting drums towards the end of the song. Nice touch on the drums and bass towards the back half of the song to set up the trade up guitar solos. I love the fading out guitar playing end.

Relentless

I love the guitar work at the beginning. This is a nice driving song. The drums and bass are solid. He does sound like Ozzy of Black Sabbath but he has the same melody and rhythm on his vocals. He has a kind of Glen Danzing sound again. The more I think about his singing. It kind of reminds of Riot “Thundersteel” singing. I love music changes and the ending to this song.

Death On The High Seas

Here is the longest song off this record. I love the violin playing at the beginning. I love how she put some distorted on it that has a really nice effect. I love the pace and the music on this song so far. The music does kind of sound like the seas or the water hitting a ship. Mark has some nice singing on “Death On The High Seas.” There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song. I love the violin playing at the mid-point of the song. I love the fast pace of the song just past the mid-point of the song. It is almost like they are in storm on the high seas. Earthen Grave has done a great job on the music. I love the ending.

Death Is Another Word

“Death Is Another Word” is their first single off this record. I love the guitar playing that fades into the song. I love the guitar playing at the beginning. The drums and bass are solid. I love the main riff with Mark singing over the top of it. I love the pace of this song. Mark is singing great with some good lyrics. Mark sounds like Ozzy during the chorus part. Earthen Grave has put some thought behind this song. I love the fade out for the end of the song and the record before the live bonus track.

Stargazer (Live)

This is a classic Rainbow song. I love how they use the violin on this song. It is well placed. The music is right on. Mark is singing awesome of this classic Rainbow song. Mark has a little Dio in him. I believe Dio would approve Mark’s singing on this song. Earthen Grave has nailed this song. I love how the violin is playing the classic Blackmore guitar solo along with one of the guitar players. For being a live recording, the production team did a great job of recording this song.

Current Line Up

Mark Weiner – Vocals
Tony Spillman – Guitar
Jason Muxlow – Guitar
Ron Holzmer – Bass
Rachel Barton Pine – Eletric Violin
Chris Wozniak – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.earthengrave.com

Twitter: @earthengrave

In closing, this is my first post under “Unknown Music Thursday” on my blog. I am honor to have put this band’s music as my first post. I received an email from Bandcamp to check out this band’s music. This is how I discovered this band. There is many bands in the past that use a violin player in the classic rock. There is not too many hard rock and metal bands use violin player. I am pretty impressed with the music and how they used the violin in their music. Rachel is awesome player. I have always love Ron’s bass playing in Trouble and he did not disappoint on this record. Chris is a great drummer and Earthen Grave has picked a great one. Tony and Jason are some guitar players and they know how to write their solos. Earthen Grave should be proud of the music they put on this record. They are upcoming band and I wish them the best of luck in the future. I will be picking up this record and see them live. I highly recommend you checking out this band, if you are hard rock and metal fans. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling. This is another seasonal release and tap party. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head. The smell is a citrus to piney. The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s. It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate. ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub. I enjoyed drinking their beers. They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food. This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts. They did a great job with picking the hops. I love the hop character in this brew. I really recommend you driving and trying 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 Great Divide Hibernation Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first of three brews from Great Divide. Great Divide was founded in Denver, Coloroda by Brain Dunn in 1994. They have been ranked as one of the best breweries in the world from a few beer website. They also brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a light brown to dark amber color with a constant tan color head. The smell is of the malt to a slight caramel notes. The taste of this medium body is a malty caramel with touch of honey with a dry malty finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

Here is descation from their website (www.greatdivide.com):

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, there is a ton going on this well made beer. I enjoyed this beer a ton. I can also see why this brew was made because of where the brewery is located. It has a beautiful color and a nice aroma. It has a nice taste from this well balance beer. There is a ton going on in this beer. I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out our first beer from Firestone Walker and the brewery is their Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout. This is brewery is from California and founded 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker. The brewery name from the last names from the founders. They brewery several different beer styles but they are known for their hoppy beers like most west coast breweries. Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color without a head on it. The smell is chocolate to toffee. The taste of this full body ale is chocolate to touch of coffee notes. It is a sipping to almost kind of drinkable.

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

A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas. This beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers. Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.firestonebeer.com

Twitter: @firestonewalker

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer. I love how it is not a drinkable beer because I can sit there and enjoy it. I want to pick up everything that is going on in the beer. I love the coffee to toffee notes from the beer. This is one of my favorite stout beer style. I love how their website tells you to make sure you have fresh beer and how to store your beer. This is a great beer and I highly recommend you trying this stout. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Ruin Ten IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale. The smell is a piney to earthy notes. The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes. The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter: @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here. I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much. Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me. It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel this way. I have to say it is a great beers. Please, do not think this is a negative note. There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one. I love my fair share of them. This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time. I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while. I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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