food

New Blog Schlafly Dry Hopped APA Ale

In this blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite breweries, who is Schlafly Brewery, from St Louis, MO.  I had a friend that traveled down and she asked me if I needed anything down there.  I asked her to pick up Schlafly Sampler Pack and four pack of Tallgrass 8-Bit Pale Ale.  Let us get into some of the history of this brewery.  Schlafly Brewery started to brew their beers in 1991 and was founded by Dan Kopman and Tom Schlafly.  Their goal was to brew some good beers in the downtown St Louis area.  They are now being distribute to nine other states asides their home state.  Some of these states are part of them like Illinois.  Schlafly Brewery is now brewing several different styles of beer and over 25 seasonal brews.  I know the last time I was down there when my sister lived there.  They were just getting into the 750ml bottle business.  This is a really good brewery and St Louis should be proud to have them in their backyard.  Let us get into my favorite beer from this brewery.

Schlafly Dry Hopped Ale APA Ale has a pretty dark golden with a constant head. It has a sexy citrus smell to the beer. It has a sweet carbonation citrus taste with next to nothing on the aftertaste. It is drinkable beer for a unique beer style.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Dry Hopped APA is an American Pale Ale with a hearty dose of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma.  We add hops directly into the finished beer to boost the fresh, fruity flavor and aroma of American hops.

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

Our Dry Hopped American Pale Ale (APA) is charged with American hops to create a bold, aromatic ale. Assertive hop flavor joins the pine/citrus aroma characteristic of American hops to balance the full body provided by North American malts. After fermentation, the beer circulates through a bed of whole-cone Cascade and Chinook hops, boosting the distinctive hop aroma of this satisfying ale.

In the long view of the history of beer, American Pale Ale is a newcomer.  Based on English Pale Ale, American brewers adapted this style into something new.  Born out of the reverence English Pale Ales during the 1980’s American beer scene, APA is the bold, hoppier cousin of Pale Ale.  With an emphasis on American hops, APA is gaining popularity with breweries racing to make these ales with such great hop characters.

Appearance: Golden amber, slightly hazy

Process: Dry hopped with whole cone American hops; unfiltered

Hops: Cascade, Chinook (US)

Malts: 2-row and caramel malted barley

Yeast: American Ale

OG: 14.8

SRM: 10.6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

In closing, this is drinkable beer and this is closest thing to an India Pale Ale in their everyday line up.  They do make IPA but it is a seasonal that is out right now.  This brewery does not disappoint me at all.  Even with beer styles I do not like I just find my way liking their beers.  This beer is available in six packs and twelve packs bottles.  This is a well balance beer and they did a great job.  I highly recommend trying this beer if you love West Coast Pale Ales and India Pale Ales.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Amber Ale

While shopping at Meijer, this is the last beer from the Roscoe’s Hop House.  There is really no history but please go back to my earlier blog to get a little bit of their history.  The beer we are going to feature is their Amber Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This Amber Ale has a dark copper color without a head to it.  A sweet malty smell is in the beer. The taste has a sweet malty in the beer.  It is drinkable beer but it is kind of water down beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright-flavored Amber Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for a unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is a few awards this beer won from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Gold Medal “Exceptional” – World Beer Championship, 2009

88 Points “Highly Recommended” – Beverage Testing Institute 2011

86 Points/ Best Buy – Wine Enthusiast, March 2010

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rosceoshophouse.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter account

In closing, I love trying new beers all the time.  It keeps me up to speed on what breweries are doing around the country or the world.  However, I did kind of enjoy their other beers, I normally do not this about any beer but this beer is really bad.  I am not going to sugar coat it and be really nice about it.  There is a little flavor but it is really water down.  It is drinkable because of that fact.  I will go and drink a Pabst or a Rolling Rock.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog 21st Amendment Brewery Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

In this blog, we are going to take a look at 21st Amendment Brewery’s summer seasonal, which is called Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer.  If you read my earlier blog on this brewery, you know a little bit about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a white light golden cloudy color without a head on the beer. Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer has a heavy watermelon smell to the beer. This wheat ale has a nice watermelon with a smooth wheat aftertaste to this beer. This beer is very drinkable beer and perfect beer for summer.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

Like Lady Liberty, we stand for independence and perseverance. In the pursuit of innovative beer, there is no obstacle too great. No journey too long. No fruit too gigantic. This American wheat beer is brewed with real watermelon, for a flavor that’s surprisingly crisp, dry and refreshing—summer in a can.

Hell or High Watermelon Wheat is our summer seasonal beer available from April through September in six pack cans and on draft. We start by brewing a classic American wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor.

Here is website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter:  @21stamendment

In closing, I wish this brewery was in the Chicagoland area.  I am not a wheat beer fan at all but I really did enjoy this beer.  I was stun on how it smells and taste like watermelon.  I really want to know how they were able to pull that off without having the beer taste really bad.  This brewery has pushed the limits of brewing.  I am glad because the craft beer world needs a new influence to push for better beers.   It is drinkable and with a ton of flavor.  If you can find, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Redhook Brewery Copperhook

In this beer blog, we are going to dig into another beer, which is Cooperhook from Redhook Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog on their Longhammer India Pale Ale, you are pretty much up to speed on the history of this brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

Redhook Brewery Copper Hook has a nice copper color with no head for their spring seasonal.  It has a nice malty smell in the beer. It has a nice sweet malty taste. It remains me of s’mores growing up around a camp fire in Michigan camp grounds.  This beer is perfect for spring because of how drinkablity.

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

Who needs precious metals, when you’ve got Copper?!   This copper-colored ale is a real crowd-pleaser.  Copperhook strikes the perfect balance of smooth, rich, malty flavor you’d expect from a craft brew with a lighter body and hop profile that makes it a perfect “session” beer when you’ve got a long day ahead of knocking back a few with your buddies.

Style………………….Copper Ale
 
Abv…………………….5.8%
 
IBUs…………………..21 IBU
 
Original Gravity..13.25 degrees plato
 
Brewed Since………2001

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.redhookbrewery.com

Twitter:  @redhook_brewery

In closing, just what I said in other blogs on this brewery’s beers, I truly love the drinkable aspect of their beers.  It has been a long time since I had a Redhook Copperhook.  I will say this beer did not disappoint me, however, Untappd is calling this beer a Red Ale or Amber Ale.  I really do not pay that description of this beer. If this is the case, I believe I just found myself my first Red or Amber Ale that I really enjoy drinking.  They call it on their website a Copper Ale.  I do not believe there is a beer style call that but it does decide it.  I am disappointed that I cannot find this beer in six-pack form just like their pilsner.  I will be picking up more their sampler packs.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Redhook Brewery Pilsner

In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from the Redhook Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog, you know about this brewery.  I believe you know this brewery since it was one of the first of the modern era for Craft Breweries.  The beer we are going to feature in this blog is their Pilsner, which is one of their everyday beers.  Let us get into the beer.

Redhook Brewery Pilsner has a golden clear color without a head on it.  It has the normal malty smell of a pilsner. A sweet malty taste is what this Redhook brew is all about with a crisp dry aftertaste.  It is drinkable like all Redhook Brewery beers. The goal of Redhook Brewery is to make drinkable beers for beer drinkers to enjoy during any event.

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

Czech out Redhook’s newest brew.  Redhook Pilsner is crisp, golden lager that is modeled after those historic beers originally made in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia.  Redhook Pilsner’s maltiness is offset by amedium dose of Saaz hops and finishes with a clean, bright,thirst-quenching quality. A great “session” lager for when you’ve got a long day ahead of drinking.

Style………………….Pilsner
Abv…………………….5.3%
IBUs…………………..23 IBU
Original Gravity..12.3 degrees plato
Brewed Since………2010
Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @redhook_brewery

In closing, I know I said this in my blog on their Longhammer India Pale Ale.  I really enjoy drinking their beers.  They are all very drinkable and that is the point of this brewery.  They have enough muscle or this beer they say it has a dark side to it.  This Pilsner has a ton of flavor and I know I will not get bored drinking this beer like most pilsner in the market.  I love my Frankenmuth Pilsner but Redhook Brewery Pilsner is a very close second place.  I really love their packages.  It gives this brewery that old school look going back before prohibition.  I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Craft India Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to taste another beer from Roscoe’s Hop House, which is their India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on this brewery, you are up to speed for the short history I found on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a constant clear copper color without a head. It has no smell but maybe a slight circus smell.  This IPA has a sweet carbonation and citrus taste to it. It is more of an English India Pale Ale.  It is drinkable.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright flavored India Pale Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for an unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is an award for this beer from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Silver Medal – World Beer Championship 2012 86 Points “Highly Recommended” – Beverage Testing Institute 2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:

In closing, this beer is not really good.  It is not really hoppy enough to be an India Pale Ale.  This is more like an English India Pale Ale but I do not think it is not that hoppy enough for that beer style.  It is sad when their Pale Ale is little bit more hoppier then this India Pale Ale.   It is drinkable but that is all this beer has going on with it.  Do not go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Summer Honey Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat Ale is going to be featured.  I told myself that I would never do a mass-produced beer.  Blue Moon is still kind of looked at as a craft beer still, which is kind of sad.  Blue Moon was launched in 1995.  It was created by Keith Villa, which was a brewer at Sandlot Brewery.  This brewery was own by Molson Coors which is now Miller Coors.  This Summer ale was launched in 2011, which was original called Honey Moon in 2006.  Let us get into this beer.

This is a clear yellow color without a head.  It has a constant bubbles in the beer. It has a slight honey smell. There is a ton of honey taste but no wheat taste in the beer.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A refreshing wheat ale crafted with clover honey for a hint of sweetness and a touch of orange peel for subtle citrus notes.

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

Ahhh…Summer Honey Wheat at Last.
When we first opened our doors in 1995, our summer seasonal was one of the first beers we brewed. Back then, we called it Honey Blonde Ale, and it was a favorite of baseball fans coming to a game during the heat of the Colorado summer. It took an extended summer break in 1999, reappearing in 2006 in time to win a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival® under the name Honeymoon Summer Ale and then again in 2010 as Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat.
The beer with more name changes than a professional athlete, today Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat is crafted with Colorado clover honey and orange peel for a refreshing taste that makes the most of sun-soaked days.
Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival®—Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat, Specialty Honey Beer Category.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I am not a fan of wheat ales and pretty much all mas-produced beers.  This beer is pretty bad.  I am only tasting a ton of honey and no wheat notes.  It is very drinkable that I will agree with.  There is better beers in the market that will give you same beer tasting notes.  All this beer is for the beginner in the craft beer world.  Once they explore this new beer world to them.  I know for a fact they will never go back as much as these beer companies think they will with their television ads.  I am not shocked that I did not like this beer.  I would say to pass on this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

In this blog, we are going to get into another beer from Roscoe’s Hop House, which is called Belgian White.  Please, go back and read for the small and lack of information on this brewery in my blog on their Pale Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a Belgian Style White. Why is it clear?  It is clear golden color without a head. It has a heavy coriander smell to the beer. This beer taste like Blue Moon and has that American Belgian Style White Ale taste on it. This beer could fool a lot of beer drinkers because it looks like a pilsner in the glass.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth highly complex flavors of citrus, coriander and subtle spice.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced unfiltered ale has a uniquely crisp taste and exceptionally smooth finish.

Here is a list of awards that this beer won from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

88 Points/ Silver Medal “Highly Recommended” – BTI,

World Beer Championship 2012

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, the problem I have with this beer is simple.  It does not look like a Belgian White Ale.  They claim that is unfiltered but it is very clear and looks like a pilsner.  If you are at a party, this beer could fool a few beer drinkers.  It has the taste and smell of a Belgian White Ale.  I am not a fan of an of these beer styles, which are whites, wheat, and hefweizen.  I have tryed several of these beers I have to say this one is not that good.  The only thing this beer has going for it.  It is at a very low price then the rest of the craft beers in the store.  I would not make a special trip to hunt this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Craft Pale Ale

While shopping at Meijer, I came across these four craft beers in their beer aisle.  There are several grocery and drug stores that are doing their name brand craft beer.  I believe this is the Meijer Brand Name Craft beer.  After doing some research, I have discovered that is not the case.  This is a real brewery from New York.  There is not a lot of information on this brewery but they are from Rochester, New York.  This brewery is own by the Genesee Brewing Company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice copper color with no head. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste of this American Pale Ale is a sweet carbonation with a slight citrus malty in it. It is loss between an English Pale Ale and West Coast Pale Ale.  It is drinkable but without a lot of flavor to the body of the beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright-flavored Pale Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for a unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is a some awards that they won with this beer on their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Pale Ale

Gold Medal – Monde Selection, 2011

Silver Medal / 86 Points “Highly Recommended”- BTI,

World Beer Championship 2011

86 Points – Wine Enthusiast, June 2010

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, I am pretty stun on pretty good this Pale Ale.  I am not saying this is a staple of Pale Ales but for the price you are paying for this beer.  It is kind of worth it and is a great value.  The only problem for us in Chicago, it is only available at Meijer stores.  It has a good hop and malt balances.  I really enjoy drinking this beer and I might have to add it to my regular lineup of beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sixpoint Resin

In this blog, Sixpoint Resin is going to be the feature beer.  Sixpoint Brewery is from Brooklyn, New York City which was founded in 2004.  They brew several different beer styles and put a twist on them.  I have blogged on this brewery several times.  I believe the only beer that I am not a really big fan of their Rightlous Ale.   I need to retry that beer again.  I am not a big fan of Rye Ales.  Asides that I really enjoyed the rest of their line up and it includes this beer.  Let us get into this beer.

Sixpoint Resin is an Imperial India Pale Ale.  It has a nice copper color with a little white head in the beer. It has a heavy citrus to piney smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation citrus with the dry hop aftertaste.  It is very drinkable for the style of beer.

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

Resin

Whatever flames upon the night. Man’s own resinous heart has fed.  A beer that celebrates the extraction of hop resin for a concentrated yet balanced brew. View the story of the Resin below.
Here is a video on their website (www.sixpoint.com):

Sixpoint Resin

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In closing, I am a huge hop head and this lives up to the hop muscle that I am looking in an Imperial India Pale Ale.  I love the overall beer taste.  It has a nice malty backbone which is important with these Imperial and Double IPAs.  There is not too many craft breweries that has done this right to their beers.  Some breweries can not even get their normal India Pale Ale right.  I love how it is drinkable with a serious big punch of 9.1%.  This is my go to Imperial IPA and it is pretty much always in my refrigerate.  Go find this beer and I will be disappointed if you do not fall in love with it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser