food

New Beer Blog Anchor Brewery Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Big Leaf Maple Autumn Red Ale from Anchor Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Anchor Brewing IPA post, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read it to get to know this west coast craft brewery. Let us get into this fall beer.

It has a nice clear red to amber color with a white head. The aroma has a sweet malt to hints of maple syrup. The taste has a carbonated malty to slight nutty notes. The aftertaste is a dry slight burned maple syrup to malty notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle and website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

Our fall seasonal, BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, was inspired by a native California tree, its incredible leaves, its delicious syrup, and the best colors of fall. Bigleaf maple thrives along the banks of California’s mountain streams. Native Californians once made rope and baskets from its bark. Today, artisans handcraft its wood and burl into custom guitars. In autumn its huge leaves, up to a foot across, can display a full range of color as they slowly turn from green to gold to red. Bigleaf maple sugaring in California dates to the 1800s; yet this tree’s unusually flavorful syrup remains the product of a small group of hobbyists. A hint of maple—including bigleaf maple—syrup in every brew perfectly complements the malty complexity, balanced hoppiness, and rich fall hue of BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red™, a red ale like no other.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter: @anchorbrewing

In closing, I was looking forward to trying this beer. I was pretty interested on how the maple syrup would go over with the red ale. I liked it. The aftertaste is pretty dry aftertaste. There is some nice flavor and some complex notes. I enjoyed drinking this beer. I might be picking up some more before the end of the season. There is so many fall seasonals that I want to get into. I like this beer if it was for dessert or a late night beer. I know there are some people that can drink this while they are tailgating. This is a great beer. I recommend it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Alaskan Brewery Hop Thermia Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into Hop Thermia Double IPA from Alaskan Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Northwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head. The smell has slight citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a citrus hop bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

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

Style:

This American Double India Pale Ale, or IPA, is as big and bold as the mythical lone brewer himself. Legend has it that he first came up with this beer, with the help of his woodland friends, to fight against the long frigid winter nights endured by all of the pioneers of the Last Frontier.

Flavor Profile:

Hopothermia is a full-flavored representation of the Double IPA style with a robust malt body resting in easy harmony, like a massive grizzly bear in winter, with the big and drinkable American hop character.

History:

Much of the history of Hopothermia is lost to the mists of time. We know that the windswept lone brewer dreamt of a Double IPA so bold and packed full of hop flavor that it could keep the wild wolves from the door of his remote cabin. We know he was able to converse with the creatures of the woods – except for the bears who slept through the cold winter, and the mink, who were just really super rude. And we know he skillfully crafted a beer that became the stuff of legend.

There are strange brews made where glaciers cascade
By the brewers who know no bounds.
For they stuff in the hops ’til the temperature drops
And then call for a few more rounds.
In Alaska, it seems, every brewer dreams
of a bold Double IPA.
Hopothermia’s the beer, in the Last Frontier
That will keep the wild wolves at bay.

Story Behind The Label:

The legend of Hopothermia begins as any Alaskan tale should, on a frozen landscape with wolves howling and a vast dark moonless sky of swirling Northern Lights above. It was on that long-ago night that a lone brewer stood against the harsh winds with only his beard to protect him, and dreamt of a beer so full of hop flavor, so jam packed with the spirit of frontier Alaska, it could freeze your very soul and one of your thumbs. All that winter, as moose, wolverines, and one beaver peered through his remote cabin window, he feverishly labored to make a beer that could face down the harsh elements – that could conquer not only thirst – but fear itself. After the thaw, the lone brewer had vanished, leaving behind only a few recipes scrawled on scraps of paper, a sock puppet, and a hand-whittled keg. In that keg he left his legacy – Hopothermia. Respect this beer. Wear layers. Lots of wool. Mittens? Open a bottle and then, sshh . . . Listen for the windswept cry of a lone wolf.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter: @alaskanbeer

Closing, I know you know that I am a huge fan of this brewery. I loved this brewery before they came to the State Of Michigan. I was always excited when my friend Dean would bring some bottles back from the West Coast. When they finally made it to Michigan, I have been going crazy finding out what is being released in the state. There were several beers that are here that I never had. I was excited to get them out-of-the-way. This Double IPA was one of them. I love the name and the packaging. I love how it is a nice sipping beer. There is some complex flavor going on in this beer. I love it. It has a nice color and aroma. This is a great beer. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead Ale (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another pumpkin beer, which is Pumpkinhead Ale, from Shipyard Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this pumpkin beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head on this pumpkin beer. The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes. The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes but turns to water notes with a cinnamon to slight pumpkin finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shipyard.com

Twitter: @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I loved their Smashed Pumpkin Ale. I wanted to try the normal seasonal in their everyday six pack line of the fall from this brewery. I have been pretty curious on this craft brewery. I do not know this brewery because most of their packaging does not help sell their beers. It is pretty boring but most cases that means the beer is really good. I have to say in this case with this Pumpkinhead Ale it is pretty average. I was pretty disappointed and I have to say this is the weakest fall and pumpkin beer this season. I will be searching out for their other beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Vienna Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Vienna Lager, from Sierra Nevada’s new Fall Sampler Pack. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this lager.

It has a clear dark golden to light copper color with a white constant head. The smell has some shunky notes. The taste has a malty to light shunky notes with a nutty finish for the aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Vienna-style lagers were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style. It’s a good thing they did. These delicate beers lean on light and bready malt flavors, but walk a fine, balanced line with whole-come European hope contributing a dry finish.

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

Vienna

The quintessential amber lager revisited.

Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These delicate and extremely balanced amber beers rely on semi-sweet and bready malt flavors but walk a fine line with both malt and hop character shouldering equal weight. Our take on the style features whole-cone European hops, which add to the dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I will pick up their fall pack for the Oktoberfest and their Autumn Brown Ale. Just like those other two beers, this is the only way you can get these beers. It is a nice perfect beer for the fall pack. I just do not know how their Pale Ale fits with all this malty love going on this pack. It is kind of two different beer drinkers. Most people who buy these sampler packs are taking them to parties or tailgate parties. I honestly think this brewery can brew just about every style. I highly recommend this beer and the sampler pack. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer from Sierra Nevada Brewery’s Fall Pack. It is former fall seasonal and it is their Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a clear dark brown color with a white constant head. The smell has a malty to nutty notes. The taste has a slight sweet malty to nutty notes with a peanut butter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint of smoke. Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer.

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

TumblerRoasted, rich, and perfect for an autumn afternoon.

Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint of smoke, Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer, so grab a seat and watch as the leaves come tumbling down.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing, I love this beer and I wish I could get it in a 12pk again. I love Flipside but it is not like Tumbler Brown. It is a nice relaxing beer to have in a nice fall day. It is not overly dry malt to nutty notes. It has a nice balance that you can enjoy it during the Saturday or Sunday football games. This brown ale can fit perfectly with any tailgating food. They kept this true to the classic beer style. There is nothing more to say but it is a great beer. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Oktoberfest that I did not know that Sierra Nevada Brewery made. This beer came out of their new Fall Sampler Pack twelve pack bottles. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada Brewery. Let us get into this Oktoberfest.

It has a reddish-brown color with slightly off-color white head. The aroma has a sweet malty, toffee to nutty notes. The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a slight burned caramel notes for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable fall beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Everyone loves a great party, and there are few quite as famous as Germany’s Oktoberfest. Inspired by that rollicking celebration, we bring you our version of this classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium bodied and rich with malt flavor, but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral hops.

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

Oktoberfest

Our take on the classic, malty festival beer.

Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage and the health of the fall harvest—which in Bavaria, means brewers, barley and hops! Today, Oktoberfest is considered one of the world’s greatest parties, and in honor of that rollicking bash we bring you our version of the classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium-bodied and rich with bready and toffee-like malt flavor but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral and spicy hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing, I love this brewery and I hope one day to make a trip to see this craft brewery. They make some awesome beers and I am always looking for any and all new beers to hit the market. I never had one bad beer from this west coast craft brewery. I was happy to see them put out a sampler packs. They released their 4-way IPA, Beer Camp, and now this one, which is Fall Pack. This Oktoberfest keeps the awesome season roll going for the fall beers. I have to say this is my favorite Oktoberfest. It is not like Goose Island and Great Lakes Oktoberfest where it has a sweet caramel notes. This one has a sweet malty notes to nutty but I love the aftertaste, which is like a burned caramel notes. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewing Oktoberfest (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another Oktoberfest from Cheboygan Brewing. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this Oktoberfest Beer.

It has a nice clear light amber to dark copper color with a semi white head. The smell has a candy to sweet caramel notes. The taste has a sweet candy to caramel notes with a dry malty notes for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com):

Gold Medal award winner at the 2012 Frankenmuth World Expo of Beer!

The beer, created by the brewery’s operation manager and brewmaster Tim Perry, who was inspired by the 1976 Späten Oktoberfest bier from Munich, Germany, is orange in hue with a pronounced malt presence. 6% ABV IBU 28. Available in the Fall. Available in six packs seasonally.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter: @CheboyganBrew

In the end, I have been really impressed with all the fall seasonals asides the Erdinger, Griffin Claw, Atwater Brewery, and Weihenstephaner. I have to say those were bad. I believe that is four out of fourteen fall beers. This brewery puts another good one on that list. I am so happy to have a great streak of fall beers this season. I love the candy to caramel notes from the malt. It is pretty sweet but yet has a nice malty dry finish. It will have you coming back and drink more and more of this beer. I highly recommend this beer. You can find this one in the Michigan market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer (Cider) Blog Woodchuck Fall Harvest Hard Cider (2014)

In this fall seasonal cider blog, we are going to get into one of two fall seasonals from Woodchuck Hard Cider. This is their everyday seasonal cider. It is apple pie cider. If you read earlier beer blog posts about their ciders, you know the history of this cider makers. If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know Woodchuck. Let us get into this fall cider.

It has a clear dark golden color without a head. The smell has an apple pie notes of cinnamon and apple. The taste a cinnamon up front sweetest notes and finish like an apple pie aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the cider bottle:

The fall harvest brings farmers and communities together to celebrate another year of fruitful labor. It is a time of shorter days, cooler nights, and great apples. This cider has a complex and elegant character full of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg balanced out with a hint of american white oak. A true taste of the season.

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

Fall Harvest

The fall harvest brings farmers and communities together to celebrate another year of fruitful labor, It is a time of shorter days, cooler night, and great apples. This cider has a complex and elegant character full of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg balanced out with a hint of American White Oak. A true taste of the season.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.woodchuck.com

Twitter: @woodchuckcider

In the end, I have to say this cider makers made me a fan of ciders. I am on my fall seasonal kick and I like to start trying them early to get as many in as I can. I know a few of these fall seasonals disappear from the market quickly. I know this will not but it is nice to get it in early. I know towards end of the season. I will be burned out on them but I highly doubt it. I say that every year. There is a nice complex tasting notes going on in this cider. It is not another boring hard cider. They put some thought into it for this type of season. I love the fact that it does taste like liquid apple pie. I highly recommend this cider. It is a nice way to kick off the fall season and wrap it before the winter season. Go get some! Drink it Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Stout (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another fall beer in this season of 2014. The next is Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this New York craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Southern Tier Brewery. Let us get into this pumpkin stout.

This fall seasonal has a jet black color with an off white color head. The smell is pretty complex. The aroma has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes with an almost chocolate ginger bread notes. The taste has a chocolate cinnamon to ginger bread notes with a chocolate nutmeg dry slight bitter finish for aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Warlock is brewed to enchant your palate on its own and also to counterpoint our imperial ale, Pumking. Make your own black magic by carefully pouring this imperial stout into a goblet.

Master Of The Underworld

Dark and mysterious, the Blackwater Series is serious about high gravity. Reanimate your senses with Warlock’s huge roasted malt character, moderate carbonation and spicy pumpkin pie aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter: @stbcbeer

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this brew. I am not a fan at all of their Pumking. I just feel it is too full of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is really no balance with that pumpkin beer. This stout part has kind of overpower the rest of the beer. It has a little bit more of a balance than Pumking. I love the combine of the chocolate and cinnamon to nutmeg notes. This is a great beer and this fall seasonal beer releases have been great this year. This one is at the top of the list. This is a great beer and I might have another bottle before the end of the season. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Griffin Claw Screamin’ Pumpkin Ale (2014)

In this fall seasonal beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Griffin Claw Brewery. I do not know why I keep coming back to this brewery. I know why for this beer because this is an old Michigan Brewery Company recipe. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this young craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this pumpkin ale.

It has a light amber to dark color with a semi white head. The aroma has a heavy cinnamon and nutmeg notes. The taste has really no notes but slight sweet malt. The aftertaste is a heavy cinnamon and nutmeg notes. It is so not drinkable beer.

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

Our Screamin’ Pumkin Ale is like a slice of warm pie. Cinnamon, clove, sweet pumpkin, a little molasses. A couple sips in you’ll mistake the malty aftertaste for a crispy crust. The perfect beer to celebrate Halloween. Or Thanksgiving. Or Christmas, if there’s any left. From the time we brew it in July get it while it’s good.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Twitter: @Griffinclaw

Closing, I was a pretty big fan of the Michigan Brewery Company Screaming Pumpkin Ale. I use to make trips back from Chicago to bring some back. Later years I stop because of being busy and then they went out of business. I was pretty excited to hear that a craft brewery brought the rights to the recipe. I do not know what they did with this recipe but it is not the same beer as I remember it. It has been a long time since I had it. Maybe my taste has changed over the years. I might have to retry it but I am hoping I do not get a bad batch. Who knows, maybe this first one was a bad batch. It was not really good. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

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