food

New Blog Lake Placid Craft Brewing Barkeater Amber

In this blog, we are going to check out a new brewery for me and a beer from my Beer of the Month.  The brewery is Lake Placid Craft Brewing and the beer is Barkeater Amber.  The brewery was founded in 1996 by Christopher Ericson in Lake Placid, New York.  They started out as a small brewpub and started to grow from there.  Their Flagship beer Ubu Ale has been the shining star in their lineup.  It has been enjoyed by countless locals and tourist that heard stories from others.  The great story of this brewery and brew came from their website when President Clinton requested several cases for a White House party.  Let us get into this great beer.

Lake Placid Barkeater Amber Ale is one of their seasonal.  This beer has a dark amber color without a head. It has a heavy malty smell to the beer. The taste is of carbonation to sweet malty taste. The aftertaste is dry with along carbonation.  This beer is very drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“Barkeater” is a translation of the Mohawk word for the Adirondack mountains, but we prefer drinking a beer rather than chewing on trees.  Deep amber in color, Barkeater Amber blends a smooth, medium body with the subtle balance of American hops.  Here’s to the Adirondacks!

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

5.3% ABV

This is an American-style amber ale that has been around for many years. It is one of two amber ales that we regularly brew at the pub, this being the drier hoppier of the two. Barkeater Amber is brewed with a variety of crystal malts which gives its red color and slightly sweet malt flavor. It has four hop additions, with the last addition being a relatively large addition of Willamette hops.  This beer has a fairly dry finish and has been a local favorite for about 15 years

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ubuale.com

Twitter:  @ubuman

In closing, there is not too many American Craft Breweries that can get this classic beer style corrected.  This brewery has found a way to get this classic beer style correct while making it their own unlike other craft breweries. I am for one not a huge fan of this beer style.  However, this beer is right up my alley because of the time frame it is available, it is very drinkable and a ton of flavor going on in this beer.  I cannot see myself drinking this all year long but I would rush to the store when it comes out as a seasonal beer.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Chouffe Houblon Chouffe Tripel IPA

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another brew from the Chouffe Brewery.  The beer is called Houblon Chouffe Tripel India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their La Chouffe then you know a little bit about this brewery from Belgium, let us get into the beer.

This beer is a bright golden with a slight cloudly along with a nice constant white head to it.  A heavy citrus smell is kicking along with some species too. As far as the taste of this awesome Belgium, the beer drinker will taste a very sweet carbonation citrus upper cut in your face along with a nice hop finish that lingers afterwards for a bit after the beer drinking experience.  It is very drinkable for being a highend Tripel IPA.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

On its journey across the globe the little Chouffe wander through beautiful hopfields.  The overwhelming aroma of these little hop flowers such as Tomahawk, Amarillo and Saaz mesmerized him.

Back at home in the Ardennes, he crafted a new recipe combining this heady array of hops with the depth and body of his favorite style “Tripel”.  Thus, our little Chouffe’s new inspiration Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel was born.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.achouffe.be):

Description :

The HOUBLON CHOUFFE was brewed for the first time in 2006.  It is an ‘Indian Pale ale’ type of beer, with a harmonious balance between a marked bitterness (three types of hops are used to make it) and a pleasant fruitiness.  The HOUBLON CHOUFFE is unfiltered, and re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg.

Packaging :

330 ml bottle

750ml bottle

20 litre keg

Alcohol  :

9% alc./vol.

Original extract :

18 °Plato

Serving temperature :

4 to 10°C (bottle)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.achouffe.be

Twitter:  @chouffeusa

In closing,  this is my favorite beer from this brewery.  I love how you get the nice hoppy taste but still get the funky Belgian taste.  I know I have yelled at craft breweries for saying their beers are Belgian Style IPAs.  I do feel the same way towards this brewery, however, they put the word “Tripel” and they put more depth on the hops to make it a little different then the old classic beer style.  The craft beers that said Belgian India Pale Ale are really Tripels that I have had in the market.  Please chellenge me on this beer style, I really want to back off this issue.  Asides that, I really love this beer for many reasons.  It is well balance, drinkable, and a nice spicy kick to the beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Liefmans Cuvee – Brut

In this blog, we are going back over to Belgium to sample out Liefmans Cuvee-Brut.  Here is a little history of this brewery.  There is not too much on this brewery but they were founded in 1679.   Duvel Moortgat Brewery brought them in June 2008 after they went into Chapter 11.  They want to be known as a Benders.  I found this video on their website and Youtube.

Here is the video from Youtube (www.youtube.com) and their website (www.liefmans.be):

Liefmans Brewery

This video tells you the rich history of this brewery in moving pictures then in words.  It will also show their other beers along with description. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark cherry color with no head.  This sour ale has a nice cherry smell. There is a touch of old attic smell in it. The taste is a sweet cherry with a sour kick to it. Shocking this beer is very drinkable for the type of beer style.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Aged with cherries, flavored with cherries and cherry juice.  Contains sugar and barley malt.  6% ABV

Here is a descripation form their website (www.liefmans.be):

This Kreik is made with a completely different method from Kreik Lambic.  It starts with old brown beer which is macerated with fresh whole cherries in shallow, horizontal tanks [every 100 liter brown beer holds 13kg cherries].  Then it matures for about 1 year, afterwards it is blended with old Oud Bruin and Goudenband of different ages.  The result is a well  balanced sour and sweet Kreik of great complexity.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.liefmans.be

Twitter:  @liefmansusa

In closing, it took me forever to starting loving this beer style, which is sours.  However, I pick this beer up for a special event, I thought I would give my thoughts on this beer. This is a very well made beer and they did an awesome job.  I am loving the fact they stayed true to what they were and what they are right now.  I love the drinkablity and the complexs nature of this beer.  Beer drinkers can drink this beer any time of the season.  This beer would be perfect for any special event for being a highend beer.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  If you like fruit beers, Cuvee- Brut is right up your alley.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser Lipka

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog De Koninck Anno 1833

Something different, we are going to get into an import beer from the import company called Duvel.  The beer that will be featured in this blog is called De Koninck Anno 1833.    The brewery was founded in 1833 in the Belgium city of Antwerp.  They brewery several different beers but this Amber Ale is their flagship beer.  It is only one of two beers that is in the states.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a nice amber color with a ton of white carbonation head. The smell ia not really good. It has a weird smell but as a beer drinker you never judge a beer by the look or smell.  The taste is the real story of it.  It has a slight carbonation with some sweet malty taste. It reminds me sitting around the camp fire making s’mores in the Michigan woods as a kid. It is very drinkable beer.

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

De Koninck is the brewery’s jewel in the crown. Its typical surprisingly malty flavour is appreciated by beer lovers worldwide. This amber-coloured top-fermented beer (25 to 27°) has an accessible taste and a low alcohol content. Brewed in the traditional way using water, yeast, 100% pure malt and pure hops. A natural product, in other words. And what about the slightly bitter finish? De Koninck uses organic Saaz-Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, natural barley and without the addition of maize or brewing sugars. One thing is certain: this delicious specialty beer is the ideal thirst quencher.  Alcohol content: 5.2% Vol.  Pour with a creamy head at 4-6° in the distinctive spherical De Koninck “bolleke” glass.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dekoninck.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter account.

In closing, this is a very unique beer that comes out of Belgium.  When drinking this beer you would never thought, it comes out of Belgium.  When you think of Belgium, you picture chocolate and weird to different spicy to fruity beers.  This one is in its own little world.  I am not a huge fan of Belgium beers but I really like this beer.  It is very drinkable and have a ton of flavor without it being over spicy or hopped up.  I would recommend this beer to even your average or beginner beer drinker.  Oh I forgot to say this.  Fat Tire please go away because this beer will never been duplicate.  You loss!  You get nothing!  Good day beer!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Hoptimum Ale

Starting other new blogs, we are going to take a look at a brewery called Sierra Nevada Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog then you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery, the beer is called Hoptimum Whole Cone Imperial India Pale Ale.  This beer only comes out once a year.  Everything depends on the hop harvest that goes on throughout the country and even the world on these speciality craft beers. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a deep dark copper with a nice white big head. A big grapefruit smell to the beer. It is very nice smell and I do not like grapefruits.  As far as the taste of the beer, it is sweet carbonation with a hint of grapefruit.  The aftertaste is a very nice dry hoppy kick to it. This big India Pale Ale of ABV of 10.4% and over 100 IBU is very extremely drinkable.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Hoptimum is the biggest whole – cone IPA we have ever produced — a 100 IBU, whole – cone hurricane of flavor.  Aggressively hopped,  dry – hopped, AND torpedoed, Hoptimum delivers ultra – intense flavors to hop fanatics everywhere.

Here is a descripation form their website (www.sierranevada.com):

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Resinous “new-school” and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In closing,  I really love their beers and this beer is no question at the top of my list.  It took this brewery a long time until they came out with an India Pale Ale in package form.  When they did finally came out with it, then they made this awesome beer.  This is a very drinkable Imperial India Pale Ale and I can see many people getting in trouble drinking this beer.  I love this beer for the hop taste, nice malty backbone, and the smoothest of it.  I highly recommend this beer and I would go and search it since it is a seasonal brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Yuengling Brewery Traditional Lager

In this blog, we are going drive to a brewery that I really wished they would come to Chicago.  The brewery and the beer I am talking about is Yuengling Brewery Traditional Lager.  On their label on their beer bottle tells us a little history of this brewery.  They are American’s Oldest Brewery started in 1829 by David Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.  They brew several different beer styles.  They are tied with Boston Beer Company for most sales from an American owned brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a dark copper to light amber in color with no head.  There is a smell. I make it out to explain it but it smells really good. The taste is a sweet carbonation.  It is very drinkable.  This is what an American Lager should taste like not what is being put in your glass today.

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

An iconic American lager famous for its rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor – with roasted caramel malt for a subtle sweetness and a combination of cluster and cascade hops, this true original delivers a well- balanced taste with very distinct character.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.yuengling.com

Twitter:  @yuengling_beer

In closing, I really enjoy this beer and just what I said at the top of this blog.  I wish it was here in Chicago and I understand why they do not come here.  This would be my everyday beer if it was here.  This beer is really old school in a very good way.  It is very drinkable with a ton of flavor for being one of the mass produced breweries.  I still believe they are a craft beer but I know many craft beer drinkers do not look at this brewery as a craft brewery.  This is a very good beer and I hope to get back east coast to try their beers.  I hope you can go and get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon Milk Stout

image

Starting a new blog, we are going to get into another beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pull Chain then I do not have to bored you about the history of this brewery,  the beer that will be feature in this blog is Polish Moon Milk Stout.  Let us start get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a dirty white head. This milk stout has a ton of carbonation in the bottle. Be careful pouring out the beer into the glass.  The smell of the beer is chocolate to roast malts with some hints of coffee.  This stout is very smooth with some burn chocolate to coffee notes flowing through the drinking experience.  For being a dark beer with ABV 4.5%, it is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Beer

This pitch black stout is teaming with rich roasted malt and coffee flavors. The addition of milk sugar tames these intense flavors with a silky sweetness. A very easy drinking, full bodied beer.

History

Built in 1962, the Allen-Bradley clock tower has become a Milwaukee landmark. Until recently, it was the largest four sided clock in the world, rising 280 feet in the air with each face having a diameter of 40 feet.

Located on Milwaukee’s south side, the clock tower quickly got the nickname “Polish Moon” because of the large Polish population in the neighborhood. With a bar on every corner, it was a fun place for neighbors and friends to get together and have impromptu parties

Brewer

One of my favorite winter warmer beers, it’s also a fun beer to brew. First you get the super rich chocolate coffee aroma from all the dark malts. Then you add a couple hundred pound of sugar to the brew kettle, it’s almost like adding sweetner to a giant cup of coffee. What makes this a milk stout is the addition of milk sugar, or lactose sugar, to the wort. Yeast can’t eat this sugar so it remains behind after fermentation as a natural sweetner. Trying to get the balance between the milk sugar sweetness and the bitterness of the roasted malts is probably the trickiest part of this entire brew. We’ve been working on that balance for a couple of years now and I think we’re on the right track.

Here is a youtube video on their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Finishing up the beer, I really love this beer and it is in my top three beers from this brewery.  It is hard not to pick this one or their Hop Happy India Pale Ale.  It is smooth with a ton of flavor.  I love the chocolate and roasted malt notes throughout the drinking experience.  It is very well made and drinkable to where you could drink it even on the hot summer days or warm spring days.   You cannot say that about all the stouts that are in the market.  This beer has taken down Left Hand Milk Stout.  This is my number Milk Stout.  I would  try them side by side and you will see what I am talking about.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Rhinelander Brewing Company Chocolate Bunny Stout

In this blog, we are going bunny hunting.  We are going to try a beer from the Rhinelander Brewing Company.  The beer is called Chocolate Bunny Stout.  I never heard of this brewery so this will be a learning lesson for me just like you.  Unless you hit up every brewery in Wisconsin.  Rhinelander Brewing Company is from Monroe, Wisconsin and was founded in 1882 as the orignal company.  Bad luck came to the brewery as it burned down in 1897.  They rebuild and then closed again because of Prohibition era.  They open in 1933 like every brewery and was in business until 1967.  They were purchased by Joseph Huber Brewing Company and then moved their brewing of their beers to Monroe, Wisconsin.  They are looking to move their brewing back to Rhinelander by 2014 with a two million project.  It sounds like this brewing a long history of up and downs is on its way to a very bright history.  Well here is the beer we will be trying.

This beer is black in color with a small constant white head. A ton of cocoa to chocolate smell going on in the beer along with a roasted to burn smell in it too. The taste of the beer is a sweet carbonation chocolate overload with ton of coco bitter aftertaste. It is very drinkable beer and worth the price.

Here is a description from their bottle:

Dark and silky rich stout loaded with chocolate flavor.  Is there chocolate in my beer or beer in my chocolate?

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rhinelanderbrewery.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In the end, this was a very interesting drinking beer experience for me.  The cocoa powder in this beer pops out too much during the experience.  The stout part in this beer is really solid but then add the cocoa powder that is added during the brewing process.  This beer is kind of drinkable but I can see many beer drinkers finishing this beer and then moving on to another one.  I really did not like this beer but I respect this brewery for doing something different.  Also I love the price.  It was only $3.99.  It comes with a huge value but at the same time you will get what you pay for in this beer.  If you are looking for something different with a good price, this beer might be the way to go for your next beer.  This beer is average to slightly below average.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

(History information came from their website (www.rhinelanderbrewery.com) and Wikipedia)

New Blog Uinta Brewery Sum’r Summer Ale

In this blog, we are going to take another look at the the small brewery from Utah.  If you read my earlier on their Uinta Brewery Hyve Honey Ale then you know a little bit of this brewery, let us get into the beer.

This beer is a clear golden color with no head to it.  The smell is a little earthy or fresh air.  The taste of this summer seasonal is very smooth and very light to make this beer very drinkable. It has a nice sweet carbonation with a slight citrus taste in this beer.  There is really no aftertaste to this summer ale. It kind of reminds me of a kolish but I know it is not the beer style.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.uintabrewing.com):

Description

Citrusy and thirst-quenching, this refreshing golden ale is highlighted by the use of unique hops.

Tasting Notes

Appealing Sorachi hops, an uncommon hop from Japan, balanced with lighter malts. Citrusy, fresh, clean. Sum’r Organic Summer Ale pairs well with summer. It is an easy companion to most foods on the summer grill, such as chicken, fish, and burgers. Pairs well with curries and spicy foods. Try it with sushi!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter: @uintabrewing

In closing, I am not a big fan of most Spring and Summer Seasonal beers.  This Summer Ale from Uinta is a little bit better then their Spring Season, which is Uinta Hyve Honey Ale.  I really did not enjoy this beer and here are my reasons.  The first thing that turn me off about this beer is the light in body of it.  It is very light in body to fit the hot summer days, which makes sense.  I am a weirdo because I will drink some heavy and full body beers in the hot summers.  I do not care what season it is.  I love my big beers.  This beer has more flavor then their Hyve Honey Ale but I would rather drink a pilsner.  Overall, Uinta did a good job on this beer and it will sell to fans of Summer Seasonals and light body beers.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron IBA

In this blog, we are going to dig into another beer from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  I have done a history in one of my earlier blog.  We are going to be sampling out one of their seasonal.  The name of the beer is Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron India Black Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a white constant head.  The smell of chocolate to toffee is filling the air around your nose.  As far as the taste of this India Black Ale is smooth with chocolate and carbonation taste with a slight citrus aftertaste.  This beer is very drinkable and the ABV being 7.4%.  It is danger Mr. Robinson.

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

History of the Beer

The history of blacksmithing in Milwaukee really centers around Cyril Colnik. After the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, he was convinced to move to Milwaukee by Captain Frederick Pabst. The master blacksmith went on to do iron work iconic Milwaukee landmarks just ask the Pabst Mansion and Villa Terrace.

We tip our hats to Kent Knapp and his love for the craft. This dark hefty beer goes hand in hand mimicking the shop and the medium in which he works.

Beer

Brewed with a dehusked German malt that gives it a black and silky look, without the bitter roastiness you find in other dark beers. A variety of Columbus and Cascade hops were used quite generously to help balance out the large malt bill. This beer is abundant with in complex flavors and hop character and yet quite smooth for a beer that sits at 7.5% abv and 48 IBUs. Cheers!

From the Brewer

The style “India Black Ale” is so new, that there’s no one, all authoritative beer that we need to compare to. The trick is to get the balance between the malt bitterness and the hop bitterness. In this case we used non-astringent roasted malts to add the roasted flavors. The malt is a de-husked German black malt, it provides the color, and the roast flavor without the risk of extra acidity. It creates this intense roasted coffee and chocolate aroma. When we add the hops you’ll get that pine and citrus smell. When we released the test batch last year it went over really well. I drink the IBA when I have the time to really savor it and when it has the chance to come up to room temperature.

Here is a youtube video from their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Milwaukee Brewing Company Black Iron Ale

In closing,  I really love this beer.  If it was anything close to their Hop Happy India Pale ale, I knew I would love this Black Iron.  I know their Black Iron is an India Black Ale not what all the rest of the craft brewery called their beers called Black India Pale Ale.  I love how this beer is drinkable and the punch of citrus from hops while it is cutting through the roasted and chocolate notes.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser