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New Beer Blog Lake Of Bays Old North Mocha Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Lake Of Bays Old North Mocha Porter.  This craft brewery is from Canada.  They are part of the government back company in Canada.  There is not much history on this craft brewery.  There is nothing on their website and not much on the website.  Let us get into this porter.

This porter has a jet black color with a light tan color head that is really not there anymore. The aroma has a coffee to chocolate notes. The taste has a nice creamy chocolate notes with a dry coffee finish for the aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Best enjoyed with a hearty meal and a nip in the air, this porter derives its rich character from roasted barley, chocolate malts and locally roasted coffee.  Bold and robust, Old North Mocha Porter is a faithful expression of the intrepid frontier spirit.

Here is a description from their website (www.lakeofbaysbrewing.ca):

Roasted barley and chocolate malt lend this porter its full, rich character, and the addition of locally roasted coffee takes the flavour profile still further. This is the fourth year we’ve brought you this delicious autumn seasonal, brewed in collaboration with Diesel House Coffee Roasters. A fitting tribute to the Old North we call home.

Tasting Notes

Pours almost black with beautifully creamy, mocha-coloured foam. Upon further inspection, the colours are actually deep ruby, garnet and dark brown. The aromas include cappuccino, mocha, chocolate and vanilla with a hint of molasses and pie crust. The flavours include subtle sweetness with dark chocolate, mild coffee and tiramisu. The mouth feel is dry (fairly mild) with some initial sweetness. The finish is medium-to-moderate bitterness that lingers and delivers a nice coffee profile that arrives quite late. 8% alc./vol.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lakeofbaysbrewing.ca

Twitter:  @LB_brewing

Closing, I have to say I enjoyed this beer.  I know most breweries in Canada makes some great brews.  Their weakest is beyond far better than most bad craft breweries in the states.  There is a nice balance from the coffee and the porter notes.  Porter has some burn chocolate and natural coffee notes.  Lake Of Bays added some coffee and made it a focus on in this brew.  They did a great job to make the coffee notes shine but not over take the beer.  This is a like an cold Mocha coffee.  I highly recommend this beer if you can find 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 Latitude 42 Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from Latitude 42 Brewery.  It is their Red Beard’s India Style Red Ale.  There is not much history on this Michigan craft brewery.  I know they opened their doors some time last year.  They are one of the best young Michigan craft brewery. They are packaging their beers in cans like most Michigan craft brewery  Let us get into this Red Ale.

This Red IPA has a clear red to amber color with a nice white head. The aroma has a malty to a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a creamy malty to citrus notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty hoppy finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.latitude42brewingco.com):

Red Beard’s India Red Ale

Our red ale is a cross between a northwest red ale and an India pale ale hence the style India red ale. The dark amber-colored brew uses a variety of crystal malts and premium 2-row malt as well as Munich malt to create a full-bodied ale. Generous additions of Chinook, centennial and simcoe hops impart abundant hop character. Together the malts and hops generate a tasty rich and quaffable ale. 6.5%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.latitude42brewingco.com

Twitter:  @Latitude42Brew

Closing, I had a chance  to stop by this craft brewery when I was moving back to Michigan from Chicago.  I heard rumors they will be opening very soon.  I took a chance to stop for lunch and sample a flight of their beers.    This was one of the beer that I sampled.  I really enjoyed this one and a few of their other beers.  I would have sampled more of their beers but I had to drive to the other side of the state.  I like it but it depends on the price.  I am finding most of the Michigan craft beers are always but sometimes are over priced.  I believe I will be able to mix this beer into my regular beer line up.  There is not too many really good red IPA’s.  I will mix this one in to give me a different IPA once in a while.  It is not overly hoppy but just enough to drink a few of them.  I highly recommend this beer and I cannot wait to see their beers in liquor stores on southeast part of Michigan.  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 New Belgium Brewery And Perennial Artisan Ales Lips Of Faith Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into beer from a team of New Belgium Brewery and Perennial Artisan Ales.  It is part of New Belgium Brewery’s Lips Of Faith.  The brew is called Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both of these craft breweries, you know the history of  both breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to New Belgium and Perennial Artisan Ales.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a creamy tan color head. The aroma has a creamy milk chocolate with slight salt notes.  The taste has a slight salted creamy chocolate notes.  The aftertaste has a dry salted notes.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Dessert is best poured and the brewers at Perennial agree.  We dreamt up a beer that would bring together chocolate sweetness, Belgian yeast, deeply roasted malts and just the right shake of salt to pour a creamy stout worthy of a cherry on top.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, I will say New Belgium has been hitting some home runs of late between their everyday beers, new seasonal, and high-end brews.  I am a pretty big fan of Perennial Artisan Ales when I lived in Chicago.  I am still a fan but I can not get their beers here in Michigan.  They have not made it here.  I was pretty excited when I saw they teamed up with New Belgium Brewery.  I love the salt and chocolate mix in this beer.  It reminds me a creamy milk chocolate with sea salt notes on it.  This is a great liquid.  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 Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite beer from Bell’s Brewery.  It is their Special Double Cream Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan color head. The smell has some chocolate, coffee, to alcohol notes.  The taste has a chocolate to burn coffee notes with a dry coffee aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a blend of 10 different malts, Double Cream is an incredibly rich stout composed of dark, sweet, and smooth tones intermingled with a soft, roasty finish.

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

Special Double Cream Stout derives its name from its smooth, creamy texture, not the ingredients. Completely dairy-free, this stout blends ten different specialty malts to yield a remarkable depth of flavor. With only a touch of burnt notes, Special Double Cream Stout focuses on the softer, cocoa & espresso-like aspects of roasted malt.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I love this beer and I enjoy it very much.  I had the chance to have this beer in a Firkin.  It was even better brew.  I love the fact the shelf life is a year but I bet I can get it to age for a few years.  I just wish this beer was available all year-long.  This beer I know cost a little bit more to make and let it age to quality to the beer.  This beer has some nice creamy chocolate notes but a nice burn coffee notes.  This beer will sneak up on you because it does not drink like a high alcohol beer.  I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Nitro Oatmeal Stout

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Founders Brewery is the featured craft brewery in this beer blog.  We will be looking at one of three draft only beers and it is nitro draft from Founder’s.  It is their Nitro Oatmeal Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Nitro Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with tan color head.  The aroma has a chocolate and coffee notes. The taste has a creamy chocolate to slight coffee notes. There is a slight burn notes that also echoes in the taste and aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A Founders take on a classic style, brewed with a generous amount of flaked oats, chocolate malt, roasted barley and a healthy helping of Nugget hops, Founders Oatmeal Stout is nitrogen-infused to give it an extra smooth and creamy mouthfeel. An attractive cascade effect gives this beer its forthright visual appeal—and the body and clean flavor delivers on that initial promise.

  • ABV: 4.5%
  • IBUs: 38
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I was out on a NFL Football Sunday to watch my Miami Dolphins.  I saw this on draft and it was a slam dunk to try it and drink it.  I also noticed it was hooked up to a Nitro line.  Nitro makes everything good but not every beer.  It was pretty excited to try this beer.  It was not too bad but it is pretty average.  I will have to say it is so much better than Summit Brewery Oatmeal Stout.  This is a pretty average beer but it is pretty than some of their everyday beers.  Just because it is made in Michigan, it does not make it good.  This is better than most Michigan craft brews.  I highly recommend this beer.  I had this one at One Under Bar in Livonia.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Why And Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a hot issue in the huge growing market of craft beers, ciders, and breweries.  There has been a huge growth and it is coming out of the mass produced beer companies.  There is home brewers taking their passion of beer making to the public.  The questions that I am going to try to answer for myself are “Why And Why Not Drink Local Beers And Ciders?”

Why Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

It is pretty simple.  Money stays in the state and/or the local area.  There will be more jobs created because of these breweries.   The money keeps coming in and out of the brewery.  It works if the brewery is buying supplies from local companies and most do this practice.  Most craft breweries take homes in old and empties buildings.  They resolve these old buildings back to the way they were back in their heyday.  Of course, they put their brewery and restaurant in them.  The other things that these breweries in most cases.  They create more jobs at distributors.  They hire a marketing firm or their own people to run it.  Just like most businesses, they will put money back in the economy.

Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

I get beat up about half of the time when I bring this up to people at craft beer bars or stores in my local market.  I get it because everyone wants to support their local businesses and I am one of them.  I have to be honest with myself and others around me.  I heard this when I lived in Chicago and now here in the Michigan.  When traveling to other cities around the US, I saw these same signs and heard it from the locals.  When trying these beers or ciders at home or your local watering hole, be honest to yourself because it will save you from the painful drinking experience.  I had a pretty ugly drinking experience with a local craft brewery in Chicago.  I kept on telling myself that I love this beer and brewery.  I just finally admitted to myself that they are not that good.  I started to look at local craft brewery in a different light.  I give breweries credit when they put a good beer to the market.  I also give them credit for thinking outside the box.

In closing, I am not saying do not drink local beers and ciders.  If their beers are good, drink them and support them.  If their beers are not good, you as a beer drinker, customer, and buyer needs to send them a message.  They need to improve or go away.  This is the ugly side to the business world.  I am catching myself doing it it again.  Just be honest with yourself about these beers or ciders in your area.  There is new craft breweries opening every day and there will be more good to great beers and bad beers.  Remember, you are voting with your wallet.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Support the local good beer and let the bad go away.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Harvest Ale Wet-Hopped Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another limited release beer known as Harvest Ale from Founders.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Founders Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head.  The smell has a citrus to piney notes.  The taste has a piney, citrus, and a slight tropical notes. It is light and refreshing beer with a nice crisp hop finish for the aftertaste.  The hop aftertaste hangs but it disappears. It is a pretty drinkable wet hop ale.

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

This liquid dream pours a hazy golden straw color with a white, two-finger head. Your first sip rewards you with a super juicy hop presence bursting with fresh citrus, then finishes to introduce toasted malt undertones.
  • ABV: 7.6%
  • IBUs: 70
  • Availability: October

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end,  I love this beer. This is by far the best product that they make.  I really love this wet hopped ale.  They picked some nice hops and build a nice malty backbone.  There is some nice packaging.  I also love the color and presentation of this ale.  This is a beer if they can pull it off.  It should be all year-long but I get why it is not because it is the harvesting of the hops that makes beer special.  I really like this beer and I will have a few more 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 Bell’s Venus The Bringer Of Peace

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample the second beer in the planet series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Venus The Bringer Of Peace.  The first one was Mars which was double IPA.  I did not get a chance to write-up a review on it and all bottles were sold out.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this ale.

It has a slight cloudy golden to honey tone to the color without a head.  The smell has a nice sweet honey apricot notes. The taste has a sweet honey apricot. The apricot is pretty heavy but the vanilla notes take over the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.”Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.

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

The Bringer of Peace

STYLE: Blonde Ale Brewed With Honey, Apricot, Cardamom, and Vanilla

RELEASE DATE: October 2014

ABV: 7.5%

COLOR: Light blondish orange, very slight haze

GLASSWARE: Snifter

TASTING NOTES: The second release in our Planets Series starts with spicy, fruity and light citrus notes along with herbal notes from cardamom in the aroma. Apricots contribute a very distinct tart character and sweetness from the vanilla rounds out the finish. More than 60 pounds of hand sliced vanilla beans were used to ferment this strong fruit and spice beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, yay, another gimmick to sell beer.  I will have to say at least this series of beers have a story behind.  I know there is a few other Michigan craft brewery would use a gimmick to sell beer.  I was pretty impressed with the first two beers from this series.  I like it. It is totally different. I have more faith in Bell’s after this one.  I am not a Bell’s fan but this one made me turn my head a little more to their direction.  There is some nice notes from Apricots and honey.  It is not too heavy.  I love the vanilla aftertaste notes.  I just wish it was not limited but it is what it is.  If you can find a bottle, 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 2x Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Southern Tier.  It is their 2x Stout.  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 east coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this milk stout.

It has a jet black color without a head on it but there was a nice tan color head.  The aroma has a rich chocolate notes with hints of a burned coffee.  The taste has a smooth and creamy chocolate notes with a burned chocolate dry bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

STYLE: Double Milk Stout
BREWED SINCE: 2011
ABV: 7.5%
FERMENTATION: : Ale yeast, two varieties of hops, three varieties of malts and lactose sugars
COLOR: Dark
EFFERVESCENCE: Light carbonation
NOSE: Roasted malts, coffee, faintly creamy
FLAVOR: Roasted malt and light sweetness, creamy with chocolatey notes and dry malt aftertaste
BITTERNESS: Medium
BODY: Medium-heavy
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 40-45ºF
GLASS: Pub glass or snifter
 AVAILABILITY: Year-round / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg
CELLARING: 40-45ºF

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

In the end, I really enjoyed this stout.  I am a pretty big fan of the milk stout over all the rest of the stouts in the stouts world.  This is a great stout and it is perfect brew for dessert or just by itself.  It will go great with a nice cigar on a fall night.  There is some nice cream chocolate notes that makes you coming back for more.  I love the burned chocolate dry bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable but it is a nice sipping brew.  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 Tri-City Brewing Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout from Tri-City Brewing.  If you read my earlier post on their IPA, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Stout.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout. The aroma has burned chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has  a burned chocolate but creamy coffee aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

It takes courage to face a giant and we know you face the regularly every day. Because you don’t run away from these giants, Tri-City Brewing makes this Russian Imperial Stout in your honor.

  • Bursting with an abundance of character
  • Huge roasted, chocolate and coffee flavors
  • Although well hopped, it is still very balanced
  • Rich full bodied drinking experience with dark hints of old world style

9.0% ABV and 66 IBUs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tricitybrewing.com

Twitter:  No Address

Closing, this is a great brew.  I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  This is one of the best Imperial Stouts that is made in Michigan for the price.  It is a beer that I know you can age for at least a year. I love this beer.  It is a beer you can let it cool down or just start to enjoy it at room temperate.  I just wish I can find their beers in the southeast part of the state.  Their beers are hard to find. I might have to make a trip to their brewpub one day.  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