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New Beer Blog Erdinger Oktoberfest (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Erdinger Oktoberfest. Erdinger was founded in 1886 by Johann Kienle. It is number one Hefeweizen in the world. They brew several different Hefeweizen beer styles. Let us get this fall beer.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. There is not really a smell on this fall seasonal. The taste has a malty lemon to clove notes. The aftertaste has a lemon to citrus finish. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.erdinger.de

Twitter: No Address

In the end, all those years living in Chicago, I never picked up a bottle of this beer. I mean it was every liquor store I was in during the fall season. I am pretty amazed that I did not pick one up. It was a no brainer to pick up a bottle in this season. I did not think I would find a bottle in Michigan. I am glad I found a bottle right away. I am shocked by the color but I really not. It does not taste like an Oktoberfest. I was pretty disappointed with this beer. I was hoping for a lot more malty notes but then again it is another Hefeweizen. I have to say it is nothing really special. It is good but I am looking for malty fun at this time of the year. If you are a fan of Hefeweizen, you would like this one. I get why they put this up because it gives the beer drinkers something different. 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 Alaskan Pumpkin Porter (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample a brewery new to Michigan. It is Alaskan Pumpkin Porter. 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 pumpkin porter.

It has a jet black color with a nice tan head on this porter. The aroma has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg notes. The taste has a light chocolate to cinnamon and nutmeg with a smokey malty aftertaste. It is drinkable beer for a porter.

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

Style:

A native plant of North America, pumpkins were first used in beer in colonial America as a substitute for hard-to-find malt, and none other than the father of our country George Washington had a highly touted recipe. This imperial porter pumpkin beer combines the robust, full-bodied style of a porter with a, frankly, crazy amount of pumpkin.

Taste Style:

With over 11 pounds of pumpkin added to every barrel of this imperial porter, this beer has a smooth, velvety rich texture. Brown sugar, holiday spices and a scoche of Alaskan’s famous alder-smoked malt are added to create an aroma and flavor reminiscent of grandma’s Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

History:

This is the first bottling of our Alaskan Pumpkin Porter, after a highly sought-after holiday Rough Draft release in Alaska. This Alaskan Brewing take on a colonial American tradition is perfect for autumn and Thanksgiving, as here in Alaska we see the nights get longer and colder and can find comfort in the richness of this brew.

Ingredients:

Alaskan Pumpkin Porter is made from our glacier-fed water and a blend of Magnum and Goldings hops, 6 different malts including Alaskan alder-smoked malt, brown sugar, and a spice blend including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Plus, of course, Red Hubbard variety pumpkin.

Story Behind The Label:

Alaska is home to some of the world’s largest cultivated vegetables, squashes, gourds and pumpkins. The long daylight hours in the summer promote fast growth, and also prompt fierce competition amongst the farmers of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, who converge on the Alaska State Fair with their gigantic prize produce in the quest to be crowned State Fair champion. It is a common sight at the fairgrounds in Palmer to see a pickup truck barely able to contain the huge pumpkins they haul to the competition, which can weigh in at more than 1,200 pounds.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter: @alaskanbeer

Closing, Yay! This is my first Pumpkin Porter of the season. I am glad it is coming from one of my favorite breweries out west. There is a nice balance between from the porter and pumpkin. To me, I found this beer taste like a chocolate cover pumpkin with some cinnamon and nutmeg notes. It is a sipping beer but perfect for the fall and winter seasonal. I can see many beer drinkers drink this beer after fall is over. This is a great and well designed 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 Goose Island Oktoberfest (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the 2014 version of Goose Island Oktoberfest. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this Midwest craft brewery, you know the history of this 1980’s craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Chicago Orignal craft brewery. Let us get into this fall beer.

It has a dark clear copper color without a head. The aroma has a slight sweet malty notes. The taste has a sweet malty to slight but faded caramel notes. The aftertaste has a dry malty finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

In the end, I have to say this year’s version is so much better than last years. I was not a fan of last year’s beer. It is night and day compare to these beers. I am pretty stun and impressed. The layer of depth has some notes of caramel notes. I did not really pick up too much of the toffee and apricot notes that is marked on the bottle. I am not too sure and I came up with these tasting notes before reading the bottle. I had a chance to try it on draft and it is pretty constant from bottle to keg. This is a great beer and I highly recommend it. Get it while it last if you are outside of the Chicago 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 Blog Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin Ale (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into Smashed Pumpkin Ale from Shipyard Brewing. Shipyard Brewing started out as Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub at Kennebunk, Maine in 1992. The brewery kept on growing and open a brewery called Shipyard Brewing at Portland, Maine. They partner with Sea Dog Brewing Company and Casco Bay Brewing Company and they became the fourth largest brewery in New England. They are fourteenth largest brewery in the United States. They opened a brewery in Winter Park, Florida. Let us get into this beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has pumpkin to slight cinnamon to nutmeg notes. The taste has a sweet cinnamon to nutmeg with a nice creamy caramel notes. The aftertaste has dry cinnamon aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheese, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie. Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs. Try adding a little Shipyard Blue Fin Stout to Smashed Pumpkin for a fall warmer.

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

A big bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully experience all the flavors, this beer is best enjoyed at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shipyard.com

Twitter: @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I have been eyeing this beer for the last few fall seasons. I just finally picked up a bottle. I figure that I will make it my third pumpkin beer of the season. It has a nice color and aroma. I love the taste and the aroma notes. It has a nice bite for being a big fall seasonal but nice and kind of drinkable beer. There is a nice balance from the cinnamon and nutmeg notes but I love the nice creamy caramel notes from the malt. I will be picking up a few more of these beers with some Well’s Banana Bread beer. This is a great beer and I highly recommend it. Go get some! Drink i! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Atwater Brewery In The Park

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about my visit at Atwater Brewery In The Park. I did not take tasting notes but I will talk about the food and kind of what I had to drink. I also will talk about my experience there. If you have read my earlier beer blog posts about their beers, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this dining and drinking experience.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter: @atwaterbeer

Ending, I know there is other craft breweries using churches as their brewery. I know there is one in Pennsylvania. I have never been there. I would love to go. I will be the first to say that I am not a fan of this brewery but I wanted to check out this new brewpub in the Grosse Pointe, Michigan. I might not like the beer from the brewery but I like going to brewpubs. Sometimes, it might be the traveling that might be have an effect on the beer. The staff is super nice and helpful. The inside and outside area is very welcoming to their guests. They have two beer menus. One is beers that are brewed there and the other list is brewed at their main brewpub. I had two beers exclusive to the brewpub there. I had their Poorboy, which was a smoked porter, and Black IPA. I love these two beers and I was pretty impressive. I believe the main brewmasters need to look at some of these beers being made at this brewpub. The other two were Detroit Pale Ale and Bloktoberfest. I kind of like Bloktobeerfest. It is true to the beer style but I felt it was a little light for the style. Pale ale, I just felt it was a little weak on the hop and not strong malty backbone. I had two more that were not on any of these photos. I had GP IPA and Scherthing Cream Ale. These beers are part of the exclusive to Grosse Pointe brewery. The food came out. It was a German theme food menu. I love apps we order. It was a basket of Pretzels. They were awesome. There were different sizes with cheese and honey mustard, which were homemade there. There is a spicy mustard that was also made there. The main course was Turkey Burger with fries. I loved it. It was cooked just right and I love the spices. Overall, I had a great time and I will be back. I would love to try all the exclusive beers brewed there. I will be upfront and honest. I am not a fan of their everyday beers. There beers brewed there need to be packaged. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Strawberry Shortcake Ale (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Short’s Brewery. It is their Strawberry Shortcake Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this dessert beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head but there is a white head at first. The aroma has a heavy strawberry notes. The taste has a light body with strawberry notes with a crisp finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Strawberry Short’s Cake is a golden ale. The addition of strawberries and milk sugar transform this beer into a rose-colored nectar that has hints of cream and is pleasingly sweet. Biscuit flavors and aromas arise from the great amounts of Victory malt used in the brewing process.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter: @shortsbrewing

Ending, these are the beers that give me hope that Short’s can be something special again. Most of their flagship beers I am really not a fan of them. I use to be a fan. I do not know if my taste bud changed or their beers changes. I know there are many craft beer drinkers like their beers. There is nothing wrong with it. This is my thought pattern of their beers. However, I love this beer, I do not put this beer as a fruit beer. I look at it as a dessert beer like their Key Lime Ale, which I did a review of it earlier. This beer reminds me of Fruli Strawberry Beer. I have done a review a few months ago. Both beer are great. I just feel Short’s focus on their special releases and not on their flagship beers. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Key Lime Pie (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brewery. It is their Key Lime Pie. It is a fruit beer and dessert beer. If you ready my earlier beer blog posts, 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 beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper to light amber color without a head on this fruit beer. The smell has of graham crackers and a slight lime notes. The taste has some interesting and complex notes. It is a sweet heavy lime but there is notes of sweet marshmallow to graham crackers. The aftertaste is sweet lime notes. It is a sipping beer.

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

Key Lime Pie is made with fresh limes, milk sugar, graham cracker, and marshmallow fluff. The prominent flavors are immensely sweet, then tart, with subtle hints of graham cracker coming through in the nose and remain on the back of the palate. Key Lime Pie is a Gold Medal Winner at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.

5.5% ABV

21 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter: @shortsbrewing

Closing, I had to crack this beer open to get rid of the bad taste from the Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale. I was hoping this fruit and dessert beer would better. I have to say it is so much better. I love my key lime pie so I knew this would be a no brainer. I love blueberry pie so I thought the same thing about Atwater Brewery brew. You can kind of taste the graham crackers and sweetest of the marshmallow notes. It is pretty complex and that is a good. You can pick up notes and something new in each sip. I highly recommend this beer, if you can find another bottle. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Atwater Brewery Blueberry Cobbler Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer and I am thinking the last one from Atwater Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this fruit beer.

It has a black color with an off white color head. The aroma has a heavy blueberry notes. The taste has a heavy blueberry notes but not really balance beer. The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish but not from the hops. It is kind of drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Nothing says autumn like this refreshing ale brewed using local blueberries from our home State of Michigan. It’s beer just like Grandma would make, if Grandma was a brewmaster. Prost!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter: @atwaterbeer

In the end, I do not know why I keep doing this to myself. This craft brewery is not really good and they only really put out one good beer. The one good beer is just an average beer. I am talking about Java Vanilla Porter. Their Dirty Blonde could be in the talk of a good beer or not. The point that I am getting at is this craft brewery makes some pretty bad beers. They are not constant all around their beers. Their IPA’s, I refuse to drink even if they are the only craft beer in the bar. I was thinking maybe their fruit beers might be good. I was completely wrong. I mean really wrong. This blueberry ale is not balance at all. It is not really good. It is missing something. I can not put my figure on it. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Oddside Ales El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Oddside Ales. It is their El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, 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 Double IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this Double IPA. The aroma has a slight grapefruit to tropical fruit notes. The taste has dry bitter front that leads to slight caramel to tropical fruit notes. The aftertaste has a dry grapefruit hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.oddsideales.com

Twitter: @oddsideales

Closing, this is a great beer. I love the play on words for the name of the beer. There is some aroma notes and tasting notes. The malty backbone is a perfect match with the hops picked. The caramel and tropical fruit notes are a nice blend. This beer might be a sipping beer but I could see some experienced hopheads saying that it is kind of drinkable beer. I do not think I had one bad beer from this craft brewery. This brewery makes good beers and this one lives up to that line. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

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