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New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Asheville Brewers Tater Ridge Scottish Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the sixth of twelve of beers from Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. This one is partner with Asheville Brewers from North Carolina and it is their Tater Ridge Scottish Ale. Asheville Brewery started in 1998 in North Carolina. There is not much history on their website (www.ashevillebrewing.com). Let us get into this Scottish Ale.

It has a jet black color with slightly tan color head on this ale. The smell has a sweet malty notes with hints of sweet potatoes. The taste has a heavy sweet malty notes with a slight sweet potatoes notes. The aftertaste has a dry malty finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This rich and malty Scottish ale gets a kick from sweet potatoes, a North Carolina staple.

We’re fortunate to call the passionate and talented folks in the Asheville Brewers Alliance our North Carolina neighbors. Tater Ridge is our nod to the area’s Scottish Highland history, and we hope this ale accented by sweet potatoes will be the first of many collaboration to come.

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

The Asheville area is a brewing hotspot nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. Tater Ridge was brewed by something of a craft beer super group made up of members of the Asheville Brewers Alliance. We’re fortunate to call these passionate and talented brewers our neighbors, and we hope this unique ale will be the first of many collaborations to come.

We’ve made plenty of new friends in the nearly 30-strong Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA) since we started brewing in North Carolina. Two of whom—John Stuart of Green Man Brewery and Luke Dickinson of Wicked Weed Brewing—led this collaboration recipe and work tirelessly to bring creativity and a deep-seated love of locally made craft beer to the Appalachian Mountains.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.ashevillebrewing.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @ashevillebrew and @sierranevada

In closing, I do not know Asheville Brewery but I will be trying to trade with my friends out east to get to know them a little better. I was interested on how the sweet potatoes will go over in this Scottish Ale. You can kind of smell them in the aroma. I love the aroma and the color tone of it. The taste is pretty sweet from the malts but I feel like I can kind of taste the sweet potatoes. Overall, I really like this beer. I 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Russian River Brewing Yvan The Great Belgian Style Blonde

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the fifth of twelve of beers in this Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Sierra Nevada’s beers, you know the history of them. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this brewery. Russian River Brewery was founded years ago in California. It was sold to Vinnie Cilurzo and his wife Natalie from Korbel Champagne Cellars. When Cilurzo took over, they started to grow the brewery at a rapid rate. There is really not too much history out there on this awesome West Coast Craft Brewery. Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color without a head on this blonde ale. The aroma has some Belgian spice notes. The taste of this light to medium body beer is a refreshing Belgian spicy notes with some slight earthy tones. The aftertaste has a dry funky finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This hoppy Blonde Ale blends the dry, complex yeast character of Begian farmhouse ales with the bright, citrus-like profile of American-grown hops.

As longtime friends, Russian River brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo and our own Brian Grossman are no strangers to brewing experiments. For this collaboration, they honored their friend and renowned Belgian brewer Yvan De Beats. This Belgian-American mash-up harmoniously blends Yvan’s penchant for yeast with Vinnie and Brian’s affinity for hops

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

As longtime friends, Russian River brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo and our own Brian Grossman are no strangers to brewing experiments. While looking for inspiration for this collaboration, Vinnie and Brian decided to honor the creations of legendary Belgian brewer Yvan De Baets with their own hop-forward American-Belgian mash-up.

From complex Belgian-inspired styles to American wild ales and hoppy Double IPA’s, Russian River always pushes boundaries while respecting technique and quality. Co-owners Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo are longtime friends of Sierra Nevada and they always have a six-pack of Pale Ale in their fridge at home.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.russianriverbrewing.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: No twitter account for Russian River and @sierranevada

In the end, I only had one beer from Russian River Brewery. I have been looking and searching for more their beers. The problem is they are not sold in the Midwest part of the United States. The one beer that I had was their American Wild Ale. I do not know where I had it but I loved it. I want to say it was in the San Francisco area. I was pretty excited to see this beer in this pack. Yes, this will be my second beer from Russian River Brewery. I am loving the beer as far as a mouth feel but I am not fan of the aftertaste. The aftertaste is what is killing me from liking this beer overall. I am glad to had the chance to try 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Ninkasi Brewing Double Latte Milk Sout

In this special blog, we are going to get into fourth of twelve beers from the Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Camp. This beer was teamed up with Ninkasi Brewing from Oregon and the beer is the Double Latta Milk Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both of these breweries, you know the history of both of these both West Coast Breweries. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada and Ninkasi Brewing. Let us get into stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head. The aroma has a fresh coffee bean notes. The taste has a slight sweet malty notes at first, however, back half of taste profile is coffee notes. The coffee notes live in aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This cold-press milk stout features roasted grain, artist coffee and a dose of lactose for a robust body, and sweet coffee-chocolate-like flavor.

Inspired by the perennial cafe favorite. Double Latte combines two great things: coffee and beer. Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing knows their way around a good cup of joe. Featuring cold-press coffee from legendary Stumptown Coffee Roasters and a dose of milk sugars, this coffee milk stout is a rich and roasty treat.

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

Inspired by the perennial café favorite, Double Latte combines two of the greatest things in life: good coffee and great beer. Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing knows their way around a good cup of joe. Featuring cold-press coffee from the legendary Stumptown Coffee Roasters and a dose of milk sugar, this coffee milk stout is a rich and roasty treat.

This young-gun brewery has a locomotive charge. A rich conversation at a local bottle shop in 2005 has morphed into a Pacific Northwest staple. Named after the Sumerian goddess of fermentation, Ninkasi’s first batch of beer was Total Domination IPA and it remains a must for those with a lupulin itch.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.ninkasibrewing.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @ninkasibrewing and @sierranevada

Closing, this is by far my favorite beer. I might be a hophead but I love my porters and stouts. In the stout world, I am in love with milk stouts. Sierra Nevada and Ninkasi Brewing had to add coffee to this stout. This beer put me in heaven. The coffee is not overpowering the stout and the beer. Coffee blends in nicely with the milk stout. It makes it nice smooth and creamy just like a Latte. I just wished I could get a few more bottles. I hope either brewery takes this beer and continue to make it. This beer is worth buying this Beer Camp. This beer is the MVP in the pack. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Ballast Point Electric Ray IPL

In this special set of beer blogs, we are going to get into the first of twelve beers from Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp sampler pack. You will notice a theme throughout these beers. The name of the beers and beer styles is taken from the partner craft breweries. The first one that I picked is partner Ballast Point Brewery. It is Electric Ray IPL. Ballast Point Brewery was founded in 1996 by Jack and Yuseff. It came from a home brewing supply shop that they opened in 1992. The themes of this brewery is coming from the sea, water, or ocean. They brew several different beer styles but they are known for their IPA’s like most West Coast craft breweries. Let us get into this IPL.

It has a clear light copper color with a constant white head. The aroma has floral to grapefruit notes. The taste has a light carbonation grapefruit notes with a dry grapefruit finish for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This nautically named India Pale Lager combines intense cirtusy, floral American hops with the clean, classic malt body of a blonde lager.

As ever, San Diego’s Ballast Point looked the sea for inspiration. A play on the fish’s scientific name – Torpedo California – Electric Ray pays homage to our Hop Torpedo, the source of much of this beer’s big flavor. Its massive grapefruit and floral notes deliver a high-voltage hit of hop flavor.

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

As ever, San Diego’s Ballast Point looked to the sea for the inspiration behind Electric Ray. A play on the fish’s scientific name—Torpedo californica—this beer pays homage to our mutual home state, as well as to our Hop Torpedo, the source of much of the big flavor in this high voltage, hop-forward Imperial Pale Lager.

Ballast Point brought their homebrewing dreams to the big leagues and started brewing professionally, but they never forgot their roots. They still run a successful homebrewing supply shop in San Diego. A love for hops and the ocean inspire incredible brewed and distilled offerings, and their one-of-a-kind labels boast some beautiful, and sometimes gnarly-lookin’, fish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.ballastpoint.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @bpbrewing and @sierranevada

Closing, it is kind of fitting the fact that there would be IPL in this pack. IPL is a growing beer style in the world of IPA’s. I love the fact they named it after Electric Ray because of Ballast Point (BP). BP using fishes and everything in the water to name their beers. I really love the packaging and how it explains the back story of the partner brewery. I love how it explains their thoughts on why they picked this beer style. Of course, being a Hophead, I had to pick one of the India Pale Ale or Lager. I love the aroma and the taste profile that this beer offer. This is one of the best beers in this pack. I realize this is the first one I had in this pack that I am doing a write up but when I am finish this review up. I will already had about half of this pack. I recommend you getting a pack if you can find one. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Bell’s Mallard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer of twelve in this Beer Camp sampler pack. Sierra Nevada Brewery teams up with Bell’s Brewery out of Michigan. It is their Maillard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on either one of their craft breweries, you know the history of this Midwest and West Coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know both of these breweries. Let us get into Imperial Dark Ale.

It has a jet black color with a nice tan color head. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has chocolate to coffee notes with a dry coca notes for the aftertaste. It is scary drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This robust dark ale is layered with complex malt flavors of toffee, caramel, chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit.

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was our shared vision, and Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that, taking its name in part from the famed Maillard reaction-the “browning” of sugars and amino acids-that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

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

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was the concept Bell’s beer guru John Mallett aimed for and, true to John’s vision, Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that. Its name honors the Maillard reaction—the “browning” of sugars and amino acids—that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

Bell’s has done a lot to raise the Midwest’s craft beer bona fides. They are masters of many beer styles from their portfolio of top-notch American stouts all the way through to the alpha acid assault of their Hopslam Ale. Bell’s constantly reinvents beer styles and refines recipes with artful mastery and an oddball slant.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @BellsBrewery and @sierranevada

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this beer in bottle and draft. I had it at first on draft at Ashley’s in Westland, Michigan. I am not a huge fan of Bell’s Brewery. I love my dark ales and lagers. There is a ton of notes going on in this brew. It is pretty complex ale. I love that because you are paying a nice penny to get this sampler pack and you are getting your money worth. I would hope all these breweries look at this time to give something different to the craft beer drinker. I believe that Sierra Nevada and Bell’s Brewery did just that for the craft drinker. This is a great dark ale and I hope either brewery pick up the recipe to make it everyday beer or seasonal. I love it. I highly recommend this beer. I hope you can find it on draft or this sampler pack. Good Luck! 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 Local Option Kentucky Common

While in Chicago, we are going to sample Kentucky Common from Local Option Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts at the beginning of the week, which is a few days ago, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read the beer blog posts to get to know this Midwest craft brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.

It has a clear golden copper color without a head. The smell has sour notes. The taste is a sour malty notes with a nice sour finish. This is a sipping beer.

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

Kentucky Common is a modern interpretation of an ale style native to pre-prohibition Louisville. Historically the beer was dark in color, creamy, and tart as a result of the introduction of lactobacillus bacteria by sour mashing. Local Option Bierkwerker took up the task of brewing this once familiar style – electing to use specialty grains rather than a large percentage of corn – yielding an adventurous taste profile befitting both conventional and courageous palates. Bourbon Barrel Aged Kentucky Common was first served at The Festival in Worcester June 2012 and made available in very limited quantity in the Chicagoland area soon thereafter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, This beer is something else in a very good way. It reminds me of a beer I use to have a regular basis without sour notes. It is like Kentucky Bourbon Ale with a sour note finish. This is a totally different beer than that one from Alltech Brewery. This is old recipe from Probation time. The brewery uses a sour mash to give off sour notes. Local Option Brewery did a great job bring this old recipe back to life. This is the last review I have from my trip to Chicago. I am really glad and happy that I made it to this brewery. I will be back to see my friends at Local Option. They have great food, music, and of course beer. I highly recommend this beer and checking out their brewpub. 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 Local Option Brewery Morning Wood

While in Chicago, we are going to sample another brew, which is Morning Wood, from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog posts a few days ago, you know the history of this small but upcoming craft brewery. If you have not, please, read Sweet Leaf review to get to know the history of this Chicago craft brewery. Let us get into Morning Wood.

It has a jet black color with a semi white color head. The aroma has a heavy coffee notes. The taste has a sweet malty to coffee notes. There is a slight caramel to caramel liquor notes but really fate to weak. The aftertaste is a sour coffee notes. It is a sipping beer.

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

Local Option Morning Wood: Local Option Morning Wood is an oak-aged coffee ale developed and brewed by Local Option Bierwerker. Fresh American oak used during the aging process and Dark Matter’s El Salvador San Jose pulp-natural coffee aromatically drive the beer; while remaining subtle components of the beers’ complete flavor profile. The amber-colored, medium-bodied, and extraordinarily well-balanced ale was first unveiled at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers in November 2011. Morning Wood’s taste is delicate and should be appreciated by beer drinkers of all palates.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, I like this beer and I mean I really like this beer. I love how they took an amber style beer. Rather then, what most craft breweries do and they take porter or stout. I love when craft breweries think outside the box. This craft brewery did that idea with this brew. I love the coffee notes and it is not overpowering the rest of the beer. It is a nice balance and I will be looking for this beer in bottle in my market. I will be back to the brewpub. I love their brewpub from their food, beer, service, and music. 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 Finch’s Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had more time to check out another brewery. It is a little brewery that was founded three years ago in Chicago. They are known for packaging their beers in cans. They are up to seven different beer styles in cans and they also package some beer in tall single bottles, which is 22oz bottles. The brewery is named after the founder, who are Benjamin and Paul Finch. They are located on the Northside of Chicago. They started out at this location and has expanded, however, they started out with two beers, which are Cut Throat Pale Ale and Gold Wing Blonde Ale.

Tour Guide:

In this photos above, the guy in the green shirt, who is Nick, in the middle of this crowd was the tour guide. Nick is a teacher for his full-time job and does this part-time. He is also a homebrewer and I am not sure if he helps around the brewery. However, he works on the brewery tours and sets up tour dates and times. He is an awesome tour guide. He knew the history and the beers. He is not reading off paper or memorizing history scripts unlike some tour guides. He is a student of this craft brewery and he puts a personality into this brewery tour.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.finchbeer.com

Twitter: @finchbeer

Closing, I learn something from this tour and that is a huge apprise to this tour. I enjoyed my time at the brewery and glad I went to check out this brewery. The one thing that I learned during this brewery tour was the discontinuing of two of their beers. Both beers were the first two beers they started brewing. Both are going to be discontinued and replace with two new beers. The Cut Throat Pale Ale will still be a pale ale but a different one. The Gold Wing Blonde Ale will be replace with Hardcore Double IPA. I believe that is the name. I love the direction of this craft brewery. They have a bright future and I believe their newer beers will take this craft brewery to the next level. I highly recommend getting down and take a brewery tour. If you do not have the chance, go and try some of their beers. I promise you will not be disappointed with their Black IPA and Stout. This craft brewery makes some great beers and they are extremely under rated. 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 Lagunitas Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had a chance to get by the new brewery in Chicago from Lagunitas Brewery. I want to thank my boy, Tony for the hook up. Everyone was great at the brewery from tour guide, bar, to Jack. I had several different beers but I did not have time to take tasting notes. I really do not want to guess, however, I saved all the photos of the beers and during the brewery tour. You will see them below. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest Craft Brewery. Let us get into this brewery.

Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

Imperial Red Ale

Brewery tour!!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.lagunitas.com

Twitter: @lagunitasbeer

Closing out, I had a great time at the brewery and I will be back there when I am back in Chicago. I might have to eat and get beer to go. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this craft brewery. I always throw their IPA into my line up of regular IPA’s. I was able to get turn on to other beers that they make. I will be checking them out and adding them to my line up of beers. For example, I am adding Daytime IPA. I will be switching back and forth with their IPA and Daytime. As far as the brewery tour, it is like every other craft brewery tour. This craft brewery is set up for expanding and they are growing it everyday. It is also set up awesome for brewery tours unlike other craft breweries. The whole tour is on a catwalk above the craft brewery. You can see everything. I highly recommend jumping on this craft brewery tour. If you know their beers, I would still make a point to checking this brewery out. This brewery is very important for us on the eastern part of the country. We will be able to get fresher and enough of their beers for the demand in this area. It also gives us a chance to get their beers cheaper. I highly recommend checking this brewery out in Chicago. They have great food, service, and of course, great beers. Thanks again, Tony! 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 Local Option American Muscle Double IPA

While in Chicago, we are going to sample American Muscle Double IPA from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog review on their Sweet Leaf from yesterday, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery from Chicago. Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a slightly clear copper color without a head on this Imperial IPA. The aroma has hints of earthy notes. The taste is a nice smooth earthy notes with a dry hop finish. It pretty drinkable for an Imperial IPA.

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

American Muscle – New World Double IPA is massive hop-bomb brewed by the Local Option Bierwerker. Aggressively late-kettle and dry hopped with four quintessential varietals of American hops; this beer is built like houses used to be built. A strong malt backbone balances a rich, flavorful palate of citrus fruit with floral and earthy notes. No adjuncts or extracts of any type were used in this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, this is by far my favorite beer from Local Option Brewery. I love the name and packaging. I love the hop selection and the strong malty backbone to cut through those hops. This beer is pretty drinkable for Imperial IPA. It is pretty extremely and scary drinkable. The craft beer drinker needs to be careful at how much he is drinking. This is an awesome beer and I will be looking for it in package in Michigan. I hope some bottles make it to my market. I highly recommend this beer and this brewpub if you are around the Chicago area. 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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