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New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into West Coast Double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewery.  This is a beer they made to kick off Beer Camp.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know history of Sierra Nevada Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this West Coast Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a clear slightly dark golden color with a white constant head.  The aroma is citrus to orange notes.  The taste has a nice light carbonation citrus notes with a dry hop bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable for a Double IPA.

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

Heading to most states in limited quantities, the Beer Camp Across America West Coast Double IPA clocks in at 8.5% ABV and features five hop varieties, two of which went into Sierra Nevada’s “Hop Torpedo” dry-hopping device and impart hints of grapefruit and a floral note that recalls orange blossom. A light malt body and dry finish complement the bold hop profile.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, this was a great beer and it is a perfect beer to kick off beer camp.  I was pretty happy to get a Beer Camp 12pk.  I wish they would have made more because some of the liquor stores are over charging.  I am still happy that I have at least one.  I am pretty big fan of their Extra IPA.  They took that one and they hop it up.  I love the aroma to the color of the beer.  I love the packaging.  I love the hops and the malt backbone is a perfect match.  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 Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA


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While dog sitting, I had a chance to sample Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not read them, please read them to get to know Dogfish Head Brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear dark copper to almost bronze color like with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has a slight earthy, oak, vanilla, and citrus notes.  The taste has a nice smooth slight vanilla notes along with an oak and citrus notes.  The aftertaste has smooth oak and vanilla notes.  It is a nice sipping beer.

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

ABV:

10.0

IBU:

70

Availability:

Year Round

Original Release Date:

11/2004

This oak-aged hybrid has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round.

For Burton Baton, we brew two “threads,” or batches, of beer: an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA.

After fermenting the beers separately in our stainless tanks, they’re transferred and blended together in one of our large oak tanks. Burton Baton sits on the wood for about a month.

When enjoying the Burton Baton, you’ll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak. The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dogfish.com

Twitter:  @dogfishbeer

Closing, I did not realize this brew is all year-long now.  I always thought this was a seasonal.  I am pretty happy to see Dogfish Head realizing the demands for their beers.  It is a nice sipping and relaxing type of beer.  This is a beer you will not be able to pound a few down in a day.  There is some nice notes from oak, vanilla, to citrus notes.  This is right way of making Oak IPA.  There is a brewery in Michigan called Round Barn.  They make similar beer called Oak IPA.  I believe and it is not really good.  I give them credit for trying.  Dogfish Head Brewery did this beer right and gives the hopheads a little different.  I recommend this beer and it should be pretty easy to find now since it is all year-long.  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 Destihl Brewery Hoperation Overload Double IPA


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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Hoperation Overload Double IPA from Destihl Brewery. Matt Potts switch careers from Lawyer to a brewmaster and CEO of Destihl Brewery in 2007.  They brew several different beer styles and they package most of their beers in cans.  Asides that, there is not much history from this young craft brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a dark copper color with a semi constant white head.  The aroma has a citrus to some floral notes.  The taste has some citrus to a slight caramel to sweet malty notes.  The aftertaste has a sweet caramel finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Hoperation Overload

Our mission for this Imperial or “Double” India Pale Ale is overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension.  This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well.  Cheers!

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

Imperial India Pale Ale / overloaded with hops

ABV: 9.6% IBU: 85 Color SRM: 11 First Brewed: 06-19-09

Our mission for this Imperial or ‘Double’ India Pale Ale is to overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension. This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well. World Beer Championships Award: Bronze Medal 2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.destihlbrewery.com

Twitter:  @DESTIHLBrewery

In the end, I am a hardcore hophead.  I love my hops and I love every level of IPA’s.  Yes, I have grown to love White IPA’s.  There are some unique ones out there that I fall in love with.  However, we are talking about this Double IPA, I have to say I love it.  I love the fact it is package in cans and I love design of the label.  I love the play on words and I believe they are honoring those who serviced.  I love the finish of this beer.  For being Imperial IPA, it is pretty drinkable and that is a plus for us hopheads.  It is drinkable to the experience IPA drinkers.  I am not saying the guy that drinks wheat ales is going to say this is drinkable.  It is a sipping beer to him.  I recommend you trying 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 New Belgium And 3 Floyd’s Grätzer Ale


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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from New Belgium and 3 Floyd’s.  It is Grätzer Ale.  This is an old and ancient Polish beer recipe.  If you read my beer blog posts on both of these breweries’ beer, you know the history of these breweries.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know these craft breweries.  Let us into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head.  The smell a chocolate to cocoa notes.  The taste has a burned to smokey caramel to chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is dry cocoa notes with hints of smoke that disappears fast.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

It’s not dead. But Grätzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland.  Together with 3 Floyds we unearthed its robust smokiness with oak smoked wheat and midnight wheat.  Polish Lublin hops for a bitter bite and lacto for a slightly sour finish.  This pours out a billowing, foamy mouth worth indulging.

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

It’s not dead, but Gratzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland. And together with 3Floyds we have unearthed the best of beer zombies. Full of bold flavors from oak-smoked wheat, and along with Midnight Wheat, this beer presents a pure black pour. A subtle, spicy note from the Polish Lublin hops hides in the aroma, just below the dark and smoky surface. Despite all appearances, the Gratzer is very drinkable at 4.5% ABV, and walks itself with a nice, light body. Cheers to drinking smoky, undead beers. Prost!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com and www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium and @3floyds

Closing, this is a great beer and I enjoyed drinking it very much.  The Midnight Wheat is featured pretty well in this beer.  I enjoy it like most hops in the beer world. This beer is a limited release and kind of rare.  However, I just feel the beer is average, I enjoyed drinking. I just wish the price was a little lower but it is worth the try. This is a great 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 Wild Rose Brewery IPA


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Wild Rose Brewery IPA for the first time on this blog.   Wild Rose Brewery was founded in 1996 by Mike Tymchuk.  They were founded in Calgary, Canada.   They brew several different beers.   Let us get into this IPA.

It has a slightly cloudy copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a slight caramel to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus to caramel notes with a dry hoppy finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.wildrosebrewery.com):

A beautiful copper-coloured ale, rich in caramel malt character and well-balanced with plenty of hops. An authentic India Pale Ale, this IPA is handcrafted for the true ale drinker.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wildrosebrewery.com

Twitter:  @wildrosebrewery

Closing, I have to say I have been pretty impressed with some craft beers from Canada.  I always thought they were a bunch of Lager breweries.  I guess I am so wrong.   I know they brew several ales around the country.  I did not think they are pretty good.  Well, Wild Rose Brewery and Mill Street Brewery are proving me wrong.  I am sorry for saying and thinking it.  I love the caramel notes bending with the citrus.  I love the hoppy dry finish that keeps me coming back for more of it.  Wild Rose Brewery has a winner IPA here.  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 Dragonmead Final Absoration Trippel


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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second and probably the last beer from Dragonmead Brewery.  It is their Final Absorption Trippel.  If you read my beer blog review on their Crown Jewel IPA, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know Dragonmead Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It is a clear copper color with a semi white head.  The aroma has banana and clove notes.  The taste has a German Hefeweizen notes of banana and clove.  The aftertaste is dry Hefeweizen.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel

Dragonmead’s signature product! This is the ultimate Belgian style. The very high gravity of this beer is balanced by the smoothness of its finish. Banana and Clove aromas come from the Belgian yeast strain combining with the generous dose of Belgian Candi Sugar. The Saaz hops help to give this beer a balanced bitterness with no noticeable hop aroma. O.G. 1.085, ABV 8.5%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dragonmead.com

Twitter:  @dragonmead

Ending, WOW!  What the hell is this craft brewery thinking?  This is a local brewery to me here in Michigan.  This brewery is bad and I will not buying anymore of their beer.  I do not think this craft brewery knows their beer styles.  You made a filter Hefeweizen.  This is not a trippel Belgian style.   It is bad and it is not worth the money. I know most American craft breweries take twisted to classic beer styles.  It is not just me talking bad about this brewery. A few of my close craft beer drinker friends.  They been saying the same thing about it.  I do not recommend this beer.  Run away!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog The Brewer’s Art Ozzy Ale


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In this beer blog, we are going to get deeper into my beer trade.  This time, the beer is from The Brewer’s Art and it is Ozzy Ale, which is a BPA (Belgian Pale Ale).  The Brewer’s Art open their doors in 1996 in Baltimore, Maryland.  They brew several different beers.  In the early part of 2014, Ozzy Osbourne, who is a famous Metal Lead Singer of Black Sabbath, issued cease and desist order against The Brewer’s Art on this beer.  Stop the use of the name and packaging.  Let us get into this BPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head.  The aroma has lemon citrus to spicy Belgian notes.  The taste has a refreshing Belgian spices with a nice lemon citrus note finish for the aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Ozzy
Our answer to the Belgian «devil» beers (i.e. Lucifer, Duvel, etc.). Both rich and dry, this beer is all too easy to consume in large quantities. Hopped with Styrian Goldings.7.25%ab

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.thebrewersart.com

Twitter:  @brewersart

In closing, I am pretty upset that they might have to change the name of this brew and packaging.  I do understand why it is the case.  I really did enjoy drinking this beer and I will have to do some more trades to get this great brew.  I love the spicy notes from the yeast and kick from the hops.  It is a pretty drinkable and lives up the classic beer styles.  Brewer’s Art did a great designing the recipe of this beer.  I highly recommend this beer and saving the can because the name might change along with the packaging.  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 Cheboygan Brewery High Grade Export Beer


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the third beer from Cheboygan Brewery.  It is their High Grade Export Beer Lager.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this German base Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Pilsner.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head on this Imperial Pilsner.  The smell has a ton of farm to hay notes.  The taste has a light carbonation notes with a malty to earthy hop notes.  It is not bitter like IPA or pale ale.  The aftertaste has a farm to hay dry finish that will keep you coming back for more of it.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Premium double-hopped pilsner that takes its name from one of the beers created by Cheboygan brewmasters more than 100 years ago. Now available in the Tap Room.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @CheboyganBrew

Closing, this is a really great beer and I wish I could get it in the lower part of Michigan.  I love their ongoing theme throughout all of their beers.  It has some earthy, farm-house, and hay notes.  Some people do not welcome that but it is what makes it special about their beers and this brewery.  There is some nice hop notes and a strong malty notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer with evil side to it.  You need to watch yourself around her.  It has a bite of alcohol waiting to hit you.  If you are around their brewpub, stop and try this beer and take a six-pack home with you.  This hophead needs to get up there and try their IPA one of these days.  I recommend this pilsner.  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 Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from my beer trade with my friend Matt from the East Coast.  I have been wanting to try this beer and I was pretty excited to get a few bottles.  It is Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Widmer Brothers.  Let us get into Upheaval IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The aroma has a heavy citrus to slight grapefruit notes.  The taste profile of this medium to full body beer is a carbonation citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish.  It is pretty drinkable IPA but I find myself sipping it.

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

Upheaval IPA is the result of our brewers’ relentless pursuit of the perfect IPA. With more than two pounds of hops per barrel, Upheaval IPA unleashes a huge hop flavor and aroma with serious bitterness and balanced finish. Brewed with wheat, the result is a hazy, bold IPA that’s Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetic. Uncompromised.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome brew.  I really enjoyed it.  I just find it funny.  When I make this trade with my friend, package finds its way into my market but it is still a drive.  I am cool with that because now I can pick up a six-pack.  I love big malty backbone with some Northwest hops.  It has a nice bold and powerful hop character but nice enough to make it drinkable beer.  Widmer Brothers did it again.  They pushed the limits of craft beer.  This is the new standard of IPA’s.  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 What Is Good Beer?


In this special beer blog, we are going to take in-depth look at beer. What is good or bad? How do we come up with this conclusion? Many of you know, I have been drinking beer for a while. I started like everyone from the Bud Lights and moved up to all the craft beers. Most craft breweries around the country know of me or know me. I started as a Metal DJ on STFU.Fm. The station shut down but before that I started to feature craft beer on the air while playing music. After the station, I started document the beers that I had in my life time. This blog was for me to go back and see if my thoughts grown. Plus, I have always wanted to be a writer. I know I am not the best on spelling and grammar, however, I believe I have improved because of this blog. I just want to say thank you for coming by reading, and putting up with my errors. This blog also made me a better beer drinker. I have learned more about each beer style. I am finding out I like all styles and it is including wheat beers. I am still writing music and sports review. I wanted to give you a little more about myself. When I thought about writing this “What Is Good Beer?” I will not point out breweries. I am not calling out anyone. Let us see if we can answer this question.

What Is Good Beer?

I know several craft beer drinkers will jump to the answer.  It is the little guys, who are Craft Breweries.  Is that because they do not make a golden lager or the companies that make it?  Craft Breweries make different beer styles asides the American Style Lager.  They will make Pale Ales to Porter to Stouts and sometimes even a German Style Lager.  Is Good Beer is more selection or “Flavor”?  “Flavor” has been toss out there.  A little style of the American Golden Lager.  German immigrants wanted to have their beers here in the States. This is where American Golden Lager came from.  Is it a ton of Ads to make the beer better?  Mass produced?  There is a brewery in the big Midwest brewery that puts their beer through hard test make sure their quality is the highest. It is make sure that their beers are up to their standards and constant. Is that a bad thing?

There are other things wrong with the mass-produced beer companies.  It is the fact they put other things into their beers.  However, it adds to their cost, they make less on their beers.  Mass produced beer market is getting smaller everyday.  They put these items into their beers to get it as close to their old country style. More and more people are drinking craft beers.  The question is their beer better or good.  Yes, it has a ton more flavor and that is the first thing anyone says.  I agree with that.  I see in every state, please, drink local.  There is nothing wrong with that.  The problem that I have is most of the newer beer companies out there are making some bad beer.  I do not mean bad in the beer will hurt you.  I mean it is just not good beer.

What about the craft breweries?

Some of the smaller breweries do not put their beers through as many tests like the bigger breweries. This leads to inconstant batches of beer. This is not a good thing when you like that beer. When you try the beer for the first time and do not like it, the quality might be the issue. Beer drinkers might be turn off and never try it again. Is this a good beer? I get it that most breweries do not have the capital to do all tests. I am not saying this is a case for all these small craft breweries.  Some little craft breweries do not even have labs to test anything.

Closing, I love craft beer and I will keep on searching for better version of my favorite beer styles.  The local guys are making beer but I am open-minded to say there are some bad or not so good beer coming from those craft breweries.  I enjoy some of the mass-produced beers but I will not go out of my way to buy them nor drink them.  Many people will not like this statement I am going to put out there.  If the beer you are drinking is good to you, it is a good beer.  We all have thoughts on beers and they are all correct.  This goes for all mass-produced beer.  If there is a bad beer on the market, the beer drinkers vote with their wallet and they will let beer companies know that it is not good.  It will disappear off the market.  Please, share your thoughts with me.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13