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New Beer Blog Ram Brewery Ice Breaker Oatmeal Stout

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When in Chicagoland area, I was able to stop by one of my old watering holes.  I am talking about the Ram Brewery.  I was able to try their Ice Breaker Oatmeal Stout.  If you read my earlier blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of it.  If you have not, please, read those post to get to know this brewpub.  Let us get into this Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan head.  The smell is a chocolate and coffee notes for this stout.  The taste has a chocolate and coffee at the middle of pallet to watery notes on back half.  The aftertaste has chocolate that hangs around a bit.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theRAM

In closing, this would be a stout if I still lived down the street.  I would be filling my growlers up on weekend with this stout. This is an awesome stout.  This is one of the best brews that this little brewpub made.  I also love their IPA’s.  I know the brewmaster pretty well and I was happy to see the assistant moved over to the other location in the Chicagoland area.  I know for a fact he will be brewing some awesome beers and improving the beers from the last brewmaster.  The last brewmaster was good but not good enough.  If you are in the area, I recommend you getting by the Wheeling location to try to brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Troubador Obscura

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In a foreign land, we are going to sample out of Troubador Obscura during Belgian Week at Ashley’s Westland.  The brewery was founded in 2000 by Kristof De Roo, Rikkert Maertens, Stefaan Soetemans and Sven Suys.  They are known around Europe as the 4 ‘Musketeers’.  They brew in the traditional and classic Belgian beer styles in past.  This brewery brew several beer styles and they do them well.  They do not let anything out of their brewery unless it is up to their standards.  I like that.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark brown with some reddish tones for the color with a constant white head.  The aroma has slight chocolate with notes of cherry to fruit.  The taste has an aged malty chocolate notes with a cherry aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Troubadour Obscura is a dark red-brown colored beer, with a rich, malty body combined with different touches of a stout but in a very nice balanced way: roast, chocolate, coffee, vanilla. A mild stout with a Belgian body!

Specifications:

Alcohol (V/V): 8,2%

Stamwort: 18

Plato EBC: 110

IBU: 35

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.troubadourbeers.com

Twitter:  @Troubadourbeer

In first glance, it took one sip of Obscura.  I was in love with this brew.  It took me a few sips to get to know everything that is going on in this complex ale.  I love the chocolate cover cherry notes I received out of the this brew.   I can see the vanilla and coffee notes also.  I tasted that towards the end of the glass.  There is a ton going on in this beer and I love that.   It is a drinkable beer but I found myself sipping it.  I wanted to taste everything that was going on in this brew.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Surly Brewing Furious Beer

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Surly Brewery.  It is their flagship beer, which is called Furious Beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Over Rated!  IPA, you know the history of this craft brewery that made it back to the Chicago Market in 2013.  If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It is cloudy light amber color with a white head that disappears over time.  The smell is a heavy grapefruit notes.  There is a slight carbonation grapefruit notes in the tasting experience.  The aftertaste is a grapefruit notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

A tempest on the tongue or a moment of pure hop bliss?  Brewed with a dazzling blend of American hops and Scottish malt, this crimson-hued ale delivers waves of citrus, pine and caramel-toffee for those who favor, flavor, Furious has the hop-fire your taste buds have been screaming for.

Here is ta description from their website (www.surlybrewing.com):

Furious

A tempest on the tongue, or a moment of pure hop bliss? Brewed with a dazzling blend of American hops and Scottish malt, this crimson-hued ale delivers waves of citrus, pine and caramel-toffee. For those who favor flavor, Furious has the hop-fire your taste buds have been screaming for.

STYLE: American India Pale Ale
MALT: Pale Ale, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Medium Crystal, Roasted Barley
HOPS: Warrior, Ahtanum, Simcoe, Amarillo
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15º Plato
ABV: 6.2% v/v
COLOR: 27 ºSRM
IBU: 99
AVAILABILITY: Cans and Kegs Year Round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.surlybrewing.com

Twitter:  @surlybrewing

In closing, this is a pretty good IPA.  I was excited to try them when I was at Savor a few years ago.  I did live blog on a few of their beers when I was there.  I hope this brewery makes it to Michigan.  I understand these beers are made in small batches and these breweries can buy what they can as far as supplies.  I just feel they are a little over priced that is the only problem I have with their beers.  I would rather be drinking Stone IPA.  However, this is a great IPA and this brewery makes some awesome beers, I would pick it up now and then.  I do not live in a market where I can get them.  I recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Old Dominion Brewing Morning Glory Espresso Stout

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In this 500th blog, we are going to sample out a brewpub that I had a chance to visit a few years go when I was in Washington D.C.  I am talking about Old Dominion Brewing.  The beer that we will review is their Morning Glory Espresso Stout.  Old Dominion Brewing was founded in 1989 by Jerry Bailey in Virginia.  In 2000’s, Jerry sold his brewery to Coastal Brewing Company and they later moved the brewery to Dover, Delaware.  They brew several different beers.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy tan color head.  The smell is a slight coffee notes.  The taste has coffee with hint of chocolate notes.  The aftertaste has a dry coffee bean aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Loose Lips sink ships. And coquettish glory will never tell. A midnight stout brewed with coffee beans. Morning Glory wakes up at 9% AlC. by Vol. with the aroma of espresso.

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

Morning Glory Espresso Stout

Morning Glory is a full-bodied espresso stout that utilizes locally roasted coffee beans. Waking up at 9% ABV with the aroma of espresso and the taste of chocolate, she will give drinkers a jolt. She will be available in six-packs and on draft.

  • 9.0% alc/vol
  • 35 IBUS
  • Chocolate, Crystal, Pale, Smoked, Wheat, and Roasted Malts
  • Bravo and Glacier Hops
  • Available in 12oz bottles and on draft

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.olddominion.com

Twitter:  @DominionBrewing

Closing, I was excited moving back to Michigan to be close to family, however, I knew I could get some brews here that I could not get in the Chicago market.  This brewery is one of them.  I have had their Oak Barrel Stout a few times and I will have a review on that beer soon.  I enjoyed it and I put it on my towards the top of my stout list.  I was beer shopping and I came across this stout from Dominion Brewing.  The color, aroma, and tasting experience is out of this world.  This is a perfect beer after dinner or before.  There is nothing wrong having a sipping beer with a nice cigar.  I highly recommend this brew.  If you are looking for this brew or other beers from this brewery, please, visit their website and click on beer finder to pick up a six-pack or twelve pack today.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bell’s Hopslam Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out a limited release from Bell’s Brewery that they bring out once a year.  It is their Hopslam ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the blog post on their Winter Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear light copper color with a white constant head on this ale brewed with honey.  The smell has hints of honey and a slight citrus notes.  The taste has a sweet, smooth, and honey notes with earthly notes.  The aftertaste is slight honey with hops dry finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer and it is a big beer.  Please, be careful!

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

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

Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repertoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

Closing, I had this beer a few times a few years ago.  This is a great Double India Pale Ale.  I enjoyed drinking.  I love how the honey cuts through the hops and honey builds the malty backbone ever stronger.  This is an unique and different from the rest of Double India Pale Ale on the market.  I had one other double IPA brewed from honey and it is 3 Sheep’s First Kiss. I wished I had a bottle to compare these two big beers. From what I can remember, First Kiss is better but I recommend this brew.  I get why everyone rushes to the stores to pick up this brew when it comes out.  It is released once a year.  I believe this brew was available all year-long.  It would not sell as much as it does now.  Once a year is good for me. And you?  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer Blog Beer Stores In Southeast Michigan And West Of Detroit Part 1

(www.509beerstore.com)

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about liquor stores in my area of Michigan.  I just moved back in October so please, give me feed back if I missed a store.  As you know, I am a huge beer fan and a craft beer fan.  I will be the first to say I was spoiled in Chicagoland area with great beer stores.  It was between Binny’s, Cardinal Stores, and some of the chain stores there.  When I moved back, I knew Michigan craft beer market was huge on Michigan beers, which should be the case.  There are so many beers, and breweries in every market around the country.  I know Michigan is in that same situation.  Where do I go to buy some great beers?  I had no idea.  I did Google search after Google search.  I came up with a list.  I even did something I hate doing walking in and out of stores.  I do have a list and I am going to be up front and honest.  Here we go!

Beer Baron (Livonia, MI)

Beer Baron is a little bit north of Wine Palace by 7 mile on Middlebelt.  When I went, they were working on the store.  The staff there was nice and let me walk around.  He let me take my time and asked if I needed help.  This was the opposite of Wine Palace.  They have a great beer selection and some pretty good prices.  I was pretty impressed.  This is a beer store and it is pretty clear to that fact.  The two things I did not like about this store.  One, the store is in chaos.  There is beer everywhere.  Two, when I went, the staff did not know anything about beer.  Their parking lot is a lot easier than Wine Palace.  I recommend this beer store.

Wine & Barrel (Livonia, MI)

I did not want to drive up to Beer Baron and I am staying away from Wine Palace.  I just went to Wine & Barrel that is right down the street from my place.   There is some nice parking at the side of the building and they are not that busy like the last two stores.  The first thing, I did not like is the guy does not take pop cans.  You are a liquor store that sells rum and you do not sell pop.  I guess not rum and coke for someone in the area.  I am just saying.  I was not happy by that.  Now, I have to go two places to get my errands done for returns.  Who will go there and buy their liquor just to go somewhere else to get their pop?  I was not too impressed by their beer selection.  I did not like the fact you could not buy single beers (12oz).  They had beer store selected ones available.  It was like it came from their breakage area.  I thought their prices where too high like Wine Palace.  I get it that these stores need to make some money.  There is a level where it will keep people out of your store.  This store has a huge area for beer brewing supplies.  I thought that was really cool when I was walking through but after looking at that the beer selection.  I started to have a different attitude towards the store.  Their beer area is all over the place.  I mean you have craft beer with imports beers and the other way around.  This is so not profitable for the store.  Their beer customers that are looking at crafts beers are not seeing all their crafts or import beer customers in one area.  They have to walk around the store and I know I might have missed something.  It can be the same for their mass-produced beer customers.   I just feel they make more money off their beer supplies.  There is nothing wrong at being just a brewing supply store.  I will pass on this store.

Mid-Joy Liquor Store (Livonia, MI)

The first weekend I was back in Michigan.  I wanted to go beer shopping so I thought I would go back to my old liquor store when I first lived in the area.  They have a pretty nice selection.  I was enjoying it until I started noticing that everything I was picking up was out of date.  I was pretty disappointed pretty quickly.  This store went hard into the craft beer without the consumers to support it.  I never went back into this store.  I might again but I think I just might stay away.

Keg & Wine Party Store (Redford, MI)

I found this store looking for a Cider from Woodchuck Hard Cider on their website.  The parking lot could be better but that is not point of this review.  The store inside is pretty nice and clean.  Everyone is nice and helpful.  They have a great selection on beers and spirits.   I was pretty impressed.  I will have to say it is better than Wine Palace.  The only thing I do not like about this store.  I can not buy single bottles and/or cans of beer (12oz).  You have to buy the six or four pack.  I will be back to this store and I recommend this store.

Holiday Market (Canton, MI)

Whenever I would come in town, this was the store I would go to in the beginning.  They had whole warm shelf aisle in this grocery store for craft beer.  I was amazed at the selection.  I always picked up beers that I could not get in Chicago.  I started to realize pretty quickly that they were not selling through most their beers.  This store at that time had a ton of out of code beers.  This is a great store but buyer beware.

Super Fines (Canton, MI)

This store is at the top of my list.  They have just about everything in this liquor store.  If they do not have it, they will get the beer or whatever you are looking for at that time.  If it is sold in the state, they will get it.   You can do mix six packs in every price range.  You can buy single beers too.  They have a pretty big spirit selection.  This is a great beer store and I highly recommend it.

Closing, I know I have not covered everything liquor stores in the Southeast Michigan.  I am looking at just craft liquor beer stores.  I am not going to just the neighbor store.  I went to ones that claim they are a craft beer store or I know they have a pretty big selection.  I know there are more out there.  I will keep searching.  I loved Super Fines in Canton, Beer Barton in Livonia, and Key & Wine Party Store in Redford.  I will never go back into Wine Barrel and Mid-Joy Liquor Store in Livonia.  If there are any other stores, please, let me know.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these stores.  I will be writing a new review here shortly.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Resignation Brewery And Redhook KCCO Black Lager

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In this tag team beer blog, we are going to get into a beer called KCCO Black Lager that is brewed by Redhook Brewery and Resignation Brewery.  If you read my beer blog posts on the Redhook Brewery, you know the history of this Northwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to Redhook Brewery.  Resignation is a multiple digital media company.  The black lager was brewed for the sharing around the office and to close friends and family.  Late in 2013, they teamed up with Redhook Brewery to get it into the market.  Redhook Brewery refined the beer and shipped it out to the following markets, which are New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  In the early part of 2014,  KCCO Black Lager will receive a  national roll out.  Let us get into the beer.

This Black Lager has a dark brown to a light black color with a nice creamy tan head at first.  It fades after a while.  There is really no smell.  The taste is a malty to chocolate notes with a dry chocolate crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Black Lager

A toast lager with notes of chocolate and coffee. Unlike a heavy porter or a stout it’s amazingly light, crispy, and sessionable. KCCO Black is a delicious misfit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.resignationbrewery.com and www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @resignationbrew and @Redhook_Brewery

1-2-3, I have to say for the victory and the match.  This beer has won it all.  I have been waiting to try this brew since I heard of its launch in a few markets.  I am not disappointed.  I am really looking forward to see how it will do in the Michigan market.  I am also looking forward to trying the other brands from both of these breweries.  I am a fan of black lager so I knew I was won over right away.  There is some nice chocolate notes and pretty drinkable with a nice balance.  I highly recommend this brew if you can find it.  It will be in your market sometime in 2014.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

2013 in review Thanks For All The Support!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks For The Support!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer Blog Upland Brewing Double Dragonfly Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into my favorite craft brewery from Indiana, who is Upland Brewing.  The brew that will be feature is Double Dragonfly Imperial India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of Upland Brewing.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy copper color with a constant white head.  The smell is a flower notes.  The taste has a piney with earthy notes with dry hoppy bitter finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Double Dragon Imperial IPA

ABV: 9.1 |
IBU: 93 |
SG: 19.2 |
SRM: 15
We took our award-winning Dragonfly IPA and cranked up the malt and hops, but managed to hold onto the perfect balance our Dragonfly is known for. The result is a brew with a very powerful hop profile, matching malt character, and an enticing floral nose.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter:  @UplandBrewCo

Closing, I was sad when I was moving out of Chicago market.  When I heard Upland Brewing, they were making it to the Chicago Market.  I did not close on my condo until the end of the year.  I was able to pick up some Upland Brewing beers before leaving town each time.  As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this brewery and their Dragonfly IPA.  I was so happy to see this beer, which is their Double Dragonfly, on the shelves at my old liquor store.  I love the hops and aroma from this brewery.  This is a big beer that is worth every penny to purchase this beer.  I was pretty stun how it was kind of drinkable.  I recommend this beer if you can find it in your market.  I really hope they make it to the Michigan market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer (Cider) Blog Woodchuck Hard Cider Cellar Series Dry Hop

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In this cider blog, we are going to get into another cider from Woodchuck Hard Cider.  The cider that will be feature is their Cider Cellar Series Dry Hop.  If you have read my blog posts the last few days, you know the history of Woodchuck Hard Cider.  If you have not, please, read those blog posts to get to know cider company.  Let us get into the cider.

It has a see through and clear golden color without a head on it.  The smell has cider, apple, and hints of citrus.  The taste has a sweet cider notes and then turns into citrus hop notes.  The aftertaste is a bitter hop finish.  It is a drinkable cider to most but to me it is a sipping cider.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Woodchuck Cellar Series Dry Hop represents our imagination at work.  We start with our original small batch hard cider.  Then add an aggressive amount of Cascade hops to impart rich hop flavor and aroma.  This extensive dry hopping process infuses the cider with crisp citrus and pine notes.  The smooth apple character of our signature hard cider balances perfectly against the bitterness of the hops.  A truly rare and very limited treat straight from the Woodchuck Cellar.  Cheers!

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

Dry Hop

Woodchuck Dry Hop is the first cider in our new Cellar Series line. Infused with hops, Woodchuck Dry Hop brings a new unique flavor to the cider category and it represents our dedication to pushing innovation in hard cider. Like all of our styles, Dry Hop is naturally gluten-free.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @WoodchuckCider

Closing out the tab, I saw this cider and I thought this will be pretty interesting.  I am a huge hop head so I had to pick this cider up.  Woodchuck made a dry hopped cider.  I love the color and aroma this cider has going on in it.  The drinking experience is extremely different and unique.  I love it.  I was pretty stun and impressed with this dry hopped cider.  To me, the dry hopping gives my hop head something in a cider.  I recommend this cider if you want something a little different and unique then a beer or normal cider.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser