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New Beer Blog The Brew Kettle Dark Helmet Bier

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Brew Kettle Brewery.  It is their Dark Helmet Bier.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Brew Kettle Brewery.  Let us get into this dark lager.

It has a jet black color with a white constant head. The aroma has a chocolate to slight alcohol notes. The taste has a chocolate and malty notes with a slight alcohol notes. The aftertaste has a chocolate to malty crisp dry finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Dark Helmet

A true TBK original, we kick this German-style black lager up a couple notches. Big clean malty flavor with just a hint of roasted malt. “May the Schwartz be with you!”

8.0% ABV 35 IBUs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.thebrewkettle.com

Twitter:  @brewkettle

In the end, I am not huge fan of lagers.  I do like black lagers.  I will drink them over a normal golden or amber lager.  With all that said, I do like the balance in this brew.  I believe the Imperial side makes this beer special.  I do not think a normal black lager would be good from this brewery. I could be wrong.  I am not saying they cannot make a good one.  I believe they went the right way and made it an Imperial black lager.  It is pretty good beer. It is a nice Imperial beer. I love it.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Metal it!  Enjoy it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going get into another beer from Weyerbacher Brewery.  It is their Sunday Morning Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Weyerbacher Brewery.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan constant color head. The aroma has a heavy coffee and chocolate notes. The taste has a chocolate to coffee notes with a dry coffee aftertaste finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

Sunday Morning Stout
Sunday Morning Stout, 11.3% ABV, is an Imperial American Stout brewed with coffee and aged in bourbon barrels. This brew pours a beautiful ebony with a large, creamy, off-white head that lasts and lasts.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.weyerbacher.wpengine.com

Twitter:  @weyerbacher

In closing, this craft brewery is slowly becoming on my go to list of new beers.  Yes, I know some of these beers are not new to most of you reading this post.  They came into the Michigan market about year ago.  I missed this beer last year so when I saw it this time around.  I had to pick it up.  There is a nice balance from the coffee and stout notes.  It is almost like a black coffee.  It is a perfect morning beer. I like it but not my favorite coffee beer. I would not drink this beer in the morning.  That is just flat out crazy.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island Rasselbock

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from Fulton Street beer series from Goose Island Brewery for this year.  This is the first of four in the series that are in package.  There are four beers on the package and draft.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Dark Rye Bock beer.

It has a cloudy light brownish copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a sweet malty with a heavy banana notes. The taste has a heavy banana notes with a sweet malty to rye notes. The aftertaste has a dry finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Brewer’s Notes

There was particular attention to the malt bill using pale munich, wheat and rye. There was no fruit harmed in the making of this beer, however you can’t avoid the beautiful banana esters and clove phenals that the Weihenstephan weizen yeast expresses. Rasselbock is a German style Dark, Rye, Wheat beer.

Recipe Information

  • Style: Dunkelroggenweizenbock

  • Alcohol by Volume: 6.8%

  • International Bitterness Units: 28
  • Color: Pumpernickel

  • Hops: Hallertau
  • Malts: Munich, Rye, Wheat, Midnight Wheat, Rice Hulls

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, I remember when the Fulton Foods series started.  It was like six to seven years ago.  These beers are spin-off from that series of beers.  They renamed it Fulton Street beers.  They are doing package and draft.  I am pretty happy that they are releasing these beers outside of the Chicago market.  This gives other markets something new and exciting for Goose Island.  When I heard about this beer, I was looking forward to trying this beer.  This complex ale has many tasting notes in it. It is drinkable but perfect for a Midwest spring and summer season.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Newton Alechemy Double IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into for the first time in package a beer from Rochester Mills Brewery.  It is their Double IPA, which is called Newton Alechemy.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy grapefruit to citrus notes. The taste has a nice grapefruit notes with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

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

Newton’s ALEchemy

8.8∞% abv. – IBUs: 88 – Double IPA

Brewed with a precisely calculated “mountain of hops” to exploit the gravitational pull of today’s craft beer drinker toward the big and delightful bitterness bliss commonly found in American Double IPAs of the highest caliber. Newton’s ALEchemy gets the bulk of its flavor from Pure Michigan™ Cascade hops grown just a few miles up the road from the brewery. It’s smooth bitterness is derived from the power of Magnum hops. The brew is finished with dry hopped additions of Citra & Calypso hops for a complex fruity, citrusy aroma. The result is truly liquid Gold, the elusive quest of Newton and alchemists of his day.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.beercos.com

Twitter:  @rochmillsbeerco

Ending, every IPA today has to be fresh for it to taste the way the brewery wants us to consume it.  This goes for every beer on the market.  There are some beer styles that are very sensitive to age.  I do not know if I received an older Alechemy before.  I still liked it but not as much as I liked it this time around.  I know it was fresh because they just released the cans.  I love it but it needs to fresh like most IPA.  They did a great job on this beer.  I would hunt it down and make sure it is fresh batch.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Petoskey Brewing Hopsessed Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Petoskey Brewing.  It is their Hopsessed Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this double IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus with hints of passion fruit notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a passion fruit and dry hop bitter aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Hold on to your taste buds & make sure you have a designated driver! This mouth-exploding double I.P.A. starts with the unique citrus aroma provided by a 100% Simcoe dry hop. The high bitterness is slightly toned down by the caramel sweetness imparted by the large quantities of malted barley needed to achieve such a high ABV. (Limited time only!)
9.1% ABV, 119 IBU

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.petoskeybrewing.com

Twitter:  @petoskeybrewing

Closing, this is by far my favorite double IPA.  I love the malty backbone and how the hops blend in with it.  They did a great job on balance.  It might come across as 119 IBU but it does not drink like that.  It is still a sipping beer but drinkable in that beer style.  I love it.  This is so much better than Bell’s Hopslam.  I believe people try this beer.  They will realize that statement.  I highly highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Azacca India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a new seasonal beer from Founders Brewery.  It is called Azacca India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan base craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a tropical to mango like notes. The taste has a heavy mango to tropical notes. I can pick up some passion fruit in there. The aftertaste has a dry tropical notes. It is a nice drinkable beer.

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

Named for the Haitian god of agriculture, the Azacca hop boasts intense, tropical fruit notes. Azacca IPA includes a touch of caramel malt to provide a sweet backbone to the citrus, mango and orchard fruit notes in this 7% ABV, 70 IBUs beer. The label artwork symbolizes the god of agriculture watching over a field where the ingredients used to make the beer are being grown.

  • ABV: 7%
  • IBUs: 70
  • RateBeer Rating: 96
  • Availability: Jan – Mar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Ending, Azacca Hop is the new trending hop to use in your beer today.  You will find this hop mainly in IPA’s.  I would not be shocked to see someone use it in a pale ale or session IPA.  I am a huge fan of Tropical fruits.  I am due to go to the fruit store to buy some mango, passion fruit, or star fruit.  I love this hop just like most of the tropical hop types.  There is a nice balance to this beer.  Plus, the hop is not overly bitter like most hops in IPA’s.  It is a nice drinkable beer and I love it.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Saugatuck Snow Wizard Oak Aged Brown Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Saugatuck Brewery.  It is one of their new beer, which is called Snow Wizard Oak Aged Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a nice brown color with a tan color constant head on this brown ale. The aroma has a sweet nutty to slight malty notes. The taste has a nutty to malty notes. The aftertaste has a nutty and vanilla to earthy like notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Snow Wizard

An Oak Aged Imperial Brown Ale with tons of oaky, woody flavors. The base brown malt profile provides a huge caramel, coffee and chocolate body with minimal hop bitterness match perfectly with the complex flavor profile of the oak chips.

ABV:
7.0%
IBU:
25
Malts:
Pale, Carabrown, Victory, Vienna, 30L, Chocolate Malts
Hops:
Nugget and Fuggle
Availability:
November – December
Served At:
50-55 degrees F
Served In:
Pint Glass
Pairings:
Hearty foods like smoked sausage Cheese: Aged Gouda or Smoked Gruyere

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.saugatuckbrewing.com

Twitter:  @saugatuckbrew

Closing, I am always trying newer beers that hit the market.  I did not know this was a seasonal.  It does make a little sense, since, it is aged in oak barrels.  I know Perrin is trying to make their barrel aged brown ale all the time.  Snow Wizard has a nice balance brown ale.  If it sells well, I would not be surprise to see them making this beer all time.  I like this beer and It is good.  I will say this is not any Perrin Lil’ Griz.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sweetwater Brewery Hop Hash Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release beer from Sweetwater Brewery.  It is their Hop Hash Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Southern craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Georgia base craft brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head. There is a lot of carbonation in this beer. The aroma has a heavy juicy citrus notes. The taste of this double IPA has a front forward citrus notes. It has a bitter hop aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

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

We scraped all the hash out of the Yakima hop pelletizers we could get our sticky fingers on to concoct the dankest double IPA out there. The pure hop lupulin, aka “hash” (the resiny stuff), meshes seamlessly with the 2-row, pilsner and wheat malts, allowing it to deliver a pungent punch to the palate.

Specs: Available year round in 6-packs of 12 oz bottles, 1/2 bbl kegs and 1/6 torpedo kegs.
Malt bill: 2-row, Pilsner, Wheat
Hops: Centennial and hash “blend”
Yeast: House
ABV: 7.8% IBUs:100

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Twitter:  @sweetwaterbrew

In the end, all my readers and friends know that I am a huge fan of this craft brewery.  I have been wanting to try this beer.  I was happy to see it in the sampler pack.  I enjoyed drinking all their beers so it was a no brainer.  It is pretty balance for a Double IPA with a ton of juicy hop notes.  I like it and I want more. This is a great Double IPA.  I will head to Ohio looking for six pack bottles.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Summit Old Blaggard Ale

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Summit Brewery.  It is their Old Blaggard Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know they history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Barleywine ale.

It has a clear amber to reddish color with a white constant color head. The aroma has a sweet candy like notes. The taste has a sweet malty, candy, and alcohol notes with candy to slight alcohol aftertaste. It is a sipping beer

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

This Union Series brew is an homage to the great strong ales of the famous English brewing town of Burton-on-Trent. Aged six months, this ale features new varieties of British barley and hops and offers up huge complexity and warmth.

Due to the aging requirements of stronger beers, many British brewers would include “Old” as part of the beer name. (e.g. “Old Tom” referring to the brewery cat). In rural England and Ireland, a blaggard was a ne’er-do-well, so “Old Blaggard” seemed like an apt name to denote the hooligan nature of our Head Brewer, Damian McConn.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.summitbrewing.com

Twitter:  @summitbeer

Ending, I just had this beer come out of no where.  A friend dropped off some bottles to me.  It has been a long time since I have had a bottle of Summit.  I have to say it has been two to three years when I lived in the Chicago market.  I was pretty excited to try this Old Ale or Barleywine.  I did enjoy the aroma.  It is close to the classic beer style in the aroma.  The beer overall is not very good.  I do not know what went wrong.  I do not believe aging it more in the bottle would help it.  This brewery is trying and I give them credit.  I have to say they are failing at it of late. This is going back when I was trying their beers in Chicago. If you can find a bottle, pick one up.  I know they are not in the Michigan 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 Right Brain Brewery Belgian CEO Stout

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Right Brain Brewery.  It is a special released CEO that is made with Belgian yeast.  It is called Belgian CEO Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head that disappears. The aroma has a heavy coffee notes. The taste has a coffee notes with some Belgian spices from Belgian yeast strain. There is Belgian spice notes on the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

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

BELGIAN CEO STOUT
Style: Belgian Coffee Stout
ABV: 5.5%
Part of the 2015 CEO Boardroom Series. Fermented with Belgian yeast from Craft Cultures Yeast Labs out of Houghton, Michigan. As with any CEO Stout, expect larges notes of espresso and mild tart flavors akin to Belgian style beers.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

Closing, just what I said in the last few blog posts on these different CEO.  I am pretty happy to see them doing something with their CEO.  I know many people have been looking for a different CEO.  It is different. I respect them for thinking outside the box with this beer. I like it.  The beer drinker will get those Belgian notes.  It is like drinking a chocolate Belgian coffee.  They did a great job.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13