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New Beer Blog Against The Grain Brewery Rico Sauvin Double India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Against The Grain Brewery.  It is their Rico Sauvin Double India Pale Ale.  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 Kentucky craft brewery.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a clear light copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a citrus with a heavy bitter aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.atgbrewery.com

Twitter:  @atgbrewery

In the end, I am slowly getting into this craft brewery.  They are a really small brewery but they are growing at a rapid rate.  I shy away from their beer because of the price point.  I am finding more and more their beers are at a value now.  This is a pretty big beer but it is balance and easy to drink for the beer style.  It is more of a sipping beer.  There is a nice hop selection in this beer.  I love it. This is a great double IPA.  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:  @djweiser16

New Beer Blog Anchor Brewery Christmas Ale (2015)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Anchor Brewery.  It is this year’s version of their Christmas Ale.  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 this California craft brewery.  Let us get into this Winter Ale.

It has a black color with constant tan color head. The smell has a sweet malty to light alcohol with a hint of chocolate to coffee notes. The taste of this medium body beer has a dry malty to slight coffee notes. The aftertaste has a dry malty with a hint of alcohol notes. It is a sipping beer

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

This is the forty-first annual Christmas Ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.

Our tree for 2015 is the Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), better known as the California Christmas Tree. Native of the Himalayas, it takes its name from the ancient Sanskrit devadaru, meaning timber of the gods. This coniferous evergreen, with its gracefully droopy branches and blue-green needles, has been a San Francisco favorite for over 150 years.

The annual search for the perfect tree for our Christmas Ale label usually takes us far afield. This one began and ended with the search for a parking space near the Brewery! Getting out of the car, we couldn’t help but notice the way the late-afternoon sun danced amid the branches of two lovely Deodars just half a block from Anchor’s front door.

Our longtime label artist Jim Stitt—who has been drawing trees for us since 1975—loved “our” Deodars and, like us, was amused that they were about as local as local gets! His charming illustration evokes the radiant beauty of our arboreal neighbors as well as the spirit of the season. Cheers from the Anchor brewers!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter:  @anchorbrewing

In the end, this beer is like a tradition of going home for the holiday.  I always pick up a six pack of this beer every year.  I will be honest right now.  I was not a fan of the last few years.  I love this years. This year’s just blew me out of my mind.  It is very well balance.  I love the how it is pretty dry.  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 Stone Sorry Not Sorry Imperial IPA

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into limited release beer from Stone Brewery.  It is their Sorry Not Sorry Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this California base craft 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 copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to peach notes. The taste of this full body beer has a smooth peach to citrus notes with dry bitter aftertaste. It is a sipping beer but can be a drinkable beer.

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

We make no apologies for the fact that we love brewing bold, flavorful, hop-centric beers. Naturally, we welcomed the opportunity to work with two amazing craft breweries that share our lupulin-fueled dedication: St. Louis-based 4 Hands Brewing Co., known for its innovative IPAs; and Bale Breaker Brewing Co., whose owners’ family has farmed hops in Washington’s Yakima Valley for generations. Since theirs was the first hop farm to commercially grow the beloved Simcoe variety, using that piney, stone fruit-like hop was a must. Puréed peaches upped the fruit factor, while experimental hops HBC 342 and HBC 344 introduced notes of stone fruit, tropical fruit, berries and citrus to this IPA. Yes, we made another IPA. We concede it’s not surprising, but we are who we are: an unapologetic band of hopheads psyched to explore the ever-expanding IPA universe.

AVAILABLE IN:
LIMITED 22OZ BOTTLES & DRAFT

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @stonebrewingco

Closing, I am always interested in what Stone Brewery is up to in world of beer.  They are always looking at pushing the limits of craft beer.  I will say this beer is no different.  It is Peach IPA.  Fruit IPA’s are making a run into the beer market of late.  It is the new trend now. I believe it will not stop until late in 2017.  It is different but really good. 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 Oddside Ales NIHILIST Barrel Aged Double India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a limited release from Oddside Ales.  It is their NIHILIST Barrel Aged Double India Pale Ale.  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 Double IPA.

It has a cloudy dark copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to oak to slight vanilla notes. The taste has a vanilla to citrus notes with citrus to to whiskey notes for the aftertaste. It is a nice drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  No Address

Closing, the barrel over took the beer.  I was able to taste a little of the IPA.  I like this beer but if you are looking for a little bit more of the IPA, you are not going to find it.  Once you starting using golden to copper beers in barrel.  You will get a mix of good and bad.  Overall, this is a great beer and I loved it.  I cannot see the price that I paid.  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 Beer Stores In Southeast Michigan Part 2

In this beer blog, we are going to talk more about the liquor stores in my area and market.  This is a follow-up from a blog that I wrote about year ago.   I just find some of these stores do things that are good or bad and craft or import beer drinkers should know.  I see some stores that are under charging and there are others that are over charging.  Let us get into each of the stores.

Wine palace

If you live in the Livonia or Westland area, you know about this liquor store.  They have a great liquor and wine selection.  I have been told that they have some gems over there too.  We are here to talk about the beer selection.  They have a great craft beer and import selection.  Just like everywhere else, you do need to watch code dates.  If they know you are one of their regulars, you will get some of the one off or limited releases.  They have a great Import selection and a nice beer cave.  Their prices are one of the best in town.  Their prices go pretty well against the Meijer down the street.  Overall, this is a place to check out.

Marcus Market

This place is located in the Wayne State area.  They have an average to below average beer selection. The huge problem with this store is they are not on top of their stuff.  What I mean, they do not know what most of their beer and product cost in their store.  Their prices are pretty high or way too low.  For example, which I have many, Blake’s 6 pack cans for $19.99, which should be around $9.99 and 10.99 like other stores.  Bell’s Planet Series Uranus single bottle (12oz) for $4.99.  While other stores are charges $2.99.  There is some cider and beer that are under cost.  There is a cider from Blakes that other stores charge $24.99.  They were charging $9.99.  They do not have too many rare beers or ciders, however, they have a great Mead selection just watch the prices.  Their little restaurant in the back of the store is a most try.  Asides  that, stay away from this store.

Forrest

This is another place not far from Wayne State either.  Their prices are pretty good.  They are little high but not by much.  They have a pretty good beer selection for craft beers and ciders.  This is a great store when you want some cheap beer with a good craft beer.  They get a ton of rare and limited craft beers and ciders. You will need to ask guys behind the counter. They have a nice staff and they are willing to help their customers.  I highly recommend this store.  If you are in the Wayne State area, come here and not Marcus Market.

Holiday Market Royal Oak

I have been here a few times.  I have not been here in a while.  I just know if I cannot find a beer in my area.  I can take a trip to the east side of the City of Detroit to get it.  They have an awesome craft beer and cider selection. I know many of friends said if you are a regular. You will get some of the one off and limited releases.  If you live on the east side, I highly recommend this place.

Closing, I know there are so many other stores and I know that I keep forgetting some of them.  Please, let me know about them and I will check them out.  I will do a write-up on them.  I hope you learn something from reading this post.  Let me know about your thoughts.  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 New Belgium Portage Porter

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In this spring seasonal beer blog, we are going to sample the new spring seasonal, which is Portage Porter, from New Belgium Brewery.  This craft brewery is always changing it up on all their seasonals.  They normally switch seasonal brews every two years but they have been switching them sooner if they are not selling.  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 New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this porter.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan head on this porter. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste of this American porter has a nice creamy chocolate to toffee notes. The aftertaste has a dry chocolate to coffee finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

A great porter just feels right in your hand. And carrying a glass of Portage Porter is no different. An opaque, brown pour, this beer presents with coffee and chocolate aromas, with hints of toast and smoked almonds. The taste follows suit, adding an upfront sweetness and a slight, roasty bitterness to back it up. Creamy and wonderful, this porter sips a medium body and finishes dry and delightful. Portage Porter carts itself towards perfection. Just tip your glass and keep smiling. Available January 2015.

Here is their website and Twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I did not see a normal American porter coming from New Belgium Brewery.  On top of that, it is a spring seasonal.  Now, my head is starting to spin.  This spring seasonal as a porter makes some sense.  This is why.  It was released about the half way point of the first quarter.  I am talking late January and early February.  I know here it is still winter.  This is one reason this beer makes some sense.  It is a light body porter and this is a second reason.  It is not like most porters that are pretty heavy.  I like it but it is not the best porter that I have had in my lifetime. I give credit for trying to do something new.  I can see some craft beer drinkers loving this beer.  I recommend it.  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 Victory Brewery Vine To Victory Harvest Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite breweries in Penyslivania.  It is Victory Brewery and it is Harvest Ale.  This is a pretty big trend in the craft beer world.  I am talking about wet hopped or harvest ales.  It could either a Pale or India Pale Ale.  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, please, read them to get to know Victory Brewery.  Let us get into this pale ale.

It has a clear copper color without a head on the beer. The aroma has an earthly, piney to floral notes. The taste has a nice carbonation and malty notes along with juiciest earthy to piney notes. The aftertaste has a hop finish that is pretty wet. It is drinkable.

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

Harvest Ale

Wet-Hopped Pale Ale

Highly aromatic and sensual, this novel pale ale delivers a fresh hop flavor like no other brew. Its secret? Fresh hops piled into our boiling kettle just hours after their harvest. With many more of their essential oils intact, these “wet” hops add glorious notes of juicy, fruit to a lightly sweet and balanced brew. Best enjoyed fresh!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.victorybeer.com

Twitter:  @victorybeer

Ending, This is a great beer.  There is not too many ales that I can say are juicy.  The only other beer comes to mind is New Belgium Slow Ride IPA.  I like it. It is pretty different.  What makes this beer a little different is the aftertaste, it has a kind of wet hop bitter finish.  It is a nice drinkable beer.  This is a beer to enjoy watching sports but you will need to pace yourself.  The aroma and taste profile gives off some nice notes.  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 Dark Horse Brewing Double Crooked Tree India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Dark Horse Brewery.  It is their Double Crooked Tree IPA. 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 Dark Horse.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this double IPA. The aroma has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a heavy citrus notes with extremely heavy bitter finish for the aftertaste. This is a nice sipping brew.

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

DOUBLE CROOKED TREE IPA

Have you read the description for the regular Crooked Tree yet? Well this beer is almost the same just double the flavor and alcohol. We actually took the Crooked Tree recipe and doubled all of the ingredients except the water, just the way a DOUBLE should be made. Big hops balanced with tons of malt give this beer a huge body. Although this beer is as cool as “The Fonz” when first purchased, it gets really mellow and smooth with some age. After a year or two stored in a cool dark place you’ll notice the heavy caramel and malt flavors are trying to sneak past the hops. This beer is hugely delicious so it will need your undivided attention (the chores can wait….trust us).

ABV:
12%

Availability:
February (Limited)

Package:
1/2 Barrels / 1/6 Barrels / 4-Pack of Good ol’ Bottles

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.darkhorsebrewery.com

Twitter:  @darkhorsebrewco

Ending, I have always been a fan of IPA’s and Double or Imperial IPA.  It was a no brainer to pick up a bottle of Dark Horse Brewery Double Crooked Tree IPA.  This is a pretty heavy beer and they did it right.  You will not be doing anything else the rest of the day after drinking this beer.  I love it. I will try to get more but since it is pretty limited, it will be hard to find more bottles.  I highly recommend this beer.  They did a great job on this brew.  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 Abita Brewery Bourbon Street Imperial Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Abita Brewery.  It is a special and limited release from Abita Brewery and it is their Bourbon Street Imperial Stout.  This liquid is aged in Bourbon Barrels.  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 Abita Brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial Stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan constant head. The aroma has a sweet chocolate to bourbon notes. The taste has a sweet chocolate to nice earthy bourbon notes with a nice burn alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Four centuries New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street has inspired good times and fine libations like our Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout.  This hand-crafted artisanal brew is aged for months in wooden barrels used to make small batch bourbon whiskey.  During barrel aging, the brew absorbs the flavors of the barrels which intensifies the taste and aroma of roasted malt, warm vanilla and smooth bourbon.

This Imperial Stout is a dark-colored ale brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts.  Oats are added for a full, sweet taste.  After fermentation the ale is cold aged for six weeks to ensure a smooth flavor before bourbon barrel aging begins.

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

Imperial Stout

Bourbon Street Stout is an Imperial Stout that is aged in small batch bourbon barrels. Our Imperial Stout is brewed with a combination of pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts. Oats are also added to give the beer a fuller and sweeter taste. The roasted malts give the beer its dark color as well as its intense flavor and aroma. After fermentation the beer is cold aged for 6 weeks. This is necessary for all of the flavors of the malt and hops to balance and produce a very smooth flavor.

After the cold aging the beer is transferred into the bourbon barrels. It is then aged for another 8 weeks to absorb all of the flavors from the barrels. The result is a stout that brings out the roasted flavors from the malt and the warming toasted, vanilla, and bourbon flavors.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @theabitabeer

In the end, I did not know they made this beer and I am not stun one bit.  I was pretty happy to see it made it to my market.  I love my porter and stouts.  You put it in a barrel or bourdon barrel and now you are talking.  The first brewery to take this on was Goose Island Brewery.  I am happy to see other craft breweries doing this process.  To me, this will show which beers are good or bad or which beers that the craft beer drinkers like it.  This beer has a nice balance from the imperial stout and bourbon notes.  It is not in your face like the Goose Island Bourdon Country Stout.  It is still a sipping stout but it is a little bit more drinkable than Bourdon Country.  I love the story behind the name.  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 New Belgium LA Folie Sour Ale (2015)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a limited release brew, which is La Folie Sour, from New Belgium Brewery.  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 New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this sour ale.

It has a nice dark ruby-red to a nice brown color with a slight cloudy look. There is no head but the head that was there has a tan like color. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight caramel with some sour notes. The taste has a heavy sour to sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has a heavy sour finish. It is a sipping beer.

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

La Folie, French for ‘the folly’, is a beer steeped in New Belgium brewing tradition. This wood-aged, sour brown spends one to three years in big, oak barrels, known as foeders. And when the beer finally hits the glass, La Folie is sharp and sour, full of green apple, cherry, and plum-skin notes. Pouring a deep mahogany, the mouthfeel will get you puckering while the smooth finish will get you smiling. Not a beer for the timid, La Folie is a sour delight that will turn your tongue on its head.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In the end, I love my sour ales.  I have to say that this is the best American version of Belgian sour ale.  Upland Brewery has a great sour program but they just do very little batches.  It makes their beers a little special and super rare.  This is a great sour from New Belgium.  There is a nice balance.  It is pretty sour and bitter but not over the top.  This is one of the best sours that I have ever had in a long time. It is up there with the Rodenbach and other great Belgium sours.  I am talking as a American version. I highly recommend this beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill  DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13