import beer

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 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

New Beer Blog Palm Speciale Belge Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to same Speciale Belge Ale from Palm Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east Europe brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts, please, do so to get to know this import craft brewery.  Let us get into this Belgian Amber Ale.

It has a clear amber color with white head on this Belgian Amber Ale.  The smell has notes of caramel and spices.  The taste has spicy to caramel notes with a watery malty finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Palm was originally brewed at the beginning of the 20th Century as a new style of ale.  Speciale Belge – taste complexity of an ale brewed to be refreshing like pilsner or lager.  It is Palm’s perfect balance of flavor and approachabilty that makes it Belgium’s Amber Ale.

Here is a description from their website (www.palm.be):

PALM

the sociable beer for every day, for everyone

“Speciale Belge” is one of the better Belgian beers of the early 20th century. This smooth-drinking, amber-coloured top-fermentation beer has a sensible alcohol content.
Special PALM malts determine its honey-like mellowness and PALM’s own selected yeasts give it a fruity yeast aroma. Fine aroma hops from Kent afford subtle harmony. PALM is the absolute number one “BELGIAN AMBER BEER”.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.palm.be

Twitter:  @palmbeer and @palmale

Closing, I love the aroma and the taste profile from this amber ale.  It is smooth and drinkable brew.  This is not my favorite beer but it is not bad beer.  I just do not like the fact that it has to travel a ton to make it to the United States.  I recommend you trying this beer and please, share your thoughts.  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 Ommegang Brewery Glimmerglass Spring Saison

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out the new Spring Seasonal from Ommegang Brewery.  It is called Glimmerglass Spring Saison.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Cooperstown Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Spring Seasonal.

This Saison has a slight cloudy yellow color with a constant white head.  The aroma has a refreshing malty, hop, and hint of pepper.  The taste has a light carbonated malty to fruit notes with a nice pepper finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Glimmerglass – The name given to our lake by James Fenimore Cooper – is a beautiful body, nested between gentle mountains, it reflects any object held up to it, just as it reflects our joy at the arrival of each spring.  To help celebrate, our new spring saison offers a perfect balance of maltiness and hops, with a touch of yeasty fruitness and whiff of pepper.

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

Glimmerglass

Author James Fenimore Cooper gave the name ‘Glimmerglass’ to the beautiful body of water that graces Cooperstown. Nestled between gentle mountains, it reflects any object held up to it, just as it reflects our joy at the arrival of each spring.

Deep straw to light amber in color with a thick, pure white head. The saison yeast strain gives off fruity aromas of pear, apple and slight citrus balanced with a delicate floral hop character and a touch of spiciness. Taste is very clean, with pronounced fruit flavors, delicate bready malt followed by welcomed spicing. Crisp finish with lingering yet subtle notes of yeast and touches of fruity pepper.

Available for a limited time each Spring in 12oz bottles and 1/2 bbl kegs.

5.4% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ommegang.com

Twitter:  @breweryommegang

Closing, I love pretty much all the beers that Ommegang Brewery.  I had the chance to visit the brewery over a weekend and I had a ton of fun.  I love the brewery tour and had a chance to try rest of their line up of beers.  I have to call like it is for this brew.  Ommegang Brewery needs to open their eyes and see what is going on in the beer industry.  How many more saisons do we need from you or in the market?  I get this saison is a little different than their everyday one, which is their Hennepin Ale.  This beer is below average for their standards. They have done a great job on the Games Of Thornes beers.  I just feel that the market is not looking for another saison.  I have to say this is a good to great beer.  I love how much flavor is in it.  I love the pepper notes in the aftertaste.  I like it until I realize how much I paid for it.  Their beers are great.  I just feel they do not live up to the price you paid at retail.  It is not the case for all their beers.  Please, keep that in mind.  I recommend you trying this beer and the rest of their beers.  Let me know your thoughts on this Spring Saison.  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 Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale from Wells Brewery.  Wells brewery was founded in 1875 by Charlies Wells.  Wells Brewery merged with Young’s in early part of 2000’s and it is now known as Wells and Young’s Brewery Company today.  Let us get into this beer.

It has an amber color with a white color. The aroma has a heavy sweet toffee candy notes.  The taste has a sweet funky malty notes with a toffee aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk

Twitter:  @wellsandyoungs

Dessert please, I like to try different beers and I love my desert beers.  I am a huge fan of their Banana Bread Beer.  I love drinking it in the fall to break up all the Pumpkin and Oktoberfest brews.  I will be adding this beer to that list during the fall but I will have a few of this brew and their Banana Bread Ale before fall.  This beer is good and I enjoyed it very much.  I was a little disappointed.  I was expecting something pretty sweet but I still loved it.  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 Estaminet Premium Pils

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In this import beer blog, we are going to same Estaminet Tavern Premium Pils.  It is made by Palm Brewery in Belgian.  This Pils was named after the Taverns in Northern France.  The Spanish soldiers use to relax and get entertained from the girls in the country.  This beer was first brewed in 2011.  There is not much history on this beer.  Let us get into this Pils.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this Belgium Pilsner.  The aroma has a fresh spring day notes.  It is hard to describe.  The taste has a slight sweet malty with a nice slight hop notes like earthy notes.  The aftertaste is crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Estaminet Premium Pils is the latest example of PALM Breweries’ craftmanship. You can see, smell and taste the result: a golden-yellow pilsner with a subtle hop aroma, low alcohol content (5.2%) and distinct fruity flavour. Estaminet Premium Pils is a thirst-quenching, refreshing beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.palm.com

Twitter:  no account

Closing, I like this Pils but I just feel there are better and fresher Pilsners on the market.  It is hard to keep beer fresh that is being shipped overseas.  I know most American beer drinkers like the beer to have that shunky taste.  It is off flavor taste notes.  This beer does not have those notes but I could imagine what it would taste like if it was fresher.  It is a good beer and I recommend you trying it.  I pick this beer up from a sampler back and I thought it was a great deal.  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 Rodenbach Flemish Red-Brown Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out import beer.  It is Rodenbach Flemish Red-Brown Ale.  Rodenbach was named after the four Rodenbach brothers that founded this small brewery in 1821.  It remained in the family until 1998 when it was sold to Palm Brewery Company.  It is located in Roeselare, Belgium.  They mainly brew sour beers.  They are famous for this beer style and well-known for it.  Let us get into this beer classic.

It has a dark red color with white head that disappears over time.  The aroma has a sweet but slight hint of sour malty notes.  The taste has a strong malt forward with a sour bitter aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.palmbreweries.com

Twitter:  @rodenbachbeer

In the end, this is a beer style that you will need to build yourself up to enjoy it.  It is like the world of IPA’s.  You are going to either love or hate it.  Once you like it.  You will keep coming back for more and searching for new sours or IPA’s.  I know if I give this beer to a mass-produced beer drinker or a new craft beer drinker.  They will not like it and say it is not beer.  This is a very special beer style.  I love this brew.  This is the best sour on the market and the world. There are breweries that coming pretty close to this sour.  It will never be pasted over.  I highly recommend this beer and the rest of their sours.  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 Steen Brugge Triple Ale

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Starting a new beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer, which is Triple Ale, from Steen Brugge.  In 1084, this brewery was founded in West Flanders.  The secret of brewing this beer has been passed down to get brewmaster and is locked away from the public.  Palm Breweries are brewing Steen Brugge family of beers starting in 2003.  Asides that information, there is really not too much information on this brewery or their beers.  Let us get into this Triple Ale.

It has a slightly clear golden color with a white constant head on this triple ale.  The aroma has Belgian spices notes.  The taste has a slight citrus with a carbonated spicy notes.  The aftertaste has a dry and heavy spicy notes.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their beer bottle:

The historic Steenbrugge Abbey was founded in 1084 by St. Arnold, the patron saint of brewers.  Distinguishing itself from other abbeys.  Steenbrugge continues the medieval tradition of using “grunt”, a herbal mixture that is one of the secrets to creating a divine drinking experience.  And to further uphold century’s of high quality, secondary fermentation is painstakingly applied to each bottle.

In closing, I was pretty interested in trying this beer.  There was a nice Belgium sampler pack in a beer store by me.  There is a lot of flavor and spicy notes.  I love the description from the bottle.  I am a little surprise they give out as much information on this brew.  The beer recipe is a secret like most beers on the market.  It is kind of drinkable.  I enjoyed drinking but I cannot see the price for a six-pack.  I bet that is why it is not on the shelf at most beer stores or high-end beer stores.  If you see it, I would try this beer.  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 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