import beer

New Blog Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

In this blog, we are going to the west coast to check out a brewery that has push the limits of hops and craft beer drinkers around the country since there exists.  This brewery I am talking about is Stone Brewery and the beer is Cali-Belgique IPA.  Here is a little history on this west coast brewery.  Stone Brewery was founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch.  This brewery is now the largest brewery in Southern California.  This brewery as of 2010 became the 14th largest craft brewery and 23rd overall brewery.  Stone Brewery is still growing and still doing different things with their beers.  They have beer teaming up with different breweries around the country to create new beers. We are going to get into one right now.

I am trying this beer at the Blues Bar in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  This beer is bright yellow color with little to no head. The beer drinker will smell the funky from Belgian spices or yeast and a little melon or mango smell from the hops. It is a little different than the American craft Belgian IPA or Triple. This Stone brew taste like sweet carbonation citrus going on in it.  There is no really no aftertaste to this beer.  This beer is a very drinkable beer.

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

When reading the name “Stone Cali-Belgique IPA”, “Cali” hints that it is a California-style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word “Belgique” (which is how Belgium’s French-speaking population says the word “Belgian”; the Dutch-speaking Belgians say “België”). We carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that  illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply Stone IPA. The result is both completely new and different, while still being recognizable as a Stone brew—and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrew.com

Twitter: @stonebrewingco

In closing, I will be honest and let just say the way it is about this beer.  I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  This is a Belgian Triple not a Belgian IPA.  I understand what American Craft Breweries are trying to do for the general beer fan that understand what India Pale Ale but do not understand a Belgian Triple.  I believe they are trying to create a new beer style to grow off the Belgian Beer Style. There is nothing wrong with this brewery doing it or another brewery. Hell I just brought a pint so they got me and I am glad I did it. I just hate the name that is all. I am off my soap box on this topic.  With that all set at the side, I really enjoy drinking this beer.  If you are hop head like me or like the Belgian beers, I would go try this beer.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace

While in DC for Savor, this beer is one of my favorite beers from Brooklyn Brewery, which is Sorachi Ace Ale.  I know for a fact that Kevin that was next to me when I order this beer is really looking forward to reading this blog.  I will not bore you with the history of this brewery since I already did it in my earlier blog called Brooklyn Brown Ale.  Let us get into the beer that I had in DC in a soulful restaurant.

This is really bright yellow in color.  There is really no smell to this beer maybe a slight circus to it. The taste of the beer is very sweet carbonation in it. This beer is very hard to describe it. It has a nice aftertaste to the beer and it keeps coming after you are done drinking the beer in a good way.  This beer is very drinkable for being in a 750ml bottle. However, I had this beer on draught this time around, it is worth the money in the bottle and draught.

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

Most Brooklyn beers are made with a blend of hop varietals. As a chef does with spices, we look to get the best qualities of each hop and create a harmony of flavors and aromas. However, a few years ago, our brewmaster ran into a hop unique enough to deserve its own moment in the sun. A large Japanese brewery first developed the hop variety “Sorachi Ace” in 1988. A cross between the British “Brewer’s Gold” and the Czech “Saaz” varieties, it exhibited a quality that was unexpected – it smelled really lemony.

The unique flavor of Sorachi Ace was bypassed by the big brewers, but we thought it was pretty cool. So we made a special beer with it, and added the beer to our Brewmaster’s Reserve special draft beer program last year. Most Brewmaster’s Reserve beers are only available for a short time, and then they’re gone. But we liked this one so much, we decided to bring it back and give it the star treatment. Brooklyn Sorachi Ace is a classic saison, a cracklingly dry, hoppy unfiltered golden farmhouse ale, but made entirely with now-rare Sorachi Ace hops grown by a single farm in Washington. We ferment it with our special Belgian ale strain, and then add more Sorachi Ace hops post-fermentation. After the dry-hopping, the beer emerges with a bright spicy lemongrass / lemon zest aroma backed by a wonderfully clean malt flavor.

It tastes like sunshine in a glass, and that suits us just fine, especially with seafood dishes and fresh cheeses. It’s just the thing on nice summer days and beyond.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Out of beer, the hop makes this beer what it is in the glass.  Brooklyn Brewery has a solid beer lineup and Sorachi Ace pushes them close to the top of all the craft breweries around the country.  This is a very well made beer and drinkable.  I am never really a fan of Belgian and Belgian style beers but I have really grown to love this style.  Sorachi Ace is one of my favorite beer from this style.  Get it before it is gone!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis

In this blog, we are going to talk about a brewery, who is called Perennial Artisan Ales, that was founded in 2011.  This brewery joins an awesome current lineup of craft breweries in and out of St Louis, MO. This blog will feature one, which is called Saison de Lis, and there will be two more blogs, which are called Hommel Bier and Hommel Bier,to follow.

Just like a normal farmhouse saison ale, it is cloudy and golden to yellow in color. The smell is slightly circus to very earthly.  This Saison just like others is very drinkable and refreshing, which is why this beer style is brew by farmers on their farms in Belgium for their workers.

Here is a few sources to get to know about this brewery:

Website: www.perennialbeer.com

Twitter: @PerennialBeer

On ending, this beer is in big bottles and I am really not a fan of beers in these big bottles.  Unless, it is a really big beer and this saison is only 5% in ABV.  This beer is pretty good but not for the packaging size and price.  They did a very good job doing the American version of this beer.  I would say try it and put your thoughts on this beer.  It would be neat to check out their Brewpub some time in the future.  I will have to hunt down their other beers.  They are brewing some interesting beers.  Overall, this beer has a market just like every beer but I am not the market.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Hommel Bier

In this blog, we are going to talk about the final beer from the Perennial Artisan Ales that I got my hands on in the Chicago market.  They have a few more beers that I believe will not be available just yet in this market.  The beer that will be feature is their Hommel Bier.  This brewery goal is take American and Belgian styles and do something different within reason.  Hommel Bier is a Belgian Style Ale.

This beer pours into glass with huge carbonation just like your normal Belgian Strong Golden Ale.  The head is very constant with a slightly cloudy golden color to the beer. It has species and slight circus smell. The taste is sweet and carbonation with a bit of a bitter aftertaste.   It is kind of dry for the aftertaste. This beer is drinkable at anytime of the year.  It has a nice spicy kicking in this beer just like your normal Belgian style.  Just reading the description, I believe the spices are coming from the Belgian Yeast.

Here is description from the bottle:

In the hop capital of Belgium, Hommel is the word for Humulus, the plant genus where hops reside. Our Hommel Bier defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific Northwest hops, and a Belgian yeast strain.  The result is a beer that combines earthy and spicy tones from the yeast with a slight orange note contributed by the hops.  We think it’s buzzworthy.

Here is a few places on the web to get some information about this brewery:

Website: www.perenialbeer.com

Twitter: @perenialbeer

Closing out the tap, this beer like their Saison.  I honestly do not think it is a good value in a 750ml bottle.  However, this beer has a lower ABV, which is 5.9%, then other Belgium or styel, it puts it at a value and drinkable then them.  What I mean by that, you can drink all day and do not have to worry about getting tank.  Duvel, for example, you will have to worry about the ABV because it is 8.5%.  Since this is a small brewery, there will be a limited supply in the market (I am assuming.  I could be totally wrong on this theory.  I am just using my experience at searching for beers from smaller breweries.  I hope I am wrong on this theory.).  I believe craft beer drinkers will hunt this beer down even more then other beers that are easier to find.  Go find this beer and let me know what you think. Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog La Chouffe Golden Ale

In this blog, I wanted to change it up a bit.  I have been blogging about Craft Beers and I wanted to a high-end Import Beer.  We are going to talk about beer from Belgium called La Chouffe Golden Ale.  This beer is under the Duvel  Moortgat USA Company.  Under this company you have Duvel, Ommengang, Deninck Amber Ale, etc.  A little history about this little company, it was founded in 1982.  This brewery’s beer is known for their cartoon elves on  their labels.  You will find all their beers 750ml in the Chicago market.  I don’t know about the rest of the states.  They have several different product sizes listed on his website, which is www.achouffe.be.

Description :

LA CHOUFFE is an unfiltered blonde beer, which is re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg.  It is pleasantly fruity, spiced with coriander, and with a light hop taste.     (from the website www.achouffe.be)

Here is the description from the  bottle:

 La Chouffe is brewed by the Artisons of la Brasserie d’Achouffe deep in the heart of Belgium’s Ardennes mountains.  The legend of gnomes (chouffes) who once brewed in this mysterious region provides the inspiration for this eccentric bottle conditioned, double fermented ale.

This beer is a Belgian Golden Strong Ale that pours as a golden color. If you pour completely out,  the beer will be cloudy at look from the yeast that is in the bottle. You can smell the spices from their Belgian Yeast.  A smooth, session, and refreshing beer that has a nice balance and carbonation finish.

Here is a few places to get information on this brewery:

Website: www.achouffe.be

Twitter: @ChouffeUSA

In closing, I am not a really huge fan of anything that comes out of Belgium or just about anything that comes out of Europe.  However, this beer is something else, it has everything going on.  I love the spices in this beer.  This beer is not your normal Belgium Golden Strong Ale.  I would say hunt this beer down.  It is a very well made beer and I would drink this on day-to-day basis.  You will find this beer any high-end liquor stores.  Go find this beer!  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Ram Brewery Wheeling IL

I love supporting great brewpub with great food.  I didn’t realize I had one in my backyard.  I am talking about the multiple locations brewpub called The Ram Brewery.  Their beer is a really good for a great value for the price.  This is a perfect place to take people that are new to craft beer world that want to sample new Craft Beers.  The other one I would say in the Chicagoland market would be the #1 craft in Chicago which is Goose Island Brewery.  They have two location in the city but if you are in the burbs of Chicago The Ram has two location in the Northwest.

To get information and see updates and news on this company.

Twitter @theram or @therambrew (wheeling location)

Website is www.theram.com

The Wheeling location has special on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.  They have a sampler plate just like every other brewpub.  Go and drink to support some great craft beers!  Cheers!