ipa

New Beer Blog Pipeworks Brewing Ninja Vs. Unicorn Double IPA

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We are going to get into the third beer that will be review on this beer blog from Pipeworks Brewing.  The beer is their Ninja Vs. Unicorn Double India Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blog post two days ago, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It had a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is piney to earthy notes.  The taste of this medium to full body beer is light carbonation piney notes to it.  It is pretty drinkable Double India Pale Ale.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Ninja Vs. Unicorn celebrates the epic battle two of the biggest hop-heads of lore.  Brewed with over five pounds of hops per barrel, this unfiltered double IPA is sure to please the most discerning hop lover.  Whether you’re rooting for the mythical horned horse or the deadly assassin of the east, we hope you’ll enjoy Ninja Vs. Unicorn.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pipeworksbrewing.net

Twitter:  @PipeworksBrewin

Ending, this is a great beer.  I love the hops they use in this beer.  It is pretty well-balanced for being a double India Pale Ale.  There is a nice malty backbone but I kind feel it should be stronger.  I can live with it.  I have to say for a beer that is in 22oz bottle.  It is well worth the price.  I have always felt beers in 22oz bottles are not worth the price.  To me, this one lives up to the price.  I recommend you trying 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 Dark Horse Safety Meeting IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into an India Pale Ale from Dark Horse Brewing.  I had  their Safety Meeting IPA on National India Pale Ale Day.   Dark Horse Brewing was founded in 1998 by Bill Morse and Aaron Morse.  They opened in Marshall, Michigan.  They later moved to their current location off South Kalamazoo Road in 2000.  They brew several different beer styles.  They are known for their flagship which is called Crooked Tree IPA.  Let us get into the beer.

It has cloudy amber color without a head on the beer.  The smell is piney and citrus.  The taste of this medium body beer is citrus to hints of pine with a wet hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.darkhorsebrewery.com

Twitter:  @DarkHorseBrewCo

Happy IPA Day!, I enjoyed this beer and I love the hops that they used in this beer.  This beer was pretty well-balanced beer.  I was pretty stun by it.  I was on my way back to Michigan from Chicago and I wanted to stop by the brewpub to have lunch.  I had a few IPA’s at the brewpub and enjoyed them.  I had a chance to talk to some of the regulars that come into the brewpub.  Chuck was a really nice guy and I hope to meet him again the next time I come back through the brewpub.  The food was great and everyone was really nice.  I highly recommend this beer if it is still available and checking out the brewpub.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite India Pale Ales.  I am talking about Blue Point Brewing and the beer is their Hoptical Illusion India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those beer posts, please, read them to know everything about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark golden color without a head on the beer.  The smell is weird malt to the beer.  There is really no hop smell.  The taste of this full body IPA is earthy to piney with a slight dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

We won’t go as far as saying you’ll see things after partaking in a few, but one or two will leave you craving more. Ancient Egyptians stuffed their pillows with fresh hops, believing the hop’s aroma brought on intense, vivid dreams. Today, our classic, American-style India Pale Ale (IPA) features a rare hop grown exclusively on a small farm in Oregon. One taste and you’ll understand why we bought the entire crop. Our Hoptical Illusion IPA is brewed with a generous amount of this select hop that’s added five different ways for maximum hop flavor. The delicious, resiny, citrus-burst that you taste is the “Essence of the Hop” which is balanced by a malty backbone yielding an intense, golden ale. Hoptical Illusion tantalizes beer lovers’ taste-buds, while its colorful, psychedelic packaging is candy for the eyes.

1.064 OG and 66 IBU’s 6.8% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @bluepointbrewer

Ending, I miss getting this beer in the Chicago market.  However, I was visiting friends and family in Michigan, I was able to pick up some beer and this one of them.  I love this India Pale Ale while I was there.  I always call this beer the “Hippie Package” or “Hippie IPA.”   I love the hops that they are using in this beer.  I highly recommend you trying this great beer from the Long Island, New York brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Three Floyds and the brew is Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale.  If you read my read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the history of this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper to light amber color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a fruity notes like mango.  The taste is a huge and heavy mango notes with a dry fruit hop aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  For an experience beer drinker, it is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A dry and stupendous hopped medium bodied Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Canadian 2-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops.  Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aroma’s of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

9.5% ABV 100 IBUs

A massive IPA that will leave your palate its hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds

In closing, I will be first to say I am not a huge fan of this brewery because I believe their beers are overrated and over priced.  I have to say I have been pretty impressed by this brew.  I love the hops and the balanced from the malts.  I love the aroma and the nice hops taste is really good.  This brewery took their time to find the right hops for this brew.  This is a well made beer and nice balance.  I recommend you trying this beer.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew and the brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Tornado Black IPA

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In this special beer blog from Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest, we are going to get into my one of my favorite craft breweries and beer from Michigan.  The brewery is Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Tornado Black IPA.  I have been wanting try this beer for a long time.  I could not find it whenever I was in town.  I was happy to see it being poured at this beer festival.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, read those posts to get to know the beers and the brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight coffee and chocolate to pine and citrus.  The taste is a chocolate circus with a dry fruity notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @fb1862

Closing out, I really enjoyed this brew.  This beer did not disappoint me at all.  This is a pretty unique beer and it is hard to master on the brewery side of things.  It is hard for most craft beer drinkers to get to know and enjoy this beer style.  I believe this beer will bring some experience craft beer drinkers over to the Black IPA beer style.  I was pretty stun on how drinkable this brew is too.  The other thing that makes this beer pretty impressive is the fact it is coming from German base brewing style.  They did a great job and I am proud and honor they are making great beer in Michigan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City.  It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA.  Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter.  Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through.  It has a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt.  The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue.  It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend.  This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market.  I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one.  I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five.  Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe.  To me, this one is made with their stout.  There is a nice balance from the hops and malt.  Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around.  I love the packaging  and the fact it is in cans.  I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island  brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling.  This is another seasonal release and tap party.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head.  The smell is a citrus to piney.  The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s.  It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate.  ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub.  I enjoyed drinking their beers.  They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food.  This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts.  They did a great job with picking the hops.  I love the hop character in this brew.  I really recommend you driving and trying 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 Stone Ruin Ten IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale.  The smell is a piney to earthy notes.  The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.stonebrewing.com):

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here.  I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much.  Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me.  It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel  this way.  I have to say it is a great beers.  Please, do not think this is a negative note.  There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one.  I love my fair share of them.  This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time.  I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while.  I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party In Schaumburg Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into two brews from Ram Tap Party in Schaumburg location.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

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This Barrel ’71 Pale Ale has heavy cloudy mud color with a constant white head on it.  The smell is a sweet slight chocolate bourbon to the beer.  The taste is a heavy bourbon to a slight citrus from pale ale side.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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The Firecracker IPA has a dark amber color with a constant fluffy white head on it. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste is like their IPA but the aftertaste has burning from the peppers. It does sit around a bit. It is kind of drinkable at first and then becomes a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

Closing, I have been away from the Tap Parties because of being out-of-town.  I was pretty excited to get back into the Tap Parties.  I will have the Wheeling location this week but I was able to get by the Schaumburg location to try their two beer release.  The first one was Ram’s 71 Pale Ale aged in Bourdon barrels for seven months.  Yes, agree it looks like chocolate milk because of the flash from my phone.  It had a mud to wood color to it.  I had my fair share of bourdon ales.  I have to say this one is heavy bourdon to it.  I cannot taste any of the pale ale.  I do not mind the bourdon in the beer.  I need some beer taste.  I thought it was below average, however, this does not mean you will not like this beer.  The next one brew was their Firecracker IPA.  It is dry hopped with Habanero peppers.  I have to say the India Pale Ale, which is their Big Red, part is still there.  The hops were mild down a bit.  Peppers kick in aftertaste with a slight burn in the throat.  At first, it was pretty mild on the hot to burn side.  However, it will build up over time, for me, it became too much.  This beer should be in a smaller glass like 10oz.  I think a 120z pour is too much and pint is out of the question.  I recommend these beers because of how unique they are to the market.  Please let me know what you think of these brews.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Centennial IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing.  The beer that will be featured is their Centennial IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Cherry Ale, you know the history of this Michigan Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read that beer blog to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into beer.

The color is a clear copper color without a head on the IPA.  The smell is grapefruit.  The taste is carbonated grapefruit with a dry grapefruit that dies right away for the aftertaste.  It is drinkable beer.

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

Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

  • ABV: 7.2%
  • IBUs: 65
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  I do not know why but I will give breweries credits when credit is due.  I will honesty knock a breweries I am a fan if they put out a bad beer or a beer I do not like.  This is my thought pattern and I would not take this as the gold standards.  I am just idiot with thought.  With all said, I will have to say I am a fan of this brew.  It has a nice hop aroma and character with a great malty backbone.  It is pretty drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble at times.  I highly recommend this brewery.  Please, let me know what you think of this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser