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New Beer Blog Wynkoop Belgotado Belgian-Style India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, here is another brew from Wynkoop Brewing and the beer is Belgotado Belgian-Style India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know a little something on this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

The beer is a hazel golden color without a head on it. The smell is an earthly with Belgian species. The taste is a light body with Belgian species to it. There is a dry hop aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Meet our small batch Belgium-meets-Colorado thriller. It’s built with Colorado-grown malts and whole leaf hops, then fermented with a Belgian yeast. Luscious and balanced, it features pale malt flavors, layers of hops from start to finish, and spice notes.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.wynkoop.com

Twitter: @wynkoop

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this India Pale Ale style. I just found this pretty unique beer because it is in a can. I believe this is the American version of the Belgian Triple. It fits the smell and the taste of all the Belgian funkness. It either comes from the yeast or the spices that they use in this beer. I enjoy drinking it but I would not buy it on a regular basis if it was available in the Chicago market. However, I went on their website and I did not see it in their line up, it makes me wonder if they stop making this brew. If you can find it, go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Speakeasy Brewery Beers

In this special Saturday Beer Blog, we are going to get ahead of everyone in the Chicago market on these beers. Speakeasy Brewery is coming to Chicago starting next week and I was able to get hold of some bottles to review them before it hits the shelves. When I heard about them coming, I was excited to have them available everyday in Chicago. Speakeasy going with the theme of the Prohibition era or I like to say one of the dark times in American history. This brewery was founded in 1997 by Steve Bruce and Forest Gray. They are known for their over the top hoppy beers that range from 5% to 10% in their beers. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear golden color without a head on it. The smell is a heavy mango to this Extra Pale Ale. The taste of this medium body is a carbonation mango with a bland aftertaste. I can see some think this beer is drinkable and others might not think it is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tallulah mesmerizes with tropical fruit aromas and a radiant golden glow. This show-stopper is dry-hopped with Calyso and El Dorado hops and will leave you begging for an encore.

This beer has an amber brown color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet caramel malt. The taste is a smooth creamy caramel with a dry finish. It is drinkable beer and is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Prohibition Ale is a boldly hopped amber ale that strikes a perfect balance between caramel maltiness and its aggressive hopping.

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

Prohibition Ale is the first beer we bootlegged back in the early days of the brewery. Anything but traditional, Prohibition pours a deep reddish amber hue, with a fluffy tan head that leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass. A lush, complex aroma teases the senses with juicy grapefruit, citrus, pine, spice and candied caramel malts. Mouthfeel is creamy, with a silky, medium body and modest carbonation.

Style: American-Style Amber Ale

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: 45

Color: 15L – Copper, Dark Amber, Red

Barley: Two Row Pale, CaraMunich, Chilean Caramel

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

This beer has a red color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet malty caramel to the beer. The taste is carbonation malty to a slight spicy from the rye with a dry malty to a touch of hop finish. It is a drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Scarlett Red Rye Ale captivates with an act that ranges from sweet hop highs to spicy rye tones. Scarlett hits the notes that will set your heart on fire.

This beer is a clear golden with a semi white head on it. The smell is a heavy piney. The taste of this full body is a heavy piney to earthy with a dry earthy aftertaste. It is a sipping beer and it is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and clean dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

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

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and a clean, dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

Big Daddy IPA is a hop-head’s delight, a generously dry-hopped yet surprisingly drinkable American-style India Pale Ale. Poured into a standard American pint glass, the beer is a golden straw color, with tight carbonation and a slightly off-white head that leaves a lovely lacing. The aroma is floral, fresh grass, pine needles, grapefruit and subtle notes of fresh bread.

Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 55

Color: 5L – Golden

Barley: Two Row Pale, Light Munich

Hops: Columbus, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.goodbeer.com

Twitter: @SpeakeasyBeer

Closing out, all of these beers are really good and I enjoyed trying them. Some of these beer styles are not up my alley but good. Speakeasy did a great job on their beers and packaging. This brewery is a complete package. Big Daddy IPA is line with the rest of the west coast IPA but I feel gives you something more than the rest. I do not know what it is. Their Prohibition Ale is little bit more hopper than the normal Amber Ales. Plus Prohibition Ale is a session beer which I like it. Their Tallulah Ale has a wonderful smell and tasting experience. The Scarlett Red Rye Ale is kind of like Prohibition Ale but has a spicy kick to it. So you have to ask which one did I like and did not like. I loved these beers in this order Tallulah, Prohibition Ale, Big Daddy IPA, and Scarlett. I am not a huge fan of red ales and I am not saying that Scarlett is a bad beer, which it is not. It is not my favorite beer style. I love Big Daddy but I liked the Prohibition Ale and Tallulah even more. I highly recommend you trying these beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Nomad Karel Česká IPA

While in Prague, I had a chance to try only three ales that were not a wheat ale or a lager. We went to the Beer Museum in Prague and I was excited to see an IPA on draft. I cannot find too much information on this brewery. The brewery is called Nomad Brewery and the beer is their Karel Česká IPA. Here is some information from their website (www.pivovar-nomad.cz):

About us

Brewery without brewery, gypsy brewery, contract brewery … A couple of terms meaning the same thing – the fact that so far we don´t have our own brewery. Nevertheless we think that our recipes might be interesting for many beer lovers, even for those true drinkers of Czech lager. Therefore we asked our friends who already own a brewery if they could help us make our dream true and brew our own beer.

This is how our Nomad project was created. It is a ´ flying brewery´. We literally fly around the world, taste interesting beer and create our own interpretations of beer styles we like. Then as true nomads we travel the Czech Republic and have our original beer specials brewed.

Our beer has already been brewed in Antoš Brewery (Slaný), Litovel Brewery, Bašta Brewery (Vrchlabí) and more at the moment ages in different places, which we´ll introduce soon. We are planning cooperation with foreign brewers, breweries and if the Brew God permits, we´ll also brew our beer abroad.It is clear to us that this way of beer production is also used by supermarket chains, which buy no name beer in breweries and only stick their etiquette on it. We´re different. We have our beer brewed according to our original recipes and the taste cannot be mistaken.Hopefully you´ll like our beer and one day we´ll meet in our own brewery. Even a nomad can have a base camp.

I cannot find dates and who founded this brewery. I just see that they have no brewery and they do what I like to called rogue brewing like Stillwater. There are several of these new craft breweries that are popping up around the United States and I guess it is happening in the world too. There is nothing wrong with that. Let us get into the beer.

It has a copper color with a constant white head. The smell of this full body beer is a heavy citrus. The taste is a heavy citrus with a dry hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.pivovar-nomad.cz

Twitter: No Twitter address!

In closing, this was the best of the two IPAs I had when I was in Prague. It was nice to have an Ale over all the Lagers I was drinking in this beautiful city. As many of you know, I am a huge Hophead. I love my IPAs, Pale Ales, Porters, and Stouts. This beer is an average IPA. I know if it ever made it to the states. The price will be more than the rest of the American Craft IPAs. I am not saying this a bad IPA. You need to try it in Europe because I do not think it will travel well. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Tri-City Brewing Charity Island India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery I have been eye balling every time I go back to visit in Michigan. Tri-City Brewing Company is the brewery being featured in this beer post and the beer is called Charity Island India Pale Ale. This Bay City brewery opened its doors in 2007 by Kevin Peil and a few friends. There is not too much information on this young brewery. Let us get into beer.

It has cloudy copper color with a constant white head on the brew. The carbonation is heavy so be careful pouring the beer in the glass. The smell is fade citrus to this India Pale Ale. The taste has a carbonated citrus without an aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Charity Island IPA has a bold and assertive hoppy characteristic. Brewed with 100% malted barley, the five hop additions give an aroma with a rich citrus, floral, and resinous bouquet. The crisp flavor is in perfect harmony with the malt backbone with a refreshing, clean, and dry finish.

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

Charity Island IPA

Charity Island IPA has the bold and assertive hop characteristics of an American IPA. Brewed with 100% malted barley, the five hop additions give an aroma with a rich citrus, floral, and resinous bouquet. The crisp hoppy flavor is in perfect harmony with the malt backbone with a refreshing, clean, and dry finish.

6% abv and 72 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.tricitybrewing.com

Twitter: No Twitter address

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer. I love the citrus and it has enough of a malty backbone and balance. There is a nice crisp and dry finish that I picked up when I was drinking this beer. This is a great beer. I will be enjoying some pints when I go back to Michigan. If you live in the Michigan area, I recommend you trying this beer out. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery that I have been wanting to get into for a long time. The brewery and the beer is Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double India Pale Ale. Odell was founded in 1989 by Doug, Wynne and Corkie Odell in the Fort Collins, Colorado. This brewery was started in personal kitchen like most craft breweries. This one started in Seattle, Washington in a kitchen by Doug. Until all the brothers moved to Fort Collins to start-up this great brewery. Let us get into the beer.

This ale is a clear golden color with a white constant head on the beer. The smell is a heavy grapefruit to it. The taste is has a grapefruit with a touch of lemon. The aftertaste is a dry sweet citrus to the beer. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers. Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.

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

Myrcenary

Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers. Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.

Available Year Round
9.3%ABV 70IBU’s

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter: @OdellBrewing

Closing, this was a pretty unique beer I have had in a long time. I did not know how to react to the tropical notes I was picking up during the tasting experience. However, this beer is pretty good, I wish this was in the Chicago market. It is a great beer to enjoy by sipping and there is not too many double IPA that are sipping beers. I will order this on the net again or buy it in the store. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Sierra Nevada and the beer is called Ruthless Rye IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts from this brewery, you know the rich history of this brewery. I am willing to bet you have read about this brewery before this post. If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This seasonal IPA has a hazel copper color with a constant white head on the beer. The smell is a sweet earthly to it. The taste is a sweet malty spicy with a touch of peppery with a dry spicy aftertaste for this full body beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

2013 Ruthless Rye IPA is brewed with this rustic grain for refined flavors combining the peppery spice of rye and the bright citrusy flavors of whole-cone hops to create a complex ale for the tumultuous to Spring.

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

Ruthless^® Rye

Rustic grains, refined flavor, ruthless character.

Rugged and resilient, rye has been a staple grain for ages and its spicy black pepper-like flavor has been prized by distillers and brewers for centuries. Rye thrives in the harshest conditions and comes to life in Ruthless, a spicy and rugged IPA with fruity, citrus and herbal hop notes balanced with the dry spiciness of the rye, making the beer aggressive yet comforting to bolster against whatever the winter winds may bring.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @SierraNevada

In the end, this is one of my favorite beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery. It has a ton of flavor in this full body India Pale Ale with the spices. It is pretty drinkable with everything that is going on in this beer. There is a nice balance from the malt and the hops which is a good sign of a very well-built beer. There are breweries that will over hop their beers to hide the faults in their beers. Sierra Nevada is not doing that in this beer. This is an excite beer and I highly recommend you trying this beer. Let me know what you think of it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL

In this 300th beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL. If you read my earlier beer blogs on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. Since Samuel Adams is pretty well-known, you might already know the history of this brewery. If you have not or do not know Boston Beer Company, you might want to go back and read that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This unique lager has a clear copper color with a constant white head on it. The smell is a citrus to grapefruit to the beer. The taste is a dry citrus with crisp finish for the aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewing innovation is about asking “What if?” What if we gave an IPA a new identity and used some of our favorite West Coast hops, with their grapefruit, piney, and tropical fruit character, in a lager? The result is this boldly hoppy and flavorful brew with the crisp smoothness of a lager.

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

Full of the bold grapefruit & piney character of an American IPA, this brew also reveals its smooth lager side creating a balanced, flavorful brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

In closing, I have to be extremely honest. I do not know what craft breweries or just flat-out breweries are thinking about doing a Lager as a IPA. This is the dumbness beer style known to man out there. I am not a Lager fan and I love my Ales. I know for fact that most Ales and Lagers hyper beer styles are not just that good. Please, give me one because I really do not like them. This one is just bad beer and I would like to hear your thoughts. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Brooklyn Brewery and the beer is their East India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer.

This English India Pale Ale has a clear copper color with a white constant head on the beer. The smell is a heavy grapefruit to it. The taste of this full body beer is a carbonation grapefruit with a wet grapefruit hop to it. It is drinkable beer for what it is but to me, it is one and maybe two beers. I have to move on to the next beers.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

East India Pale Ale is our version of the sturdy ale made by the british brewer George Hodgson in the 1820’s to survive the voyage from London around the Cape of Good Hope to Calcutta. East India Pale Ale is brewed from English malt and hops and will taste best before the freshness date indicated.

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

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale is inspired by the original East India Pale Ales brewed in England in the early 1800’s for the troops in India. Everyday English ales were spoiling during shipment from London, around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, to Calcutta. Using extra malt and hops, British brewer George Hodgson developed an ale with the bitterness and strength to endure the long sea voyage, giving rise to a great beer style. Our East India Pale Ale is a deep golden beer brewed from British malt and a blend of hops featuring the choice East Kent Golding variety. It is traditionally dry-hopped for a bright aroma of hops, lemongrass, pine and citrus fruit, and has a robust bitterness, a warming malt palate and a clean hoppy finish. We think Hodgson would be rather pleased.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter: @brooklynbrewery

Ending, this is not my favorite India Pale Ale. I have to say with all the over the top hopped up India Pale Ales. This beer gives the hop head another aspect of this great beer style. Brooklyn Brewery hit a home run with the traditional beer style going back to England. They honor that great man on their beer bottles in their description. I will flip this beer in and out of my line up. This is a pretty good English IPA style. This is a great beer to start with if you are trying to like India Pale Ale. I recommend you trying it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Heavy Seas Black Cannon Black IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out one of my favorite beer style and my favorite craft brewery out of Maryland. Heavy Seas Brewery and the beer is called Black Cannon Black IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog on their flagship beer, which is called Loose Cannon, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a semi tan color. The smell is a roasted chocolate with a hint of pine. The taste is a chocolate piney with a dry hoppy finish. It is a drinkable beer but really not drinkable. It is kind of in that in between worlds.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

While the style is an oxymoron, this ale is a variation of our “Loose Cannon” IPA, with an obious dark note. 7.25% Alc./Vol.

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

Black Cannon

Seasonal Selections

Our brewers modeled this black IPA after Loose Cannon, with a slight change: it’s almost as if they burnt the brew. Deep-dark ruby, Black Cannon has a roasted character from Blackprinz and Roasted Barley malts, but a heaping portion of hops—in the kettle, hopback, and fermenter—impart flavor and aroma. Floral and pine notes show up in the nose. The mouthfeel is very smooth.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.hsbeer.com

Twitter: @heavyseasbeer

In closing, I love this beer style, which I said at the beginning of this beer post. I am a huge hophead but yet I love my porters and stouts. This is a dream of mine taking both beer styles and put them in one beer bottle or beer glass. It is a smooth full body beer when drinking but yet get the pine notes during the drinking experience. This beer at first I was not a fan but when I got to the bottom of the glass. I was really enjoying this beer. I recommend you trying this beer if you are a fan of Black India Pale Ale. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Mt. Pleasant Brewing Iron Horse IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Mt. Pleasant Brewing and the beer is called Iron Horse India Pale Ale. There is not a ton of information of when this brewery started but they are from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The State of Michigan has been seeing a huge growth of up and coming craft breweries. Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a hazel copper color with a heavy constant white head. The smell of this full body has a heavy grapefruit to it. The taste is a heavy grapefruit to the beer has a grapefruit aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

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

Iron Horse I.P.A. An American pale ale with full hops flavor and aroma Don’t be shy, try it. Like any good I.P.A. this one has plenty of hop presence but not so much that it is not approachable by our hop-weary friends. Instead of biggering and biggering like so many I.P.A.s these days we are keepin’ it real with a beer that will make you want to drink more than just one. Don’t worry though, hops heads, this beer still has enough bite to cut through any spicy dish you might want to pair it with. Try one, or five, with buffalo wings or a spicy blackened chicken dish. Iron Horse can also go quite well with shrimp, crab, or other light fish, so we have heard from a few of our loyal patrons. So, belly up and try Iron Horse if you have ever wondered what a good I.P.A is like. We promise you won’t be disappointed. ABV – 6.6%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.mtpleasantbrew.com

Twitter: There is no twitter address.

In closing, I thought this beer was a little different to me. It has a heavy grapefruit to this full body India Pale Ale. If you love grapefruit, this will be a beer you need to try it. I have some mix feelings towards this beer. I would not say I do not like it but I would not say it is not one of my favorites. I would like to try this beer on draft to get a better feel towards this beer. I will have to say this beer is worth a shot of trying this India Pale Ale. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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Myrcenary

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Ruthless® Rye

Rustic grains, refined flavor, ruthless character.

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Black Cannon

Seasonal Selections

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