michigan beer

New Beer Blog Canton Brew Works McConaghey Belgian Black IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from my friends at Canton Brew Works.  It is their McConaghey Belgian Black IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this black IPA.

It has a jet black color with a semi on white constant head. The aroma has a sweet chocolate to slight coffee notes. The taste has a chocolate to coffee notes with chocolate and a funky aftertaste. It is a smooth and drinkable IPA.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cantonbrewworks.com

Twitter:  @cantonbrewworks

Closing, I need to make it up to this craft brewery more often.  I have been away for too long.  This craft brewery makes some really good beers.  Berry keeps on pushing the limits of his beers.  I love Belgian and Black IPA’s.  I saw this beer and I had to have it.  I love it. It is not as bitter like most Black IPA. It is a Belgian Black IPA.  This beer has everything that I love about beer.  This is a great beer and I highly 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 Petoskey Brewing Horny Monk Belgium Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Petoskey Brewing.  It is their flagship beer, which is Horny Monk.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear amber to light brown color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a slight malty notes. The taste has a sweet Belgium malty notes with a dry slight nutty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

A deep reddish, malty, and complex Belgian style ale. Six different types of malted barley, Belgian candied syrup and Belgian yeast are combined to produce a very smooth, complex and slightly sweet ale.
6.9% ABV, 20 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.petoskeybrewing.com

Twitter:  @petoskeybrewing

In the end, I can see why so many people love this beer and drink a ton of it.  It is smooth and nice drinkable beer.  To me, this does not seem like Abbey Dubbel.  It is more like a Belgian single with a ton of malt base.  This is a great beer either way.  I am not a brewer just a guy that loves beer and studies it.  It does not has alcohol burn like other Belgium Abbey Dubbel. It is light body.  It is like a session Abbey.  I love this beer.  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 Cheboygan Blueberry Cream Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Cheboygan Brewery.  It is their Blueberry Cream Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan base craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Midwest craft brewery.  Let us get into this Cream Ale.

It has a slightly cloudy golden color with a white head at first. It disappears over time. The smell has a heavy blueberry notes. The taste of this light body has a sweet blueberry notes with a sweet blueberry aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

A light bodied ale brewed with lactose sugar and packed with Michigan Blueberries. Fresh fruit aroma bursts from this deliciously creamy brew. Go ahead enjoy Michigan Fresh in a pint!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewing.com

Twitter:  @cheboyganbrew

Closing, I enjoy their beers but I do not go out of my way to find their brews.  I normally get some beer when my friend visits the brewery.  I am guarantee to get the product fresh.  I am a little worried with the beer in the beer stores by me.  This beer is extremely drinkable beer.  It is smooth and easy to drink as the classic beer style was designed.  I am not a fan but I can see people liking this beer.  It is well designed and well made 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 Bell’s Best Brown Ale

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Bell’s Brewery.  It is their famous Best Brown 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 brown ale.

It has a cloudy dark brown color with a tan color head. The smell has a sweet malty with nutty notes. The taste has a smooth malty notes with a nutty aftertaste. It is a nice drinkable fall beer.

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

A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in our fall lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, I have always pick up a six pack of this beer every year.  This is one of the few beers that I go out of my way to pick up from this brewery.  They did a great job on making this beer.  It is a nice and smooth.  This is a great brew for the fall day or first winter snow of the winter.  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 Canton Brew Works Night Strangler Danger

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first Mug Club Event and limited release from this Michigan base craft brewery.  They took their Night Stranger Stout and aged it in Rye Whiskey Barrel.  They call this beer Night Stranger Danger. If you read my earlier write-up on their overall business, you know the history of this young and upcoming craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color without head. The aroma has a heavy bourbon to chocolate notes. The taste of this full body has a bourbon chocolate with a dry bourbon aftertaste. It is a nice sipping stout but drinkable for this type of beer style.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cantonbrewworks.com

Twitter:  @cantonbrewworks

Ending, this craft brewery has been pretty busy making some new beers.  I will start making it a habit to write about those.  I wanted to wait for the first Mug Club Beer event.  I will say I picked a good one to do the first beer review from this brewery.  This is their first mug club beer release beer. It is really good with a nice balance. It is pretty smooth and the bourbon does not over take stout.  This is a great brew and I hope they will make more of this beer.  I hope to see different versions like coffee, berries, etc.  I highly recommend this beer.  It is limited. 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 Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample a special limited beer, which is Backwoods Bastard Ale, from Founders Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark ruby-red color without a head on this barrel aged ale. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight bourdon along with some vanilla and other earthly notes. The taste has a sweet malty, alcohol, and earthly notes. The aftertaste has a nice warm alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.
  • ABV: 10.2%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I kept on hearing this is the beer that you need to try from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is a must find and try.  When I hear it was released, I rushed out and found a few bottles.  I was pretty excited this beer.  I love ales aged in barrels.  I am a huge fan of old ales, wheat wines, and barley wines.  I have said it is a nice sipping beer.  I love the sweet malty to alcohol notes.  There is a pretty nice balance.  I have to say for the price and I was looking for more out of this beer.  I just believe it is not worth it.  I will get at least a bottle every year but I am not going out of my way like I did this year.  It is beyond overrated.  Let me put it this way.  It is very good beer but not the best in this beer style that I have had in my lifetime.  If you see it, try it.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Holland Brewery Imperial Hatter India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Imperial Hatter India Pale from New Holland Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Winter Seasonal, which is Cabin Fever, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please read it to get to know this Western Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial IPA.

It has a cloudy dark copper with a constant white head.  The aroma has a heavy grapefruit notes.  The taste has a heavy grapefruit notes with a dry malty and hop bitter aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

An assertively dry-hopped nose is followed by a bitter symphony of flavor.  Bold hop character with lively grapefruit notes.

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

Description

Assertive dry-hopping provides an aromatic telltale nose, indicative of the robust, bitter symphony to follow. Bold hop character with lively grapefruit and citrus notes.

Beer Style Imperial IPA

Degrees Plato 20

Alcohol by Volume 9.40%

IBUs 76

Grains 2-row, munich, crystal, carapils

Hops Centennial, Cascade, Warrior

Yeast American Ale

First Brewed2007

Pairings Spicy heat, citrus and aged blue cheese

Here is their website and twitter addreses:

Website:  www.newhollandbrew.com

Twitter:  @newhollandbrew

This is my second New Holland brewery beer review on this blog.  I have had several of their beers.  They are good beers but I just feel there are better brews out there.  I am a huge hophead and I saw this brew when I was beer shopping.  I thought sure why not.   I love the hops they picked.  I was pretty excited about it.  I have to say I am pretty impressed.  It is better then rest of the beers I have had from them.  I will going to have to retry their beers again in the near future.  I love the hops and nice malty backbone.  The backbone is a little weak but strong enough to live with the bold hop selection.  I highly recommend this beer and I would love to hear 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 Oddside Derelicte Pineapple IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer, which is Pineapple IPA, from Oddside Brewery.  Oddside Brewery was founded in Grand Haven, Michigan in 2010.  There goal is brew unique beers that will push the limits of the craft beer drinkers.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The aroma has a nice mild pineapple notes. The taste has a light carbonated pineapple notes with a dry hoppy dry bitter finish.  The finish hangs around a bit.  It is kind of drinkable to a sipping brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  No Twitter

Closing, as many of us in Michigan, we are just getting around trying Oddside beers.  I have to say this is one of my favorite beers from them.  I am really love the pineapple notes how it shapes around the hops.  It is a nice sipping to semi drinkable beer.  The bitterest is not over the top but it is still there.  The pineapple and the well designed malty backbone cuts right through hops.  I really love this brew.  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 Wolverine Winter Lager

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Starting new beer tab, we are going to sample out the first brew from Wolverine Brewery.  It is their Winter Lager.  Wolverine Brewery was started by a few Michigan borne home brewers.  They brew beers in the lager styles.  They rarely do any ales.  There is not much history on this brewery.  I cannot find when they opened their doors.  I believe it was 2010.  Let us get into the beer.

This lager has a clear amber color with a white head that disappears over time.  The smell is heavy malty to caramel notes.  The taste is a light carbonated caramel notes with a crisp caramel finish.  It is pretty drinkable for a winter beer.

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

Wolverine Winter Lager
6.5% abv / 18 IBU – Available November through February
This cold-weather seasonal was designed to make your winter warmer rather than to match a particular style. We start with hearty Maris Otter malt from the UK. Then we add Special Roast barley from Wisconsin, before heading back across the pond for some dark German Munich malt and German Wheat malt for some added character. We top that off with a blend of dark, rich, caramel malts and the result is an extremely smooth and silky lager beer with a hint of alcohol in the flavor and a clean finish…the perfect beer for drinking by the fire.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wolverinebeer.com

Twitter:  @wolverinebeer

Closing out current beer tab, I am going to make it down to their taproom.  I do not care if they do not sell food.  I lived in Chicago for a good eight years before moving back to Michigan about a few month ago.  I have to say most of the new brewpubs do not service food.  I do not see an issue of not having food.  You want the people of focus on your beer.  If it is good they will come back to your brewpub.  I am a fan of lagers when they are done right.  There are not too many good craft lagers on the market and I believe Wolverine Brewing has something here.  If this winter lager tells me something, they know how to make craft lagers.  I love the malts they used in this brew.  It kicks off a nice caramel notes.  I highly recommend this brew and I am looking forward to trying their other brews.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog North Peak Brewing Diabolical India Pale Ale

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New beer tab, we are going to sample out another beer from North Peak Brewing.  It is their everyday Diabolical India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Imperial IPA, you know the history of this northwest of Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read the beer blog post to know the history and information on this Michigan Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with little white bubble head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is citrus and malty notes.  The taste is mild carbonation citrus notes for this English style India Pale Ale.  The aftertaste is a little weird and I can figure it out what it is.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.northpeak.net):

The devil made us do it.  From the ABV and IBU figures to the fiendish use of Cascade, Perle, and Willamette hops.  lucifer was whispering in our ears the entire time.  Citrus and pine scents great you and are followed by the sharp bitterness expected of an IPA.  The beer’s true wickedness is revealed in the smooth Pale, Crystal 30 and wheat malts that surreptitiously broaden the beer’s appeal to more than just hopheads.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.northpeak.net

Twitter:  @northpeakbeer

Closing, I have to say this is one of the worse IPA’s that I have ever had in my life.  It is towards the bottom of my listed.  I do not like the hops and malts that they use in this brew.  I pay good money for a fresh beer.  I had this beer three times.  I had it twice in the bottle and once on draft.  It all tasted the same.  I thought maybe I received a bad beer.  This beer is not the worse in the IPA world.  I could name a few that will be under it.  I love the hops they are using but I just believe they used them wrong or combination of hops is wrong.  It could be the yeast or maybe I received three bad batches.  I really doubt that idea. I will say this many times just because I did not like this beer. It does not mean you will not like it. We have different likes and dislikes and I would run with it. I courage you to go try it.   Please, let me know what you think.  Sorry North Peak Brewing! I am being honest here in this review. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser