michigan beer

New Beer Blog Bastone Brewery Peanut Butter Noir

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer I had at the Summer Beer Festival in Michigan.  The brewery is Bastone Brewery and the beer is their Peanut Butter Noir.  The brewery is located at Royal Oak, Michigan in 2004.  The brewery is named after a Belgian city.  Their beer and food is theme after this great Europe country.  I found this information on their website (www.bastone.net). Let us get into beer.

It has a peanut butter color without a head on it.  There is not a smell to it.  The taste is sweet peanut butter with a dry peanut butter aftertaste.  It is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bastone.net

Twitter:  @bastonebrewery

In the end, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this beer.  Everyone with me was looking at me weird when I brought it over to the group.  This brewery did think out of the box which is a good thing.  I am willing to try beers like this all the time.  I have to say  this was a really good tasting beer.  I loved the aftertaste.  I hate to say this.  I could only have maybe 12oz pour of this beer.  It is not thick but heavy.  I just feel it is heavy and not drinkable.  I really enjoyed this beer and I could not find anything on their website about this brew.  I am looking forward to making a trip to this brewery the next time I am in  town.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new summer brew from my favorite Michigan brewery which is Frankenmuth Brewery.  The new brew, which is one of my favorite German beer style, is Twisted Helles Summer Lager.  If you read my earlier beer bogs on this brewery’s brews, you know the long and rich history of Frankenmuth Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a hazel strew to light golden color with constant small bubbles.  It also has a constant white head.  The smell is of malt with a fade orange to lemon notes but to me it is the pilsner malt smell.  The taste of this light body and refreshing lager is malts with a notes of orange and lemon zest.  The aftertaste is crisp with lemon zest finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer and perfect for the hot summer day.

Here is a description from the beer can:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks.  Tinged with mild, yet memorable notes of citrus, this crisp, full-flavored lager is indigenous to happy hours, tailgates and block parties.

Crafted by a brewery that’s lived and loved over 150 summers, Twisted Helles doesn’t just tastee like summer…  It feelslike it.

Here is a description from the beer packaging:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers – and so, by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement.  The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness, reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager.

Full-bodied, yet pleasantly quenching… and then there’s the “twist.”  The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home.  Because this one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is a description from their website (www.twistedhelles.com and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com):

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers–and so by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager. Full-bodied yet pleasantly quenching…and then there’s the “twist.”
The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this in one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.twistedhelles.com (it is a fun site)  and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @FB1862

In the end, when I heard Frankenmuth Brewery was coming out with a summer beer, I was like another summer beer that I will not be drinking.  I will have to just keep drinking my IPAs and Pales Ales.  I am not a fan of most spring and summer seasonals.  However, I heard  it was a classic German beer style, I was pretty excited and upset because I could not get it here in Chicago.  When I made it back to Michigan, I made it a point to find this brew to try it and write a review on it.  Helles is one of my favorite German beer style.  I have to say if any craft brewery in the states can do German beer styles.  It is Frankenmuth Brewery.  This Twisted Helles Summer Lager is well made and it is one of the few summer seasonals I will go out of my way to pick up.  The other two summer brews are Sierra Nevada Summer Lager and Two Brothers Dog Days Lager.  I have to say I am not too impressed with those brews but that is what I was force to drink if I wanted a summer brew.  This is a perfect brew for the hot Michigan Summer Days.  Trust me I know all about those days and extremely hot Chicago Summer Days.  Thank you Frankenmuth Brewery for giving this Hophead hope and something to drink in the summer time!  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

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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