michigan craft 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 Roak Brewing Visit

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In this special beer blog, I had a chance to get by Roak Brewing a few days after their grand opening. They opened just this year but they were founded it in 2014. Let us talk about the beer.

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Their goal was to do something different in every beer that they make. If it is higher alcohol level on their Devil Dog Oatmeal Stout, it is same price as rest of their beers in draft to package. It is a huge value. Mean Streets Amber Ale is a hoppy amber ale. They also have a American IPA and session IPA along with Belgian style white ale and Belgian style Dark ale in package and draft. They will have brewpub only beers in the near future.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roakbrewing.com

Twitter:  @roakbrewing

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Closing, they invested a ton of money into brewery and brewpub. They are here to make a stand in the craft beer world. Overall, their beers are really good. I am not a fan of both of their IPA’s. They are pretty weak to me. I can see some craft beer drinkers liking them. I am pretty excited to see what they will come out next. I recommend this brewery. 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 Short’s The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the sampler pack from Short’s Brewing.  It is their The Magician Dark Red London Style 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 craft brewery.  Let us get into this red ale.

It has a cloudy dark red to ruby red  color with a nice white head. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes. The taste has a very light carbonation with a dry sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has water like malt finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The Magician is a lustrous dark-red London Ale with a rich grain bill. The grain combination lends complex notes of toasted caramel, raisins, chocolate, and roasted toffee. Very light hop additions let the true malt characters show throughout this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have to say this is one of the better English style red ale from a craft brewery.  I am pretty stun.  This goes back to the arguments that I had in yesterday’s blog posts on their Dan’s Pink Skirt IPA.  This brewery’s seasonal are so much better than their everyday beers.  At least, this Michigan craft brewery makes some good beer unlike most craft breweries in this state.  I love the balance in this red ale.  I am not a huge fan of red and amber ales.  I love my Fat Tire once in a while.  If you can find 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 Latitude 42 Brewery Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Latitude 42 Brewery.  It is their Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west side Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this golden ale.

It has a slight cloudy bright golden color with a white constant head. There is not any smell.  The taste has a refreshing sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has dry hop bitter finish. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.latitude42brewingco.com):

The perfect introduction to craft beer, this brilliant Golden colored ale tastes crisp and clean, with a well-balanced malt profile blended with a subtle floral hopping. Premium 2-row and Munich malts with a hint of flaked corn provide the clean malt flavor. Willamette and cascade hops add the perfect balance of subtle spiciness and floral notes. 4.8%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.latitude42brewingco.com

Twitter:  @Latitude42Brew

Closing, I just find Golden Ales pretty boring.  They are normally the gateway beer for American Lager drinkers and then it is pale ales, amber, or red ales.  I will be pretty honest.  I was not looking for too much from this beer.  There is normally no aroma on this beer style.  If you there is that could mean they did not stay true to classic beer style, this brewery stayed true this traditional beer style.  This is one plus to this beer.  The tasting notes are what you are looking for in a blonde ale.  Overall, this is a pretty average beer and I cannot see the price for a golden ale.  This is one problem that all craft breweries are facing making a golden ale, blonde ale, lager, and pilsner.  If you see it at a bar, try it.  I would not go out of my way to search for it.  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 Brewery IPA #11

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the only IPA from Cheboygan Brewery.  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 IPA.

It has a nice copper color with a with constant head. The aroma has a light citrus notes.  The taste has a light malty to citrus notes with a dry bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty balance. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Named out of respect for our Brewmaster’s family at Fire Station #11, this is a golden ale that is built with over 40 pounds of hops. The malt bill provides a balanced backbone and the big hop finish gives a pleasant bitterness and a nose full of herbal and citrus notes. A real palate cleansing experience. 5.7% ABV IBU 58

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  CheboyganBrew

Closing, I enjoyed this beer.  There is a nice balance in this IPA.  I wish it was in a package.  This is a nice gift for myself when my friend makes a trip up to the craft brewery once a year.  It is not one of my favorite IPA’s but is still a pretty good beer.  It is a nice gateway beer to get more craft beer drinkers into good beer world.  They picked up some nice hops to make this beer special.  I believe this beer is a great brand.  I love the story behind this beer.  I highly recommend this beer.  I hope you get a good batch.  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 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 Paw Paw Black River Oatmeal Stout

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While at Ashley’s Westland, I had a chance to sample another beer from Paw Paw Brewery.  It was Black River Oatmeal Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this westside Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read those blog posts, please, read those posts to get to know Paw Paw Brewery.  Let us get into this Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy small bubbles and a tan color head on this Oatmeal Stout.  The aroma has roasted malty to some chocolate and coffee notes.  The drinking experience entitles a smooth to creamy chocolate notes.  The aftertaste has a dry coffee notes.  It has a medium to heavy body.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Black River

Black River Oatmeal Stout is a very smooth slightly chocolaty stout. Pleasing mild roast, rich bitterweet chocolate and chocolate ice cream flavor. Terrific mouth feel, clean & drying in the finish. For the stout drinker this is a must try.

Here is their website and  twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter:  @2pawsbeer

Closing, Paw Paw Brewery does not make a bad beer.  Every beer that I have had from this brewery are awesome.  This oatmeal stout is awesome.  I love the chocolate notes and heaviest from the body.  It might be a sipping beer but you can relax when drinking this beer.  The mouthfeel is a cream chocolate notes.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be hunting this beer down in bottles in my area.  I hope to see it on draft in the future again.  I recommend 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 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