michigan

New Beer Blog Short’s Cinnabilly Doppelbock

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Cinnabilly Doppelbock from Short’s 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 Short’s Brewery.  Let us get into doppelbock.

It has a clear amber to brown color with a tan color at first but over time, there is no head.  The smell has a sweet malty to cinnamon notes.  The taste has sweet malty notes with a rush of cinnamon on the back-end. The aftertaste has a heavy cinnamon that rushes away.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Cinnabilly has an appealing look and aroma. This clear, caramel colored gem emits a soft potpourri of cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and hints of vanilla. Sweet malt flavors allow for an array of sensations, ranging from toasted almonds to cinnamon graham crackers. The pleasant addition of cinnamon creates wonderful accents throughout the beer that are never overwhelming.

7% ABV

30 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, at one time this Michigan craft brewery was in my top ten.  Since moving back to Michigan, I have been retrying their beers and have been pretty disappointed.  I have to say there is some things you do not add in some beer styles.  This brewery would have noticed it but they keep making more and more different beer styles to their family of beers.  I bet they are in double-digit for seasonals.  There is nothing wrong making a ton of beer styles.  As long as your quality does not take a hit.  I believe their demand is pretty high on most of their beers and they are rushing beer to the market. Quality is more important than quantity.  This beer style is a great beer style and I have seem craft breweries do different things with it.  I thought this was a great idea.  I was wrong thinking that.  I put some thought while drinking it.  I was wondering why I was thinking that.  The cinnamon overpowers great things that are in Doppelbock.   I am really disappointed and I wish I never try it.  It is hard for me to say that because I love beer and craft beer.  I do recommend it to try it at least once but I bet you will be disappointed.  I will give them credit for trying something. It seems that is all I am doing now with Short’s. Don’t go get some!  Drink it!  Not enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery Lemongrass Wheat

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is Cheboygan brewery.  It is their Lemongrass Wheat.  I want to thank my friend Mike for bring this beer and two others beer from this craft brewery.  Hentschel brothers open Cheboygan Brewery in 1872.  The lumber industry was growing and the brewery growing at the same time.  As the lumber industry slowed down and moved out of Michigan.  The brewery closed in 1911.  After about 100 years later, this brewery reopen their doors with newer beers and one throw back brew which will be reviewed down the road.  Let us get into this Lemongrass Wheat.

It has a clear dark golden color without a head on this wheat ale.  The smell has hints of hay and slight lemon notes.  The taste has earthly with a smooth lemon notes.  The aftertaste has a lemon finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Pale malts are mixed with whole kernel and flaked wheat. This combined with a low rate hopping schedule create a light bodied beer with little bitterness. Fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon grass provide an invigorating finish. Mix with sunshine, and enjoy. 5.0% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  @CheboyganBrew

Closing, the history of this craft brewery is pretty interesting.  This craft brewery is really the oldest craft brewery in the State of Michigan.  I believe Frankenmuth brewery has it because they did not close.  Anyways, I was pretty shocked that I enjoyed this beer as much as I did.  I am not a wheat beer fan.  I love Hefeweizens.  This beer has a nice light to medium body with some nice lemon notes.  This is a great beer for the spring and summer.  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 Greenbush It’s My Porter And I’ll Rye If I Want To

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample another beer from Greenbush Brewery.  It is their It’s My Porter And I’ll Rye If I Want To.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of Greenbush Brewery.  If you have not read them, please, read them to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this Rye Porter.

It has a jet black color without a head on this barrel age beer.  The aroma has a heavy alcohol to bourdon notes.  The taste has spicy with a heavy boozy notes with a heavy alcohol aftertaste.  It is a sipping.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @greenbush_brew

Closing, I really enjoyed this beer but towards the end of this 12oz pour. I was forcing myself to finish it.  The boozy notes in the beer just over takes everything.  Please, do not take this the wrong way.  I really did like this beer but I cannot get through another 12oz pour. I could share a 12oz bottle. There is some notes rye spice that blends nicely but fate with the bourdon notes.  I can see people that will love this beer and others will not like and/or hate it.  If you see this beer on draft, try it.  I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Greenbush Pete’s Red Hot

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Pete’s Red Hot from Greenbush Brewery.  Yes, it is a winter warmer.  It is rare to see a nice winter ale in the middle of the summer.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this western Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Greenbush Brewery.  Let us get into this winter warmer.

This winter warmer has a dark amber to redish brown color with a constant slightly off white to a light tan color head.  It has a slight smell of malt to other spices notes.  The taste has a light carbonation malty notes with other spices like nutmeg to cinnamon.  The aftertaste has a dry bitter hop finish.  It is a nice sipping beer for winter that can be kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @greenbush_brew

In closing, I did not realize what I order until it came to me.  I was not expecting to see a winter seasonal on tap at Ashley’s.  This is brew is one of their anniversity beers that some craft breweries did for them last year.  I guess they had a keg left over.  I am not complaining.  This is a great beer and I wish they would package this beer.  This beer has a ton of flavor with a full body.  If you have not had this beer, I recommend you getting up to Ashley’s to try it.  It will be gone here soon.  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 Ales Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale, from Oddside Ales.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their craft brews, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Oddside Ales.  Let us get into this glow in dark label Imperial IPA.

This Imperial India Pale Ale has a clear dark copper color with a semi white head.  The aroma has earthy notes.  The taste has earthy with some light carbonation.  The aftertaste is dry hop bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  @oddsidesales

In closing, I love this brew as far as the taste profile.  However, I am really not a huge fan of the dry hop bitter finish, it is a little too powerful for me.  I normally do not mind but today I was little turn off on it.  This is a great beer and I know many craft beer and hopheads drinkers will love this beer.  I love the hops they picked in this brew.  They did a great job designing the malty backbone.  I highly recommend this brew, plus, it glows in the dark.  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 Right Brain Brewery Stowaway Saison Ale

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Stowaway Saison Ale from Right Brain Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read my beer blog posts about their beers to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.

This Saison Ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head.  The head of the beer has small bubbles.  The aroma has Belgian spices with a citrus notes like lemon.  The taste has a light carbonation Belgian spice with citrus notes.  The finish is a refreshing slight hop aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

STOWAWAY
Style: Reclaimed Saison
ABV: 5.7%
A traditional Saison with a hazy golden color, fruit-forward aroma, crisp complex flavor, and mildly acidic finish. #RBB brewers cultivated the reclaimed yeast used for this beer over a span of 7-months.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

In closing, I will be perfectly honest with you.  I did not like this beer the first time I tried it.  I had to try this beer one more time just because I love this brewery and I am a huge fan of them.  I do not know if it was what I was eating or the beer I had before trying this beer.  The second time that I have had this beer is a positive thought towards this beer.  I really enjoyed this beer.  I love the refreshing taste profile that this beer provides to the craft beer drinker.  I love the hops used in this beer.  I will be looking for this beer again on my next beer run or at my neighborhood bar.  I highly recommend this beer if you are a light beer drinker or love your Saison Ales.  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 Short’s Captain Fantasy Saison

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample from Short’s Brewery Captain Fantasy Saison.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Short’s Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this saison ale.

It has a straw to bright cloudy golden color with a constant white head.  It is a heavy cloudy color.  The aroma is a light lemon to citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonation citrus notes that is really refreshing with funky spicy notes.  I know the funky spicy notes come from the yeast strain.  The aftertaste kicks off some pepper notes.  This is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Captain Fantasy is a lighter bodied ale with a bright, clear, golden color. This saison is brewed with pear to compliment the aromas of spice and the fruity fragrance of Sorachi Ace hops. Captain Fantasy has flavors of sweet pear and tart lemon, and a lively amount of carbonation cleanses and refreshes the palate. The overall fruitiness of Captain Fantasy is interrupted by an assertive hop bitterness that dominates the finish.

6.7% ABV

55 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out, this saison has some nice refreshing notes.  This is way it should be for a saison and it lives up  to the classic beer style.  I really not a fan of the packaging.  It is pretty disturbing and I believe that is why I will never have it in a bottle.  However, I saw it on draft, it was a no brainer to try it.  There is some nice notes here and I love the funkiest that the yeast pops off in the beer.  Overall, I was pretty impressed but I had some pretty good saisons in my lifetime.  This one does not live up to it.  It is a nice gateway beer into this beer style.  It is not a good version in some parts but this is one of the better brews from their almost hundred different beer styles brewed in a year. I recommend to try it just to say you had it.  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 Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second brew of the day at their Throwdown Champs Saturday event in their Beer Garden.  It is Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this Michigan craft brewry.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a cloudy bronze color without a head on the beer.  The aroma has tangerine to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus to tangerine and some honey notes with a crisp citrus finish for the aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable but more of a sipping beer to me.

Here is a descriation from thier website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Freedom of ’78 is a medium bodied IPA with a wonderful, bright clarity and pleasing bronze hue. The aroma is a unique fusion of citrus fruit and subtle pine qualities. The distinct characteristics of the guava nectar are impossible to miss, and attributes of tangerine, nectarine, and even faint honey flavors are detectable. The finish quickly turns to an expected IPA bitterness that turns dry during prolonged tastings

6.9% ABV

89 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have been going back and forth with this brewery.   I mean liking or not liking Short’s Brewery.  I just feel like they make too many different type of beers and they are spreading themselves too thin.  I also feel like they are rushing batches to meet the demand of the market.  I believe their quality has taken a hit over time.  Their beers do sell and I am not hiding from that fact.  I am not saying all their beers are bad or good.  I just feel like this brewery and most of their beers are very overrated.  I have been wanting to try this beer.  I do like the hops that they picked for the beer.  This is one of the few beers from this brewery that I like.  They did a great job.  I will be looking for some more in the market.  I recommend it!  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 Greenbush Brewery PHD Malt Liquor

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While at Ashley’s Westland, it was the champion throw down and opening day for their patio.  I had PhD Malt Liquor from Greenbush 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 Greenbush Brewery.  Let us get into this Malt Liquor.

It has a cloudy golden color with a constant white head.  There is some smell but pretty fate.  I cannot make it out.  The taste has a sweet malty with a light carbonation corn frosted flake notes.  The aftertaste is a slight alcohol bites but finish a little clean.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @Greenbush_Brew

In the end, yep, it is what you are reading.  This is a craft brewery that made a malt liquor beer.  I was pretty excited to try it.  I drink every type of beer.  I might not like it but I will try it at least once or twice.  I have to say I was pretty impressed by it.  This is a better version of the mainstream malt liquors like Colt 45 to Steel Reserve.  I love how it is sweeter than the mainstream malt liquor.  I bet I will not get the pounding headache like the mainstream ones give the beer drinker.  I did like this beer but I could not finish.  It was too much in a 16oz pour.  I would have it again in a 10oz to 12oz pour. I believe you would have to make a trip to their brewpub to get this beer.  I recommend it if you want something different.  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 Hideout Gangster IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into Gangster IPA from Hideout Brewery.  This is the first time that this brewery makes an appearance on this beer blog.  Hideout Brewery opened their doors in 2005 just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  They were named after the location and the brewery looking like prohibition era.  They brew several different beer styles.  They are looking at package here soon just like most young craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper color with a constant snow-white color head.  The aroma has some earthy notes.  The taste has a slight water down earthy tones with a dry hop finish.  The water down comment is in a good way.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Rich and hearty amber coloered IPA.  Made with Zythos hops, there is a significant floral presence in both flavor and the finish, without being too bitter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hideoutbrewing.com

Twitter:  @HideoutBrewing

In closing, this is a great beer and I was pretty excited to see it on draft at Ashley’s in Westland.  This Gangster IPA has a pretty color.  I love the aroma and taste profile.  They build a nice malty backbone to cut through the great hop selection in this beer.  The aftertaste is not as bitter like most India Pale Ale.  They did a great job on this beer and put some thought into it.  I will raise a few more glasses with this beer in it.  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