midwest craft beers

New Beer Blog Oddside Ales El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Oddside Ales. It is their El Dankerino West Coast Double IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, 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 Double IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this Double IPA. The aroma has a slight grapefruit to tropical fruit notes. The taste has dry bitter front that leads to slight caramel to tropical fruit notes. The aftertaste has a dry grapefruit hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.oddsideales.com

Twitter: @oddsideales

Closing, this is a great beer. I love the play on words for the name of the beer. There is some aroma notes and tasting notes. The malty backbone is a perfect match with the hops picked. The caramel and tropical fruit notes are a nice blend. This beer might be a sipping beer but I could see some experienced hopheads saying that it is kind of drinkable beer. I do not think I had one bad beer from this craft brewery. This brewery makes good beers and this one lives up to that line. 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 Lagunitas Brewery Day Time Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Lagunitas Brewery. It is their Day Time Ale. This is a beer that I picked up a six-pack from the brewery while in Chicago. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this session IPA.

This session IPA has a clear golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a floral to earthy notes. The taste profile has a light carbonation with hints of earth notes. The aftertaste has a dry crisp hop finish. It is all day IPA beer.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.lagunitas.com):

Sometimes you want a beer, then you realize how much crap you need to do before you call it a day. This is it. Nicely dosed with Big, Round Hop Flavors and a Toasty Malt Foundation to satisfy your every need. But it still lets you stay in the game to do what needs to be done. Yup.

AVAILABILITY: SUPER LIMITED
ABV: 4.65%
Sold as: 6-packs & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.lagunitas.com

Twitter: @Lagunitasbeer

Closing, I love this session IPA. I just feel it is pretty hard to find their beers in southeast Michigan. When I do, I feel they are overpriced. I hope with the new brewery in Chicago that could solve some issues. I love this IPA beer style because I can get the big hop from aroma and taste but yet I am able to drink it most of the day. Before this beer style, I had to switch to a pilsner or lager. It was not making my taste buds happy. I had to drink a few IPA’s and I have to move on to another beer. I love the hops and the malty backbone is just about right. I 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 3 Floyd’s Brewing Chico King Pale Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the eighth of twelve of beers from Beer Camp from Sierra Nevada Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both of these craft breweries, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know both of these craft breweries. Let us get into this craft pale ale.

It has a clear copper color with a white head on this pale ale. The smell has a slight citrus notes. The taste has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This pale ale stacks plenty of bright, fruit-forward, resinous hop varietals atop a robust malt body.

3 Floyds has a reputation as the Midwestern kings of Alpha (hops), and it seems our flagship beer helped lure them down the lupulin-paved path. Chico King is a mash-up of our mutual passion for hoppy pale ales and we suspect you’ll find it fit for royalty.

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

3 Floyds has a reputation as the Midwestern kings of alpha (hops), and it seems that one of our beers helped to lure them down the lupulin-paved path. Chico King is a mash-up of our mutual passion for hoppy pale ales and combines a uniquely robust malt body with intense citrusy and fruity new school hop varietals.

3 Floyds marches to the beat of their own (double kick) drum when it comes to collaboration, often partnering with comic book artists, tattoo parlors or heavy metal bands when inspiration strikes. These eclectic beers are coveted throughout the Midwest and some beers, like the legendary Dark Lord Imperial Stout, have spawned something akin to a beer-themed holiday in the brewery’s hometown of Muenster, IN.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @3floyds and @sierranevada

In the end, I respect both of these craft breweries. I love both breweries’ beers but at times I feel like pay too much for 3 Floyd’s Brewery. I do not understand what both craft breweries were looking at when they made this beer. I get they wanted to use what put 3 Floyd’s Brewery on the map, which is the hop. I just feel they could have done something a little different. I was really disappointed with this beer. It is not really good but I get what they were doing towards in of the bottle. I just hope they will look at this beer and use it as a learning curve. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp New Glarus Brewery There And Back English-Style Bitter

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the seventh of twelve beers from Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. This beer is teamed up with New Glarus Brewery from Wisconsin and the beer is called There and Back English-Style Bitter. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on both of these breweries, you know the history of both of these craft breweries. If you have not, please, read my earlier posts to get to know both Sierra Nevada and New Glarus Brewery. Let us get into this English Bitter.

It has a clear amber color with a constant white head. The aroma really has no smell. The taste has an earthy notes to smooth creamy caramel notes with caramel aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This easy-drinking English-style bitter features nutty, toasted English malts balanced by a solid dose of zesty hops and a fruity, dry finish.

For beer folks, Chico, CA, and New Glarus, WI, are bucket-list pins on the U.S. brewing map, but it’s no simple feat seeing both. There and Back is named for the planes, trains, and zeal that connect them. This classic English-style Bitter is a complex mix of toasty malt and fruity, herbal hops.

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

For beer folks, Chico, CA, and New Glarus, WI, are must-see capitals on the U.S. brewing map, but getting between the two is no simple feat. There and Back is named for the planes, trains, and zeal needed to connect them. This classic English-style Bitter is a complex yet easy-drinking mix of toasty malt and a fruity, herbal hop flavor.

New Glarus is fiercely loyal to its home state, growing to one of the largest breweries in the U.S. without selling a single drop outside of the borders of Wisconsin. With those local tastes in mind, New Glarus has perfected traditional German styles and invented masterful versions of complex and intense fruit beers featuring Wisconsin-grown ingredients.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer and @sierranevada

Ending, I am not a huge fan of New Glarus but I do respect and like some of their brews. I was kind of shocked to see this beer pop up in this back. At the same time, I am really not that shocked. This brewery is respected around the country at least in the United States. I am glad I had a chance to try this beer but I am not really liking it. I just feel this beer did not delivery what the rest of the beer were trying to delivery to the craft beer drinker. I mean something different and unique. I am not saying it is bad but it could have been better. If you have a chance to get your hands on this beer, I would pick it up. This pack might be a once in a lifetime pack. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Oskar Blues CANfusion Rye Bock

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the third beer of twelve in Beer Camp sampler pack. Sierra Nevada Brewery teams up with Oskar Blues Brewery from Colorado. It is CANfustion Rye Bock. The theme of this beer is featured in a can. Oskar Blues was the first craft brewery in the modern-day to put their beers in cans. You would know that if you read my earlier beer blog posts on Oskar Blues’ beers. If you read any of my earlier post on Sierra Nevada’s beers, you know their history. If you have not read these posts on either breweries’ beers posts, please, do so to get to know both of these awesome craft breweries. Let us get into this Rye Bock.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this bock. The smell has notes of malty to citrus notes. The taste has a sweet malty with some spicy notes. The aftertaste has malty sweet spicy note finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the can:

Brewed in collaboration with Oskar Blues, the pioneers of great craft beer in a can, this partnership was a perfect fit-we’re mutual members of the canned craft club and North Carolina neighbors. A dry hop rye bock, CANfusion blends features from across the brewing spectrum: spicy rye, tangy wheat and bright citrus-like hops. The complex malt body launches a peppery blast that’s balanced by the fruity and floral Australian Ella hop verietal. CANfusion is a true synergy of friends and flavors.

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

Our friends at Oskar Blues pioneered great beer in a can and, as mutual members of the canned craft club, this partnership was a perfect fit. CANfusion is a coming together—a fusion, if you will—of flavors from across the spectrum of brewing: spicy rye, tangy wheat and a bright citrusy hop aroma.

Oskar Blues is the granddaddy of canned craft beer. Like us, they have a fun-loving passion for the outdoors and bikes. It was a natural fit for them to adopt cans as a portable, durable way to tote their favorite beer on the trail, and in the process they paved the way for all other craft brewers to follow.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.oskarblues.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @oskarblues and @sierranevada

In the end, I am a huge fan of both of these craft breweries. This is one of two beers in this pack that is featured in cans. I was pretty excited to see Sierra Nevada teamed up with Oskar Blues. I did not care what the beer style they picked. I will say this beer did not disappoint me at all. I saw some reviews from my friends on Instagram and Untappd and this beer is going over pretty well. I love the hops and the nice malty backbone in this beer. The rye notes shine pretty well through the drinking experience in this beer. I highly recommend this beer and sampler pack. 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 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Bell’s Mallard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer of twelve in this Beer Camp sampler pack. Sierra Nevada Brewery teams up with Bell’s Brewery out of Michigan. It is their Maillard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on either one of their craft breweries, you know the history of this Midwest and West Coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know both of these breweries. Let us get into Imperial Dark Ale.

It has a jet black color with a nice tan color head. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has chocolate to coffee notes with a dry coca notes for the aftertaste. It is scary drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This robust dark ale is layered with complex malt flavors of toffee, caramel, chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit.

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was our shared vision, and Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that, taking its name in part from the famed Maillard reaction-the “browning” of sugars and amino acids-that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

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

Rich, dark, and roasty. That was the concept Bell’s beer guru John Mallett aimed for and, true to John’s vision, Maillard’s Odyssey is exactly that. Its name honors the Maillard reaction—the “browning” of sugars and amino acids—that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer.

Bell’s has done a lot to raise the Midwest’s craft beer bona fides. They are masters of many beer styles from their portfolio of top-notch American stouts all the way through to the alpha acid assault of their Hopslam Ale. Bell’s constantly reinvents beer styles and refines recipes with artful mastery and an oddball slant.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @BellsBrewery and @sierranevada

Closing, I was pretty impressed with this beer in bottle and draft. I had it at first on draft at Ashley’s in Westland, Michigan. I am not a huge fan of Bell’s Brewery. I love my dark ales and lagers. There is a ton of notes going on in this brew. It is pretty complex ale. I love that because you are paying a nice penny to get this sampler pack and you are getting your money worth. I would hope all these breweries look at this time to give something different to the craft beer drinker. I believe that Sierra Nevada and Bell’s Brewery did just that for the craft drinker. This is a great dark ale and I hope either brewery pick up the recipe to make it everyday beer or seasonal. I love it. I highly recommend this beer. I hope you can find it on draft or this sampler pack. Good Luck! 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 Local Option Kentucky Common

While in Chicago, we are going to sample Kentucky Common from Local Option Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts at the beginning of the week, which is a few days ago, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read the beer blog posts to get to know this Midwest craft brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.

It has a clear golden copper color without a head. The smell has sour notes. The taste is a sour malty notes with a nice sour finish. This is a sipping beer.

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

Kentucky Common is a modern interpretation of an ale style native to pre-prohibition Louisville. Historically the beer was dark in color, creamy, and tart as a result of the introduction of lactobacillus bacteria by sour mashing. Local Option Bierkwerker took up the task of brewing this once familiar style – electing to use specialty grains rather than a large percentage of corn – yielding an adventurous taste profile befitting both conventional and courageous palates. Bourbon Barrel Aged Kentucky Common was first served at The Festival in Worcester June 2012 and made available in very limited quantity in the Chicagoland area soon thereafter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, This beer is something else in a very good way. It reminds me of a beer I use to have a regular basis without sour notes. It is like Kentucky Bourbon Ale with a sour note finish. This is a totally different beer than that one from Alltech Brewery. This is old recipe from Probation time. The brewery uses a sour mash to give off sour notes. Local Option Brewery did a great job bring this old recipe back to life. This is the last review I have from my trip to Chicago. I am really glad and happy that I made it to this brewery. I will be back to see my friends at Local Option. They have great food, music, and of course beer. I highly recommend this beer and checking out their brewpub. 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 Local Option Brewery Morning Wood

While in Chicago, we are going to sample another brew, which is Morning Wood, from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog posts a few days ago, you know the history of this small but upcoming craft brewery. If you have not, please, read Sweet Leaf review to get to know the history of this Chicago craft brewery. Let us get into Morning Wood.

It has a jet black color with a semi white color head. The aroma has a heavy coffee notes. The taste has a sweet malty to coffee notes. There is a slight caramel to caramel liquor notes but really fate to weak. The aftertaste is a sour coffee notes. It is a sipping beer.

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

Local Option Morning Wood: Local Option Morning Wood is an oak-aged coffee ale developed and brewed by Local Option Bierwerker. Fresh American oak used during the aging process and Dark Matter’s El Salvador San Jose pulp-natural coffee aromatically drive the beer; while remaining subtle components of the beers’ complete flavor profile. The amber-colored, medium-bodied, and extraordinarily well-balanced ale was first unveiled at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers in November 2011. Morning Wood’s taste is delicate and should be appreciated by beer drinkers of all palates.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, I like this beer and I mean I really like this beer. I love how they took an amber style beer. Rather then, what most craft breweries do and they take porter or stout. I love when craft breweries think outside the box. This craft brewery did that idea with this brew. I love the coffee notes and it is not overpowering the rest of the beer. It is a nice balance and I will be looking for this beer in bottle in my market. I will be back to the brewpub. I love their brewpub from their food, beer, service, and music. 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 Finch’s Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had more time to check out another brewery. It is a little brewery that was founded three years ago in Chicago. They are known for packaging their beers in cans. They are up to seven different beer styles in cans and they also package some beer in tall single bottles, which is 22oz bottles. The brewery is named after the founder, who are Benjamin and Paul Finch. They are located on the Northside of Chicago. They started out at this location and has expanded, however, they started out with two beers, which are Cut Throat Pale Ale and Gold Wing Blonde Ale.

Tour Guide:

In this photos above, the guy in the green shirt, who is Nick, in the middle of this crowd was the tour guide. Nick is a teacher for his full-time job and does this part-time. He is also a homebrewer and I am not sure if he helps around the brewery. However, he works on the brewery tours and sets up tour dates and times. He is an awesome tour guide. He knew the history and the beers. He is not reading off paper or memorizing history scripts unlike some tour guides. He is a student of this craft brewery and he puts a personality into this brewery tour.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.finchbeer.com

Twitter: @finchbeer

Closing, I learn something from this tour and that is a huge apprise to this tour. I enjoyed my time at the brewery and glad I went to check out this brewery. The one thing that I learned during this brewery tour was the discontinuing of two of their beers. Both beers were the first two beers they started brewing. Both are going to be discontinued and replace with two new beers. The Cut Throat Pale Ale will still be a pale ale but a different one. The Gold Wing Blonde Ale will be replace with Hardcore Double IPA. I believe that is the name. I love the direction of this craft brewery. They have a bright future and I believe their newer beers will take this craft brewery to the next level. I highly recommend getting down and take a brewery tour. If you do not have the chance, go and try some of their beers. I promise you will not be disappointed with their Black IPA and Stout. This craft brewery makes some great beers and they are extremely under rated. 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 Lagunitas Brewery Tour

While in Chicago, I had a chance to get by the new brewery in Chicago from Lagunitas Brewery. I want to thank my boy, Tony for the hook up. Everyone was great at the brewery from tour guide, bar, to Jack. I had several different beers but I did not have time to take tasting notes. I really do not want to guess, however, I saved all the photos of the beers and during the brewery tour. You will see them below. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest Craft Brewery. Let us get into this brewery.

Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

Imperial Red Ale

Brewery tour!!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.lagunitas.com

Twitter: @lagunitasbeer

Closing out, I had a great time at the brewery and I will be back there when I am back in Chicago. I might have to eat and get beer to go. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this craft brewery. I always throw their IPA into my line up of regular IPA’s. I was able to get turn on to other beers that they make. I will be checking them out and adding them to my line up of beers. For example, I am adding Daytime IPA. I will be switching back and forth with their IPA and Daytime. As far as the brewery tour, it is like every other craft brewery tour. This craft brewery is set up for expanding and they are growing it everyday. It is also set up awesome for brewery tours unlike other craft breweries. The whole tour is on a catwalk above the craft brewery. You can see everything. I highly recommend jumping on this craft brewery tour. If you know their beers, I would still make a point to checking this brewery out. This brewery is very important for us on the eastern part of the country. We will be able to get fresher and enough of their beers for the demand in this area. It also gives us a chance to get their beers cheaper. I highly recommend checking this brewery out in Chicago. They have great food, service, and of course, great beers. Thanks again, Tony! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

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