midwest craft beers

New Beer Blog Local Option American Muscle Double IPA

While in Chicago, we are going to sample American Muscle Double IPA from Local Option Brewery. If you read my beer blog review on their Sweet Leaf from yesterday, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery from Chicago. Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a slightly clear copper color without a head on this Imperial IPA. The aroma has hints of earthy notes. The taste is a nice smooth earthy notes with a dry hop finish. It pretty drinkable for an Imperial IPA.

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

American Muscle – New World Double IPA is massive hop-bomb brewed by the Local Option Bierwerker. Aggressively late-kettle and dry hopped with four quintessential varietals of American hops; this beer is built like houses used to be built. A strong malt backbone balances a rich, flavorful palate of citrus fruit with floral and earthy notes. No adjuncts or extracts of any type were used in this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, this is by far my favorite beer from Local Option Brewery. I love the name and packaging. I love the hop selection and the strong malty backbone to cut through those hops. This beer is pretty drinkable for Imperial IPA. It is pretty extremely and scary drinkable. The craft beer drinker needs to be careful at how much he is drinking. This is an awesome beer and I will be looking for it in package in Michigan. I hope some bottles make it to my market. I highly recommend this beer and this brewpub if you are around the Chicago area. 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 Sweet Leaf

While in Chicago, we are going to sample some beers the next four days from Local Option. The first one beer up is their Sweet Leaf Ale. There is really no history on the internet for Local Option. They are based in Chicago. What I do know when visiting this brewpub, it is a metal bar. They play some extreme metal. The food was amazing and the bartender when I was there knew his beers. This brewery tries to do something different with their beers and I believe they are successful at it. Let us get into this beer.

It has a cloudy golden color without a head. The smell has a heavy tea notes. The taste has medium pallet malty sweet notes with a sweet tea note finish. It is extremely drinkable brew.

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

Sweet Leif is a Bière de Garde infused with Chinese Sencha Green Tea. The beer pours deep gold with aromas of earthy spice and fruit esters. Flavors of grass, toasted malt and slightly sweet caramel are immediately present, augmented by a smooth, medium body and a dry finish. You will love Sweet Leif though it can’t hear you.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @localoption

Closing, this beer reminds so much of Milwaukee Brewery O-Gii Ale. The difference between these beers is O-Gii Ale is a Belgian Style White Ale and this one is a French to Belgian base beer style, which is Bière de Garde. I have to say between the two. I love this one better. The tea shines through out the beer drinking experience and it is not overpowering. It has a nice refreshing and easy drinking beer. I am not sure if they package this but I hope they do in the first. This is one brew that they brew in Marshall, Michigan at Dark Horse Brewery. I do not know that Dark Horse Brewery has anything to do with this brew. I wonder if they name this beer after the classic Black Sabbath song. I highly recommend this beer. If you are visiting Chicago, you need to stop by their brewpub. You will not be disappointed from the food and the beer selection. 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 Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the flagship beer, which is 312 Urban Wheat Ale, from Goose Island 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 those beer blog posts to get to know Goose Island Brewery. Let us get into this wheat ale.

It has a slightly cloudy straw to golden color with a snow white constant head. The smell has a refreshing lemon notes along with yeast to wheat notes. The taste has a wheat to slight lemon notes with a nice refreshing aftertaste finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that’s immensely refreshing.

Recipe Information

Style: Urban Wheat

Alcohol by Volume: 4.2%

International Bitterness Units: 18

Color: Hazy Straw

Hops: First Gold, Mt. Hood, Cascade

Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

Closing, as many of you know, I am not a fan of wheat or white ales. It has been forever since I had a 312 Urban Wheat Ale. I would have to say about a year. I picked up a sampler pack and this beer was in it. I am a pretty big fan of the hop Cascade. I would hope so because most beers in the market has that hop in it. Since it has been a while, I was pretty shocked on how much I liked it. Could this be start of liking wheat ales? The second bottle about half way I started having problems finishing it. This is a great refreshing beer. I am just not a wheat ale fan and I might never be. If you are a wheat ale fan, this is the beer for you. I know many people that love this beer and this is their go to wheat ale. 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 Hop City Brewery Hopbot IPA

In this beer blog, we are going sample a beer from a little craft brewery, who is Hop City Brewery, from Canada. This is one of their new beers and it is Hopbot IPA. There is really no history about this craft brewery. I do know they are from Canada and by looking at their website they are a young brewery. The article where I found the description below says they are part of the Moosehead Brewery. This beer is not listed on their website. Be careful, there is a brewery in the south named Hop City too. Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with constant small bubbles. The white constant head is showing itself off on this IPA. The aroma has a nice citrus notes to hints of sweet malt. The taste has a nice tropical to citrus notes. The aftertaste has a tropical fruit finish like mango almost. It is a drinkable beer from Canada.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Programmed with 5 West Coast American hops, Hopbot IPA brings out waves of absurd citrus and tropical aroma and flavor. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide 70 IBUs which are perfectly balanced by a solid malt backbone.

Here is a description from article in Canada website (www.canadianbeernews.com):

The latest brew from the guys at Hop City is their boldest yet, packed with five different West Coast American hops crafted to bring out waves of absurd citrus and tropical notes with just the right notes of spice and pine. The Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Summit and Willamette hops provide a serious hop kick, while a blend of Canadian Pale 2-Row, Carastan, Crystal and Black malts provide a solid balancing malt backbone.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.hopcity.com

Twitter: @hopcitybrewing

In the end, I like this beer but I would not say it is my favorite brew. I love the five different hops they picked. I am happy to see more craft breweries popping up in Canada. Even though, it is under the company of Moosehead Brewery. There is nothing wrong with that. There are some craft breweries like that in the states. It looks like they are allowed to do their thing unlike most craft breweries that are in this situation. This is a great IPA and I would be interested to see if they try to make Double IPA. I recommend you trying this brew at least once or twice. 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 Chocolade Koffie Stout

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer, which is Chocolade Koffie Stout, from Oddside Ales. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this Michigan craft brewery, you their history. If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know Oddside Ales. Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan to light brown color head. The aroma had a heavy coffee notes. The taste profile of this full body beer is a chocolate to heavy coffee notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable to a sipping beer.

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

If you’re a fan of chocolate stouts this is the one to try! A great mixture of thick, sweet, dark chocolate fudge, and light espresso bean undertones will immediately appeal to your senses. Your taste buds will dance when the creamy stout takes flight. 6%ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.oddsideales.com

Twitter: @oddsideales

Ending, I am a pretty big fan of this brewery and I will try anything new or beers I have not had yet from this brewery. I am a pretty big fan of stouts, porters, pale ales, and India Pale Ales. I do not like my coffee but only if it is in my beer. I know this craft brewery knows how to use their coffee bean. They shown me that in Bean Flicker Ale. To me, there is something a little off in this brew. I do not know if it is the stout or the coffee bean is over the stop. I am starting to think that I might have picked up an old beer. The problem is there is no code dates on their bottles. I recommend this beer but I hope you get a better bottle. 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 Destihl Brewery Hoperation Overload Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample Hoperation Overload Double IPA from Destihl Brewery. Matt Potts switch careers from Lawyer to a brewmaster and CEO of Destihl Brewery in 2007. They brew several different beer styles and they package most of their beers in cans. Asides that, there is not much history from this young craft brewery. Let us get into this Double IPA.

It has a dark copper color with a semi constant white head. The aroma has a citrus to some floral notes. The taste has some citrus to a slight caramel to sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has a sweet caramel finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Hoperation Overload

Our mission for this Imperial or “Double” India Pale Ale is overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension. This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well. Cheers!

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

Imperial India Pale Ale / overloaded with hops

ABV: 9.6% IBU: 85 Color SRM: 11 First Brewed: 06-19-09

Our mission for this Imperial or ‘Double’ India Pale Ale is to overload the beer with hops for an intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma while still being balanced by a big malt profile, resulting in a hoppy beer with more dimension. This beer is light copper in color with some hop haze from overloading with dry hops as well. World Beer Championships Award: Bronze Medal 2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.destihlbrewery.com

Twitter: @DESTIHLBrewery

In the end, I am a hardcore hophead. I love my hops and I love every level of IPA’s. Yes, I have grown to love White IPA’s. There are some unique ones out there that I fall in love with. However, we are talking about this Double IPA, I have to say I love it. I love the fact it is package in cans and I love design of the label. I love the play on words and I believe they are honoring those who serviced. I love the finish of this beer. For being Imperial IPA, it is pretty drinkable and that is a plus for us hopheads. It is drinkable to the experience IPA drinkers. I am not saying the guy that drinks wheat ales is going to say this is drinkable. It is a sipping beer to him. I recommend you trying 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 New Belgium And 3 Floyd’s Grätzer Ale

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from New Belgium and 3 Floyd’s. It is Grätzer Ale. This is an old and ancient Polish beer recipe. If you read my beer blog posts on both of these breweries’ beer, you know the history of these breweries. If you have not, please, read them to get to know these craft breweries. Let us into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head. The smell a chocolate to cocoa notes. The taste has a burned to smokey caramel to chocolate notes. The aftertaste is dry cocoa notes with hints of smoke that disappears fast. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

It’s not dead. But Grätzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland. Together with 3 Floyds we unearthed its robust smokiness with oak smoked wheat and midnight wheat. Polish Lublin hops for a bitter bite and lacto for a slightly sour finish. This pours out a billowing, foamy mouth worth indulging.

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

It’s not dead, but Gratzer is definitely a long-buried style from Poland. And together with 3Floyds we have unearthed the best of beer zombies. Full of bold flavors from oak-smoked wheat, and along with Midnight Wheat, this beer presents a pure black pour. A subtle, spicy note from the Polish Lublin hops hides in the aroma, just below the dark and smoky surface. Despite all appearances, the Gratzer is very drinkable at 4.5% ABV, and walks itself with a nice, light body. Cheers to drinking smoky, undead beers. Prost!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

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

Twitter: @newbelgium and @3floyds

Closing, this is a great beer and I enjoyed drinking it very much. The Midnight Wheat is featured pretty well in this beer. I enjoy it like most hops in the beer world. This beer is a limited release and kind of rare. However, I just feel the beer is average, I enjoyed drinking. I just wish the price was a little lower but it is worth the try. This is a great 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 New Holland Brewing Michigan Awesome Hatter IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample a special beer from New Holland Brewing. It is their Michigan Awesome Hatter 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 them to get to know New Holland Brewing. Let us get into Michigan IPA.

It has a nice dark copper color with a nice white constant head on this Michigan IPA. The aroma has a citrus notes. The taste has a light carbonation citrus notes with hints of malty to light caramel in taste profile. The aftertaste has a slight dry hoppy finish but it is pretty clean finish. It is extremely drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The epitome of Hand Crafted, Michigan Awesome Hatter celebrates community, collaboration and local agriculture, Centennial hops from the Leelanua Peninsula provide bright citrusy counterpoint to the delicious and earthy malt notes from Michigan grown and malted 2-row barley.

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

The epitome of Hand Crafted, Michigan Awesome Hatter celebrates community, collaboration & local agriculture. Cascade hops from the Leelanau Peninsula provide bright citrusy counterpoint to the delicious and earthy malt notes from Michigan grown and malted 2-row barley. Thanks to our collaborators, Michigan Awesome.

Beer Style

Michigan-grown IPA

Degrees Plato

14

Alcohol by Volume

5.8%

IBUs

55

Grains

2-row, munich, crystal

Hops

Cascade, Nugget

Yeast

American Ale

First Brewed

2013

Pairings

Sharp cheddars, herbed poultry and curry

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newhollandbrew.com

Twitter: @newhollandbrew

Closing, I love supporting my local craft brewery. I am honest to myself if a beer or brewery is bad. I am not saying this beer or brewery was bad. New Holland Brewery makes some average to slightly above average beers. I do like some of their brews. I have to say this beer is pretty good. I just feel for the price gives me a different aspect of this brew. I just feel it is just does not live up to the price. This beer is nothing special. I do not care where everything comes from because it is not anything special. However I had this on draft, it is better on draft than bottle. I thought it lived up to price on draft. I will give this brewery credit for trying. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew. 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 Dragonmead Final Absoration Trippel

While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second and probably the last beer from Dragonmead Brewery. It is their Final Absorption Trippel. If you read my beer blog review on their Crown Jewel IPA, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read it to get to know Dragonmead Brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It is a clear copper color with a semi white head. The aroma has banana and clove notes. The taste has a German Hefeweizen notes of banana and clove. The aftertaste is dry Hefeweizen. It is not drinkable beer.

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

Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel

Dragonmead’s signature product! This is the ultimate Belgian style. The very high gravity of this beer is balanced by the smoothness of its finish. Banana and Clove aromas come from the Belgian yeast strain combining with the generous dose of Belgian Candi Sugar. The Saaz hops help to give this beer a balanced bitterness with no noticeable hop aroma. O.G. 1.085, ABV 8.5%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.dragonmead.com

Twitter: @dragonmead

Ending, WOW! What the hell is this craft brewery thinking? This is a local brewery to me here in Michigan. This brewery is bad and I will not buying anymore of their beer. I do not think this craft brewery knows their beer styles. You made a filter Hefeweizen. This is not a trippel Belgian style. It is bad and it is not worth the money. I know most American craft breweries take twisted to classic beer styles. It is not just me talking bad about this brewery. A few of my close craft beer drinker friends. They been saying the same thing about it. I do not recommend this beer. Run away! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Cheboygan Brewery High Grade Export Beer

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the third beer from Cheboygan Brewery. It is their High Grade Export Beer Lager. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this German base Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this Imperial Pilsner.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head on this Imperial Pilsner. The smell has a ton of farm to hay notes. The taste has a light carbonation notes with a malty to earthy hop notes. It is not bitter like IPA or pale ale. The aftertaste has a farm to hay dry finish that will keep you coming back for more of it. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Premium double-hopped pilsner that takes its name from one of the beers created by Cheboygan brewmasters more than 100 years ago. Now available in the Tap Room.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.cheboyganbrewingcompany.com

Twitter: @CheboyganBrew

Closing, this is a really great beer and I wish I could get it in the lower part of Michigan. I love their ongoing theme throughout all of their beers. It has some earthy, farm-house, and hay notes. Some people do not welcome that but it is what makes it special about their beers and this brewery. There is some nice hop notes and a strong malty notes. It is a pretty drinkable beer with evil side to it. You need to watch yourself around her. It has a bite of alcohol waiting to hit you. If you are around their brewpub, stop and try this beer and take a six-pack home with you. This hophead needs to get up there and try their IPA one of these days. I recommend this pilsner. 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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