midwest craft beers

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Hefeweizen

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Frankenmuth Brewery.  It is their Hefeweizen.  This beer style has really started to grow on me.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of Michigan’s oldest brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a hazel, unfiltered, and strew color without a head on it. The smell is banana. The taste is a banana with a wheat aftertaste. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Hefeweizen Ale A sweet mixture of spices & fruit with hints of clove and banana, this refreshingly pale German wheat is top fermented, unfiltered and lightly hopped to achieve its smooth, pleasant flavor and unmistakable cloudy appearance.

ABV 5.2%  IBU 13 Great with lighter foods, salads and seafood. Pairs well with lighter desserts.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @fb1862

Closing, if you asked me a year ago, I would be living back in Michigan and loving Hefeweizen.  I would have said you are crazy.  Both of these facts have come true.  I am do not like whites and wheat ales just Hefeweizen.  I love how the Germans make their Hefeweizen and how they influenced the beer world.  I love the cove and banana notes.  Frankenmuth Brewery, who is a German base brewery, knows how to brew those classic German beer styles. I can drink this beer anytime of the year.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Upland Brewing Strawberry Lambic

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a project that Upland Brewing did not know was going on in their brewery.  One of their assist brewmasters started a sour and package it.  Everyone at the brewery loved his sours.  Sour ales take years to make and is one hardest beer style to make.  If you mess it up, you need to start over. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into this sour ale.

It is a cloudy strawberry color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a sour strawberry.  The taste is extremely sour strawberry and tart with sour aftertaste.  It is not drinkable.

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

Man, that’s sour.  Made with real strawberries.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter:  @UplandBrewCo

Closing, I have to say I am a huge fan of sours and Upland Brewery.  I was excited to get my hands on this brew.  I know this sour is hard to get on the market.  I have to say this brew is pretty sour.  I like it but I wished I had cork to save it for the next day.  The color, smell, and taste are sour strawberry notes.  This is an awesome beer and they have done a great job on this brew.  I hope to get a chance to try their other sours in the near future.  I highly recommend their sours.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Liberty Street Brewery My Beer Flight

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a newer brewery in the last ten years in the southeast part of Michigan.  The brewery is called Liberty Street Brewery.  They opened back in 2008.  There is not much history on this young brewery.  I did find some information on their website.  Let us get into the beer.

American IPA

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. There is really no smell to me. The taste is piney to earthy notes with a weird but good aftertaste. It is almost like Jolly Rancher or candy aftertaste. It is a mild IPA but pretty drinkable beer.

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

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.  American hop character can be described as being citrusy, piney, fruity and resiny.

Starkweather Stout

It has a jet black color with a tan color. There is chocolate to a touch of coffee smell to this stout. The taste is a heavy coffee but a smooth taste to it. THe aftertaste is dry chocolate notes. It is drinkable for the type of stout.

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

This stout is full of chocolate flavor and aroma coming from grain only.  A rich mouth feel mellows the slight hop bitterness and makes this an easy drinking stout, even in warmer weather.

Porter

It has a dark brown to black color with a fluffy tan color head. The smell is of burned chocolate. The taste is the same as the smell. There is an aftertaste but pretty fade. It is like dry chocolate. It is drinkable like the porter for the type of beer style.

American Farmhouse IPA

It has a cloudy bright yellow color without a head. The smell is a heavy farm like smell. This is a Belgian Saison. The taste is like a saison with some citrus to funky spices. It has citrus to slight dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.libertystreetbeer.com

Twitter:  @Liberty_Brewer

Closing, I have been wanting to stop by this brewery and check out their beers.  I had a chances a few months ago and I am glad I did.  I have been a little behind on my posts and I am glad I am getting it out now.  I became a fan of this brewery pretty quickly.  I loved both of their IPA’s.  I had their C-Monster at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  I thought that was pretty good too.  I love their porter and stout.  Since I have moved back to Michigan, I will be by this brewpub a lot more. I highly recommend this brewery and now they are packaging their beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Oskar Blues Brewery Mama’s Little Yella Pils

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Starting a new tab, Oskar Blues Brewery is the feature brewery and the beer is their Mama’s Little Yella Pils.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dale’s Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery better.  Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color with small constant bubbles.  It has small constant white bubbles. The smell is of import pilsner and lager.  It has a malty notes.  The taste of this light body has malty backbone but the hops shine through it.  It is a drinkable beer.

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

Oskar Blues’ Mama’s Little Yella Pils is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic, famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops. While its rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brew.oskarblues.com

Twitter: @oskarblues

Closing out my tab, I have said this once and I will say it a few more times.  There is not too many craft breweries that can make a good craft pilsner.  Oskar Blues has brew a great pilsner.  I am talking about great pils.  This beer is well-balanced.  I love selection of the hops.  Mama’s Little Yella Pils can be consumed in the winter and middle of the hot summer.  I highly recommend this brewery and beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub Scotch Ale

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Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub Scotch Ale is the featured craft brewery and scotch ale on this beer blog post.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Dale’s Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you not read those beer blog posts, please, read the blog post on Dale’s Pale Ale. Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark amber or dark brown color with fluffy white head on this scotch ale.  The smell is caramel, malty, and hazelnut notes.  The taste of this light to medium body beer is heavy hazelnut notes with a dry malty notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

This jaw-dropping Scottish strong ale (8% ABV) is brewed with bodacious amounts of malted barley and specialty grains, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malt. Old Chub features semi-sweet flavors of cocoa and coffee, and a wee-bit of smoke. A head-turning treat for malt heads and folks who think they don’t dig dark beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oskarblues.com

Twitter:  @oskarblues

In closing, there is not too many craft breweries that make a scotch ale.  However, it makes senses why this brewery makes one, they are located in an area where most of the year. It is cold more than it is warm in an average year.  This is a great brew.  This brewery makes some killer brews but I just feel they are all overpriced.  Please, do not get me wrong.  Oskar Blues Brewery makes some great brews.  I just wish they were a little cheaper.  In the Detroit market, they are little bit more of a value than the Chicago market.  It is not by much and I hope you let me know 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

New Beer Blog Liberty Street Brewing Pumpkin Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a fall seasonal from Liberty Street Brewing.  It is their Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Liberty Street Brewing.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog post to get to know this young Michigan brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark golden color with a creamy white head.  The smell has slight cinnamon and nutmeg.  The taste has a slight cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of pumpkin notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.libertystreetbeer.com

Twitter:  @Liberty_Brewer

Closing out, I was pretty stun to see this beer on draught at my local Buffalo Wild Wings.  I had to order it for two reasons.  One, I am a pretty big fan of this brewery and two, it was on draft.  I  like this beer however, it is not the best pumpkin ale on the market.  It is not the worse pumpkin ale on the market.  I love the bend from the nutmeg and cinnamon.   The pumpkin is there but just enough to make me happy.  It is like drinking a pumpkin pie.  I recommend it, if you can still find it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sprecher Brewing Bootlegger’s Bourbon Barrel Hard Root Beer

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In this beer blog, Sprecher Brewing from Wisconsin is the feature brewery with their Bootlegger’s Bourbon Barrel Hard Root Beer.  Sprecher Brewing was founded in 1985 in Milwaukee by Randal Sprecher.  They brew several different beer styles and pops.  They are best known for their soda pops or I like to say pop.  They won several different beer awards for their brews.  Let us get into their brew.

It has a root beer color like a cloudy brown color without a head on the beer.  The smell is root beer with some alcohol notes.  The taste is root beer that you would find your neighborhood grocery store.  The aftertaste is root beer alcohol notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sprecherbrewery.com

Twitter:  @sprecherbrewery

In closing, I am not a huge fan of taking pop and mixing alcohol.  I was a little nervous trying this brew or pop.  This is a pretty big and growing segment in the alcohol world.  I was pretty curious on this beverage.  I have to say I am pretty impressed by it.  This beer has a heavy root beer taste and you can barely taste the alcohol in this brew.  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

New Beer Blog Goose Island Brewing Upstream IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from the brewpub from Goose Island Brewing.  The beer is their Upstream IPA.  This beer is not in package.  It is beer they brew at their brewpub for their bar.  If you read my past blogs, you know the history of Chicago craft brewery.  If you have not read them, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this brewer.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is citrus in the beer.  The taste has carbonated citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland and @GooseClybourn

In the end, I had a chances to go down to the Goose Island Brewpub for one of my going away parties.  I had a few brews and this was one of them.  I had a chances to try the Alt and a one of their wheat ales.  I cannot think of the names of those beers.  I am a huge fan of India Pale Ales.  It was a no brainier to pick this beer.  I love the hops but not a fan of the malty backbone.  I just felt the hops were attacking it a little too much for my liking.  It is a drinkable beer and that is what won me over on this brew.  If this beer is still on draft, 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

New Beer Blog Laughing Dog Brewing Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out first brew from a brewery, which is Laughing Dog Brewing. I was excited to try it.  The beer is their Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter.  Laughing Dog Brewing is a young company.  It was stated in 2005 in Sandpoint, Idaho.  They brew several different beer styles.  They brew up to 15 different beer styles.  They have won several awards for their brews.  The dog that is featured on their beer bottles, logos, etc is their family dog, who is Ben.  There is not too much information for this eight year old company.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head on this coffee porter.  The smell is toffee and hints of coffee.  The taste of this imperial coffee porter is a creamy sweet black strong coffee with roasted coffee notes.  It is not drinkable beer unless the beer drinker is a coffee porter and stout and then it is drinkable.

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

Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

A complex Imperial Coffee Porter made with Evans Brothers cold-pressed coffee. Subtle chocolate, and coffee notes are balanced by black malt bitterness and malt sweetness. Available year-round in 22oz. bottles and kegs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.laughingdogbrewing.com

Twitter:  @LaughingDogbrew

In closing, this brew is pretty good.  I was not too familiar with this brewery.  I was pretty interested to sit down to try this beer and do some back history.  Some reason, I believed I saw their brews in the State of Illinois.  However, this brew is pretty complex that is extremely good thing, the notes go from chocolate and coffee notes.  I will have to trade with my friend to get a few more of their beers.  I believe they are not available in the a Michigan. I recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Upland Brewing Harvest Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a seasonal ale from Upland Brewery.  It is their Harvest Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this up and coming from Indiana.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post about their flagship ale.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on this Fall Seasonal.  The smell is piney to slight citrus notes.  The taste of this hoppy pale ale has a slight malty notes with a piney to  slight citrus notes.  The aftertaste is a heavy bitterness from the hops.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

An American Pale Ale by design, but an even more vibrant rendition by loading up our hopback with freshly harvested Citra hops. Expect huge wafts of tropical fruit notes, balanced by a moderate bitterness and light tasted malt character. A showcase for one of our four favorite ingredients and a delight for all the hopheads.

ABV: 5.5 |  IBUs: 62 | SG: 14 | SRM: 13

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter:  @uplandbrewco

Closing, this seasonal ale gives the craft beer drinker something else.  Normally for the fall, the craft beer drinker will have to reach for the countless list of Oktoberfest, Pumpkin ales, or start looking at porters and/or stout.  Upland Brewery and a few more craft breweries are looking at this as opportunity to give their drinkers something a little different.  This brew is something different.  It is a west coast pale ale.  It is hopped up and it is very good.  They did a nice job on this brew.  It is well balance from the malty backbone to the hops.  I will have to say they were not shy on making the hops shine through this beer.  I wish this beer was available all year-long but it would loss that special shine that it has right now.  I recommend you hunting this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser