midwest craft beers

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into our second brew from Three Floyds Brewery.  The beer is their Evil Power Imperial Pilsner.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Christmas Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head. There is no smell to the beer. The taste of this medium body beer has a slightly crisp citrus with malt notes with a clean crisp dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A fortified Euoropean Style Pils langered to perfection, brewed with Heavy Metal warriors Lair Of The Minotaur in commemoration of their 4th Full-Lenght release “Evil Power.”  Available now at lairoftheminotaur.com 3floyds.com prosit skol cheers.

Here is  their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds

Closing out, I have a problem with most craft breweries when they try to make a lager or pilsner.  I will have to say I have had some really bad version of this classic beer styles.  Three Floyds Brewing is one of the few craft breweries in the United States that made a great Imperial Pilsner.  I have to say this brew has challenged Uinta Imperial Pilsner.  I wish I could find this in the City of Chicago but I have to drive down to their brewpub.  It has a beautiful color that welcomes you to drink this brew. There is a nice hop character but a nice malty blend with a nice crisp dry finish.  I highly recommend you trying this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

New Beer Blog Paw Paw Brewing K.U.A. Extra Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from Paw Paw Brewing on this blog.  I had a chance to try their beer at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  I stopped by their booth and talked to them along with sampling their beers.  I was back in Michigan this last weekend to see Tesla and Uncle Ted.  I did stop by their brewpub but they were closed.  I might make a trip back in to check out this brewery.  Paw Paw Brewing is located in Paw Paw, Michigan by Ben Fleckestein and Ryan Sylvester in 2010.  They had their grand opening in 2011.  They brew several different beer styles and package them in bottles.  I am looking forward to stopping in and trying everything straight from source.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel copper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to this extra pale ale.  The taste is smooth caramel with a citrus hop finish.  It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This American pale ale carries tropical citrus notes and announces itself first with a golden color and wonderful aroma.  Inspired by cyclists nationwide that ride the urban streets, this brew is sure to refresh.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter:  @pawpawbrewery and @2pawsbeer

In the end, this is an awesome beer.  I have to say the newer craft breweries raising up in Michigan put the newer ones in Chicago to shame.  Michigan is growing into a pretty important state for craft beer.  They are a long ways off from Oregon and Washington.  They are gaining ground pretty quickly.  I love the hops that they use on this beer and yet there is a nice balance from the malt.  This a well-built beer and you can tell that this brewery put some thought behind this beer.  I will be looking forward to try rest of their beers.  I recommend you driving to Michigan to get this beer in your hands.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Tornado Black IPA

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In this special beer blog from Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest, we are going to get into my one of my favorite craft breweries and beer from Michigan.  The brewery is Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Tornado Black IPA.  I have been wanting try this beer for a long time.  I could not find it whenever I was in town.  I was happy to see it being poured at this beer festival.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, read those posts to get to know the beers and the brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight coffee and chocolate to pine and citrus.  The taste is a chocolate circus with a dry fruity notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @fb1862

Closing out, I really enjoyed this brew.  This beer did not disappoint me at all.  This is a pretty unique beer and it is hard to master on the brewery side of things.  It is hard for most craft beer drinkers to get to know and enjoy this beer style.  I believe this beer will bring some experience craft beer drinkers over to the Black IPA beer style.  I was pretty stun on how drinkable this brew is too.  The other thing that makes this beer pretty impressive is the fact it is coming from German base brewing style.  They did a great job and I am proud and honor they are making great beer in Michigan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bastone Brewery Peanut Butter Noir

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer I had at the Summer Beer Festival in Michigan.  The brewery is Bastone Brewery and the beer is their Peanut Butter Noir.  The brewery is located at Royal Oak, Michigan in 2004.  The brewery is named after a Belgian city.  Their beer and food is theme after this great Europe country.  I found this information on their website (www.bastone.net). Let us get into beer.

It has a peanut butter color without a head on it.  There is not a smell to it.  The taste is sweet peanut butter with a dry peanut butter aftertaste.  It is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bastone.net

Twitter:  @bastonebrewery

In the end, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this beer.  Everyone with me was looking at me weird when I brought it over to the group.  This brewery did think out of the box which is a good thing.  I am willing to try beers like this all the time.  I have to say  this was a really good tasting beer.  I loved the aftertaste.  I hate to say this.  I could only have maybe 12oz pour of this beer.  It is not thick but heavy.  I just feel it is heavy and not drinkable.  I really enjoyed this beer and I could not find anything on their website about this brew.  I am looking forward to making a trip to this brewery the next time I am in  town.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Dead Kettle IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery from Michigan I have been waiting to try for a while.  It is Right Brain Brewery and the brew is their Dead Kettle IPA.  I had a chance to try this beer at Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  Right Brain is located on the north-west part of the state and the City Of Traverse City, Michigan.  There is not too much information on this young brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head.  The smell is hints of grapefruit.  The taste is ripping the skin off a grapefruit without aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Working as a brewer means practicing your craft, knowing your equipment, and always being able to think on your feet.

Many years ago a dead brewing kettle was the spark that lead to eventual creation of this Right Brain Classic.

Showcasing heavy citrus notes and hop aroma, Dead Kettle is light bodied and refreshing.  Strong Grapefruit notes make way for a pleasantly bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

In closing, this beer is something else.  Of course, it is in a good way.  I love my IPA’s and this one is on my top ten beers.  I love the huge and heavy grapefruit beer.  It is extremely balance and this beer is done up right.  I love the packaging and the story about the name of the brewery.  I hope in the future they put out 12oz bottles or cans or 16oz cans.  I am not a huge fan of 22oz bottles.  I highly highly 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 Great Divide Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the last of the three beers from Great Divide Brewing that I am reviewing on this blog.  It is their Hades Belgian-Style Ale.  It you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color without a head.  The smell is between malt to citrus but very fade.  It is hard to pick up.  The taste of this medium body ale is a slight carbonated back hop to malt with refreshing with a slight citrus finish.  It is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hades is a Begian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast stain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma.  Noticable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced crisp ale.

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

HADES is a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well-balanced, crisp ale.

 ABV.: 7.8%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: Included in Brewers’ Picks and Big Show 12-packs only

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter:  @greatdividebrew

In closing, this is one beer style.  I believe are hardest to match to the classic beer style and put your own twist.  It is just like lagers most craft breweries can not make a good one.  Great Divide did a great job coming as close as they can and putting their twist on  their version of Duvel.  I have to say I was pretty impressed about it.  I recommend you trying this brew and please let me know if I am right or wrong.  I would love to talk about beer with you.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Great Divide Brewing.  It is their Colette Farmhouse Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this great Denver brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear bright yellow to golden color with constant small bubbles.  There is yeast in the bottle that will change it from clear to cloudy. The head is a constant white.  The smell is a slight farmhouse but a fresh farm smell. The taste of this light body ale has slight lemon with some spices with a spicy to lemon but refreshing finish.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Colette is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries.  Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast stains, Colette is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats – a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

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

COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.

 ABV.: 7.3%

AVAILABLE: Year Round

SIZES: 6 packs, 5 gal and 15.5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter;  @greatdividebrew

Ending, this is a pretty tricky ale to make for most craft breweries.  There are several different Saisons on the market.  It could be hoppy amber saison, hoppy saison, and a refreshing saison.  This one to me is in the refreshing saison.  It echos the classic beer style.  It is well balance and gives everything that a saison fan is looking for in this beer style.  I recommend you trying.  Please, let me know what you think of 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 Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new summer brew from my favorite Michigan brewery which is Frankenmuth Brewery.  The new brew, which is one of my favorite German beer style, is Twisted Helles Summer Lager.  If you read my earlier beer bogs on this brewery’s brews, you know the long and rich history of Frankenmuth Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a hazel strew to light golden color with constant small bubbles.  It also has a constant white head.  The smell is of malt with a fade orange to lemon notes but to me it is the pilsner malt smell.  The taste of this light body and refreshing lager is malts with a notes of orange and lemon zest.  The aftertaste is crisp with lemon zest finish.  It is extremely drinkable beer and perfect for the hot summer day.

Here is a description from the beer can:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks.  Tinged with mild, yet memorable notes of citrus, this crisp, full-flavored lager is indigenous to happy hours, tailgates and block parties.

Crafted by a brewery that’s lived and loved over 150 summers, Twisted Helles doesn’t just tastee like summer…  It feelslike it.

Here is a description from the beer packaging:

One Sip And It’s Summer

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers – and so, by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement.  The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness, reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager.

Full-bodied, yet pleasantly quenching… and then there’s the “twist.”  The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home.  Because this one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

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

Twisted Helles is inspired by Michigan summers–and so by effect, it’s summer’s perfect complement. The unmistakable presence of German noble hops is perfectly balanced with an elegant maltiness reminding you that bitterness has no place in a true Helles lager. Full-bodied yet pleasantly quenching…and then there’s the “twist.”
The moment you crack open a can your senses are brought to life in both aroma and flavor with finishing hints of orange and lemon zest that bring it all back home. Because this in one summer brew that knows exactly where home is.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.twistedhelles.com (it is a fun site)  and www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter:  @FB1862

In the end, when I heard Frankenmuth Brewery was coming out with a summer beer, I was like another summer beer that I will not be drinking.  I will have to just keep drinking my IPAs and Pales Ales.  I am not a fan of most spring and summer seasonals.  However, I heard  it was a classic German beer style, I was pretty excited and upset because I could not get it here in Chicago.  When I made it back to Michigan, I made it a point to find this brew to try it and write a review on it.  Helles is one of my favorite German beer style.  I have to say if any craft brewery in the states can do German beer styles.  It is Frankenmuth Brewery.  This Twisted Helles Summer Lager is well made and it is one of the few summer seasonals I will go out of my way to pick up.  The other two summer brews are Sierra Nevada Summer Lager and Two Brothers Dog Days Lager.  I have to say I am not too impressed with those brews but that is what I was force to drink if I wanted a summer brew.  This is a perfect brew for the hot Michigan Summer Days.  Trust me I know all about those days and extremely hot Chicago Summer Days.  Thank you Frankenmuth Brewery for giving this Hophead hope and something to drink in the summer time!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party Wheeling Location

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Ram Brewery in Wheeling.  This is another seasonal release and tap party.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight hazel dark copper color with semi constant white head.  The smell is a citrus to piney.  The taste is carbonated citrus with a nice dry hop finish.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the tap party:

Lotsahops Double IPA

A big bold citrusy IPA taken up a notch to approximately 80-90 IBU’s.  It starts off with a good malt base to keep the bitterness in check and finishes with a good hop punch to wake up the palate.  ABV about 7.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this is a well made beer from this brewpub.  I enjoyed drinking their beers.  They have great deals on their beers and you cannot complain about their food.  This Imperial IPA is really well balance from the hops and malts.  They did a great job with picking the hops.  I love the hop character in this brew.  I really recommend you driving and 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 Great Divide Hibernation Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first of three brews from Great Divide.  Great Divide was founded in Denver, Coloroda by Brain Dunn in 1994.  They have been ranked as one of the best breweries in the world from a few beer website.  They also brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light brown to dark amber color with a constant tan color head.  The smell is of the malt to a slight caramel notes.  The taste of this medium body is a malty caramel with touch of honey with a dry malty finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995.  This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

Here is descation from their website (www.greatdivide.com):

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter:  @greatdividebrew

In closing, there is a ton going on this well made beer.  I enjoyed this beer a ton.  I can also see why this brew was made because of where the brewery is located.  It has a beautiful color and a nice aroma.  It has a nice taste from this well balance beer.  There is a ton going on in this beer.  I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser