midwest craft beers

New Beer Blog New Glarus Brewing Apple Ale


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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from New Glarus Brewing.  The beer is called Apple Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This apple ale is a hazel copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is an apple cider to the beer. The taste is a carbonation sweet apple cider beer. The aftertaste is a carbonation cider to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A few times a year we cut Dan loose to brew whatever he chooses.  Always handcrafted, the bottle you hold is brewed for the adventurous soul.  This is a very limited edition and we make no promises to ever brew this style again.

Apple Ale sings with the fresh crisp taste of Apples.  Our Brewmaster begins with a brown ale base and a blend of fresh picked apples.  Our apple growing friends squeeze them especially for this brew.

Expect this Ale to pour a beautiful copper color.  The fresh bouquet of Apple will rise to meet you even before the glass touches your lips.  So be sure to sip slowly and enjoy the fruits of a Wisconsin Harvest.

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

Apple Ale sings with the fresh crisp taste of Apples.  Our Brewmaster begins with a brown ale base employing Wisconsin farmed wheat and a blend of fresh picked apples.  Our apple growing friends squeeze them especially for this brew.

Expect this Ale to pour a beautiful copper color.  The fresh bouquet of Apple will rise to meet you even before the glass touches your lips.  So be sure to sip slowly and enjoy the fruits of a Wisconsin Harvest.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

In closing, this is what apple ales should taste like in the beer market.  This is a great beer and it is pretty well balance.  I really enjoyed this beer very much.  It has a cider beer style to it.  I know Miller Brewery Company put out their apple ale called Redd’s.  The beer is carbonation apple juice beer.  New Glarus Brewing did a great job on this beer and this is the apple ale to be drinking.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Back 40 Bock


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from New Glarus Brewing and the beer is called Back 40 Bock.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know about this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with a snow-white head on the beer.  The smell is a hint of caramel. The taste is a sweet malty with a toffee aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable and smooth beer.

Here is description from beer bottle and website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

The “Back Forty” is property commonly found on the outskirts of the Wisconsin family farm. Here uncultivated acres wait prime for adventure forts, tree houses, rope swings and first kisses! A place to run away, to camp, to climb, to build, to play.  Not actually home but not too far away. That’s the Back Forty. The beer you hold is similar both dark and adventurous still smooth and familiar.  Here’s a beer you can enjoy without pretense or explanation.  Every mind requires some acres of possibility, space for dreams, the great escape, everyone needs a Back Forty.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

Ending, this was a pretty different beer.  I was expecting something else and I receive something a little better in my mind.  This bock is nothing special but it is still a good beer.  To me, it is a beer I am glad I try but I know I will not be trying this beer again. 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 New Glarus Brewing Coffee Stout


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from New Glarus Brewing Company.  The beer is called Coffee Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that earlier beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

This coffee stout has a black color with a tan color head on the brew. The smell is chocolate with a little coffee notes. The taste of the full body beer has a chocolate with a little coffee notes. The aftertaste is a dry coco to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

Hearty and satisfying, out Coffee Stout is the ultimate full-bodied brew.  Wisconsin water, roasted malts and American hops are the natural ingredients we use to brew this bier.  Then cold pressed organic coffee from Just Coffee co-op is infused into the brew.

Expect this bier to pour a deep creamy head over an ebony rich body.  Notice the powerful malt bouquet balanced by a spectrum of extravagant flavor.  Served at room temperature this Wisconsin Coffee Stout is guaranteed to warm even the coldest heart.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

In the end, this is a pretty nice coffee stout.  I love how the coffee is not too heavy in this stout.  Most coffee stouts have a heavy coffee and it is not very well balance.  Now that might be how the beer is design which is fine.  I am not knocking it but it nice to get one like this one from New Glarus.  The problem I have with this brewery.  I do not know if it is the water they are using or the same yeast in their beers.  I just feel the base of the beers are the same and kind of taste the same.  I realize coffee stout to a cream ale or a lager.  I know that and they are different.  There is something the same in all their beers.  This was pointed out by a few of my friends and there a few breweries like this.  I enjoy most of the beers I had from this brewery.  This brewery makes some great beers and I wish they were in the Chicago or Michigan market, when I go back to my home state, I could drink some of their beers.  Let me know what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Tap Party Wheeling Snow Blower


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In this Tap Party Beer Blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Ram Wheeling Tap Party.  This is a beer style I did not know was being made.  I was very interested in trying this beer.  If you read my earlier beer blogs from this brewery, you are up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the party.

Snow Blower is a wheat wine from the Wheeling location. It has a cloudy cooper color with a semi white head on the beer. There is no smell to the beer or I cannot pick it up. The taste is a little wheaty with a sweet malty that will burn down your throat for the aftertaste in a good way. There is a nice malt backbone. It is kind of drinkable but at 8.3% ABV.

Here is a desecration from the brewmaster:

Stylistically it is a Wheat Wine, which is a wheat based version of a barley wine.  When tasting this beer the hops come forward right out of the gate with a big hop character and provide a big hop punch, but as it lingers on the palate the slight sweetness from the wheat malt comes through and a slight bit of alcoholic warmth teases the palate.

At 8.2% alcohol by volume and 70+ IBU’s it will warm you and your palate up.

Here is some photos of the food we were eating while sampling the beer:

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All American Burger

American cheese, pickle chips, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard and mayo.  Served with choice of Fries, Chips or Coleslaw

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Nachos Deluxe

Choice of Chicken, Beef, or Combination, black beans, cheddar jack cheese, jalapeno, tomato, green onion, sour cream, and guacamole.

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Dessert

This was a great desert from my birthday gift from Ram.  Thanks!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram and @rambrew

In closing,  I really enjoyed going to these Tap Parties.  I wish I can make the next one but I have at work training.  I was very curious on how this beer will taste.  As many of you know, I am not a fan of wheat or wheat base beers.  This beer is extremely joyful to drink.  The wheat is there but there is a nice hop touch to Snowblower.  I love the contrast between wheat, sweetness of the normal barely wine, and hop.  It is a drinkable beer but be careful because of the ABV is pretty high.  This beer is the Lawnmower beer of the winter.  I recommend this beer.  I want to thanks to Eric and Lanny!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Tap Party Wheeling


In this tap party blog, we are going to sample out another beer release from the Big Horn Brewery in Wheeling.  The beer is called Rabbit Punch Irish Red Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

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This beer has a deep reddish-brown color with a white constant head on it. The smell is a sweet caramel to the beer. The taste of the Rabbit Punch Irish Red Ale is a sweet carbonation caramel to a touch of toffee with a caramel aftertaste. It is a sessional beer.

Here is a description from the brewery:

A reddish-amber ale with roots in Ireland characterized by its malt profile including caramel and a toffee-like sweetness.  Alcohol by volume is about 5.15%.

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Here is a description of the meal I had during the Tap Party:

Bourbon BBQ Meatloaf Sandwich

Meatloaf grilled over high heat, smothered with bourbon bbq glaze on toasted white bread with Wisconsin double cream Havarti and onion crisps.  Served with choice of Fries, Chips, or Coleslaw.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, I am not a red ale fan but this beer is not bad.  I did enjoy this beer and I will have a few pints when it is around.  The food was really good.  I am not a meatloaf fan but this was pretty good. If you are a fan of red ales, you need to try this beer.  I believe you will enjoy drinking this beer and it does have a flare of the Irish Red Ale feel.  Most craft breweries normally miss that part of this beer style.  I also like the fact it is ale this year and not a lager.  It has a nice malty backbone and not overly hopped like most red ales.  These brewers did a great job and you need to support them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog O’so Brewing Hopdinger


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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a new brewery to hit the Chicago market from Wisconsin.  The brewery is called O’so Brewing and the beer is their Hopdinger.   O’so Brewing was founded in a small town in Wisconsin and design to give the local people some good craft beer.  They had some help from the Central Waters and Point Brewery and they are also good friends.  It does not say when they were founded on their website but they are a pretty small brewery.  O’so is in the town of Plover, Wisconsin.  I wish I could find more on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear, constant bubbles, and copper color with a constant white head. The smell is a citrus to the beer.  The taste of this pale ale is a sweet citrus and grapefruit together.  The aftertaste is a dry citrus to the beer. Being a full body beer, it is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Pungent, Hoppy, Crisp, Floral, Bitter, Piney, Resinous, and Engaging

Join the fight against boring beer at osobrewing.com brewed and bottled by O’So Brewing Company Plover, WI Discover the art of freestyle brewing.

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

HopdingerTM

This pale ale is generously hopped yet balanced through the use of Munich and Crystal malts. Hops added after fermentation gives this American classic an intense aromatic bouquet. Enjoy! ABV: 6%, 49 IBUs, 14 SRM

Available Yearly!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.osobrewing.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, this is not my favorite pale ale and it is just like the rest on the market.  If I can get the same pale ale cheaper, I will pass this beer.  I really hate to say it.  This is a great beer but I just feel the price I am paying is not really worth it. If you love pale ales and think it is worth it, please, drink it and support this little brewery.  I do recommend you trying this beer.  I believe you will find the same thing I did about this beer. Please, let me know about your thoughts on this brewery.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Saugatuck Brewing Neapolitan Milk Stout


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In this beer blog, we are going to check out a newer brewery from Michigan.  The brewery is called Saugatuck Brewing Company and the beer is called Neapolitan Milk Stout.  Saugatuck Brewing was founded in 2005 in Dougles, Michigan by Barry Johnson.  In mid 2008, the next part of their plan was in motion, which was to start bottling their beers.   Let us get into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan head on the beer. The smell is milk chocolate to chocolate milk. The taste is a silk to smooth chocolate to the beer. The aftertaste is roasted chocolate to coffee to the beer. It is close to the ice cream. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Nostalgic flavors of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla… Our flavors the Mt. Baldy radar tower a local landmark installed by the U.S. Air Force in 1937.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.saugatuckbrewing.com

Twitter:  @saugatuckbrew

Closing, milk stouts always had that feeling of drinking ice cream.  Saugatuck Brewing took it to the next level.  They design this milk stout to totally take on ice cream feel.  I had it in the bottle and I could pick up Neapolitan Ice Cream, which I remember as a kid eating it all the time in Michigan growing up.  I am pretty impressive by this beer and I might have to retry their beers again.  I recommend 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 Milwaukee Brewing Anodyne Brown


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While in Milwaukee again, I went on the Milwaukee Brewing Brewery Tour and I saw this brown ale.  This was experimental beer and it is called Anodyne Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

This coffee brown has a brown color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is a coffee. The taste is hazelnut cover coffee with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewco.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Closing out, this American brown ale infused with coffee has a ton going on in it.  I love the smooth and drinkablity of it.  The brown and coffee is not overpowering.  It has a nice balance between the two elements in this beer.  Just what I said above and about Dark Matter, this is a experimental beer.  I have to say this brewery has found ways to push themselves forward and the craft beer world.  I just wish more people would get to know their beers and brewery. I wish more beer bloggers would share more love to them.  This is a great beer and I hope to see it in bottles or cans in the future.  Go do their brewery tour.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Double IPA


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While in Milwaukee again, I was up in Milwaukee to see my friends from Milwaukee Brewing.  The name of the beer is called Dark Matter.  If you have read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This Double IPA has a golden to amber color with a white head.  There is not a smell to the beer.  It is hard to smell in while on the brewery tour.  It has a sweet silky citrus taste without aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer for being a big beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I do not know if this is one I had back in the fall but this Double IPA is amazing.  I really enjoyed the one in the fall and I loved this one too.  It was hard to smell the beer in the brewery so if there is a smell I am sorry I did not pick it up.  I love the taste of the hops and the balance of the malty backbone.  This was a smooth Double IPA.  Uinta Detour Double IPA is my favorite but I have to say this one sets the standards for me for some double IPA’s in the Midwest Breweries.  I wish this was in bottle or cans.  I hope they do it in the future.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Milwaukee Brewing Dark Matter


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While in Milwaukee again, I went back up to Milwaukee to visit my friends from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  I wanted to meet Kurt and try some beers I can not get down in Chicago.  Kurt is a very nice guy.  I have to say he has to be the nicest brewer I have ever met.  Believe me, I have met several ones.  I hope to have a beer with him really soon.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pull Chain, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

Dark Matter has a jet black color with a brown to tan head on it. The smell is a chocolate to toffee to the beer.  It is hard to smell while on a brewery tour. The taste is a chocolate malty sweet with light carbonation. The aftertaste is a smooth burn down the throat. This is true to German style but took to the next level.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, this was experimental beer.  I have to say it was very smooth, rich, and with full body flavor.  I love the smell, taste, and the aftertaste.  This beer does not drink like a 10.5% ABV beer.  I am glad I was up in Milwaukee to try this beer.  I do not know if I have ever saw Imperial Schwarzbier.  I have had normal Schwarzbier and I love this German beer style.  I hope they get a response to this beer and they put it into cans in the future.   I recommend you trying this beer and their brewery tour.  It is one of the best ones in Milwaukee.  I believe I learn something new the last two times I went on it.   Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser