midwest craft breweries

New Beer Blog Short’s Howling Chinaski

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer, which is Howling Chinaski, from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Northwest Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan Craft brewery.  Let us get into this Lager.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this craft lager. The aroma is fated but it is like corn notes.  The taste is like a drinks a carbonated sweet corn syrup with a clear crisp finish.  The corn notes is not making this drinkable to me.  I can see some beer drinkers thinking this beer is drinkable.

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

Howlin’ Chinaski is a light bodied, golden straw colored Dortmunder beer. It has bready Bohemian lager yeast esters and grassy hop aromas. The overall malt sweetness is quite low, with the dominate flavors being the hearty milled grains. Howlin’ Chinaski has slight bitter complements from the German Spalt hops.

Howlin’ Chinaski was brewed as a traditional German Dortmunder Lager. Dortmunder is a Pale Lager that originated in the industrial city of Dortmund, Germany. Originally brewed by Dortmunder Union brewery in 1873, this soft pilsner style beer became very popular with industrial workers, and was responsible for Dortmunder Union becoming Germany’s largest brewery and Dortmund having the highest concentration of breweries in Germany.

6.5% ABV

27 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ShortsBrewing

Ending, I have to say since moving back to Michigan from Chicago.  I was excited to get Short’s beers on a day-to-day basis.  I have went through and retry all  their beers.  To me, their beers do not taste like how I remember them.  I do not know if it is because my taste buds have changed or their quality has went down.  I know they have one thing right.  They keep releasing new beer brands every week.  That could be a good thing or a bad thing.  I believe it is a bad because.  I just believe they are pushing and rushing their beers to the market.  Just because it is from Michigan, it does not mean it is a good beer.  Now onto this beer, it reminds me of MGD.  It has too much corn front notes.  It is pretty drinkable.  I just wished the corn notes were not overpowering.  I do not recommend but let me know what you think of this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Oddside Derelicte Pineapple IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer, which is Pineapple IPA, from Oddside Brewery.  Oddside Brewery was founded in Grand Haven, Michigan in 2010.  There goal is brew unique beers that will push the limits of the craft beer drinkers.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The aroma has a nice mild pineapple notes. The taste has a light carbonated pineapple notes with a dry hoppy dry bitter finish.  The finish hangs around a bit.  It is kind of drinkable to a sipping brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  No Twitter

Closing, as many of us in Michigan, we are just getting around trying Oddside beers.  I have to say this is one of my favorite beers from them.  I am really love the pineapple notes how it shapes around the hops.  It is a nice sipping to semi drinkable beer.  The bitterest is not over the top but it is still there.  The pineapple and the well designed malty backbone cuts right through hops.  I really love this brew.  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 New Belgium Fat Tire Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a flagship beer, which is Fat Tire Amber Ale, from New Belgium Brewery. It was a beer inspired from a bike ride in the Belgian county side. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know New Belgium Brewery. Let us get into this Amber Ale.

It has a clear amber color with semi constant white head on this Amber Ale.  The aroma has a malty to biscuit notes.  The taste of this light to medium body beer has a malty to biscuit notes with a hint of light carbonated caramel.   The aftertaste has a caramel to nice refreshing hop finish.  It is an extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Fat Tire Amber Ale perfectly balances biscuit-like malt flavors with hoppy freshness.  Named in honor of a storied bike ride through Europe,  Fat Tire cruises with Belgian imagination and inspiration.

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

Named in honor of our co-founder’s bike trip through Europe, Fat Tire Amber Ale marks a turning point in the young electrical engineer’s home brewing. Belgian beers use a far broader palette of ingredients (fruits, spices, esoteric yeast strains) than German or English styles. Together with co-founder Kim Jordan, they traveled around sampling their homebrews to the public. Fat Tire won fans with its sense of balance: toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness. Fat Tire: Pairs well with people.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter: @newbelgium

In closing, this light to medium body amber ale packs a ton of flavor and punch.  It is drinkable for anytime of the year.  It is a nice craft beer to get your American Lager drinkers to try.  It is also a great beer for the experience craft beer drinkers to revisit and enjoy it all over it again.  I love the story behind this beer and I love the fact they made American version of De Koninck.  It is fresher and packs more of a drinkable style.  This beer can pair with any food dish that is what their website says.  It is better with people.  I recommend you trying this beer or retrying it.  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 Brewery Ranger IPA

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Starting a new beer tab, we are going to try and I mean retry New Belgium Brewery Ranger IPA. After years of their fans requesting, an India Pale Ale was finally made its debut in their line up. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Mountain area craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know New Belgium Brewery. Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

This India Pale Ale has a clear copper color with a nice white constant head on it.  The smell has hints of citrus and slight piney notes.  The taste has a slight citrus carbonated notes with a dry piney hop finish for the aftertaste.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tip your hat to our Beer Rangers in the field who inspired this will-balanced IPA packed with Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook hops. Count on citrus aromas and piney surroundings.

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

Ever met a New Belgium Beer Ranger? They are our beloved folks out in the field. Spanning all 29 of our states from the Pacific to the Atlantic, our Beer Rangers do their best to protect, to pour and to partake. And explore many a beer from many a brewery, they do.

Bring out the hops! This clear amber beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. Brewed with pale and dark caramel malts that harmonize the hop flavor from start to finish, Ranger is a sessionable splendor for all you hopinistas. Thank your Beer Ranger!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing out my tab, I have to say it took me a ton of time to start liking this beer.  I do not know why.  I will say my first impression was not very good towards this craft IPA.  However, after a ton of research, I have a new thought pattern towards this IPA. I have to say I like it now.  It is in my top ten of craft India Pale Ales.  I love the hop collection and the selection.  The malty backbone was well designed.  I wish I could find this beer in cans.  I am pretty happy to see this beer in their first sampler 12 pack cans.  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 Trippel Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Trippel Ale from New Belgium Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their their Fall Seasonal, which is Pumpkick Ale, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read the beer blog posts to get to know this 100% employee owned craft brewery.  Let us get into their Trippel Ale.

This Trippel Ale has a clear golden color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has a heavy coriander and other spicy notes.  The taste has a Belgium spices and heavy coriander notes.  The coriander lives and hangs around a bit in the aftertaste.  This Trippel Ale is kind of drinkable but it is more of a sipping ale.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A Belgian yeast strain, a trace of coriander, and a blast of hops is the triple-threat this Belgian style ale struts out each time you reach for our bottles conditioned Trippel.

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

Our Trippel Belgian Style Ale (pronounced triple) opens with a bold blast of hops that slowly gives way to the fruity esters implied by our Belgian yeast strain. In the Belgian tradition of brewing singles, doubles and triples, Trippel is the strongest with the longest fermentation. Remarkably smooth and complex, our bottle-conditioned Trippel is spiced with a trace of coriander.

Here is ther website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, New Belgium has made several Belgium beer styles ales.  This brew is not different than the rest of the beers in this beer style.  There is not many Trippel Ales brewed with coriandor.  I am not a fan of this brew because of the coriandor in it.   However, this is a good beer and New Belgium made a great beer here, I highly recomend 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 Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample another beer from Abita Brewery and it is their Strawberry Harvest Lager.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this southern craft brewery.  If you did not read those beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this summer season.

It has a clear golden color with nice small constant bubbles.  This Lager has a nice white head on it.  The aroma has a strong sweet strawberries notes.  The taste profile has a strong sweet fresh strawberries notes.  It is like fresh picked strawberries.  The aftertaste is a nice strawberry finish that hangs around bit.  This light body Lager is extremely drinkable.

Here is a descrition from their website (www.abita.com):

Abita Strawberry Harvest is a lager brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. Real Louisiana strawberry juice is added after filtration resulting in a crisp lager with a sweet strawberry flavor, aroma and haze. It is wonderful with desserts or lighter fare such as salads and pastas. Fresh cheeses such as Burrata, chèvre, Crescenza, mozzarella or Teleme pair well with Strawberry Harvest.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

In the end, I am not a huge Lager or fruit beers. I have to say I was pretty impressed with this beer. I liked it but it is pretty average beer. I will not go out of my way to find this beer. If I see it, I will order it. It also depends what is in the bar or restaurant. It is extremely drinkable and has a ton of flavor. I really enjoyed drinking this beer. Go and try it. 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

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Abita Amber Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew, which is Amber Lager, from Abita Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this southern craft brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know Abita Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight amber color with a constant white head on this Lager.  The aroma has a nice sweet caramel notes.  The taste of this light to medium body has a nice carbonated earthly to caramel notes with a nice crisp finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Abita Amber is a Munich style lager brewed with pale and caramel malts and German Perle hops.  It has a smooth, malty, caramel flavor and a rich amber color.  One of our first and most popular brews.  Amber pairs well with many foods.

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

Amber

Amber is a Munich style lager brewed with pale and caramel malts and German Perle hops. It has a smooth, malty, slightly caramel flavor and a rich amber color. Abita Amber was the first beer offered by the brewery and continues to be our leading seller. Amber is Abita’s most versatile beer for pairing with food. It has been voted “best beer” in numerous New Orleans reader polls and is used frequently in recipes of great Louisiana chefs.

Because of its smooth, malty flavor, try it with smoked sausages, Louisiana boudin, or even with caviar. It’s great with crawfish and Cajun food. You might also enjoy it paired with a spicy gumbo or tomato-based pasta sauce. It also goes well also with fried catfish dipped in a tart, lemony tartar sauce. Parmesan, Pecorino and Romano cheeses are good pairings with Abita Amber.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.abita.com

Twitter: @theabitabeer

In the end, I just find myself not drinking their beers as much as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada beers from their samplers. I brought those packs after I brought Abita Party Pack, which is their sampler. I am not saying I did not like their beers. I did but not as much as those other breweries beers. As many of you know, I am on the search for a good and great craft lager. This Amber Lager was on the list to retry it. I have to say it is pretty average. It is not any special. It has more flavor than the mass produced American Lagers. If you never had this beer, I would try it and draw your own thoughts on this Amber Lager. 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 Rochester Mills Beer Co. Lazy Daze Amber Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Lazy Daze Amber Lager from Rochester Mills Beer Co.  If you have been reading my beer blog posts, you know I have wrote about their beers in the past and you know the history of this east side Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this Michigan Craft Lager.

This Lager a clear amber color with a nice small white bubble head.  There is a smell, however, I can not pick up what it is in the aroma.  The taste has a light sweet carbonated notes with touch of caramel.  The aftertaste has a sweet caramel notes that hangs around your mouth for a bit.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from their website (www.beercos.com):

Lazy Daze Amber Lager – 5.1% abv

Boasting a rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor from a combination of Munich malt for a subtle sweetness and German hops, you’ll find Lazy Daze Amber is another easy drinking, well-balanced local brew from Rochester Mills.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.beercos.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, I am still looking for the best craft lager.  I just feel the Michigan Craft Breweries are making the best Craft Lagers and Pilsners in the United States.  I am not saying this is the best craft lager that I ever had in my lifetime.  I have to say it is pretty damn close.  It is in my top five beers.  It is well balance and full of a ton of flavor.   I love the caramel notes.  This is a great drinkable lager. It is a beer that is perfect all year long.  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

New Beer Blog New Belgium And Red Rock Brewery Paardebloem Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from New Belgium and Red Rock Brewery.  I am  talking about Paardebloem Ale from New Belgium’s Lips Of Faith Series.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on New Belgium’s brew, you know the history of this Mountain area craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts on this Fort Collins brewery to get to know them.  Red Rock Brewery is located in Utah in the Salt Lake City.  It opened its doors in 1994.  Their goal is to make the highest quality product and great craft beer to their beer drinkers.  They are now packaging several different beer styles.  They are always looking to grow the different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

This ale has a cloudy golden color with a nice small bubble white head.   The aroma has a nice peach notes.  The taste has an up front sweet peaches note to a slight tartness notes with a nice oak and pepper aftertaste.  It is a nice refreshing sipping beer.

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

Using dandelion greens to bitter a Belgian-style ale blossomed from our brewers collaborating with Red Rock Brewing. These being our sixth interpretation together since 2008, expect a wonderfully complex ale fermented with wild Belgian yeast and blended with just a touch of wood-aged beer. Bitterness imparted from dandelion greens and grains of paradise will have you blowing wishes for sips.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com and www.redrockbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium and @redrockbrwing

Closing out, I normally get pretty nervous with beers that are in 22oz bottle.  I just feel sometimes I do not get my money worth.  I understand it cost the breweries a little bit more to make some of these special brews.  I am glad they do because they get pretty creative on this beers.  Paardebloem Ale is in that area of being creative.  I have to say I really enjoyed this beer and I feel it is well worth the money that I invested into it.  I am not a fan of Peach but I love the combination of the Peach and beer.  It is a nice refreshing but sipping beer.  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 Surly Brewing Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from Surly Brewing.  If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know I posted a review on a live blog at Savor a few years ago in Washington D.C.  This beer is their Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA.  Surly Brewing was founded by Omar Ansari in 2005 at Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into this West Coast Style IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head that disappears over time. The smell is citrus with hints of orange. The taste is refreshing citrus notes with a dry hoppy aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

It’s been said; “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.”  And you known us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale.  “Surly’s a little gimmick beers,”  and maybe we ware OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer.  If you like it, great, so do we.  If you only liked us when we wer small, then leave this one on the shelf.  Let one of the fanboys grab it.

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

Overrated

It’s been said: “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy  beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you know us, we are always  looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA  Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little bit of a  one-trick pony, they just brew gimmick beers,” and maybe we are  OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it,  great, so do we. If you only liked us when we were small, then leave  this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.

STYLE: West Coast IPA
MALT: 2-Row, Belgian Crystal
HOPS: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, El Dorado
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15.5º Plato
ABV: 7.3%
COLOR: 4.5 º
SRM IBU: 69
AVAILABILITY: Cans, occasionally throughout the year

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.surlybrewing.com

Twitter:  @surlybrewing

In the end, I was pretty excited to see they landed in  the Chicagoland area.  When I was in town, I picked up a four back of this brew and their flagship beer.  I did not enjoy this IPA as much as I did their flagship, which is Furious IPA. I enjoyed this beer very much but the hops.  The hops make this brew pretty drinkable and light in body.  Unlike other west coast style IPA.  I believe that is what Surly Brewery was going for in making this beer.  This is a seasonal brew.  It is a good beer but I love their Furious IPA more.  I recommend you trying this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser