midwest craft breweries

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Twisted Helles Summer Lager

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

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

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

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party In Schaumburg Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into two brews from Ram Tap Party in Schaumburg location. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

This Barrel ’71 Pale Ale has heavy cloudy mud color with a constant white head on it. The smell is a sweet slight chocolate bourbon to the beer. The taste is a heavy bourbon to a slight citrus from pale ale side. It is pretty drinkable beer.

The Firecracker IPA has a dark amber color with a constant fluffy white head on it. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste is like their IPA but the aftertaste has burning from the peppers. It does sit around a bit. It is kind of drinkable at first and then becomes a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

Closing, I have been away from the Tap Parties because of being out-of-town. I was pretty excited to get back into the Tap Parties. I will have the Wheeling location this week but I was able to get by the Schaumburg location to try their two beer release. The first one was Ram’s 71 Pale Ale aged in Bourdon barrels for seven months. Yes, agree it looks like chocolate milk because of the flash from my phone. It had a mud to wood color to it. I had my fair share of bourdon ales. I have to say this one is heavy bourdon to it. I cannot taste any of the pale ale. I do not mind the bourdon in the beer. I need some beer taste. I thought it was below average, however, this does not mean you will not like this beer. The next one brew was their Firecracker IPA. It is dry hopped with Habanero peppers. I have to say the India Pale Ale, which is their Big Red, part is still there. The hops were mild down a bit. Peppers kick in aftertaste with a slight burn in the throat. At first, it was pretty mild on the hot to burn side. However, it will build up over time, for me, it became too much. This beer should be in a smaller glass like 10oz. I think a 120z pour is too much and pint is out of the question. I recommend these beers because of how unique they are to the market. Please let me know what you think of these brews. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Porter

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing and it is their Porter. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their cherry ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery from the west side of Michigan. Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without head on the beer. The smell is a burn chocolate to the porter. The taste is a burn chocolate with a smoky chocolate aftertaste. To average beer drinker, this is not drinkable. To your craft drinkers, this is a drinkable beer.

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

Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders’ robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter.

ABV: 6.5%

IBUs: 45

Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter: @foundersbrewing

In closing, I love my porters and stouts. I have to say Founders Brewing has a really good brew here. I was pretty impressed with this brew and this brewery. I believe I need to sit down and retry their beers. This porter has everything that a porter fan would be looking for in their beer. It has a nice chocolate taste. I could drink a few of these beers in a round, however, I believe your average beer drinker would not think this is a session beer. They might have one after dinner with their dessert. I recommend trying 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 Founders Brewing Centennial IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing. The beer that will be featured is their Centennial IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Cherry Ale, you know the history of this Michigan Brewery. If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read that beer blog to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery. Let us get into beer.

The color is a clear copper color without a head on the IPA. The smell is grapefruit. The taste is carbonated grapefruit with a dry grapefruit that dies right away for the aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

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

Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

ABV: 7.2%

IBUs: 65

Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter: @foundersbrewing

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this brewery. I do not know why but I will give breweries credits when credit is due. I will honesty knock a breweries I am a fan if they put out a bad beer or a beer I do not like. This is my thought pattern and I would not take this as the gold standards. I am just idiot with thought. With all said, I will have to say I am a fan of this brew. It has a nice hop aroma and character with a great malty backbone. It is pretty drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble at times. I highly recommend this brewery. Please, let me know what you think of 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 Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Calabaza Blanca White Ale

Opening a tab, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is the brewery that is being featured in this blog. The beer is Calabaza Blanca White Ale. Jolly Pumpkin was founded in Dexter, Michigan in 2004 by Ron Jeffries. They have a brewery which is located in Dexter and two pubs in Ann Arbor and Traverse City, Michigan. They brew several different beer styles, however, they are best known for their sour ales. They are also known to age their beers in wine or oak barrels. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy yellow strew color with a constant white head on the beer. The smell of this light body has a chai tea along with other species. The taste is like Chai Tea without the hot cinnamon to it. There is no aftertaste to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Calabaza Blanca, an artisan white ale brewed in Belgium’s biere blanche tradition. Spiced with orange peel and coriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish. A year round favorite for sure!

Please enjoy our beers in good health, Cheers and Mahalo plenty!

Here is a description from the website (www.jollypumpklin.com):

Calabaza Blanca– Aged in large oak casks and refermented in the bottle, Calabaza Blanca is a Belgian Biere Blanche. Spiced with orange peel and corriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish.

Year round production 4.8% Alc./Vol. 750ml bottles – 12 case

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.jollypumpkin.com

Twitter: @jollypumpkin

Closing out tab, this is one of my first beers from Jolly Pumpkin on this blog. I have heard several things about this brewery when I lived in Michigan and now in the Chicago market. This is the first beer from this brewery that is not my favorite beer style. I have to say I was pretty stun on how it came out. I was pretty interested in a brewery that ages all their beers in barrels. I would not say this is not favorite beer but I will put this in the middle of the pack if I had to choose from beers at a bar or a store. I will pick this beer. I will give this beer a look at the liquor store when picking beer for the weekend. It has a nice refreshing and easy drinkable taste. I highly recommend you trying this beer that is coming from a guy that does not like wheat ales. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Evil Twin and Local Option Plastic Man

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Evil Twin Brewing. If you read my earlier beer post on Evil Twin Brewing, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post. However, this beer has Local Option teamed up with Evil Twin Brewing to brew this beer, Let us get into the history of Local Option. There is really no history on the internet for Local Option. They are based in Chicago. Let us get into the beer.

It is cloudy peach color with a constant white head. It is like they put whole peaches in the bottle without the skin. The smell has a peach aroma to this Saison Style Ale. The taste is a slight carbonated peaches with peach aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Taste the Colors, Hear the Aromas, Smell the Carbonation.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.eviltwin.dk and www.localoptionbier.com

Twitter: @LocalOption and @EvilTwinBrewing

Closing out, this beer was something else. Local Option and Evil Twin teamed up and did a great job on this beer. I am pretty impressed with this beer. I have not had too many beers from Local Option. I will be heading down to check out their brewpub. Evil Twin, I had several different brews from Evil Twin Brewing. I am not a fan of peaches but the peaches in this brew are awesome. I highly recommend this beer and I want you to hunt this beer down. Please, let me know what you think of it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stillwater Artisanal Existent

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Stillwater Artisanal. The beer that will be feature is Existent. Brian Strumke founded Stillwater after retiring music producing. Brian did not own a brewery so he traveled to several different breweries and brew his beers using their equipment. He just like many other brewers like Evil Twin became rogue or gypsy breweries. He just brews Farmhouse Saison Ales. He would use different yeast or malts to make different Saisons. Brian has team up with several different breweries to make brews together. Stillwater has done a beer with Stone Brewing and Evil Twin Brewing. Let us get into the brew.

It is has a black color or dark deep brown color. There is a tan to light brown color head. The smell is a chocolate to farmhouse to it. The taste has a slight spicy to some chocolate notes. There is a slight dry coco or chocolate aftertaste finish. It is extremely drinkable.

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

Existent
Existent represents the philosophy behind Stillwater Artisanal. We strive to define ourselves through our passion and sincerity while accepting that not all aspects of life are readily explainable. To manifest this ideology we present an ale of intrigue. Deep & dark though deceptively dry, braced by a firm yet smooth bitterness and accented with an earthy hop and mild roast aroma. This is an ale for you to define..’and if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.’ –Nietzsche

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stillwaterales.blogspot.com

Twitter: @stillwaterales @twelve_percent

Closing out, I am pretty big fan of Saison Ales. I was pretty interested in this brewery and I have had several of his beers in the past. I do not know why I have not write on any in the past. The problem I have with this brewery is the fact he does one beer style. If you are good at one thing, you better stick to it. I love how he keeps doing different styles of the one beer styles. I also love the fact he teams up with other breweries to make other beer styles. I love this beer and this is why. It is dark and still has the Saison taste to it. I love the slight chocolate to smoke malts in this beer. I love the spicy notes. I highly recommend this beer and it is now available in 4pk 12oz bottles along with their Cellar Door and Stateside Saison. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Furthermore Brewery Knot Stock

Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from Furthermore Brewery and the beer is called Knot Stock. Just what I said in yesterday beer blog. I could not find any history on this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slightly cloudy amber color with a white constant head. The smell is black peppercorn. The taste is a sweet malty pepper with black peppercorn aftertaste. To me, it is not drinkable because of the pepper in the beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Beer brewed with black pepper.

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

Availability: Year-Round

ABV: 5.5%

Black, cracked, stuffed in a sack, boiled and cold-infused. The real treat of our A.P.A. is the tangle of flavors that fresh cracked pepper and Northern Brewer Hops create. At 65 IBUs (bitterness units) there’s plenty of zing for the Hop Heads or Bitter Bettys, but not so much to overpower the tingle of the black pepper as it slowly kicks in. Likewise, the 15° Plato malt bill features a healthy dose of caramel malt meant to soften (but not stifle) the play of pepper and hops on the palate.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.furthermorebeer.com

Twitter: @FurthermoreBeer

Closing out the tab, this beer is worth it. It is has a ton of flavors and I love the peppercorn that is in the beer. The beer is full body and comes with a ton of flavors. The black pepper is not overpowering to the rest of the beer. It has a nice balance of the pepper and the hops that are being used in this beer. This beer is worth the price. 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

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