midwest

New Beer Blog Goose Island The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out one of two special high-end brews from Goose Island.  The first one is The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel.  This brew is named after the first mayor of Chicago.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island.  Let us get into this Tripel Ale.

This beer has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this tripel ale.  The aroma has some tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a tropical fruit notes with a slight hint of Belgian spice notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop to a tropical fruit finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We dry hopped our Belgian Style Tripel to balance spicy, tropical American hop flavors with an unique Belgian yeast, giving it a bold, move complex palate.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

William Ogden opened Chicago’s first brewery. He was the city’s first mayor. And he added the North Brand channel to the Chicago River that created the island from which we take our name. Three good reasons why we gave our first-ever Belgian Style Tripel his name. We dry hopped The Ogden with American Citra® and Brewer’s Gold hops to add spicy, tropical flavors. Then we fermented it with a unique Belgian yeast to give it a bold, complex palate.

Recipe Information:

Style: Belgian Tripel

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 35

Color: Straw

Hops: Brewer’s Gold, Citra, Saaz

Malts: 2-Row

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, as many of you know, I am a huge fan of this midwest craft brewery.  They have one of my favorite IPA’s on the market.  When I finally saw this hit the shelves in Michigan, I did not think twice.  I was getting ready to trade to get at least a bottle of each of these newer beers from Goose Island.   I picked up a few bottles of the The Ogden and The Illinois.  I thought I would share my thoughts on these beers.  I will start with The Ogden and you can find the other review today.  I love the Belgian tripel style.  I love the funkiest and the aroma to the taste profile that the hops kick off.  Brett Porter and his staff did this one different and a twisted on this classic beer style.  I believe they did a great job.  I will be picking up more this brew.  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 Goose Island The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog,  we are going to sample out The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale that is the second of two high-end beers released this year from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on  their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a heavy floral to a tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a heavy tropical fruit to orange notes with a nice dry hop bite to a creamy. It has a heavy citrus notes throughout the drinking experience. It is a nice sipping Imperial IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“The Illinois” is in homage to the mile high skyscraper Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the City of Chicago that was never built.  Had it been built, it would still be the tallest building in the world today.  Inspired by this big idea, Goose Island’s brewers crafted a beer with towering hop character.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

The first Imperial beer of the year is The Illinois, a 9.0% ABV 95 IBU Imperial IPA that pushes the limits of hop flavor and aroma. Deep gold, complex citrus aroma, balanced clean bitterness, medium to full body.

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial IPA

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 95

Color: Deep Gold

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Citra, Meridian

Malts: 2-Row, Special Pale, C-20, C-60, Cara Red

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In the end, this was one of my favorite Imperial India Pale Ale back in the day. This one is different than the one back in the day.  I love my IPA’s.  I love the hops that they used in this one anf The Ogden. The aroma and taste profile is tropical fruit city.  It is not in your face bitterest like most Double or Imperial IPA’s on the market.  This is a lay back devil that will sneak up on you.  It does come off extremely drinkable for the beer style.  I would be very careful because it will hit you.  This is a great beer at a great 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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Brewery Summer Helles

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample the new summer seasonal from New Belgium.  It is their Summer Helles Lager.  It is a beer brewed for a music festival in the Denver area.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clean bright golden color with a nice constant white head.  The aroma has notes of corn.  The taste has light carbonated corn to earthy notes with a nice lager crisp finish.  It is a drinkable beer.

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

Light, bright and easy drinking, now is your chance to drink in the festival season. First brewed to celebrate 40 years of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, it has since become Planet Bluegrass’ signature New Belgium offering (under the name Summer Bliss). This Summer Helles pours a brilliant gold, with soft, white foam. The aroma is fresh grains and honey with a spicy-herbal twang. This danceable lager carries the pleasant sweetness of pale and German Pils malts, and levels off with the light and noble bitterness of Hallertau and Tettnang hops. Summer Helles finishes crisp and dry, and is sure to refresh even the thirstiest reveler. Grab your banjo, crack a bottle and let the pickin’ shine.

Planet Bluegrass (located in Lyons, Colorado) was decimated by September 2013’s record flooding. New Belgium is donating $10,000 this year to Planet Bluegrass for rebuilding. You can help by volunteering or donating. Visit lyonsfightsback.com for more information.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, I have become a pretty huge fan of this craft brewery of late.  It just seems ever since I moved back to Michigan.  My mind has opened up and realized that I am drinking some good brews.  I was excited to hear that they were coming out with a new Summer Seasonal.  When I saw the beer style, I knew I had to try it as soon as it came out.  I am a huge fan of Helles Lagers.  It is old German beer style.  It is light to medium body with a nice refreshing notes.  It has a nice crisp finish to it.  It is a perfect beer for any season but good for the spring and summer seasons. I believe the hops in this beer makes this beer what it is.  I love the notes from the aroma and taste profile.  I highly recommend you trying this 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 Arcadia Sky High Rye

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to try Sky High Rye Ale from Arcadia Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read them, please, do so to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a nice presentation of small bubbles.  It has a white constant head.  The smell is extremely fated. I cannot pick it up aroma notes.  The taste has a light rye to other spice notes.  The aftertaste is a heavy rye notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Description

This West Coast-style Pale Ale is brewed with 80% English barley malt and 20% rye malt. It boasts a massive floral aroma of resinous hops, contributing notes of lemons, peaches and pine needles and anchored by sweet, malty flavor of toffee and freshly-baked pumpernickel bread.

Style

Rye Beer

ABV

6.0%

IBUs

55

Here is their website and twitter:

Website:  www.arcadiaales.com

Twitter:  @ArcadiaAles

Closing, I really did like this beer because it is a little different from the classic pale ale beer style.  Overall, I am not a huge fan of this brewery and most of their beers.  I love the rye spicy notes but not over the top like most rye ales.  There is a nice balance in this beer.  It is pretty refreshing brew.  I like this beer but it is not at the top of my list as far as rye ales.  I have had better rye ales.  This is a great beer and I recommend 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 Original Gravity Primordial Porter

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample the very first beer ever made by Original Gravity.  It is their Primordial Porter.  There is not much history from this Michigan craft brewery.  I know they are going to be celebrity their sixth year being in business.  Let us get into this porter.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan color head.  The aroma has hints of chocolate and coffee notes.  The taste has a chocolate to coffee notes with a dry cocoa aftertaste finish.  It is a kind of drinkable to sipping porter.

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

**PRIMORDIAL PORTER
 The very first beer brewed at Original Gravity Brewing Company. Primordial Porter is a full flavored Robust style Porter. Almost black in color with a complex malt profile that exhibits a smooth balance between chocolate, coffee and roasted flavors.
O.G = 1.064 –6.0%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ogbrewing.com

Twitter:  No Address

In the end, I am a huge fan of porters, stouts, pale ales, and IPA’s.  I have never ran into a bad porter maybe not a really good one.  I was pretty excited to see this brewery on draft at my craft beer bar.  I have been wanting to try their beers for some time since moving back to Michigan.  I have had their Southpaw IPA and I really enjoyed it.  This lives up to the classic porter style.  It is heavy with some nice chocolate notes and hints of coffee.  It is full of flavor and I enjoyed it.  I love this porter and I just wish I could find it in package.  I am looking forward to visiting their brewery here soon.  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 OddSide Ales Bean Flicker Blonde

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Bean Flicker Blonde from Odd Side Ales.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to get to know this upcoming Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this unique Blonde Ale.

It has a clear golden color with a big white constant head.  The aroma had a slight coffee bean notes.  The taste has a smooth and creamy coffee notes.  The aftertaste has a crisp coffee finish.  It is s nice session coffee blonde for any season of the year. The coffee is not overpowering and do not let coffee notes in this beer fool you.

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

Looks can be deceiving! This satisfying simulation of self exploration is sure to surprise your pallet. It’s an extremely smooth sessionable coffee blonde. So light a candle and enjoy the adventure this beer has to offer. 4.5%ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  No Address

Closing, this blonde ale looks like one thing but it really something else.  Yep, I just said it.  I love the smell of coffee and taste profile is nice.  The coffee is not in your face like most porters or stouts.  It is a nice coffee notes that is strong enough but weak. It is not overpowering ale.  The coffee is like a creamy and I believe that is why this beer works.   I am pretty stun this beer came out good.  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 Jolly Pumpkin Saison Z (Cask Ale)

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While at the Michigan Cask Fest, I had a chance to try a very special beer from Jolly Pumpkin.  It is Saison Z.  I guess they do not release this beer to the public that much.  This is my second beer from this brewery on this blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Jolly Pumpkin.  Let us get into this awesome soul ale.

It had a cloudy brownish color with a constant off white color head.  The aroma has a sour notes.  The taste has a heavy sour notes with a nice warm sour finish.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.jollypumpkin.com

Twitter:  @jollypumpkina2 and @jollypumpkin

Closing out,  I had a chance to try this beer as a cask ale.  It is a real ale and the true way to drink any beer in the world.  This beer was something else and it is in a good way.  I love the taste profile but it was not overly sour like most sour ales.  It was just right for my taste buds.  I had to go back a few times because I enjoyed it so much.  If you hear this beer being any event, I would drop everything to get your hands on it.  I wish it was packaged and was available a little bit more.  It is very rare and I am honor to be one of the few to have tried it at this event.  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 Lagunitas Nighttime (Cask Ale)

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While at the Michigan Cask Ale Fest, we are going to sample Nighttime Ale from Lagunitas.  This is the first this beer made it to Michigan.  It is in a Cask Barrel.  This is the true form and best way to drink beers.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this west coast and midwest craft brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Lagunitas Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark brown color with a nice white creamy head.   The aroma has slight chocolate to earthy notes.  The taste has a chocolate, earthy, and alcohol notes with nice alcohol burn bite for the aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @lagunitasbeer

In the end, I had a great time at Ashley’s Westland for their Cask Ale Fest.  I was pretty excited to see this beer and had a chance to talk to the brewery rep.  I was spoiled living in Chicago for many years.  There beers were everywhere.  Here in Michigan, I have a hard time finding their beers in the bars.  I have no problem finding their beers in liquor stores. I have a go to store. I love my black IPA’s and I had to jump on this beer.  I did not know how long this beer would last during the event.  I had this beer in package before but this time it was in a cask barrel.  I have to say the color is a little lighter and better.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be looking for it in bottle here soon.  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 Holland Brewery Imperial Hatter India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Imperial Hatter India Pale from New Holland Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Winter Seasonal, which is Cabin Fever, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please read it to get to know this Western Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this Imperial IPA.

It has a cloudy dark copper with a constant white head.  The aroma has a heavy grapefruit notes.  The taste has a heavy grapefruit notes with a dry malty and hop bitter aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

An assertively dry-hopped nose is followed by a bitter symphony of flavor.  Bold hop character with lively grapefruit notes.

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

Description

Assertive dry-hopping provides an aromatic telltale nose, indicative of the robust, bitter symphony to follow. Bold hop character with lively grapefruit and citrus notes.

Beer Style Imperial IPA

Degrees Plato 20

Alcohol by Volume 9.40%

IBUs 76

Grains 2-row, munich, crystal, carapils

Hops Centennial, Cascade, Warrior

Yeast American Ale

First Brewed2007

Pairings Spicy heat, citrus and aged blue cheese

Here is their website and twitter addreses:

Website:  www.newhollandbrew.com

Twitter:  @newhollandbrew

This is my second New Holland brewery beer review on this blog.  I have had several of their beers.  They are good beers but I just feel there are better brews out there.  I am a huge hophead and I saw this brew when I was beer shopping.  I thought sure why not.   I love the hops they picked.  I was pretty excited about it.  I have to say I am pretty impressed.  It is better then rest of the beers I have had from them.  I will going to have to retry their beers again in the near future.  I love the hops and nice malty backbone.  The backbone is a little weak but strong enough to live with the bold hop selection.  I highly recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts.  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 Right Brain Brewery Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale

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We are going to sample Right Brain Brewery Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale in this beer blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Northwest Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know The Throwdown winner at Ashley’s Westland in 2014.  Let us get into this Amber Ale.

It has a nice amber color with a nice white constant head on this amber ale.  The aroma has sweet candy caramel notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes with a crisp finish.  This beer is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter:  @rightbrainbrew

In the end, Right Brain Brewery makes some great brews and I have not had a bad beer from them.  This beer is no different.  Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale is their flagship beer.  This beer style is not one of my favorites but Northern Hawk will adding it to my beer list.  It is sweet candy caramel notes with a nice finish.  It is drinkable like most amber ale in the world.  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