midwest

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011

image

In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island.  It is their Christmas Ale 2011.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers.  If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer.   The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 5 years

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years.  Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good.  This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012.  When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well.  It is complex with a ton of flavor.  It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year.  If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Revolution Brewing and the beer is called Mad Cow Milk Stout.  If you read my earlier blog on their Anti-Hero IPA, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout has a jet black color without a head on it. The smell is chocolate to toffee to the beer.  The taste is a creamy chocolate beer without an aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Mad Cow

Smooth, charcoal black stout made with lactose for a lingering sweetness.

Milk Stout

ABV  7.7%IBU  30

Profile: Smooth, charcoal black stout made with lactose

Availability: 1/6 & 22oz

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing,  I really enjoyed this beer and this is my favorite brew from Revolution Brewing.  I love their Anti-Hero IPA also from this brewery.  It is smooth and silky beer.  It is extremely drinkable and that could get some people in trouble.  I highly recommend this beer, however, this is not my favorite milk stout I have ever had.  Mad Cow is my top five for Milk Stout.

Here is my top five Milk Stouts:

  1. Lancaster Brewing Milk Stout
  2. Milwaukee Brewing Polish Moon Milk Stout
  3. Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout
  4. Maui Brewing Milk Stout (Brewpub only)
  5. Left Hand Milk Stout

These are all really good milk stouts and just because I put it third does not make it a bad beer.   I really enjoyed drinking them all.  Now some of these beers, I can not get in my market like Maui Brewing and Lancaster Brewing.  Left Hand is a great brew.  I just feel the rest of the breweries took their recipe and made it better.  Left Hand Milk Stout is still the same old brew and they did not change it.  I recommend you trying all these beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Unibroue Grand Reserve 17 Dark Ale

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into beer called Grand Reserve 17 Dark Ale from Unibroue.  Unibroue was founded in 1990 under the name of La Brasserie Massawippi Inc in Quebec, Canada.  The name changed in 1993 to Brasserie Broubec Inc and then merged with Unibroue.  It was then sold in 2004 to Sleeman Breweries.  Sleeman Breweries was then sold to Sapporo.  Unibroue Brewery brews several different Belgian beer styles.  Let us get into  the beer.

It has a brown color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is a sweet malty and other species. The taste is a sweet slight carbonation and no aftertaste to the beer.  There is a lot going on in this complex dark ale.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Dark Ale on Lees.  Ale Brewed with Spices, Aged with French Oak, and with Natural Flavors added

Inspired by the great Belgian brewing tradition of Trappist monks established over the centuries.  Unibroue 17 was first brewed in 2007 to celebrate our brewery’s 17th anniversary.  However, the overwhelming success of this specialty brew made it obvious that we could not let such great ale slip into the anonymity of retirement.

As testimony to its remarkable flavor profile which increases in complexity as it ages, the original batch bottled in 2007 was awarded an international platinum medal three years in a row and the prestigious title of “World’s Best Dark Ale” when it was well past three years in the bottle!

So in 2011, we proudly brought back this French Oak aged, bottle refermented dark ale, with the “Grande Reserve” appellation as a fitting endorsement of its exceptional quality for aging.  Brewed only once a year, in limited quantities, and individually numbered “brasseur” bottles, this is truly a flavorful delight for the specialty beer enthusiast.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.unibroue.com

Twitter:  @unibroue

In the end, I really enjoyed this beer and I have to thank my friend let me try it.  There is a ton going on in this dark ale.  It is a sipping beer but it is pretty smooth.  I was pretty stun by this beer and I will be searching the rest of their beers down from this brewery.  To be honest, how much this beer was good, I would rather drink a beer from Belgium.  This brewery being from Canada is as close to the real thing from Belgium.  I recommend this beer and  I would like to hear your thoughts on this beer or other brews that Unibroue brew.  Any you recommend for me to try from 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 Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

image

In this winter beer blog, we are going to look at another brew from Three Floyds and it is called Klaus Christmas Porter.  If you read my earlier beer post on their Robert The Bruce, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It is a jet black color with a tan color head. The smell is an evergreen pine with a touch of toffee in the beer.  The taste has a hint of toffee with a ton of pine with a pine cone aftertaste. It is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Alpha Klaus is Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

6.0% ABV 38 IBUs

Alpha Klaus is Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers! November release.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds

Closing, I am a fan of this brewery.  I was looking forward to try this beer for while.  I do not know what they were trying to do with this brew.  I feel they wanted to make a black IPA or black pale ale but wanted a porter.  I am a huge porter and hop fan so this beer has some promise.  There is not enough of the porter here just a ton of hops.  It is like you are smelling a pine cone and then eat it in liquid form.  I was really disappoint with the beer because I had to pour it out.  I never pour out a beer but this was that bad.  If you like this beer, I would like to hear your thoughts.  Do not get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Tallgrass IPA

image

In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my one of my favorite brewery that is not in the Chicago market.  The beer is Tallgrass India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog post on their 8-Bit Pale Ale, you know about this brewery.  If you did not, please, read that beer post on their flagship beer.  Let us get into this beer.

The color is light cooper with a hint of amber with a semi white head on the beer.  The smell is earthly. The taste is earthy with a dry piney aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their beer can:

Bombastically Hopped.  Surprisingly Malty.  Pour a Pint…..

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

IPA (ABV 6.3%, 60 IBU)

Our third beer, Tallgrass IPA, is an India Pale Ale that is rich, complex, and flavorful. We are proud to be the first brewery here in the Great Plains to have the first brewed, cans, and draft IPA out on the market!

Tallgrass IPA originally came to life as a creation during Jeff’s early homebrewing days (batch Numero Uno), and it was consumed in short order by his friends who came over to cook out and help with the next batch. After some modifications over the years (because nobody’s rookie homebrew batch tastes all that great, but your friends will tell you it does) the recipe was dialed in to become what is now Tallgrass IPA. We love this beer and think you will too!

What is with the name “India Pale Ale”? Well, India Pale Ales have a history that reaches way back to the days of the British Empire and the need for good and proper British beer for the soldiers in India. It just so happens that hops not only taste and smell great, they also have natural preservative properties that help keep beer fresher. Obviously, there was no way to keep beer cool on the long voyage around Cape Horn from England to India, so the intellectual forebearers of modern microbiology (genius brewers of course!) figured that if some hops were good for storage then heaps of hops would be great!

With this technique, these hero brewers and their hops kept the beer good and the soldiers of the empire inebriated, even in the furthest corners of the globe. Even more, the hoppiness of the IPA preserved not only the beer itself, but the great taste it created has preserved the style as one of the most popular beer styles in the world in the 21st century. If those brewers weren’t knighted by the empire back then, they should have been!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @tallgrassbeer

Closing out, so far all the beers that I had from this brewery.  I have loved to death.  I love their packaging to the liquid.  This India Pale Ale is great but I do believe this beer is not an American India Pale Ale.  It has more a feel of English style IPA and with the description from their website, I believe they are embracing it.  Most American IPA are very hoppy and this beer is not.  That is why I am basing my facts on that.  I am not a brewer.  If they believe it is American IPA, it is American IPA.  This is my thought pattern.  I highly recommend this beer and I love 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 Bell’s Winter White Ale

image

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Michigan brewery known as Bell’s.  The beer is their winter seasonal which is called Bell’s Winter White Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Winter White Ale from Bell’s is part of the 12 Beers of Christmas at Countryside. It has a hazel straw like color without a head on this winter seasonal.  There is a yeasty to wheaty smell with a little corridor smell to it.  The taste is yeasty and species with a dry slight lemon aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

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

Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, I do not know why craft breweries put out White, Wheat, etc in the middle of the winter.  It is different then the rest of the craft breweries.  I am not saying this is a bad brew.  I am not a fan of it but they did a great job on it.  I always see this beer in my market in the middle of the summer.  The distributor does a really bad job with this brewery’s beer.  This brewery will sell more of this liquid in the spring and summer.  I recommend this beer, if you are a fan of white, wheats, and hefeweizen.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Lakes Christmas Ale

image

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from this program at Countryside beer.  The brew that will be featured is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.  Great Lakes Brewery was founded in 1988 by Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio.  Great Lakes Brewery brews several different beer styles.   Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice clear copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and candy canes. The taste is a sweet carbonation cinnamon overload. This beer is like drinking a candy cane in a liquid form. There is a little cinnamon aftertaste. It is really not drinkable but it is on the borderline.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Our full-bodied, spirited ale is as festive as the season. Its copper color and flavorful taste are a combination of cinnamon, ginger and honey, so we ask that you “savor the flavor, responsibly ”

This beer is traditionally brewed from all natural ingredients: barley, hops, yeast, and water. No chemicals or preservatives are used.

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

A holiday ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @glbc_cleveland

In closing, this beer is one I will have one and I need to move onto another beer.  This does not mean this is a bad beer.  It is way too sweet to have one or more to me.  This beer is perfect for holiday desserts.  I did enjoy drinking and I try to have a few during every winter season.  If you like winter beers with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, I recommend you trying this beer.  I have a feeling you will enjoy this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Merry Christmas and Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale

image

When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know something on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear color with a white head on it.  There is a slight citrus smell to it.  It is very fate to the beer.  The taste is a carbonation citrus with a slight dry bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Behold the Bitter Hysteria

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

Pandemonium Pale Ale

This coppered colored American pale ale lends its hue to hearty two row malts and hand selected specialty grains. Hop additions balance the wort, resulting in a tasty union of flavors and earthy aromas. Behold the bitter hysteria!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out the beer tab, this pale ale is pretty good but it is not one of my favorite from this brewery.  If I cannot find their India Pale Ale, this one is around.  I will be drinking this pale ale.  I will throw this beer in the mix once in a while but I cannot get it in Chicago.  When I come back to Michigan, I will be drinking it.  If I get it all the time, it will be on my radar once in a blue moon.  If you do not like IPA’s, you will enjoy this beer.  If you like Pale Ale, you will like this beer.  If you like beer, you better try.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Soft Parade

image

When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, Short’s Brew Soft Parade is the brewery and beer that will be featured in this blog post.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know the short history on this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light amber color that is not clear with a nice white head on the beer.  The smell is all the fruit that the brewery put in during fermenting. There is some raspberry to blackberry smell to this fruit beer. The taste is sweet carbonation fruit with a raspberry to blackberry aftertaste. The strawberry and blueberry are in the taste but in the background. This is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

High Gravity Ale fermented with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

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

The Soft Parade

This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two-row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, I am not a huge fan of fruit beers.  I am not a fan of many of the Belgian beers.  This is a pretty good beer but it is not my favorite beer I had from this brewery.  I have to say I did enjoy drinking this beer.  It reminds me of summer.  I love the name and I wonder if it was named after the classic The Doors song.  There is a question for Joe Shorts.  If you pour this beer out and did not let me see the bottle, I would have thought this came from Belgian Brewery.  For the beer style, Short’s Brew made an excite fruit beer.  If you are a fan of fruit beers, you will like this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiseer

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale

image

When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew.  The beer is called Bellaire Brown A Classic American Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their India Pale Ale, you know the history of this young brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a nice light brown color. It has a nice sweet malty smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a dry aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Bellaire Brown

A full flavored brown ale that derives sweet caramel and toasted qualities from four different kinds of malt and specialty grains. Select hop varieties add enticing aroma to the nose and create a dry finish. This ale is so dark and rich, it’s hardly classifiable as brown, but is certainly considered a delicious masterpiece.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, just like the other beers, I have review.  I really enjoy this beer too.  This beer I would put in my line up like their India Pale Ale.  Since I live in Chicago, I will have to enjoy this beer when I come back to Michigan.  I love the smoothest to nice malty taste.  I love the aftertaste and how easy this beer goes down your throat.  This beer was very shocking good.  This is one of the best American Brown Ale from a Michigan Craft Brewery.  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