midwest

New Blog New Glarus Black Top

In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at the fifth of seven beers from New Glarus Brewing. The beer is called Black Top. If you read my earlier blog on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into this Black India Pale Ale.

It has a dark brown to black color with a heavy constant white head on the beer. It has a citrus smell to the beer. It has a slight chocolate to citrus taste with a dry bitter aftertaste to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

We invite you to discover this newest beer style Black IPA. Political debate rages over the origins of this jet black beer as both coasts feel they deserve credit. Our Black Top is a pleasant road connecting Villages and Communities statewide on a ride of Black IPA discovery.

Expect this beer to pour a hop forward jet black glass brimming with aromatic bitterness. Brewmaster Dan skillfully weaves molasses and chocolate malt undertones with a soaring rush of clean citrus and pine hop notes, to deliver a drinkable Black IPA. Savor Black Top, like Wisconsin’s miles of licorice ribbons of ink that meander through armies of corn and bovine mowed fields. Enjoy the journey on a road less traveled. Happy Trails, Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I am a HUGE fan of this beer style, which is Black Ales or Black India Pale Ale. This has a ton of flavor. It is just as smooth as Widmer Brothers Pitch Black. It has a little bit more hoppiest and bitterest than that beer from Widmer Brothers. This beer would be in my regular beer line up. I really enjoyed this beer but I love Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron more but their beer is more of a seasonal. New Glarus Black Top is available all the time and I will be drinking this beer when I get it in my hands when I cannot get Black Iron. Great Job on this one, Dan! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog New Glarus Laughing Fox

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the fourth of seven beers from New Glarus Brewing Company. The beer is called Laughing Fox. I love the graphics from the beer bottle, which you can see in the photo above. If you read my earlier blog on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you are up to speed on this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into this beer.

It has a dark clear copper color without a head on the beer. It has a heavy banana to clove to the beer. It has sweet malty banana taste without an aftertaste. It is really drinkable beer.

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

In playful pursuit of butterflies a Red Fox danced across the brewery hill. His joy so pure it bubbled through our hearts and into this beer. Laughing Fox is a sparkling Kristal Weizen brewed in the Bavarian tradition with 50% Wisconsin wheat in our open top fermenters. Tickle your nose notes of spicy clove and cinnamon abound. Dan’s inspired Weizen interpretation reflects the deep bittersweet color of our Fox’s red coat.

Expect this beer to pour a lively effervescent glass thick with creamy foam and bursting with luscious fruity notes on your pallet. This is easy drinking beer perfect for a friendly Wisconsin evening. Relax, this is God’s Country, here we have the strength to reach for the stars and change the world. Best Wishes, Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I was a little stun when drinking this beer. My friend gave me the wrong bottle. I was looking to try their bock and here is a wheat. It happens and I glad she pick this up by mistake. I am not a fan of any of their weizen, white, or wheat beers. This beer has a lot going on in it. There is really depth in this beer. There are some nice cinnamon to banana notes in it. I recommend this beer and I might have to think about putting it in my regular line up of beers if it was available to myself in Chicago. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Totally Naked

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the third beer of seven from New Glarus Brewing. The beer is their Totally Naked, which is one of their seasonal. If you read my earlier blog on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you know this brewery pretty well. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into this beer.

It has a strewed to clear yellow color without a head on the beer. It has a pilsner to pale lager smell. It is basely Rolling Rock all the way from the taste and smell but better in taste. It has pale malts with hop smell. It has a sweet to slightly hoppy taste with a crisp dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Pure and crisp this is a beer with nothing to hide. Wisconsin two-row barley malt ensures a mellow and smooth body. We imported Noble Hop varieties from Germany and the Czech Republic to ensure a fine mature aroma with no coarse bitterness.

Expect this beer to pour a delicate golden hue that sparkles in the summer sun. This lager is brewed using all natural ingredients with no artificial additives of any kind. Kick back, relax and enjoy the simple unadorned flavor. This is beer at its most basic. Best wishes, Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I loved this beer but I can see myself buying it on a regular bases. I am a huge Rolling Rock fan and this is a craft verision of it. It is better in taste and it is a more freshier. This is a nice relaxing beer on the dock or lawn work. This is not my favorite beer from this brewery but it does show the beer drinker the depth of the brewery. Totally Naked is pretty close to being a pilsner, which I have been becoming a huge fan of that beer style. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Harvest Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of the pioneers of the craft beer world in Chicago. The beer and brewery are Goose Island Brewery and the beer is Harvest Ale, which replace their Oktoberfest two to three years ago. Here is a belief history of this great Chicago Brewery. The brewery started in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The first beer that was brew was their Honkers Ale, which is an English Style Ale. Greg Hall, who is John Hall’s son, took over as a brewmaster and came up with this recipe for their Vintage Line, their winter seasonal, which is Mild Winter and several other brews. Greg Hall stepped down as brewmaster when Goose Island was sold to AB InBev. He is now making Cider, which is sold in Midwest only. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a constant white head on the beer. There is some fall earthly orange smell to the beer. This Harvest Ale has a slight citrus to malty taste without an aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed in honor of the Harvest season this copper colored ESB is made with Cascade hops and the richest Midwestern malts. A fruity American hop aroma and a toasty malt character make Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion.

Recipe Information:

Style: American Extra Special Bitter Alcohol by Volume: 5.7% International Bitterness Units: 35 Color: Copper Hops: Cascade Malts: 2 Row, Wheat, Caramel, Pale

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Willi Food Pairings: Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Sausages Cheese Pairings: Cheddar, Aged Gouda Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (September-October) Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Great American Beer Festival Recognition:

Judging Category: Extra Special Bitter 2011: Bronze Medal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

In closing, I love the hoppy taste that is in this Extra Special Bitter. This beer was design to have that when the trend was the over hop beers. This beer gives you a nice balance from the hops and the malts. This is not my favorite beer for the fall but I will at least enjoy a few six packs of it. As a beer drinker, this brewery gives you two different Extra Special Bitters. Fall is the hoppy one. Mild Winter, which is their winter seasonal, will give you the next malt drinkable in the middle of the harsh winters. Being a fall seasonal, I would go and get some soon! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Website: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Michigan Brewery called Arcadia Ales and the beer is Jaw-Jacker. Arcadia Brewing Company, which is also known as Arcadia Ales, was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1996. They brew several different beer styles and they are pretty close to the traditional beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel dark copper color without a head on the beer. This pumpkin ale has a cinnamon to nutmeg smell to this beer. The taste is a heavy cinnamon and nutmeg with a cinnamon aftertaste. There is really no pumpkin in this beer. It is kind of drinkable but not really to me.

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

This spiced amber-wheat ale is our celebration of the arrival of Autumn. Using the finest malted barley and little wheat for mouthfeel, Jaw-Jacker displays a brilliant orange-amber color, despite the absence of pumpkin in the recipe. The addition of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg (in the exact proportions of our brewer’s Grandmother’s pumpkin pie recipe) creates a refreshingly spicy, season brew.

Style

Spiced Beer

ABV

6.0%

IBUs

26

Food Pairings

Boiled Brisket with Root Veggies, Roast Duck or Turkey, Pumpkin Pie or Sweet Potato Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arcadiaales.com

Twitter: @arcadiaales

In closing, this is one of many Michigan Breweries. This brewery is everything that I look for in a brewery, which means they make traditional styles. I believe I love the crazy hoppy beers or weird beers so this brewery gives you something of the classic world. However, I really did not like this beer, I thought it was very heavy with the cinnamon and nutmeg taste and way to sweet. This beer to me was not drinkable. I know this brewery could do better. This is my thought pattern and my word is not the holy grail of beer blogs or craft world and if it was it should not be. You as a beer drinker might like this beer. I courage you to try it to get your judgement on this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this beer. They are available in many states in the midwest. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite pumpkin ale from Schlafly. If you read my earlier blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color without a head on the beer. This pumpkin has a cinnamon and nutmeg smell to it. It has a huge cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin, which is extremely rare in these beers. It is very drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Pumpkin ale Celebrate the bounty of harvest with this rich, malty ale brewed with pumpkin and flavored with spices to invoke the season of plenty.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.schlafly.com):

Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.

Available September-October.

ABV: 8% | IBU: 16

Appearance: Copper-colored, bright

Process: Brewed with pumpkin squash and a blend of spices

Hops: Marynka (PL)

Malts: 2-row and Crystal malted barley, Munich malt, wheat malt, chocolate malt

Yeast: American Ale

OG: 18.5

SRM: 26.6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.schlafly.com

Twitter: @schlafly

Closing, I really love this beer and it is my favorite pumpkin beer on the market. Every year I have to work the phones to get a few six packs up here in Chicago. This beer has the sweetness of the nutmeg, cinnaom, and the taste of Pumpkin in it. Most Pumpkin ales or lagers do not have the taste of Pumpkin or just very little. It is very drinkable and full of flavor. I highly recommend this beer. This is what a pumpkin ale is suppose to be not what is out in the market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Glarus Spotted Cow

In this beer blog, we are going to check out the second of seven beers from New Glarus Brewing Company. The beer is their flagship beer called Spotted Cow. If you read my blog yesterday on their Fat Squirrel Ale, you know a little bit about this brewery. If you have not, please go back and read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into beer.

It has a hazel straw color with a constant white head on the beer. There is a little smell but I cannot pick up what is in it. The taste is a creamy sweet with a very slight hop carbonation aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable. I could drink this beer all day.

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

Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition. We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. We even give a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn.

Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.

Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow. Vielen Dank! Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I had this beer while I was up in Milwaukee visiting a few brewpubs and my friend gave me a few bottles when he went up there too. While I was up in Milwaukee, I did take note of all the Cream Ales from all the Wisconsin Breweries. I had one brewery tell me it is to get the mass-produced beer drinkers to come and try their beers. This does make so much sense but I cannot think of many St Louis Breweries making Cream Ales. New Glarus called their Spotted Cow a Farmhouse. To me, this is a Cream Ale and I am not going against this brewery or any brewery on the beer styles. They will know better than the drinkers. This beer is one of the best ones I had in this beer styles but I have not had too many Cream Ales in my life time. I did really enjoyed this beer and I would recommend this beer to you. Let me know what you think of it when you try it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Shiner Oktoberfest

In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Oktoberfest but this time it is from Shiner Brewery. This little brewery could do anything. This German base brewery has been blogged about in my blogs in the pasted. If you have read my earlier blogs, you know about this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that Wild Hare post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the beer. It has a sweet caramel malty smell to the Oktoberfest. The taste is what you aspect from a German base brewery. It has a heavy malty to a little caramel taste with malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here in Shiner, TX, we’re suckers for tradition. Which is why this classic Oktoberfest brew is made with the highest quality two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, along with German grown Hallertau Tradition and hersbrucker hops. It’s our way of honoring our ancestors and the beer they loved to celebrated with So raise your stein to tradition and enjoy this utterly classic brew. Prosit!

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

Style:
This festive Marzen-style seasonal has a deep amber color and slightly toasted flavor. The initial rich malty aroma and sweetness fades to a moderately dry, hoppy finish.

Recipe:
Made with the highest-quality Two-Row Barley, Munich and Caramel malts, along with German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops.

Back Story:
First introduced to the Shiner family as our 96 Anniversary Brew, this Marzen-style brew has regained popularity among Shiner and Oktoberfest drinkers alike. It’s connection to tradition and celebration makes it a great fit for the Shiner seasonal portfolio.

Goes Well With:
Best when served with meaty dishes like sausage and roasted chicken, fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta with white sauces and seafood.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shiner.com

Twitter: @shinerbeer

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer and this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery. I believe this beer is just above Wild Hare Pale Ale for the top spot from this brewery. I had the chance to visit this brewery a few years ago and had a blasted. This brewery makes some good beers and I hope you had a chance to try some of their beers. This Oktoberfest is close to the classic style. It has a heavy malty taste that will make your malt drinker loving this beer to the end of the season. Plus, this beer just won Gold Medal in this Great American Beer Festival. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Ale Asylum Satisfaction Jacksin Double IPA

Starting new tab, I will be featuring three beers from Ale Asylum in the next three posts. The first beer is called Satisfaction Jacksin Double IPA. Ale Asylum was founded in 2005 in Madison, Wisconsin. They brew several ale styles. There is barely any information on this brewery on the web. Let us get into this ale.

This double IPA has a dark copper color without a head on the beer. It has a nice pineapple smell to the beer. It has a weird taste to the beer. It has a little pineapple and then some citrus to it. The beer has earthly to the taste. It is really balance with a nice malty backbone. It is extremely drinkable for being a Double IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Three pounds of Centennial hops per barrel give our double IPA a slightly punishing yet entirely pleasing bitterness that dances on t he tongue. Jacksin is unfiltered and all natural for superior flavor and quality. It is brewed with passion and is best enjoyed that way.

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

8.5% abv.

Available: Sep – Dec Style: Double IPA Motto: Slightly punishing, entirely pleasing.

Satisfaction Jacksin is a full frontal assault on the taste buds. The massive amounts of Centennial hops don’t tickle the taste buds as much as they beat them into submission. If hops make you hide and bitterness sends you cowering in the corner, steer clear of this hop monster. Pleasure? Check. Pain? Check. Satisfaction? Jacksin.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.aleasylum.com

Twitter: @ale_asylum

Raise Your Glass, this beer is pretty good but I will rotate it in and out of my regular line up of beer, if it was availabe in the Chicago Market. I had a friend bring me some bottles down from Wisconsin. I never heard of this brewery and it turns out that they are a very young brewery. I recommend you trying this brew and let me know what you think. I might have to make a trip up to Madison, Wisconsin some time soon. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog New Glarus Brewing Fat Squirrel Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at seven beers from New Glarus Brewing. Here is a little history of this great Midwest Brewery. New Glarus Brewing Company was founded in 1993 by Deborah and Dan Carey in New Glarus, Wisconsin. They are 21st largest Craft Brewery and 32nd largest brewery in the United States. This brewery has won several awards for their beers. They brew several different beer styles and their flagship is their Spotted Cow. We are going to get into their Fat Squirrel first. Let us check out this brew.

The beer has a clear brown color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet maple malty to the beer. The taste is sweet malty and maple to it. The aftertaste is a hazelnut to it. It is a pretty drinkable for being a brown ale.

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

One deceptively springlike winter day, Brewmaster Dan walked hom from the brewery, sat down to dinner and said, “Boy there are some fat squirrels out there. They’re running all over the place. I think I should brew a Fat Squirrel Nut Brown Ale.” Deb agreed and so another beer legend was born.

100% Wisconsin malt of six different varieties impart the natural toasted color to this bottle conditioned unfiltered ale. Clean hazelnut notes result from these carefully chosen barely malts. Hops from Slovenia, Bavaria and the Pacific Northwest give Fat Squirrel its backbone.

When the going gets tough remember to relax a moment and enjoy the “Fat Squirrel” in your neighborhood. Truly yours, Daniel & Deborah Carey

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer. It is a little different from the rest of the Brown Ales that are in the market. I really enjoyed the classic craft brown ales like Brooklyn Brown Ale. This one has a really good twist to it. There is other notes you do not get from the rest of the brown ales like a little caramel, which you will get from other brown ales, and maple notes. I love brown ale and I have to say this Nut Brown Ale or should I say Fat Squirrel Ale is one of my favorite Brown Ale along with Brooklyn Brown. Thanks to my friend for bring it down to Chicago for me to try it and blog about it. This beer is worth a trip up to Wisconsin to try this beer out. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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