midwest

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Outboard Cream Ale

In this blog, we are going to try yet another brew from the Milwaukee Brewing.  We are going to touch one of many summer seasonals from them.  It is called Outboard Cream Ale.  If you read all my blogs on this brewery, you know a little bit of this brewery.  Let us get into this brewery.

It has a nice bright clear yellow color with no head on the beer. There is a smell but I just do not know what it is right now.  It kind smells like a pilsner. The taste is very smooth and creamy lager like but not as hoppy like a pilsner.  This beer style is not a classic style. It was created by Germans that came to the states trying to create their beers here but came up with new beer styles. It is very refreshing and drinkable.

Here is a descriation from their webiste (www.mkebrewing.com):

Beer

Cream Ales are true American styled brews. Mimicking European light lagers, the Cream Ale is brewed utilizing the top fermenting Ale yeast resulting in a more complex flavor and nose. Cream ales traditionally are brewed with a blend of malted barley and corn grits for a light body and golden straw color. A very slight hop presence helps round out this simple but refreshing beer.

History

The terms “Outboard” and “Evinrude” have become synonomis. The first practical Outboard motor was invented by Ole Evinrude in 1909 as a way to give your arms a break from rowing that boat! It’s said that Ole and his girlfriend Bess were enjoying their day on Okauchee Lake on a hot summer day when she asked for some ice cream. Ole rowed to shore and by the time he had gotten back the ice cream had melted.

Always facinated by motors, Ole was self taught. He spent 5 years hopping from job to job learning about steel, manufacturing and engineering. He came back to Milwaukee and set up shop. Eventually he employed 300 people.

Cheers to Ole, and the way he changed the way we use water today!

Brewer

After a long day of post digging, the Outboard is what I reach for.

The simplicity of this classic American style has only a handful of ingredients. The few ingredients we use leave little room for error, although the recipe is straight forward, mistakes will be very noticeable. We use a high quality pilsner malt and a clean citrus smell during the boil. The ale fermentation for this brew leans on the cool side just to cut back on ester production.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

In closing, I really did not like this beer.  It is a summer seasonal and what I have been saying in most of my blog post.  I am not a fan of Summer Seasonals.  Milwaukee Brewing Company Outboard Cream Ale is a very drinkable beer.  I believe what turns me off about this brew it is the light in body.  I believe to me it does not have enough flavor to it.  Asides that, I am a huge fan of this brewery and this is the first time I do not like one of their beers.  Just because I do not like this beer.  It does not mean you will not like it. Please, go try this beer and reach your own judgement on this Cream Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon Milk Stout

image

Starting a new blog, we are going to get into another beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pull Chain then I do not have to bored you about the history of this brewery,  the beer that will be feature in this blog is Polish Moon Milk Stout.  Let us start get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a dirty white head. This milk stout has a ton of carbonation in the bottle. Be careful pouring out the beer into the glass.  The smell of the beer is chocolate to roast malts with some hints of coffee.  This stout is very smooth with some burn chocolate to coffee notes flowing through the drinking experience.  For being a dark beer with ABV 4.5%, it is extremely drinkable beer.

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

Beer

This pitch black stout is teaming with rich roasted malt and coffee flavors. The addition of milk sugar tames these intense flavors with a silky sweetness. A very easy drinking, full bodied beer.

History

Built in 1962, the Allen-Bradley clock tower has become a Milwaukee landmark. Until recently, it was the largest four sided clock in the world, rising 280 feet in the air with each face having a diameter of 40 feet.

Located on Milwaukee’s south side, the clock tower quickly got the nickname “Polish Moon” because of the large Polish population in the neighborhood. With a bar on every corner, it was a fun place for neighbors and friends to get together and have impromptu parties

Brewer

One of my favorite winter warmer beers, it’s also a fun beer to brew. First you get the super rich chocolate coffee aroma from all the dark malts. Then you add a couple hundred pound of sugar to the brew kettle, it’s almost like adding sweetner to a giant cup of coffee. What makes this a milk stout is the addition of milk sugar, or lactose sugar, to the wort. Yeast can’t eat this sugar so it remains behind after fermentation as a natural sweetner. Trying to get the balance between the milk sugar sweetness and the bitterness of the roasted malts is probably the trickiest part of this entire brew. We’ve been working on that balance for a couple of years now and I think we’re on the right track.

Here is a youtube video on their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Finishing up the beer, I really love this beer and it is in my top three beers from this brewery.  It is hard not to pick this one or their Hop Happy India Pale Ale.  It is smooth with a ton of flavor.  I love the chocolate and roasted malt notes throughout the drinking experience.  It is very well made and drinkable to where you could drink it even on the hot summer days or warm spring days.   You cannot say that about all the stouts that are in the market.  This beer has taken down Left Hand Milk Stout.  This is my number Milk Stout.  I would  try them side by side and you will see what I am talking about.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Rhinelander Brewing Company Chocolate Bunny Stout

In this blog, we are going bunny hunting.  We are going to try a beer from the Rhinelander Brewing Company.  The beer is called Chocolate Bunny Stout.  I never heard of this brewery so this will be a learning lesson for me just like you.  Unless you hit up every brewery in Wisconsin.  Rhinelander Brewing Company is from Monroe, Wisconsin and was founded in 1882 as the orignal company.  Bad luck came to the brewery as it burned down in 1897.  They rebuild and then closed again because of Prohibition era.  They open in 1933 like every brewery and was in business until 1967.  They were purchased by Joseph Huber Brewing Company and then moved their brewing of their beers to Monroe, Wisconsin.  They are looking to move their brewing back to Rhinelander by 2014 with a two million project.  It sounds like this brewing a long history of up and downs is on its way to a very bright history.  Well here is the beer we will be trying.

This beer is black in color with a small constant white head. A ton of cocoa to chocolate smell going on in the beer along with a roasted to burn smell in it too. The taste of the beer is a sweet carbonation chocolate overload with ton of coco bitter aftertaste. It is very drinkable beer and worth the price.

Here is a description from their bottle:

Dark and silky rich stout loaded with chocolate flavor.  Is there chocolate in my beer or beer in my chocolate?

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rhinelanderbrewery.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In the end, this was a very interesting drinking beer experience for me.  The cocoa powder in this beer pops out too much during the experience.  The stout part in this beer is really solid but then add the cocoa powder that is added during the brewing process.  This beer is kind of drinkable but I can see many beer drinkers finishing this beer and then moving on to another one.  I really did not like this beer but I respect this brewery for doing something different.  Also I love the price.  It was only $3.99.  It comes with a huge value but at the same time you will get what you pay for in this beer.  If you are looking for something different with a good price, this beer might be the way to go for your next beer.  This beer is average to slightly below average.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

(History information came from their website (www.rhinelanderbrewery.com) and Wikipedia)

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron IBA

In this blog, we are going to dig into another beer from Milwaukee Brewing Company.  I have done a history in one of my earlier blog.  We are going to be sampling out one of their seasonal.  The name of the beer is Milwaukee Brewing Black Iron India Black Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is black in color with a white constant head.  The smell of chocolate to toffee is filling the air around your nose.  As far as the taste of this India Black Ale is smooth with chocolate and carbonation taste with a slight citrus aftertaste.  This beer is very drinkable and the ABV being 7.4%.  It is danger Mr. Robinson.

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

History of the Beer

The history of blacksmithing in Milwaukee really centers around Cyril Colnik. After the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, he was convinced to move to Milwaukee by Captain Frederick Pabst. The master blacksmith went on to do iron work iconic Milwaukee landmarks just ask the Pabst Mansion and Villa Terrace.

We tip our hats to Kent Knapp and his love for the craft. This dark hefty beer goes hand in hand mimicking the shop and the medium in which he works.

Beer

Brewed with a dehusked German malt that gives it a black and silky look, without the bitter roastiness you find in other dark beers. A variety of Columbus and Cascade hops were used quite generously to help balance out the large malt bill. This beer is abundant with in complex flavors and hop character and yet quite smooth for a beer that sits at 7.5% abv and 48 IBUs. Cheers!

From the Brewer

The style “India Black Ale” is so new, that there’s no one, all authoritative beer that we need to compare to. The trick is to get the balance between the malt bitterness and the hop bitterness. In this case we used non-astringent roasted malts to add the roasted flavors. The malt is a de-husked German black malt, it provides the color, and the roast flavor without the risk of extra acidity. It creates this intense roasted coffee and chocolate aroma. When we add the hops you’ll get that pine and citrus smell. When we released the test batch last year it went over really well. I drink the IBA when I have the time to really savor it and when it has the chance to come up to room temperature.

Here is a youtube video from their website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Milwaukee Brewing Company Black Iron Ale

In closing,  I really love this beer.  If it was anything close to their Hop Happy India Pale ale, I knew I would love this Black Iron.  I know their Black Iron is an India Black Ale not what all the rest of the craft brewery called their beers called Black India Pale Ale.  I love how this beer is drinkable and the punch of citrus from hops while it is cutting through the roasted and chocolate notes.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Big Horn Ram Brewery Barefoot Wit Ale New Blog

Still have an open tap, the next beer from Big Horn Ram Brewery is their Barefoot Wit Ale, which is their summer seasonal. You know the history of this brewery if you read my blog on their Total Disorder Porter. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a cloudy golden yellow with average head in the beer. The smell is a heavy coriander and lemon zest floating up to your noise. Your noise will experience a slap from its girlfriend for being a jerk the other night.  The taste is a citrus and yeast over load with a slight lemon aftertaste.  It is very drinkable for whatever a beer drinker does in the hot summer days.

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

Our Barefoot Wit is fruity, complex and easy drinking.  It presents a delightful interplay of malt flavors with an underlying regiment of citrus with herbs and spices. This unfiltered wheat ale is the perfect refreshment for lazy, hazy, crazy days

Here their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theRAM

Closing out a two beer tap, I am really not a fan of this beer style.  If you read my blogs on these beer styles, I know you know that and I am honest maybe too honest at times.   This beer lives up to the Belgian style.  The Ram has done a great job bring forth the spicies to the funky of the Belgian yeast.  To me,  I was tasting too much coriander in this beer.  Overall, it is a well made beer and it is very drinkable for the summer.  I am not a fan but if you are a huge fan of the wheat, wit, and whites, I would go try this beer with all of its complex and full body.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Big Horn Ram Brewery Pointon’s Proper English Mild Ale New Blog

Opening a new tap at my one of my favorite brewpubs, we are going to get into Big Horn Ram Brewery Pointon’s Proper English Mild ale in this blog.  If you read my earlier blog on their Total Disorder Porter then you know this brewery, let us get into this beer.

The beer has a brown color with a constant head.  There is no smell to the beer that I can find in it. This beer is light in body with a nice carbonation and a slight coffee bean bittiest taste to this English Mild Ale. There is really no aftertaste. It is really drinkable beer.  This beer becomes more drinkable in the summer months with its low ABV of 4.0%.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theRAM

Not closing out my tab yet, this English Mild Ale is very drinkable and low ABV makes it perfect to drink it in the hot summer days.  However, the English verision of this beer style has ABV of 3.0 to 3.5%, this brewery just kicked it up a little bit and there is nothing wrong with that.  This beer is really good and I recommend you  trying this beer.  This beer is pretty dark but do not let that fool you because you will be very stun by how easy it is to drink this beer.  Great job!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Brewery German Style Pilsner Lager

In this blog, we are going to get into the last beer from Frankenmuth Brewery Sampler Pack.  The beer that will be featured is called Frankenmuth Brewery German Style Pilsener Lager.  You read my earlier on Frankenmuth Brewery Blonde then you are pretty up to speed on this great brewery.  Let us get into one of Michigan’s Oldest Brewery beer called Frankenmuth Brewery Pilsener.

This beer in the glass has a clear and bright yellow tone with to head. It has a sweet and slight candy corn smell to it.  As far as the taste of this pilsner, it is clean crisp with a sweet dry carbonation going on in it. Frankenmuth Pilsner is very drinkable and sessional beer.

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

A time-honored German style pilsener, this definitive golden lager is made following the traditional German purity law: using only malted barley, water, German hops and German lager yeast. A great beer with a floral aroma, a hint of spices & a dry finish.

ABV 5.25%  IBU 26 Pairs well with lighter foods: chicken, salads, salmon & bratwurst

Here is a their twitter and website addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In the end, this beer style is not one of favorite out there, however, trying beer styles I have not like in the past to write these blogs.  I have found a new aspect towards some of these beer styles.  Just what I said in my Redhook Longhammer IPA, if I did not try other beers I would not have found beer styles that I love to death.  It goes with this beer from Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Pilsner Lager.  I really enjoyed this beer and has turn me on to check out other Pilsners at least craft beer world wise.  It is not to light but not too heavy while drinking it.  It is an awesome beer to drink in very hot weather to the nice cold winter.  This beer fits into the classic pilsner beer style for its drinkable.  Being a German base American Craft Brewery, they did an awesome job on this classic beer style.  I would say they did a better job with it then the German Breweries that have been brewing this style for hundreds of years.  I might get some hate mail but I am fine with that.  I am just an idiot with many thoughts on everything in the world.  This is my idea and you can agree or disagree with it.  To finish this blog up, I really highly recommend trying this beer at least once in your lifetime.  I love this beer and this brewery and I wish I could get in Chicagoland.  I just want to say thank you to my parents for bring out these beers when they were here visiting me.  I will be stocking up when I go back to Michigan.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth American Batch 69 IPA

In this blog, we are going to sample out my favorite brew from Frankenmuth Brewery and the third of four beers that will be featured this blog.  Please go back to my earlier blog on Frankenmuth Brewery Blonde to get to know this brewery, if already read it then you already know this brewery.  The beer that we will be experience is Frankenmuth Brewery American Batch 69 IPA.  If you look at the beers that we have done from this brewery between the Dunkel to Blonde and then Pilsner, they are all German base beer style.  This brewery went outside of their comfort zone and did American beer style.  This speaks out open minded a brewery can be to bring beers to their fan base.  It does not go just for Frankenmuth Brewery.  There is another brewery down in Texas that just put out their first pale ale.  Frankenmuth Brewery have been brewing this beer for a while but with a huge growth of pale ales and IPAs.  Breweries are doing IPAs and pale ales or doing different things with them.  Let us see where this brew ranks to me in the world of the India Pale Ales.

This beer in the glass is not your normal India Pale Ale color. It has a clear yellow color to beer with a light white head to the beer. Smell is of light piney to earthy. This India Pale Ale has a sight citrus carbonation taste with a dry hoppy aftertaste.  To me, the hoppy aftertaste is just right. It is not overpowering like other IPAs aftertaste.  This beer for hoppy IPA is really drinkable.

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

A medium light bodied India Pale Ale with an intense hop aroma and flavor. This IPA will wake up your senses to fine American hops to discover tastes of citrus, flowers and pine.

ABV 6.9%  IBU 69 Best with strong, spicy food and bold appetizers.

Here is their twitter and website addresses:

Website: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In closing,  I really love this drinkable India Pale Ale from Frankenmuth Brewery.  This is a very well balance beer and just like most India Pale Ales it is perfect with spicy foods.  If I could get this beer all the time, it would be in my refrigerator on day-to-day basis.  I know I said this before in other Michigan beer blogs but I will say it again.  I am not a fan of any Michigan breweries but Frankenmuth Brewery has won me over to like at least one brewery.  Do not just get go out and hunt this beer down but go find the rest of their beers.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Dunkel Dark Lager

In this blog, we are going to sample out the second of four beers from Frankenmuth Brewery Company. The name of the beer is called Dunkel Dark Lager. If you read my blog on their Blonde Ale, then we can move onto the next beer in their lineup. Let us stop talking and start drinking this awesome beer.

In the glass, the beer is brown in color with a constant white head. The smell of toffee and malt is in the air from the beer. The taste of the beer is a classic german style. The beer drinker will taste toffee to chocolate notes with a nice smooth finish.  It is very drinkable beer and very well made for the beer style.

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

Named for the city it calls home, this German style lager has a distinguished dark appearance and a notably smooth sweet balanced flavor. The result gives our Dunkel a flavor of toasted bread and a malty finish.

ABV 5.1%  IBU 22
Pairs well with hearty, spicy food: barbecue, sausages, & roast. Also pairs well with chocolate dessert.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In closing, this has to be my favorite German Beer Style. I hold all import and craft breweries on a very high standard when they brew this beer. I mean the beer not the brewery. I really enjoyed this beer. This brewery did an awesome job making this beer. It is easy to drink with a ton of favor. I could drink this beer in the hottest summer days. Believe me, there are some summer days here in Chicago and Detroit that makes you want to dug deep in the earth. With that crazy talk, this beer is awesome beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Classic American Blonde Ale

In this blog, we are going to dig into one of the oldest brewery in Michigan. We are going to take a look at Frankenmuth Brewery which was founded in 1862.  In 1987, there was a fire that burned down most of the brewery.  This brewery never gave up and their goals they want to have their beers to their fan base. They brew mostly German base beers but this brewery has some American Classic beers.  They are brewing in one of the best cities in the Michigan.  Here is the first of four beers that will be blog about it. The first to be featured is from Frankenmuth Brewery and it is called Classic American Blonde Ale.

The beer is a clear bright yellow in the glass with a simi-head to it. The smell is of fresh air by a waterfall. The taste is very smooth and refreshing with a nice sweet kick to it. The aftertaste is very crisp and refreshing. This is a very  drinkable beer for any season of the year.  Most craft beer drinkers normally see Blonde Ales available in the spring to summer seasonal.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Medium bodied classic American ale is made using American malts and fermented at a lower temperature to give it a clean mellow finish.  This is a terrific cross-over beer for those who enjoy American ales.

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

American Blonde Ale
This classic American style ale is made using American malts and fermented at a lower temperature to give it a clean mellow finish. This is a terrific cross-over beer for those who enjoy American style ales.

ABV 4.75%  IBU 17%
Goes great with lighter foods; chicken, salads, salmon, bratwurst, and is great with pizza.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In closing, we dug into on of my favorite Michigan brewery called Frankenmuth Brewery Company.  You know me well if you read my blogs.  I am very up front and honest.  This is my favorite brewery in Michigan.  I like many beers around the state from different breweries but this brewery is by far the best one to me.  As far as this brew, I never was a fan of this beer style.  This beer style is normally to light in body for my taste buds but this one brings something out of this beer style.  I am a fan of this American Blonde Ale.   This beer is very well made beer and stays true to this classic style but with a American twist.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser