mke

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Hoptober Fest

While in Milwaukee, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite breweries in the city north of Chicago.  Milwaukee Brewing Hoptober Fest is one of their few Fall Seasonal.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please go back and read the first part.  Let us get into the beer.

This is one of their many seasonal beers and a few in the Fall Seasonal.  It has a nice clear amber color with a little head on the beer.  The smell is like the traditional German Oktoberfest beers. It has a sweet malty smell to the beer. The taste of the beer is a sweet carbonate malty with a nice crisp malty aftertaste. This is a perfect beer for the Fall and drinkable too.

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

Our hoppy take on a classic seasonal German style lager. Brewed with pale ale, caramel, and toasted Munich malts that attribute a sweet earthy malty flavor, toasted aroma, and a bright orange hue. German Tettnanger hops add an herbal peppery flavor and nose.

One of my favorite parts about brewing this beer is that we’re participating in a seasonal brewing tradition that spans the globe. Since nearly all craft breweries take part in the Oktoberfest season, I like to try the different renditions side by side.

We use a traditional lager fermentation along side the traditional toasted Munich style malts. There are a lot of bready characters that come up during the brew. We wanted to brew a hoppier version of the brew, so we added Perle, Tettnang and Columbus hops.

The simple recipe hasn’t changed since we started brewing it in 2006.

Here is a video from Youtube (www.youtube.com):

http://youtu.be/MweezhrL7yM

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter:  @mkebrewco

Closing out, I was not expecting a true Octoberfest Marzin style.  I thought it was going to be over hop amber ale or lager.  Here it is your normal Octoberfest that is slightly hop.  It is pretty drinkable and has a ton of flavor.  This beer just became my favorite fall beer.  This is a huge debate in my head between MKE Hoptober, Scharfly Pumpkin, or Brooklyn Oktoberfest.  I have to say they are all tied for first place.  I cannot make my mind.  This is good because all these breweries that make some awesome beers.  This beer I would run not walk and get some of this brew before it is all gone.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comast.net

Twitter:@djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Pennant Ale ’55

In this blog, we are going to take look at another beer from the Brooklyn Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog, you know little about this brewery.  The beer that is going to be feature in this blog is Broolyn Brewery Pennant Ale ’55.  This beer is part of their everyday lineup of beers.  Just like the rest of their beers, Pennant Ale has classic European brewing style.  Let us get into the beer.

Pennant Ale has a dark deep amber color with a white head. It smells like pennies being cooked in a hot summer days.  This meaning is like a burn copper or like Carmel smell. It has a semi-light body with a slight honey to Carmel malt taste. It has a slight dry aftertaste but yet drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Pennant Ale is brewed from Scottish Maris Otter malt, which is justly prized for its toasty. biscuity flavor and the round smoothness it imparts.  Our house ale yeast brings out an appetizing fruitiess and ferments to a dry finish.  Pennant is best before the freshness date indicated.  For information write us at 79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

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

As Brooklynites, we revere the memory of the 1955 World Champion Dodgers baseball team, so we had to name a beer in their honor. Brooklyn Pennant Ale is a honey-colored pale ale with a brisk malt palate and finely balanced hop character. Pennant is a traditional English-style pale ale. The pale ale style developed in the early 19th century, and was called “pale” because it appeared so in comparison to the darker ale styles of the day (East India Pale Ale was a stronger, paler, more bitter version of the style). Brooklyn Pennant Ale is brewed from Scottish Maris Otter malt, which is justly prized for its toasty, biscuity flavor and the round smoothness it imparts to beer. Our house ale yeast brings out an appetizing fruitiness and ferments to a dry finish. During 2005, Brooklyn Brewery will donate one dollar from every case of Pennant sold to the funding of the statue of Brooklyn Dodgers greats Jackie Robinson and Pee-Wee Reese planned for the Cyclones ballpark in Coney Island.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

In the end, I really love this beer.  Brooklyn Brewery is a different pace to other Craft Breweries. This brewery is refreshing for any craft beer drinkers.  With all the over hopped beers and extreme beers in the market, it is very nice to have this craft brewery around in the market.  I do rotate this beer and their East India Pale Ale into my refrigerator with the rest of the craft beer I drink.  This is a good beer with a ton of flavor.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Amber Ale

While shopping at Meijer, this is the last beer from the Roscoe’s Hop House.  There is really no history but please go back to my earlier blog to get a little bit of their history.  The beer we are going to feature is their Amber Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This Amber Ale has a dark copper color without a head to it.  A sweet malty smell is in the beer. The taste has a sweet malty in the beer.  It is drinkable beer but it is kind of water down beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright-flavored Amber Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for a unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is a few awards this beer won from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Gold Medal “Exceptional” – World Beer Championship, 2009

88 Points “Highly Recommended” – Beverage Testing Institute 2011

86 Points/ Best Buy – Wine Enthusiast, March 2010

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.rosceoshophouse.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter account

In closing, I love trying new beers all the time.  It keeps me up to speed on what breweries are doing around the country or the world.  However, I did kind of enjoy their other beers, I normally do not this about any beer but this beer is really bad.  I am not going to sugar coat it and be really nice about it.  There is a little flavor but it is really water down.  It is drinkable because of that fact.  I will go and drink a Pabst or a Rolling Rock.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Redhook Brewery Pilsner

In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from the Redhook Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog, you know about this brewery.  I believe you know this brewery since it was one of the first of the modern era for Craft Breweries.  The beer we are going to feature in this blog is their Pilsner, which is one of their everyday beers.  Let us get into the beer.

Redhook Brewery Pilsner has a golden clear color without a head on it.  It has the normal malty smell of a pilsner. A sweet malty taste is what this Redhook brew is all about with a crisp dry aftertaste.  It is drinkable like all Redhook Brewery beers. The goal of Redhook Brewery is to make drinkable beers for beer drinkers to enjoy during any event.

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

Czech out Redhook’s newest brew.  Redhook Pilsner is crisp, golden lager that is modeled after those historic beers originally made in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia.  Redhook Pilsner’s maltiness is offset by amedium dose of Saaz hops and finishes with a clean, bright,thirst-quenching quality. A great “session” lager for when you’ve got a long day ahead of drinking.

Style………………….Pilsner
Abv…………………….5.3%
IBUs…………………..23 IBU
Original Gravity..12.3 degrees plato
Brewed Since………2010
Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @redhook_brewery

In closing, I know I said this in my blog on their Longhammer India Pale Ale.  I really enjoy drinking their beers.  They are all very drinkable and that is the point of this brewery.  They have enough muscle or this beer they say it has a dark side to it.  This Pilsner has a ton of flavor and I know I will not get bored drinking this beer like most pilsner in the market.  I love my Frankenmuth Pilsner but Redhook Brewery Pilsner is a very close second place.  I really love their packages.  It gives this brewery that old school look going back before prohibition.  I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Craft India Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to taste another beer from Roscoe’s Hop House, which is their India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on this brewery, you are up to speed for the short history I found on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a constant clear copper color without a head. It has no smell but maybe a slight circus smell.  This IPA has a sweet carbonation and citrus taste to it. It is more of an English India Pale Ale.  It is drinkable.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright flavored India Pale Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for an unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is an award for this beer from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Silver Medal – World Beer Championship 2012 86 Points “Highly Recommended” – Beverage Testing Institute 2011

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:

In closing, this beer is not really good.  It is not really hoppy enough to be an India Pale Ale.  This is more like an English India Pale Ale but I do not think it is not that hoppy enough for that beer style.  It is sad when their Pale Ale is little bit more hoppier then this India Pale Ale.   It is drinkable but that is all this beer has going on with it.  Do not go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Summer Honey Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat Ale is going to be featured.  I told myself that I would never do a mass-produced beer.  Blue Moon is still kind of looked at as a craft beer still, which is kind of sad.  Blue Moon was launched in 1995.  It was created by Keith Villa, which was a brewer at Sandlot Brewery.  This brewery was own by Molson Coors which is now Miller Coors.  This Summer ale was launched in 2011, which was original called Honey Moon in 2006.  Let us get into this beer.

This is a clear yellow color without a head.  It has a constant bubbles in the beer. It has a slight honey smell. There is a ton of honey taste but no wheat taste in the beer.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A refreshing wheat ale crafted with clover honey for a hint of sweetness and a touch of orange peel for subtle citrus notes.

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

Ahhh…Summer Honey Wheat at Last.
When we first opened our doors in 1995, our summer seasonal was one of the first beers we brewed. Back then, we called it Honey Blonde Ale, and it was a favorite of baseball fans coming to a game during the heat of the Colorado summer. It took an extended summer break in 1999, reappearing in 2006 in time to win a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival® under the name Honeymoon Summer Ale and then again in 2010 as Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat.
The beer with more name changes than a professional athlete, today Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat is crafted with Colorado clover honey and orange peel for a refreshing taste that makes the most of sun-soaked days.
Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival®—Blue Moon® Summer Honey Wheat, Specialty Honey Beer Category.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I am not a fan of wheat ales and pretty much all mas-produced beers.  This beer is pretty bad.  I am only tasting a ton of honey and no wheat notes.  It is very drinkable that I will agree with.  There is better beers in the market that will give you same beer tasting notes.  All this beer is for the beginner in the craft beer world.  Once they explore this new beer world to them.  I know for a fact they will never go back as much as these beer companies think they will with their television ads.  I am not shocked that I did not like this beer.  I would say to pass on this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

In this blog, we are going to get into another beer from Roscoe’s Hop House, which is called Belgian White.  Please, go back and read for the small and lack of information on this brewery in my blog on their Pale Ale.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a Belgian Style White. Why is it clear?  It is clear golden color without a head. It has a heavy coriander smell to the beer. This beer taste like Blue Moon and has that American Belgian Style White Ale taste on it. This beer could fool a lot of beer drinkers because it looks like a pilsner in the glass.

Here is a descripation from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth highly complex flavors of citrus, coriander and subtle spice.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced unfiltered ale has a uniquely crisp taste and exceptionally smooth finish.

Here is a list of awards that this beer won from their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Belgian White

88 Points/ Silver Medal “Highly Recommended” – BTI,

World Beer Championship 2012

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, the problem I have with this beer is simple.  It does not look like a Belgian White Ale.  They claim that is unfiltered but it is very clear and looks like a pilsner.  If you are at a party, this beer could fool a few beer drinkers.  It has the taste and smell of a Belgian White Ale.  I am not a fan of an of these beer styles, which are whites, wheat, and hefweizen.  I have tryed several of these beers I have to say this one is not that good.  The only thing this beer has going for it.  It is at a very low price then the rest of the craft beers in the store.  I would not make a special trip to hunt this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roscoe’s Hop House Craft Pale Ale

While shopping at Meijer, I came across these four craft beers in their beer aisle.  There are several grocery and drug stores that are doing their name brand craft beer.  I believe this is the Meijer Brand Name Craft beer.  After doing some research, I have discovered that is not the case.  This is a real brewery from New York.  There is not a lot of information on this brewery but they are from Rochester, New York.  This brewery is own by the Genesee Brewing Company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice copper color with no head. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste of this American Pale Ale is a sweet carbonation with a slight citrus malty in it. It is loss between an English Pale Ale and West Coast Pale Ale.  It is drinkable but without a lot of flavor to the body of the beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to old world brewing styles, Roscoe’s Hop House uses the highest quality malts and hops to bring forth this smooth, bright-flavored Pale Ale.  With a nod to the past, this nicely balanced, true ale is brewed using traditional brewing methods for a unique flavor profile.  The password to our best kept secret is found inside the bottle.

Here is a some awards that they won with this beer on their website (www.roscoeshophouse.com):

Roscoe’s Hop House Pale Ale

Gold Medal – Monde Selection, 2011

Silver Medal / 86 Points “Highly Recommended”- BTI,

World Beer Championship 2011

86 Points – Wine Enthusiast, June 2010

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roscoeshophouse.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, I am pretty stun on pretty good this Pale Ale.  I am not saying this is a staple of Pale Ales but for the price you are paying for this beer.  It is kind of worth it and is a great value.  The only problem for us in Chicago, it is only available at Meijer stores.  It has a good hop and malt balances.  I really enjoy drinking this beer and I might have to add it to my regular lineup of beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sixpoint Resin

In this blog, Sixpoint Resin is going to be the feature beer.  Sixpoint Brewery is from Brooklyn, New York City which was founded in 2004.  They brew several different beer styles and put a twist on them.  I have blogged on this brewery several times.  I believe the only beer that I am not a really big fan of their Rightlous Ale.   I need to retry that beer again.  I am not a big fan of Rye Ales.  Asides that I really enjoyed the rest of their line up and it includes this beer.  Let us get into this beer.

Sixpoint Resin is an Imperial India Pale Ale.  It has a nice copper color with a little white head in the beer. It has a heavy citrus to piney smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation citrus with the dry hop aftertaste.  It is very drinkable for the style of beer.

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

Resin

Whatever flames upon the night. Man’s own resinous heart has fed.  A beer that celebrates the extraction of hop resin for a concentrated yet balanced brew. View the story of the Resin below.
Here is a video on their website (www.sixpoint.com):

Sixpoint Resin

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In closing, I am a huge hop head and this lives up to the hop muscle that I am looking in an Imperial India Pale Ale.  I love the overall beer taste.  It has a nice malty backbone which is important with these Imperial and Double IPAs.  There is not too many craft breweries that has done this right to their beers.  Some breweries can not even get their normal India Pale Ale right.  I love how it is drinkable with a serious big punch of 9.1%.  This is my go to Imperial IPA and it is pretty much always in my refrigerate.  Go find this beer and I will be disappointed if you do not fall in love with it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Birra Del Borgo Extra Re Ale

In this blog, we are going to get into a beer from Italy.  It is an American India Pale Ale from Birra Del Borgo Extra Re Ale.  There is no information on this brewery just ratings from Ratebeer and Beeradvocate.  Then I finally realize to look at the bottle and I found a website of the brewery.  The brewery was founded in 2005 so it is a young brewery.  They brew several different beer styles.  It is a wide range of beer styles.  Let us get into their India Pale Ale.

Re Ale has a ton of carbonation so please pour it slowly in the glass.  It has a deep amber color with a nice white head. The smell is of orange and some citrus in the beer. The taste is very unique for being import beer plus an India Pale Ale.  It has a nice sweet carbonation circus with a nice dry hop finish. This is a very drinkable India Pale Ale from Italy.  Yes it is from Italy.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Ingredients: water, barley, malt, EXTRA hop, yeast.  Unpasteurized, unfiltered, bottled-conditioned.  Serve at 53 to 57 F.  Natural yeast sediments on the bottom.

Here is a description from their website (www.birradelborgo.it):

Extra-hopped version of Reale

A derivative of our regular ReAle, the hops are varied especially in quantity: a huge amount is added in a different technique. All the hops are added during the last 10 minutes of the boil, using 3 times more than regular ReAle. The result is an explosion of perfumes, in a range from citrusy to resiny (pine resin and incense). The mouth feel is dry, with immediate bitterness, then it finishes with a beautiful, persistent tangerine note.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.birradelborgo.it

Twitter:  @BirraDelBorgo

In closing, just want to thank my friend that share this bottle with me, I am really stun this came from Italy and it being good.  I do not think I have to say what you think when you think of Italy? It is wine, wine and more wine.  I love the complex taste that I get from this India Pale Ale.  I love the funky to spicy taste and then the run on the hop taste.  This is not a cheap beer.  I believe my friend pay $80.00 for a case of 12  11.2oz bottles.  I would go and hunt this beer down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser