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New Beer Blog Short’s Alter Spalter Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Alter Spalter Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Short’s Brewery.  Let us into this beer.

This German style Alt Ale has a cloudy amber color with a white head. The aroma has no smelling notes. The taste has a slight carbonation with hints of malty notes. The aftertaste is a dry malty finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Alter Spalter is true to the old world German style ale with a light brown color and pleasant nose. The malt character is low with soft, caramel notes and a unique banana-like sweetness. The beer is well-balanced with a crisp clean nature and a lack of lingering malty flavors.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I am a huge fan of this beer style.  This beer is pretty close to the traditional beer style but I just feel like it is missing something.  I do not know what it is.  It is pretty boring.  It is not like the rest of the Alt beers that I had in the past.  I know it is not water because Michigan has one of the best water supply in the world for brewing.  I believe it is between the malt and hops.  Do not get me wrong, this is a pretty good beer.  I know it is missing something.  I just feel I could be drinking something else.  This is a beer they could cut and make sure their everyday beers are good and better.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the sampler pack from Short’s Brewing.  It is their The Magician Dark Red London Style Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this red ale.

It has a cloudy dark red to ruby red  color with a nice white head. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight caramel notes. The taste has a very light carbonation with a dry sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has water like malt finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The Magician is a lustrous dark-red London Ale with a rich grain bill. The grain combination lends complex notes of toasted caramel, raisins, chocolate, and roasted toffee. Very light hop additions let the true malt characters show throughout this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have to say this is one of the better English style red ale from a craft brewery.  I am pretty stun.  This goes back to the arguments that I had in yesterday’s blog posts on their Dan’s Pink Skirt IPA.  This brewery’s seasonal are so much better than their everyday beers.  At least, this Michigan craft brewery makes some good beer unlike most craft breweries in this state.  I love the balance in this red ale.  I am not a huge fan of red and amber ales.  I love my Fat Tire once in a while.  If you can find this beer, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into yet another IPA from Short’s Brewery.  It is Dan’s Pink Skirt American India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy golden to yellow color with a nice foamy white color head on this India Pale Ale. The aroma has a slight citrus notes. The taste has a nice light carbonated notes with some citrus notes. The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Dan’s Pink Skirt is an American IPA brewed with Summit and Simcoe hops. Malt characteristics are mild and practically undetectable in the nose. Dan’s Pink Skirt has pronounced floral and citrus aromas, with a pine resin hop bitterness that attacks the palate.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end, how many IPA’s and how many seasonals does a craft brewery really need to pumped out in the market.  This is has been the aged old question in the craft brewery.  If you make all these beers, is your product still good.  I believe you are good at a few things and have to work on other things.  It is pretty sad when a seasonal IPA is better than their everyday IPA.  This is my thought and I know many would disagree with my thought pattern.  I believe this craft brewery makes way too many beers and it makes it tough for them make good beers.  I know there is many that would disagree with that thought.  I just feel their seasonals are so much better than their everyday beers.  I love this IPA and this is their best IPA.  There is a nice balance from the hop bittest and malty backbone.  They did a great job on this beer.  If you can get a bottle, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer (Cider) Blog Blake’s El Chavo

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In this cider blog, we are going to the first cider from Blake’s.  It is their El Chavo.  There is not much history on their website.  I do know they have been in business less than five years.  They make several different Hard Cider.  There is about 12 different Hard Cider on tap in their Taproom.  Let us get into this Hard Cider.

This cider has a clear light yellow color without a head. The smell has a slight mango and hints of Habanero peppers. The taste has a mango to earthly notes with pepper hot aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable but I can see becoming sipping cider.

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

We like spicing things up.  That’s why we put dimmers on the lights in our Cider House.  And it’s why we created this sweet, heated blend of Habanero Pepper, mango and our famous Blake’s apple.  Experience a hard cider that’s really, honestly, truly like no other.  Experience El Chavo.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blakeshardcider.com

Twitter:  @BlakesHardCider

Closing, I have to say I am not a huge hard cider fan.  I am always willing to try it at least two times to see if I can find one that I like.  I have to say between Woodchuck and Blake’s Hard Cider.  I have found two cider companies that I enjoyed drinking their products.  In the few times, I had some of Blake’s Hard Ciders.  I did not have time to write tasting notes. I had to write-up for this special and unique cider.  I like it. I did not know how the peppers would go over with apple and mango notes.  The Habanero Pepper starts to shine through the end part of the pint.  It is not overpowering which I liked.  There is a nice balance in this Hard Cider.  I highly recommend this cider.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample a special limited beer, which is Backwoods Bastard Ale, from Founders Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice dark ruby-red color without a head on this barrel aged ale. The aroma has a sweet malty to slight bourdon along with some vanilla and other earthly notes. The taste has a sweet malty, alcohol, and earthly notes. The aftertaste has a nice warm alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.

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

Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.
  • ABV: 10.2%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Availability: November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end, I kept on hearing this is the beer that you need to try from a Michigan craft brewery.  It is a must find and try.  When I hear it was released, I rushed out and found a few bottles.  I was pretty excited this beer.  I love ales aged in barrels.  I am a huge fan of old ales, wheat wines, and barley wines.  I have said it is a nice sipping beer.  I love the sweet malty to alcohol notes.  There is a pretty nice balance.  I have to say for the price and I was looking for more out of this beer.  I just believe it is not worth it.  I will get at least a bottle every year but I am not going out of my way like I did this year.  It is beyond overrated.  Let me put it this way.  It is very good beer but not the best in this beer style that I have had in my lifetime.  If you see it, try it.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gamil.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Bell’s Christmas Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Bell’s Brewing.  It is their Christmas Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this Christmas Ale.

It has a clear dark copper to amber color with a white constant head. The smell has sweet malty to other spices that are fated to hard to pick up. The taste of this winter warmer has a slight carbonation to sweet malty with a slight alcohol burn for theaftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The basic inspiration for Bell’s Christmas Ale was to create a sessionable holiday beer, using locally grown malt, which would stand apart from the array of spiced winter warmers that are typically introduced this time of year. In contrast to many other seasonals, Christmas Ale doesn’t contain any spices: all of the dry, toasted notes & subtle toffee flavors come from the 100% Michigan-grown barley, custom malted by Briess Malting, while a blend of hops from Michigan & the Pacific Northwest lend earthy, herbal aromas. At 5.5% ABV, it stands as a smooth, highly drinkable beer intended to complement holiday menus, not overshadow them.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @BellsBrewery

In the end, I enjoyed this winter or Christmas beer.  I have to say this.   Christmas has come and gone once again.  This does not mean that is beer is bad or out of code, if it is still on the shelf.  This goes for all seasonals.  Will it go out of code later on?  Yes, I am not an idiot.  I just hate hearing beer drinkers saying these beers are out of code the day after the holiday.  There is a nice balance but I love the nice alcohol notes for the finish.  This is one of my favorite beers from Bell’s Brewery.  If you see this beer, I would try it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Latitude 42 Brewery Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Latitude 42 Brewery.  It is their Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west side Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this golden ale.

It has a slight cloudy bright golden color with a white constant head. There is not any smell.  The taste has a refreshing sweet malty notes. The aftertaste has dry hop bitter finish. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.latitude42brewingco.com):

The perfect introduction to craft beer, this brilliant Golden colored ale tastes crisp and clean, with a well-balanced malt profile blended with a subtle floral hopping. Premium 2-row and Munich malts with a hint of flaked corn provide the clean malt flavor. Willamette and cascade hops add the perfect balance of subtle spiciness and floral notes. 4.8%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.latitude42brewingco.com

Twitter:  @Latitude42Brew

Closing, I just find Golden Ales pretty boring.  They are normally the gateway beer for American Lager drinkers and then it is pale ales, amber, or red ales.  I will be pretty honest.  I was not looking for too much from this beer.  There is normally no aroma on this beer style.  If you there is that could mean they did not stay true to classic beer style, this brewery stayed true this traditional beer style.  This is one plus to this beer.  The tasting notes are what you are looking for in a blonde ale.  Overall, this is a pretty average beer and I cannot see the price for a golden ale.  This is one problem that all craft breweries are facing making a golden ale, blonde ale, lager, and pilsner.  If you see it at a bar, try it.  I would not go out of my way to search for it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Rochester Mill’s Brewery Pine Knob Pilsner

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Rochester Mill’s Brewery.  It is their Pine Knob Pilsner.  They will be sending this out in package here soon.  This is a sample from the brewery.  If you read my earlier beer posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to Rochester Mill’s Brewery.  Let us get into this Pilsner.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head.  There is really no smell on this beer. The taste has a sweet malty and hoppy notes with a nice crisp aftertaste.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Introducing out latest release. Pine Knob is light golden in color and crystal clear. Locally brewed beer that uses the highest quality ingredients available to deliver the crisp, refreshing, and flavorful taste you expect from a world-class Pilsner style beer. Hops are prevalent, with a clean bitterness and a floral flavor and aroma. Pine Knob Pilsner is smooth and crisp with a refreshing palate, making this an enjoyable, anytime, go to brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Twitter:  @rochmillsbeerco

Website:  www.rochestermillsbeerco.com

In closing, the key to any beer or brewery is the water.  If they have a great water source, they have one of best fresh body of water in the world. They have what it takes to be a good brewery.  The rest is the creative mind of the brewmasters.  The selection of the hops, barley, recipe, and malt is the rest.  I believe this brewery has all those elements. Most people think of this brewery as one beer brewery.  Yes, their milk stout is awesome but they make a great IPA, and red ale.  Of course, this Pilsner is pretty good.  They are a pretty balance craft brewery.  They kept to the classic beer style of the Pilsner.  Once again, it comes down to a great water source.  Rochester Mill’s Brewery has Michigan water that everyone around the world wants.  This is a great beer.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island Festivity Ale (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the latest version of Goose Island Christmas Ale.  This year the brewery has rename the brew to Festivity Ale.  They felt calling it Christmas Ale that after the holiday, people stop drinking and buying it.  They are correct.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into this winter ale.

This brown ale has a nice bronze to brown color with an off white to light tan color head. The smell has a caramel with a slight floral notes. The taste has a creamy caramel with a dry nutty aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brown Ale

Caramel and dark fruit malt flavors swirl inside a creamy toasty brown ale.

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

Festivity Ale

Brewer’s Notes

Every year we brew a brown ale to celebrate the holidays. To make each year’s special, we alter the recipe. This year we wrapped caramel and dark fruit malt flavors inside a creamy toasty brown ale. May your holidays be filled with Festivity.

Recipe Information

  • Style: Classic Ales – Seasonal
  • Alcohol by Volume: 7.7%
  • International Bitterness Units: 50
  • Color: Ruby Brown
  • Hops: Pilgrim, English Golding
  • Malts: Special Pale, Bon Munich, Caramel-60, Caramel-120, Rice Hulls, ECJ Sugar

    • Availability

    Seasonal (November – December)


    Available
    Bottles: 6 Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Ending, every year, I get excited for Fall and Winter seasonals.  This beer is normally at the top of my list.  I will say the last few years.  I have been pretty disappointed with this American Brown Ale.  This year has been promising for the future years.  Goose Island is known to change the recipe slightly every year.  I love this year’s ale.  They did a great job.  It is so much better than last year.  This beer will have the malt head of the world wishing for more of this ale.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Snow Daze (2014)

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the winter seasonal, which is Snow Daze, from Rochester Mills.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a dark amber to brown color with a nice white color. The smell has a malty to alcohol notes. The taste has a sweet malty to alcohol notes with a heavy alcohol aftertaste. The aftertaste has a nice burn down the throat but it is slight.  It is pretty drinkable for the beer style and it will get some craft beer drinkers in trouble.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cplanet.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, this beer has a ton going on in it.  There is some nice complex notes that will keep the beer drinker sipping it until he or she figures it out.  This is a great beer and I love the alcohol notes.  It gives something different with the nice sweet malty notes.  This beer does not taste like 10.2% beer.  It is drinks like a 5% brew.  There is some nice malty notes that will get the malt head going crazy over this beer.  I do not see anyone drinking more than one.  This is a beer that you have one and have to move onto to another one.  I highly recommend this beer.  Draft only for this year but next year it will be in draft and package in 2015.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13