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New Blog Troeg’s Nugget Nectar Ale

While in DC for Savor, I was really excited to see this beer on draft at the third bar, which was Church Key. The beer is called Troeg’s Nugget Nectar ale. I had a few brews from Troeg. I am kind of familiar with this brewery but let us get into the history of it. Troeg was founded in 1996 by John and Chris Trogner in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  They brew a wide range of beers but they central their brewing on seasonals and highend beers.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer is a copper color in the glasses. Nice earthy smell to the beer.  Nice sweet carbonation taste and a really bad aftertaste. I really do not not like this aftertaste. The beer is a well balance beer but once again the aftertaste kind of kills the romance of the beer experience. It is drinkable asides the aftertaste.

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

TASTING NOTES

Squeeze those hops for all they’re worth and prepare to pucker up: Nugget Nectar Ale, will take hopheads to nirvana with a heady collection of Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops. Starting with the same base ingredients of our flagship HopBack Amber Ale, Nugget Nectar intensifies the malt and hop flavors to create an explosive hop experience.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Cheese (Sharp, Blue, and Cheddar); Meat (Beef and Poultry)

Serving Suggestions: Temp: 45-50° F

Glassware:  Pint Glass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.troegs.com

Twitter: @troegs and @troegsbeer

At the bottom of the glass, I really hate to say it but I was really disappointed with the beer. The body of the beer is awesome but the aftertaste kills everything about this beer.  I get it most people like to have this aftertaste for their beer. I would recommend you trying this beer before taking my word.  I am just an idiot with many thoughts on the world. If you have had this beer, please let me know your thoughts on this beer. I really want to hear it. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

While in DC for Savor, there was a place we went to after lunch down the street. I had this beer from Dogfish Head Brewery called 60 Minute IPA Ale. If you read my earlier blog on Dogfish Head Pilsner, you a little bit about this brewery. Let us get into this brew.

This beer is clear yellow color in the glasses. There is no smell to the beer.  A little circus and carbonation taste to this beer.  For being an India Pale Ale, it is very drinkable and sessional.

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

60 Minute IPA is continuously hopped — more than 60 hop additions over a 60-minute boil. (Getting a vibe of where the name came from?)

60 Minute is brewed with a slew of great Northwest hops. A powerful but balanced East Coast IPA with a lot of citrusy hop character, it’s the session beer for hardcore enthusiasts!

Every Beer Has A Story…

In our Quick Sip Clip video below, Sam Calagione talks about the 60 Minute IPA. For some perspective, he compares this beer to its predecessor, 90 Minute IPA, and its big brother, 120 Minute IPA.

Sam stepped out of the brewery for the taping of this Quick Sip Clip and comes to us from the place where it all started: Dogfish Head, Maine.

Cheers!

Here is a few sources on the web to get information on Dogfish Head Brewery:

Website: www.dogfish.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

Closing, I hate to be very honest. I really did not like this beer at first drink, however, thinking about it, I really loved the drinkablity of this beer and the fact it is not overly hopped like most IPAs on the market. I would not say this is my favorite IPA but it is not the worse. Whenever, I think of Dogfish as far as IPAs, I always believe their IPAs will be hopped up but it is not the case. I respect all craft breweries but Sam is pushing the limits of beer drinkers. Go check this beer out. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Savor 2012 in DC Day One (Story)

Old Ebbitt Grill

It is an old school DC bar and grill. It is after work place and a traditional place. It has a nice beer selection and food. Nice place for lunch with my friends, who are Kevin, Slayer, Aphrodite, and Lolita.

See Heavy Sea Loose Cannon Ale for the beer blog.

J&G Steakhouse

For drinks in the sun talking about life. It is a little too hot here but just right. Asides that is a beautiful day.

See Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA for the beer blog.

We are going to Church’s Key for beers before dinner. I heard this place has a nice beer menu while sitting of the lobby of the hotel. Two old friends meet for the first time. Talking about moments that are long gone, it was a really good moment. The bar is packed with guests talking about their plans for the weekend in this fancy upscale hotel that looks like something out of the 1940s with a modern flare. This bar is packed with a nice lay back feeling to it.

See Troggers Nugget, Upland Dragonfly ale for the beer blog.

Marvin

We are to have dinner. It is very soulful in the food. This was some off the charts food. I was full but I could not stop eating it. Very good dinner.

See Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace Ale for the beer blog.

There were many other places and many more beer. It was a great start to this trip. We will have Savor tomorrow and I will be visiting at least one brewpub in the city.

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @ djweiser

New Blog Bridgeport Summer Squeeze Bright Ale

Starting a tap, we are going to talk about one of my favorite west coast breweries, who is called Bridgeport Brewery. The beer I will feature in this blog is their Summer Seasonal called Summer Squeeze Blonde ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Hop Czar, then you know a little something on this brewery.

It is light copper to yellow color. There is really no smell to this beer.  This beer is very refreshing and light in body with a slight carbonation in taste. This is a very drinkable beer during the summer. The fruit used in the brewing process is from Japan that , I bet you can taste it but it is hard if you never had the fruit.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Meet your new Summer Squeeze. The Refreshing brew infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu, the exotic Asian citrus fruit. The result is bright and crisp with a complex citrus finish. Perfect for hot summer days.

This is one summer crush you won’t soon forget.  Infused with Lemongrass and Yuzu.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter: @bridgeportbrew

Closing the tap, I am not a fan of many summer beers but I will keep on trying them very year until I start liking them. This brew is different and I respect what the assistant brewmaster, who is Jeff Edgerton, was trying to do in this summer seasonal. I had a chance a few years ago to meet the brewmaster and talk to him about many of his brews. He ask me about this seasonal and I was a little too honest to him about it. What I said to him, I will say on this blog. It is very well made and there is a huge market for this beer. This beer is not my pint of beer. If you like wheat ales, american lagers, white ales, I recommend you hunting this beer down. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Summit Saga India Pale Ale

Starting a tap, we are going to explore a new brew from the Summit Brewing Company.  The new brew is called Summit Saga India Pale Ale.  Summit Brewing Conmpany was founded in 1986 by Mark Stutrud in St Paul, Minnesota.   It is nice to see this brewery trying to do something new in their beer portfolio.  When they started releasing their Unchained Series, there was a change in the air in the Summit Brewery.  They were doing beers that fit the St Paul area.  Now they are trying to grow even more in other areas of the states.  This beer is their second new beer this year. The first new one was their new Summer Ale replace their old seasonal, which was Summit Hefenizen Ale. Let us get into the beer.

It has a light copper color. It has a grapefruit to mango smell with a little spicy. The taste of the beer is of grapefruit and mango with a slight carbonation taste. This is a very drinkable beer. This is a slight different IPA then what is on the market.

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

Named after the Norse goddess Sága, drinking companion of the God Odin. With a divine tropical fruit hop aroma and clean, assertive bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.summitbrewing.com

Twitter: @summitbeer

Closing the bar, I love this beer and I am happy to see this brewery doing something new and different. There are a few beers that from this brewery. I love their EPA, maibock, porter, winter ale, and oatmeal stout that I wish was package. The rest of their beers are average. This is my thought pattern not yours. Make sure you try their beers and draw your judgment on them. However, this beer to me has brought them back to the front of the line, I cannot wait to see how this beer does against rest of the beer market. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:@djweiser

New Blog Redhook Long Hammer IPA

In this blog, the beer that will be featured is from Redhook Brewery and it is called Long Hammer IPA. This brewery was founded in 1981 by Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker in Seattle, Wa. This brewery is known to have all of their beers be very drinkable for any event and time of the year.

This beer in the glass is a light copper color. The smell is citrus to almost earthy.  The taste of the beer is of carbonation to some citrus drinkable and able to drink it all day. It might be drinkable but it is not well balance. I feel the hoppies over take everything.

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

The generous addition of hops both during and at the end of the fermentation process (dry-hopping) gives our India Pale Ale its characteristic bitterness and piney citrus aroma and flavor.  The medium body, crisp finish, and moderate alcohol and IBU levels makes this one of America’s most drinkable and best-selling IPAs.

Style………………….India Pale Ale

Abv…………………….6.5%

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Malts…………………Pale, Caramel, MunichHops…………………..Alchemy, Cascade, WillametteColor SRM………….8.5–>IBUs…………………..44.0

IBUOriginal Gravity..14.4 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1984

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

In closing, this brewery was one of the first breweries that had me hooked on craft beer world. I use to drink their ESB (Extra Special Bitter) all the time. From there, I started to try other craft beers from other craft breweries. I want to thank this brewery for showing me the light on good beer. I like this beer for its drinkable but I believe it is not well balance and over hopped. It does not have enough malt backbone to it. I love this beer in the can but I will not buy it all the time. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Hop Happy India Pale Ale

Starting another tap, we are going to talk about another beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company and it is called Milwaukee Brewing Hop Happy India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blogs on this brewery, you will know the history of it.  Let us get into the beer now.

This beer is a beautiful copper tone to it in the glass. It has a nice earthy to piney smell to the beer. As far as the taste of the beer, it is very smooth and well balance for being an India Pale Ale.  A nice sweet carbonation taste in the beer with a slight circus kick in it. Aftertaste has the nice dry earthy hop snap to it.

Here is a description of the beer from the website (www.mkebrewing.com):

Brewed with three different kinds of hops, this IPA is balanced by the oats added to the mash. The oats not only add an unexpected sweetness, but also a heavier mouthfeel.

Here is a video about the beer from their website (www.mkebrewing.com) also:

http://youtu.be/KHbJ5StqoI4

Here is a few spots where you can get some information on this brewery:

Website: http://www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter: @mkebrewco

Last call, I really enjoy many of the beers that this brewery makes in their lineup. I love this beer for many reason but mainly because it is not overly hoppy like most IPAs out now. Plus, this beer is very drinkable for any season. Go hunt this beer down and let me know what you think of the beer. Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA

In this blog, we are going to talk about another small brewery called Uinta Brewery from Salt Lake City, Utah.  We talked about Hyve in my earlier blog.  I voiced how it was very disappointed and I did not like it.  This time around we are going to talk about one of my favorite beer from them.  The beer we are going to sip and visit is called the Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA.  This beer style is a marriage of two awesome styles of beer.  Porter or stout meets IPAs.  You can’t go wrong with that.  This is the latest trending beer style out there right now.

This beer in the glass is black until you put it up to the light then it becomes a dark brown.  The smell of the beer is of sweet circus. The taste of the beer is slight chocolate and kick of carbonation to circus kick. The aftertaste is very dry but in a good way.  The dryness from this beer is from the hops and the IBU is over 130.  Just picture yourself eating chocolate cover orange and you will understand this style a little bit better.  It is not fully like that but it gives you a better idea.

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

Toasted, chocolaty dark malts align with an astronomical amount of hops.

They put this also on their website (www.uintabrewing.com):

Named Utah’s Centennial Star in 1996, Dubhe (pronounced Doo-bee) illuminates the front of the big dipper from 124 light years away. Dubhe, also known as Alpha Ursae Majoris, is a red giant that appears orange in color and has a mass 4x that of the sun.

Here is a few places to get information on this brewery:

Website: www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

Setting up the tap again, I really love this beer.  I love all three beer styles that go into this one beer style.  It is a wet dream for people that enjoy all factors that this style and this beer brings to your coffee table or bar.  This is one of my favorite one in the Black IPA market along with Widmer Pitch Black IPA. Pitch Black and Dubhe are the same style but totally different.  I want you to go out and hunt this beer down and try it.  Please let me know what you think and send a message to the brewery.  Breweries love to hear from us beer drinkers.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Central Waters Illumination Double IPA

In this blog, we are going to take a look at a beer from a small brewery from Amherst, WI called Central Waters.  This brewery is powered by solar power.  They are very green on everything with packaging and energy use.  This brewery has been in business since 1996.  Mike McElwain and Jerome Ebel are the founders of this brewery.  Their packaging is very dull and boring, however, we do not judge on packing just the beer inside.  They brew several different styles. The one we will be talking from Central Waters called Illumination Double IPA (India Pale Ale).

This beer in the glass is a cloudy light copper color.  When smelling it, you will get a strong piny smell from the hops in the brew.  As far as tasting the beer, it is over load of circus to earthy sweetest with a very dry aftertaste leaving in your mouth.  I really do not like this beer because several factors.  The one thing I do not like, there is not enough malt backbone in this beer.  The other thing I do not like about this beer is the over hop in the beer.  This beer is another cookie cutter of all the rest of American Double IPAs out there.  I am not saying all are bad but there are better ones out there.  However, after killing this beer, the plus for this beer is it is a great value for the price you will be paying for it.

Here is a descripation from the bottle:

Can you say palate wrecker? This Double IPA comes in at 108 IBUs, as hoppy as it gets with a mouthful of citrus flavors.  Grab one today and Illuminate your taste buds.

Here is a few sources to get to know this brewery better:

Website: www.centralwaters.com

Twitter: Not one listed

Setting up the bill, this is not a beer I will run out and get when it comes out.  It is a seasonal four pack from Central Waters.  If I am in the mood and I see it, I will drink it.  If there is another Double IPA at the bar, I hate to say I will drink that.  Just because I did not like this beer.  This does not mean that you will not like this beer.  This brewery cannot be judge on this beer and you should not judge them for this beer nor blog.  They do brewery some awesome beers.  This one is not one of their best ones.  Enjoy it! Drink it!  Metal it!

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn Ram Blonde Beer

In this blog, I am on location at The Ram in Wheeling, IL. This is the third blog on this brewery, please look back at the older blogs on back story if this brewery. If you have read them, then you know about this beer.

We are going to talk about one of their everyday beers called Blonde Beer.  It sits in the glass as a clear with a yellow to golden color. There really is no smell to this beer. As far as taste, you can taste the carbonation while the sweetest kicks in halfway through the tasting experience.

There was a menu lying around so here is the description of the beer:

Big Horn Blonde award-winning golden ale, light bodied with mild malt sweetness and delicately hopped for a crisp, refreshing finish.

ABV 4.4% SRM 6.0 IBUs 20 Grain Pale Munich Hops Cascade and Willamette.

In closing, I am going to be honest.  I am really not a fan of this beer nor the style. I really can see people loving this beer. It is a very drinkable beer and session. It is a perfect day like today in Chicago where it is 90+ degree today. This will make the American lager drinker to the wheat beer drinker happy. I do not see many hop heads liking this beer. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser