pale ale

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first beer from my beer trade with my friend Matt from the East Coast. I have been wanting to try this beer and I was pretty excited to get a few bottles. It is Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Widmer Brothers. Let us get into Upheaval IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this India Pale Ale. The aroma has a heavy citrus to slight grapefruit notes. The taste profile of this medium to full body beer is a carbonation citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish. It is pretty drinkable IPA but I find myself sipping it.

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

Upheaval IPA is the result of our brewers’ relentless pursuit of the perfect IPA. With more than two pounds of hops per barrel, Upheaval IPA unleashes a huge hop flavor and aroma with serious bitterness and balanced finish. Brewed with wheat, the result is a hazy, bold IPA that’s Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetic. Uncompromised.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter: @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome brew. I really enjoyed it. I just find it funny. When I make this trade with my friend, package finds its way into my market but it is still a drive. I am cool with that because now I can pick up a six-pack. I love big malty backbone with some Northwest hops. It has a nice bold and powerful hop character but nice enough to make it drinkable beer. Widmer Brothers did it again. They pushed the limits of craft beer. This is the new standard of IPA’s. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Greenbush Brewery Dunegräs India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew, which is Dunegräs India Pale Ale, from Greenbush Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts about their beers, you know the history of this west side Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a dark copper color to light amber with a constant white head. The aroma has a slight floral to citrus notes. The taste has a light carbonation with a sweet notes to citrus like notes towards the middle of the drinking experience. The dry bitter hop aftertaste at end. It is kind of drinkable to a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here at Greenbush we’ve always known that good ideas often start over beer. We also know that there’s nothing like taking a good idea too far. You’re reading this, so you must be one of us. Enjoy the first step in taking your own idea too far.

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

A justly hopped india pale ale with absolutely no dunegrass.

Combining west coast and noble hops, we created our own IPA with a shining finish. And as an environmental treat, absolutely no dunegrass was killed in order to make our fine beer, so drink up!

Grain: Golden Promise, Gambrinus, Munich, Belgian Aromatic, Crystal 60L

Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Cascade, Spalt

Yeast: House yeast

Specs:
67 ibu
alc. 6.7% by vol.
12º Lovibond

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter: @Greenbush_Brew

Closing, I have had several of their brews. This one was pretty good and I did enjoyed drinking it. I have to say I was a little disappointed compared to rest of their beers. This beer is still a great beer. I love two out of four of hops that they use in this brew. I do not know why I am pretty disappointed with this beer but it is still good. I guess every craft breweries has that beer in their line up. This beer is the weakest in their line up but this beer could be some craft breweries best beer. This Michigan craft brewery makes some great beers. I recommend this beer and I want to hear your thoughts. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing RyeClops Imperial Rye PA

In this beer blog, we are going to same RyeClops Imperial Rye PA from Arbor Brewing. If you read my earlier beer blog posts from Arbor Brewing, you know the history of this southeast Michigan craft brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this Imperial Rye IPA.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head on this Rye IPA. The aroma has a slight malty notes. The taste has a sweet malty notes with a spicy and rye notes for an aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer box:

Arbor Brewing Company has been a pioneer in the craft beer industry since opening our Ann Arbor brewpub in 1995. Our passion for handcrafted beer, local courcing, community involvement, and environmental stewardship has been our foundation for nearly two decades. In 2006 we opened our microbrewery in Ypsilanti to brew and package our award-winning beers for distribution. In 2012 we expanded our operation and became the first solar brewery in Michigan and also became the first American craft brewery in India with the opening of an Arbor Brewing Company pub in downtown Bangalore. We hope you’ll pop in next time you find yourself in southeast Michigan (or southern India). Cheers!

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

Description

Ryeclops is dominated with a mouthful of distinct rye malt character complimented by the spicy fruity hoppiness of American high-alpha simcoe hops.

Use caution when confronted with the Ryeclops, as it’s delightful aroma and complex flavor camouflage a might, boozy-backboned single-hopped monster of a brew!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter: @ArborBrew and @ArborBrewYpsi

In the end, I had many Rye IPA or Rye PA’s. There are not too many Imperial Rye IPA’s. Maybe I am missing them in the market or did not realize how many are out there. This brewery might be a head of the curb as far as the Imperial Rye IPA side of things. Anyways, back to this review, I can always search out and see if there are other Imperial Rye IPA’s on the market later. I really enjoyed the hop character and the build up on the malty backbone in the beer. This is an excite beer and Arbor Brewing did a great job like the norm on it. I highly recommend this beer while it is still in season. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Wieser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Dragonmead Brewery Crown Jewel IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample Crown Jewel IPA from Dragonmead Brewery. This is the first appearance for this brewery and beer. We will do a belief history of this Michigan craft brewery and then get into this beer. Dragonmead Brewery opened in 1997 in Warren, Michigan. It was founded by Earl Scherbarth, Larry Channel, and Bill Wrobel. They brew several different beer styles. Their packaging and brewpub has a Medieval era theme. Let us get into this beer.

This Michigan craft India Pale Ale has a dark amber to dark copper color. If you glance at it, it looks almost looks like a brown color. The smell has earthy tones and notes with hints of toffee to malt notes. The taste profile of this medium body has earthy notes to toffee and slight caramel with dry hop bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.dragonmead.com

Twitter: @Dragonmead

In closing, This is not American IPA. It is an English style IPA. There is a huge malty backbone that is overpowering the hops. They picked some nice hops. It is a bad version of IPA and I am not liking the metallic notes. I just find it pretty funny that this beer is not on their website. Is it still being made? Or did this beer found itself in grave? These are some pretty important questions. This is beer is in a four pack and it is overpriced. I believe this craft brewery needs to look at their beer a little bit more. I believe they need to take a hard look at their recipes. They have a shot of making some good beers. I just feel they are at a cross roads. With all new craft breweries and beers in the market, this craft brewery needs to take some notes. I do not recommend this beer but it is worth trying at least once. Don’t go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium And Odell Brewing FOCOllaboration American Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into collaboration from New Belgium and Odell Brewery. It is their FOCOllaboration American Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on both of these breweries’ beers, you know the history of this craft breweries. If you have not, please, read them to get to know these craft breweries. Let us get into this American Pale Ale.

This American pale ale has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has grapefruit to piney notes with a slight but fated citrus notes. The taste has a sweet fruity to piney notes with citrus to grapefruit notes for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We teamed up with our hometown hop heroes at Odell to brew a FOrt COllins collaboration. Our proximity allowed sharing of ingredients to create this unique Pale Ale. If only we could employ the prairie dogs that inhabit the space between us to courier the Fawcett malt, an Odell standard, we used to complement our favored Centennial, Cascade and Citra hops. Best enjoyed with a neighbor!

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

We teamed up with our hometown hop heroes at Odell Brewing to brew a FOrt COllins collaboration. Our proximity allowed sharing of ingredients to create this unique Pale Ale. If only we could employ the prairie dogs that inhabit the space between us to courier the Fawcett malt, an Odell standard, we used to complement our favored Centennial, Cascade and Citra hops. Best enjoyed with a neighbor!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newbelgium.com and www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter: @OdellBrewing and @newbelgium

In closing, I love both of these breweries and their beers they come out with. Odell’s, I wish was in the State of Michigan. I will have to do trades to get some of their beers. I have had pretty much all of their beers and blogged about them. I was happy to see this beer make it to the state. It was a no brainer to pick up this brew. It is an American PAle Ale but just a little different. I really enjoyed the hops and nice malty backbone. I highly recommend this brew and I would get out to find it as soon as possible. There is a limited of bottles in the market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Hoptimum Imperial IPA 2014

In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of my favorite Imperial India Pale Ale. It is Sierra Nevada Brewery Hoptimum Imperial India Pale Ale. 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 Sierra Nevada Brewery. Let us get into this Imperial IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head. The smell has a heavy piney to earthy notes. The taste has a heavy piney to earthy notes with a heavy dry hop bitter finish for the aftertaste. It is a nice to comfortable sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Hoptimum is the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Aggressively hopped, dry hopped AND torpedoed. Hoptimum delivers ultra-intense flavors to hop fanatics everywhere.

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

Hoptimum^® Imperial IPA

A whole-cone hurricane of flavor.

Hoptimum is a hurricane of whole-cone hop flavor. Hopped, dry hopped and torpedoed for incredible hop flavor and complexity, Hoptimum is the pinnacle of whole-cone hoppiness and the biggest Imperial IPA we have ever produced. It features resinous hop varieties: Magnum, Chinook, Simcoe and a new experimental hop variety exclusive to Sierra Nevada. With intense hop flavors and aromas of grapefruit rind, pine, herbs and tropical fruit, Hoptimum is an aggressive drinking experience. Originally created as part of our Beer Camp program, Hoptimum throws down the gauntlet to all other IPAs.

Dry Hops

We work hard to get strong hop flavors into our beers and one of the ways we do that is through dry hopping. Dry hopping refers to the addition of whole-cone hops to the fermentation tanks. The addition of hops to cold beer allows the aromatic oils and resins to infuse the beer with flavor and aroma without adding any additional bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @SierraNevada

In the end, I love Sierra Nevada and their beers. This brewery does not make a bad beer and I had pretty much all their brews. This is one of the best all around craft brewery and I feel they are very under rated. I believe that is because there are so many new breweries around. They just get forgotten in the mix. If you have not went back and retry their beers, I highly recommend doing so. I believe you will be stun at how good their beers are compared to other breweries’ beers. I am not saying they are the number one brewery but pretty close. I love the IBU count in this beer. It is like eating a whole hop cone. This is a great beer and it has a nice malty backbone. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Oddside Ales Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Paranoia Imperial India Pale Ale, from Oddside Ales. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their craft brews, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Oddside Ales. Let us get into this glow in dark label Imperial IPA.

This Imperial India Pale Ale has a clear dark copper color with a semi white head. The aroma has earthy notes. The taste has earthy with some light carbonation. The aftertaste is dry hop bitter finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.oddsideales.com

Twitter: @oddsidesales

In closing, I love this brew as far as the taste profile. However, I am really not a huge fan of the dry hop bitter finish, it is a little too powerful for me. I normally do not mind but today I was little turn off on it. This is a great beer and I know many craft beer and hopheads drinkers will love this beer. I love the hops they picked in this brew. They did a great job designing the malty backbone. I highly recommend this brew, plus, it glows in the dark. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Right Brain Brewery Stowaway Saison Ale

While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Stowaway Saison Ale from Right Brain Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read my beer blog posts about their beers to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.

This Saison Ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head. The head of the beer has small bubbles. The aroma has Belgian spices with a citrus notes like lemon. The taste has a light carbonation Belgian spice with citrus notes. The finish is a refreshing slight hop aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

STOWAWAY
Style: Reclaimed Saison
ABV: 5.7%
A traditional Saison with a hazy golden color, fruit-forward aroma, crisp complex flavor, and mildly acidic finish. #RBB brewers cultivated the reclaimed yeast used for this beer over a span of 7-months.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.rightbrainbrewery.com

Twitter: @rightbrainbrew

In closing, I will be perfectly honest with you. I did not like this beer the first time I tried it. I had to try this beer one more time just because I love this brewery and I am a huge fan of them. I do not know if it was what I was eating or the beer I had before trying this beer. The second time that I have had this beer is a positive thought towards this beer. I really enjoyed this beer. I love the refreshing taste profile that this beer provides to the craft beer drinker. I love the hops used in this beer. I will be looking for this beer again on my next beer run or at my neighborhood bar. I highly recommend this beer if you are a light beer drinker or love your Saison Ales. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Coronado Brewery Islander IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample Islander IPA from Coronada Brewery. I had a chance to try this brew from a tap take over a few weeks ago. I was not impressed with this beer and rest of their brews. I loved their Orange Wit but there was a few people who did not like and others that did. Coronado Brewery was founded in 1996 by Ron and Rick Chapman. They founded the brewery in Coronado City, which is their hometown. The brewery brews several different beer styles. However, like most West Coast craft brewery, they are known for their India Pale Ale. Let us get into this flagship brew.

It has a clear golden color with a semi constant white head on this IPA. The aroma has a grapefruit to mango notes. The taste has a heavy citrus notes like mango and grapefruit with a dry hop bitter finish. It is kind of drinkable. The aftertaste keeps you coming back for more of this West Coast IPA.

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

Description:

Named after Coronado Island, our original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride. Centennial, Chinook and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and luscious notes of apricot, grapefruit and mango that are sure to evoke imagery of swaying palms and sun-kissed shores.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.coronadobrewingcompany.com

Twitter: @coronadobrewing

Closing, I do not know if it was dirty lines or a bad keg. I have to say I was not a fan of this brew on draft at that tap take over. It is possible that it could have been a bad keg. I love this better in bottle and it was so much better than the keg. There was a difference in this brew. I love the hops that they picked for this beer. It is kind of drinkable beer, however, the aftertaste is dry that will keep you coming back for more. This is a great beer and I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Palm Speciale Belge Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to same Speciale Belge Ale from Palm Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east Europe brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts, please, do so to get to know this import craft brewery. Let us get into this Belgian Amber Ale.

It has a clear amber color with white head on this Belgian Amber Ale. The smell has notes of caramel and spices. The taste has spicy to caramel notes with a watery malty finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Palm was originally brewed at the beginning of the 20th Century as a new style of ale. Speciale Belge – taste complexity of an ale brewed to be refreshing like pilsner or lager. It is Palm’s perfect balance of flavor and approachabilty that makes it Belgium’s Amber Ale.

Here is a description from their website (www.palm.be):

PALM

the sociable beer for every day, for everyone

“Speciale Belge” is one of the better Belgian beers of the early 20th century. This smooth-drinking, amber-coloured top-fermentation beer has a sensible alcohol content.
Special PALM malts determine its honey-like mellowness and PALM’s own selected yeasts give it a fruity yeast aroma. Fine aroma hops from Kent afford subtle harmony. PALM is the absolute number one “BELGIAN AMBER BEER”.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.palm.be

Twitter: @palmbeer and @palmale

Closing, I love the aroma and the taste profile from this amber ale. It is smooth and drinkable brew. This is not my favorite beer but it is not bad beer. I just do not like the fact that it has to travel a ton to make it to the United States. I recommend you trying this beer and please, share your thoughts. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

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PALM

the sociable beer for every day, for everyone

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