pale ale

New Beer Blog Sweetwater Brewery Road Trip Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample one of their seasonal from Sweetwater Brewery.  It is their Road Trip Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read my posts on their India Pale Ale, please, do to get to know Sweetwater Brewery.  Let us get into Road Trip Ale.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this golden ale.  The smell has a sweet malty notes.  The taste profile of this light to medium body has sweet malty to hoppy notes with a nice dry hoppy finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Road Trips are carefree adventures that usually take unexpected twists, like when we crafted this beer.  It started out as a Pilsner recipe, but halfway through it blew a tire and ale yeast was put on as the spare.  The result was so good, it never could have been planned!

Enjoy the Ride!

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

Bikini Season – a fiery Pilsner fermented at ale temperatures for a fuller flavor, capped by and intense spicy-hop finish. Nobody Rides for Free

Specs – 5.2% alcohol available in six packs, Liter bottles, 15.5 Gallon ½ bbl kegs (US Sankey) and 5 gallon torpedo kegs.

Grain – Pilsner and Vienna Malt

Hops – Sterling and US Golding

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Twitter:  @sweetwaterbrew

In closing, I love the story of this brew.  I can see that happening all the time in the brewery kitchen.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I just wish more breweries take it and keep on going with it.  I remember a few years back when I lived in Chicago.  Goose Island Matilda came out as a bad patch but it was not bad.  It was not Matilda.  It came out as a sour ale.  They redid and called it something else. I am not saying it is the case with this beer from Sweetwater.  The point is sometimes mistakes can be a good thing in the brewing process.  This is a great and drinkable brew.  I enjoyed this beer and I could enjoy it by the beach to a nice summer day.  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 Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second brew of the day at their Throwdown Champs Saturday event in their Beer Garden.  It is Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA.  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 those posts to get to know this Michigan craft brewry.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a cloudy bronze color without a head on the beer.  The aroma has tangerine to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus to tangerine and some honey notes with a crisp citrus finish for the aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable but more of a sipping beer to me.

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

Freedom of ’78 is a medium bodied IPA with a wonderful, bright clarity and pleasing bronze hue. The aroma is a unique fusion of citrus fruit and subtle pine qualities. The distinct characteristics of the guava nectar are impossible to miss, and attributes of tangerine, nectarine, and even faint honey flavors are detectable. The finish quickly turns to an expected IPA bitterness that turns dry during prolonged tastings

6.9% ABV

89 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have been going back and forth with this brewery.   I mean liking or not liking Short’s Brewery.  I just feel like they make too many different type of beers and they are spreading themselves too thin.  I also feel like they are rushing batches to meet the demand of the market.  I believe their quality has taken a hit over time.  Their beers do sell and I am not hiding from that fact.  I am not saying all their beers are bad or good.  I just feel like this brewery and most of their beers are very overrated.  I have been wanting to try this beer.  I do like the hops that they picked for the beer.  This is one of the few beers from this brewery that I like.  They did a great job.  I will be looking for some more in the market.  I recommend it!  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 Epic Brewery Brainless IPA

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We are going to sample Brainless IPA that is the second brew from Epic Brewery on this blog.  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 those posts to get to know Epic Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

This Belgian Style India Pale Ale has a cloudy golden color with a nice constant white head.  It has a heavy carbonation with some big bubbles in the head.  The aroma has a spicy citrus notes.  The taste has a heavy carbonation notes with citrus to Belgian spicy notes.  The aftertaste is a heavy dry hop finish.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottles:

Our Brainless IPA pays tribute to the collaboration efforts of innovative brewers. The fruity Belgian yeast and powerful American hops relentless tease your pallet.

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

Our Brainless® IPA pays tribute to the collaborative efforts of innovative brewers. The fruity Belgian yeast and powerful American hops relentlessly tease your pallet.

Glassware: Pint, Snifter, Tulip
Food Pairings: Smoked or grilled meats, spicy foods, sharp cheeses, and very sweet desserts

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.epicbrewing.com

Twitter:  @EpicBrewing

Closing, I have been trying to get to know this Mountain area craft brewery.  Every time I see their beers on draft.  I have been getting at least a pint of it.  I have been mixing up some bottles when I go beer shopping.  I pick up this bottle because I have never had it.  I love my IPA’s and Belgian style IPA’s have been growing on me.  At one time, I really did not like this beer style in the world of IPA’s.  I love the notes that the Belgian yeast kicks off in the beer.  The strong malty backbone knocks the powerful American Hops down that they picked in this brew.  This is a great beer and I am glad I tried it.  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 Hideout Gangster IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into Gangster IPA from Hideout Brewery.  This is the first time that this brewery makes an appearance on this beer blog.  Hideout Brewery opened their doors in 2005 just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  They were named after the location and the brewery looking like prohibition era.  They brew several different beer styles.  They are looking at package here soon just like most young craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper color with a constant snow-white color head.  The aroma has some earthy notes.  The taste has a slight water down earthy tones with a dry hop finish.  The water down comment is in a good way.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Rich and hearty amber coloered IPA.  Made with Zythos hops, there is a significant floral presence in both flavor and the finish, without being too bitter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hideoutbrewing.com

Twitter:  @HideoutBrewing

In closing, this is a great beer and I was pretty excited to see it on draft at Ashley’s in Westland.  This Gangster IPA has a pretty color.  I love the aroma and taste profile.  They build a nice malty backbone to cut through the great hop selection in this beer.  The aftertaste is not as bitter like most India Pale Ale.  They did a great job on this beer and put some thought into it.  I will raise a few more glasses with this beer in it.  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 Sweetwater Brewery 420 Extra Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the flagship beer, which is 420 Extra Pale Ale from Sweetwater Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this southern craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know Sweetwater Brewery.  Let us get into this Extra Pale Ale.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this extra pale ale.  The aroma has a malty to earthy notes.  The taste has malty to earthy hop notes with a dry hop finish for aftertaste.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A tasty west coast style pale accentuated by a stimulating hop character.  First conceived in our bar cave on 4-20, this kind beer keeps the wheels on the bus going round and round.

Drink ’em if you got ’em!

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

SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, our most popular brew, is a tasty West Coast Style Pale Ale with a stimulating hop character and a crisp finish. 1st brewed on April 20th 1997.

Specs – 5.4% alcohol, 16 oz can singles, 6-packs, 12-packs (12 oz bottles and cans), 15.5 Gallon kegs 1/2Bbl (US Sankey), 5 gallon 1/6th bbl torpedo kegs

Grains – Munich, 40L, 2-Row

Hops – Centennial, Cascade

Awards – 2002 Silver Medal- Great American Beer Festival, 1997 – 2005 Creative Loafing Readers Choice – Best local beer, 1998 World Beer Cup silver medal, Top 10 Local beers – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Twitter:  @sweetwaterbrew

Closing, I know this is one of the beers that I had in my beer of the month.  I really enjoyed this beer.  This brew has a nice backbone with some nice hop selection.  This beer might be West Coast Style Pale Ale but it drinks nicely.  This is a nice refreshing with a nice crisp aftertaste.  I love the malty backbone with some nice hop character.  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 Sweetwater Brewery LowRyeder IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into LowRYEder IPA from Sweetwater Brewery.  This is the second beer to be featured on this blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their IPA, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know Sweetwater Brewery.  Let us get into this Rye IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a semi constant white head.  The aroma has rye and other spicy notes.  The taste has a light carbonated rye notes and hop notes.  The aftertaste is a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A flame throwin’ IPA ignited by a 25% shot of rye malt and capped by a booty hoppin’ blast of Mt Hood and Centennial hops  that makes this IPA bounce!

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

A flame throwin’ Rye IPA ignited by a 25% shot of rye malt and capped by a booty hoppin’ blast of Mt Hood and Centennial hops that makes this IPA bounce!

Gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.

Grains: 2 Row, Rye Malt, CaraRye, Rye Flakes, Munich
Hops: Columbus, Mt Hood, Centennial
Dry Hop: Centennial, Mt Hood
ABV: 6.2%
IBUs: 45

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Twitter:  @sweetwaterbrew

Closing, this is a great Rye IPA and medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.  It is pretty balance from the rye and the hops.  I love that the rye is not overpowering the rest of the beer.  They only used 25% in the brew total.  It is enough to give you some nice notes and the hops take over from there.  There is a nice well designed malty backbone that helps cut through the hops.  It is pretty well balance and well designed.  I wish this brewery was up in Michigan but I will enjoy  the bottles I have.  I love this brewery and I will keep searching for a trade partner.  I highly recommend this beer and rest of their beers.  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 Anderson Valley Spring Hornin’ Spring India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second craft beer from Anderson Valley.  It is their Spring Hornin’ Spring India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Wild Turkey Bourdon Stout, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know Anderson Valley Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this IPA.  The aroma has hints of blueberry and honey with notes of citrus.  There is a little bit of floral notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus with a nice honey notes.  The aftertaste is not overly bitter but kind of refreshing.  This is a smooth drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Burnish gold hue with a persistent, rocky white head.  Floral, spicy aroma redolent of lilacs, white pepper and Bartlett pears with undertones of blueberry honey and roses.  A pleasant balance of crisp bitterness with a clean malt profile adorned spicy, herbal hop flavors lasting into a dry, refreshing finish.

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

With floral, spicy aromas reminiscent of lilacs, white pepper and Bartlett pears, our new Spring Hornin’ IPA embodies the season with a clean malt profile and herbal hop flavors lasting into a dry, refreshing finish.

FOOD PAIRINGS:
Fish and chips, roasted lamb, peppery Korean beef, oatmeal raisin cookies

CHEESE PAIRINGS:
Mild English Cheddar, Gouda

GLASSWARE:
Pint Glass

ALC/VOL:
6.8

BITTERNESS:
55 IBU

MALTS:
Pale Two-Row malted barley, Crystal (40L), Munich (20L)

HOPS:
Columbus, Golding, Nugget, Northern Brewer

AVAILABILITY:
Jan-Mar: Draft, 22oz bottle, 12oz bottle

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avbc.com

Twitter:  @avbc

Ending, I really like this beer.  It is a simple statement.  I have been slowly getting into their beers because I am finding they are making some nice brews.  I loved their Stout that they used Wild Turkey Barrels.  I love the unique blueberry notes with hints of honey in this IPA.  I am glad these craft breweries are pushing the limits again.  It was getting to the point that everyone was putting out the same boring stuff with different hops.  Yes, hops do make a difference.  This is a great light Spring IPA.  I will be checking more of their beers out.  I highly recommend this brew.  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 Instigator India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Instigator India Pale Ale from Oddsides Ales.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their brews, 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 IPA.

It has a slight hazel to cloudy copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma is a citrus notes. The taste has a bitter citrus notes with a dry hop bitter finish.  It is pretty drinkable IPA.

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

A bitter and yet fruity IPA. 8%ABV

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oddsideales.com

Twitter:  No Twitter address

Closing, for an everyday IPA, this is a pretty good one.  I would not say it is my favorite or one of my favorite IPA’s on the market.  It is still pretty good and I did enjoyed drinking.  I will pick it up now and then.  I love the circus notes this brew kicks off.  There is a nice malty backbone that holds up to the hops in the brew.  Oddsides Ales makes so awesome beers.  I have not had a bad beer from this brewery yet.  I have to say this beer is good but it is the weakest of their line up.  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

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Victory Brewery Dirt Wolf Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into Dirt Wolf Double IPA from Victory Brewery.  This is the first review of a beer from Victory Brewery.  This is the first time Victory Brewery has appeared on this blog.  I have had a few of their beers and I do not know why I have never blogged about them.  Victory Brewery is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and was founded in 1996.  Victory’s beers are sold in thirty-four states.  They brew several different beers.  Let us get into this Double IPA.

This Double IPA has a cloudy cooper color with a constant white head.  The aroma has a grapefruit to citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus to grapefruit notes with a dry hop bitter aftertaste.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Darky heroic, Humulus Lupulus (hops) have empowered brews with bite and character since the 11th century.  DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with the voracity of a ‘wolf among sheep.’  Hops ave made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing.  Revel in the best US varieties of hops, in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf.  Cheers, Bill Ron Brewmaster of Victory

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

Darkly heroic, Humulus Lupulus (hops) have empowered brews with bite and character since the 11th century. DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with the voracity of a “wolf among sheep.” Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best U.S. varieties of hops, in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf Double IPA.

Composition

Malt: Imported two-row malts

Hops: Whole flower Citra, Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic hops

ABV: 8.7%

Flavor

This dangerously delicious recipe features often subtle, but sometimes assertive signatures of American hop varieties. Look for: Citra: heavy citrus aroma, fruity flavor; Chinook: grapefruit, resinous pine; Simcoe: dry, piney; and Mosaic: earthy and mildly floral, with notes of sweet citrus and spice.

Food Pairings

Burgers, BBQ and hard cheeses

Availability

Available year-round in 12oz. bottles and on draft.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.victorybeer.com

Twitter:  @victorybeer

Closing, here is a double IPA that I was not expecting to have some things going on in it.  I love the hop character in this brew.  I love the citrus to grapefruit notes that are kicking off in this brew.  It is a nice relaxing sipping beer.  The brewmaster build a strong malty backbone to cut through the heavy hop flavor.  There is a ton going on and you get new things in every sip you take.  I love exploring beers like this more than the normal beers or the beers that are not as complex.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend this brew.  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 Goose Island The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out one of two special high-end brews from Goose Island.  The first one is The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel.  This brew is named after the first mayor of Chicago.  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.  Let us get into this Tripel Ale.

This beer has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this tripel ale.  The aroma has some tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a tropical fruit notes with a slight hint of Belgian spice notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop to a tropical fruit finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We dry hopped our Belgian Style Tripel to balance spicy, tropical American hop flavors with an unique Belgian yeast, giving it a bold, move complex palate.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

William Ogden opened Chicago’s first brewery. He was the city’s first mayor. And he added the North Brand channel to the Chicago River that created the island from which we take our name. Three good reasons why we gave our first-ever Belgian Style Tripel his name. We dry hopped The Ogden with American Citra® and Brewer’s Gold hops to add spicy, tropical flavors. Then we fermented it with a unique Belgian yeast to give it a bold, complex palate.

Recipe Information:

Style: Belgian Tripel

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 35

Color: Straw

Hops: Brewer’s Gold, Citra, Saaz

Malts: 2-Row

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, as many of you know, I am a huge fan of this midwest craft brewery.  They have one of my favorite IPA’s on the market.  When I finally saw this hit the shelves in Michigan, I did not think twice.  I was getting ready to trade to get at least a bottle of each of these newer beers from Goose Island.   I picked up a few bottles of the The Ogden and The Illinois.  I thought I would share my thoughts on these beers.  I will start with The Ogden and you can find the other review today.  I love the Belgian tripel style.  I love the funkiest and the aroma to the taste profile that the hops kick off.  Brett Porter and his staff did this one different and a twisted on this classic beer style.  I believe they did a great job.  I will be picking up more this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13