pale ale

New Beer Blog New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale

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In this retro beer blog, we are going to sample a beer, which is Mighty Arrow Pale Ale, from the past that came back in Folly Pack from New Belgium Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of New Belgium Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This pale ale has a clear golden color with a nice constant white head.  The aroma is a nice citrus notes.  The tasting experience has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hoppy citrus to dry bitter finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Mighty Arrow Pale Ale provides lots of pleasurable sniffs from Amarillo and Cascade hops with a fetching honey malt base. This is our brewed tribute to Arrow, Kim’s Aussie/Border Collie mix who ran (literally) New Belgium for 12 years. When she wasn’t patrolling the brewery grounds, she was famous for her office visits: She never met a tummy rub she didn’t like. Atta girl, Arrow. Mighty Arrow makes its return as the revival beer in Folly Packs from January to April 2014.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In closing, I was pretty sad when this beer was retired.  I learned at the beginning of the year that this brew was returning to the market.  I was a little upset that I had to buy a whole sampler 12 pack bottles to get the bottles.  I wished they would release it as 6 pack again.  I understand why they did not do that.  I love this beer and I love the hops to the malty backbone.   It is pretty drinkable and it is perfect for the spring and summer time.  I wish they would put this in their everyday beer line up.  This is a great brew and I would hurry to the store to get this beer before it disappears again.  I highly recommend this Pale Ale.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Surly Brewing Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample a brew from Surly Brewing.  If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know I posted a review on a live blog at Savor a few years ago in Washington D.C.  This beer is their Over Rated! West Coast Style IPA.  Surly Brewing was founded by Omar Ansari in 2005 at Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into this West Coast Style IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head that disappears over time. The smell is citrus with hints of orange. The taste is refreshing citrus notes with a dry hoppy aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

It’s been said; “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.”  And you known us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale.  “Surly’s a little gimmick beers,”  and maybe we ware OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer.  If you like it, great, so do we.  If you only liked us when we wer small, then leave this one on the shelf.  Let one of the fanboys grab it.

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

Overrated

It’s been said: “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy  beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you know us, we are always  looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA  Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little bit of a  one-trick pony, they just brew gimmick beers,” and maybe we are  OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it,  great, so do we. If you only liked us when we were small, then leave  this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.

STYLE: West Coast IPA
MALT: 2-Row, Belgian Crystal
HOPS: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, El Dorado
YEAST: English Ale
OG: 15.5º Plato
ABV: 7.3%
COLOR: 4.5 º
SRM IBU: 69
AVAILABILITY: Cans, occasionally throughout the year

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.surlybrewing.com

Twitter:  @surlybrewing

In the end, I was pretty excited to see they landed in  the Chicagoland area.  When I was in town, I picked up a four back of this brew and their flagship beer.  I did not enjoy this IPA as much as I did their flagship, which is Furious IPA. I enjoyed this beer very much but the hops.  The hops make this brew pretty drinkable and light in body.  Unlike other west coast style IPA.  I believe that is what Surly Brewery was going for in making this beer.  This is a seasonal brew.  It is a good beer but I love their Furious IPA more.  I recommend you trying this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Abita Purple Haze

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Purple Haze from Abita.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of Abita Brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know this southern craft brewery.  Let us get into this fruit beer.

It has a cloudy light amber to darker golden color with a white constant head on this fruit lager.  The aroma has a heavy raspberry notes.  The taste has a sweet raspberry notes with a hint of light carbonated notes.  The aftertaste is nice and clean with touch of raspberry notes.  It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Purple Haze is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration.  It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops.  The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you even may see fruit pulp in the beer.

Here is a descration from their website (www.abita.com):

Purple Haze® is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you may see fruit pulp in the beer.

This beer is best served with salads or light fruit desserts, such as soufflés or chiffon cakes. Many people enjoy it with chocolate desserts. Purple Haze® pairs well with certain cheeses, such as ripened Brie or any dessert made with mascarpone. It’s also great paired with entrees prepared with fruit, especially citrus. Consider enjoying Purple Haze® alone at the end of your meal as dessert.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

In closing, wheat and fruit beers are two beer styles that I normally do not go out of my way to hint down in the market.  I have to say Purple Haze from Abita is not a bad beer.  I love the rasphberry notes from the aroma and tasting profile.  This is a nice brew for a hot summer day or a just a beer to enjoy during a snow day.  There is a nice balances from the beer and the fruit notes.  This is a beer you can have one after and other.  Raspberries are not overpowering in the beer.  It is a nice balance and the aftertaste is clean but with a touch of raspberry notes.  I recommend this beer with dessert or it can be your dessert.  It will go good with lighter dishes like salads.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Abita Restoration Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Abita Brewing and it is their Restoration Pale Ale.  If you read my beer blog from yesterday on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog posts, please, read it to get to know this southern Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this Pale Ale.

It has a clear copper color with a nice white constant head.  The smell is there but hard for me to pick up.  I believe piney notes. The taste has a slight citrus notes with a nice dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Restoration Pale Ale®

Restoration Pale Ale® is brewed with pale, caramel and carapils malts. It is liberally hopped and dry hopped with Cascade hops. This golden ale has a rich body, mild bitterness, and a snappy citrus hop flavor and aroma. With your help Restoration raised over $550,000 for hurricane relief.

This beer can be paired with many different dishes according to your taste. The citrus flavor and aroma make it an excellent choice with most fish, especially ones that are prepared to match the flavor of the beer. American, Muenster, Havarti and Monterey Jack cheeses pair well with Restoration.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.abita.com

Twitter:  @TheAbitaBeer

Closing, I could not finger out what this beer smells like. This beer is pretty drinkable and I would hope so because of the type of beer style.  I love the back story of this brew.  It has raised a ton of money for hurricane relief for the city that the brewery is located.  I just feel this brew was rushed to meet deadlines.  There is nothing wrong with that because it was going for a good cause.  This is not one of the worse pale ales that I have ever had but it is still not a good one.  Most craft beer is brewed for the city or reign that it comes from.  I bet looking at half million dollars this brew raised.  It does really well in the south.  I bet you are thinking that I can not believe he does not like this brew.  I do not like it and that is my thought pattern.  This does not mean you will not like it.  Everyone has different taste for different things.  There is a reason why there is a ton of beer on the market.  Please, try it and share your thoughts with me.  I would love to hear them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Paw Paw Black River Oatmeal Stout

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While at Ashley’s Westland, I had a chance to sample another beer from Paw Paw Brewery.  It was Black River Oatmeal Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this westside Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read those blog posts, please, read those posts to get to know Paw Paw Brewery.  Let us get into this Oatmeal Stout.

It has a jet black color with a nice creamy small bubbles and a tan color head on this Oatmeal Stout.  The aroma has roasted malty to some chocolate and coffee notes.  The drinking experience entitles a smooth to creamy chocolate notes.  The aftertaste has a dry coffee notes.  It has a medium to heavy body.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Black River

Black River Oatmeal Stout is a very smooth slightly chocolaty stout. Pleasing mild roast, rich bitterweet chocolate and chocolate ice cream flavor. Terrific mouth feel, clean & drying in the finish. For the stout drinker this is a must try.

Here is their website and  twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pawpawbrewing.com

Twitter:  @2pawsbeer

Closing, Paw Paw Brewery does not make a bad beer.  Every beer that I have had from this brewery are awesome.  This oatmeal stout is awesome.  I love the chocolate notes and heaviest from the body.  It might be a sipping beer but you can relax when drinking this beer.  The mouthfeel is a cream chocolate notes.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be hunting this beer down in bottles in my area.  I hope to see it on draft in the future again.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog New Belgium RyePA

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While in Fort Collins, Co, we are going to sample another brew, which is RyePA, from New Belgium Brewery.  I was pretty excited to get out there. I had a great time at the brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Top Five Craft Brewery in the States.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this Rye IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a nice constant white head.  The aroma has piney, earthy, and spicy notes.  The taste has a medium carbonation with malty and piney notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hoppy finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Artisan maltster River Bend Malt House of Asheville, North Carolina, kiln a perfect rye. And when you pair gobs of their spicy rye with heaps of spicy hops you get a great Hop Kitchen Beer. This unique, and collaborative, Rye IPA boasts a bold blend of Simcoe, Galaxy, Cascade, and Mosaic hops to bring a thunderous 75 IBU. Have a sip and feel the bang.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing out my day at New Belgium, I had a great time at the brewery and I hope to return their again soon.  I had a chance to go through a whole brewery tour and try several beers.  I trird to get take notes on as many beers as I could.  When I sipped this beer, I knew I had to write a review on this RyePA.  I love the sweet and bitter from this beer.  It is in that order on the tasting experience.  There is a nice malty backbone that holds up to a nice selection of hops used in this beer.  Rye IPA’s are quickly becoming a pretty popular beer style in the IPA world.  I will have to say this is the best Rye IPA that I have ever had.  I love Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA.  New Belgium has topped it and took it to the next level.  I wish I could get this in Michigan but I guess I will have to find someone to trade with to get a few bottles.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Brewery Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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In the beginning, Stone Brewery took their Arrogant Bastard Ale to the next level.  We are talking and will sample their Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.  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 those postd to get to know Stone Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark red to amber color with a nice white color head.  The aroma has a strong alcohol notes with hints of earthy and oak notes.  The taste has a warm alcohol notes with slight vanilla to oak notes.  The aftertaste has a dry malty alcohol.  It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Arrogant Bastard Ale:  This is an aggressive ale.  You probably won’t like it.  It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth.  We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal.  Perhaps you think multimillion dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better.  Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

The Arrogance Grows:  Too many strive towards complacency as a goal.  They stop their urge and desire for discovery somewhere between youth and adulthood.  And when they find their complacency threatened, they do everything to recover the warm, fuzzy feeling of that last complacency as quickly as possible.  Throughout every culture, every country, and every way of thought you will find it.  We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life.  True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth.  The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion.  Passion threatens the complacent and fills them with fear.  Fear of the new, the deep and the different.  We, on the other hand, seek it out.  Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively.  To this end we bring the “Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale.”  Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

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

This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory — maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.
Too many strive towards complacency as a goal. We grow up thinking that the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life. True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth. The real beauty, richness and depth in life can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live and find life’s passion. Passion threatens the complacent, and fills them with fear. Fear of the new, the deep and the different. We, on the other hand, seek it out. Endlessly, joyously…and aggressively. To this end we bring you the “OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale.” Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion, and another point of dissension for those who are not.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrew.com

Twitter:  @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, I love their Arrogant Bastard Ale.  I love their glassware for it.  I kind wish I could get more of them.  I guess I will have to go on their website and order some more.  I have been eyeing this beer for a while.  I was pretty excited to see them finally do a sampler pack.  I was getting ready to pick up a bottle when I moved back to Michigan.  You can buy single bottles unlike Chicago market.  I am glad I went for the sampler pack.  It is worth the price.  This is a perfect beer along with their Arrogant Bastard Ale for the Michigan Winters.  I can see myself drinking some during the hot summers.  Either way, this is a great brew and I recommend you trying it.  Please, let me know what you think.  Go drink some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewery Hi-Res Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another and a new brew from Sixpoint Brewery.  It is their Hi-Res Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this Brooklyn Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Sixpoint Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has citrus to slight grapefruit notes.  The taste is a medium to full body with some grapefruit to tropical fruit notes.  It is extremely drinkable Double IPA.  The aftertaste has a nice mango or grapefruit notes.  It is hard to pick up.

Here is a video from their website (www.sixpoint.com) and YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In the end of the night, I will have to say this beer put me down for the night. It is extremely drinkable and does not taste like a Double or Imperial India Pale Ale.  Sixpoint has out did themselves again on this beer.  I never thought I would find another Imperial IPA better than their Resin.  I love the aroma and taste notes of the tropical fruits or grapefruit.  If I still lived in Chicago, this would be my go to beer on a regular basis along with Resin.  I have turn on mass-produced lager drinkers to this beer.  I know how that sounds but they love it.  If you are in the market where Sixpoint sells their beers, you need to run to the store RIGHT NOW and get yourself a four pack.  You will thank me later.  Share your Sixpoint love with others!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Imperial Red Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Blue Point Brewery.  It is their Imperial Red Ale that they brew for Ashley’s Ann Arbor and Westland for their 30th Anniversary.  Ashley’s Bar is a nice craft bar with 48 taps and over 100 bottles.  They had several craft breweries around the country brewing a special beer for their celebration.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Blue Point Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this East Coast Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear red or amber color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has hoppy malty like a sweet hoppy candy notes.  The taste is a sweet malty notes with a lightly carbonated notes.  Aftertaste has malty dry finish.  It does not last long.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

With half a dozen different malts, including Abbey, Carafa, Munich, and Victory – plus Citra, Mt. Rainier, and Styrian Bobek hops, there’s bound to be something for everyone in this big, red ale that we’ve handcrafted especially for Ashley’s. Cheers! Mark and Pete

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, how can I go wrong with this brew.  I have my favorite craft beer bar and one of my favorite craft breweries.  I am not a huge fan of Red Ales.  I was pretty impressed with this beer.  I have to say this beer aged pretty well.  This red ale has a big hop bite with a nice drinkable malty backbone finish.  I love the aroma to the taste and the color.  There is everything going on in this brew.  I hope you have a chance to try this brew.  I recommend this brew.  I hope to find this beer in draft again and soon.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Old Dominion Brewing Double D Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Double D Double IPA from Old Dominion Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Morning Glory Espresso Stout, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know Old Dominion Brewing.  Let us get into the brew.

This Double IPA has a clear slightly dark copper color with a nice  white head on it.  The aroma has tropical fruit notes.  The taste has mango to citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Her parents named her Deanie Davis.  Uncle Same assigned her call letters: Double D.  This daring Imperial IPA detonates at 50 IBU’s and 9% ALC. by Vol.

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

Double D Double IPA

Double D is a full-bodied Imperial India Pale Ale, flaunting sultry guava, mango, and tropical fruit aromas as a result of dry hopping with Citra, Zythos and Crystal hops. Brewed with light toasted malt and Bravo bittering hops, this double delights with smooth warming alcohols and a torrid finish.

  • 9.0% alc/vol
  • 90 IBUS
  • Best IPA Atlantic City Beer Festival
  • Pale, Munich and Chocolate Malts
  • Zythos, Crystal, Citra and Bravo Hops
  • Available In 12oz bottles, draft and in the Pinup Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fordhamanddominion.com

Twitter:  @DominionBrewing

In the end, I have enjoyed most of their beers.  I know being a reader and someone who knows me away from the words of this blog.  I am pretty big fan of this brewery.  I love how this Double IPA drinks.  It has all the hop character that I love.  I love how the hops kick off tropical fruit notes.  I just think it is pretty funny how I am not a fan of tropical fruits.  LOL!  I love them in my beer. This beer is not a drinkable beer but it is a nice sipping beer for a hot summer day or night.  This is a great beer with nice packaging.  I love the play on words for the name of this beer.  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