pale ale

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Boston Ale

In this beer blog, we are going into sample Boston Ale from Samuel Adams. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Boston Beer Company. Let us get into this English style Pale Ale.

It has a nice bronze color with a white constant head. The aroma has a malty to caramel notes. The taste has a nice sweet malty with a hint of caramel. The aftertaste has a dry to slight caramel finish. It is a drinkable brew.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.samueladams.com):

When we opened our Boston Brewery in 1988, we created a special brew, Boston Ale, to mark the occasion. A “stock” ale with a distinctly American character, it’s spiced with English hops, sweetened with caramel malts, fermented as an ale and aged at cool temperatures.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I am be the first to say I am not fan of Samuel Adams. I love how this brewery hides all their other projects like Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard, and Shandy Traveler. This brewery does make some good beers but the rest is below average to average. Their high-end beers are awesome in most cases. This brew I was pretty impressed. It is a nice English pale ale. There is a nice malty backbone with a nice hop selection. 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 Short’s Brew Bonafide Legit American IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into Bonafide Legit American IPA from Short’s Brewing. This is a special brew because they used Summit hops from Michigan. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Northwestern Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get ot know this brewery. Let us get into this American IPA.

It has a cloudy golden color in the light with a white constant head. The aroma has an earthy to citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a dry bitter hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

A light bodied American Pale Ale brewed entirely with Northern Michigan grown Summit hops. An excellent sharp aroma of strong floral and fruity characteristics stings the senses with hop laced anticipation. A sticky hop filled mouthful of damp earthy pine with notable herbal accents coats the entire mouth, followed by a big resiny bitterness that lingers well into the finish, drying the palate and resonating boldly.

ABV 6%

IBU 85

6% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter: @shortsbrewing

Closing, I love this beer. This is their real IPA. This is so much better than their everyday beer. I have to say there is something that is starting to bother me. I love the fact that their website calls this a pale ale but the packaging says American IPA. So which is it. I starting to wonder if it was a print misprinted but if you look at the IBU’s, it is in the range of being an IPA. I am calling this IPA not a pale ale. In other words, this is a great beer and I am pretty impressed. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy i! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Vienna Lager

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Vienna Lager, from Sierra Nevada’s new Fall Sampler Pack. 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 this craft brewery. Let us get into this lager.

It has a clear dark golden to light copper color with a white constant head. The smell has some shunky notes. The taste has a malty to light shunky notes with a nutty finish for the aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Vienna-style lagers were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style. It’s a good thing they did. These delicate beers lean on light and bready malt flavors, but walk a fine, balanced line with whole-come European hope contributing a dry finish.

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

Vienna

The quintessential amber lager revisited.

Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These delicate and extremely balanced amber beers rely on semi-sweet and bready malt flavors but walk a fine line with both malt and hop character shouldering equal weight. Our take on the style features whole-cone European hops, which add to the dry finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I will pick up their fall pack for the Oktoberfest and their Autumn Brown Ale. Just like those other two beers, this is the only way you can get these beers. It is a nice perfect beer for the fall pack. I just do not know how their Pale Ale fits with all this malty love going on this pack. It is kind of two different beer drinkers. Most people who buy these sampler packs are taking them to parties or tailgate parties. I honestly think this brewery can brew just about every style. I highly recommend this beer and the sampler pack. 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 Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2014)

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Oktoberfest that I did not know that Sierra Nevada Brewery made. This beer came out of their new Fall Sampler Pack twelve pack bottles. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada Brewery. Let us get into this Oktoberfest.

It has a reddish-brown color with slightly off-color white head. The aroma has a sweet malty, toffee to nutty notes. The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a slight burned caramel notes for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable fall beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Everyone loves a great party, and there are few quite as famous as Germany’s Oktoberfest. Inspired by that rollicking celebration, we bring you our version of this classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium bodied and rich with malt flavor, but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral hops.

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

Oktoberfest

Our take on the classic, malty festival beer.

Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage and the health of the fall harvest—which in Bavaria, means brewers, barley and hops! Today, Oktoberfest is considered one of the world’s greatest parties, and in honor of that rollicking bash we bring you our version of the classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium-bodied and rich with bready and toffee-like malt flavor but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral and spicy hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing, I love this brewery and I hope one day to make a trip to see this craft brewery. They make some awesome beers and I am always looking for any and all new beers to hit the market. I never had one bad beer from this west coast craft brewery. I was happy to see them put out a sampler packs. They released their 4-way IPA, Beer Camp, and now this one, which is Fall Pack. This Oktoberfest keeps the awesome season roll going for the fall beers. I have to say this is my favorite Oktoberfest. It is not like Goose Island and Great Lakes Oktoberfest where it has a sweet caramel notes. This one has a sweet malty notes to nutty but I love the aftertaste, which is like a burned caramel notes. 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 Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin Ale (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into Smashed Pumpkin Ale from Shipyard Brewing. Shipyard Brewing started out as Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub at Kennebunk, Maine in 1992. The brewery kept on growing and open a brewery called Shipyard Brewing at Portland, Maine. They partner with Sea Dog Brewing Company and Casco Bay Brewing Company and they became the fourth largest brewery in New England. They are fourteenth largest brewery in the United States. They opened a brewery in Winter Park, Florida. Let us get into this beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has pumpkin to slight cinnamon to nutmeg notes. The taste has a sweet cinnamon to nutmeg with a nice creamy caramel notes. The aftertaste has dry cinnamon aftertaste. It is not drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheese, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie. Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs. Try adding a little Shipyard Blue Fin Stout to Smashed Pumpkin for a fall warmer.

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

A big bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully experience all the flavors, this beer is best enjoyed at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shipyard.com

Twitter: @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I have been eyeing this beer for the last few fall seasons. I just finally picked up a bottle. I figure that I will make it my third pumpkin beer of the season. It has a nice color and aroma. I love the taste and the aroma notes. It has a nice bite for being a big fall seasonal but nice and kind of drinkable beer. There is a nice balance from the cinnamon and nutmeg notes but I love the nice creamy caramel notes from the malt. I will be picking up a few more of these beers with some Well’s Banana Bread beer. This is a great beer and I highly recommend it. Go get some! Drink i! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Atwater Brewery In The Park

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about my visit at Atwater Brewery In The Park. I did not take tasting notes but I will talk about the food and kind of what I had to drink. I also will talk about my experience there. If you have read my earlier beer blog posts about their beers, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this dining and drinking experience.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter: @atwaterbeer

Ending, I know there is other craft breweries using churches as their brewery. I know there is one in Pennsylvania. I have never been there. I would love to go. I will be the first to say that I am not a fan of this brewery but I wanted to check out this new brewpub in the Grosse Pointe, Michigan. I might not like the beer from the brewery but I like going to brewpubs. Sometimes, it might be the traveling that might be have an effect on the beer. The staff is super nice and helpful. The inside and outside area is very welcoming to their guests. They have two beer menus. One is beers that are brewed there and the other list is brewed at their main brewpub. I had two beers exclusive to the brewpub there. I had their Poorboy, which was a smoked porter, and Black IPA. I love these two beers and I was pretty impressive. I believe the main brewmasters need to look at some of these beers being made at this brewpub. The other two were Detroit Pale Ale and Bloktoberfest. I kind of like Bloktobeerfest. It is true to the beer style but I felt it was a little light for the style. Pale ale, I just felt it was a little weak on the hop and not strong malty backbone. I had two more that were not on any of these photos. I had GP IPA and Scherthing Cream Ale. These beers are part of the exclusive to Grosse Pointe brewery. The food came out. It was a German theme food menu. I love apps we order. It was a basket of Pretzels. They were awesome. There were different sizes with cheese and honey mustard, which were homemade there. There is a spicy mustard that was also made there. The main course was Turkey Burger with fries. I loved it. It was cooked just right and I love the spices. Overall, I had a great time and I will be back. I would love to try all the exclusive beers brewed there. I will be upfront and honest. I am not a fan of their everyday beers. There beers brewed there need to be packaged. 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 Strawberry Shortcake Ale (2014)

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

It has a cloudy amber color without a head but there is a white head at first. The aroma has a heavy strawberry notes. The taste has a light body with strawberry notes with a crisp finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Strawberry Short’s Cake is a golden ale. The addition of strawberries and milk sugar transform this beer into a rose-colored nectar that has hints of cream and is pleasingly sweet. Biscuit flavors and aromas arise from the great amounts of Victory malt used in the brewing process.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter: @shortsbrewing

Ending, these are the beers that give me hope that Short’s can be something special again. Most of their flagship beers I am really not a fan of them. I use to be a fan. I do not know if my taste bud changed or their beers changes. I know there are many craft beer drinkers like their beers. There is nothing wrong with it. This is my thought pattern of their beers. However, I love this beer, I do not put this beer as a fruit beer. I look at it as a dessert beer like their Key Lime Ale, which I did a review of it earlier. This beer reminds me of Fruli Strawberry Beer. I have done a review a few months ago. Both beer are great. I just feel Short’s focus on their special releases and not on their flagship beers. 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 Finch’s Beer Company Threadless India Pale Ale

In the beginning, we are going to get into Finch’s Beer Company Threadless India Pale Ale. As you know I was at the brewery a few months ago. I thought I would start writing up reviews of their beers. If you read my review on their brewery tour, which I highly recommend doing, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not read it, please, do so get to know this Chicago craft brewery. Let us get into this IPA.

It has a cloudy dark golden to light copper color with a semi white head on this IPA. The aroma has a nice citrus notes. The taste has a light carbonation citrus notes with a dry hoppy finish that hangs out a bit. It is pretty drinkable IPA.

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

Finch’s Beer Company’s Threadless IPA is the gold medal winner in the IPA category at this year’s World Expo of Beer, Michigan’s largest international beer sampling event. Our Threadless/Finch collaboration IPA is a balanced experience of both perceived hoppiness and true bitterness. It pours a darker amber color and finishes with a citrus flavor, and when combined, will require this to be the last IPA you ever drink!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.finchbeer.com

Twitter: @finchbeer

Ending, I really enjoyed this IPA. It is one of my favorite ones that I can get into Michigan market. It is one of my non Michigan craft IPA that I can get in my market. Later, found out that they are not in this market anymore. The hops have a great balance with the well designed malty backbone. When they released this beer, I was nervous because to be honest, I was not a fan of their Golden Ale or Pale Ale. I am glad that I did try it. This beer was the turning point for this craft brewery. This beer might be my second favorite beer from this craft brewery, today. My favorite is their Black IPA and it was a no brainer to try it after enjoying their IPA. I highly recommend this beer and a review of their Black IPA is coming soon. 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 Alaskan Icy Bay IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second beer from Alaskan Brewery. It is their Icy Bay IPA. This is a newer beer from them. I had their regular IPA a few years back. I loved it along with their Black IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog from a few days ago, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read it to get to know this craft brewery from Alaska. Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head. The smell has a slight citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes with a dry hop finish for the aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style:

India Pale Ales are characterized by intense hop flavor and aroma accompanied with medium maltiness and body while also being crisp and dry.

Flavor Profile:

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Cascade, Bravo, Calypso, Summit and Apollo hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts.

History:

India Pale Ale is a style of ale originally derived from a colonial thirst for British-brewed beers. By initially brewing the beer to high specific gravities it could continue to ferment during the journey to British colonies. Larger amounts of hops were also added for their preservative properties and resulted in a golden beer with a hoppy flavor.

Ingredients:

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Summit, Apollo and Cascade hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from more than 90 inches of rainfall each year.

The Story Behind The Label:

The surfers who ride the waves around Yakutat and Icy Bay have to be prepared for all of the extremes that come with Alaska’s maritime climate. That can mean air temperatures well below freezing, and water temperatures not too much higher. It’s sometimes called blue face surfing, and it requires a special breed of adventurer to seek out the rugged shorelines that yield the best breaks.

Alaskan Icy Bay IPA comes from the heritage of a beer brewed to endure the long ocean journey from England to India, with a bold taste, brisk bitter bite, and a citrus hoppy aroma. For the surfers who venture into the cold waters of Icy Bay, it’s a beer to match the intensity of a remote ride on a wave breaking on a solitary Alaskan beach.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter: @alaskanbeer

Ending, I am so happy to see this craft brewery in Michigan. I had a rock show on a Friday at Freedom Hill. I will be enjoying some Alaskan at the tailgate. This IPA is just right. It makes me happy as a Hophead, however, it will bring some border line IPA drinkers over. This will bring new drinkers to the IPA beer style. It has a nice mild and refreshing brew that makes you coming back for more. The malty backbone has a nice bite to fight against the over the top hoppy notes. This is a great IPA and welcome to Michigan. 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 Griffin Claw Norm’s Gateway Session IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery that I need to stop drinking. I am talking about Griffin Claw and it is their Gateway Session IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this young Michigan craft brewery. If you have not read it, please, do so to get to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this Session IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head. The color is like an American lager. The aroma has a fresh piney to a slight grapefruit notes. The taste has some grapefruit to piney notes. The aftertaste has a dry hop bitter finish. It is extremely drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Twitter: @Griffinclaw

In the end, this is a really good beer. I was pretty impressive. I really have not liked many of their beers that I have had. I will be hunting down their Pumpkin Ale because there is a rumor that it is the same recipe of Michigan Brewery Company one. There is an ongoing theme with this brewery and their beers. Their batches of beer are not constant. This makes it challenging for the craft beer drinker. I had this beer a few times already before writing this beer blog post. Yesterday, I had a great batch but this one that I have today is not really good. If this craft brewery corrects this problem, they could have some success in this tough Michigan craft beer market. 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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