restaurants

New Beer Blog Furthermore Brewery Proper


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new brewery, which is called Furthermore Brewery, and the beer is called Proper.  There is no history on Furthermore Brewery.  There is nothing on their website.  The only thing I know this brewery is from Spring Green, Wisconsin.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a slightly cloudy golden color with small constant bubbles. It has a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to this English style ale. The taste of this medium body is a carbonation malty to almost hazelnut to it. The aftertaste is dry with a slightly hazelnut to it. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Our classic, Light-bodied ale is proudly crafted in honor of American Players Theatre, our friends and a Spring Green cultural treasure.

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

Availability: Year-Round

ABV: 4.5%

It’s not just about the best beer, but the best places to enjoy it. APT and its festive, open-air venue have inspired us to craft an elegant, light-bodied and “proper” English Ale. At 12° Plato, the Proper is fairly light, with subtle toasty notes and a slight sweetness garnered from a touch of Munich and Caramel Malts. 15.5 IBUs (bitterness units) is enough to sharpen the mouthfeel without coming across as bitter. The hop bill is at its core, English—Kent Golding being the dominant player but we’ve employed “Brewer’s License” and thrown in some very non-English Tettnang hops—because it tastes good. Furthermore Proper is a toast to APT, a Spring Green gem.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.furthermorebeer.com

Twitter:  @FurthermoreBeer

Closing, this is pretty good beer and well made.  The problem is the price.  I just feel  the price point devalues the beer in the bottle.  It might be just me but I just feel this beer is too light in body for my taste buds.  Asides all that, they did a great job on the beer and this is a perfect beer for the American lager drinkers.  Just because, I did not like this beer.  It does not mean you might like this beer.  I recommend you trying this beer because of that fact.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Revolution Brewing Rosa Hibiscus Ale


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Revolution Brewing.  The brew that will be featured in this beer blog post is their Rosa Hibiscus Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Anti-Hero IPA, you know the history of this young Chicago based brewery.  If you have not, please, read that Anti-Hero IPA post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper color with a shade of rose tones without a head on it. To me, there is not a smell in this beer. The taste is a sweet carbonated with some spicy kicks.There is a touch of tart in the drinking experience.  There is no aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable.

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

Rosa Hibiscus Ale

A highly drinkable ale steeped with hibiscus flowers and a touch of orange peel for a natural tartness and slight pink hue.

Hibiscus Ale

ABV  5.8%IBU  15

Profile: A highly drinkable ale steeped with hibiscus

Availability: 1/6 & 1/2 bbl, 12oz cans (in 2013)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing, I did not know what to expect from this brew.  I have to be honest.  I still do not know how I feel about this beer.  It is an easy drinkable beer.  They were successful at making this a session beer.  This is a good beer and I enjoyed drinking it. I will have to say I will never have this beer again.  Here is my thought pattern and it goes with all their six-pack cans.  This brewery makes some great beers.  I just feel the price you are paying for their beers at retail is not worth the price.  It goes for most of their twenty-two ounce bottles.  I just feel their beers should be a little bit cheaper since they are brewed here in Chicago.  I would say try it and tell me what your thoughts are about 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 Speakeasy Double Daddy IPA


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Speakeasy Brewery Double Daddy IPA is the next brew that is being featured in this beer blog.  As many of you know, I have blogged on this brewery and I am huge fan of their brews.  If you have not read those posts, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into another everyday brew from Speakeasy Brewery.

It has a deep dark copper color with a white constant head. The smell is a mango or tropical fruit to the beer. The taste is a carbonated mango without an aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Doubling down on malt and hops, Double Daddy raises the stakes.  With its good looks and no-limit style, Double Daddy takes the pot every time.

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

IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

Doubling down on malt & hops, Double Daddy raises the stakes. With its good looks and no-limit style, DD takes the pot every time.

Style: Imperial India Pale Ale

Release Date: January, 2003

Alcohol Content: 8.5% by volume

Malts: Pale malted barley, English Munich Malts

Hops: 4 Varieties of Pacific Northwest Hops, 3 hop additions, including dry hopping

Yeast: Speakeasy Ale Yeast

Tasting Notes: Copper color. Huge hop aroma. Bitter, hoppy and warming alcohol on the palate. Finishes incredibly dry and clean for such a big beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goodbeer.com

Twitter:  @speakeasybeer

Closing out, Double Daddy is not a joke and you should not mess with this dude.  They took their Big Daddy IPA to the next level.  If you are a fan of their everyday six-pack IPA, you will love this Imperial IPA.  There is a nice balance between the hops and malt unlike most Imperial India Pale Ales on the market.  I would put this up against many Imperial IPAs in my market.  It is drinkable but has the punch like most Imperial IPAs on the market.  It is not over powering like you get from most Imperial IPAs.  I highly recommend this brew from Speakeasy.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Capital Brewery Mutiny IPA


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a new brew from Capital Brewery and it is their Mutiny IPA.  Capital Brewery started in 1984 by Ed Janus in Middleton, Wisconsin.  This brewery is based on the on German brewing styles, however, they have moved into non tradition German Styles like this India Pale Ale, pale ale, and wheat ale.   This brewery is trying to do different things with hops in their IPA to give series of hoppy beers to beer market.  They are best known for their seasonals and their two different Doppelbock, which are Blonde Doppelbock in the spring time and Autumnal Fire in the fall time.  Let us get into this new brew.

It has a clear golden color to a slight copper tone without a head on the beer. The smell is of a mango. The taste is mango but bitterest is over bearing. The aftertaste is hoppy finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.capital-brewery.com):

Mutiny IPA

Capital’s first India Pale Ale has a bright amber hue with an upfront florally citrus hop aroma. Mutiny packs a punch yet remains remarkably drinkable. It’s time for a MUTINY from one of Wisconsin’s largest independent craft breweries.OG – 16.2%

IBU70

ABV – 6.2%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.capital-brewery.com

Twitter:  @capbrew

Ending, I will have to say that I am very impressed with this brew.  Capital has done a great job finally on one of their everyday beers.  I have talked to several of my craft beer drinker friends and we agreed that their everyday beers are not very good.  They are average to below average.  I am happy that this brewery is taking steps to improve themselves on their everyday beers.  We did agree that their seasonals were extremely good.   I am a huge fan of their Blonde Doppelbock and Autumnal Fire.  This India Pale Ale is well-balanced between the hops and malt.  I recommend you trying this beer and give me your thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing Espresso Love Breakfast Stout


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In this beer blog, we are going to check out another beer from the Arbor Brewing.  It is their Espresso Love Breakfast Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post when I tried all their beers in a beer flight, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part or the whole beer blog post.  This post is perfect because I am on my way back to Michigan for a beer festival. Let us get into beer.

This beer has a jet black color with a semi tan head on it. The smell is a heavy coffee to it. The taste is a chocolate cover coffee that is smooth but still a full body. There is really no aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Espresso Love Breakfast Stout

Availability

Available on draft at the brewpub every March while supplies last. Available on draft at Corner Brewery every February–April.

Description

Oatmeal and 20 pounds of fresh roasted coffee from the Ugly Mug Café contribute to a mildly chalky espresso character balanced by a rich, sweet creamy maltiness. Coffee finish dissolves into chocolate with a slight roasty bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @CornerBrew @ArborBrew

In closing, this is one of my favorite beer styles.  This is the only way I get most of my coffee fix.  I know I am a little weird because I do not like drinking my coffee hot or warm.  I need it to be cold or coffee beans.  This beer is nice and creamy but yet has the heavy stout taste to it.  It is not drinkable but I can have one after dinner or for dessert.  There is a ton going on in this full body brew.  I have to say this is one of the best brews I have had in this beer style.  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

New Beer Blog Flossmoor Station Rail Hopper IPA


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In this beer blog, we will be drinking a beer from Flossmoor Station Brewing and the beer is called Rail Hopper IPA.  Flossmoor Station is located in an old railroad station build in 1906.  The brewery opened in 1996 after a ton of work to the old railway station.  Today this brewery makes several different beer styles and bottles their beers in 22oz.  They have kept up the railroad theme throughout the brewpub.  I highly recommend the restaurant if you are not a beer drinker.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a hazel copper color with a white constant head. The smell has a piney to it. The taste has a piney with a dry hop finish. It has a nice fresh hop taste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

India Pale Ale
A traditional American IPA with intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma.
7.5% abv

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flossmoorstation.com

Twitter:  @FlossmoorBrewCo

In closing, if you get this beer within its life, it is awesome beer.  The hops are not over the top but there are still there living in the beer.  It has a great malty backbone to keep you coming back for more.  There is not faults in this India Pale Ale unlike most  IPAs on the market.  I would be careful what you but out in the stores in the Chicago market.  I recommend trying 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 Gigantic Brewing The Royale Beer


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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Gigantic Brewing.  It is one of their everyday beer and it is called The Royale Beer, which is their Belgian Pale Ale.  If you have not read the earlier beer blog posts, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this great brewery.  If you have read those beer post, you know history and of this beer.  Let us get into beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head. The smell has a grapefruit to the it. The taste has a heavy grapefruit without an aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The Royale

A beer fit for sophisticates and flaneurs, The Royale is a golden concoction of fruity and citrusy flavors meant for whiling away one’s time in Brasseries, cafes and pubs, or anywhere friends can found.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.giganticbrewing.com

Twitter:  @giganticbrewing

In closing, I am a huge fan of this brewery and Belgian Pale Ales.  This beer has everything you expect from a Belgian style ale.  It has a pretty big hop forward to it.  It has a full body but yet easy drinkablity that will have the beer drinker coming back for more of it.  I am not a huge fan of it and I believe this is not the best beer that Gigantic brews.  However, it is not the bad, I just prefer their India Pale Ales.  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 Dogfish Sixty-One


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In this beer blog, we are going to try an unique beer from Dogfish Head Brewery.  The beer is called Sixty-One.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their flagship beer, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this brewery from Delaware.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear crimson red color without a head on the beer. The smell has a citrus grapefruit. The taste has slight carbonated to heavy grapefruit with no aftertaste. It is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The continually hopped India Pale Ale brewed with Syrah grape must.

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

Availability:  Year Round

Sixty-One, our first new core beer since 2007, was born at the crossroads of serendipity, experimentation and brotherhood.

Whenever Dogfish Head President Sam Calagione and his neighborhood friends gather for drinks, they give each other a big ol’ man-hug and order a round of 60 Minute IPA. A few years ago, Sam also ordered a glass of his favorite red wine and poured a little into each pint of 60 Minute. They all dug the combination of fruity complexity and pungent hoppiness, and the blend became a beloved tradition.

Sixty-One captures that tradition in a bottle and marries two Dogfish Head innovations: beer/wine hybrids — which Dogfish has focused on for well over a decade with beers like Midas Touch and Raison D’être — and continually-hopped IPAs.

The name Sixty-One is a reminder that this beer is Dogfish Head’s best-selling 60 Minute IPA plus one new ingredient: syrah grape must from California. The label, painted by Sam, is a twist on a typical watercolor. Rather than using water, Sam mixed the green pigment with beer and the red pigment with wine. And because Sixty-One pairs so well with chocolate, he painted the browns on the label with melted chocolate.

Sixty-One will debut in March 2013.

Four-packs will be available four times a year throughout Dogfish Head’s 27-state distribution network.

Original Release Date:  03/2013
Food Pairing Recommendations:  Grilled pork tenderloin, sushi, fresh vegetables, summer berries and cream, apple pie, gruyere cheese, young gouda cheese
Glassware Recommendation:  IPA glass
Wine Comparable:   Syrah

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dogfish.com

Twitter:  @dogfishbeer

In closing, this beer is pretty unique beer.   I still do not know how I feel towards it.  To me, it taste like fruit punch India Pale Ale.   I can see this brewery doing well with this beer because of how unique it is to the beer market.  I know many people will be picking this beer to see what is in this beer bottle.  I recommend this beer because of how unique it is .  Please let me know what your thoughts are on 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 Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask Scottish Stout


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Innis & Gunn.  It is Oak Aged Beer that is Irish Whiskey Barrels with their Scottish Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their flagship, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer. The smell is chocolate whiskey to the beer. The taste has a chocolate with a nice well balance taste.  The aftertaste has a slight bite like whiskey to it. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This special bottling of Innis & Gunn has been matured in rare oak barrels from a famous distillery in Ireland.  These barrels had been used to mature one of the unique maturation is a big, full flavored, complex beer with a delightful warming finish.

We hope you enjoy this beer as much as we do.

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

Irish Whiskey Cask

7.4% ABV

Our sturdy Scottish Stout gains even greater flavour during its maturation in rare oak casks, obtained from a renowned Irish Whiskey distillery. The resulting beer is rich, complex and velvety smooth with notes of coffee and dark chocolate, and proves that it pays to have friends in the beverage business.

Awards

Irish Whiskey Cask garnered a gold medal in the International Beer Challenge 2012.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.innisandgunn.com

Twitter:  @innisandgunn

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer.  They are doing something different than most breweries.  They make some killer beers and then age them in barrels.  I know this has been a huge trend in the craft beer world but there is not too many breweries that all of their beers they make are aged in barrels.  This brewery is one of the few and the only one I know of out there.    This stout is something else.  I would love to try it before they put it in the barrels.  I know the price might be a little pricey, however, it is well worth the price.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Crown Valley Gunslinger Imperial India Pale Ale


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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Crown Valley Brewing.  The beer is Gunslinger Imperial India Pale Ale.  There is not too much information on this brewery.  I know they are from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.  I know the brewmaster came from Anheuser Busch.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a constant white head. The smell has a fade grapefruit to citrus and orange citrus. The taste has a carbonated citrus with a dry hop finish. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Gunslinger Double IPA is a robust and malty beer, with an intense hop profile.  Well balanced, rich malt flavors with powerful hop notes from the use of five different hop varieties.

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

Double India Pale Ale

Double IPA8.3% ABVHistoryDouble IPA brewed in 1994 by Vinnie Cilurzo, then head brewer of Blind Pig Brewing Company of Temecula, Californi. Cilurzo claims he “accidentally” created the style by adding 50% too much malt to his mash tun. He then “corrected” this mistake by adding 100% more hops. This is up for some debate, however, as the local San Diego Pizza Port brewery claims to have been brewing “the original San Diego IPA” since 1992 when they opened their brewery (two years before Cilurzo and Blind Pig). Still others attribute the creation of this style to Rouge Ales, a microbrewery in Newport, Oregon, and its I2PA beer, brewed in 1990.

Impression
This beer has the most hops of any beer we produce.
Tasting Notes
Our Gunslinger Double India Pale Ale starts with a rich malt base to which we add hops, hops and more hops. This skillful blend of malt sweetness and aggressive hoppiness will rule your senses! After the addition of Columbus, simcoe, centennial and citra hops at various points of the brewing process, we reach the final IBU count of 93.
Hops – Zeus, Centenial, Falconers Flight, Citra
Malts – Pilsner, Crystal10, Crystal 80, Carapils, Pale, CBW Golden Light
IBU – 93

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.crownvalleybrewery.com

Twitter:  @CrownValleyBrew

In the end, I enjoyed drinking this beer.  It has nice malty backbone with hop impact to make this a great Double India Pale Ale.  I just wish there was some more information on this brewery and I wish they would put code dates on their beers.  I am afraid to buy any in the Chicago market because it might be out of code.  If you have a chance to try it, please, do so.  I recommend ordering from the brewery’s brewpub.  It is a great beer and I recommend trying this beer.  Let me what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser