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New Beer Blog Odell Brewery 5 Barrel Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are getting into another beer from Odell Brewery and the beer is called 5 Barrel Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get up to speed with the rest of beer blog readers.  Let us get into the beer because that is why we are here.

It has a hazel bright copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is piney to it. The taste is piney and oak with a dry hoppy finish. It is a session beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

5 Barrel Pale Ale is a nod to our hard working pilot brewing system, where our brewers have crafted and perfected new recipes five barrels at a time.  The distinctive hop character of our 5 Barrel Pale Ale is derived from essential oils of select hops.  Four hop additions during the kettle boil, an infustion of choice whole flower hops in the Hop Back, and finally, dry hopping gives  the beer a fresh, lively flavor and floral aroma.

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

The distinctive hop character of our 5 Barrel Pale Ale is due to the extraction of essential oils from select hops. We treat 5 Barrel Pale Ale to an infusion of fresh whole hop flowers in the Hop Back and the Fermentor, as well as four hop additions during the kettle boil. We like how this gives the beer a fresh, lively flavor and aroma.

5.2%Alc. by Vol.     36IBUs

Here is a video from their website (www.odellbrewing.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter:  @odellbrewing

In closing, this beer is example what a brewery can do if they put some thought into the brewing process and beers.  It is also a great example when they let their brewers do different things and explore their talents.  I wish more craft breweries would do something like this as far as exploring. This is a great beer and I love the hop bend in this beer.  You can taste and smell it.  The hops are living in this beer while hitting a nice malty backbone.  I enjoyed drinking this beer.  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

New Beer Blog Odell Brewery 90 Schilling Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Odell Brewery.  The beer that will be featured in this blog is their flagship called 90 Schilling Ale.  If you read my beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this Colorado brewery.   If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a deep copper and light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a malty with a slight coco to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty to it.  The aftertaste is a sweet malty to it. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

90 Schilling is our flagship beer.  Smooth and complex, 90 Schilling is a medium-bodied amber ale with a distinct burnished copper color and a deeply pleasant aroma.  A shilling was a British coin used from 1549 to 1982.  The name 90 Schilling comes from the Scottish method of taxing beer. Only the highest quality beers were taxed 90 Shillings.  We think you’ll find this original ale brilliantly refreshing, and worth every shilling.

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

We introduced 90 Shilling, our flagship beer, at our opening party in 1989. For a while, we’d been wondering what would happen if we lightened up the traditional Scottish ale? The result is an irresistibly smooth and delicious medium-bodied amber ale. The name 90 Shilling comes from the Scottish method of taxing beer. Only the highest quality beers were taxed 90 Shillings. A shilling was a British coin used from 1549 to 1982. We think you’ll find this original ale brilliantly refreshing, and worth every shilling.

5.3%  Alc. By Vol.     27 IBUs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.odellbrewing.com

Twitter:  @odellbrewing

Closing, I know I talked about this in one of my other beer blogs.  There is not too many really good flagship.  There are many that are really bad or average compare to the rest of their beer lineup.  This beer is challenges that theory of mine and it is sets the brewery up really well.  It shows the craft beer drinker that rest of their beers should be really good.  There is a lot going on in this great brew.  It fits where this brewery is located.  I enjoyed it and I will have it again.  I just wished they were in the Chicago market.  I would rotate this in and out of my lineup.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Summer Hard Rock And Metal Tours

In this Music Monday blog, I am going to give my thoughts on this Summer tours in 2013.  I know most people do not have a ton of money and I hope this helps people who cannot do a ton of research on Hard Rock and Metal tours.  Plus, I will let you know which ones I am looking to attend.  I will be looking at a few cities to see some of these bands.  The cities that I am looking at are Chicago and Detroit markets.

Detroit Shows

DTE Energy Theatre Shows

Gigantour 2013 featuring Megadeth – The one thing I love about this there are other bands on this ticket.  It creates a value for the ticket buyer.  Plus, for me, it is bands I have been wanting to see in a long time.  I am talking about BLS and Hellyeah.  Megadeth alone is worth the price.  I will be looking at getting tickets for this show in any of these cities.   The problem with this show it is during the week.

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival – Another great value every year in and out is the Mayhem Festival.  This fest I could see in any city.  I love the line up and I had a chance to get to know some newer bands.  This is an all day event and it makes it even more whole the money.  I try to get down every year for this event.  It is on a Sunday which you might want to take a Monday off.

Ted Nugent with Tesla and Laura Wilde – Well come one it is Uncle Ted in Detroit and with Tesla that has not put out one bad record and is great live.  Then you just toss in my girl that I have been waiting to see her play live forever and a day, who is Laura Wilde.  I know this will put a smile on her face when she sees this post.  I am going to this show.  It is on my list.

Black Sabbath – I am interested but it is during the weekdays.  I hate it when it is during the week.  Black Sabbath will draw like they normally do in the past.  This might be one of the last times you will see this band together.  Bill Ward is not part of this tour and I do not know who is drumming but they will find a good one.  I will look into the other cities.

Chicago Shows

First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

It is pretty much the same shows in Chicago as Detroit.  This is the worse Amphitheatre I have ever been too.

In closing,  I am pretty upset I will not be able to see Black Sabbath.  I can see them but I do not like the day of the week they are playing between Chicago and Detroit markets.  However, there are some good shows that I will be seeing, I will be at the Ted Nugent show in Detroit.  If you are there, come by and see hello and let me know.  So far, right now, I will be only be going to one show this summer.  I know I will find a few more shows to see when last-minute ones being release.  Let me know what your thoughts are and who you will be seeing this summer.  I will be looking at the Machine Shop up in Flint, Michigan for a few shows.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Maui Brewing Bikini Blonde Lager

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In beer blog, here is another beer from Maui Brewing.  The beer is Bikini Blonde Lager.  Of course, it is a can and that makes this beer special because they were one of the few breweries to just can than use bottles.  If you read my beer blog post on their coconut porter, you know the history of this great beer.  If you have not, please, read that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This lager has a clear yellow color without a head on it. The smell has a sweet malty to slight citrus to the beer. The taste is something between a pilsner and lager. It is a malty to slight hoppy to the beer. The aftertaste is a crisp but sweet to the beer. Of course, this is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer cans:

Bikini Blonde is a fresh handcrafted Helles Lager brewed with the finest German hops and barley, not skimpy on flavor. Bold, smooth, and refreshing!

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

Our filtered Munich Helles Lager brewed with floral hops and Pilsner and Munich malts.  This is the closest thing to an American lager from Maui Brewing Co. but not skimpy of flavor.  Bold, smooth and refreshing!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mauibrewingco.com

Twitter:  @MauiBrewingCo

Aloha, I am not a big fan of wheat ales and lagers.  I get bored pretty quick with lagers, however, this lager gives you something different to a craft beer drinker.  It is a Hellas lager and I really enjoy that German Beer Style.  I love the fact that they get their hops and barley from Germany.  They are still able to give it a light body that fits the tropical weather on Hawaii.  I miss Hawaii but this beer takes me back to that time in my life.  I had some friends bring this back from the Big Island and I want to thank them for it.  If you are able to get this beer or any of their beers, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite India Pale Ales.  It is from Maui Brewing and the beer is called Big Swell IPA.  If you read my earlier blogs on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get up to speed on this great brewery.  Let us get into this American India Pale Ale.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head. The smell is a tropical fruit smell which I have no idea which one. It is a nice smell to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation hop with a hop and malty aftertaste. This is a different tasting India Pale Ale than anything in the market. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Big Swell IPA is a fresh handcrafted India Pale Ale brewed with huge amounts of American hops and malted Barley… dry-hopped to perfection!

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

Our handcrafted India Pale Ale brewed with four different kinds of Northwestern hops and malted barley …dry-hopped to perfection.  Its flavor begins smooth and malty and is followed with a big burst of hop flavor.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mauibrewingco.com

Twitter:  @mauibrewingco

Aloha, every time I have this beer.  I have to say it has never disappoint me.  This is a great beer and fits perfectly where it is brewed.  It has a nice malty backbone and hop just right for Hawaii.  This beer can be enjoyed any part of the United States.  I wish this beer was sold in Chicago but it is a treat when I am able to order it or friends bring some back to me.  If you are able to get this beer, please, pick it up and let me know what you think.  I do not know where I would put this beer as my favorite beer but I know for a fact it is in my Top Five for India Pale Ales.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Maui Brewing Mana Wheat

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In this beer blog, we are going to try another beer from Maui Brewing and the beer is called Mana Wheat.  If you read my earlier beer blogs on their beers, you know the history of this great Hawaii Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post,  please, read that post to get to know this great brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a cloudy golden color without a head on the beer. The smell is a slight pineapple to the beer. The taste of this light body is a wheat to pineapple without an aftertaste. It is an extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Mana Wheat is a fresh handcrafted American wheat ale brewed with malted barley, white wheat and fresh local Maui Gold Pineapple.

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

An unfiltered, freshly handcrafted American-style wheat ale infused with Maui Gold Pineapple.  Our crisp and refreshing wheat ale is lighty hopped to allow the fruity sweetness of the pineapple to shine.  The yeast stays in suspension making the ale traditionally cloudy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mauibrewingco.com

Twitter:  @MauiBrewingCo

In the end, I am not a wheat fan but this beer I did enjoy.  It also gave me hope that there are some good wheat ales out on the market.  I am a fan of pineapple and I believe that is reason why I love this beer.  The pineapple makes this beer unique and different.  If you do not like wheat ales, you still need to try this beer because of how unique it is.  I highly recommend you trying this beer if you are a fan of wheat ales.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weise

Email:   djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Enjoy By 05-17-13 IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from the Stone Brewery.  The beer is a limited and rare release 22oz bottles.  It is an unique Double India Pale Ale.  The name of the beer is when the beer goes out of code.    If you read my earlier beer blog on their Flagship beer, which is IPA, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into this beer.

This special Double India Pale Ale has a clear semi dark golden color with a constant white head. The smell is is a heavy piney but a touch of a tropical fruit. There is a ton going on in the smell. The taste is a piney but a dry hoppy tropical fruit. It is drinkable beer but careful drinking it.

Here is description from the beer bottle:

You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA.  Freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, hoppy IPAs – but we’ve taken it further, a lot further, with this one.  We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last.  We’ve gone to extensive lengths to ensure you get  your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we’ve sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @stonebrewingco

Ending, this beer lives up to what it is which is “Live For The Now, The Present.”  Stone Brewing is a doing good thing and making a statement in the Craft Beer World.  I believe all brewers are looking for fresh product in the market.  However, this is a solid beer, it is a big hoppy beer that has a nice and solid malty backbone.  I love how they use social media to show where people are enjoying this beer.  This will start a trend but it has to have a great beer behind it.  This beer is an awesome beer and I am glad I had it.  I will looking for more before the date comes to head.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Fort Collins Brewery Rocky Mountain IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Fort Collins Brewery.  The brew that will be feature is Rocky Mountain IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this young brewery.  If you have not read it, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.    Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a grapefruit to the beer. The taste of this full body India Pale Ale is carbon grapefruit with a dry hop aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

India Pale Ale

Massive floral aroma lures you in while hop bitterness and malty sweetness mingle in symmetry.  After all, great balance is key when you are only standing on three legs.

Here is a description from the website (www.fortcollinsbrewery.com):

Rocky Mountain IPA

An I.P.A. by definition is liberally hopped and higher in alcohol. We made Rocky Mountain I.P.A. by dry hopping for an intense citrus aroma and adding a generous helping of malt to create a backbone stable enough to support the characteristic bitterness of the beer.

Awards

2009 US Open Beer Championship, Silver, English IPA.

Availability

All Year.

Packages

12oz bottles (6 packs), 1/2 bbls, 1/6 bbls

Stats

Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.2%

Hop Bitterness (IBU): 81

Color (SRM): 12

Food Pairings

Chicken and Waffles, H.C. Lamb Burger

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fortcollinsbrewery.com

Twitter:  @FortCollinsBrew

Closing, I guess I did not realize how many English style India Pale Ales are on the market.  I kind wish the packaging would say something on it that it is a West Coast IPA or just English one.  I guess I could just look on Untappd and hope that it is put in their correctly.  However, this is a great beer and I enjoyed drinking it, it gives me a different pace unlike all the other IPAs on the markets.  What I mean by that last statement.  It is not a West Coast IPA and the English Style gives a different pace.  You might want hops but not over the top and this one and few other English IPAs fit the bill.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Wynkoop Belgotado Belgian-Style India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, here is another brew from Wynkoop Brewing and the beer is Belgotado Belgian-Style India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know a little something on this brewery.  If  you have not, please, read those beer post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

The beer is a hazel golden color without a head on it. The smell is an earthly with Belgian species. The taste is a light body with Belgian species to it. There is a dry hop aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Meet our small batch Belgium-meets-Colorado thriller.  It’s built with Colorado-grown malts and whole leaf hops, then fermented with a Belgian yeast.  Luscious and balanced, it features pale malt flavors, layers of hops from start to finish, and spice notes.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.wynkoop.com

Twitter:  @wynkoop

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this India Pale Ale style.  I just found this pretty unique beer because it is in a can.  I believe this is the American version of the Belgian Triple.  It fits the smell and the taste of all the Belgian funkness.  It either comes from the yeast or the spices that they use in this beer.  I enjoy drinking it but I would not buy it on a regular basis if it was available in the Chicago market.  However, I went on their website and I did not see it in their line up, it makes me wonder if they stop making this brew.  If you can find it, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Nomad Karel Česká IPA

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While in Prague, I had a chance to try only three ales that were not a wheat ale or a lager.  We went to the Beer Museum in Prague and I was excited to see an IPA on draft.  I cannot find too much information on this brewery.  The brewery is called Nomad Brewery and the beer is their Karel Česká IPA.  Here is some information from their website (www.pivovar-nomad.cz):

About us

Brewery without brewery, gypsy brewery, contract brewery … A couple of terms meaning the same thing – the fact that so far we don´t have our own brewery. Nevertheless we think that our recipes might be interesting for many beer lovers, even for those true drinkers of Czech lager. Therefore we asked our friends who already own a brewery if they could help us make our dream true and brew our own beer.
This is how our Nomad project was created. It is a ´ flying brewery´. We literally fly around the world, taste interesting beer and create our own interpretations of beer styles we like. Then as true nomads we travel the Czech Republic and have our original beer specials brewed.
Our beer has already been brewed in Antoš Brewery (Slaný), Litovel Brewery, Bašta Brewery (Vrchlabí) and more at the moment ages in different places, which we´ll introduce soon. We are planning cooperation with foreign brewers, breweries and if the Brew God permits, we´ll also brew our beer abroad.It is clear to us that this way of beer production is also used by supermarket chains, which buy no name beer in breweries and only stick their etiquette on it. We´re different. We have our beer brewed according to our original recipes and the taste cannot be mistaken.Hopefully you´ll like our beer and one day we´ll meet in our own brewery. Even a nomad can have a base camp.

I cannot find dates and who founded this brewery.  I just see that they have no brewery and they do what I like to called rogue brewing like Stillwater.  There are several of these new craft breweries that are popping up around the United States and I guess it is happening in the world too.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a copper color with a constant white head. The smell of this full body beer is a heavy citrus. The taste is a heavy citrus with a dry hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pivovar-nomad.cz

Twitter:  No Twitter address!

In closing, this was the best of the two IPAs I had when I was in Prague.  It was nice to have an Ale over all the Lagers I was drinking in this beautiful city.  As many of you know, I am a huge Hophead.  I love my IPAs, Pale Ales, Porters, and Stouts.  This beer is an average IPA.  I know if it ever made it to the states.  The price will be more than the rest of the American Craft IPAs.  I am not saying this a bad IPA.  You need to try it in Europe because I do not think it will travel well.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser