samuel adams

New Beer Blog Round Barn Brewery Wood Oaked India Pale Ale

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Starting a new tab, we are going to sample out a first on this blog.  It is a brewery that is also a winery.  I am talking about Round Barn Brewery from the west part of Michigan.  It is their Wood Oaked India Pale Ale.  There is not much history on this brewery on their website and other sources.  I know they brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head on this IPA.  The smell has wooden, earthly, and notes of citrus. The taste has notes of citrus and wooden with a slight vanilla and oak aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

From the first taste of this IPA you will pick up the fresh oak character and cascade hop bitterness that gives this beer a balanced finish. Pairs well with Asian or Mexican dishes, grilled meats and of course, IPA’s classic mate, Indian curry.

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

Wood Oaked IPA

From the first taste of this IPA you will pick up the fresh oak character and Cascade hop bitterness that gives this beer a balanced finish. Pairs well with Asian or Mexican dishes, grilled meats and of course, IPA’s classic mate, Indian curry. (ABV 6.75%)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.roundbarnwinery.com

Twitter:  @RoundBarnWinery

Closing out my tab, I have to say I was pretty interested when I saw this brew on the shelf.  I was wondering how it would turn out.  I have to say I was pretty impressed.  It is pretty good but not good at the same time.  It was a pretty average beer.  I will give them credit on doing some original.  I am happy to see them not do the normal old India Pale Ale.  I do not mind those either.  I recommend you trying this brew because it is unique.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog North Peak Brewing Hoodoo Midwest Wet Hop IPA

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In beginning, we are going to sample out the first brew from North Peak Brewing.  It is their Midwest Wet Hop IPA, which is a double or imperial IPA.  North Peak Brewing was founded in 1997.  They brew several different beer styles and use the classic beer style bottle.  There is not much history on this brewery asides they are in a beer that use to be the old “Big Daylight Candy Factory.”  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is a slight malty and citrus notes.  The taste is heavy citrus notes.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Hoodoo

MIDWEST WET HOP IPA – October

ABV: 8.0%  IBUs: 88

Hoodoo Midwest Wet Hop IPA is the first  of it’s kind. Brewed with fresh from the farm Michigan hops for  exceptional flavor. Hoodoo is hops from start to finish with a little  malt in the middle, just enough to keep Hoodoo from going Voodoo on you.  Not to worry – pretty much nothing but hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.northpeakbeer.com

Twitter:  @northpeakbeer

Closing out, I have to say this is the best brew that North Peak Brewing makes.  I love the hops and I am happy to see they are straight from the Michigan Hop Farms.  This brew packs a nice little punch in this brew.  There is a nice malty backbone to cut through and balance the hops.  If you can find a bottle of this brew, you better pick it up since it is not all year-long brew.  I 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 Speakeasy Butchertown Black Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew, which is a limited release, from Speakeasy Brewery.   The brew is their Butchertown Black Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read these beer blog posts to get to know this great west coast brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a white constant head on this black ale.  The smell slight chocolate with a heavy citrus notes.  The taste has chocolate citrus notes with bitter hop aftertaste.   It is kind of drinkable beer.
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Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goodbeer.com

Twitter: @SpeakeasyBeer

Closing out, this beer is something else.  I really enjoy drinking this beer.  This is a big boy beer for the experienced hop heads in the world.  The hops shine nicely through the chocolate notes.  They did a great job on the picking of the hops.  I love the bitter aftertaste.   They found a way to heavy and in your face but not making you run away from the beer.  I am hoping they make their way to the Michigan Market, if not I will be making road trips back to Chicago.  I am glad I am back in Michigan this is one of the breweries I will miss getting on a regular basis.  I highly recommend this beer and their other brews.  If you are in San Fran, you need to get by their brewpub.  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 Brewing 1554 Black Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew from New Belgium Brewing.  It is their 1554 Black Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark black clear with a constant white head on this black ale.  The smell is a slightly chocolate with a nice crisp finish.  The taste is a milky chocolate notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

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

Born of a flood and centuries-old Belgian text, 1554 Enlightened Black Ale uses a lager yeast strain and dark chocolaty malts to redefine what dark beer can be. In 1997, a Fort Collins flood destroyed the original recipe our researcher, Phil Benstein, found in the library. So Phil and brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert, traveled to Belgium to retrieve this unique style lost to the ages. Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and mouthfeel.

Birthdate: July, 1999

Body: Light – Medium
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 21
Calories: 198
Hops: Target
Malts: Pale, Carapils, Black, Munich, Chocolate
Yeast: Lager Yeast
Aroma: Slightly fruity, herbal, spicy, rooty, coffee, chocolate, toffee
Mouthfeel: Due to the lager yeast ferm at high temps and the chocolate and black malt- this beer starts and finishes dry yet the middle is round and malt rich. session!
Flavor: Starts bitter chocolate with bright acidity, roasty and toasty, sweetness to round it out sweet/spicy, rooty, peppery undertones, lingering fruit acidity,
Visual: Brilliant/clear, mahogany

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I remember the first time I had this beer.  I was not really too impressed when it hit the Chicago craft beer market.  I guess my taste buds have grown or I found a new way of liking this brew.  There is several different things going on in this brew.  I love the chocolate, fruit, coffee, and slight toffee notes.  There is a nice balance in this brew.  I love how it is not overpowering.  I love the crisp finish and it is pretty drinkable brew.  There is not much to say about this beer.  It is really good and I recommend you trying to 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 Blue Point Brewery White IPA

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In the beginning, we will sample out another brew from Blue Point.  I am talking about the new beer style in the world of white IPA’s.  It is their version of White IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great New York brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is heavy wheat notes.  The taste is a slightly lemon with citrus and honey notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Remaining at the forefront of experimentation, the brewers at Blue Point have produced a white beer/IPA hybrid that is well on its way to creating a new style for the beer description books. Our White IPA is an unfiltered European-style white ale with a fresh American IPA finish. Brewed with malted and unmalted wheat and just the right amount of west coast hops, it’s fermented with German yeast to give it a perfectly balanced character with less bitterness than traditional IPAs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

Closing, I will have to say I am not a huge fan of this beer style in India Pale Ale world.  I do not know who makes a better Wheat IPA or White IPA.  I am up in the air between New Belgium Brewery’s new winter seasonal Accumulation White IPA and Blue Point Brewery White IPA, which is featured on this blog.  I love the balance between the India Pale Ale style and the wheat ale style.  Blue Point did a great job on this brew and I will be adding it to my line up of IPA’s in the future.  I recommend you trying this beer. Let me know what you think about it. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Rochester Mills Beer Co. Cornerstone IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Rochester Mills Beer Co.  I am talking about their Cornerstone IPA.  It is their flagship beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Milkshake Stout, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on this India Pale Ale.  The smell is mango notes.  The taste is mango notes with nice malty backbone to cut through the hops.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Cornerstone IPA – 6.6% abv. India Pale Ale

This unfiltered amber ale is packed full of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. IPA is the most bitter beer style and it is enjoyed by people we refer to as “hopheads.” We dry hop this beer with a combination of English and American hop varieties for a wonderfully aromatic finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.cplanet.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In the end, I love this IPA from Rochester Mills Brewery.  I love the hops from aroma and taste it gives off in the beer.  It has a nice malty backbone that supports this India Pale Ale.  This beer reminds me of something the beer drinker would get from Summit Saga, Maui Brewery IPA, and/or Epic IPA.  It has a nice tropical notes.  I love this IPA and I will be drinking this brew as much as Frankenmuth Batch 69 IPA.  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 New Belgium Accumulation White India Pale Ale

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Starting a new tab, we are going to get into the new winter seasonal from New Belgium Brewing.  I am talking about Accumulation White India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Pumpkick Ale, you know the history of this green and employee owned craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear to slight cloudy strew like color with a white head on it.  The smell is a citrus notes.  The taste is slightly wheat that makes this beer smooth to creamy with citrus notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter. At least that’s what our rebellious brewer Grady Hull likes to claim as he shovels in plenty of new hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white.

Birthdate: October, 2013

Body: Medium-light body.

ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 70
Calories: 170
Hops: Target, Centennial, dry hopped with Mosaic and Amarillo
Malts: Pale, Wheat
Yeast: Ale Yeast for bright, fruity notes
Aroma: Strong hop aroma that displays all of our hop varieties: tropical fruits, bright citrus, spicy/herbal from the heavy dry hopping. This beer is a hoppy wonderland!
Mouthfeel: Resinous and slightly cloying from all those hop oils but finishes as clean and crisp as all of our seasonal family does and should.
Flavor: Big and bitter, just what this IPA ordered. Sweetness just barely dents its IBU armor. Nevertheless the addition of wheat really smooths out the rough bitter edge.
Visual: Cloudy haze, pale golden. Billows of white foam and gorgeous foam.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing out my tab, I have made it known that I really dislike wheat ales and mix wheat and IPA.  I was like what the hell.  I tried several white IPAs.  I have to say they were really bad.  I was really down on this new beer style.  New Belgium came out with their new winter seasonal called Accumulation White India Pale Ale.  I was a little nervous about this brew.  I have to say I have a new thought pattern towards White India Pale Ale.  There is a nice balance from the hops and wheat ale itself.  It is creamy smooth and the wheat brings out the hops character.  I can see this brew bring new beer drinkers into the craft beer world and IPA beer style.  Even your normal hophead will like this brew.  This is different beer style for the winter time.  This beer should and will pop out to craft beer drinkers.  I will hunt this beer down and I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Munsterfest Lager

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Starting a new tab, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Three Floyds Brewing.  It is their Munsterfest Lager.  The beer is named after the city where their brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery’s beers, you know the history of Three Floyds Brewing.  If you have not and want to know about this brewery, please, read those beer blog posts.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel cooper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet malty notes with a sweet caramel aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

This Bavarian style Oktoberfest Bier is brewed with the finest german ingredients in accordance with the Reinheistgebot or German Purity Law. This malty and crisp lager is one of the few that remain true to the Fest Biers of old. “Es ist nicht normal.” September release.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.3floyds.com

Twitter:  @3floyds

Closing out a tab, as many of you know, I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  However, I have been retrying and trying new brews to me from Three Floyds Brewery, I have grown to love this brewery.  This brew is one of the few American version of the classic beer style. This brewery did a great job on it.  This is a limited release and if you want to try it, I would go hunt it down pretty quickly.  It comes out around the fall season. 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 Gigantic Brewing Hellion

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Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from one of my favorite craft brewery from Portland, Or.  I am talking about Gigantic Brewing and their Hellion.  If you read my earlier beer blog on this brewery, you know the history of this little brewpub.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this brew.  The smell is a sweet Belgian notes.   It has a farmhouse smell notes.  The taste is citrus notes of spices with a crisp dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Hellion

To some a Hellion is a troublemaker, to others a messiah. Our dry-hopped Belgian-style golden ale will bring out one or both in you. Which will it be?

“The tall tree catches much wind”    -Japanese Proverb

Beer Style: Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Golden    ABV: 8.5%    23 IBU

Label Artist: Shohei Otomo www.Hakuchi.jp

Notes: Dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace and Simcoe = lemon, grapefruit and dill aromas. Complex aroma and flavor of ester and spice from a Belgian yeast strain.

Availability: July-October 2013 in Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, Alaska, Vermont and Chicago.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.giganticbrewing.com

Twitter:  @GiganticBrewing

Closing out of the tab, this is a great beer and I really enjoyed drinking this brew.  This is a well made beer and they brew this beer as close to the classic beer style.  It is an American craft version of Duvel.  I love Duvel and I found hints of this beer when I was drinking it.  I can see many craft beer drinkers thinking this a great version of Duvel.  I highly 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 Revolution Brewing Fistmas

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of many winter seasonal.  I am talking about Revolution Brewing Fistmas.  I had a chance to try it when I was visiting in Chicago over a few weekends ago.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Revolution Brewing’s beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper color with a constant white head.  The smell is a heavy citrus.  The taste is a slight carbonated ginger with citrus.  The aftertaste is a hint of ginger.  It is not really drinkable.

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

Red ale brewed for the holiday season with specialty malts to achieve a beautiful deep red hue and the aromas of fresh-baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits. Steeped with ginger root and orange peel.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @RevBrewChicago

Ending, in the last few years, I have not been overall impressed with many winter seasonals.  I am hoping this year is the turning point for winter seasonals.  I have to say this brew is a pretty good start.  It might not be drinkable but it is pretty enjoyable for the time it is in your glass.  I love the smelling notes to the tasting.  There is a ton going on in this brew and it is a good thing for a winter and/or Christmas ale.  If you are in the Chicago area, I recommend you trying this brew.  If not, I would find a way to get some of this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser