samuel adams

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Toxic Sludge Black IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from one of my favorite breweries from New York City.  It is Blue Point Brewery and it is their Toxic Sludge Black IPA.  Blue Point was founded on the Long Island in 1998 by Mark Burford and Peter Cotter.  Blue Point is the largest craft brewery on Long Island and they are ranked #34 on the craft breweries in the United States.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into beer.

It has a dark brown color that if put up to light you can see it but not see through.  It has a constant white head on the beer.  The smell is slight coffee to chocolate with a hint of smoke malt.  The taste has a chocolate to citrus with a dry hop finish at the tip of the tongue.  It is like they use a Stout and India Pale Ale blend.  This big beer is pretty drinkable.

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

We originally brewed this Black IPA to benefit birds affected by BP’s Gulf oil spill and donated all of the proceeds to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. The charity program has ended but the beer became so popular that even with a name like Toxic Sludge, we had to keep brewing it once a year. Five hop varieties go into each batch at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a rich, dark malt base for a full-bodied ale that’s big on flavor.

Availability

Very Limited

Category

Not the Usual Suspects / Limited Releases

Technical descriation

1.068 OG (Original Gravity) 40 IBU (International Bitterness Unit) 7.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @BluePointBrewer

In closing, I love this beer style and I am glad there are more and more popping up on the market.  I can tell who is making a good Black IPA or a bad one.  I have to say this Black IPA is in my top five.  Most craft brewery make their Black IPA with their porter recipe.  To me, this one is made with their stout.  There is a nice balance from the hops and malt.  Stout is not overpowering the IPA and the other way around.  I love the packaging  and the fact it is in cans.  I recommend you trying this brew from this Long Island  brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ram Tap Party In Schaumburg Location

In this beer blog, we are going to get into two brews from Ram Tap Party in Schaumburg location.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

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This Barrel ’71 Pale Ale has heavy cloudy mud color with a constant white head on it.  The smell is a sweet slight chocolate bourbon to the beer.  The taste is a heavy bourbon to a slight citrus from pale ale side.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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The Firecracker IPA has a dark amber color with a constant fluffy white head on it. There is really no smell to this beer. The taste is like their IPA but the aftertaste has burning from the peppers. It does sit around a bit. It is kind of drinkable at first and then becomes a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

Closing, I have been away from the Tap Parties because of being out-of-town.  I was pretty excited to get back into the Tap Parties.  I will have the Wheeling location this week but I was able to get by the Schaumburg location to try their two beer release.  The first one was Ram’s 71 Pale Ale aged in Bourdon barrels for seven months.  Yes, agree it looks like chocolate milk because of the flash from my phone.  It had a mud to wood color to it.  I had my fair share of bourdon ales.  I have to say this one is heavy bourdon to it.  I cannot taste any of the pale ale.  I do not mind the bourdon in the beer.  I need some beer taste.  I thought it was below average, however, this does not mean you will not like this beer.  The next one brew was their Firecracker IPA.  It is dry hopped with Habanero peppers.  I have to say the India Pale Ale, which is their Big Red, part is still there.  The hops were mild down a bit.  Peppers kick in aftertaste with a slight burn in the throat.  At first, it was pretty mild on the hot to burn side.  However, it will build up over time, for me, it became too much.  This beer should be in a smaller glass like 10oz.  I think a 120z pour is too much and pint is out of the question.  I recommend these beers because of how unique they are to the market.  Please let me know what you think of these brews.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog DC Brau Else Here Speaks

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from a brewery I want to visit one day.  It is DC Brau and it is their seasonal or limited release called EL Hefe Speaks Limited-Release German-Style Wheat Beer.  If you read my earlier blog on their stout, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this up and coming brewery from the DC area.  Let us get into this brew that I received from a friend.

It has a cloudy yellow with a white head on the beer.  The smell is of bananas in this beer.  The taste is of a heavy bananas to this wheat ale.  The aftertaste is a slight fading banana.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

This traditionally brewed German-Style wheat is our collaboration with Chris Frashier and John “Solly” Solomon, who are both well-known for their delicious brewing work in the Washington DC area.

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

EL HEFE SPEAKS™

We crafted EL HEFE SPEAKS!, our fond farewell to summer, as a collaboration with John Solomon and Chris Frashier. The pair are well known for their fine (and tasty!) work at Old Dominion in Ashburn, VA, during the mid 90’s.

EL HEFE SPEAKS!  is a traditionally brewed German-style Hefe. It is fermented around 65°F and hopped with German Tettnang hops. 11 IBUs and 5.3% ABV make this one extremely drinkable.

If you think it speaks to you as well, definitely try a glass… because it will be gone before you can say “sweater weather”.

“We’re tremendously excited to bring this specialty brew to the District,” said DC Brau Co-Founder and CEO, Brandon Skall, “Working with other local brewers on this project has made presenting the final product even better.”

The beer was brewed at DC Brau in early August. “El Hefe Speaks” uses the Weihenstephaner yeast strain, a classic, popular German wheat beer strain used worldwide.

John Solomon and Chris Frashier have been a part of the DC brewing community for years. The two worked together at Old Dominion Brewing Company in Ashburn, VA before opening Solly’s U Street Tavern. Frashier brewed at Capital City Brewing Company for 7 years before brewing at Old Dominion for 5 years. Solomon worked at Old Dominion for a total of 11 years.

COMING SOON IN 22oz BOMBERS!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.dcbrau.com

Twitter:  @dcbrau

In closing, as many of you know, I am NOT a fan of wheat beers.  However, I have grown a love towards German wheat or German what styles, this is one of those beers.  I really enjoyed this brew and I stun everyone in the room and on twitter.  This is a great brew and it is well balance.  It gives you everything you are looking for in a German wheats.  There is bananas in the aroma and the drinking experience.  I wish I had more and I know they are working on making it in 22oz bottles.  So far everything, I had from this brewery is great.  I highly highly recommend you trying this brew and this brewery’s beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing and it is their Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their cherry ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery from the west side of Michigan.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without head on the beer.  The smell is a burn chocolate to the porter. The taste is a burn chocolate with a smoky chocolate aftertaste.  To average beer drinker, this is not drinkable.  To your craft drinkers, this is a drinkable beer.

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

Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders’ robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter.

  • ABV: 6.5%
  • IBUs: 45
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In closing, I love my porters and stouts.  I have to say Founders Brewing has a really good brew here.  I was pretty impressed with this brew and this brewery.  I believe I need to sit down and retry their beers.  This porter has everything that a porter fan would be looking for in their beer.  It has a nice chocolate taste.  I could drink a few of these beers in a round, however, I believe your average beer drinker would not think this is a session beer.  They might have one after dinner with their dessert.  I recommend 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 Founders Brewing Centennial IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing.  The beer that will be featured is their Centennial IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Cherry Ale, you know the history of this Michigan Brewery.  If you have not read that beer blog post, please, read that beer blog to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into beer.

The color is a clear copper color without a head on the IPA.  The smell is grapefruit.  The taste is carbonated grapefruit with a dry grapefruit that dies right away for the aftertaste.  It is drinkable beer.

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

Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

  • ABV: 7.2%
  • IBUs: 65
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

Closing, I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  I do not know why but I will give breweries credits when credit is due.  I will honesty knock a breweries I am a fan if they put out a bad beer or a beer I do not like.  This is my thought pattern and I would not take this as the gold standards.  I am just idiot with thought.  With all said, I will have to say I am a fan of this brew.  It has a nice hop aroma and character with a great malty backbone.  It is pretty drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble at times.  I highly recommend this brewery.  Please, let me know what you think of 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 Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Flying Dog Brewery.  The beer is their Double Dog Double Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier post on their flagship Doggy Style Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has at golden amber color with white head.  The smell is a grapefruit to this Double Pale Ale.  The taste is grapefruit with malt character.  The aftertaste has a huge hop finish.  It is sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @FlyingDog

In closing, this is a pretty big beer and I loved it.  This is not a drinkable beer and that is not a bad thing.  I love how it is a sipping beer.  This is a beer you can enjoy at the end of the day and relax with it.  I love the hops that they use in the beer.  It kicks off a huge grapefruit aroma and taste.  There is a nice malty backbone to this beer.  I highly recommend this beer and all 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 DuClaw Brewing Serum Double IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery from a beer called DuClaw Brewing.  The brew is called Serum Double India Pale Ale. DuClaw Brewing brewed their first beer in 1996 and was founded the same year by Dave Benfield.  It was a Marzen and the beer was called Mad Bull Marzen.  According to their website, they are the number one craft brewery in Maryland.  They brew several different beer styles and won several different awards.  Let us get into beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper color with a white head.  The smell is of pineapple to orange.  The taste is pineapple with an orange aftertaste.  It is drinkable but dangerous.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Give your palate a big injection of hop bitterness well-balanced by malty sweetness with this smooth, medium bodied, copper-colored nectar that takes India Pale Ale to the next level.  Pop the top and… Get all hopped up.

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

Serum

Double your pleasure. 

                 
Some beers are released … this one ESCAPED! Serum takes the style, IPA to a whole different level! This Double IPA is hopped aggressively at several stages in the brewing process. Although it is hopped up, Serum is well-balanced with a malty sweetness, making it the perfect solution to awaken lifeless taste buds.

Here is a their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.duclaw.com

Twitter:  @DuClawBrewing

Closing, I will say to my friend Matt from Maryland knows how to pick them or he has some great breweries by him.  I am thanking.  This brew is one of the best Double IPA that I had from out of my market.  I love the pineapple to orange notes from the hops and the nice balance from the malt.  This is a well balance beer for the beer style and it is extremely drinkable beer.  I really enjoyed this brew and I wish I could get this beer in the Chicago market.  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 Evolution Craft Brewing Lot No. 3 India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brew from Evolution Craft Brewing and the beer is called Lot No. 3 India Pale Ale.  Tom and John Knorr founded this brewery in 2009.  They wanted to push the limits of their beers and make a journey for their beer drinkers.  They brew several different beer styles.  There is not much history on this young brewery asides what is on their website.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a cloudy a copper color without a head.  The smell is a grapefruit notes.  The taste of this full body beer is a carbonated grapefruit citrus with a dry hop finish.  It is kind of drinkable.

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

Lot 3 IPA

This American style IPA is aggressively hopped at a rate of over 2 lbs. per barrel. Big notes of citrus and pine complement a reserved but firm malt backbone.
Available in:12 oz Bottles

1/6 Keg

1/2 Keg

On Tap at Public House

On Tap in Tasting Room in Growlers
Beer Profile:

ABV: 6.8%

IBU: 65

OG: 15.8

Hops: Columbus, Centenial, Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo

Malt: Pilsner, Caramunich

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.evolutioncraftbrewing.com

Twitter:  @evolutionbeer

In closing, this is the first time I have ever had this beer.  I traded with a friend from the Maryland area.  I have to say it was a great trade.  This is a great brew.  I love the hops that they put in this beer.  There is a nice balance with everything going on in the beer.  There is a nice balance between the hops and malt.  They did a great job brewing this beer and designing it.  They should be very proud of this brew.  I am honor to have try this brew.  If you are a fan of IPA’s and grapefruits, you will enjoy this brew.  I highly 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 Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale

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In this beer bog, we are going to get into another brew from Starr Hill Brewery.  It is their Grateful Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Amber Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read that post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden to dark yellow color with a white head.  The smell has a citrus with a touch of mango and grapefruit.   The taste of this light to medium body ale has a light carbonated citrus with a slight dry hop finish.  It extremely drinkable beer.

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

Grateful

Pale Ale

Grateful creates a fresh spin on the American Pale Ale tradition. A strong citrusy, resinous aroma from the hops leads into a light body with subtle malt flavor. Grateful is a sessionable brew at 4.7% abv.

Ingredients

Malted Barley: Two Row, Wheat & Caramel
Kettle Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Topaz & Cascade
Yeast: Ale Yeast

Characteristics

Flavor: Aromatic hops with a light body
Color: Light Gold
Style: American Pale Ale
IBUs: 26
ABV: 4.7%

Other Info

Availability: Seasonal
Release Date: May 01, 2013
Draught: 1/2 Barrel, 1/6 Barrel
Package: 4/6 LNNR

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.starrhill.com

Twitter:  @StarrHill

In closing, I have heard great things about their beers and I had one of their beers when I was in Washington D.C.  I was pretty impressed with their  Amber Ale.  I just felt this was a great brew, however, this beer is too much of a light body for my taste.  I love the hop they use in the beer.  I understand where they were going with it being their summer seasonal.  I was not impressed but I know for a fact this beer will sell.  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 Troegs Craft Brewery Hop Back Amber Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first review on this blog on a Troegs Craft Brewery brew.  The beer that will be reviewed is Hop Back Amber Ale.  Troegs Craft Brewery was founded by brothers, who are John and Chris Trogner in 1996 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  They sold their first keg in 1997.  They later moved their brewery to Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2011.  They brew several different beer styles and won several different awards.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber color without a head on the beer.  The smell has a malty to caramel with a touch of citrus.  The taste of this well balance beer is malty and caramel to citrus notes.  There is no aftertaste to this hoppy amber ale.  It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Each batch of HopBack Amber Ale flows through a bed of whole flower hops creating a fresh aroma, spicy taste and rich caramel note that defines our signature beer.

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

Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%Hop Bitterness (IBUs): 55Color (SRM): AmberAvailability: Year RoundMalts: Pilsner, Munich, CrystalHops: Cascade, Williamette, NuggetHopBack Hops: Nugget, CrystalYeast: Ale

Tröegs HopBack Amber gets its unique name and taste from the hopback vessel in our brewhouse.  Packed full of whole flower hops, each batch circulates through the vessel, creating a fresh hoppy aroma, spicy taste and a rich caramel note that defines our signature Amber Ale.

TASTING NOTES

Deep amber in color under a huge creamy head. HopBack Amber Ales aroma is very apparent, bold and spicy with a slight floral character. Balanced with caramel malt, this well-rounded amber ale has an up-front floral spice that builds with a flush of sweetness.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Big, robust flavors like red meats and strong cheeses. The assertive flavors of our HopBack will hold up against strong cheeses like Stilton and Smoked Cheddar.

Serving Suggestions: Temp: 50-55° F   Glassware:  Bavarian Tumbler or Pint Glass

Here is  their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.troegs.com

Twitter:  @jtroegs

In closing, I really enjoyed this brew.  This is a great hoppy amber ale.  I had a few brews from this brewery.  I have enjoyed them.  I love the hop touch and malt that kicks off the caramel notes.  It has a nice balance from the hops and caramel notes.  I wish I could get their beers in the Chicago market.  It is drinkable and has a ton going in it.  It was a pretty enjoyable beer.  I am happy  that I was able to try.  I also thanks to my friend, who is Matt, from Maryland for sending me the beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser