session beer

New Beer Blog Goose Island Rambler IPA (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Goose Island Brewery.  It is next seasonal release, which is Rambler IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into this Red IPA.

It has a clear red to amber color with a tan color head. The aroma has an herbal to citrus notes with a slight hint of earthy tones. The taste has earthy to caramel and citrus notes with dry malty hoppy aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Red Ale

A bold ale with a mix of herbal, woody, and citrus aromas from Mt. Hood and Amarillos hops.

6.7% ALC. 65 IBU

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

Rambler IPA

Brewer’s Notes

Aroma and Taste:

Herbal, woody, and citrus aroma. Spicy, resinous hop flavors with enough sweetness to balance the Mt. Hood hops.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Spicy hop flavor lingers on the palate with a malty, dry finish.

Recipe Information

  • Style: IPA
  • Alcohol by Volume: 6.7%
  • International Bitterness Units: 65
  • Color: Auburn
  • Hops: Amarillo, Mt. Hood
  • Malts: Special Pale, C-120, Cara Red

Availability

Seasonal (September – December)
Bottles: 6 & 12pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, I love this brew.  This brew is the best of all the seaonals by far.  I love their Endless IPA but this Red IPA takes it home.  I was pretty impressed with their Ten Hills Pale Ale but after going through the year, it is the weakest of the seasonals.  They did a great job on their Oktoberfest this year.  I can’t wait to retry their Ten Hills Pale Ale. I might need to remind myself of this brew. I know their Christmas Ale will be out.  It is American Brown Ale. This is a nice Red IPA for the fall season.  It is not over hopped but just enough to make you get through the cooler fall days or part of the winter months.  There is some nice malty notes and Amerillo hops just shine throughout this brew.  This is a great brew.  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 Why And Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a hot issue in the huge growing market of craft beers, ciders, and breweries.  There has been a huge growth and it is coming out of the mass produced beer companies.  There is home brewers taking their passion of beer making to the public.  The questions that I am going to try to answer for myself are “Why And Why Not Drink Local Beers And Ciders?”

Why Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

It is pretty simple.  Money stays in the state and/or the local area.  There will be more jobs created because of these breweries.   The money keeps coming in and out of the brewery.  It works if the brewery is buying supplies from local companies and most do this practice.  Most craft breweries take homes in old and empties buildings.  They resolve these old buildings back to the way they were back in their heyday.  Of course, they put their brewery and restaurant in them.  The other things that these breweries in most cases.  They create more jobs at distributors.  They hire a marketing firm or their own people to run it.  Just like most businesses, they will put money back in the economy.

Why Not Drink Local Craft Beers And Ciders?

I get beat up about half of the time when I bring this up to people at craft beer bars or stores in my local market.  I get it because everyone wants to support their local businesses and I am one of them.  I have to be honest with myself and others around me.  I heard this when I lived in Chicago and now here in the Michigan.  When traveling to other cities around the US, I saw these same signs and heard it from the locals.  When trying these beers or ciders at home or your local watering hole, be honest to yourself because it will save you from the painful drinking experience.  I had a pretty ugly drinking experience with a local craft brewery in Chicago.  I kept on telling myself that I love this beer and brewery.  I just finally admitted to myself that they are not that good.  I started to look at local craft brewery in a different light.  I give breweries credit when they put a good beer to the market.  I also give them credit for thinking outside the box.

In closing, I am not saying do not drink local beers and ciders.  If their beers are good, drink them and support them.  If their beers are not good, you as a beer drinker, customer, and buyer needs to send them a message.  They need to improve or go away.  This is the ugly side to the business world.  I am catching myself doing it it again.  Just be honest with yourself about these beers or ciders in your area.  There is new craft breweries opening every day and there will be more good to great beers and bad beers.  Remember, you are voting with your wallet.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Support the local good beer and let the bad go away.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Founders Harvest Ale Wet-Hopped Ale (2014)

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In this special beer blog, we are going to get into another limited release beer known as Harvest Ale from Founders.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Founders Brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head.  The smell has a citrus to piney notes.  The taste has a piney, citrus, and a slight tropical notes. It is light and refreshing beer with a nice crisp hop finish for the aftertaste.  The hop aftertaste hangs but it disappears. It is a pretty drinkable wet hop ale.

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

This liquid dream pours a hazy golden straw color with a white, two-finger head. Your first sip rewards you with a super juicy hop presence bursting with fresh citrus, then finishes to introduce toasted malt undertones.
  • ABV: 7.6%
  • IBUs: 70
  • Availability: October

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In the end,  I love this beer. This is by far the best product that they make.  I really love this wet hopped ale.  They picked some nice hops and build a nice malty backbone.  There is some nice packaging.  I also love the color and presentation of this ale.  This is a beer if they can pull it off.  It should be all year-long but I get why it is not because it is the harvesting of the hops that makes beer special.  I really like this beer and I will have a few more before the end of the season.  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 Bell’s Venus The Bringer Of Peace

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In this special beer blog, we are going to sample the second beer in the planet series from Bell’s Brewery.  It is Venus The Bringer Of Peace.  The first one was Mars which was double IPA.  I did not get a chance to write-up a review on it and all bottles were sold out.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Bell’s Brewery.  Let us get into this ale.

It has a slight cloudy golden to honey tone to the color without a head.  The smell has a nice sweet honey apricot notes. The taste has a sweet honey apricot. The apricot is pretty heavy but the vanilla notes take over the aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.”Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars to Neptune.

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

The Bringer of Peace

STYLE: Blonde Ale Brewed With Honey, Apricot, Cardamom, and Vanilla

RELEASE DATE: October 2014

ABV: 7.5%

COLOR: Light blondish orange, very slight haze

GLASSWARE: Snifter

TASTING NOTES: The second release in our Planets Series starts with spicy, fruity and light citrus notes along with herbal notes from cardamom in the aroma. Apricots contribute a very distinct tart character and sweetness from the vanilla rounds out the finish. More than 60 pounds of hand sliced vanilla beans were used to ferment this strong fruit and spice beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter:  @bellsbrewery

Closing, yay, another gimmick to sell beer.  I will have to say at least this series of beers have a story behind.  I know there is a few other Michigan craft brewery would use a gimmick to sell beer.  I was pretty impressed with the first two beers from this series.  I like it. It is totally different. I have more faith in Bell’s after this one.  I am not a Bell’s fan but this one made me turn my head a little more to their direction.  There is some nice notes from Apricots and honey.  It is not too heavy.  I love the vanilla aftertaste notes.  I just wish it was not limited but it is what it is.  If you can find a bottle, 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 Samuel Adams Boston Ale

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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 Mountain Town Brewing Train Wrack Amber Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery for the first time on this blog which is Mountain Town Brewing.  It is their Train Wrack Amber Ale.  Here is a little history from their website (www.mountaintownbrew.com):

In 1996 Mountain Town Station Brewing Co. & Steakhouse opened its doors as a premier restaurant, wine cellar and micro brewery; and has grown ever since in its menu concept, wine inventory and beer recipes. In 2007, a separate company was formed called Mountain Town Brewing Company. This new brewery operation is strictly manufacturing and packaging using the same recipes that have been successfully developed for years at the brewpub. In 2008, shipments of beers such as the Gamblers Golden Ale, Railyard Raspberry Wheat and Cow Catcher Red Ale were flying out of the brewery and into restaurants and bars across Michigan. Look for these and many more beers at your favorite bar and restaurant. If they don’t have our beers request that they be put on tap!

As you can see they brew several different beer styles from cans and bottles.  We are going to get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color with a nice white head.  There is really no smell.  It is pretty fade.  The taste has a malty notes with a hint of honey aftertaste.  The honey makes the aftertaste smooth and a crisp finish.  It is an extremely drinkable beer.

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

Trainwreck Amber Ale
An American Amber Ale brewed with maple syrup and honey to give it a full body and smooth sweetness

Approach with caution. This one will sneak up on you! Brewed to keep us warm in the winter months, but easily enjoyable any time of the year. Syrup and honey give this beer an irresistible sweetness that makes it impossible to have just one. No matter what you pair this one with make sure you get plenty to eat or you might find out how this beer got its name.
ABV – 8.2%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.mountaintownbrew.com

Twitter:  No Twitter Address

Closing, this beer is pretty interesting brew.  I was taken a little back when tasting this beer.  I did enjoy it.  I did not know how the honey would work with this amber ale.  I had honey in beers and amber lagers.  I was pretty interested to see how some of the malty to some fruity notes would react with the honey sweetness.  This is average beer and it is nothing special.  I recommend you trying this beer just because how unique it is.  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 Samuel Adams Cream Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from the Boston Beer Company.  They are known around the world as Samuel Adams Brewery.  It is their Cream Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this east coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this cream stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan head on this milk stout.  The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes with a slight caramel notes.  The taste has a creamy to roasted chocolate to coffee notes with a nice slight caramel to wrap up the tasting notes.  The aftertaste has a nice burned coffee notes. It is a sipping stout.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Harkening back to the tradition of English sweet stouts, our cream stout has a rich smooth silkiness that differs from its Irish dry stout cousin.  Dark roasted malts give this brew its ebony color and deep notes of chocolate, caramel and coffee for a rich roastiness and subtly sweet finish.

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

Inspired by the traditional English sweet stouts, this rich and creamy brew is full of deep roasted character, with a subtle sweetness & indulgently smooth finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

Closing, it is a nice milk stout.  I saw this one on the shelf and I thought why not.  I never had this brew and I thought it cannot bad.  This is not like all the rest of the craft stouts on the market.  I was not a big fan of it but it was not that bad of a beer.  It is an average to slightly below average brew.  At least, the price was right on for the liquid.  Some of the stouts in the market are over price and are average or below average.  This is an average beer at the right price.  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 Lucky Girl Brewery Haunted Pumpkin Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample a Lucky Girl Brewery and it is Haunted Pumpkin Ale.  This is the first both this beer and brewery is being featured on this blog.  This is the first time these beers are making it out of their brewpub and the southeastern Michigan.  I was pretty interested in this brewery.  Here is a story behind this craft brewery from their website (www.luckygirlbeer.com):

The iconic “pinup” girl was first created for our WWII soldiers as a gesture of good luck for our young men, giving them a little piece of home and comfort on the battlefield.

In the post-war era, she became a symbol of American prosperity as the United States experienced economic growth like never before seen. It was a time when we were all proud to be Americans, and motivated to make this country great.

Today, Lucky Girl Brewing Company represents that same feeling of unity, nostalgia, and the heart of Americana. Enjoy a Classy & Sassy Lucky Girl beer as we toast to our heritage and to our American pride!

I do not see anything saying who the owner and when they opened.  I just found this on their website for their back story on their name and their labeling on their packaging.  If you know something, please, let me know so I can add it to this review.  Let us get into pumpkin ale.

This pumpkin ale has a cloudy bronze color without a head.  The aroma has a heavy cinnamon to a light nutmeg with a touch of pumpkin in background.  The taste has a light carbonated sweet malty notes.  It is pretty faded between all the tasting notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

It’s that time of the year. Ghosts and Goblins, and fall’s favorite treat – HAUNTED PUMPKIN ALE. This tasty brew of fresh pumpkin, 2 row malts, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg is frighteningly good to the last drop.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.luckygirlbeer.com

Twitter:  @luckygirlbeer

Closing, I love the packaging and it does stick out from all the rest of the pumpkin beers on the market.  I would say the only package that beats it out is the New Belgium Pumpkick Ale.  As far as the liquid and appearance.  I love the look and the aroma from the beer.  I was getting pretty excited on trying this beer.  I was pretty disappointed with the tasting notes.  There is no pumpkin notes with slight cinnamon and nutmeg notes.  It is pretty weak.  It is pretty dinkable.  If you can get a bottle, I would try it at least.  Here is a example of a beer from Michigan that is not really good.  This beer is from Michigan and it does not make it good.  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 New Belgium Pumpkick Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into this year’s limited release from New Belgium and it is Pumpkick Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this employee owned brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin ale brewed with cranberries.

It has a clear copper to bronze color with a white constant head on this fall seasonal.  The smell has a pumpkin to cranberry notes.  The taste has a slight pumpkin but the cranberries take over the taste profile.  The aftertaste is a heavy cranberry notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer?  Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale.  PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that’ll have you hunt and pecking for more.

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

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. Pumpkick is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing. Available in September and October 2014.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In the end, this is the beer that brought me back into trying and retrying New Belgium’s beers.  I will be up front and say I did not like their beers or most of them.  I was excited to see this beer coming back for at least one more season.  New Belgium Brewery makes the same seasonal for at least two years and then switch to a new one.  They wanted to see if they could get one more season out of this brew. There is lack of cranberries this season.  The new fall seasonal is Tour De Fall.  I might try to get a review up before the end of the season.  Pumpkick was my favorite fall beer from last season.  This year was a little disappointed.  I felt that my bottles did not have enough of the cranberry notes.  I loved last years more. There was not as much cranberry notes as this year’s brew. It is still a great brew.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some before it disappears again.  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

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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