shiner

New Blog Fireman’s Brew Blonde Beer Pilsner Beer

In this blog, we are going back out to California to try three beers from Fireman’s Brew Company.  Their website has a good story on their beer and their history.  After that, we will get into the first beer called Fireman’s Brew Blonde Beer Pilsner Beer.

Here is their history from their website (www.firemansbrew.com):

A True Story

In December 2000, Rob and Ed were sitting on a steep hillside of an extinguishing brushfire above the Glendale Mountains. They were staring into the midnight sky, dreaming of the cool smooth taste of a fresh beer to quench their scorched dry mouths. From this point, these two Los Angeles based firemen set out to brew the best Fireman’s Brew in the world.

The result was Fireman’s Brew, the perfect choice to “Extinguish Your Thirst” & “Ignite the Party”! In a brief moment in time, the two men gave birth to a vision that they are living out today. Their thirst for beer and coffee after that exhausting day launched them into developing a hero’s brand of products that every American could relate to. With every product sold, Fireman’s Brew donates a portion of its profits to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg, Maryland. So whether your beverage of choice is beer, coffee, or root beer, sit back and relax with the smooth taste of a fresh Fireman’s Brew!

This beer has a bright golden clear color with no head. You can read a newspaper through the beer. The smell of the beer has fresh air smell or no smell to it.  The taste of this beer is a sweet carbonation with a weird hop aftertaste. It is very hard to explain what I am experiencing. The aftertaste to me makes this beer and then the sweet carbonation taste.  The overall big selling point is the drinkablity of this beer.

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

Our original golden lager is the lightest of our beers.  Smooth, light malt flavors combined with just enough hops for balance deliver a crisp and refreshing beer with a clean finish and no bitter aftertaste.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.firemansbrew.com

Twitter: @firemansbrew

In closing on the first of three, just what I said in my earlier blog, I am really starting to enjoy American Craft Beer Pilsner. Fireman’s Brew Blonde stays true to the German pilsner style. It is very drinkable and refreshing beer. This beer is in my top five German pilsner style.  This is a very good beer and I love the fact they still give back to their firefighters brothers.  This is not just a brewery.  You will need to check out their website.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

21st Amendment Brew Bitter America Pale Ale New Blog

In this blog, we are going to check out the second of three beers from 21st Amendment Brewery. This beer is their spring seasonal and it is called Bitter American Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know a little something on this brewery. Up next is the tasting of the beer.

This beer is a clear copper color with next to no head on it.  It has a very earthy to slightly piney smell to it. As far as the taste of the beer is a carbonation light piney to it. It is a different taste kicking to it. It has a little Bass Ale but a ton more hoppier but I would not say it is a west coast pale ale.  I would say more east coast to just normal American pale ale.  The aftertaste is a nice dry earthy hop snap to it.  This aftertaste I can live with in it. Just like their India Pale Ale, it is very drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

If you’d been rocketed into space against your will, you might be a little bitter too. Bitter American is our long-overdue tribute to unsung, unwitting heroes everywhere. This American session ale packs a lot of hop and malt flavor into a refreshingly lower-alcohol brew, making it the perfect beer to have on hand when you have a little history to make.

Bitter American is available year-round, in six pack cans and on draft. This extra pale session ale has lower alcohol but all the flavor and hop aroma you expect from a much bigger beer. Give one, or three, a try.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stamendment

In closing, I really enjoying this beer.  It is not overpowering on the bitterest from the hops.  It has a very nice balance on this beer.  It is really drinkable for the spring and very hot summer days.  This is the second beer I had from this brewery and I have to say so far they have not let let me down on their beers.  I love the fact that it is not like a West Coast Pale Ales.  It is in the middle of the road and gives us craft beer drinkers a break from the over hop Pale Ales and India Pale Ales.  This beer reminds me a little bit of Ska Brewery Winter Pale Ale (I believe that is it.  I cannot think of the name of the beer.) or Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale, which came out last month to the market.  I know how that sounds I am sorry to the brewery but there is not too many Pale Ales like this one in our market like this that I know.  If there is please drop me an email, I will go try that beer.  They are the normal English Pale Ale or they are a West Coast Pale Ale.  I really enjoyed this beer and I want to go to the nearest state and pick up some more cans.  Thank you again to my friend Dean for bring me these cans.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Brewery German Style Pilsner Lager

In this blog, we are going to get into the last beer from Frankenmuth Brewery Sampler Pack.  The beer that will be featured is called Frankenmuth Brewery German Style Pilsener Lager.  You read my earlier on Frankenmuth Brewery Blonde then you are pretty up to speed on this great brewery.  Let us get into one of Michigan’s Oldest Brewery beer called Frankenmuth Brewery Pilsener.

This beer in the glass has a clear and bright yellow tone with to head. It has a sweet and slight candy corn smell to it.  As far as the taste of this pilsner, it is clean crisp with a sweet dry carbonation going on in it. Frankenmuth Pilsner is very drinkable and sessional beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and their website (www.frankenmuthbrewery.com):

A time-honored German style pilsener, this definitive golden lager is made following the traditional German purity law: using only malted barley, water, German hops and German lager yeast. A great beer with a floral aroma, a hint of spices & a dry finish.

ABV 5.25%  IBU 26 Pairs well with lighter foods: chicken, salads, salmon & bratwurst

Here is a their twitter and website addresses:

Website:  www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In the end, this beer style is not one of favorite out there, however, trying beer styles I have not like in the past to write these blogs.  I have found a new aspect towards some of these beer styles.  Just what I said in my Redhook Longhammer IPA, if I did not try other beers I would not have found beer styles that I love to death.  It goes with this beer from Frankenmuth Brewery and the beer is Pilsner Lager.  I really enjoyed this beer and has turn me on to check out other Pilsners at least craft beer world wise.  It is not to light but not too heavy while drinking it.  It is an awesome beer to drink in very hot weather to the nice cold winter.  This beer fits into the classic pilsner beer style for its drinkable.  Being a German base American Craft Brewery, they did an awesome job on this classic beer style.  I would say they did a better job with it then the German Breweries that have been brewing this style for hundreds of years.  I might get some hate mail but I am fine with that.  I am just an idiot with many thoughts on everything in the world.  This is my idea and you can agree or disagree with it.  To finish this blog up, I really highly recommend trying this beer at least once in your lifetime.  I love this beer and this brewery and I wish I could get in Chicagoland.  I just want to say thank you to my parents for bring out these beers when they were here visiting me.  I will be stocking up when I go back to Michigan.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Dunkel Dark Lager

In this blog, we are going to sample out the second of four beers from Frankenmuth Brewery Company. The name of the beer is called Dunkel Dark Lager. If you read my blog on their Blonde Ale, then we can move onto the next beer in their lineup. Let us stop talking and start drinking this awesome beer.

In the glass, the beer is brown in color with a constant white head. The smell of toffee and malt is in the air from the beer. The taste of the beer is a classic german style. The beer drinker will taste toffee to chocolate notes with a nice smooth finish.  It is very drinkable beer and very well made for the beer style.

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

Named for the city it calls home, this German style lager has a distinguished dark appearance and a notably smooth sweet balanced flavor. The result gives our Dunkel a flavor of toasted bread and a malty finish.

ABV 5.1%  IBU 22
Pairs well with hearty, spicy food: barbecue, sausages, & roast. Also pairs well with chocolate dessert.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In closing, this has to be my favorite German Beer Style. I hold all import and craft breweries on a very high standard when they brew this beer. I mean the beer not the brewery. I really enjoyed this beer. This brewery did an awesome job making this beer. It is easy to drink with a ton of favor. I could drink this beer in the hottest summer days. Believe me, there are some summer days here in Chicago and Detroit that makes you want to dug deep in the earth. With that crazy talk, this beer is awesome beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Frankenmuth Classic American Blonde Ale

In this blog, we are going to dig into one of the oldest brewery in Michigan. We are going to take a look at Frankenmuth Brewery which was founded in 1862.  In 1987, there was a fire that burned down most of the brewery.  This brewery never gave up and their goals they want to have their beers to their fan base. They brew mostly German base beers but this brewery has some American Classic beers.  They are brewing in one of the best cities in the Michigan.  Here is the first of four beers that will be blog about it. The first to be featured is from Frankenmuth Brewery and it is called Classic American Blonde Ale.

The beer is a clear bright yellow in the glass with a simi-head to it. The smell is of fresh air by a waterfall. The taste is very smooth and refreshing with a nice sweet kick to it. The aftertaste is very crisp and refreshing. This is a very  drinkable beer for any season of the year.  Most craft beer drinkers normally see Blonde Ales available in the spring to summer seasonal.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Medium bodied classic American ale is made using American malts and fermented at a lower temperature to give it a clean mellow finish.  This is a terrific cross-over beer for those who enjoy American ales.

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

American Blonde Ale
This classic American style ale is made using American malts and fermented at a lower temperature to give it a clean mellow finish. This is a terrific cross-over beer for those who enjoy American style ales.

ABV 4.75%  IBU 17%
Goes great with lighter foods; chicken, salads, salmon, bratwurst, and is great with pizza.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @FB1862

In closing, we dug into on of my favorite Michigan brewery called Frankenmuth Brewery Company.  You know me well if you read my blogs.  I am very up front and honest.  This is my favorite brewery in Michigan.  I like many beers around the state from different breweries but this brewery is by far the best one to me.  As far as this brew, I never was a fan of this beer style.  This beer style is normally to light in body for my taste buds but this one brings something out of this beer style.  I am a fan of this American Blonde Ale.   This beer is very well made beer and stays true to this classic style but with a American twist.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Savor Part One (Beer Event)

Swamp Head Black IPA

It is black in color in the glass. Chocolate smell is going on in the beer. Not over hopped and a ton of porter chocolate roasted taste going on. This beer is very drinkable.  I am disappointed with it. It is nothing like other black ipas. Cheers!

Surly Brewery Coffee Blender Ale

The beer in the glass is a light brown with a white head.  It has a nutty and that coffee smell going on. It is very smooth and taste. It has a nice slam of coffee aftertaste.  This is a very good beer. I love it!  Cheers!

Maui and Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena’ole

This beer I am really excited to try. It is a cloudy yellow in the glass. It is really hard to see in the room. It doesn’t have a smell to it. It has a nice sweet sour cherry taste. The aftertaste is a longing dry sweet kick to the beer.  I really love sours and everything this brewery had done in the past.  This is an excite beer for the style. Cheers!

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Just like most IPAs, it had s nice copper tune to the beer. It has a nice circus smell to it but very light. It is very smooth and drinkable for a west coast IPA.  I have been wanting to try this beer and it did not disappoint me. Good IPA. Cheers!

Epic Brewing (Utah)

I was disappointed it was not the brewery down under but whatever I can not be mad.  This is free beer.  This beer is cloudy yellow in color.  It has s heavy peach smell for this fruity beer. It is very sweet peachy and sour in taste with a very peachy aftertaste. It is very drinkable for what it is for the style. It is not my beer in my pint glasses but I could see this sell in the market. Well done. Cheers!

New Blog Dogfish My Antonia Pilsner

In this blog, we are going to dig into Dogfish Head My Antonia Pilsner.  Here is a little history of the brewery called Dogfish Head Brewery.  It was founded in 1995 by Sam Calagione in the state of Milton, Delaware.  They try to do different things to the old classic beer styles.  Their tagline says it all, which is “Off-centered ales for off-centered people.”  They do several different styles of beer that they sell out in the market.  They were featured in documentary “Beer Wars” and the TV show called “Brew Masters” on Discovery Channel.

This beer is your normal german pilsner. It has a ton of carbonation in this 750ml bottle. It is slightly cloudy with a golden to yellow in color. It has a slight circus smell or nothing in the smell from the beer. The beer has a tastes of circus with carbonation in it. The aftertaste is dry that will make you want to drink water with the beer. The dry aftertaste is slightly bitter that comes from the hops, however, it is not a huge bitter aftertaste like from IPAs.

Here is a description from the bottle:

This here beer is a lagerific departure for our ale-centric brewery.  A marriage of old world tradition and new world innovation, My Antonia is brewed with pilsner malt and continually-hopped with a blend of Noble and West Coast hops.

Here is a story on their website (www.dogfish.com):

My Antonia (named after the Willa Cather read), is a continually-hopped imperial pilsner. This lager for ale lovers is citrusy, sweet and refined.

My Antonia started out as a collaboration beer when Sam brewed it atBirra del Borgo (hope you can read Italian) outside Rome, Italy, with owner/brewer Leonardo DiVencenzo in October 2008. In 2010, we began brewing My Antonia here in Delaware for U.S. distribution.

As an aside, in June 2009, Leonardo came over to Delaware and brewed our original batch of Namaste with us at our Rehoboth Beach brewpub. And Leo is also one of the brewers involved in the Eataly project in New York City. What goes around, comes around.

Anyhoo… here is our Quick Sip Clip of Sam chatting about My Antonia with his Italian-American grandmother Jessie Calagione (they sometimes veer a bit off topic, but we think it’s a great video and love her ‘cash customers’ story). Cheers!

Here is a few ways to get to know this brewery:

Website: www.dogfishhead.com

Twitter: @dogfishbeer

In closing, I respect these craft breweries for their beer passion they have for this art. Dogfish Head is a great brewery and I love many of their beers. I love how this brewery pushes the limits of beer drinkers taste buds.  However, this beer and many of their beers that are in 750ml, I feel are not worth the money you are paying for what is in the bottle.  Let me say this, the beer itself is pretty good but for the price I feel it is not worth the money. I do love some of their beers that come in 750ml bottles.  I love their Black and Blue, Bitch’s Brew, and a few others. If you are a huge pilsner fan, I believe you will love this brew for the difference that it bring to the beer style. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Perennial Artisan Ales Black Walnut Dunkel

In this blog, we are going to talk about the second of three beers from Perennial Artisan Ales.  The beer we are going to talk about from this brewery is called Black Walnut Dunkel, which is their spring seasonal.  If you read my blog on Sunday, which is Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis, you will know about the history.

While the beer is sitting in the glass, it comes across as a light brown in color with constant head.  The carbonation during the pouring process is pretty normal for a German Dunkel.  The smell is like roasted chestnuts over a fireplace during the Christmas holiday season. This beer has a taste of a black walnut ice cream. Going deep in detail with that statement. It comes across as a slight sweet chocolate taste with mild walnut sweet aftertaste.  You will taste the walnut throughout the drinking experience but it is there but not really there. I am not a brew master but for reason I am getting some vanilla taste.  I really do not know where that vanilla is coming from in this beer.  It is a very drinkable in the spring to fall season and that is why it is a seasonal.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Black Walnut Dunkel is our first foray into German-style beer.  Originally brewed for an underground beer dinner with our friends at entre, BWD is a rich, malty Dunkelweiss with 250 pounds of Missouri black walnuts.  Game birds, such as quail, pair nicely with the unique, earthy character of the walnuts.

Here is a few sources to get to know about this brewery:

Website: www.perennialbeer.com

Twitter: @PerennialBeer

Closing out the tap, I know what I said in my other blog about their other beer, however, this beer being so different then what is out in the market.  I will pick up a bottle of this beer to pair it with a dessert, salad, or what it says on the bottle wild game.    I am a huge fan of German Weiss more than another wheat out there.  I am a huge fan of this beer.  It is a very good beer and I believe you should search this beer out.  It will be available in all big craft beer stores.  Let me know what you think of this great beer.  Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are talk about this new brand, which is Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale, coming out from Spoetzl Brewery or better known as Shiner from Shiner, Texas.  This is their first Pale Ale and third ale.  Well a little history of this brewery, they are a German base brewing style.   They are the second oldest craft brewery behind Yuengling Brewery.  This brewery is about two hours outside of Austin, Texas.

Here is the information from the bottle about the beer:

Wild Hare is a classic American Pale Ale – richly hopped, fruity and floral.  Munich malt nicely balances the assertive character of the U.S. Golding and Bravo hop varieties that give this brew its signature bitterness and aroma. Enjoy!

This beer pours copper color with a constant head. Shiner Pale Ale smells of piney. Taste of this beer is closer to an English Pale Ale but has enough muscle to a west coast pale ale. This will make your normal american lager drinker to your hop head very happy drinkers . This is a very drinkable and session beer.   For this being their first pale ale, Brewmaster did a very excellent job.

Here is a few places to go and get information on this great brewery:

Website: www.shiner.com

Twitter: @shinerbeer

In the end, this beer has a chance to be something out in the market.  It has the old school or throwback look on the label that you would see back in the 1930’s to 1950’s.  However, the most important is the beer that is inside the bottle, it is very drinkable but with enough favor that will make people happy and keep drinking it.  This beer will be out in June in Chicago market.  I am not sure about the rest of the market.  You will be able to get it around the country.  I love this beer and I am glad Shiner is doing something different.  You know what to do.  Go out and hunt this bunny down.  Enjoy it!  Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Ram Brewery Wheeling IL

I love supporting great brewpub with great food.  I didn’t realize I had one in my backyard.  I am talking about the multiple locations brewpub called The Ram Brewery.  Their beer is a really good for a great value for the price.  This is a perfect place to take people that are new to craft beer world that want to sample new Craft Beers.  The other one I would say in the Chicagoland market would be the #1 craft in Chicago which is Goose Island Brewery.  They have two location in the city but if you are in the burbs of Chicago The Ram has two location in the Northwest.

To get information and see updates and news on this company.

Twitter @theram or @therambrew (wheeling location)

Website is www.theram.com

The Wheeling location has special on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.  They have a sampler plate just like every other brewpub.  Go and drink to support some great craft beers!  Cheers!