In this special beer blog, we are going to sample Funky Buddha Brewery for first time on this beer blog. It is called Last Snow Porter. Funky Buddha Brewery was founded in 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida. They are the largest craft brewery in the Southern part of Florida. Let us get into this porter.
It has a jet black color with tan constant head on this porter. The aroma has a heavy chocolate, coffee, and coconut notes. The taste has a smooth well balance of chocolate, coffee, and coconut notes with coffee and coconut aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.
Here is a desecration from their website (www.funkybuddhabrewery.com):
Let it SnowLast Snow Coconut & Coffee Porter is an ode to that special time in Florida where the needle dips just south of 75 – even for the briefest of moments. This rich, creamy porter is layered with coconut and freshly-roasted coffee for a taste that recalls a winter wonderland – even if, in our state, that’s just a state of mind.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.funkybuddhabrewery.com
Twitter: @funkybuddhabrew
Ending, this craft brewery has been on my radar for a while. I was pretty happy to see my friend came back with some from Florida. I want to thank my friend Mike for bring these two beers back. I was really happy to see he brought back this bottle. It is nice way to get to know this awesome craft brewery. This beer has a nice balance. For a craft brewery to have nice weather in winter, they found a way to make a beer for how it is in the north. Winter sucks here in Michigan. There is a ton going on in this complex beer. It is well balance beer. I love it. This is a really good beer. I hope they keep making this great beer and I hope I can get more next year. 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 Abita Brewery Bourbon Street Imperial Stout
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Abita Brewery. It is a special and limited release from Abita Brewery and it is their Bourbon Street Imperial Stout. This liquid is aged in Bourbon Barrels. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Abita Brewery. Let us get into this Imperial Stout.
It has a jet black color with a tan constant head. The aroma has a sweet chocolate to bourbon notes. The taste has a sweet chocolate to nice earthy bourbon notes with a nice burn alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Four centuries New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street has inspired good times and fine libations like our Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout. This hand-crafted artisanal brew is aged for months in wooden barrels used to make small batch bourbon whiskey. During barrel aging, the brew absorbs the flavors of the barrels which intensifies the taste and aroma of roasted malt, warm vanilla and smooth bourbon.
This Imperial Stout is a dark-colored ale brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts. Oats are added for a full, sweet taste. After fermentation the ale is cold aged for six weeks to ensure a smooth flavor before bourbon barrel aging begins.
Here is a description from their website (www.abita.com):
Imperial Stout
Bourbon Street Stout is an Imperial Stout that is aged in small batch bourbon barrels. Our Imperial Stout is brewed with a combination of pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts. Oats are also added to give the beer a fuller and sweeter taste. The roasted malts give the beer its dark color as well as its intense flavor and aroma. After fermentation the beer is cold aged for 6 weeks. This is necessary for all of the flavors of the malt and hops to balance and produce a very smooth flavor.
After the cold aging the beer is transferred into the bourbon barrels. It is then aged for another 8 weeks to absorb all of the flavors from the barrels. The result is a stout that brings out the roasted flavors from the malt and the warming toasted, vanilla, and bourbon flavors.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @theabitabeer
In the end, I did not know they made this beer and I am not stun one bit. I was pretty happy to see it made it to my market. I love my porter and stouts. You put it in a barrel or bourdon barrel and now you are talking. The first brewery to take this on was Goose Island Brewery. I am happy to see other craft breweries doing this process. To me, this will show which beers are good or bad or which beers that the craft beer drinkers like it. This beer has a nice balance from the imperial stout and bourbon notes. It is not in your face like the Goose Island Bourdon Country Stout. It is still a sipping stout but it is a little bit more drinkable than Bourdon Country. I love the story behind the name. 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 Abita Brewery Wrought Iron IPA
Abita Brewery Wrought Iron IPA is the feature brew in this beer blog. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you have not read them, please, do so to get to know Abita Brewery. Let us get into this IPA.
It has a cloudy copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy citrus notes. The taste has a citrus notes. I can pick up the Equinox and Mosaic hops. The aftertaste has a dry hop bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Abita Wrought Iron IPA embodies the resilient, indestructible nature of New Orleans. This india pale ale is forged with the intensity of Apollo, Equinox, and Mosaic Hops. Brewed with pale ale malt for a golden color as bright an iron from a fiery forge.
Here is a description from their website (www.abita.com):
Abita Wrought Iron® IPA embodies the resilient, indestructible nature of New Orleans. This india pale ale is forged with the intensity of Apollo, Equinox and Mosaic Hops. Brewed with pale ale malt for a golden color as bright as iron from a fiery forge.
Wrought Iron® IPA pairs well with grilled meats like steaks or pork chops. Grilled sausages are great too, with some spicy mustard on the side. It also pairs well with the spice, meat and seafood in jambalaya. A mild goat cheese is an excellent choice with Wrought Iron® IPA.
Suggested temperature: 44°
Suggested glassware: pint, tulip, or steinHere is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @theabitabeer
Closing, I was pretty excited to see this on the shelf. I did not know they put out a new IPA. Of course, I had to do a little research on this brew. I thought it was a season but it is everyday. There is some nice packaging on this beer. I have to say this was the best packaging as far as the labels on the bottle from them. There is some nice notes in the aroma. I love the hops they picked for this beer. Some of the hottest hops in the craft beer world are being used in this brew. This is so much better than their other everyday IPA. It is a good brew. 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 Terrapin Beer Co Mosaic Red Rye India Pale Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to get into Terrapin Mosaic Red Rye India Pale Ale. Terrapin was founded in 2002 by Brian Buckowski and John Cochran. They are located at Athens, Georgia. They brew several different beer styles. This brewery was named after Grateful Dead record. Let us get into this rye ale.
It has a nice dark ruby-red color with a nice off white to tan color head. The smell has a heavy malty to caramel notes with hints of earth to piney. The taste has a malty to earthy hop notes with a dry bitter hop aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.terrapinbeer.com):
Like a fine piece of art, “Mosaic” Red Rye IPA is masterfully created by using 100% Mosaic™ hops throughout the brew. With it’s aesthetically pleasing ruby-red color and spatial depth from the rye malt, this hand crafted masterpiece leaves your palate’s canvas open to interpretation.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.terrapinbeer.com
Twitter: @TerrapinBeerCo
Closing, I knew there were other craft brewery in Georgia. I just never had the chance to get around to sample these beers. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Sweetwater Brewery. I was pretty excited to see this brew in my beer trade. I will be on hunt to sample more of Terrapin’s beers in the near future. Rye IPA’s are one of my favorite IPA beer style. I am always on the hunt for new Rye IPA. The depth that is in this beer is something else. I mean that in a good way. I love caramel to earthy and piney notes. They did a great job on the malty backbone and selection of hop. They used it correctly to feature it in this brew. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog Sweetwater Brewery 420 Extra Pale Ale
In this beer blog, we are going to sample the flagship beer, which is 420 Extra Pale Ale from Sweetwater Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you have not, please, read it to get to know Sweetwater Brewery. Let us get into this Extra Pale Ale.
It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this extra pale ale. The aroma has a malty to earthy notes. The taste has malty to earthy hop notes with a dry hop finish for aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
A tasty west coast style pale accentuated by a stimulating hop character. First conceived in our bar cave on 4-20, this kind beer keeps the wheels on the bus going round and round.
Drink ’em if you got ’em!
Here is a description from their website (www.sweetwaterbrew.com):
SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, our most popular brew, is a tasty West Coast Style Pale Ale with a stimulating hop character and a crisp finish. 1st brewed on April 20th 1997.
Specs – 5.4% alcohol, 16 oz can singles, 6-packs, 12-packs (12 oz bottles and cans), 15.5 Gallon kegs 1/2Bbl (US Sankey), 5 gallon 1/6th bbl torpedo kegs
Grains – Munich, 40L, 2-Row
Hops – Centennial, Cascade
Awards – 2002 Silver Medal- Great American Beer Festival, 1997 – 2005 Creative Loafing Readers Choice – Best local beer, 1998 World Beer Cup silver medal, Top 10 Local beers – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.sweetwaterbrew.com
Twitter: @sweetwaterbrew
Closing, I know this is one of the beers that I had in my beer of the month. I really enjoyed this beer. This brew has a nice backbone with some nice hop selection. This beer might be West Coast Style Pale Ale but it drinks nicely. This is a nice refreshing with a nice crisp aftertaste. I love the malty backbone with some nice hop character. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager
While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample another beer from Abita Brewery and it is their Strawberry Harvest Lager. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you did not read those beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this summer season.
It has a clear golden color with nice small constant bubbles. This Lager has a nice white head on it. The aroma has a strong sweet strawberries notes. The taste profile has a strong sweet fresh strawberries notes. It is like fresh picked strawberries. The aftertaste is a nice strawberry finish that hangs around bit. This light body Lager is extremely drinkable.
Here is a descrition from their website (www.abita.com):
Abita Strawberry Harvest is a lager brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. Real Louisiana strawberry juice is added after filtration resulting in a crisp lager with a sweet strawberry flavor, aroma and haze. It is wonderful with desserts or lighter fare such as salads and pastas. Fresh cheeses such as Burrata, chèvre, Crescenza, mozzarella or Teleme pair well with Strawberry Harvest.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In the end, I am not a huge Lager or fruit beers. I have to say I was pretty impressed with this beer. I liked it but it is pretty average beer. I will not go out of my way to find this beer. If I see it, I will order it. It also depends what is in the bar or restaurant. It is extremely drinkable and has a ton of flavor. I really enjoyed drinking this beer. Go and try it. Please let me know what you think of this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog Abita Purple Haze
In this beer blog, we are going to sample Purple Haze from Abita. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Christmas Ale, you know the history of Abita Brewery. If you have not read that post, please, read it to get to know this southern craft brewery. Let us get into this fruit beer.
It has a cloudy light amber to darker golden color with a white constant head on this fruit lager. The aroma has a heavy raspberry notes. The taste has a sweet raspberry notes with a hint of light carbonated notes. The aftertaste is nice and clean with touch of raspberry notes. It is a drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Purple Haze is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you even may see fruit pulp in the beer.
Here is a descration from their website (www.abita.com):
Purple Haze® is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze…you may see fruit pulp in the beer.
This beer is best served with salads or light fruit desserts, such as soufflés or chiffon cakes. Many people enjoy it with chocolate desserts. Purple Haze® pairs well with certain cheeses, such as ripened Brie or any dessert made with mascarpone. It’s also great paired with entrees prepared with fruit, especially citrus. Consider enjoying Purple Haze® alone at the end of your meal as dessert.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In closing, wheat and fruit beers are two beer styles that I normally do not go out of my way to hint down in the market. I have to say Purple Haze from Abita is not a bad beer. I love the rasphberry notes from the aroma and tasting profile. This is a nice brew for a hot summer day or a just a beer to enjoy during a snow day. There is a nice balances from the beer and the fruit notes. This is a beer you can have one after and other. Raspberries are not overpowering in the beer. It is a nice balance and the aftertaste is clean but with a touch of raspberry notes. I recommend this beer with dessert or it can be your dessert. It will go good with lighter dishes like salads. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Abita Turbodog
In this beer blog, we are going to sample Turbodog Ale from Abita. If you read my beer blog posts on their beers a few days ago, you know the history of this southern craft brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Abita Brewery. Let us get into this English Brown Ale.
It has a nice dark brown color with a nice white constant head on this English Style Brown Ale. The aroma has caramel, toffee, and slight chocolate notes. The taste of this light to medium body beer has a light carbonated chocolate notes with some toffee notes. The aftertaste has toffee notes. It is drinkable brew.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor.
Here is a description from their website (www.abita.com):
Turbodog® is a dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog® its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor. Turbodog® began as a specialty ale, but has gained a huge, loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews.
This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild-game dishes. Turbodog® is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog®. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In the end, I have enjoy my fair share of American and English Brown Ale. Turbodog is an English Style Brown Ale. This brew has a ton of flavor and I can see many brown ale fans enjoying this beer. This beer is in my Top 5. I love Turbodog, Goose Island Nut Brown Ale, and Brooklyn Brown Ale. It is a medium body but is pretty drinkable. I can see this beer go with just about any dish. I love to see how it would go with some chocolate ice cream with some hot fudge on top of it. 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 Abita Jockamo IPA
In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Jockamo IPA from Abita Brewing. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this southern craft brewery, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those beer blog posts, please, read them to get to know Abita Brewery. Let us get into this India Pale Ale.
It has a clear dark copper color with white head that fades over time. The smell has some citrus to orange notes. The taste has a light carbonated orange notes with a nice malty notes that cut through the hops. The aftertaste is a dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable IPA.
Here is a description from their website (www.abita.com):
Abita Jockamo IPA® is an American IPA brewed with pale, red, and caramel malts. This copper-colored ale is liberally hopped and dry hopped with Willamette and Columbus hops. The flavor is bold like the “Mardi Gras Indians” who march through New Orleans in suits of feathers and beads.
Jockamo has a flavor that entices and excites the palate. The intense hop character adds more spice to the meal and makes it a perfect choice to team up with many spicy dishes. Cheddar and strong farmer cheeses stand up well to Jockamo’s hoppy character. Jockamo goes well with wild game, grilled meats and Thai or Mexican cuisine.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.abita.com
Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer
In the end, I believe this is one of the best beers this brewery makes in their current line up. I enjoyed this beer and their Purple Haze Ale. There Turbo Dog and Strawberry Lager is not bad either. I have not had everything from this brewery so there might be more beers I need to add to those statements. I love aroma and taste profile that this beer offers to the craft beer drinkers. It has a well made malty backbone to cut through the hops. This is a well made brew that can go with pretty much any dish of food out there. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
DJ Weiser 