spring seasonal

New Beer Blog Alaskan Hop Turn IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another  beer from Alaskan Brewery.  It is their Hop Turn IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Alaska base craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a slightly cloudy to a fog like golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus notes. The taste has a dry citrus to lemon notes with a dry lemon bitter aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Hop Turn IPA uses Pilsner malt and Sterling hops for a distinctive old-world taste. With a floral, peppery, lemony aroma, crystal-clear pale straw color, brisk flavor and lively 7.5 ABV, Hop Turn is a radical take on a West Coast IPA.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter:  @alaskanbrewing

In the end, I was pretty happy to see this craft brewery make it to the State of Michigan.  I was disappointed that their Black IPA did not make it.  The last year, they have been pushing more and more of their IPA’s.  I am holding on to hope that they bring their black IPA to the state.  I was not impressed with this beer.  It has everything that I am looking for in an IPA.  It just rub me the wrong way.  It is a spring seasonal so I am good with it.  I can see others liking this product.  I recommend it for a try.  I know every craft beer drinker will try it at least once.  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 Stone American Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Stone Brewery.  It is their American Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this California base craft brewery.  Let us get into this stout.

It has a jet black color with a tan constant color head on this stout. The aroma has a chocolate to heavy espresso notes. The taste has a chocolate to espresso notes with heavy espresso aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

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

Stone Americano Stout | Stone Brewing

The coffee notes in Stone Americano Stout are bold, rich and full of American swagger. For each 120-barrel batch, we incorporated over 250 lbs. of artisanal espresso-roast beans into the mash and added in Columbus, Chinook, Amarillo and Cascade hops to invigorate the coffee taste with a slight citrus and resin hop presence. When it came time to selecting our coffee, we chose the same local roasters who contributed to our sought-after 2013 Stone ESPRESSO Imperial Russian Stout. Their fantastic beans helped us achieve this dark, hoppy and wonderfully aromatic espresso stout.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter:  @stonebrewingco

Closing, I always love anything that comes from Stone Brewing.  I cannot recall if they make a bad beer.  This is one of the few craft brewery that is good overall.  I love this beer. I love my coffee stouts.  This craft brewery is known for their hoppy and malty beers.  It is nice to see them trying to do something different.  They did a great job on this beer.  There is a nice balance between the stout and the coffee.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend this beer.  I am glad this craft brewery decided to make seasonal beers.  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 Portage Porter

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In this spring seasonal beer blog, we are going to sample the new spring seasonal, which is Portage Porter, from New Belgium Brewery.  This craft brewery is always changing it up on all their seasonals.  They normally switch seasonal brews every two years but they have been switching them sooner if they are not selling.  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 New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this porter.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan head on this porter. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste of this American porter has a nice creamy chocolate to toffee notes. The aftertaste has a dry chocolate to coffee finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

A great porter just feels right in your hand. And carrying a glass of Portage Porter is no different. An opaque, brown pour, this beer presents with coffee and chocolate aromas, with hints of toast and smoked almonds. The taste follows suit, adding an upfront sweetness and a slight, roasty bitterness to back it up. Creamy and wonderful, this porter sips a medium body and finishes dry and delightful. Portage Porter carts itself towards perfection. Just tip your glass and keep smiling. Available January 2015.

Here is their website and Twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I did not see a normal American porter coming from New Belgium Brewery.  On top of that, it is a spring seasonal.  Now, my head is starting to spin.  This spring seasonal as a porter makes some sense.  This is why.  It was released about the half way point of the first quarter.  I am talking late January and early February.  I know here it is still winter.  This is one reason this beer makes some sense.  It is a light body porter and this is a second reason.  It is not like most porters that are pretty heavy.  I like it but it is not the best porter that I have had in my lifetime. I give credit for trying to do something new.  I can see some craft beer drinkers loving this beer.  I recommend it.  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 Magic Hat Single Chair Golden Ale (2015)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new spring seasonal from Magic Hat Brewery.  It is called Single Chair Golden Ale.  Magic Hat is switching it up and pushing the craft beer drinkers.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know about this east coast craft brewery.   If you have not, please, read them to get to know about this craft brewery.  Let us get into this golden ale.

It has a clear golden color without a head on this ale. The aroma has a sweet malty and slight floral notes. The taste of this light body ale has a refreshing light sweet malty with a dry crisp aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold. Our mysterious mèlange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits.  Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

Single Chair

Celebrating the Independent Spirit of Mad River

Single Chair Ale takes its name from a truly unique piece of American history: the Single Chair lift at Mad River, one of only two in the country. We share a similar vision with this mountain: To be part of a community, and to be as dedicated to the enjoyment of brewing as Mad River is to the sport of skiing. As winter’s cover melts to reveal spring’s hidden life, take a ride to the top on the Single Chair and celebrate your independent spirit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, I am not a huge golden ale fan but this is a great product. I can see huge part of the craft beer world enjoying this brew.  It is not for me.  They put some thought in this brew.  They kept it simple and to the point.  It is extremely drinkable beer.  This is a perfect beer to going skiing with or just start spring cleaning in and outside the house.  I believe this could have been a good summer seasonal. There is some nice flavors but keeping it true to the classic beer style.  I love the story behind the name of the beer.  The last ski resort that has a single chair on the mountain side in their state.  I highly highly recommend this beer.  I believe this beer will have people retry Magic Hat’s beers.  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 Spring Blonde

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out the new spring seasonal from New Belgium Brewery.  It is their Spring Blonde Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog 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 Colorado craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear golden color with a nice white head.  The aroma is like lemon notes.  The taste is refreshing malty to cirtus notes with a nice malty aftertaste.  It is a nice drinkable beer for the spring time.

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

Blondes are a favorite style among New Belgium employee-owners who have celebrated their 5-year anniversary with a spring trip to Belgium. These travels inspired our Spring Blonde and brought some old Belgium to New Belgium. Brewed with pale and Munich malts, this golden ale pours bright copper and holds a strong, white head aloft. A nose of lemon peel, pepper, and fresh-baked bread entice a sipping. Spring Blonde drinks malty, sweet and wonderful. And the easy Nugget hopping pedals towards a dry, lightly bitter finish. Shed that coat, grab some bikes, and crack some beers.

Here is a video about this beer on their website (www.newbelgium.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In closing, I will be the first to say that I am not a huge fan of Spring and Summer Seasonals.  There are some pretty good Spring and Summer Seasonals released every year into the market.  I try them every year and I say the same thing over and over again.  They are too light for me but that is by design and I understand why.  New Belgium Brewery is always putting out new seasonals and pushing themselves.  This is not my type of beer style and it does not make any of these Spring and Summer Seasonals bad.  The one thing that I did like about this brew has a nice malty to citrus notes and refreshing drinking experience.  It is perfect brew for the Spring Season.  I recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser