stout

New Beer Blog Tallgrass Brewing Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer seasonal from Tallgrass Brewing.  It is their Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts 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 brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a light tan head on this vanilla stout.  The smell is heavy vanilla with some chocolate notes.  The taste is smooth and creamy vanilla to slight chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is a hint of vanilla notes.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Style: Oatmeal Cream Stout Brewed with Vanilla Beans ABV 5.0% IBU 20 Full Brew Birthday: November 2012 Interesting Fact: There are free-roaming buffalo just ten miles from our brewery.

To create Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat we start with our best-selling beer, Buffalo Sweat. We carefully infuse this award- winning oatmeal cream stout with whole Ugandan vanilla beans. This enhances the beer’s natural dark-roasted flavors of espresso, chocolate, and creamy sweetness. “Liquid chocolate chip espresso cookies” is how one fan described its unique flavor.

The perfect treat on a winter’s day.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @TallgrassBeer

In closing, I was getting worried when I moved out of Chicago that I would not have a chance to get my hands on this brew.  I was happy to make it in town to move more things back to Michigan to get my hands on this beer.  I was pretty excited.  This brewery cannot make a bad beer.  They are like Tesla and Iron Maiden.  Both of those bands never put out a bad record and Tallgrass Brewery has not put out a bad beer.  The vanilla bean cuts through the chocolate and creamy stout.  The chocolate notes are still there but vanilla shines through this beer like some kind of prime time movie star.  If you are a fan of stout and/or vanilla bean, you will need to find a can of this great liquid.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Magic Hat Heart Of Darkness Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Magic Hat.  It is their Heart of Darkness Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Magic Hat.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Magic Hat Brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a semi tan to off white color head on this stout.  The smell has a slight coffee to chocolate notes.  The taste of this stout is chocolate to coffee notes.  There is a coffee or toffee aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

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

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

Filled with the howling of black dogs that haunt the long-forgotten shadows of the human soul. This dense liquid-silk summoned hope from hibernation and balanced winter’s endless white snows with a rich swirl of creamy black rapture.

An inky-black stout with a smooth, round palate and a dream-like undercurrent of bittersweet chocolate.

Stats

  • MaltsPale, Crystal, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Munich
  • HopsApollo, Goldings
  • YeastEnglish Ale
  • ABV5.7%
  • IBUs30
  • SRM80
  • Original Gravity15° Plato

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, I was not a huge fan of this brewery when I first saw it hit the market in Chicago.  I believe they hit that market about six or seven years ago.  I have from that time started to like Magic Hat a little bit more and more as the years edge to 2013.  I still have not retry their flagship #9.  I will be retrying that beer in the near future.  I saw this beer and I had to pick it up and try it.  I really like their packaging but it sometimes does not really say what the beer is in the bottle.  This one does.  I love the balance from the chocolate and coffee notes.  I really enjoyed drinking this brew.  I will be picking up more before it leaves for the season.  If you are a stout fan, you will need to find a bottle of Heart of Darkness.  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 New Belgium Brewing 1554 Black Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew from New Belgium Brewing.  It is their 1554 Black Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark black clear with a constant white head on this black ale.  The smell is a slightly chocolate with a nice crisp finish.  The taste is a milky chocolate notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

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

Born of a flood and centuries-old Belgian text, 1554 Enlightened Black Ale uses a lager yeast strain and dark chocolaty malts to redefine what dark beer can be. In 1997, a Fort Collins flood destroyed the original recipe our researcher, Phil Benstein, found in the library. So Phil and brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert, traveled to Belgium to retrieve this unique style lost to the ages. Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and mouthfeel.

Birthdate: July, 1999

Body: Light – Medium
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 21
Calories: 198
Hops: Target
Malts: Pale, Carapils, Black, Munich, Chocolate
Yeast: Lager Yeast
Aroma: Slightly fruity, herbal, spicy, rooty, coffee, chocolate, toffee
Mouthfeel: Due to the lager yeast ferm at high temps and the chocolate and black malt- this beer starts and finishes dry yet the middle is round and malt rich. session!
Flavor: Starts bitter chocolate with bright acidity, roasty and toasty, sweetness to round it out sweet/spicy, rooty, peppery undertones, lingering fruit acidity,
Visual: Brilliant/clear, mahogany

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I remember the first time I had this beer.  I was not really too impressed when it hit the Chicago craft beer market.  I guess my taste buds have grown or I found a new way of liking this brew.  There is several different things going on in this brew.  I love the chocolate, fruit, coffee, and slight toffee notes.  There is a nice balance in this brew.  I love how it is not overpowering.  I love the crisp finish and it is pretty drinkable brew.  There is not much to say about this beer.  It is really good and I recommend you trying to 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 Rochester Mills Beer Company Milkshake Stout

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In this beer blog posts, we are going to get into the first brew on this blog from Rochester Mills Beer Company.  I am talking about Milkshake Stout.  Rochester Mills Brewery started in 1998 in Rochester Mills, Michigan.  It is located just off the downtown around.  This brewery is in one of the oldest buildings in the city.  They brew several different beer styles and package them in 16oz cans.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout.  The smell is a chocolate coffee.  The taste is smooth creamy chocolate with a dark chocolate aftertaste.  It is drinkable beer but not really drinkable beer.

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

Milkshake Stout – 5.0% abv. Sweet Stout (ale)

Milkshake Stout is a sweet stout style Ale that combines four different malts along with a low hop level creating a deep dark beer featuring rich, roasted flavors. The addition of lactose (milk sugar, thus the name milkshake) adds complexity, body, and a residual sweetness that lends a smooth, creamy texture to this delightfully full-flavored brew.

Here is their website and twitter addesses:

Website:  www.beercos.com

Twitter:  @Rochmillsbeerco

In closing, this brewery has been on my radar before I moved back to Michigan from Chicago.  When I had a chance to try this beer and several  of their beers, I did it and I am really glad I did.  This brew is smooth and creamy milk chocolate notes.  This beer is like a beer milkshake like most milk stout.  It is well balance and really good.  I am glad I try it.  I am looking forward to stop by their Brewpub in the near future.  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 Liberty Street Brewery My Beer Flight

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a newer brewery in the last ten years in the southeast part of Michigan.  The brewery is called Liberty Street Brewery.  They opened back in 2008.  There is not much history on this young brewery.  I did find some information on their website.  Let us get into the beer.

American IPA

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. There is really no smell to me. The taste is piney to earthy notes with a weird but good aftertaste. It is almost like Jolly Rancher or candy aftertaste. It is a mild IPA but pretty drinkable beer.

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

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.  American hop character can be described as being citrusy, piney, fruity and resiny.

Starkweather Stout

It has a jet black color with a tan color. There is chocolate to a touch of coffee smell to this stout. The taste is a heavy coffee but a smooth taste to it. THe aftertaste is dry chocolate notes. It is drinkable for the type of stout.

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

This stout is full of chocolate flavor and aroma coming from grain only.  A rich mouth feel mellows the slight hop bitterness and makes this an easy drinking stout, even in warmer weather.

Porter

It has a dark brown to black color with a fluffy tan color head. The smell is of burned chocolate. The taste is the same as the smell. There is an aftertaste but pretty fade. It is like dry chocolate. It is drinkable like the porter for the type of beer style.

American Farmhouse IPA

It has a cloudy bright yellow color without a head. The smell is a heavy farm like smell. This is a Belgian Saison. The taste is like a saison with some citrus to funky spices. It has citrus to slight dry hop finish. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.libertystreetbeer.com

Twitter:  @Liberty_Brewer

Closing, I have been wanting to stop by this brewery and check out their beers.  I had a chances a few months ago and I am glad I did.  I have been a little behind on my posts and I am glad I am getting it out now.  I became a fan of this brewery pretty quickly.  I loved both of their IPA’s.  I had their C-Monster at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summerfest.  I thought that was pretty good too.  I love their porter and stout.  Since I have moved back to Michigan, I will be by this brewpub a lot more. I highly recommend this brewery and now they are packaging 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 MacTarnahan’s Brewing Goose Bump Imperial Stout

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MacTarnahan’s Brewing Goose Bump Imperial Stout is the brewery and beer featured on this beer blog post.  This beer is no longer being made.  If you are interested in trying this brew, you better go out and find this beer.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Belgian Style Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know them.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan color.  The smell is like burned chocolate with slight coffee notes.  The taste of this big body beer is creamy and smooth chocolate notes with notes of coffee.  The aftertaste is dry crisp coffee bean that fades out.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.portlandbrewing.com

Twitter:  @PortlandBrewing

Closing, I brought up a ton of this brew because it was marked down.  I know for past experience with Imperial Stout.  They can last for a good five years.  I was not worried about buying this beer out of code this year.  This brew is really good right now and it will get better over time.  The coffee is pretty heavy at first but it calms down in the later part of the bottle or the drinking experience.  This is a great beer and I am sad they stop making this brew. If you can find, I would try it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Obsidian Stout

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Deschutes Brewery Obsidian Stout is the feature craft brewery and beer on this beer blog post.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their other brews, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this west coast craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan to off white color head.  The smell is a roasted to chocolate notes.  The taste is a smooth creamy chocolate roasted notes.  The aftertaste is dry roasted chocolate notes.  For being a stout, it is pretty drinkable beer.  I can see most people think it is not drinkable beer.

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

Deep, robust and richly rewarding, this is beer to linger over.  Obsidian has distinct notes of espresso, chocolate, roasted malt and black barley, with just enough hop bite to cut the sweetness. Malt: Pale, Crystal, Carapils, Munich, Black Barley, Roasted Barley, Wheat
Hops: Nugget, Millennium, Willamette, Northern Brewer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter:  @DeschutesBeer

In the end, I know many of you  readers know I am a huge fan of this  brewery.  I know many of my friends know I am a huge fan.  This brew is not a disappointment.  There is not a drop off from their flagship to this brewery.  This brewery makes some great beers and I cannot wait for them to make to the Michigan market.  If they do not, I know when I make trips back to Chicago.  I will be picking up some beer.  As craft beer industry keeps on growing, Deschutes Brewery will be there still pushing the limits of the craft beer drinkers like they did from the beginning in 1988.  I highly recommend this stout.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Laughing Dog Brewing Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out first brew from a brewery, which is Laughing Dog Brewing. I was excited to try it.  The beer is their Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter.  Laughing Dog Brewing is a young company.  It was stated in 2005 in Sandpoint, Idaho.  They brew several different beer styles.  They brew up to 15 different beer styles.  They have won several awards for their brews.  The dog that is featured on their beer bottles, logos, etc is their family dog, who is Ben.  There is not too much information for this eight year old company.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan color head on this coffee porter.  The smell is toffee and hints of coffee.  The taste of this imperial coffee porter is a creamy sweet black strong coffee with roasted coffee notes.  It is not drinkable beer unless the beer drinker is a coffee porter and stout and then it is drinkable.

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

Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter

A complex Imperial Coffee Porter made with Evans Brothers cold-pressed coffee. Subtle chocolate, and coffee notes are balanced by black malt bitterness and malt sweetness. Available year-round in 22oz. bottles and kegs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.laughingdogbrewing.com

Twitter:  @LaughingDogbrew

In closing, this brew is pretty good.  I was not too familiar with this brewery.  I was pretty interested to sit down to try this beer and do some back history.  Some reason, I believed I saw their brews in the State of Illinois.  However, this brew is pretty complex that is extremely good thing, the notes go from chocolate and coffee notes.  I will have to trade with my friend to get a few more of their beers.  I believe they are not available in the a Michigan. 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 Starr Hill All Access Cryptical Imperial Stout

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Starting a new beer tab, we are going to sample out another beer from Starr Hill Brewery.  This blog will feature All Access Crypitcal Imperial Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Amber Ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan color head on this stout.  The smell has a roasted malts with some chocolate notes.  The taste of this Imperial Stout is roasted dark chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is burn chocolate notes.  It is not drinkable beer.

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

Cryptical packs a wallop of dark malt flavor. The beer weighs in at 8.8% ABV and has dark, fruity flavors, like raspberry, plum and star anise. Cryptical is dry-hopped with American Hops to balance out its full body with a floral aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.starrhill.com

Twitter:  @starrhill

Closing out the beer tab, this brewery, just what I have been saying in the past beer blogs posts, knows how to brew beer.  This Imperial Stout is not drinkable beer but it packs a ton of flavor in this 22oz bottle.  I enjoyed drinking this beer and I wish I could get more in the Michigan market.  I guess I will have to trade more with my friend.  I love the hops they use in this brew and there is some nice chocolate notes.  I recommend this beer if you can find 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 Ommegang Games Of Thrones Take The Black Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second installment of the Games Of Thrones beer series brew by Ommegang Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know about this brewery.  If you have not and want to get know the history of this brewery, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a semi tan head on the stout.  The smell is hints of roasted chocolate and coffee notes.  The taste of this medium to full body beer is a burned chocolate to espresso.  The aftertaste is like a liquid espresso bean with smooth to creamy caramel notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A stout as dark as the winters that once engulfed wasteros.  As robust as t he men who swear their oaths at the Weirwood tree, chocolate and caramel sweetness are balanced by hop bitterness.  Roasty, woodsy notes and an earthy finish.

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

Ommegang and HBO® announce the newest beer in the Game of Thrones® collaboration series. Through its first three seasons, the critically acclaimed drama has become the biggest show on HBO. Take the Black Stout follows the highly coveted Iron Throne Blonde Ale, which flew off of shelves earlier this year. To satisfy the appetite of Game of Thrones fans, production of Take the Black Stout will more than double the final volumes of Iron Throne Blonde Ale.

Inspired by the brotherhood of the Night’s Watch, Take the Black Stout was made to be deep, dark and complex like those who have sworn  the oath to defend Westeros against threats from the north. The label depicts the Weirwood tree where Jon Snow recited the oath before joining the Night’s Watch.

In time for the holidays, Take the Black Stout makes for the perfect gift. Shipping to distributors in September 2013, the beer is available in 750 ML bottles and 1/6 barrel kegs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website;  www.ommegang.com

Twitter:  @BreweryOmmegang and @GamesOfThrones

In closing, I was pretty excited that HBO was in talks with Ommegang to brew some beers for their hit show.  The first installment of this series of beers for Games Of Thrones was Iron Thorne.  I was not a huge fan of it.   This next beer has lived up to the theme from the show.  I am talking about the Night’s Watch, if you are not a fan of the show.  I can see beer fans falling in love with this beer and checking out the show.  I can see fans of the show liking this brew and checking out other brews.  I hope it turns them on to some good beers that out on the market.  This beer is heavy with chocolate and coffee notes but it smooths out with a nice caramel notes.  It is pretty interesting that this beer is drinkable beer.  Go get some, if you can find this beer.  It is a limited release beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser