three flyods

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery Red Sky Irish Style Ale

While in Michigan, This beer is from the Frankenmuth Brewery Company. I did not have enough time to try it at the brewery so I pick up this bottle in the Downtown area of Frankenmuth at the Lager Mill Beer Store. I am really looking forward to their Winter Lager. If you have not read the first part of my earlier blog, please, read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice red color with a constant white head. There is small bubbles that flow to the top of the beer. The smell is caramel to malty. The taste is a sweet malty with a little caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This malt focused Irish style red ale uses roasted barley to give it its robust red color and subtle caramel notes. Red Sky is a full flavored ale with a smooth malty finish.

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

Dry Irish Stout Ale-A traditional Dry Irish Stout is light in body with a hint of chocolate and coffee. This rich flavor comes from a combination of roasted barley & a generous helping of hops. We low-carbonate our stout using a nitrogen system which aids in masking the natural bitterness of the brew.
ABV 4.1% IBU 41

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @fb1862

Bottom of beer bottle, I am not a fan of Irish Red Ales. This one for what it is was pretty good. It has a ton of flavor and everything that a Red Ale fan is looking for in this beer style. I enjoyed it but I would not put it in my everyday line up of beers. Just because I said that, it does not mean you will not enjoy this beer. This is a really good beer and I did enjoy it. Just like Pilsners, I am not into Red Ales right now. Please, go try it and let me know what you think of the beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Frankenmuth Brewery J.B. McGinnis Dry Irish Stout

While in Michigan, I received a chance to try another brew from the Frankenmuth Brewery. This is one of their many seasonals that this brewery has and it is called J.B. McGinnies Dry Irish Stout. If you read my earlier blog post on this brewery, you know a little something about this brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post. Let us get into the beer.

It is black in color with a kind of head. It has a nice chocolate to toffee smell. The taste is dry with some chocolate to roast malts and taste with a dry aftertaste. It is drinkable and is my favorite Irish Dry Stout.

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

Dry Irish Stout Ale-A traditional Dry Irish Stout is light in body with a hint of chocolate and coffee. This rich flavor comes from a combination of roasted barley & a generous helping of hops. We low-carbonate our stout using a nitrogen system which aids in masking the natural bitterness of the brew.
ABV 4.1% IBU 41

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Twitter: @fb1862

In closing, I was stun to see this on draft. I was not expecting to see this in their line up and I had to order one. This Dry Stout is the best one I have ever had. I had a ton of Dry Stout and most are from the big mass-produced. Frankenmuth Brewery made this Dry Stout with an attitude problem, which is a good thing, and I believe that what makes this one better than the others on the market. It has a rich flavor from chocolate to toffee and coffee notes. It has enough hops to give it a nice balance. I could drink this beer all day. This is a limited time only beer and I would recommend you taking a trip up to Frankenmuth Brewery. I wish this was in bottles. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Brewing Detour Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Uinta Brewing. The beer is called Detour Double IPA, which is part of their Crooked Line. If you read my earlier blog on their Uinta Hyve Ale, you are up to speed on the information on this brewery. If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This Double India Pale Ale is part of their 750ml bottle which is called Crooked Line. It is heavy in carbonation and has a dark amber copper color to the beer with a head. The smell is a citrus to earthy to the beer. The taste of the beer is the same as the smell. It has a nice crisp bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable for a beer with 9.5% ABV.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Detour blazes the trail for fresh and bold Double IPAs. Four varieties of hops combine to step up the flavor profile. A hoppy adventure that finishes dry. Big in character. Venture to pair with other spirited flavors such as those found in spicy ethnic foods.

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

NotesDetour blazes the trail for fresh and bold Double IPAs. Four varieties of hops combine to step up the flavor profile. A hoppy adventure that finishes dry. Big in alcohol and character. Venture to pair with other spirited flavors such as those found in spicy ethnic foods.

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Leia Bell.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter: @uintabrewing

In the end, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery asides their Hop Notch India Pale Ale, which there is a beer post on this blog. I love the drinkablity of this beer. It has a nice hoppy taste but yet balance from the great malty backbone. It is extremely drinkable and dangerous because it is 9.5% ABV. This beer has affordable price at your local liquor store which makes it a value to us craft beer drinkers. This is a great beer and I highly recommend it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blot Bridgeport Brewing Witch Hunt Spiced Harvest Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to dig into one of my favorite west coast breweries, who is Bridgeport Brewery. The beer that will be feature is their first Fall Season, which is called Witch Hunt. If you read my earlier beer blogs on this brewery, you are pretty up to speed in the history and information on this great brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is the first attempted for Bridgeport Brewing to make a Fall Seasonal. It has a nice amber color or a little darker amber color. The smell is of spices, malty, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The taste is more of the spice of cinnamon and nutmeg. It has a nice malty aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable even though it is pretty complex taste.

Here ia a description from the beer bottle:

Something wicked this way comes. From slightly sweet caramel malts, Witch Hunt offers an intense dry hop character finished with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg spices.

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

A spiced harvest ale with a rich caramel color, unique dry hop character and subtle hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

ABV 5.8% | ORIGINAL GRAVITY 15.8 | IBUs 40

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter: @bridgeportbrew

Closing, I really love this brewery and everything they brew. They have a really nice Brewpub in Portland and I am hoping to have a chance to return there in a few weeks (October 11th that weekend). Pretty much all of their seasonals do not disappoint. I love how they took a classic American Harvest style and mixed the cinnamon and nutmeg that you find in Pumpkin ales. Most Pumpkin ales or lagers you normally do not taste the pumpkin in it. When the beer drinker tries this beer, he or she will get the matly taste while tasting cinnamon and nutmeg. You will feel like you are drinking Harvest Ale and a Pumpkin Ale at the same time. This beer is extremely unique and drinkable. It is better than most Pumpkin Ales and Lagers and different than the other Fall Seasonals. They did an awesome job and it became my favorite Fall Seasonal. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Milwaukee Brewing Hoptober Fest

While in Milwaukee, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite breweries in the city north of Chicago. Milwaukee Brewing Hoptober Fest is one of their few Fall Seasonal. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery. If you have not, please go back and read the first part. Let us get into the beer.

This is one of their many seasonal beers and a few in the Fall Seasonal. It has a nice clear amber color with a little head on the beer. The smell is like the traditional German Oktoberfest beers. It has a sweet malty smell to the beer. The taste of the beer is a sweet carbonate malty with a nice crisp malty aftertaste. This is a perfect beer for the Fall and drinkable too.

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

Our hoppy take on a classic seasonal German style lager. Brewed with pale ale, caramel, and toasted Munich malts that attribute a sweet earthy malty flavor, toasted aroma, and a bright orange hue. German Tettnanger hops add an herbal peppery flavor and nose.

One of my favorite parts about brewing this beer is that we’re participating in a seasonal brewing tradition that spans the globe. Since nearly all craft breweries take part in the Oktoberfest season, I like to try the different renditions side by side.

We use a traditional lager fermentation along side the traditional toasted Munich style malts. There are a lot of bready characters that come up during the brew. We wanted to brew a hoppier version of the brew, so we added Perle, Tettnang and Columbus hops.

The simple recipe hasn’t changed since we started brewing it in 2006.

Here is a video from Youtube (www.youtube.com):

http://youtu.be/MweezhrL7yM

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.mkebrewing.com

Twitter: @mkebrewco

Closing out, I was not expecting a true Octoberfest Marzin style. I thought it was going to be over hop amber ale or lager. Here it is your normal Octoberfest that is slightly hop. It is pretty drinkable and has a ton of flavor. This beer just became my favorite fall beer. This is a huge debate in my head between MKE Hoptober, Scharfly Pumpkin, or Brooklyn Oktoberfest. I have to say they are all tied for first place. I cannot make my mind. This is good because all these breweries that make some awesome beers. This beer I would run not walk and get some of this brew before it is all gone. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comast.net

Twitter:@djweiser

New Blog Yuengling Black & Tan

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another beer from Yuengling and the beer is their Original Black & Tan. If you read my earlier blog on their Flagship Lager, you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery. If you did not, please, go back and read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a black color without a head on it. This Black & Tan does not really have a smell to the beer. The taste of this Yuengling Beer is of sweet malty chocolate with a nice dry malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable and that will get many beer drinkers in trouble.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.yuengling.com):

Black & Tan Combines our popular Dark Brewed Porter with Premium Beer. Rich and dark in color, it has a well-balanced flavor, with hints of caramel and coffee from the dark roasted malt that finishes smooth and satisfying.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.yuengling.com

Twitter: @yuengling_beer

Closing out, I have been looking forward to trying this beer. I just want to thank my boss for bring me a bottle. I just wished he would have saved me a bottle of their porter. I cannot complain to only getting one out of two of the beers. If you read my earlier one on their Lager, you know I enjoy drinking it. This Black and Tan is the best on the market and it is not the crap that Mississippi Mud puts out. I will never buy that beer again after trying this beer. The only problem I have is the fact that are not available in the Chicago market. This is a great beer with good taste and a nice balance. If you live in the market or know someone that does, go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Ommegang Brewery Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale

In this Fall Beer blog, we are going to get into Ommegang Brewery from Coopertown, NY. This is their first seasonal beer and it is called Scythe and Sickle Harvest Ale. Ommegang Brewery is under the Duvel Moortgat Brewery that brews beer in an old farmhouse and hop field in upstate New York. It was founded in 1997 and they brew several different Belgian style beer with an American twist. Let us get into this great beer.

Ommegang finally came out with a seasonal and they did a pretty good job with it. Scythe & Suckle is a nice dark golden color with a constant white head. There is a ton of carbonation and there is yeast in this bottle so be careful pouring it out in the glass. This beer has the malty smell but the Ommegang smell from their yeast. The taste of the beer is sweet, malty, and unique. There is a nice spicy malty aftertaste. This beer is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Scythe and Sickle is a seasonal brew that celebrates the richness of the grain harvest. Brewed with Barley, Wheat, Oats and – in a nod to traditional upstate New York Grains – Rye, this fine ale is malty, lightly hopped, and creamy n the palate. The flavors of the grains and the earth shine through so you can enjoy the refreshment of the season and joy of fine brewing.

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

Scythe and Sickle is Ommegang’s foray into honoring the harvest season. Using barley, oats, wheat, and rye, we’ve brought the mood of fall to life with vibrant and flavorful passion.

Farming is about precision, timing and care. At Ommegang we place the same emphasis a farmer has for his crops into the creation of our beers. Scythe and Sickle is a testament to the craft and care of farming, from which our farmstead-brewed beers benefit greatly.

Brewed with balance in mind, Scythe & Sickle reveals a smooth and creamy mouthfeel with light toastiness and gentle sweetness. Bright amber in color from the mixed malts, the beer is balanced with delicate hopping to counter rather than overpower the malt profile.

5.8% ABV

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.ommegang.com

Twitter: @breweryommegang

Closing out the beer tab, I am a huge fan of this brewery. I knew they were looking to do a seasonal and I was pretty nervous to try it. Most American craft breweries feel they have to make a seaonal beers. I did not know how all the grains being used in this beer would go over with my drinking experience. I will be really honest. I did not like this beer at first, however, I have grown to love this beer. It has a ton of flavor, balance, and pretty drinkable. I highly recommend this beer and the rest of their beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blot Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen

In this next beer blog, we are going to take another look at a beer from the Samuel Adams Fall Sampler Pack. The beer is their Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know about this brewery. Samuel Adams is pretty well know so you might already know them before reading this blog. If you do not know this brewery, please, go back and read the first part of that blog. Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen is only available in their Fall Sampler. It has an amber color without a head on the beer. It has a malty and yeast smell. It has malty wheaty taste with a malty aftertaste. This Dunkelweizen is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This unflitred dark wheat beer is brewed with a traditional Bavarian yeast that createsa wide spectrum of flavors and aromas from clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. This is complemented by malted wheat for a crisp finish. Cheers! Jim Koch

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

Samuel Adams® Dunkelweizen,literally translated as “dark wheat” beer, is a darker version of the traditional Bavarian wheat beers dating back to the 15^th century. Dark amber-brown in color, this brew is coarse filtered, leaving a notable haze and offering a dense, white rocky head.

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen is brewed with authentic Bavarian wheat beer yeast, which imparts a wide spectrum of flavors and aromas from spicy clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. This traditional yeast is rarely used by American brewers so the flavors it creates are often unfamiliar, even to craft beer drinkers. The yeast character is complemented by the taste of the malted wheat that adds a cereal note. The result is a beer that, although quite complex and flavorful, is medium in body, with a crisp finish.

Dunkelweizen is a variation on the “weizen” or wheat style that originated in Bavaria around the 15^th century. Both hefeweizens and dunkelweizens are often staples of Southern German breweries’ repertoires. Dunkel simply refers to the darkness of the beer derived from the malt. Often smooth and rich with complex malt flavors, dunkelweizens still carry the distinct flavors imparted from the yeast that are common in traditional southern German wheat beers. This array of flavors ranges from clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. The crisp cereal note of the wheat remains making it a flavorful and refreshing beer.

In creating Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, we were inspired by the long history of this classic German style that’s difficult to find in the US today. Our version of the style is authentic to the Bavarian tradition with its combination of slight tartness from the wheat and full flavor from its dark malts as well as the notable yeast character. The traditional Bavarian yeast imparts a wide spectrum of flavors that make the beer unique.

Flavor: Caramel and toasted malt notes integrated with the traditional German weizen beer fermentation aromas of clove and banana.
Color: Dark amber brown, 20 SRM
Original Gravity: 12.6° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.1%ABV – 4.0%ABW
Calories/12 oz.: 168
IBUs: 13
Malt Varieties:Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, malted wheat, Carawheat® malt, and Carafa® malt
*Carafa® and Carawheat® are registered trademarks of Weyermann Malt, Bamburg, Germany
Hop Variety: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops
Yeast Strain: W-68 ale yeast
Availability: Seasonal (Aug. – Oct) in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack
First Brewed: 2009

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

In closing, as you know I am not a huge fan of wheat beers but I love the German style. I was looking forward to trying this beer since it was a Dunkelweizen. I have to say I was kind of disappointed. I am learning pretty quickly that American Craft Breweries can not make a good German Style Hefeweizen nor Dunkelweizen. It is not a really bad beer but I just did not enjoy drinking it. I am not going to love everything that Boston Beer Company, Dogfish Brewery or any other brewery. If you love wheat beer, please, go try this beer. I have a feeling if you love this style. I believe you will love it. Please, let me know. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Samuel Adams Hazel Brown

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample out Samuel Adams Fall Sampler pack. The first beer up to sample is their Samuel Adams Hazel Brown. If you read my earlier blog on Samuel Adams brews, you know about this brewery. If not, please, go back and read the first part of it. Samuel Adams is pretty well-known so you might know about them before these blogs. Let us get into the beer.

Hazel Brown is part of their Fall Sampler Pack. It has a brown color without a head on the beer. The smell is between a hazelnut and brown sugar. It has a medium body with a caramel to sweet hazelnut taste. The aftertaste is of slight bitter to dry to this american brown ale. It is not really a drinkable beer but I could see some beer drinkers trying to do that with this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This flavorful dark brown ale has a distinct hazelnut aroma and taste. Slightly sweet caramel and toffee malt notes accentuate the pleasant roasted hazelnut character. This medium-bodied brew finishes smooth with an underlying spiciness from the hops. Cheers! Jim Koch

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

In honor of the fall hazelnut harvest, we brewed this flavorful nut brown ale. Its distinct hazelnut aroma and taste are accentuated by slightly sweet caramel and toffee malt notes. Medium in body, it finishes smooth with an underlying spiciness from the hops making it a great choice for fall.

While nut brown ales do not have a particularly long history, brown ales have been around in England since the late 17th century. This style became rare at the start of the 19th century as brewers began using pale malts as the base for their beers in place of more expensive brown malts. The resurgence of this style began at the end of that century and by the 1920s, brown ales were fairly common again.

For the base of Samuel Adams® Hazel Brown, we decided to brew in the Northern English Brown Ale style, which is slightly more robust than Mild and Southern English Brown Ales (higher ABV and bitterness level).

For this beer, we wanted to brew something that would be appealing and satisfying during the fall when the days become crisp and cooler. Brown ale, while a good beer any time of year, seemed like a great fit for this. We used malts that would contribute a rich, dark brown color, roasted notes, and a slightly sweet flavor profile, including caramel and toffee notes.

While the brown ale was tasty by itself, but we wanted to do more with it so decided to add a nut character. Hazelnut was the nut of choice due to its distinct, pleasant flavor and aroma. After adjusting the base beer slightly, we were able to create the best balance of malt and hazelnut characters.

Flavor: Caramel and toffee notes with a slightly sweet maltiness & roasted hazelnut flavor

Color: Rich brown, 28 SRM

Original Gravity: 13° Plato

Alcohol: 5.2%ABV – 4.0%ABW

Calories 12/ oz.: 174

IBUs: 20

Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, Dingeman’s biscuit, Paul’s roasted barley

Hop Varieties: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops, East Kent Goldings

Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast

First Brewed: 2012

Availability: Limited Release in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I love a good brown ale but this one comes up a little short. Let me expalain why this brown ale might be a pass but I say to try this beer to make your judgement. It has a nice smell or aroma from the beer and it comes off with a ton of promise. The taste of the beer has its malty to hazelnut but then it comes off a little water down It has hard to expalining it. I believe they either rush this beer or did not put a ton of thought behind the making of this beer. It is really a huge let down for me but I know a few people that like this beer and you could be one of them. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Two Brothers Outlaw India Pale Ale

Starting a new beer blog, this is the first beer from Two Brothers Brewery that I am blogging about and the beer is Outlaw IPA. Two Brothers was founded in 1996 in Warrenville, IL by Jim and Jason Ebel. They brew several different beer styles and some of them they do a twist to some of the classic beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a copper color without a head on it. The smell is of earthly to piney. The taste of this IPA is earthly to piney with dry hoppy aftertaste. It is not really a drinkable beer.

Here is a descripation from the beer can:

As bold as the name suggests but as friendly as the masked man, comes our first world of cans. This IPA is full of citrus and pine hop character and aroma. The hop flavors play off the pleasant malt complexity like a good sidekick. Giddy-up. 60 IBU 6.3% ALC/VOL

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.twobrosbrew.com

Twitter: @twobrothersbeer

In closing, one of many new breweries being opened in Chicago area and this is one of the newer ones. Two Brothers are growing at a rapid rate and I believe it is taking away from quality of the beer. When I moved to Chicago, I was excited to try all the breweries at that time in 2005. Two Brothers was on that list and I loved their beers back then. I just feel their beers have loss something. It could be passion or rushing the beers through the brewing process to keep up with demand. Outlaw IPA does not have enough malty backbone to my taste buds as a hop head. It is all bitterest and that does not make this hop head happy. It kills the hop taste for me. This beer is a huge let down and I love my craft beer in a can. This beer is selling pretty good and I believe it is because it is local brew. General Chicago Craft Beer Drinkers’ pallets are still growing and I hope these local beer companies realize and step up to make some good beer. I am not saying this the worse India Pale Ale. I believe it is average India Pale Ale and this brewery could do better. Just believe, I say this before. It does not mean you might not like this beer. Please, go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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