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New Beer Blog Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Breckenridge Vanilla Porter.  Breckenridge Brewery started in 1990 became the third brewery to open in Colorado by Richard Squire.  They are being sold in thirty-two states right now.  This is a great brewery and they make several different beers.  Let us get into the beer.

This everyday porter has a jet black color with a semi white head on it. There is a vanilla, toffee, and chocolate smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet chocolate and vanilla with a medium dry vanilla bean aftertaste. This is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

Remarkable. Partakable.

Deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and Madagascar grows the perfect ingredient for an extraordinary Porter brewed in Colorado. Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter. An ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure.

Beer Style: Herb and spice beer
Flavor: Smooth Roasted Chocolate with a Creamy Vanilla Finish
Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Bonlander, Black, Roasted Barley
Vanilla Beans From Paupau New Guinea and Madagascar
Hops: Chinook, Palisade, Perle, Goulding
Color: Deep Brown
Bitterness Units: 16
Alcohol By Volume: 4.7%
Alcohol By Weight: 3.76%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brechbrew.com

Twitter:  @brechbrew

Closing out, this vanilla porter is by far one of my favorite beers in this beer style.  There is a few craft breweries that are starting to put out vanilla porters.  Breckenridge Brewery came up with it first to do something different in the craft beer world.  Now, there are a few craft breweries that are starting to put out some vanilla porters.  This beer is smooth and drinkable with a ton of flavor.  I recommend this beer anytime but it needs to be in the winter time.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Sports Thought Thursday Blog NHL Has A New CBA

In this sports blog, I am doing my follow-up post to my earlier on NHL Lockout.  As many of you know the NHL has reached an agreement with the players on CBA on Sunday Morning about 6:00 am ET.  Does it really matter now?  Will the fans come back? How will the league make a come back now?  Do you think the players, owners, and NHL care about the fans?

NHL teams will be hitting the ice again for a short season.  After all the silliest floating around between the owners and players, we as fan can now send a message to the league.  I know for a fact the NHL deep-rooted cities will rebound because it is in the blood for those fans.  I am talking cities like Detroit, Boston, New York, etc.  Now what happens to the teams to the south like Tampa Bay, Phoenix that still does not have a new owner.  I believe it will take NHL over ten years to pick up where they left off before this last lockout.

Lock out, I will be watching hockey because I love the sport and I am glad it is back.  This will be some exciting hockey for the next few months because every game will mean something then a normal eighty-two games.  I will be watching every game.  I am watching the ratings and attendance around the league.  I just have a feeling the hockey fans will make a statement to the league and the players.  I believe that Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr need to resign and/or be fired because of this situation.  Gary Bettman legacy will be having two lockouts in less than ten years.  Donald Fehr will be the guy that has put two sports in Jeopardy of going away.  I believe he just did it to NHL as a business.  Go get some!  GO WINGS!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Big Wave Golden Ale

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In this Kona beer blog, we are going to get into in my opinion is the best beer from this Hawaii Brewery.  It is called Big Wave Golden Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on  their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer

This golden ale has a clear yellow color without a head and bubbles in the beer. The smell is very fade. It has a slight citrus smell. It gives a sense of a Tropical feeling in the smell and taste.  The taste is sweet carbonation malty with a little citrus, which is very fade in the beer. There is no aftertaste. It is a beer the beer drinker can drink all day. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the  beer bottle:

Year-Round.  The waves that roll onto Hawaiian beaches are some of the best in the world.  Catch the crest of a breaking wave and ride it all the way in our sun-drenched Big Wave Golden is a smooth.  Refreshing brew inspired by what makes Hawaii great.  Since 1994, Kona Brewing Co. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

Light, Balanced & Easy Going

Our brewers wanted to make a beer that went down easy after a day out on the water. Big Wave Golden Ale is just the ticket. Big Wave is a lighter bodied golden ale with a tropical hop aroma and flavor – a smooth, easy drinking refreshing ale. The use of caramel malt contributes to the golden hue of this beer and our special blend of hops provides bright quenching finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Closing, just like all the rest of their beers, this beer is extremely drinkable.  Big Wave Golden Ale is drinkable with a huge Tropical feeling.   This beer has a ton of flavor.  I love the connection between the tropical hop and malts in the beer.  It is refreshing and brings out summer in the coldest winter day.  This beer is not heavy for the hottest summer days.  Big Wave Golden Ale is a great beer to be pair with several foods like spicy meats and even an American Burger.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Sports Thought Thursday Blog NFL Playoffs

In this Sports Thought Thursday, we are going to look at NFL playoffs of 2012.  It has been yet another exciting year for football.  Black Monday was interesting after the regular season was over.  Head coaches and general managers being fired from several different teams because they did not reach their goals of winning the Super Bowl. It is going to be exciting off season but it is time for some NFL Playoffs. Let us look at the teams and match ups in the playoffs.

AFC

Bengals vs Taxans

I am loving Bengals over the Taxans.  I just feel there is something wrong with Houston on their losing streak.  They came out strong at the beginning of the season and I believe the league has figured them out.  I would not be shock to see them win either.  Bengals finished the season strong and took care some of their demons.  I believe they will move on into the playoffs.

Win:  Bengals

Colts vs Ravens

This one is a tough one.  This game will feature the number one pick of this year’s draft and this is the first time that number one pick quarterback makes it to the playoffs in his rookie season.  He has been playing like a 3 to 4 year player.  Ravens defense is weak and Luck might pick them apart.  There are questions on their Offense like every year.  I will have to go with the Ravens and it is a shame to watch this amazing rookie season end.

Win:  Ravens

NFC

Vikings vs Packers

These teams will be playing back to back weeks.  That last game of the last week of the season was something else.  It was a great game.  This game comes down to how the weather is going to be like in Green Bay.  If it is like how it is this time of the year, this might be a simple pick.  However, it is not that easy, Green Bay taking a page from the past with their running game.  I just feel that Vikings have the upper hand on the running game.  I do not see a passing game on either side being effected in this game.  I love Vikings defense but did both teams show too much in their last two games.  I am leaning towards the Vikings but if it has to come down to the passing game.  Rogers is the man and I just feel Vikings’ quarterback will make some mistakes.

Win:  Packers

Seahawks vs Redskins

Here is a game that will be something else.  Two rookie quarterbacks are starting in this game that came out of this year’s draft.  Redskins and Seahawks both finished off strong.  However, Seahawks was just really bad but did Hawks turn around their season against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, RG3 is now hurt and cannot run as well as he did in the beginning of the year.  I am liking Seahawks and I believe in their offense and defense.

Win:  Seahawks

AFC Divisional Champions

Bengals vs Broncos

Is there really a debate here?  This game has MVP of the league at QB and maybe the comeback player.  Broncos defense carried this team last season into the playoffs and now Manning is taking that to the Super Bowl.  Sorry Bengals, you had a great year.  I just cannot see you over take this Broncos team.

Win:  Broncos

Ravens vs Patriots

Just like the other game in the AFC, I just feel this game is going to be a lot closer then many of us believe.  Patriots offense is still there like it has in the past and they shown that against my Dolphins in the last game of the season.  Not many people remember Patriots had a ton of problems on defense.  Plus, many have forgotten that loss to the Cardinals.  Maybe they fixed their problems but I have a feeling it might show its ugly head again.  Ravens will find their offense and defense will look like they did in the past.    I have a feeling the Patriots will win but I really like the Ravens.

Win: Ravens

NFC Divisional Champions

Seahawks vs Falcons

I am going to ride the Hawks band wagon.  I believe their defense will stop the running and passing game from Falcons.  Falcons had a great year and they earn their number one seat.  I just have a feeling they will not slay their monkey on their back this season. They will be the same old Falcons.  I am going with their past history.

Win:  Seahawks

Packers vs 49ers

This one is pretty tough.  I will go with experience on this game.  49ers are starting a second year quarterback in the league and I just have a feeling he will show his nerves and inexperience.  Tom will make mistakes and the Packers will jump on them but they are home so he might be comfortable.  I hope for Jim that he picked the right quarterback.

Win:  Packers

AFC Champions

Ravens vs Broncos

I am loving the Broncos moving on to the Super Bowl over the Ravens.  Even if the Patriots make it here, I still will see Broncos move on to the Super Bowl.  This defense from Broncos will stop the Ravens offense.  I just can see this game being close but Manning driving with minutes left on the game for the win.

Win:  Broncos

NFC Champions

Seahawks vs Packers

This will be a fight and a very close game.  Green Bay is a team that runs through what Rogers can do on offense.  This is a tough pick.  I will have to go with my donated team this season.  I will go with Seahawks and I believe it will come down to a field goal.  Packers will loss it because of their inconstant kicker.  I just cannot believe they are still using him.  It will cost them a game.

Win: Seahawks

Super Bowl

Seahawks vs Broncos

Closing the season out, I am liking Seahawks for this reason their defense.  Manning has a Super Bowl experience and a win.  Manning will have problems with those corner backs of Hawks.  I just see him turning the ball over and their DL will cause a ton of problems for the Broncos OL.  I do not think that Broncos will have answers for Hawks offense and/or Russell Wilson, who should be rookie of the year.  Who knows what will happen?  Maybe Manning will show he can play in the big stage unlike he did his last time.  This will be a fight and a great game.  I am picking Seahawks.

Super Bowl Winner:  Seahawks

Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Thirsty Thursday Beer Blog Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the Longboard Island Lager, which is the flagship beer of Kona Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a yellow color with a semi white head on the beer.  This beer is light body with a malty smell. The taste is sweet malty without an aftertaste to the beer.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Waikki Beach in Honolulu is the birth place of Longboard surfing.  Kona Brewing pays tribute to this iconic place with our own Longboard Island Lager.  A spirited, crisp and refreshing brew.  Longboard is a smooth ride all the way in.  Thirst’s Up!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing Co. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

Here is a description from the website (www.konabrewingco.com):

Exceptionally Smooth

Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Closing out, this flagship beer lives up to the spirit of Hawaii and rich history of the surfing.  I am not a fan of most craft lagers but this one is a gem of Hawaii.  It is light in body but has enough flavor to make you dream of islands and beaches.  This beer is extremely drinkable and I can see ton of six packs selling through stores throughout the country.  However, it is a craft lager, do you think craft beer drinker is ready to put down their over hopped ales to pick up craft lagers?  I believe craft beer drinker is starting to change to drink less hoppy beers and more classic styles or traditional beer styles.  I recommend you trying this beer and I believe you will be pretty stun on this Longboard.  Go get a Longboard Lager!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Koko Brown Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the spring seasonal from Kona Brewing Co and it is called Koko Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Brown Ale has a brown color with a white head on this beer.  The smell is a heavy coconut to the beer. The taste is a sweet hazel and coconut with a roasted coconut aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer for heading into the spring and summer seasons.

Here is a description the beer bottle:

Koko Brown’s distinctive, nutty aroma and flavor comes from real.  Toasted coconut blended into each brew.  One sip of this roasty.  Smooth, mahogany colored ale and you will feel like you are on a warm sun-drenched beach in Hawaii.  Aloha!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing CO.  has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

A Nut Brown Worth Cracking

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste.

Available Winter/Spring

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.knonabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @knoabrewingco

Closing, this beer is different then what is out in any market asides Hawaii or any other warm spot.  I did enjoy this beer but I just feel that the brown ale is a wrong mix with the coconut.  Please, do not get me wrong this is a great beer and I can see people liking this beer.  I enjoyed this beer.  The taste is hazel nut cover coconut.  I just feel that the coconut goes better with a porter or a stout.  I could dream of a milk stout with a coconut in it.  I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on this beer.  I can see this beer being a home run in the Midwest and the colder areas of the United States.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Brewing Fire Rock Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, Kona Brewing Fire Rock Pale Ale is being featured and it is the first time this brewery will be in the Midwest.  If you read my earlier blog on their Pipeline Porter, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a copper color without a head. The smell is like Big Red Gum without cinnamon kick to it. It is a great smell.  The taste is a sweet malty to a slight piney with a malty aftertaste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Active volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii leave visitors awestruck by their power.  The glow of lava as it meets the ocean is an amazing sight our Fire Rock Pale Ale is inspired by this place with a bright copper color and rich roasted malt taste.  Aloha!  Since 1994, Kona Brewing CO. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahalo!

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

Crisp & Refreshing

Fire Rock Pale Ale is crisp, refreshing “Hawaiian-style” pale ale. Its signature copper color results from the unique blend of specialty roasted malts. The pronounced citrus-floral hop aroma comes from the liberal amounts of Galena, Cascade & Mt.Hood hops added to each brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer and this beer is one of my favorite beers from this brewery.  I enjoyed this one and their Big Wave Golden Ale, which I will get to later on in the week.  I love how light and drinkable this beer is to other pale ale on the market.  There is enough malty backbone but not too much to over take the hops that are dancing in this beer.  This is a great beer and I am glad this brewery is in Chicago.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Schlafly T IPA Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about a new beer from Schlafly Brewing.  The beer is called Tasmanian Style India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a yellow color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is between pineapple and hint of grapefruit to mango. The taste is a heavy mango and a hint of pineapple. The aftertaste is a drop off fast almost like it is not there and hard to explain it. This beer is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Tasmanian Style IPA is a brewed with 100% Australian hops.  They impart a unique citrus flavor to the ale.  A special Release IPA, TIPA is available for a limited time, with a new IPA every few months.

Here is a description from the website (www.schlafly.com):

Tasmanian IPA

Available October – January

ABV:   7.2%   |   IBU:   60

  • Appearance: Golden, bright
  • Process: Dry hopped, single hop/single malt beer
  • Hops: Galaxy (AU)
  • Malts: 2-row malted barley
  • Yeast: American Ale
  • OG: 17.5
  • SRM:

Schlafly Tasmanian IPA is brewed with 100% Australian hops. The Tasmanian hop, Galaxy, is a strong, aromatic variety that is different from traditional strains of the Pacific Northwest. Our brewers developed a recipe that showcases the hop’s unique flavors of citrus and pineapple.

India Pale Ales (IPAs) were first brewed in England during the late 1700s for export overseas to British soldiers in India. To keep their beer from spoiling during the long voyage, English brewers fortified their traditional pale ale recipes with natural preservatives: more malted barley, for a higher alcohol content, and more hops. In recent decades, with growing appreciation for highly hopped beers, American craft brewers have revived the style, embraced it, and incorporated new hop varieties. Our Special Release IPAs further those traditions and showcase the distinctions of hops from different hemispheres.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

Closing, this was a pretty interesting India pale ale.  These hops are the new trend in the craft beer world.  I have to say this brewery has hit a home run.  I have not had too many beers with these hops.  The ones I had are average to below average.  I just seems like these breweries do not know how to use the hops correctly.  I love the pineapple and mango taste from the hops.  This beer makes me feel like I am in the warm place.  This is beyond far my favorite IPA I have ever had in my life.  I recommend this beer and it is must hunt down.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Br. De Ranke Pere Noel

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a Christmas Ale from Belgium.  De Ranke was founded in 1994 by Nino Bacelle.  They brew several different Belgian Beer Styles all year-long.  There is not too much information on this brewery on the web.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel golden color with a big white head on this Belgian ale. The smell is a heavy spices.  The taste is sweet carbonation spices.  The aftertaste has a hint of caramel.  It is a kind of drinkable beer.  There is a ton going on in the beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.deranke.be):

Père Noel

Père Noël is a Christmas ale, though very different from any other Christmas ales you might know. While most Christmas ales are rich & sweet, this one is amber-coloured, 7% vol. Alc. strong and tastes quite bitter. The complex taste is completed with the addition of liquorice. In the recipe we can also find pale malt, Munich malt, Caramel malt, Brewers Gold hops and Hallertau hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deranke.be

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, this beer is just like all the rest of the Belgian Strong Ales on the market.  I am not saying it is a bad beer.  I rather spend my money on Duvel and get more liquid.  It will give the beer drinker more of a value.  I did enjoy this beer and it was great on New Year’s Eve.  I am glad I try it once.  I recommend you trying it and maybe you will find something in that I did not find in it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewery Norm! Pilsner And Tap Party

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In this beer blog, we are going to talk about the Tap Party at The Ram in Schaumburg, Illinois.  They were tapping their Norm! Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  This beer post we were talk about the beer and the food at the Tap Party.  Let us do this.

Norm!  Pilsner

This beer has a copper color with a white head that will disappear over the drinking experience.  The smell is of fresh air which I always get from pilsners. It has a slight earthly smell to the beer.  The taste is a full body sweet malty carbonation with an earthy aftertaste. This pilsner is pretty well balance and extremely drinkable beer

Here is a description of the beer from the brewery:

Norm!  Pilsner is a pleasant, thirst quenching lager hopped with plenty of Czech Saaz hops to please the palate.  This golden pilsner is slightly heavier than the Blonde and is about 4.8% ABV.

The Food

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We had the Border Burger and Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  Ram never disappoints when it comes to their food.  They do a great job with their food.

Here is a description of the food:

Border Burger:

Guacamole, bacon, pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, salsa, lettuce and tomato.

Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich: 

Amber ale marinated chicken breast, Porter BBQ sauce, slaw, tomato, onion crisps, roasted tomato-chipotle mayonnaise, and pretzel bun.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, this was my first Tap Party from The Ram and I had a ton of fun.  This is not a bad pilsner and it is pretty good beer.  The food fits and pairs perfectly with the food that we order from the brewery.  As far as the food, I really enjoyed the Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich.  It was perfect with the pilsner.  I was not a big fan of the burger but it was still really good.  I believe my guest said the same thing.  If you are not a Mug Club member, you should become a member.  I cannot wait for the Tap Party at Wheeling in January.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser