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New Beer Blog Sixpoint Autumnation

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Sixpoint Brewery.  This beer is their fall seasonal called Autumnation.  If you read my earlier blog on their Apollo, you are know the history on this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This fall seasonal has a clear copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a slight piney to it. There is no smell to this beer. The taste is a sweet carbonation to earthly with a dry bitter aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seem in one autumnal face.  One of the most special times of the year for craft brewers is the hop harvest.  The Autumnation celebrates this season by harnessing pumpkin and fresh “wet hops” chosen by our fans.

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

Autumnation

Autumn
Our Autumnal brew is made with subtle pumpkin and spice, but its prominent feature is the fresh harvested “wet-hops” that are added. New hop strain and selection every year. Autumnation 2012 features Citra Hops.
ABV 6.7%
IBU 74
SRM 15

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sixpoint.com

Twitter:  @sixpoint

In closing, I really enjoyed the change of pace that this beer gave me to the rest of the fall beers on the market.  Do not give me wrong, I love my fair share of pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers.  I love the hoppy taste and yet the beer pulled out some malty taste.  I have not been disappointed with any of the beers that Sixpoint has put out on the market.  I really need to make it to Brooklyn to check out the brewery.  If you have yet check out their beers but read all my post, go get some and stop reading for a bit.  You will not be disappointed with this brewery that is taking the traditional beer styles and put a twist on them in a good way.  This beer is no different.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Goose Island.  I am kind of stun this is my second one beer blog since I am a pretty big fan of this local Chicago brewery.  The beer we are going to talk about just took home another Gold Medal from Great American Beer Festive in this years event (2012) and it is called Goose Island India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their fall seasonal, you know a little history on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of the Harvest Ale beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a nice clear copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a nice grapefruit to the beer. The taste is a carbonate grapefruit without an aftertaste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Recognized as among the world’s finest, Goose Island’s India Pale Ale has a spicy hop aroma and an inviting fruity flavor.  This exceptional beer is one you will not soon forget.

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

Brewer’s Notes:

Our India Pale Ale recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.

Recipe Information:

Style: English Style India Pale Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 5.9%

International Bitterness Units: 55

Color: Bourbon

Hops: Styrian, Fuggle, Cascade, Centennial

Malts: Pale

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Thistle

Food Pairings: Curries, Chicken, Pork

Cheese Pairings: Blue, Aged Gouda

Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability:

Year Round Bottles: 6pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

World Beer Cup Recognition:

Judging Category: English Style India Pale Ale

2010: Gold  Medal

Great American Beer Festival Recognition:

Judging Category: English Style India Pale Ale

2009: Silver Medal

2007: Silver Medal

2004: Silver Medal

2001: Bronze Medal

2000: Gold Medal

Here is their webiste and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter;  @gooseisland

In closing, I really enjoy this beer and it is part of my everyday line up of beers.  It is pretty much always in my frig.  This is the staple of any India Pale Ale style.  It is an English style so it is not overly hop like some of those west coast India Pale Ale.  This beer always gives me the break from the over the top hoppy beers on the market.  I realize that AB Inbev brought this beer company and everyone believe that this brewery will go to crap.  It is not the case.  There beers will constant and get better because of the technology that this big brewery will give this small brewery.  They will get the best hops, malt, and anything else this brewery needs and wants to make some great beers.  Goose Island is staying close to the Chicago market.  John Hall, who was the founder and former owner of this brewery, stepped down as president just this last week.  It does not mean this brewery will change.  If it does change, I believe it will be for the best.  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 Oktoberfest

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another fall seasonal.  This fall beer is coming from Big Horn Ram Oktoberfest.  If you read my earlier blog post on this brewery’s beer, you know a little history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

The beer has a nice clear copper color without a head. The smell is a sweet malty to caramel to the beer. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theRAM

In closing, I enjoy this brewery for the value you get out of their food and beer.  This is a huge comment for this brewery and it is the fact this was one of the best Oktoberfest that I had this season.  It is extremely drinkable and great taste to this craft beer.  I love the malty taste throughout the drinking experience.  If you live by a Ram Brewery, you need to check them out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s India Pale Ale

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In this blog, we are going to get into Oskar Blues Brewing and the beer is called Deviant Dale’s India Pale Ale.  Oskar Blues was founded in 1997 by Dick Dale Katechis in Longmont, Colorado.  They brew several different beer styles but they use only cans for their packaging.  Oskar Blues was the first craft brewery to package their beer in cans.  Let us get into the beers.

It has a cloudy copper color with a white head on the beer. The smell is of a heavy citrus to almost grapefruit to the beer.  The taste is a sweet grapefruit taste with a balance from the malts. The aftertaste is a bitter dry to it. For being Double IPA, it is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the bar menu (Blues Bar):

This beer is intended to be assault for hop lovers and is a returning favorite from the little brewery in Lyons, Colorado.

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

Deviant Dale’s IPA (8% ABV, 85 IBUs) was born at the crossroads, in a juke joint, as if Dale’s Pale Ale sold its soul to balance Deviant’s foreboding aromas of citrus, grapefruit rind and piney resins with a copper ball-of-fire color and inscrutable finish. The 2011 GABF Silver Medal Winner (American IPA Category) is the Devil incarnate with untold amounts of malt and hedonistic Columbus dry-hopping. Oskar Blues’ southern spirit caught a northbound blues bus to Colorado to deliver the boundary bustin’ brewery’s first 16 oz. tallboy can.

Here is a youtube (www.youtube.com) video and their website (www.oskarblues.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.oskarblues.com

Twitter:  @oskarblues

In closing, I am excited to have this brewery in the Chicago Market.  When I wanted to drink their beers, I had to work the phones or get friends or family to bring back beer for me.  For this brewery, I will not have to do that anymore.  I saw this beer on draft at the Blue Bar.  This is a pretty good India Pale Ale.  I really enjoyed this beer and I will be searching for it at my local liquor stores.  I see their Dale’s Pale Ale in most liquor stores which is expected.  This is a great brewery and I hope Chicago craft beer drinkers start showing them some love.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Coalition Brewing King Kitty Red Ale

When in Portland, I picked up this bottle from Coalition Brewing.  After we were done with Brewvana, a few of us went out and check out a few more breweries.  Coalition Brewing is a small brewpub on a side streets of Portland.  There is no history on the internet on this brewery.  They only have three beers that they put in 22oz bottles and this is one of them.  The rest of them they will fill up growlers for you.  This is the only beer I had and I fall in love with it.  Let us get into the beer.

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This beer has a nice red color with a white head on it. It has a slight malty to caramel smell to the beer.  The taste is a sweet malty carbonation with a slight bitter aftertaste. It is q pretty drinkable beer.

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

KING KITTY RED
5.74% ABV, 59 IBU, 11.6 SRM

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

King Kitty Red is a Northwest take on the typically malt forward style.  Brewed with four different hop varietals and a sweet malt backbone, this ale is balanced with a clean bitterness and enticing aromatics.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.coalitionbrewing.com

Twitter:  @coalitionbrewin

Closing out, I am not a fan of red or amber ales but this one is done very well.  I enjoy drinking this beer and I am down to one more bottle in my frig, which I am saving a little bit longer.  I do not know when I will get back out but I will be back at this little brewpub.  If you live in the Portland area, go and check out this brewery.  I am glad I stopped in and had a pint.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Uinta Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner

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In this beer blog, Uinta Brewing Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner is the beer and brewery that will be featured in this post.  This beer is part of their Crooked Line as everyday 750ml bottle.  If you read my earlier blog on their Uinta Hyve Ale, you know a little history on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a straw cloudy color with a strong head that kills after a while. The smell is a sweet malty to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty almond to slight hoppy earthy to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tilted Smile breaks away from the crowd.  Strong in character, yet approachable and versatile.  Fonfidently balanced with Saaz hops, and 100% Pilsen malt.  Crisp and delightfully carbonated.  Explore pairing with grilled meats and seafood.

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

Notes

Tilted Smile breaks away from the crowd. Big in alcohol , yet approachable and versatile. Confidently balanced with Saaz hops and 100% Pilsen malt. Crisp and delightfully carbonated. Explore pairing with grilled meats and seafood.

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Leia Bell.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

Closing, just like their Detour IPA I really enjoyed this pilsner.  I just feel that most American Craft Breweries always find ways to mess up classic German Beer styles.  I am happy to say that Uinta did not mess up this Imperial Pilsner.  This Imperial Pilsner is my favorite one.  There are not too many good Imperial Pilsners.  I have over the last few months fall in love with craft pilsners.  This beer comes at a good price at retail and I believe you will be impressed with this Imperial Pilsner.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Happy New Years!

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Uinta Cockeyed Cooper Bourdon Barrel Barley Wine Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of four beers from Uinta Brewing Crooked Line.  The beer is called Cockeyed Cooper Bourdon Barrel Barley Wine Ale.  If you read my earlier blog, you know the past of this  brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a nice amber color with a nice white head on it. The smell is sweet, Bourbon, vanilla and caramel to the beer. It has sweet malty to Bourbon vanilla ans a little caramel taste without any aftertaste to the beer. It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Launch into the exquisite flavors of bourbon with splashes of vanilla.  Watch for currents of dark chocolate and dried fruit.  Generous amounts of hops and malts make for a smooth journey from start to finish.  Decadent desserts and aged cheeses make superb companions.

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

Notes

Aged in bourbon barrels

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Travis Bone.

Accolades

  • 2011, Bronze Medal, New Zealand Beer Awards, Wood and Barrel Aged Beer
  • 2010, Bronze Medal, North American Brewers Association Awards, Wood Flavored Beer
  • 2010, Gold Medal, World Beer Championships, Wood Aged Beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In closing, I did enjoy this beer which is a little weird.  This why it is weird because most Barley Wines I have to age them a year before drinking them.  I do not know if it is the barrels make this barley wine ale a little different from the rest of them on the market.  I also like the fact I can get this beer anytime of the year unlike the rest of the barley wines on the market.  Most barley wines are available in the late fall to winter time.  This is an awesome beer at reasonable price for the style of beer.  I highly recommend this beer and let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Thirsty Dog Brewery Barktoberfest Lager

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While in Michigan, I went up to Frankenmuth, Michigan to check out the Frankenmuth Brewery.  I checked out the Lager Mill and this beer popped off the shelves from Thristy Dog Brewery.  The name of the beer is Barktoberfest Lager.  I love the play on the words.  Of course, I have to enjoy this beer because I cannot take it on the plane back to Chicago.  Here is a little history of the brewery.  Thirsty Dog Brewery is based in Akron, Ohio in an old brewery building.  They were founded in 1997 in many brewpubs in Canton, Ohio area.  Let us get into the beer.

Barktoberfest is their Fall Seasonal and has some nice packaging.  Barktoberfest has a nice clear copper color with a constant bubbles and white head.  There is a sweet malty smell.  The taste is a sweet carbonation malty with a nice clean crisp aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Barktoberfest

A traditional old world German Style Oktoberfest, a fall celebration since 1810.

IBU = 15
ABV = 6%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.thirstydog.com

Twitter:  @thirstydogbeer

In closing, I want to try more beers from this brewery.  I thought this beer was about average to slightly above average.  I love how this beer how the pop carbonation.  It had the nice malty taste and extremely drinkable.  However, drinking this beer, I am looking forward to trying the rest of their beers.  This beer made me take notice to this brewery.  I will  be hunting down the rest of their brews.  Let me know what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Ale Asylum Hopalicious

Starting new tab, we are going to take a look at the final beer from Ale Asylum and it is called Hopalicious.  This is their flagship beer from this young brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a nice copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a nice citrus to grapefruit smell. The taste is carbonation grapefruit notes. There is really no aftertaste to this beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Eleven separate additions of cascade hops give this American pale ale its lush cirtus aromas and bold hop flavor without crazy bitterness.  Hopalicious is all natural and unfiltered for superior flavor and quality.  It is brewed with passion and is best enjoyed that way.

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

5.8% abv.

Available: Year Round Style: American Pale Ale (APA) Motto: Local hopheads granted asylum.

Hopalicious is a refreshing American Pale Ale unique enough for the connoisseur, approachable enough for the novice, and drinkable to everyone. Sure, we could have made it “Bitterlicious”, or even “Maltalicious” for that matter. But we didn’t. We made it Hopalicious. And we made it for the everyday hophead who wants bold, citrus hop flavor without crazy bitterness.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.aleasylum.com

Twitter:   @ale_asylum

Closing out, this was a pretty great beer.  It has a ton of flavor while being very well balanced.  I love the packaging.  For the few beers, I have had from this brewery.  I am really impressed by this one.  I am looking forward to making it up to the brewery to check out the rest of their line up.  If you are in the area, go there and try them.  The porter is the only one I have questioned but there is a good reason for it.  I recommend their beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Upright Brewing Bird Calls

When in Portland, our last stop of the breweries tour from Brewvana.  It took us in the basement of a bar where Upright Brewing is located.  This brewery specializes in French and Belgian Farmhouse brews.  There is really no history on this brewery.  It was pretty neat to go in the basement of this building to see a brewery.  They are small but they make some really good beers.  Let us get into the brew.  Sorry there was no spot to put the beer down to take a photo so I had to use the restroom counter.  LOL!  It keep this unique.

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It has a nice brown color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a nice sweet malty to a little maple to it.  The taste is a sweet little carbonation malty with a dry caramel aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Bird Calls Brown follows the Safe as Milk, using the same British ale yeast and equally well hopped, using a mix of willamette and magnum hops over a toasty grist reminiscent of midwest and east coast brown ales. It finishes quite dry and is perfect for people who enjoy darker beers with a bite. Named after one of Charles Mingus’ most exciting compositions, from the 1959 album Mingus Ah Um. 6%

Here is a website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uprightbrewing.com

Twitter:  @uprightbrewing

Closing out, I really loved the unique scene of this brewery.  I did enjoyed their Bird Calls Brown.  It was nice balance and extremely drinkable.  I am not a huge fan of farmhouse beer styles.  I would love to come back to this brewery and try them.  Who knows maybe they will make a fan of that beer style.  I am glad I made this trip to Portland and I am glad we went with Brewvana (thanks for showing us around.) I highly recommend this brewery.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser