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New Blog Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA

Starting a new tab, Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA is the beer that will be featured in this beer blog.  Slumbrew was founded by Caitlin Jewell and Jeff Leiter in Sommerville, MA.  They bottle their beers in 22oz and draft beer.  They brew several different beer.  They take the classic beer styles and put their own twist on them.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a pretty cloudy copper color a head on it.  Slumbrew IPA has an earthly to slightly piney smell to it.  The taste is a sweet earthly to pine with a piney aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Sommerville, MA on January 1st, 1776.  This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.  Salute your hops!

Ale brewed with five grains, Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy Hops.  Dry-hopped with Galaxy.

Keep cold, enjoy, while fresh and serve at 45 to 50 degree.

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

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA on January 1, 1776. This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.

Huge aroma and resin-y flavors from the elusive Galaxy hops are the signature of this beer. Built on a solid base of pale malts, this double IPA makes generous use of hops from Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy with the Galaxy hops taking the lead during ten days of aggressive dry-hopping.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.slumbrew.com

Twitter:  @slumbrew

Closing out the beer tab, I really enjoyed this brewey’s beers.  As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of 22oz or 750ml bottles but I will reject my thought on that for this brewery’s beer. Many of you know I use to do a metal and beer show on STFU.FM and this brewery was one of the last breweries that was feature on that show. This India Pale Ale is a strong example of the great beers that this brewery makes in their everyday line up.  I really enjoy the hop character to its great malty backbone.  It has a nice balance and huge drinkablity. Those are huge plus for this beer. If you love West Coast Pale Ales or any India Pale Ale, I highly recommend you trying this beer out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Pilsner

Starting a new beer tab, we are going to get into another brew from Brooklyn Brewery and the beer is Brooklyn Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their other beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Brooklyn Pilsner is part of their everyday beers. It has a clear golden color with constant white head and bubbles.  There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a dry slight carbonated to it with crisp finish. Just like all Brooklyn beers, it has that classic European style to it. This pilsner is extremely drinkable and perfect for anytime of the year.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brooklyn Pilsner is a pale refreshing lager, brewed in the style flavored by New York’s pre-Prohibition German-American brewers.  Brooklyn Pilsner tastes best before the freshness date indicated.  Please write us or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5pm.  79 N 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or visit our website at www.brookynbrewery.com.

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

Brooklyn Pilsner is a refreshing golden lager beer, brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-prohibition brewers. In the 1840’s, the pilsner style emerged from central Europe to become the world’s most popular style of beer. Like its ancestors, Brooklyn Pilsner is traditionally brewed from the finest German two-row barley malts. Germangrown Perle and Hallertauer hops provide a crisp, snappy bitterness and fresh, floral aroma. The flavor of the malt comes through in the finish. We ferment Brooklyn Pilsner at cool temperatures, and then give it a long, gentle maturation (lagering), which results in a beer of superior complexity and smoothness. We believe that you will find there to be none finer. Unlike mass-marketed so-called pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner does not contain cheap fillers such as corn or rice, nor does it contain any preservatives or stabilizers. Brooklyn Pilsner is the real thing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing out the tab, I have really been enjoying Brooklyn beers.  This beer style is slowly becoming one of my favorite beer styles.  I really love the clean crisp finish and the medium body.  It has a ton of flavor and perfect for any season from the Summer to Winter.  If you love pilsners, this is one beer you need to try a few times.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

NHL Against NHLPA, Who Will Win The Cup?

In this sport blog, we are going to talk about the future of the CBA in the National Hockey League.  If you are not aware of this issue, the owners are ready to lock out the players again.  As September 15th comes closer, we might not have a hockey season or maybe part of the season.  The players have 53% share of the profits while the owners has the rest, which is 47%.  The owners want to flip that profit-sharing to their way.  They, the owners, are yelling how poor they are and how the smaller market teams are having problems paying their bills.  If you know anything about hockey, you know way over half of the profits come from the box offices unlike the rest of the major sports.  As you know the last CBA called for an entire season to be cancelled in 2004-2005.  Under the current CBA, we had the average NHL team is worth 47% more in value.  Last season, the league had 18 of the 30 teams showing red before they pay for their bank loans and other assets.  The prior year there was 16 of the 30 teams.  Along with the increase of player’s salaries increased by 11% to $59 million.  Big market teams are doing fairly well with most of them making money or profit.  So where is the issue here?

It is the small market teams that are mostly in the red.  Owners want to go to NFL Model which is 48% or do what the NBA did this last summer which is 50-50 spit.  To me, seeing a team like LA Kings winning the Cup this year just spell the end to the NHL I grew up loving and watching as a kid.  They were the first team in league history to beat 1st seed when they were the 8th seed.  Also they were the first time to win the Cup as 8th seed.  Congrats to the LA Kings but I am sorry I love the power house teams in the league going back to the Orignal 6.  Big Market teams should killing any league not just NHL.

This year’s Stanley Cup, which featured New Jersey Devils against LA Kings, draw the worse television since the 2007, which featured Ottawa Seniors against Anaheim Ducks.  I believe my point is approved by this stat.  However, it was in the Los Angeles market with the oldest team in California might have helped the ratings a little bit.

Stanley Cup Final Audience Averages Since 2007 on NBC and NBC Sports Network/VERSUS (www.sbnation.com)

2007, Ottawa vs. Anaheim – 1.8 million

2008, Pittsburgh vs. Detroit – 4.5 million

2009, Pittsburgh vs. Detroit – 4.9 million

2010, Philadelphia vs. Chicago – 5.1 million

2011, Boston vs. Vancouver – 4.5 million

2012, Los Angeles vs. New Jersey – 3.0 million

As we get closer to the September 15th expiring of the old CBA, this could be the end of this sport.  NHL might be losing more than money but fans that keeps this league up and running.  I believe with all the comments coming out on both signs that the owners care but they are not looking at the bigger picture, which is the future of this sport.  You would think the owners will learn their lesson from the last lockout.  The big question is that needs to be asked are you coming back this time?  Will you try to buy tickets for this upcoming season?  What is going to be the fallout if they do lockout for the season?  I do not have the answers but the greedy are fighting over their billions and millions of dollars.  If there is a lockout, all  workers that clean the bathrooms, cashiers that run the hot dog, beer, etc will all be out of jobs.  The workers that are trying to make it in this world will be on the unemployment line.  In the end, the fans of this great sport and the rich history will not will the Cup and I believe there will not be NHL raising the Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2013.  What is your thoughts?  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder

In this blog, we are going to get into one of the seasonal from the Shiner Brewery,  It is their spring seasonal called Dortmunder.  If you read my earlier blog, you are pretty up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the brewery.

Shiner Dortmunder has a copper color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight malty smell to the beer.  It has a sweet, carbonation, and carmel taste with a dry crisp finish to it. It is a drinkable spring beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Spring has a sprung at the little brewery in Shiner, TX (pop. 2,070).  And with it, our newest brew, Shiner Dortmunder-Style Spring Ale.  This Old World classic pours deep gold in color, with a white head and smooth flavor.  Its medium hop bitterness, and hints of grain honey and floral hops will refresh you like a sun-drenched nap on a lush green lawn.  Prosit!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shiner.com

Twitter:  @shinerbeer

In closing, Shiner Dortmunder is not one of my favorite seasonals or beers from Shiner Brewery.  It is not a bad beer for being a meduim body beer.  It is a perfect beer for the spring time.  This beer is good to drink all day while doing lawn work or watching a baseball game from start to finish.  If you love German style beers, you will love Shiner Brewery’s beers.  They are German base asides Shiner Wild Hare, which is newest beer to their everday lineup and I have blogged about it in the past.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Half Acre Brewery Over Ale

In this blog, we are going to check out one of many craft breweries from Chicago.  Half Acre Brewery was founded 2006 by Gabriel Magliaro in Chicago, IL.  They brew several different beers.  Being a young brewery, there is not too much information on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with an off white head. It has sweet malty smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation malty to it. The aftertaste is something that I could do without in a beer. It is drinkable asides the aftertaste.

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

Website is down right now!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.halfacrebeer.com

Twitter:  @HalfAcreBeer

In closing, there is some places that call this American Brown Ale and other call this American Style Bitter.  I believe this is an American Brown Ale.  This is a pretty drinkable beer but the aftertaste has killed it for me.  I am really not a fan of this beer.  Just because I did not like this beer, this does not mean you will not like this beer.  Half Acre Brewery does pretty good in Chicagoland and I know they have a fan base here.   I will keep trying their beers and I believe I will find something I like from them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Brewery Fusion 8

In this blog, we are going to check out Lagunitas Brewery and the beer is Fusion 8.  Lagunitas Brewery was founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Petaluma, California.  They brew several different beer styles but they are known for their India Pale Ale.  This brewery is expanding to Chicago in 2013 and they are hoping to have their taproom open in late 2012. Let us get into the beer.

I was told when I was at the Blues Bar that this was a  special beer for Chicago.  I cannot find anything on their website or the internet.  It has a dark deep brown color without a head.  It has a chocolate and slight citrus notes for the nose. It has a sweet chocolate to slight citrus taste.  It is drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  no twitter address

In closing, I enjoyed drinking this beer and I have enjoyed many of their beers.  I cannot wait for their taproom to open and to see what they will do when they get their brewery up and running.  I heard some special things are coming to us craft beer drinkers. This is a really good beer and I wish it was in package.  Just what I said above, I believe this is just in Chicago so I hope they do some more brews like this beer.  Do not worry beer blog reader, I will be doing more blogging on this brewery soon.  Go get some if you can find it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Brewery Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are going to take a look at the first pumpkin and fall beer of 2012.  This beer is Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale from Uinta Brewery.  If you read my blog posts from this brewery, you are pretty much know a little something about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Pumpkin ale has a dark copper color without a head on it.  It has a pumpkin like smell to the beer. The beer drinker will experience a ginger to other spices along with a little pumpkin.  For being a fall beer it is extremely drinkable.

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

Description

This sessionable pumpkin ale is brewed with fresh pumpkin and seasonal spices.

Tasting Notes

Malt and hops accented with roasted pumpkin and spices of the season. A subtle hint of vanilla and honey. Punk’n is a wonderful compliment to foods with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Try it with roasted turkey, squash or pumpkin ravioli, peach cobbler, or pumpkin cheesecake.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In closing, we are now getting into my seasonal beers that I love but make me sad because the motorcycle is in storage until next spring season.  Uinta Brewing is an important brewery to me in the United States.  They are pushing the limits of beer brewing to the next level.  This beer is kind of organic and it is really good tasting beer.  However, Uinta Punk’n is not my favorite pumpkin ale, it is still a really good full flavor beer.  I would recommend you trying this beer then giving up on it because it is another pumpkin beer.  This is a perfect balance of pumpkin to other spices.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog London Olympic Games 2012

This is a follow-up blog post from the my earlier one called “Olympic Games Does It Still Mean Something Today?”  We took a look at the history, and some ratings compare to the Super Bowl.  I made  pretty good argument that it did not mean anything to world.  However, going through, I found it does not mean anything to me and a very small group of people.  Most Europe countries had problems sending their athletes over to London for the games.  Most Greece athletes were kick out of the games because of their crazy tweets that they put out to the world.  There has been several reports and rumors of athletes using drugs to cheat in some of the events.  The one thing I loved was the fact there was no word on terrorists attacks.  There are some highlights but let us get into the facts.

Television Ratings

Once again, the Olympic games beat out the last games in 2008.  I knew this would happen because of the growth of the population in the United States and the world.  According to this article from Huffpost TV (www.huffingtonpost.com), the Olympic Games became the most watch television event in United States history.  It drew over 219.4 million viewers.  The games drew 31.1 million viewers on average everyday over the 17 days in 36 years.  The closing ceremonies drew 31 million viewers in 36 years.  It is looking like the Olympic Games are starting to become more important to most people.

In closing, the Olympic Games went over just what I thought they would aside with the drug and twitter issues.  I honestly thought that China with the amount of athletes would run away with the medals.  It turns out that is not even the case.  The United States topped the amount of metals and gold metals.  The people who watched the games, I hope you enjoyed watching them.  I watched very little of it because it was on at the bars.  As far as the companies doing marketing during the games.  I did not see anything companies that took a bail out from the United States Government.  I was pretty happy to see that plus from the games.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweser

New Blog Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner

Starting a new tab, we are going to sample out a beer, which is Baderbrau Brewing Company, called Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.  The brewery, which is Pavichevich Brewing Company, was founded in 1988 by Kenneth Pavichevich, who was a former Chicago Police Officer.  He travel Europe and enjoyed find beers.  He believed that Chicago should have its own world class beer.  Kenneth filed for bankrupt and then sold to Goose Island Brewery in 1997.  It was later named Golden Goose Pils and later Goose Island Pils.  They stop brewing the beer in 2002 and lanched a beer called 312 Urban Wheat as a draft only and then bottles.  This pilsner was replace by one of the biggest craft brand in Chicago right now.  This beer returned in 2012 under Baderbrau Brewery Company in Chicago.  Let us get into the beer.

This pilsner has a dark golden color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste of the beer is the normal import pilsner. Even though the beer is a craft beer here in Chicago.  It is crisp dry and refreshing with a huge drinkable aspect to it.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Chicago’s Original Craft Beer

In 1989, when Barderbrau was first introduced in Chicago, its upstart spirit, revolutionary nature, and award-winning flavor won accolades and captured the imagination of a great city.  Rooted in the old-world ideas of Eastern Europe’s top craftmen and infused with bold American character, this beerdared to be greater.  This beer started Chicago’s craft revolution.  This Beer.  In your hand—now.

Its deep amber color, spicy hop-forward aroma, malty body, and creamy finish sets it apart from all others.  With an unconventional blend of the finest ingredients—North American water, exacting proportions of imported German aromatic Noble hops accenting Czech Saaz, an exclusive stain of European lager yeast, and robust malts from the USA—it defines a style all its own.  Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.baderbrau.com

Twitter:  @baderbrau

Closing out the tab, this pilsner has that old school European feel to it.  I am just now getting into pilsner beer style.  I have to say this beer is interesting.  I do enjoy this beer and I do remember seeing Goose Island Pils in the market when I first moved to Chicago.  I never had it and I wonder if they could resurface that beer.  I know they will not do that because they want to be known as an Ale House.  This beer has a ton of flavor and exetremely drinkable.  A beer drinker could drink this in a Chicago Summer days to Winter days.  I love this beer and I am glad to see it back in Chicagoland area.  It is drinking the history of Chicago Craft history in your hand.  Go try and tell me your thoughts on this beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Brewery Beer Camp 2012

In this blog, we are going to take a look at another set of beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery.   If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  The set of beers is coming from a sampler pack called Beer Camp.  Here is the beers, which are Oatmeal Stout, Floral IPA, Imperial Red Ale, and Imperial Pilsner, that are being featured in this blog.  Let us get into the beers.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Pilsner

This beer has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this pilsner. It has a fresh air smell to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation with a crisp dry slight hoppy aftertaste. Sierra Nevada Imperial Pilsner is extremely drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble if they are not paying attention.  I recommend trying this beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of “sticky,” resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt backbone.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Imperial Red Ale

The red ale in the glass is a dark amber color with somewhat of a white head on it. It has a sweet raisins smell to it. The taste is of a sweet carbonation malty with a weird aftertaste. I cannot really decide it to you. It is drinkable until that aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile found in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt.  It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon-balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Floral IPA

This beer has a copper cloudy color with a constant white head on it. The smell of flowers is what this India Pale Ale has going on with it. The taste is of a citrus to piney with a dry hoppy aftertaste to it. It is drinkable India Pale Ale.

Here a description from the beer bottle:

This unique take on the traditional IPA style pairs the bold and intense aromas of wholel-cone hop “flowers” with aromatic natural rose hips and petals for complex aromas and unexpected flavors.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Oatmeal Stout

It is black in color without a head on this stout. It has a chocolate to toffee smell to this Sierra Nevada Oatmeal Stout. The taste is burn malt to milky chocolate notes to the beer. It is extremely drinkable and will be troublesome to most beer drinkers.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

This big oatmeal stout is midnight black in color-with a big, roasty, mocha-like aroma.  It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.  Perfect as an after dinner treat.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com and www.sierrabeercamp.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

In the end, this was a really good set of beers in this sampler pack with a great value.  There are a few higher end beers for $19.99 price point, which makes this a great value.  I love all the beers in this pack but the Imperial Red Ale.  I believe that is the weakest one of the four.  This is the order of the beers I like and it is Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Pilsner, Floral IPA, and Imperial Red Ale.  I did blend the Imperial Red Ale and the Floral IPA into one glass.  It was pretty good.  I highly recommend you trying Beer Camp.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser