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Uncommon Brewery Bacon Brown Ale

This brewery is from Santa Cruz, CA. They pack all their beers in 16oz cans four packs. All of their beers are organic. It is hard to be an organic brewery because all of your suppliers need to be organic and approved by the government. This brewery tries to make different and unique for the craft beer drinkers in the world.  I love this statement from their website.  It is right up on their opening page (www.uncommonbrewers.com)

Our beers are unfiltered, unpasteurized, and undoubtedly uncommon.  They’re designed to grow over time as they age.  Store in a cool place and witness the change.

I haven’t done this with any of their beers, however I have aged other beers. Anyways Uncommon Brewers brew the following beers.

Golden State Ale

Siamese Twin

Baltic Porter

The one we will be talking about in this blog is the Bacon Brown Ale.  What makes this beer very different than anything else out in the market, it is brew with pork products. This beer pours brown and has heavy carbonation.  I would pour this beer very slowly into a glass.  The smell of the beer is pork and malts. When drinking this beer, you will experience bacon taste throughout the whole beer tasting experience. You will not get too much pork taste at first however, the deeper you get into the beer the more you will taste the pork. The bacon will build up on your pallet. Being a small brewery, I am not saying this is a bad thing but each can is different.  I would say try this beer a few times before say you do not like this beer.

Here is a few ways to get know and information from this brewery:

Website: www.uncommonbrewers.com

Twitter: @uncommonbrewers (I am not sure if this is them and it is not active.)

In the end, a few things to remember when drinking this beer is drink it alone and let it build up on a pallet.   WARN, if you are on a meatless diet, can’t eat meat, or choices not eat meat, DO NOT drink this beer.  I really love this beer and I can’t wait to get a newer batch to see if it is different then this batch.  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Dj Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Email djweiser13@comast.net

Seven Day Sonnet Reprisal

Chicago base band Seven Day Sonnet (SDS) coming out a very good underground hard rock and metal scene with Reprisal (2009), which is their first record of attack.  They teamed with Brett Hestla (former touring bassist of Creed)  down at Orlando, FL.  Brett has produced such acts like Flaming Hanley, Transmit Now, and many more.    With all the pieces in place, Seven Day Sonnet and Brett put out a record that will just make hard rock and metal listeners happy and full of emotion while listening.

Packaging is important part of a successful record in theses days of declining compact discs sales dropping.  The art work and design of the compact discs is unique and shows a value to the band and their listeners.  The front cover is a picture of the two gangsters.  SDS showing the long rich history of Chicago’s mobsters.   The inside of the record has all the lyrics from all the songs.  SDS and the David Scotney (artwork designer) took the time to think of those individual that buy compact discs today.  The lyrics are in the inside cover of the compact disc case that folds out.  As the listeners reads through the lyrics it looks like it is printed on burn paper from the 1930’s.  This packaging will catch the attention of music lovers of all genres.  Retailers will be very happy on how it will look on retail’s end caps or floor displays.  The packaging gets to the point of what is on the disc.

Seven Day Sonnet’s Reprisal is the best music from an up and coming artist.  The band is Ben VanBurskirk (lead singer), Jordon Popp (guitar and back up vocals), Rick Tauber (guitar), Anthony Lojeski (bass and back up vocals), Dan Kashuck (drums).  This band has very strong bassist and drummer selection.  The band guitar players took something out of pages of some of the legendary dual guitar bands from the past such as Thin Lizzy (but heavier), Scorpions and current day Avenged Sevenfold.  Ben (lead singer) finish off this very talented band.  His vocals are perfect for what this Chicago band is going and what they have become.

Most bands feel they have to have some kind of intro but this record could have lived with out one.  However the nice little guitar solo from the opening track called “All Fall Down,” gives the listeners something from the best glory days of hard rock and metal.  The pounding of the drums and the thunder of the bass slaps the listeners through the song and the record.  The lead singer does something that most lead singers dream of doing.  If the listener has this song in the back ground, this slight singing differences will snap attention of the listener back to the music.  He does a slight guttural vocals that bends perfectly with the song and then goes back into very melodic singing.  It is almost like he took a  page out of Don Dokken (Dokken) or M. Shadow (Avenged Sevenfold) on the melodic side and then threw in something from a  extreme metal group like Mikael Akerfedt (Opeth).  Second song “The Butchor” comes in with a very pounding and driving guitar riff.  Through out the  record the listeners will find a very driving songs from the first song to the last.  There is one hidden gem on this record and that is “Saturdays.”  This song starts with a guitar riff that you would here from the 1970’s or 1990’s hard rock and metal groups.  It picks up and creepy keyboard puts chills up and down anyone’s spine.  This is one song to turn out the lights and just listen to over and over again.

In closing, this is a very great record from a very very talent hard rock and metal group from Chicagoland area.  They wrote about their everyday struggles and other issues that has come to light.  They took the soul and body set by their icons and heros before them and ran with it.  The world of hard rock and metal should be proud of their new sons.  This record was very fun to write and listen to and I give this record .

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Email djweiser16@gmail.com

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland is her comeback record in fifteen years. This record is very different then the rest of her music from the late 1970’s to mid 1990’s. It has a very heavy influence male vocals (her husband Jim Gillette) and it is heavier then her in the beginning of her career.

The packaging sets the mood and very well thought out. From Rob Zombie’s band bassist Piggy D came up with the playful artwork for the record. It is very dark, gothic but yet very sexy at the same time. He feed off the meaning of each song and then came up with a great art theme for each song. Artwork alone is worth buying this record.

The music is another animal. Lita Ford had her husband, who is Jim Gillette, doing back up vocals. He is not the same singer he was back in the his Nitro days. It sounds like age has really got to him, however, for what he is doing on this record with his wife. It is very perfect and it fits. There are many artist that has their husband or wife come in to help out on a record and just kills the feeling of the music. This is not the case. Welcome back Jim and keep on rocking.

The opening track of this record is her first single in fifteen years is “Crave.” Nice guitar riff with drum beats to start the song. Lita comes in singing with very well written sexy lyrics. This song will set the tune of the record. It has a very sex driven theme through out the record. Lita plays all the guitar and there is on one else. She has a very good guitar solo in this song. “Piece (Hell Yeah)” has a very dark guitar riff but her sing makes it feels calming. She drops cherry bomb line in this song that makes the listeners thing of her pass then get slap into the face with the hell yeah. “Patriotic SOB” takes on another out look at what our United States really is about. She has her two sons singing at the beginning making this song a family affair. This song talks about guns, porn etc, however, the song tells us how the United States really is all about. The title track is one of the best ones on the record along with “Betrayal”.

In closing, overall, this is a very driving record with a lot of sex and sex all over it. It is worth a few spins in the music box. The packaging and a few songs make this a great come back record for Lita Ford. This record gets 7 out of 10.

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Email djweiser16@gmail.com

Sixpoint Brewery Apollo

In this blog, we are going to talk about Sixpoint’s Apollo ale.  Let’s start with the history of the brewery.  Sixpoint is a craft brewery out of Brooklyn, New York.  They were founded by homebrewer Shane Welch in 2004.  They brew several different styles of beers from IPAs, Ryes, Lagers, etc.  They also brew this wheat ale that we are going to talk about in this blog.

I will be up front and honest before we get into this beer.  I am really not a fan of wheat ales however, I have becoming a huge fan of Bavarian Wheat Ales.  Apollo is their new summer seasonal.  Here is what is posted on Sixpoint website (www.sixpoint.com) on what it is.

“The unmistakable flavor of a Bavarian Wheat, but with a clear golden brilliance and a Sixpoint twist. An entirely unique canned offering for the sun-worshipping ale lovers.” (taking from the sixpoint website)

The one thing that this brewery is doing right on their packaging and I kind of wish others would pick up on this.  Sixpoint puts IBU, ABV, and SRM on their cans. Apollo is a 5.2% abv, 11 IBU (internation bitter units), and 3.7 SRM (the color of the beer).  Also on their can it does tell you what the beer is.

Apollo pours with a head but it goes away pretty quick. It is a cloudy with a strew to golden color. It smells like a Germen hef with some circus. This is a very nice balance beer when tasting it. The lemon attacks your pallet throughout the drinking experience. Very little to no after taste from the hops but a slight lemon hint. The IBUs are only 11. It is in the average for a wheat, white, hefenize, etc.

Age Of Evil – AOE

ImageHello Everyone

Let’s talk about music. We are going to talk about a nice young Hard Rock and Metal group, which is called Age Of Evil.  They have one full length record and a EP out, which you can buy from their website, prior to this new record they just put out.  They are a flash back to what was great about the 1980’s scene of music.

A little detail on Age Of Evil, they are two set of brothers that grew up together got together and form this band a few years back.

Here are the members of this band:

Jeremy Goldberg- Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Jacob Goldberg- Bass

Jordan Ziff – Lead Guitar

Garrett Ziff – Drums

The record I will be reviewing on this blog is called “AOE”.  This record starts out something you would hear from a throw back Skid Row.  This band took a page out of the Skid Row book on Never Die and Last Man Standing (their first single).  Never Die has a little guitar work you would hear from Skid Row or Scorpions in the intro and then runs into something you would hear from Skid Row Slave To the Grind.  Nice caught lines to get the crowds going live from this song and throughout this record.  Last Man Standing is almost like something that Skid Row would have wrote during the Bach era.  Then Love Ain’t Free comes on next from the record and takes a little change of mood.  Here they hold that nice back beat from the drums and bass while taking an orginal twist on a Buckcherry sound.  I might saying they sound like this band to that band but they are doing their own take on it while putting their soul into their own style.  Drift Away is just straight up rock song in your face.  Take about a song to slap you in the face and then says everything is ok during the chorus.  Alone Again has a nice puch to it.  This song has a different pace to it then the rest of the songs.  You can hear their 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s influence into this song.  Get It On goes back to Mad and In Your Face style song.  I just felt like I took an ass kicking after listening this song and even while listening to the song.  The wave of emotions in this record is felt in every song.  Now Or Never has the worlds of Blues and Metal meet in the song.  It is almost like AC/DC and Skid Row style feel.  Nice simple drum and bass movement  throughout the song.  Simple is enough in this song.  I can hear this song being their hit.  It has everything going on to make people really get into this song.  Time For Revolution just came out of no where.  Another different pace for this record and the flood of emotion.  This song does fit on this great record.  It will come out of no where on you.  In The End has an awesome start to it and then a nice ripping solo before the vocals come in.  This song sounds like something from a Dokken or Saxon back in the day.

It is very refershing for all of Hard Rock and Metal heads to hear a band that takes the old school to the modern day sound.  The Drums and Bass are solid through out the record.  The Guitar work is enough to make this Record solid and powerful.  The vocals and lyrics are something out of Dokken and Skid Row feel.  I can’t wait to hear these songs live and what is next for this band in their growing career.  I really enjoy this band and this is yet another set of songs to their awesome song writing collection.

Here is how to get hold of this band to check out their music or if they come to your town:

Twitter is @ageofevil

Website is www.ageofevil.com

You will need to check this band out to make your judgement.  Enjoy it, drink it, and listen to it!

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Chicagoland, IL

USA

Milwaukee Breweing Company Pull Chain

Welcome back to another craft beer blog by myself Bill DJ Weiser.  We are going to talk about The Pull Chain from this great from WI.  It is their American Pale Ale.  First before I get started I wanted to give you the information on how to get hold of this brewery.

Website is www.mkbrewing.com

Twitter is @MKEbrewco

I will be posting more on this brewery.  I am looking at making a trip up to the Brewery in May.  That depends on my motorcycle since I was in a crash today.  I am fine need not to worry about this metal head.  Well anyways let’s get into this beer.

This is a American Pale Ale that is what it is on the neck of the bottle.  I will say they are not lying about it.  It is a well balanced West Coast Pale Ale.  It is copper in looks.  Nice hop finish.  It is a pretty straight front Pale Ale.  It is not over bitter like most West Coast Pale Ale.

I really like this Pale Ale and I believe you should go out and look for this beer.  Drink it and enjoy it!

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

twitter @djweiser

email djweiser16@gmail.com

Space Was Cool

Let’s talk about music in this blog.  I just got some new music from a local Chicago Band.  Kind of new to the scene but has the former lead singer of Left Setter.  They have bended a few different styles together to make this a unique type of band.  Let’s talk about who is in this band before I really get into their music and how to follow this awesome band.

Band features the follows:
Nick Langis (lead singer)
Rick Lyons (guitar)
Kevin Rodgers (bass)
Miro Krivens (Drum)

They are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spacewascool).  I believe Kevin Rogers that runs the Facebook is also in the band.

Now on to the music but I will say this in each blog.  This is what I think of the music and don’t get it to heart on anything I say on it.  You need to check it out and draw your thoughts on it.  There is music that is out there I really don’t care about and people love it.  Anyways on to their music.  There is a few songs on Left Setter Facebook.  Go There and check out the music and “like it” then share it with your friends.  Many people think that these bands just make it without help from their fans.  Fans have a huge control the direction a band can go like the following showing up for the shows, posted it on facebook or twitter (social media) and there is a classic word of mouth.   Anyways back to the music, on Left Setter facebook the music there is just staight work with a little Prog and 1960’s LSD rock.  I am not saying they use drugs like the rockers in that day.  I really don’t know.  They have that music feel.  They are a little heavier then those great bands of that era.   

Ram Brewery Wheeling IL

I love supporting great brewpub with great food.  I didn’t realize I had one in my backyard.  I am talking about the multiple locations brewpub called The Ram Brewery.  Their beer is a really good for a great value for the price.  This is a perfect place to take people that are new to craft beer world that want to sample new Craft Beers.  The other one I would say in the Chicagoland market would be the #1 craft in Chicago which is Goose Island Brewery.  They have two location in the city but if you are in the burbs of Chicago The Ram has two location in the Northwest.

To get information and see updates and news on this company.

Twitter @theram or @therambrew (wheeling location)

Website is www.theram.com

The Wheeling location has special on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.  They have a sampler plate just like every other brewpub.  Go and drink to support some great craft beers!  Cheers!