Starting a new tab, Detroit Brewing is the featured brewery with their Sanders Chocolate Stout on this beer blog. Detroit Brewing Company opened their doors in 2003. It is seconds away from the two ball parks in downtown Detroit. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.
It has a jet black color without a head on this Chocolate Stout. The smell is a sweet chocolate alcohol notes. The taste is a sweet chocolate alcohol notes with a dry coco finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
In the fall of 2009, Detroit Brewing Company began tinkering with their Pub Classic Smooth Cream Stout. A chance meeting, over a few beers, with the folks from chance meeting, over a few beers, with the folks from Sanders brought the final sweet ingredient. Our brewer found the best way to combine Stout and Sanders chocolate to create the dark, satisfying aroma and flavor of a fine Stout Ale with the restrained richness and elegance of the hand selected cocoa used by Sanders Fine Chocolatiers in Detroit since 1875.
In closing, I saw Sanders on this brew. I was thinking about the chocolate company. I was right when I was reading the label. I had to pick up at least one bottle. I have been wanting to try some their beers from this brewery. I drive pass their brewpub a few times a week. I will have to stop in for lunch or dinner here soon. This beer has a nice balance and it is not over the top on the alcohol and the chocolate notes. It is a pretty nice smooth chocolate notes. I will be stopping by their brewery and looking for more of this brew. This is one of my favorite beer styles. I recommend this brewery and brew. Go get some! Drink it! Love it! Metal it! \m/
In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out a winter brew from Dark Horse Brewing. I am talking about their 4 Elf Winter Warmer Ale. If you have read my review on one of their brewpub beers, you know the history of this western Michigan Craft brewery. If you have not, please, read beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a dark brown to black color with a head on this winter ale. The smell has a heavy cinnamon notes. The taste is a malty, cinnamon, and nutmeg notes. The aftertaste is a warm cinnamon notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.
In the end of the winter season, Dark Horse Brewing was the only Michigan brewery that I had a chance to get in the Chicago market that I could get. I love their beers. I have to say Dark Horse Brewing has out did themselves with this brew. I love the warmth of the species that this beer kicks off. It is pretty balance and does not drink like 9% brew. I picked up hints of cinnamon and they do not list it on their site. I highly recommend this awesome winter seasonal. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
New beer tab, we are going to sample out another beer from North Peak Brewing. It is their everyday Diabolical India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Imperial IPA, you know the history of this northwest of Michigan craft brewery. If you have not, please, read the beer blog post to know the history and information on this Michigan Brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a cloudy copper color with little white bubble head on this India Pale Ale. The smell is citrus and malty notes. The taste is mild carbonation citrus notes for this English style India Pale Ale. The aftertaste is a little weird and I can figure it out what it is. It is pretty drinkable beer.
The devil made us do it. From the ABV and IBU figures to the fiendish use of Cascade, Perle, and Willamette hops. lucifer was whispering in our ears the entire time. Citrus and pine scents great you and are followed by the sharp bitterness expected of an IPA. The beer’s true wickedness is revealed in the smooth Pale, Crystal 30 and wheat malts that surreptitiously broaden the beer’s appeal to more than just hopheads.
Closing, I have to say this is one of the worse IPA’s that I have ever had in my life. It is towards the bottom of my listed. I do not like the hops and malts that they use in this brew. I pay good money for a fresh beer. I had this beer three times. I had it twice in the bottle and once on draft. It all tasted the same. I thought maybe I received a bad beer. This beer is not the worse in the IPA world. I could name a few that will be under it. I love the hops they are using but I just believe they used them wrong or combination of hops is wrong. It could be the yeast or maybe I received three bad batches. I really doubt that idea. I will say this many times just because I did not like this beer. It does not mean you will not like it. We have different likes and dislikes and I would run with it. I courage you to go try it. Please, let me know what you think. Sorry North Peak Brewing! I am being honest here in this review. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another brew, which is a limited release, from Speakeasy Brewery. The brew is their Butchertown Black Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read these beer blog posts to get to know this great west coast brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a jet black color with a white constant head on this black ale. The smell slight chocolate with a heavy citrus notes. The taste has chocolate citrus notes with bitter hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.
Closing out, this beer is something else. I really enjoy drinking this beer. This is a big boy beer for the experienced hop heads in the world. The hops shine nicely through the chocolate notes. They did a great job on the picking of the hops. I love the bitter aftertaste. They found a way to heavy and in your face but not making you run away from the beer. I am hoping they make their way to the Michigan Market, if not I will be making road trips back to Chicago. I am glad I am back in Michigan this is one of the breweries I will miss getting on a regular basis. I highly recommend this beer and their other brews. If you are in San Fran, you need to get by their brewpub. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Starting a new tab, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Three Floyds Brewing. It is their Munsterfest Lager. The beer is named after the city where their brewery. If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery’s beers, you know the history of Three Floyds Brewing. If you have not and want to know about this brewery, please, read those beer blog posts. Let us get into the beer.
It has a hazel cooper color with a constant white head. There is no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty notes with a sweet caramel aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
This Bavarian style Oktoberfest Bier is brewed with the finest german ingredients in accordance with the Reinheistgebot or German Purity Law. This malty and crisp lager is one of the few that remain true to the Fest Biers of old. “Es ist nicht normal.” September release.
Closing out a tab, as many of you know, I am not a huge fan of this brewery. However, I have been retrying and trying new brews to me from Three Floyds Brewery, I have grown to love this brewery. This brew is one of the few American version of the classic beer style. This brewery did a great job on it. This is a limited release and if you want to try it, I would go hunt it down pretty quickly. It comes out around the fall season. I recommend you trying this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Starting a new tab, we are going to get into another brew from one of my favorite craft brewery from Portland, Or. I am talking about Gigantic Brewing and their Hellion. If you read my earlier beer blog on this brewery, you know the history of this little brewpub. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this great craft brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this brew. The smell is a sweet Belgian notes. It has a farmhouse smell notes. The taste is citrus notes of spices with a crisp dry hop finish. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Notes: Dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace and Simcoe = lemon, grapefruit and dill aromas. Complex aroma and flavor of ester and spice from a Belgian yeast strain.
Availability: July-October 2013 in Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, Alaska, Vermont and Chicago.
Closing out of the tab, this is a great beer and I really enjoyed drinking this brew. This is a well made beer and they brew this beer as close to the classic beer style. It is an American craft version of Duvel. I love Duvel and I found hints of this beer when I was drinking it. I can see many craft beer drinkers thinking this a great version of Duvel. I highly recommend you trying this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into one of many winter seasonal. I am talking about Revolution Brewing Fistmas. I had a chance to try it when I was visiting in Chicago over a few weekends ago. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Revolution Brewing’s beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not read those posts, please, read them to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a dark copper color with a constant white head. The smell is a heavy citrus. The taste is a slight carbonated ginger with citrus. The aftertaste is a hint of ginger. It is not really drinkable.
Red ale brewed for the holiday season with specialty malts to achieve a beautiful deep red hue and the aromas of fresh-baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits. Steeped with ginger root and orange peel.
Ending, in the last few years, I have not been overall impressed with many winter seasonals. I am hoping this year is the turning point for winter seasonals. I have to say this brew is a pretty good start. It might not be drinkable but it is pretty enjoyable for the time it is in your glass. I love the smelling notes to the tasting. There is a ton going on in this brew and it is a good thing for a winter and/or Christmas ale. If you are in the Chicago area, I recommend you trying this brew. If not, I would find a way to get some of this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Frankenmuth Brewery. It is their Hefeweizen. This beer style has really started to grow on me. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their beers, you know the history of Michigan’s oldest brewery. If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this beer.
It has a hazel, unfiltered, and strew color without a head on it. The smell is banana. The taste is a banana with a wheat aftertaste. It is an extremely drinkable beer.
Hefeweizen Ale A sweet mixture of spices & fruit with hints of clove and banana, this refreshingly pale German wheat is top fermented, unfiltered and lightly hopped to achieve its smooth, pleasant flavor and unmistakable cloudy appearance.
ABV 5.2% IBU 13 Great with lighter foods, salads and seafood. Pairs well with lighter desserts.
Closing, if you asked me a year ago, I would be living back in Michigan and loving Hefeweizen. I would have said you are crazy. Both of these facts have come true. I am do not like whites and wheat ales just Hefeweizen. I love how the Germans make their Hefeweizen and how they influenced the beer world. I love the cove and banana notes. Frankenmuth Brewery, who is a German base brewery, knows how to brew those classic German beer styles. I can drink this beer anytime of the year. I highly recommend this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this special beer blog, we are going to get into a project that Upland Brewing did not know was going on in their brewery. One of their assist brewmasters started a sour and package it. Everyone at the brewery loved his sours. Sour ales take years to make and is one hardest beer style to make. If you mess it up, you need to start over. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Dragonfly IPA, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, that beer blog post to get to know this brewery. Let us get into this sour ale.
It is a cloudy strawberry color without a head on the beer. The smell is a sour strawberry. The taste is extremely sour strawberry and tart with sour aftertaste. It is not drinkable.
Closing, I have to say I am a huge fan of sours and Upland Brewery. I was excited to get my hands on this brew. I know this sour is hard to get on the market. I have to say this brew is pretty sour. I like it but I wished I had cork to save it for the next day. The color, smell, and taste are sour strawberry notes. This is an awesome beer and they have done a great job on this brew. I hope to get a chance to try their other sours in the near future. I highly recommend their sours. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into their fourth studio record, which his called “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1.” There will be a volume 2 release in the later part of 2013 and that will their fifth studio record. We are going to get into the history of this band and then the music. Let us get into the history.
History:
Five Finger Death Punch was formed in 2005 by Zoltan Bathory, who is the guitar player, and Jeremy Spencer, who is the drummer. Zoltan Bathory was a bassist in his old band which was called U.P.O. Matt Snell joins the band in 2006. The band recorded music and then send it to Ivan Moody in Denver. The band named themselves after some classic martial arts movies. Ivan later that year flew out to Los Angeles. They began to record their first studio record, which was called “The Way Of The Fist.” The band did not have a second guitar player, however, Stevo “Shotgun” Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan recorded parts on the record while being mixed by guitarist Logan Mader. Caleb Andrew Bingham joined the band for a few shows as their second guitar player. He was later replaced by Darrell Roberts. During this time, the band signed with the record company, which was “The Firm.” In 2007, the band released their first EP, which was called Pre-Emptive Strike through American Itunes. “The Way Of The Fist” was released in 2007 and enter the Billboard Charts Top 200 at #199. They went on several major tours to support their first record. They were on the Maythm Festival and Korn’s Family Values Tour. They supported Disturbed during this time too. The band re-release “The Way Of The Fist” in 2008 with few bonus tracks. “Never Enough” was added on to the record and became the band’s second single off the record. Darrell Roberts was asked to leave and was replaced by Jason Hook in 2009. The band stop touring and supporting their first record at this time too. “War Is The Answer” which is their second studio record was release in 2009. It entered the Billboard Charts at #7. The record had several singles including the cover of Bad Company’s song, which was “Bad Company.” This is one of my favorite cover songs from a hard rock and metal band. The band went into the studio to work on their third record, which was called “American Capitalist.” The record was released in the later part of 2011. The band brought in bassist Chris Kael to replace Matt Snell, who departed from the band. The band had some success with this record but like their first two studio records. They had several singles off “American Capitalist.” Early part of 2013, the band began to work on their fourth record. By May of 2013, the band announced they will be putting out two records. “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1,” which is their fourth record and the one that will be review on this posted, and later in the year Volume 2 will be released. The band realize they were writing some good tunes and they did not want to stop writing. They dropped some tunes for a double studio record. The band brought in several special guests and one was Rob Halford from Judas Priest. They performed this song with Rob at 5th Annual Golden God Awards. The second volume will be released in November, however, they just release the first single off that record called “Battle Born.” Let us get into Volume One.
Track List:
Lift Me Up (Featuring Rob Halford Of Judas Priest)
There is some nice heavy guitars with the drums and bass. The drums have a nice beat to it. Ivan has a nice melody to his singing. I am loving the lyrics. I love how they are using Rob Halford on this song. Their voices match really well. This is a great opening track to this song. Metal God still sounds great when he is singing. I love the pace of this song. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. I love the ending of this opening track.
Watch You Bleed
I love the reverb on the singer’s voice and the nice acoustic guitar at the beginning. I love the heavy guitars and the drums during the main part of the song. Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on this song. I love the fact that the drummer is using double bass during the main part of the song. There is a nice guitar break that turns into a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. Nice touch on the ending of this song.
You
There is some nice music at the beginning. I love the melody of this song. Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on “You.” I love the slower pace on this song. It gives this record a different element. This band reminds of Pantera back in the day. I have to say they are today’s Pantera. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. It kind of feels forced into the song. I am not a fan of the ending.
Wrong Side Of Heaven
I love the acoustic guitar with the second over the top of it in a semi guitar solo. I love how they had the drums in the distance and it comes front. I love Ivan’s clean vocals. I love the lyrics. They wrote some nice music on this title track. There is a pretty good guitar solo towards the middle of the song. I love how Ivan sings over the top of the back half of the guitar solo.
Burn MF
I love the heavy guitars and the drums highlighting parts at the beginning. There is some solid bass playing on this song. I am not fan of Ivan’s singing, however, the lyrics are solid. The drums are insane on this song. This song is straight to the point. I love the ending.
I.M.SIN
I love the music at the beginning of this song. I love singing and lyrics on this song. It fits the song and the theme. Ivan wrote a nice melody to this song. They pull a page out of Pantera’s music book and did the spoken words before a nice guitar solo. I love the ending of this song.
Anywhere But Here (Featuring Maria Brink)
I love the heavy guitars at the beginning with a nice backing from the drums and bass. I love the acoustic guitar with the heavy guitar at the front. I love the melody and lyrics from Ivan. I love the guitar solo at the back half of the song. I wish they would use Maria more on this song. There is another version of this song towards the end of this record. It is part of the bonus tracks. Why even have her on this song if you are not going to use her.
Dot Your Eyes
I love the drums and the guitar playing is pretty good at the beginning. There is a simple but to the point bass playing. This song reminds of “When Worlds Collide” from Powerman 5000. The rhythm and melody from the singer and how the music is playing. You can see that this band was influenced from the bands from the 1990’s. I love how they are using the back up singers. There is a nice guitar break at the end of the song.
M.I.N.E (End This Way)
There is some nice acoustic guitar playing at the beginning of this song. I wish they used it more and more. Ivan’s singing is good with some good lyrics. I love how the bass and drums calm to fit theme of this song. This song has a nice pace to it. There is another forced guitar solo towards the middle of this song. Can this band go one song on this record without a guitar solo? They are well written but some are just forced into the song.
Mama Said Knock You Out (Featuring Tech N9Ne)
I love the guitar and drums at the beginning of this song. This is the first cover on this record. It seems like they always has a cover on all their records. This is really bad. I wish they did not do this song. Are you kidding? Really?!?!?!?! This is the worse cover I have heard in a very long time. I am good. I cannot finish this song.
Diary Of A Deadman
I love the music at the beginning. I am really not a fan of the spoken words on this song. I love the guitar break. These last two songs at the end of this record have been really disappointing. I feel this is a bad way to end this great record.
I.M.SIN (Featuring Max Cavalra)
This is the first of three bonus tracks with guest singers. “I.M.SIN” has lead singer from Soulfly, who is Max Cavalra. I love the music as I said above. I want to see how they work Max into this song. They did a great job working him into this song. I love this version better than the regular record one.
Anywhere But Here (Duet With Maria Brink)
This song features Maria Brink, who is the lead singer of In This Moment. I love how they are using her on this version. This is a better version. They should have used this version on the main record not the other one. There voices work well together.
Dot Your Eyes (Featuring Jamey Jasta Of Hatebreed)
“Dot Your Eyes” features Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed. I love this version like the rest of the bonus tracks. The second lead singer gives another element to the songs and music from this band. This is a great song to end this record with the bonus tracks.
Closing, this record is by far their best work to date. I am pretty impressed because I thought their last two records were their best. This band is at the top of metal world right now and I do not see them going away anytime soon. They remind me of a modern-day Pantera. Is this what Pantera would be doing today if they were still around? It is a great question. There were only two songs on this great that I would do without. It was the last two songs before the bonus tracks. This is a solid record and I can see them doing really well with it along with their Volume 2. Volume 2 will be out later part of 2013. I highly recommend you checking out this great record. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
DJ Weiser 