west coast brewery

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Tap Party Wheeling

In this tap party blog, we are going to sample out another beer release from the Big Horn Brewery in Wheeling.  The beer is called Rabbit Punch Irish Red Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

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This beer has a deep reddish-brown color with a white constant head on it. The smell is a sweet caramel to the beer. The taste of the Rabbit Punch Irish Red Ale is a sweet carbonation caramel to a touch of toffee with a caramel aftertaste. It is a sessional beer.

Here is a description from the brewery:

A reddish-amber ale with roots in Ireland characterized by its malt profile including caramel and a toffee-like sweetness.  Alcohol by volume is about 5.15%.

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Here is a description of the meal I had during the Tap Party:

Bourbon BBQ Meatloaf Sandwich

Meatloaf grilled over high heat, smothered with bourbon bbq glaze on toasted white bread with Wisconsin double cream Havarti and onion crisps.  Served with choice of Fries, Chips, or Coleslaw.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, I am not a red ale fan but this beer is not bad.  I did enjoy this beer and I will have a few pints when it is around.  The food was really good.  I am not a meatloaf fan but this was pretty good. If you are a fan of red ales, you need to try this beer.  I believe you will enjoy drinking this beer and it does have a flare of the Irish Red Ale feel.  Most craft breweries normally miss that part of this beer style.  I also like the fact it is ale this year and not a lager.  It has a nice malty backbone and not overly hopped like most red ales.  These brewers did a great job and you need to support them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Mirror Pond Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Deschutes Brewery.  The beer is part of their everyday line up of beers.  The beer is called Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the history of this beer.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.   Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is a malty citrus to it.  The taste is a carbonation earthly with a dry citrus aftertaste to the beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

If you could only listen to one album forever, what would it be?  At least there’s Mirror Pond when it comes to Pale Ales.

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

This is base camp, where any craft brew exploration begins.  A distinct hop nose and hop-forward flavor make Mirror Pond the quintessential Pale Ale.  It is aromatically complex, multi-layered, and unmistakably “right.”

Malt: Pale, NW Pale, Crystal, Carapils Hops: Cascade

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

Closing, this is not my favorite beer from this beer company.  I am really not a fan of this beer.  I pick it up because every time I go west and have this beer.  There is better Pale Ales in our market here in Chicago.  Just because I do not like it does not mean you will not like this beer.  Please go try this beer and let me know what you think.  I am serious.  I want to hear your thoughts if you like or not, please let me know.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Red Chair NWPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the seasonal for Deschutes Brewery.  The beer is called Red Chair NWPA (Northwest Pale Ale).  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

This seasonal pale ale has a clear copper color with a white head on the beer.  The smell is vague piney to earthly to the beer. The taste is a carbonation earthly with a dry piney aftertaste that linger. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Witness the subtle aromatic seduction of the original Northwest Pale Ale.  Another slap at brewing convention.  Another kick in the pants.  Enjoy.

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

The citrus punch of a big IPA, minus the one-dimensional hop sledgehammer.   Seven select European and domestic malts round out the edges for a complex, copper-colored brew.  Like its namesake ski lift, it’s an insider’s ride to fresh thrills.

Malt: Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carapils, Pilsner, Carastan Hops: Cascade, Centennial

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

Closing, this was a pretty enjoyable beer.  The problem I have with this beer is the bottle says pale ale and the website is saying this is India Pale Ale.  I will be honest this does taste like an IPA but more like an English style India Pale Ale.  If this is a Pale Ale, which I do not believe it is, this is better than their Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  I really love this beer.  I will add it to my line up until the season ends.  I recommend you trying this beer if you are a pale ale to india pale ale fan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter

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In this beer blog, we are going to take a look at another beer from the Deschutes Brewery.  The beer is their flagship called Black Butte Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know about this brewery.  If you have not, please, the first part of that beer blog.  This brewery has been around for a while so you might know about this brewery pretty well.  Let us get into the beer.

This porter dark brown to black in color with a light tan color head on the beer.  The smell is a slight coffee to the beer. The taste is a dry chocolate to a little coffee to the beer. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from beer bottle:

AHH, Our creamy contrary flagship a dark zig to the usual zag.

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

With a dark beer as our first and flagship brand, Black Butte defined Deschutes as a radical player.   A slight hop bitterness up front enhances the distinctive chocolate and roasted finish.  It’s prized for its creamy mouthfeel and intense complex flavors.

Malt: Pale, Carapils, Chocolate, Crystal, Wheat Hops: Cascade, Bravo, Tettnang

Watch Brewer Veronica Vega talk about the wisdom in failure and the brewery’s flagship beer, Black Butte Porter.

Awards

Bronze Medal, Brown Porter

2009 Great American Beer Festival

Best Porter

2007 Readers’ Choice Awards, Northwest Brewing News
Gold Medal, Porter Category
2007 Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal, Porter Category
2006 Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal (88 – Highly Recommended)
2005 World Beer Championships
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

Closing out, this is an extremely creamy and drinkable porter.  It is a little different then the rest of the porters on the market.  The key to this porter it is the fact it is drinkable and sessionable.  In other words, you can have several of these beers in a seating.  It is pretty balances with the hops but yet gives you a ton of chocolate notes.  Black Butte being a full body beer has a ton of flavor and I am glad it is in Chicago.  This is a great beer for any season and any weather.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ghostrider White India Pale Ale

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While in Milwaukee again, we are going to get into a beer at John’s Hawks in downtown Milwaukee.  I have to say this bar has a great beer selection and awesome food.  It is a hidden gem in Milwaukee and I hope more people find this bar soon.  I could not find any information on this brewery.  I found the brewery site with the same name but this beer is not listed.  I do not want to give wrong information.  Let us get into this great beer.

The color is a hazel yellow without a head on the beer.  The smell is a fresh grass and more earthly to the beer.  The taste is a wheaty to yeast with a sweet carbonation earthly to the beer.  The aftertaste is not really there but fate. It is a pretty drinkable beer for wheat and IPA fans.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Legend has it the Ghostrider roams the high-desert seeking revenge on those who stole his recipe for the perfect IPA. … we might be in trouble.

Here is a description from a beer blogger like myself (www.utahbeer.blogspot.com):

It’s looking to be a White Xmas this year at Wasatch Brewing. Yesterday we had the debut of Switch, a Port barrel aged Belgian style Witbier. Today we have its cousin, an aggressively hopped – hybrid beer called Ghostrider White IPA.

First of all it has one of the best looking labels to adorn a local bottle in quite some time. Inside is a beer style that’s becoming very popular in the U.S., the White IPA.

At it’s most basic, a White IPA is a beer that mixes the hop-character and brewing techniques of an India Pale Ale with the wheat base and spice additions of the refreshing Belgian witbier.

GhostRider pours a cloudy, light straw color with a nice sudsy white cap. The nose is full of citrus with hints of wheat and coriander.  The beginning of each sip starts out like a wheat beer with notes of biscuit, coriander, lemongrass, and orange peel. Mid palate big citrusy tangerine hops “pop” adding a bit of bitterness to the back of the tongue. Swallowing the beer releases more of the soft and grainy wheat flavors with an emphasis on coriander & cloves in the finish. 6.0% ABV in 12 oz. bottles

This is a nice twist on an IPA. It takes many of the traditional characteristics of a Witbier and combines them with an intense hop character. The flavors come together quite nicely to make this easy to drink, smooth, enjoyable beer.

In closing, I am not a huge fan of this new trend in the IPA sub categories.  I am hoping it is a trend because White India Pale Ales are growing pretty fast.  There is new White IPA popping on the market everyday.  I have to say I did enjoy  this beer very much.  It was not over the top with yeast or wheaty taste.  It was pretty balance.  I have to say I pick up more hints of the hops.  I would add this to my line up if it was available in Chicago.  I recommend this beer if you can find it in your market.  I know this is not available in the Chicago market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

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 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

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