west coast brewery

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewery Norm! Pilsner And Tap Party

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about the Tap Party at The Ram in Schaumburg, Illinois. They were tapping their Norm! Pilsner. If you read my earlier blog on their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. This beer post we were talk about the beer and the food at the Tap Party. Let us do this.

Norm! Pilsner

This beer has a copper color with a white head that will disappear over the drinking experience. The smell is of fresh air which I always get from pilsners. It has a slight earthly smell to the beer. The taste is a full body sweet malty carbonation with an earthy aftertaste. This pilsner is pretty well balance and extremely drinkable beer

Here is a description of the beer from the brewery:

Norm! Pilsner is a pleasant, thirst quenching lager hopped with plenty of Czech Saaz hops to please the palate. This golden pilsner is slightly heavier than the Blonde and is about 4.8% ABV.

The Food

We had the Border Burger and Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich. Ram never disappoints when it comes to their food. They do a great job with their food.

Here is a description of the food:

Border Burger:

Guacamole, bacon, pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, salsa, lettuce and tomato.

Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich:

Amber ale marinated chicken breast, Porter BBQ sauce, slaw, tomato, onion crisps, roasted tomato-chipotle mayonnaise, and pretzel bun.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram

In closing, this was my first Tap Party from The Ram and I had a ton of fun. This is not a bad pilsner and it is pretty good beer. The food fits and pairs perfectly with the food that we order from the brewery. As far as the food, I really enjoyed the Amber Ale Chicken Sandwich. It was perfect with the pilsner. I was not a big fan of the burger but it was still really good. I believe my guest said the same thing. If you are not a Mug Club member, you should become a member. I cannot wait for the Tap Party at Wheeling in January. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Pipeline Porter

In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at the Kona Brewing Company and the beer is their winter seasonal called Pipeline Porter. Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 on the Big Island of Hawaii by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. They are brewing beer to fit the lifestyle of people who live on the island and the tourist that visit Hawaii. Their Longboard Lager is their flagship beer and is the top-selling craft beer in the state. Kona Brewing is being sold in twenty-eight states in the United States. They brew several brews like a pale ale, brown ale, golden ale, etc. Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal from Kona Brewing, which is called Pipeline Porter, has a black color without a head on the beer. The smell is a heavy coffee bean to the beer. The taste is a heavy coffee to a slight chocolate notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste. The aftertaste is like eating whole coffee bean. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

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. Mahala! Pipeline Porter is full-bodied with a rich, smooth dark-roasted malt flavor. A selection of premium hops and 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee complete this limited brew.

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

Rich & Roasty

Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew.

Available Fall/Winter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter: @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer. I was excited to hear that they are finally coming to Chicago and this is the first beer to land a shore. When I went to Hawaii on vacation, I was drinking a ton of Big Wave Golden Ale. This porter is smooth and taste is coffee and beer drinker can smelling it. It is not a drinkable beer but it is a beer that will last in your glass and frig for a while. I recommend this beer and get ready for rest of there beers being review here on this blog. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Brewing Brrr Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Brrr Seasonal Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into brew.

Widmer Brothers Brrr seasonal ale has a light brown color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a citrus to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation little malty with a citrus touch to the beer. The aftertaste is a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable hoppy beer for the winter seasonal.

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

Warm Up with a Cold One. Or Two. Our winter red ale is the perfect treat, naughty or nice. The deep red body fills your glass and a citrusy hop aroma fills your nose. Then caramel and chocolate malts reward you with a perfectly balanced, malty sweet flavor and velvety finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter: @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome beer from the Widmer Brothers. I really like what this brewery is doing. They are going back to roots and pushing the limits of craft beer brewing. This winter seasonal gives the craft beer drinker something you do not get from the other winter seasonal and it is hops and hops and more hops. It has the malty and warming but gives it a hoppy finish. It is like malty winter seasonal India Pale Ale. Plus, it is extremely drinkable and it will get you in trouble so be careful. This is a beer is part a sampler pack with Redhook Winter Hook and Kona Pipeline Porter. It is hard to get so if you see it, you better grab it. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Redhook Winter Hook

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from the Redhook Brewery and the beer is their winter seasonal called Winter Hook. If you read my earlier beer blog on one of 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.

Redhook Winter Hook has a nice amber color with a semi white head on the beer. It has a sweet caramel. The taste is sweet carbonation caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter seasonal.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Redhook likes a little nip in the air.

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

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder, or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 28th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

Style………………….Winter Ale

Abv…………………….6%

IBUs…………………..45 IBU

Original Gravity..15 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1985

Time Frame………..Winter Seasonal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

Closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery and winter seasonals in this season. I love the malty taste this beer gives you in every sip. Redhook Winter Hook is part of that awesome sampler pack with Kona Pipeline Porter and Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale. This gives you a nice malty and drinkable beer. This beer is perfect for the coldest winter day but yet with a mild winter we are having in the Midwest, it is still perfect. This is a great beer and I am glad to see it back in six packs in the Chicago market. I recommend you trying this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Flying Dog Brewing and the beer is called K-9 Winter Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, 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 great brewery.

This beer is part of the 12 beers of Christmas from Countryside Bar. It has a hazel copper color without a head on the beer. There is no smell to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation malty without an aftertaste to it. It is very warmly so it lives up to being a winter warmer. This is a sipping beer.

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

Alchohol By Volume: 7.4%

Availability: Winter release

Hop Bitterness: 30 IBU

Specialty Malts: Changes with each release

Hops: Changes with each release

Yeast: English Ale

If it tastes like Christmas, it probably works with K-9. Flavor notes: Sweet malt base with roasted, nutty, and spicy flavors Pairs with: Buttery cheeses; sweet breads; spice cake; squash, yams, and sweet potatoes; hearty meats and stews.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter: @flyingdog

Closing, this beer is not a session beer but it is just a great beer. I love how complex the taste of this winter warmer. This is a sipping beer and take your time in the cold winter days. There is a ton going on in the beer. I love the warmth when this beer goes down my throat and how sweet the beer comes across. I love this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Sierra Nevada. It is their winter seasonal called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Beer Camper, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer from Sierra Nevada is called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. It has a deep hazel copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is citrus to the beer. The taste is dry carbonation citrus with a dry aftertaste.

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

Festive fresh hop holiday fun.

The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing out, this is one of my favorite beers in the winter season and Sierra Nevada Brewery. This is everything that I want out of a winter seasonal. I love the hoppy taste and a great malty backbone. Most winter seasonals are jacked up with nutmeg or cinnamon and this brew gives you a different side of the season l. I realize that craft breweries are going back to more the traditional beer styles and getting away from the over hop beers. If you have not had this beer, I recommend you picking up a six-pack and try this great beer. Let me know what you think of this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another brewery that I have been wanting to try their brews out for a while. Anderson Valley was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen in Boonville, California. This brewery was sold to Trey White with two silent partners in 2010. They still brew several of David Norfleet’s beers and have added on since he sold the company. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a strong cinnamon and a little caramel to the beer. The taste is a smooth and silk caramel with a touch of cinnamon. There is really no aftertaste to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brilliantly clear dark copper color with a dense tan head. Caramelized malty and spicy aromas redolent of cinnamon, allspice, black currant, and black licorice. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, hints of seasonal spices and a clean, malty finish.

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

The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker, weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys, cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. WinterSolstice Seasonal Ale evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium sweetness.

As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized.

6.9% ABV6 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.avbc.com

Twitter: @avbc

Closing, this beer was an awesome beer. I was pretty stun on how good it was to the rest of the winter beers I had so far this season. It is kind of drinkable beer. I love all the flavors that this beer has kicking around in my mouth. I really hate when breweries uses the term “winter warmer.” It is really not a beer style but more and more it is starting to become a beer style. This is why. Most brewmasters I talk to about their beers and I bring up what is the beer style of your “winter warmer.” Pretty much all of them could not nail it down to a beer style. With all of this said, I recommend you as a craft beer drinker to try this beer. Please, let me know what your thoughts on this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ska Euphoria Pale Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Ska Brewing. The winter seasonal is called Ska Brewing Euphoria Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Ska Mole Stout, you know a little history on this brewery. If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is part of the 12 days of Christmas at Countryside Bar. It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on the beer. There is a slight sweet malty citrus smell to it. The taste of the beer is a carbonation citrus with a grapefruit aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.skabrewing.com

Twitter: @skabrewing

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer. I love the fact you can get in cans, which is starting to become a huge trend in the craft beer world. This a good beer for the winter season but I wish it was a beer all year long. I enjoy the beers I had from this brewery asides their Mole Stout. I can only drink 6oz and I need to move onto another beer. It is still good but just do not like the feel that beer does to my throat. If you love pale ales or india pale ales, you will enjoy this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Great Divide Hibernation Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to do the 12 days of beer at Countryside Bar. The first beer of the twelve days of Christmas is Great Divide Hibernation Ale. Great Divide was founded in 1994 by Brian Dunn in Denver, Colorado. They brew several different beer styles. Their Denver Pale Ale was one of three craft beers to be feature at the Denver Broncos new football stadium in 2001. Let us get into the beer.

It is a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer. There is really no smell maybe slight malty to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation to caramel with a little hazel aftertaste to the beer. This beer is the type of beer that the drinker will have one maybe two and will move on to the next beer.

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

HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.

ABV.: 8.7%

RATE BEER: 98

AVAILABLE: Seasonal

SIZES: 6 packs and 5 gal kegs

Awards:

1997 Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal, Strong Ale/ English-Style Old Ale
1998 World Beer Cup, Silver Medal, Strong Ale/English-Style Old Ale
2003 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Old Ale
2006 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal, Aged Beer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greatdivide.com

Twitter: @greatdividebrew

In closing, I enjoy the balance this beer has and warmth that it peers out with every sip. This is a good and easy to drink. I could have a few and I need to move onto the next beer. There is not too many good English-Style Old Ale in the market. I have been wanting to try this beer a few winter seasons ago. This program that Countryside had going made me try it. I recommend you trying this beer if you are a fan of English Ales or winter beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog MacTarnahan’s Brewing Spine Tingler

When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to check out MacTarnahn’s Brewing and the beer is called Spine Tingler. MacTarnahan’s Brewing was founded in 1986 by Robert Malcolm “Mac” MacTarnahan, who was one of the investors in the Brewery. At one time, this brewery was called Portland Brewing. Pyramid Brewery brought this brewery in 2004. Pyramid Brewery was sold to Magic Hat Brewery in 2008 and they later sold in 2010 to North American Breweries. Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a golden clear color with a semi head on it but there is a heavy carbonation when pouring from the bottle. It has a nice hoppy Belgian smell. The taste is a carbonation with Belgian species aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer.

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

Spine Tingler

Malts: Pilsner Malt, Wheat Hops: Northern Brewer, Perle Spice: Candied Sugar Bitternes: 23 IBU Alcohol By Volume: 8.5%

A surprisingly sublime Belgian-style triple offering an electrifying blend of spicy aromatics balanced with a lively malt palate that is so good it’s scary.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.macsbeer.com

Twitter: @macsbeer

Closing, I was pretty stun at how close this beer is to a real Belgium Triple. If anyone in the United States can make beer good, it is Portland. There are very few beers I had from Portland that are just flat-out bad. I love the aroma from the beers. The taste of the nice hop character. This is brewery has nailed it. I will have this beer again when I am in Michigan because I do not believe I have seen this brewery around Chicago. I will put this brewery on my list when I make it out to Portland again. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Share this:

Rich & Roasty

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: