west coast brewery

New Blog Widmer Fresh Hop Columbia Common

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When in Portland, this is the second beer I had at the Widmer Brothers Brewpub.  It is their Fresh Hop Columbia Common.  If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the brew.

It has a nice copper color with a semi white head on this fresh hop ale. There is really no smell to the beer but picking up a little citrus smell.  The taste has a sweet malty but yet has a citrus carbonation to the taste. It has a nice pale ale aftertaste, which is dry hoppy finish.  It is extremely drinkable.

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing out, the meaning of fresh hop is when  they start the brewing process.  There are fresh hops picked from the farm and then pour into the brew kettle.  There is not many breweries that have ability to do this process unless they are by a few hop farms.  Portland Breweries have this option and you see many fresh hop brews around the city.  Even the little brew pubs get into the action of making their own fresh hop brew.  We do not get many that make it out east because they are made in such a small batch.  There are times that the breweries do not make enough and they want to take care of their home market, which I totally understand.  I really enjoyed this one.  I believe I had three while I was out in Portland and Seattle.  This one was the best and impressed me.  I would love to try this same recipe but not fresh hop next to each other to see the difference.  I really enjoyed the citrus in the smell and taste.  It is drinkable and I could have drank this beer all day.  It is only available in their brewpub for a limited time only.  Go get some or just put a bird on it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Widmer Alt

When in Portland at Widmer Brothers Brewpub, after our brewery tour, which I did really enjoyed the depth of details, we were able to get some lunch and a few brews.  If you read my earlier blog on their Raspberry Imperial Russian Stout, you are pretty know this brewery.  If you have not read that beer post, please, read the first of that beer post.  Let us get into this great brew.

I had this beer at their brewpub. It has a nice amber color with semi white head on the beer.  It has a sweet malty smell to this alt.  The taste is a nice sweet carbonation malty with a dry finish to it. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

In closing, I am a huge fan of Alt ales.  I believe there are some really good Alts out there and there are some really bad Alts.  There is no middle of the road on this beer style for craft brewery. Either the brewery can make a really good one or just do not make it all.  I hate to be so harsh on Brewmasters.  This is a science and an art form.  I know for a fact that Einstein would not put some of his thoughts on paper unless they were really good.  It would go with Vincent Van Gogh making his master pieces.  This beer is done very good and it is everything I look for in this beer style.  I would put this beer in my line up but it is only available in draft and at their brewpub.  If you are out in Portland, check out the Widmer Brothers’ brewpub for this beer and some great food.  Put a bird on it and go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Deschutes Inversion IPA

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When in Portland, Deschutes Brewing is the brewery that will be featured in this blog post and the beer is called Invasion IPA.  I had this beer at that Irish Bar down the street from Hotel 50.  Deschutes Brewing was founded in 1988 in Bend, Oregon.  This brewery is the fifth largest craft brewery and the eleventh largest overall brewery in the United States.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a copper color without a head on it.  It has a citrus smell to the beer.  It has a nice citrus taste with a nice dry hop aftertaste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Alc. 6.8% | IBUs 80

228 Calories, 12 oz serving

Paradise is stumbling upon our whole flower hop room and inhaling.  Inversion IPA is as close as you can get without knowing somebody.Enter, if you will, all the glorious aromatic complexity of the hop.  This big, bold IPA’s intense multi-hop kick gets a subtle dose of restraint from select Crystal and Carastan malts.  For discriminating hop heads.Malt: Pale, Crystal, Munich, Caramel Hops: Millennium, Horizon, Centennial, Northern Brewer, Cascade, Citra

The Critics Speak

The America’s Best IPA Pale Ale
2011 World Beer Awards
Gold Medal, India Pale Ale
2009 Australian International Beer Awards
Gold Medal (90 Points – India Pale Ale)
2008 World Beer Championships
Silver Medal, India Pale Ale Category
2007 Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal, India Pale Ale Category
2007 West Coast Brew Fest

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.deschutesbrewing.com

Twitter:  @deschutesbeer

In the end, this is a very good West Coast India Pale Ale.  It is not one of my favorite India Pale Ales but I will put it in the mix once in a while.  Once they come to Chicago. This beer is pretty drinkable.  It has a nice citrus to hoppy taste witch enough malty backbone to balance it.   It has an nice balance for an India Pale Ale.  I really did enjoy this beer and you need to try this beer if you can get a chance.  Go get some!  Put a Bird on it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Southern Oregon Brewing Pin Up Porter

When in Portland, I was able to take a trip with a few of my coworkers to check out a some breweries in Portland, Oregon.  When we landed in Portland on a Thursday night, we headed downstairs to Hotel 50 bar.  There was this beer from the Southern Oregon Brewing called their Pin Up Porter.    Southern Oregon Brewing was founded by Dr. Tom Hammond in 2006.  There is not a ton of information on this young brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a black color without a head on the beer.  There are some chocolate to coffee notes with a slight burn smell. The taste is about the same as the smell, however, the aftertaste is of a dry chocolate to the beer.

Here is a descriation from Made In Oregon (www.madeinoregon.com):

Southern Oregon’s Pin-Up Porter is dry finishing with chocolate and coffee undertones to go along with a hint of smokiness.  5.5% ALC and 30 IBUs. 22 oz.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sobrewing.com

Twitter:  There is no Twitter address.

Closing one tab to start another one, we moved from the hotel bar to some Irish Pub down the street.  I loved the smokey to the roasted  taste.  There is a, chocolate and little coffee notes from the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer and a pretty damn good beer.  I just wished I had a little bit more time to enjoy another beer.  I guess I will have  make another trip out to Portland to enjoy another pint or two.  I would recommend this beer to others that loves stouts and porters.  Go get some!  There was a theme towards the end of the trip.  Thanks to Kevin!  Put a bird on it!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

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In this fall beer blog, the beer that is being feature is Flying Dog Dogtoberfest.  If you read my earlier blog on their Cherry Sour Ale, you know a little something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

This fall beer has a nice clear copper color without a head on it.  The smell is a nice malty. The taste is a smooth malty without an aftertaste. This beer is a beer drinker malty delight or dream. It extremely drinkable.

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

alcohol by volume: 5.6%
availability: Fall release
hop bittnerness: 30 IBU
Specialty Malts: Light Munich, Munich 90, Munich 100, Vienna
hops: German Perle, Hallertau
yeast: Proprietary lager strain

Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients, it will cut spice while pulling out sweetness. Flavor notes: Full-bodied caramel sweet with a light toasted and crisp, clean finish Pairs with: Mexican and Pepper Jack cheeses; sweet Asian sauces; spiced desserts; German foods

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @flyingdog

Closing out, I really love this beer.  There are three breweries that hit home runs on the fall seasonals and they are Flying Dog, Milwaukee Brewing Oktoberfest, and Schlafly Pumpkin Ale.  This beer gives you the nice malty from a traditional German style lager.  It has a nice balance but not boring like most fall seasonals.  I have to say this fall season has been very disappointing and I hoping winter seasonals are not the same way.  I hate fall and winter because the motorcycle is up for the winter.  The beer normally gets me through that problem.  This year fall has been very bad.  I am glad to see a few breweries are stepping up to the plate and Flying Dog Dogtoberfest was one of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Shiner Oktoberfest

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Oktoberfest but this time it is from Shiner Brewery.  This little brewery could do anything.  This German base brewery has been blogged about in my blogs in the pasted.  If you have read my earlier blogs, you know about this brewery.  If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that Wild Hare post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the beer.  It has a sweet caramel malty smell to the Oktoberfest.  The taste is what you aspect from a German base brewery. It has a heavy malty to a little caramel taste with malty aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here in Shiner, TX, we’re suckers for tradition.  Which is why this classic Oktoberfest brew is made with the highest quality two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, along with German grown Hallertau Tradition and hersbrucker hops.  It’s our way of honoring our ancestors and the beer they loved to celebrated with So raise your stein to tradition and enjoy this utterly classic brew.  Prosit!

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

Style:
This festive Marzen-style seasonal has a deep amber color and slightly toasted flavor. The initial rich malty aroma and sweetness fades to a moderately dry, hoppy finish.

Recipe:
Made with the highest-quality Two-Row Barley, Munich and Caramel malts, along with German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops.

Back Story:
First introduced to the Shiner family as our 96 Anniversary Brew, this Marzen-style brew has regained popularity among Shiner and Oktoberfest drinkers alike.  It’s connection to tradition and celebration makes it a great fit for the Shiner seasonal portfolio.

Goes Well With:
Best when served with meaty dishes like sausage and roasted chicken, fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta with white sauces and seafood.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shiner.com

Twitter:  @shinerbeer

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer and this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery.  I believe this beer is just above Wild Hare Pale Ale for the top spot from this brewery.  I had the chance to visit this brewery a few years ago and had a blasted.  This brewery makes some good beers and I hope you had a chance to try some of their beers.  This Oktoberfest is close to the classic style.  It has a heavy malty taste that will make your malt drinker loving this beer to the end of the season.  Plus, this beer just won Gold Medal in this Great American Beer Festival. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Boulevard Brewery and Sierra Nevada Brewery Terra Incognita

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While in Washington DC, we are going to take a look at a beer that I received at Savor.  The beer is Terra Incognita from Sierra Nevada Brewery and Boulevard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog from Sierra Nevada beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Bouldevard Brewery was founded in 1986 in Kansas City, Missouri by John McDonald.  They brew several different beer styles. They are the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States and they become the largest independent American Brewery in Missouri when AB was sold to Inbev.  Let us get into the beer.

This is a bottle I received while at the Savor 2012 in Washington DC. It has a pretty dark brown color with a white constant head. This beer has a heavy carbonation to it. The smell is of dark chocolate cherries. It has a very nice smell to it. The taste is a sweet roasted malts with a slight cherry and almond to it. There is a ton going on in this beer.  The aftertaste is a sour to the beer.  This is a pretty drinkable beer for the high alcohol percentage.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Situated at opposite ends of the California Trail, pioneering breweries Sierra Nevada and Boulevard have embarked upon a journey into the unknown, to a land where adventures in brewing and flavor await.  Terra Incognita is, fittingly, an earthy beer, celebrating the unique terroir of the two locations.  Beginning with Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown pale malt, and combined with amber-malt, wheat, and malted wheat, it is then assertively hopped with Bravo and Styrian Goldings, dry-hoppeed with East Kent Goldings and finally barrel aged with Brettanomyces in Missouri oak.

Here is their websites and twitter addresses:

Websites:  www.bouldevard.com and www.sierranevada.com

Twitters:  @bouldevard_beer and @sierranevada

In closing, I have to say I was not really that impressed with this beer.  It was drinkable for being a big beer.  Since this was part of the package for Savor, I will not be mad or sad if I never drink this beer again.  They did a pretty good job on this beer but I just feel this beer is missing something to it.  When two breweries brew this beer, it was a big deal in the pasted.  I just feel that this adventure has loss its passion and excitement.  I normally do not care or get excited over these beers.  In most cases, they are overpriced and most cases not worth the money.  I am not saying you will like this beer but good luck getting a bottle on Ebay and other places.  I do have an extra bottle for sale if you are interested please email me.  I hope you can go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Uinta Brewing Detour Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Uinta Brewing.  The beer is called Detour Double IPA, which is part of their Crooked Line.  If you read my earlier blog on their Uinta Hyve Ale, you are up to speed on the information on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Double India Pale Ale is part of their 750ml bottle which is called Crooked Line. It is heavy in carbonation and has a dark amber copper color to the beer with a head. The smell is a citrus to earthy to the beer.  The taste of the beer is the same as the smell.  It has a nice crisp bitter finish. It is pretty drinkable for a beer with 9.5% ABV.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Detour blazes the trail for fresh and bold Double IPAs.  Four varieties of hops combine to step up the flavor profile.  A hoppy adventure that finishes dry.  Big in character.  Venture to pair with other spirited flavors such as those found in spicy ethnic foods.

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

NotesDetour blazes the trail for fresh and bold Double IPAs. Four varieties of hops combine to step up the  flavor profile. A hoppy adventure that finishes dry. Big in alcohol and character. Venture to pair with other spirited flavors such as those found in spicy ethnic foods.

Art

Label art by local Utah artist Leia Bell.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter:  @uintabrewing

In the end, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery asides their Hop Notch India Pale Ale, which there is a beer post on this blog.  I love the drinkablity of this beer.  It has a nice hoppy taste but yet balance from the great malty backbone.  It is extremely drinkable and dangerous because it is 9.5% ABV.  This beer has affordable price at your local liquor store which makes it a value to us craft beer drinkers.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blot Bridgeport Brewing Witch Hunt Spiced Harvest Ale

In this fall beer blog, we are going to dig into one of my favorite west coast breweries, who is Bridgeport Brewery. The beer that will be feature is their first Fall Season, which is called Witch Hunt. If you read my earlier beer blogs on this brewery, you are pretty up to speed in the history and information on this great brewery. If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is the first attempted for Bridgeport Brewing to make a Fall Seasonal.  It has a nice amber color or a little darker amber color.  The smell is of spices, malty, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  The taste is more of the spice of cinnamon and nutmeg. It has a nice malty aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable even though it is pretty complex taste.

Here ia a description from the beer bottle:

Something wicked this way comes.  From slightly sweet caramel malts, Witch Hunt offers an intense dry hop character finished with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg spices.

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

A spiced harvest ale with a rich caramel color, unique dry hop character and subtle hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

ABV 5.8% | ORIGINAL GRAVITY 15.8 | IBUs 40

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bridgeportbrew.com

Twitter:  @bridgeportbrew

Closing, I really love this brewery and everything they brew. They have a really nice Brewpub in Portland and I am hoping to have a chance to return there in a few weeks (October 11th that weekend). Pretty much all of their seasonals do not disappoint. I love how they took a classic American Harvest style and mixed the cinnamon and nutmeg that you find in Pumpkin ales. Most Pumpkin ales or lagers you normally do not taste the pumpkin in it. When the beer drinker tries this beer, he or she will get the matly taste while tasting cinnamon and nutmeg. You will feel like you are drinking Harvest Ale and a Pumpkin Ale at the same time. This beer is extremely unique and drinkable. It is better than most Pumpkin Ales and Lagers and different than the other Fall Seasonals. They did an awesome job and it became my favorite Fall Seasonal. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Lagunitas Pils Czech Style

In this blog, Lagunitas Pils Czech Style Pilsner is the beer that is going to be sampled and featured.  If you read my earlier blog on their Fusion 8, you are know a little something about this brewery.  If you did not read that blog, please, go back and read the first part of that beer.  Let us get into the beer.

This Pils has a golden color with a little white head on the beer.  It has that fresh air smell in the woods by a waterfall. The taste of this German style Pils is a sweet slightly malty carbonation to little hop aftertaste. It has a nice dry crisp finish. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Like Adam and Eve, Isaac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious, Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as can be.  Still, we must love each for who they are, separately but equally, with liberty, and justice, for all.  Cheers!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing out this blog, this is one of my favorite pilsner.  It has a ton of favor and I am really starting to dig into this brewery a little bit more.  I forgot how good their beers compared to the rest of the beers in the market.  This beer has a nice balance between the malt and the hops but keeping the classic beer style in mind.  This is an excellent beer and 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