west coast brewery

New Blog Firemans Brew Redhead Red Amber Ale

In this blog, we are going to get into the second of three beers from Fireman’s Brew.  This blog we are going to check out a Redhead Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Blonde Lager then you are up to speed on this brewery, let us get into this Redhead Ale.

This beer has a deep amber color with no head to it. This beer has sweet malty smell to it. It has a very sweet taste to it with really no aftertaste.  It has a very full bodied and easy to drink for this beer.  This Redhead is very drinkable and perfect for anytime of the year.

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

A flavor-packed Amber Ale with smooth, rich flavors.  Yakima Valley hops provide a nice aroma up front, while a variety of crystal malts add a solid, toasty malt base and caramel finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.firemansbrew.com

Twitter: @firemansbrew

In closing, I will be honest which I am in these blogs.  I am not a huge fan of this style of beer.  I have tried several different Red Ales and Amber Ales and I just cannot get into them.  However, I felt the same way about pilsners, I have grown over time to liking them.  This Redhead Ale is a very well made and drinkable beer.  This is a very excite beer if you love this style of beer.  This is my third favorite beer from this brewery and I have to say they should not be a shame of this beer.  I always knew a Blonde could beat the Redhead Ale out in a fight.  There is a saying in the world about Redheads.  They are very pretty ladies or just very ugly but this Redhead Ale lives in the very pretty world.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Fireman’s Brew Blonde Beer Pilsner Beer

In this blog, we are going back out to California to try three beers from Fireman’s Brew Company.  Their website has a good story on their beer and their history.  After that, we will get into the first beer called Fireman’s Brew Blonde Beer Pilsner Beer.

Here is their history from their website (www.firemansbrew.com):

A True Story

In December 2000, Rob and Ed were sitting on a steep hillside of an extinguishing brushfire above the Glendale Mountains. They were staring into the midnight sky, dreaming of the cool smooth taste of a fresh beer to quench their scorched dry mouths. From this point, these two Los Angeles based firemen set out to brew the best Fireman’s Brew in the world.

The result was Fireman’s Brew, the perfect choice to “Extinguish Your Thirst” & “Ignite the Party”! In a brief moment in time, the two men gave birth to a vision that they are living out today. Their thirst for beer and coffee after that exhausting day launched them into developing a hero’s brand of products that every American could relate to. With every product sold, Fireman’s Brew donates a portion of its profits to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg, Maryland. So whether your beverage of choice is beer, coffee, or root beer, sit back and relax with the smooth taste of a fresh Fireman’s Brew!

This beer has a bright golden clear color with no head. You can read a newspaper through the beer. The smell of the beer has fresh air smell or no smell to it.  The taste of this beer is a sweet carbonation with a weird hop aftertaste. It is very hard to explain what I am experiencing. The aftertaste to me makes this beer and then the sweet carbonation taste.  The overall big selling point is the drinkablity of this beer.

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

Our original golden lager is the lightest of our beers.  Smooth, light malt flavors combined with just enough hops for balance deliver a crisp and refreshing beer with a clean finish and no bitter aftertaste.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.firemansbrew.com

Twitter: @firemansbrew

In closing on the first of three, just what I said in my earlier blog, I am really starting to enjoy American Craft Beer Pilsner. Fireman’s Brew Blonde stays true to the German pilsner style. It is very drinkable and refreshing beer. This beer is in my top five German pilsner style.  This is a very good beer and I love the fact they still give back to their firefighters brothers.  This is not just a brewery.  You will need to check out their website.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog 21st Amendment Back in Black IPA

In this blog, we are going to get into the last beer from 21st Amendment Brewery. A friend gave me three cans and they are India Pale Ale, Pale Ale, and the one I will review in this blog their Black In Back Black IPA. If you read my earlier blog then you know a little something on this brewery, let us get into the beer.

The beer in the glass is black in with a nice white and constant head on it.  The smell is a chocolate with a slight citrus in the beer. The taste is a slight citrus with a chocolate to roast malt along a little burn taste. The aftertaste is a nice citrus hop driest going on in the beer. This Black India Pale Ale like many is very drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

Inspired by Paul Revere’s midnight ride, we rebelled against the British style IPA, embraced the more aggressive American version and then recast it in bold, brave, defiant black. Our Black IPA is a Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of the expected.

Back in Black is our newest year-round beer available now in six pack cans and on draft. Brewed like an American IPA but with the addition of rich, dark malts, this beer has all the flavor and hop character you expect with a smooth, mellow finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stamendment

In the end, just like their other beers, I really enjoyed drinking this black india pale ale. I love the drinkablity of this black india pale ale but enough punch from hops to keep this hophead wanting to drink more of this beer. It has a full body and a nice balance of complex of chocolate and citrus notes. This is a very well made beer and I highly recommend trying it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

21st Amendment Brew Bitter America Pale Ale New Blog

In this blog, we are going to check out the second of three beers from 21st Amendment Brewery. This beer is their spring seasonal and it is called Bitter American Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know a little something on this brewery. Up next is the tasting of the beer.

This beer is a clear copper color with next to no head on it.  It has a very earthy to slightly piney smell to it. As far as the taste of the beer is a carbonation light piney to it. It is a different taste kicking to it. It has a little Bass Ale but a ton more hoppier but I would not say it is a west coast pale ale.  I would say more east coast to just normal American pale ale.  The aftertaste is a nice dry earthy hop snap to it.  This aftertaste I can live with in it. Just like their India Pale Ale, it is very drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

If you’d been rocketed into space against your will, you might be a little bitter too. Bitter American is our long-overdue tribute to unsung, unwitting heroes everywhere. This American session ale packs a lot of hop and malt flavor into a refreshingly lower-alcohol brew, making it the perfect beer to have on hand when you have a little history to make.

Bitter American is available year-round, in six pack cans and on draft. This extra pale session ale has lower alcohol but all the flavor and hop aroma you expect from a much bigger beer. Give one, or three, a try.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: http://www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stamendment

In closing, I really enjoying this beer.  It is not overpowering on the bitterest from the hops.  It has a very nice balance on this beer.  It is really drinkable for the spring and very hot summer days.  This is the second beer I had from this brewery and I have to say so far they have not let let me down on their beers.  I love the fact that it is not like a West Coast Pale Ales.  It is in the middle of the road and gives us craft beer drinkers a break from the over hop Pale Ales and India Pale Ales.  This beer reminds me a little bit of Ska Brewery Winter Pale Ale (I believe that is it.  I cannot think of the name of the beer.) or Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale, which came out last month to the market.  I know how that sounds I am sorry to the brewery but there is not too many Pale Ales like this one in our market like this that I know.  If there is please drop me an email, I will go try that beer.  They are the normal English Pale Ale or they are a West Coast Pale Ale.  I really enjoyed this beer and I want to go to the nearest state and pick up some more cans.  Thank you again to my friend Dean for bring me these cans.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

21st Amendment Brew Free! Or Die India Pale Ale New Blog

In this blog, we are going to dig into one of the breweries that I have been wanting to try in a very long time.  This brewery that I am talking about is 21st Amendment Brewery.  The brewery was founded by Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan in 2000 in San Francisco, Calfornia.  They ran with the government theme on all of their cans and naming them after historic events in United States hisyory.  Let us get into the beer.  This is pretty exciting.

This beer is light copper in color with no head on the beer. It has almost an orange to citrus smell. The taste is a sweet carbonation citrus going on in the beer. This beer is a full body with a ton of favor going on in this beer.  The aftertaste is that dry hops citrus going on after drinking the beer.   This beer is a very drinkable beer.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

BREW FREE! OR DIE IPA is brewed with some serious west coast attitude. This aromatic golden IPA starts with a sucker punch of six different hops to the nose, quickly balanced by a solid malt backbone. Our top selling beer at the pub, this IPA starts big and finishes clean leaving you wanting more.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stAmendment

Closing out, this brewery just like Cigar City Brewery that I have been wanting to try has not been disappointing.  I love this beer and I wish I could get it here in Chicago.  However, I need to give a huge shout out to my friend Dean, he brought me a few cans of their beers.  I have two more blogs coming from this brewery. I love the hop taste and the drinkablity of this IPA.  I am pretty speakless on how good this beer is.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Stone Brewery IPA New Blog

While in Vegas, we are going to try another beer from the Stone Brewery and it is one of their flagship beers called India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their other beer then you know about this brewery, let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale is copper with a constant head on it.   It has a heavy citrus smell to it. The taste of this beer is a sweet carbonation citrus kicking throughout the beer experience.  This beer is a very drinkable beer for being India Pale Ale.  I was stun to fine this beer on tap at a resturant on the Vegas Strip.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.stonebrew.com):

An “India Pale Ale” by definition is highly hopped and high in alcohol – you’ll find our Stone India Pale Ale to be true to style with a huge hop aroma, flavor and bitterness throughout. If you’re a hop-head like us, then you’ll love our Stone India Pale Ale! Medium malt character with a heavy dose of over the top hops! Generous “dry hopping” gives this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrew.com

Twitter: @stonebrewingco

Last craft beer in Vegas,  this beer is very well made and has put mark on India Pale Ales in craft world.  I really enjoy drinking this beer but the one problem I have with this beer.  I believe this beer is very over price in the six pack bottles.  I cannot remember what I paid at this bar but I rarely see it on draft here in Chicago area.  I do buy it here and there but I do not put it in my regular lineup because of the cost.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Tenaya Creek Brewery Calico Brown Ale New Blog

When Vegas I will tell you what I drank, this beer was at the Mirage Hotel where I was staying at this weekend.  Bartender told me it was from a local brewery.  Well Tenaya Creek Brewery is in the Las Vegas area and it was founded 1999.  This is a small brewery that is only available in the following states and they are Nevada, Utah, Ohio,  and Arizona.  They are also in some parts of Canada.

This beer is a clear light brown in color with next to no head. The beer has a malty to nutty smell going on in the beer. The taste of this Nut Brown Ale is nutty and slightly sweet with no aftertaste.   It is a pretty drinkable beer but what stop me was the price I was paying at the bar.  That is Las Vegas for you.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.tenayacreek.com):

Our “Calico Brown” is a malty brown ale with dark amber hues. There’s a velvety smooth body with a light bitter finish from our friend the Chinook hop. We’ve struck a balance to the bitterness with a hint of spiciness while using Tettang hops to give this ale a pleasurable aroma. We live in Las Vegas and enjoy the surrounding area of Red Rock Canyon. Do yourself a favor: Get back to nature. Get a beer. Enjoy it! ABV: 5.6%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.tenayacreek.com

Twitter: @tenayacreek

Closing out after one beer, I really enjoy this beer and I wished I had time to get by the brewery.  I am hoping to get back to Vegas just to visit the brewery.  It is nice to see good beer asides the crap that was in all the betting holes.  I just hope with this brewery helps the growth of more craft beers in the Vegas area.  Since they are in Ohio, I might have to make a trip just to get some beer.  I am going to get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

In this blog, we are going to the west coast to check out a brewery that has push the limits of hops and craft beer drinkers around the country since there exists.  This brewery I am talking about is Stone Brewery and the beer is Cali-Belgique IPA.  Here is a little history on this west coast brewery.  Stone Brewery was founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch.  This brewery is now the largest brewery in Southern California.  This brewery as of 2010 became the 14th largest craft brewery and 23rd overall brewery.  Stone Brewery is still growing and still doing different things with their beers.  They have beer teaming up with different breweries around the country to create new beers. We are going to get into one right now.

I am trying this beer at the Blues Bar in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  This beer is bright yellow color with little to no head. The beer drinker will smell the funky from Belgian spices or yeast and a little melon or mango smell from the hops. It is a little different than the American craft Belgian IPA or Triple. This Stone brew taste like sweet carbonation citrus going on in it.  There is no really no aftertaste to this beer.  This beer is a very drinkable beer.

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

When reading the name “Stone Cali-Belgique IPA”, “Cali” hints that it is a California-style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word “Belgique” (which is how Belgium’s French-speaking population says the word “Belgian”; the Dutch-speaking Belgians say “België”). We carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that  illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply Stone IPA. The result is both completely new and different, while still being recognizable as a Stone brew—and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrew.com

Twitter: @stonebrewingco

In closing, I will be honest and let just say the way it is about this beer.  I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  This is a Belgian Triple not a Belgian IPA.  I understand what American Craft Breweries are trying to do for the general beer fan that understand what India Pale Ale but do not understand a Belgian Triple.  I believe they are trying to create a new beer style to grow off the Belgian Beer Style. There is nothing wrong with this brewery doing it or another brewery. Hell I just brought a pint so they got me and I am glad I did it. I just hate the name that is all. I am off my soap box on this topic.  With that all set at the side, I really enjoy drinking this beer.  If you are hop head like me or like the Belgian beers, I would go try this beer.  Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to talk about one of the original craft beers. This beer is the standard for what a West Coast Pale Ale sure be made for us Craft Beer Drinkers. The beer that I will be featuring in this blog is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sierra Nevada Brewery was founded in 1979 by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi in Chico, California. These two founders were doing home brewing as a hobby until they wanted to start Sierra Nevada. Let us get into the beer because that is why we are here.

This beer has a nice amber color in the glass. It has a nice circus in smell. The beer is a carbonation sweet citrus in taste. It is a very sessional beer for a west coast pale ale. This beer is a drinkable master piece in the craft beer.

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

Our most popular beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a delightful interpretation of a classic style. It has a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium cascade hops give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy.

Gold Medal Winner:

Great American Beer Festival:

(American Pale Ale): 1995, 1994, and 1993

(Classic English Pale): 1992

(Pale Ale): 1990, 1989, and 1987

In the end, this brewery push the limits of beer drinkers in the beginning of this brewery and they are still doing it today. This pale ale is the second highest selling craft beer behind Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Pale ale is still mine go to beer in this beer style. A ton of favor going on in the beer along with an awesome drinkablity to complete your beer pallet. I love this beer. If you have not had this beer or have not had it in a long time, it is time for the bottle meet your beer mug. Raise it high and proud! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Big Horn Ram Blonde Beer

In this blog, I am on location at The Ram in Wheeling, IL. This is the third blog on this brewery, please look back at the older blogs on back story if this brewery. If you have read them, then you know about this beer.

We are going to talk about one of their everyday beers called Blonde Beer.  It sits in the glass as a clear with a yellow to golden color. There really is no smell to this beer. As far as taste, you can taste the carbonation while the sweetest kicks in halfway through the tasting experience.

There was a menu lying around so here is the description of the beer:

Big Horn Blonde award-winning golden ale, light bodied with mild malt sweetness and delicately hopped for a crisp, refreshing finish.

ABV 4.4% SRM 6.0 IBUs 20 Grain Pale Munich Hops Cascade and Willamette.

In closing, I am going to be honest.  I am really not a fan of this beer nor the style. I really can see people loving this beer. It is a very drinkable beer and session. It is a perfect day like today in Chicago where it is 90+ degree today. This will make the American lager drinker to the wheat beer drinker happy. I do not see many hop heads liking this beer. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser