winter seasonal

New Beer Blog Samuel Adams Juniper IPA

image

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Juniper IPA from Samuel Adams.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know the Boston Beer Company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on this winter IPA.  The smell is a heavy Juniper Berries.  The taste is a piney with hints of Juniper Berries with a quick bitter aftertaste that disappears fast.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

For this special release, we wanted to brew a flavorful winter IPA that captured the aroma of the season.  This brought us to juniper berries, which add a slightly sweet, piney character.  Complemented by citrus notes from American hops, this balanced IPA will brighten the holidays.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @SamuelAdamsBeer

In the end, I was pretty interested in this brew.  I did not know how the Juniper Berries would mix with the IPA.  I know they made an English style IPA because I believe that West Coast IPA would not go well with the berries.  I believe the hops would have overpowered the berries.  There is a nice balance from the hops, malty backbone, and Juniper Berries. I love the aroma and beer drinking experience.  This beer is good but it is not that good.  It is average beer, however, I will give Boston Beer Company some credit for being unique and original.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

2013 in review Thanks For All The Support!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks For The Support!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer (Cider) Blog Woodchuck Hard Cider Private Reserve Barrel Select

image

In this cider blog, we are going to get into our third cider on this blog and from Woodchuck.  It is their Private Reserve Series Barrel Select.  If you read my earlier cider blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Woodchuck Hard Cider.  If you have not read those post, please, read them to get to know Woodchuck Cider.  Let us get into the cider.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it.  The smell is apple, cider, bourbon, and a slight smoky notes.  The taste has a cider to apple notes with a bourbon oak notes.  The aftertaste bourbon cider notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.woodchuck.com):

Barrel Select

This ultra-limited cider manages to combine the sweet and crisp taste of apple cider with smoky and dry flavors of Kentucky Bourbon. Woodchuck Cider is awesome, Kentucky Bourbon is awesome. Match made in heaven? We think so.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @WoodchuckCider

In closing, I love my barrel age and bourbon barrel age beers.  I had to try a cider that was aged in a bourbon barrel.  I have to say I am pretty impressed.  It is not overly sweet but enough to say it is a cider.  The bourbon cuts through the cider and adds some nice notes to the cider.  I will have to add this to my regular line up beers just give me a nice twist in my beer drinking.  Woodchuck Hard Cider has reach their goal in my view-point on this cider  What I am trying to get at, they give the beer and craft beer drinker something else.  This cider is on that list.  I highly recommend this cider.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Une Annee Airing Of Grievances

image

New beginnings, we are going to sample out a new craft brewery from Chicago and beer from that brewery on this blog post.  It is Une Annee Brewing Airing Of Grievances Imperial Russian Stout.  This Chicago based brewery was founded in 2012 in the Bucktown area of  town.  They based their beers on Belgian and French beer styles.  They have about eight beers they brew and package in 750ml bottles.  They brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with big bubbles.  There is a tan to creamy semi head.  The smell has some chocolate to hints of coffee.  The taste is a smooth creamy chocolate with a slight coffee notes.  The aftertaste is a dry coffee bean notes.  This stout is extremely drinkable and will get beer drinkers in trouble if they are not paying attention.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.uneannee.com):

Airing of Grievances – Russian Imperial Stout

ABV: 10.6% – Classic Belgian and English yeasts combine fruity esters with a deep malt presence for a creamy, chocolate finish. After drinking this decadent beer, one may feel at ease to tell friends how they’ve disappointed in the past year.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.uneannee.com

Twitter:  @UneAnnee

Closing out the new beginnings, all I can say is WOW!  This beer is something else in a good way of course.  This beer is rich and full of flavor.  I love the creamy chocolate notes this stout has going on in it.  It does not drink like a beer over 10%.  This beer will sneak up on you, however, you will enjoy the beer and love the design.  This is the first beer that I had from this brewery.  When I am back in Chicago, I will stop by their brewpub if they have one.  If not I will bring some bottles back to Michigan to try rest of them, I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale

image

In this new beer release blog, we are going to get into one of the first new beers from Goose Island Brewery from Chicago.  I am talking about their first beer, which is their Ten Hills Pale Ale, in the series called “Limited Release.”  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of Goose Island Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This new brew from Goose Island has a clean copper color with a white head.  The smell has some piney to earthy notes.  The taste has some earthy notes with a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Ten Hills traces its story to Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho, famous for growing hops of exceptional quality  and character. With hops from the “first ten hills” grown for Goose Island at Elk Mountain, we crafted a pale ale that delivers both a herbal and citrus hop character. We hope you’ll find the intriguing balance of flavors in this beer to be truly unparalleled.

Recipe Information:

Style: Pale Ale Alcohol by Volume: 6.2 International Bitterness Units: 48 Color: Copper Hops: Perle, Cascade, US Saaz Malt: 2-Row, Caramel 20, Caramel 40, Munich

Availability:

Seasonal (December – March) Bottles: 4/6pks 2/12pks Draft: 1/2bbl 1/6bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

In the end, just what, I said in review of their Coffee Stout from the Bourbon County Stout line.  I love the direction that Goose Island is going with Bret Porter as their Brewmaster.   I love the hops and I am glad they are only available for Goose Island use only.  It makes this brew a little bit more special.  It has a nice balance between the hops and malty backbone.   I am really not a fan of the aftertaste but overall, this is a great beer.  I just cannot wait for the next release.  I highly recommend this brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer (Cider) Blog Woodchuck Winter Hard Cider

image

In this cider blog, we are going to get into our first review of a cider.  I am happy it will be Woodchuck and their Winter Hard Cider.  Woodchuck came from a winery which at the time most wineries were not making cider.  In 1990, Woodchuck was born.  They wanted to give beer fans something else to drink that is why their “802” and “Amber” cider was born.  By 1996, they had two successful ciders and sold over half million of cases.  A year after they added their “Granny Smith Cider.”  A few years later, they added “Raspberry” and “Pear.”  They just added some seasonals to their line up.  I found all this information from their website (www.woodchuck.com).  Let us get into the cider.

It has a clear slight dark yellow color with some small bubbles.  It does not have a head on it.  The smell is a cider and apple notes.  The taste has hints of vanilla and a little oak to apple.  It is a pretty drinkable hard cider.

Here is a description from the bottle:

Winter Cider is a balanced culmination of premium French and traditional American Oak, giving the cider great complexity and broad characteristics that neither style could produce on its own.  This cider has tremendous depth starting with an attractive oak taste and finishing with a touch of vanilla, all crafted in Woodchuck tradition… Independent to the core.

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

Winter

Somewhere between a delicate snowflake drifting down to your tongue and a hard-packed snowball to the teeth, the power of this winter Cider is a balanced culmination of Premium French and Traditional American Oak, giving the cider great complexity and broad characteristics that neither style could produce on its own.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.woodchuck.com

Twitter:  @WoodchuckCider

In closing, I am not a cider guy.  I wanted something different and sweet.  I did not want anything over the top sweet but just enough.  I thought a cider might be it.  I try it and I thought I would write a review.  I will end up writing not just one review but I will have two more after this one.  I love barrel age beers so I thought this Winter Cider would be in my wheel house.  I was right.  I loved the apple with the hints of vanilla and oak.  It was pretty drinkable and had pretty good kick.  I highly recommend this cider and I will be trying some more of these ciders.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Magic Hat G-Thing

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Magic Hat Brewing.  It is their Winter or Christmas Seasonal, which is G-Thing Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Magic Hat Brewing.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this northeast craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this ale.  The smell is hints of cinnamon and ginger.  The taste is a cinnamon and hints of malty notes.  The aftertaste is a cinnamon with a slight ginger notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.magichat.net):

G-Thing! is a Ginger Spice Ale led by a fresh ginger zing that’s followed by a bready malt backbone. Its subtle roasty notes and mild hop bitterness slowly give way to a serene cinnamon spiciness as the malt tones melt away.

Stats

  • MaltsPale, Caramel Vienna, Caramel Munich, Victory, Chocolate, Wheat
  • HopsMagnum, Northern Brewer
  • YeastEnglish Ale
  • ABV5.7%
  • IBUs25
  • SRM25
  • Original Gravity14° Plato
  • AdditivesGinger Juice, Cinnamon

Availability / October – January

Variety Packs

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

Closing, when I saw this beer in package, I was wondering how it was.  I had a chance to try this brew and I jumped onto it.  I have to say I was pretty impressed but kind of disappointed at the same time.  I believe I pumped up myself to be disappointed.  I love how they did a Christmas Ale but not like the rest on the market.  I love how this brewery thinks outside the box.  Overall, I enjoyed drinking this beer.  I love the cinnamon but yet a nice malty backbone.  The other thing that I love about this brew is the fact they did not use a porter, brown, or a stout ale.  They used English ale or English mild ale.  I highly 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 Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout (2013)

image

In this limited edition beer run, we are going to sample out a beer that makes Black Friday Shopping different after Thanksgiving Day.  I am talking about the run of beers that are released around the country by Goose Island Brewery.  This one is their Bourbon County Coffee Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout.  The smell is a heavy coffee notes.  The taste is a heavy coffee with bourbon notes.  The aftertaste is chocolate with hints of coffee.  It is a sipping beer.

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

Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea. This world class roaster puts the same passion and skill into their coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made with a different coffee from our friends next door each year. With the change in coffee comes a change in the flavor profile, making each release truly unique from the previous years.

2013 Release – Intelligentsia Los Inmortales 2012 Release  – Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans 2011 Release – Intelligentsia Anjilanaka Beans 2010 Release – Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial Coffee Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels Alcohol by Volume: 13.4% International Bitterness Units: 60 Color: Midnight Hops: Willamette Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black Coffee: Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Coffee Cake Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle up to 5 years

Availability:

Limited Release Bottles: 12oz Draft: 1/6 bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

Closing out, Goose Island is heading into the right direction now since being took over by evil empire.  I never doubted any of their products and I still look at them as craft brewery.  I like the fact they are putting out more and more of Bourbon County Stout into the markets.  It is still limited but it is expanding.  I love the no balance of these stouts.   They are designed like that and Goose Island was the first to the party to do this type of beer stytle.  Some little craft brewery in Europe can stop being jealous of this brewery.  I love the heavy coffee notes and how bourbon does not overpower the coffee stout part.  If you can get a bottle, this is a must try for a craft beer drinker.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing Company Mr. Delicious Double IPA

image

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Arbor Brewing Company.  It is their Mr. Delicious Double IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the post to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has cloudy dark copper to a light amber color with a small white bubble head.  The aroma is fated and hard to pick up.  It is like a citrus notes for the smell.  The taste is a light carbonation with grapefruit notes with a grapefruit aftertaste.  It is a sipping beer.

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

This beer leads off with a stiff round-house punch of citrusy hops, follows up with a quick kick of bready malts and warming alcohol, and finishes with a powerful and lingering bite of complex layered hops.

This popular brew was inspired by ABC founder, head brewer and spiritual leader Matt Greff whose cartoon enhanced image graces the label.

  • ABV9%
  • IBU90
  • OG1.088

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ArborBrew and @ArborBrewYpsi

Closing, as many of you readers know, I am a huge fan of this brewery.  I am glad to be back to Michigan to enjoy their beers and Frankenmuth on regular basis.  I love checking out some of the new craft breweries that are popping out around the state, however, I have always go back to my favorite breweries to check out their new beer that hit the market.  It leads to this brew from Arbor Brewing.  I love the hops and nice balance from the malt.  They did a great job on this beer.  I did not think they were able to make an imperial IPA.  They made one and a really good one here.  I could live without name and packaging on this beer.  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 Greenbush Brewing Brother Benjamin Imperial India Pale Ale

image

In the beginning, we are going to get into the first brew from Greenbush Brewing on this blog.  It is their Brother Benjamin Imperial India Pale Ale.  I cannot find the year they opened but their brewery system came from San Francisco Brewery company, which is closed now.  They are located in the western part of the State of Michigan.  They are off Exit 12.  Greenbush Brewery was founded by brewmaster Scott Sullivan.  There is really not much history on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head on this Imperial IPA.  The smell is a sweet citrus and piney notes.  The taste has citrus and hints of creamy honey notes.  The aftertaste is dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Here at Greenbush we’ve always known that good ideas often start over beer.  We also know that there’s nothing like taking a good idea too far.  Your’re reading this, so you must be one of us.  Enjoy the first step in taking your own idea too far.

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

Prepare to be Mystified

Be prepared, be prepared I say, to receive the mighty powerful taste of this truly heavenly Imperial India Pale Ale! It is a true force of nature my children! It’s a mystification!

Grain: Maris Otter Pale, Belgian Munich, Belgian Aromatic, Caramel Malt 60, Honey Malt, Honey

Hops: Columbus and Cascade

Yeast: House yeast

Extras: Clover Honey and Beet Sugar

Specs:

114 ibu

alc. 10.1% by vol.

15º Lovibond

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenbushbrewing.com

Twitter:  @Greenbush_Brew

In the end, I have had several different India Pale Ales and Imperial India Pale Ales brew with honey.  I have to say this one was one of the best one on market.  It is one of the best that is brewed in the State of Michigan.  They did a great job on the malty backbone.  I love the hops they used on this brew and the honey cuts through the hops to balance it.  This is a great beer and I will be hunting down more of this product.  Thanks again Jay for the share.  I recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser