winter seasonal

New Beer Blog Green Flash Brewing Green Bullet Triple India Pale Ale

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second brew from Green Flash Brewing and it is an unique brew, which is Green Bullet Triple India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark golden color with a thick, creamy, and constant white head on this IPA.  The smell is piney notes.  The taste is a carbonated piney notes with dry hop aftertaste.  For being a big and high-end beer, it is pretty drinkable beer.

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

Green Bullet

Named after a super-robust New Zealand hop, Green Bullet™ is a well-balanced Triple IPA being bottled today for the 1st time ever. Brewmaster, Chuck Silva initially released this Pacific Gem to celebrate the Green Flash 9th Anniversary in 2011, and it was an immediate hit! Now, this cult favorite will be available from coast-to-coast as a seasonal release from September through December 2013. Be on the lookout for this high-caliber addition to our arsenal in 4-packs, 22oz bottles and on draft, because you do not want to miss the release.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenflashbrew.com

Twitter:  @Greenflashbeer

Closing, leave it to a west coast craft brewery to try to create a new beer style in the IPA world.  This is pretty much what Green Flash from California has done.  This Green Bullet Triple India Pale Ale has everything for the hop head is looking for on the next level in their beers.  I love the hops they are using in this brew.  New Zealand hops have grown on brewers and hop lovers in the last few years.  It is not a surprise that newer hops are popping up from New Zealand like Green Bullet.  Green Flash named their brew after the hop.  I love malty backbone to cut down on the hop’s intense feel.  This is a great brew and I sad it is a seasonal.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ommegang Games Of Thrones Take The Black Stout

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second installment of the Games Of Thrones beer series brew by Ommegang Brewing.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know about this brewery.  If you have not and want to get know the history of this brewery, please, read that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a black color with a semi tan head on the stout.  The smell is hints of roasted chocolate and coffee notes.  The taste of this medium to full body beer is a burned chocolate to espresso.  The aftertaste is like a liquid espresso bean with smooth to creamy caramel notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A stout as dark as the winters that once engulfed wasteros.  As robust as t he men who swear their oaths at the Weirwood tree, chocolate and caramel sweetness are balanced by hop bitterness.  Roasty, woodsy notes and an earthy finish.

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

Ommegang and HBO® announce the newest beer in the Game of Thrones® collaboration series. Through its first three seasons, the critically acclaimed drama has become the biggest show on HBO. Take the Black Stout follows the highly coveted Iron Throne Blonde Ale, which flew off of shelves earlier this year. To satisfy the appetite of Game of Thrones fans, production of Take the Black Stout will more than double the final volumes of Iron Throne Blonde Ale.

Inspired by the brotherhood of the Night’s Watch, Take the Black Stout was made to be deep, dark and complex like those who have sworn  the oath to defend Westeros against threats from the north. The label depicts the Weirwood tree where Jon Snow recited the oath before joining the Night’s Watch.

In time for the holidays, Take the Black Stout makes for the perfect gift. Shipping to distributors in September 2013, the beer is available in 750 ML bottles and 1/6 barrel kegs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website;  www.ommegang.com

Twitter:  @BreweryOmmegang and @GamesOfThrones

In closing, I was pretty excited that HBO was in talks with Ommegang to brew some beers for their hit show.  The first installment of this series of beers for Games Of Thrones was Iron Thorne.  I was not a huge fan of it.   This next beer has lived up to the theme from the show.  I am talking about the Night’s Watch, if you are not a fan of the show.  I can see beer fans falling in love with this beer and checking out the show.  I can see fans of the show liking this brew and checking out other brews.  I hope it turns them on to some good beers that out on the market.  This beer is heavy with chocolate and coffee notes but it smooths out with a nice caramel notes.  It is pretty interesting that this beer is drinkable beer.  Go get some, if you can find this beer.  It is a limited release beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arbor Brewing Mackinac Island Fudge Stout

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Arbor Brewing Company. The beer is one of their seasonals and it is called Mackinac Island Fudge Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this brewery, you know the history of it. If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan head that is strong when pouring but disappears after a while.  The smell is a rich coco to the stout.  The taste is burn but smooth to creamy chocolate.  The aftertaste is a dry coco to it.  To me, it is drinkable but to the general beer drinker, it is not drinkable.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.arborbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ArborBrew

Closing, this stout was really good and it is up on my top five list.  I was pretty stun on how good it is in the bottle.  I love how they used Fudge from Mackinac Island.  I love the packaging and the name.  They kept this a Michigan proud in the name and the type of packaging.  I highly recommend you trying this beer.  I did not see it on their website so I am not sure if they still making 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

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first of three brews from Great Divide.  Great Divide was founded in Denver, Coloroda by Brain Dunn in 1994.  They have been ranked as one of the best breweries in the world from a few beer website.  They also brew several different beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light brown to dark amber color with a constant tan color head.  The smell is of the malt to a slight caramel notes.  The taste of this medium body is a malty caramel with touch of honey with a dry malty finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a descration from the beer bottle:

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.

Here is descation 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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greatdivide.com

Twitter:  @greatdividebrew

In closing, there is a ton going on this well made beer.  I enjoyed this beer a ton.  I can also see why this brew was made because of where the brewery is located.  It has a beautiful color and a nice aroma.  It has a nice taste from this well balance beer.  There is a ton going on in this beer.  I recommend this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

image

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out our first beer from Firestone Walker and the brewery is their Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout.  This is brewery is from California and founded 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker.  The brewery name from the last names from the founders.  They brewery several different beer styles but they are known for their hoppy beers like most west coast breweries.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color without a head on it.  The smell is chocolate to toffee.  The taste of this full body ale is chocolate to touch of coffee notes.  It is a sipping to almost kind of drinkable.

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

A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas.  This beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer.

REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers.  Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.firestonebeer.com

Twitter:  @firestonewalker

In closing, I really enjoyed drinking this beer.  I love how it is not a drinkable beer because I can sit there and enjoy it.  I want to pick up everything that is going on in the beer.  I love the coffee to toffee notes from the beer.  This is one of my favorite stout beer style.  I love how their website tells you to make sure you have fresh beer and how to store your beer.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend you trying this stout.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Founders Brewing Porter

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Founders Brewing and it is their Porter.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their cherry ale, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that post to get to know this craft brewery from the west side of Michigan.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without head on the beer.  The smell is a burn chocolate to the porter. The taste is a burn chocolate with a smoky chocolate aftertaste.  To average beer drinker, this is not drinkable.  To your craft drinkers, this is a drinkable beer.

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

Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders’ robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter.

  • ABV: 6.5%
  • IBUs: 45
  • Availability: Year-round

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.foundersbrewing.com

Twitter:  @foundersbrewing

In closing, I love my porters and stouts.  I have to say Founders Brewing has a really good brew here.  I was pretty impressed with this brew and this brewery.  I believe I need to sit down and retry their beers.  This porter has everything that a porter fan would be looking for in their beer.  It has a nice chocolate taste.  I could drink a few of these beers in a round, however, I believe your average beer drinker would not think this is a session beer.  They might have one after dinner with their dessert.  I recommend trying 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 Ayinger Brewery Celebrator Doppelbock

image

In this import beer blog, we are going to get into one of my flavorite beer styles.  This is straight from Germany.  The beer we will be sampling is from Ayinger Brewery and the  beer is their Celebrator Doppelbock.  Ayinger Brewery was started in Munich in 1878.  They brew several different beer styles in the shadow of the Alps.  They are best known in the styles for this brew.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark brown color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight toffee notes in the aroma.  The taste is slight toffee to a touch of caramel and liquid chocolate. There is no aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

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

The History of Celebrator Doppelbock

Originally brewed at a monastery in northern Italy, “double bock” was quickly introduced by Bavarian brewers to compete with bock. Doppelbock names end with the suffix “-ator.”

Taste

A rich, dark elixir with cascading layers of malt complexity balanced by elegant hops. Notes of toffee, caramel, elegant dark-malt roastiness, and pure malt. Pinpoint conditioning and semi-dry finish.

Serving Suggestion

Pastries and desserts, roast goose, cured ham, smoked duck, wild turkey, filet with Dijon sauce, chanterelles, Tournedos Rossini, Châteaubriand. Enjoy with a fine cigar after dinner. Serve in stemmed tumbler at 50 °F.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.merchantduvin.com and www.en.ayinger-bier.de

Twitter:  @AYlNGER

Closing out, I really love this beer.  I drink this beer once in a blue moon.  I enjoy this beer and the smoothest of the brew.  This is a nice fall to winter beer, however, I can enjoy this brew on hot summer day like today.  There is a few craft brewery that could make a doppelbock.  There are some craft breweries that came pretty close or nail it.  They are Capital Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, and Frankenmuth Brewery.  If I am missing a brewery or breweries, please, let me know.  I will add them to the list.  This is The Godfather of Doppelbock.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

New Beer Blog Full Sail LTD Recipe Number #6

image

In this beer blog, we are going to talk about a brewery that I have not had too many beers.  I was excited to see this in my beer box in my order from www.letspour.com.  Full Sail Brewery was founded in 1987 in Hood River, Oregon.  Their first beer was package in 1988 which was Full Sail Golden Ale.  Full Sail is an employee-owned business.  Full Sail is also the second largest brewery in Oregon and ninth largest craft brewery in the United States.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on the beer. The smell has a slight chocolate. The taste is a chocolate notes with a dry coco aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

There’s no coffee or chocolate in this Limited Edition Lager but your mouth will insist otherwise.  Recipe Number: 06

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

LTD 06 Black Bock – There’s no coffee or chocolate in this limited edition lager but your mouth might insist otherwise. Brewed for the Holidays, this  black bock is lush and full-bodied with hints of roast, coffee, & chocolate in the aroma followed by flavors of caramel & figs with a  long creamy smooth finish. Brewed as a Czech style Cerné  Speciální with 2 row Pale, Munich, Caramel, & Chocolate Malts &  hopped with Santiam and Perle hops.

ABV 7.0% IBU 34
AVAILABLE OCTOBER TO DECEMBER

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fullsailbrewing.com

Twitter:  @fullsailbrewing

Closing, I had some of their beers and I will say this beer did not disappoint me.  I was not expecting what was in the bottle.  I really enjoy it.  It is a perfect winter beer and it held up during the travel across the country.  This lager is not over powered by the chocolate notes.  There is a nice balance in this beer.  I enjoyed drinking this beer and I will have to order some of their other beers or have friends pick them up for me.  I recommend this beer and I would start looking for it around October because it is a seasonal brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack

image

In this beer blog, 21st Amendment Brewing Sneak Attack is the feature beer in this post.  I have blogged about this brewery a few times in the past.  If you have not read those beer post, you know the history of this brewery.   If you have not, please, read those beer post to get an idea of this great brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

The color of the beer is yellow without head on it l. The smell is a lemon peppermint to the beer. The taste is a heavy lemon with a hop finish. It is pretty drinkable.

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

You might not expect a Saison in winter. But the enemy didn’t expect Washington to cross the icy Delaware, either. Expectations be damned, we say. We’re sneaking up on winter with a boatload of bravado and this Belgian-style farmhouse ale. Dry hopped with whole organic cardamom pods, our Saison has an assertive spiciness. In your face, winter.

Sneak Attack is our late winter seasonal beer available from January through March in six-pack cans and on draft. The perfect antidote to the big beers of winter, Sneak Attack is crisp, dry and palate cleansing. It pairs perfectly with the rich and warming foods of winter: Bouillabaise, sausages, smoked meats and full flavored cheeses.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter:  @21stamendment

At the end, I pretty much love everything that I have had from this brewery.  I have to say this beer kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  I am a fan of this beer style, which is Saison.  I am a little stun that I did not like this beer.  I do not know if it is between the pepper or the lemon that is kicking through out the beer experience.  I was a little disappointed, however, with that all said this does not mean you will not like this beer.  I recommend you trying it because I would like to hear 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 New Glarus Brewing Apple Ale

image

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from New Glarus Brewing.  The beer is called Apple Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This apple ale is a hazel copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is an apple cider to the beer. The taste is a carbonation sweet apple cider beer. The aftertaste is a carbonation cider to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A few times a year we cut Dan loose to brew whatever he chooses.  Always handcrafted, the bottle you hold is brewed for the adventurous soul.  This is a very limited edition and we make no promises to ever brew this style again.

Apple Ale sings with the fresh crisp taste of Apples.  Our Brewmaster begins with a brown ale base and a blend of fresh picked apples.  Our apple growing friends squeeze them especially for this brew.

Expect this Ale to pour a beautiful copper color.  The fresh bouquet of Apple will rise to meet you even before the glass touches your lips.  So be sure to sip slowly and enjoy the fruits of a Wisconsin Harvest.

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

Apple Ale sings with the fresh crisp taste of Apples.  Our Brewmaster begins with a brown ale base employing Wisconsin farmed wheat and a blend of fresh picked apples.  Our apple growing friends squeeze them especially for this brew.

Expect this Ale to pour a beautiful copper color.  The fresh bouquet of Apple will rise to meet you even before the glass touches your lips.  So be sure to sip slowly and enjoy the fruits of a Wisconsin Harvest.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter:  @newglarusbeer

In closing, this is what apple ales should taste like in the beer market.  This is a great beer and it is pretty well balance.  I really enjoyed this beer very much.  It has a cider beer style to it.  I know Miller Brewery Company put out their apple ale called Redd’s.  The beer is carbonation apple juice beer.  New Glarus Brewing did a great job on this beer and this is the apple ale to be drinking.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser