winter seasonal

New Beer Blog New Glarus Back 40 Bock

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from New Glarus Brewing and the beer is called Back 40 Bock. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know about this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog to get up to speed on this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a brown color with a snow-white head on the beer. The smell is a hint of caramel. The taste is a sweet malty with a toffee aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable and smooth beer.

Here is description from beer bottle and website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

The “Back Forty” is property commonly found on the outskirts of the Wisconsin family farm. Here uncultivated acres wait prime for adventure forts, tree houses, rope swings and first kisses! A place to run away, to camp, to climb, to build, to play. Not actually home but not too far away. That’s the Back Forty. The beer you hold is similar both dark and adventurous still smooth and familiar. Here’s a beer you can enjoy without pretense or explanation. Every mind requires some acres of possibility, space for dreams, the great escape, everyone needs a Back Forty.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

Ending, this was a pretty different beer. I was expecting something else and I receive something a little better in my mind. This bock is nothing special but it is still a good beer. To me, it is a beer I am glad I try but I know I will not be trying this beer again. 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 New Glarus Brewing Coffee Stout

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from New Glarus Brewing Company. The beer is called Coffee Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that earlier beer blog. Let us get into this beer.

This coffee stout has a black color with a tan color head on the brew. The smell is chocolate with a little coffee notes. The taste of the full body beer has a chocolate with a little coffee notes. The aftertaste is a dry coco to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.newglarusbrewing.com):

Hearty and satisfying, out Coffee Stout is the ultimate full-bodied brew. Wisconsin water, roasted malts and American hops are the natural ingredients we use to brew this bier. Then cold pressed organic coffee from Just Coffee co-op is infused into the brew.

Expect this bier to pour a deep creamy head over an ebony rich body. Notice the powerful malt bouquet balanced by a spectrum of extravagant flavor. Served at room temperature this Wisconsin Coffee Stout is guaranteed to warm even the coldest heart.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.newglarusbrewing.com

Twitter: @newglarusbeer

In the end, this is a pretty nice coffee stout. I love how the coffee is not too heavy in this stout. Most coffee stouts have a heavy coffee and it is not very well balance. Now that might be how the beer is design which is fine. I am not knocking it but it nice to get one like this one from New Glarus. The problem I have with this brewery. I do not know if it is the water they are using or the same yeast in their beers. I just feel the base of the beers are the same and kind of taste the same. I realize coffee stout to a cream ale or a lager. I know that and they are different. There is something the same in all their beers. This was pointed out by a few of my friends and there a few breweries like this. I enjoy most of the beers I had from this brewery. This brewery makes some great beers and I wish they were in the Chicago or Michigan market, when I go back to my home state, I could drink some of their beers. Let me know what you think. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Uinta Brewery Crooked Line Sea Legs Baltic Porter

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a seasonal from the Unita Brewery’s Crooked Line. The beer is called Sea Legs Baltic Porter. 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 the beer.

This seasonal in the Crooked Line has a jet black color with a tan color head on this Baltic porter. The smell is of oak chocolate wood. The taste is a complex chocolate to vanilla with a roasted with a dry chocolate aftertaste to the beer. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Complex and drinkable, this barrel aged Baltic style porter exhibits chocolate and smoky malt flavors with hints of vanilla and oak. A seductive offering, Sea Legs is a siren of a beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uintabrewing.com

Twitter; @uintabrewing

In closing, I have been wanting to try this porter. This beer is just flat-out amazing. I was stun by all the flavors that is put into this beer. It is full body with complex notes but yet it is very smooth and silky. This beer is out for very limited time and if you are a fan of porter, you need to try this beer. I highly recommend trying this beer and let me know what you think. I am also looking forward to getting out to the brewery in late March. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Tap Party Wheeling Snow Blower

In this Tap Party Beer Blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Ram Wheeling Tap Party. This is a beer style I did not know was being made. I was very interested in trying this beer. If you read my earlier beer blogs from this brewery, you are up to speed on this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the party.

Snow Blower is a wheat wine from the Wheeling location. It has a cloudy cooper color with a semi white head on the beer. There is no smell to the beer or I cannot pick it up. The taste is a little wheaty with a sweet malty that will burn down your throat for the aftertaste in a good way. There is a nice malt backbone. It is kind of drinkable but at 8.3% ABV.

Here is a desecration from the brewmaster:

Stylistically it is a Wheat Wine, which is a wheat based version of a barley wine. When tasting this beer the hops come forward right out of the gate with a big hop character and provide a big hop punch, but as it lingers on the palate the slight sweetness from the wheat malt comes through and a slight bit of alcoholic warmth teases the palate.

At 8.2% alcohol by volume and 70+ IBU’s it will warm you and your palate up.

Here is some photos of the food we were eating while sampling the beer:

All American Burger

American cheese, pickle chips, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard and mayo. Served with choice of Fries, Chips or Coleslaw

Nachos Deluxe

Choice of Chicken, Beef, or Combination, black beans, cheddar jack cheese, jalapeno, tomato, green onion, sour cream, and guacamole.

Dessert

This was a great desert from my birthday gift from Ram. Thanks!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram and @rambrew

In closing, I really enjoyed going to these Tap Parties. I wish I can make the next one but I have at work training. I was very curious on how this beer will taste. As many of you know, I am not a fan of wheat or wheat base beers. This beer is extremely joyful to drink. The wheat is there but there is a nice hop touch to Snowblower. I love the contrast between wheat, sweetness of the normal barely wine, and hop. It is a drinkable beer but be careful because of the ABV is pretty high. This beer is the Lawnmower beer of the winter. I recommend this beer. I want to thanks to Eric and Lanny! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewing Diesel

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite breweries out of New York City. The brewery is Sixpoint Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Diesel Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beers, you know how I feel towards this brewery and the history of it. If you have not, please, read the beer blog called Sixpoint Brewing Apollo. Let us get into this great stout.

This winter seasonal has a jet black color with a light tan color head to the stout. The smell is a chocolate with a citrus to the beer. The taste is a complex full body beer. It has a chocolate to coffee with piney with a dry chocolate aftertaste. It is drinkable beer to me but I can see people thinking it is not a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Each dawn is clear cold air bites the throat. Thick frost on the pine bough leaps from the tree snapped by the diesel. On the darkest days of the year, light becomes a luxury. Just when you think you cannot penetrate the darkness…SNAP! Light pieces through the roasted pine forest.

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

Diesel

Winter

This undefinable black brew is part black IPA, part American Stout, but 100% Diesel powered. Robust chocolate and roasted flavors, with thick pine hop flavor and aroma.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sixpoint.com

Twitter: @sixpoint

Closing out the winter season, I am sadden by the fact that winter is ending because I love the fall and winter sesaonal beers. Spring and summer seasonals beer are not one of my favorites. I really loves this beer because it gives you something little different. However Sixpoint Brewing gives the craft beer drinker something different, this is way I love Sixpoint. The craft beer drinker will get the stout and then the snap of the piney at the back part of the tasting experience. The piney hops echo in the aftertaste. This is a beer that will give you more for the beer drinker. If you are looking for the normal stout, this beer is not for you. If you are a stout or hophead that is looking for something different in your beer, this beer is perfect for you. I know this beer is not going to be for everyone. 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 Deschutes Brewery Red Chair NWPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into the seasonal for Deschutes Brewery. The beer is called Red Chair NWPA (Northwest Pale Ale). If you read my earlier beer blog on 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.

This seasonal pale ale has a clear copper color with a white head on the beer. The smell is vague piney to earthly to the beer. The taste is a carbonation earthly with a dry piney aftertaste that linger. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Witness the subtle aromatic seduction of the original Northwest Pale Ale. Another slap at brewing convention. Another kick in the pants. Enjoy.

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

The citrus punch of a big IPA, minus the one-dimensional hop sledgehammer. Seven select European and domestic malts round out the edges for a complex, copper-colored brew. Like its namesake ski lift, it’s an insider’s ride to fresh thrills.

Malt: Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carapils, Pilsner, Carastan Hops: Cascade, Centennial

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.deschutesbrewery.com

Twitter: @deschutesbeer

Closing, this was a pretty enjoyable beer. The problem I have with this beer is the bottle says pale ale and the website is saying this is India Pale Ale. I will be honest this does taste like an IPA but more like an English style India Pale Ale. If this is a Pale Ale, which I do not believe it is, this is better than their Mirror Pond Pale Ale. I really love this beer. I will add it to my line up until the season ends. I recommend you trying this beer if you are a pale ale to india pale ale fan. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Saugatuck Brewing Neapolitan Milk Stout

In this beer blog, we are going to check out a newer brewery from Michigan. The brewery is called Saugatuck Brewing Company and the beer is called Neapolitan Milk Stout. Saugatuck Brewing was founded in 2005 in Dougles, Michigan by Barry Johnson. In mid 2008, the next part of their plan was in motion, which was to start bottling their beers. Let us get into this beer.

It has a jet black color with a tan head on the beer. The smell is milk chocolate to chocolate milk. The taste is a silk to smooth chocolate to the beer. The aftertaste is roasted chocolate to coffee to the beer. It is close to the ice cream. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Nostalgic flavors of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla… Our flavors the Mt. Baldy radar tower a local landmark installed by the U.S. Air Force in 1937.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.saugatuckbrewing.com

Twitter: @saugatuckbrew

Closing, milk stouts always had that feeling of drinking ice cream. Saugatuck Brewing took it to the next level. They design this milk stout to totally take on ice cream feel. I had it in the bottle and I could pick up Neapolitan Ice Cream, which I remember as a kid eating it all the time in Michigan growing up. I am pretty impressive by this beer and I might have to retry their beers again. I 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 Goose Island Christmas Ale 2012

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out this years Christmas Ale from Goose Island Brewery. If you read my earlier blog on one their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer.

Goose Island Christmas Ale has a nice amber color without a head on it. The smell is a caramel to malty to it. The taste of this ale is a hazel to almond with a slight dash of caramel for the aftertaste. It is not that drinkable but the beer drinker could have a few of these beers.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate

Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

Closing, this is the first of Goose Island Christmas Ale where the beer will not change over the years or can not be aged like Christmas Ales from the past. It is pretty disappointing because a ton of us craft beer drinkers love to age beer to see what is like next year. I was pretty disappointing with this beer. It is kind of drinkable beer. I just feel this beer is missing something like other years. I do not know what it is and I am not a brewer to make to explain my thought pattern. I can see most people liking this beer and I want you to try it. This beer does pair really well with food. I just do not like this year’s Christmas Ale from Goose Island and that does not mean you will not like this beer. Let me hear your thoughts. 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 Christmas Ale 2011

In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island. It is their Christmas Ale 2011. If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers. If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer. The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.

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

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 5 years

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.goooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years. Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good. This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012. When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well. It is complex with a ton of flavor. It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year. If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed. 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

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Rich & Roasty

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