Thursday, September 28, 2017

HOPii | Your Personal Micro-Brewery

HOPii Personal Micro-Brewery System
HOPii is one of the newer innovations to be coming soon to the beer market for those that love beer. Being positioned as being able to provide a better beer experience at home that can be brewed by any beer lover on their own counter top, this invention may end up revolutionizing how some will enjoy beer moving forward.

So why should interest be piqued about this product? Think about how good beer is when at a brewery versus at home. Beer that is bottled or canned can still taste good, don't get me wrong. But the most avid beer drinker or beer connoisseur will tell you that nothing is as fresh as when you have it on draft and at the source. And that is what makes this product stand out it seems thus far from all that is being discussed.

Now personally I have not tried the beer, but on their site you are able to see what others are thinking with some also being from the brewing industry. Highlighted by having the freshness of that of the same quality of a brewery is astounding in itself. Place this with some of these other features below, and this is one item that definitely may be worth a look.


Quality Craft Beer at home. Tons of features on your countertop, plus the crazy powerful new temperature controlled fermentation tank.

Self Cleaning. More easy than ever before with one touch sanitizing - you'll never have to take it apart to clean.

Access to the best breweries. A slick kitchen gadget and some beer kits that us AI to produce some of your favorite hard-to-get microbrews. We even use the ingredients direct from the brewery, so it's guaranteed to taste the same or better.  The beer kits include a three-liter bottle of wort (basically beer juice) as well as an ingredient pack containing dry hops and other flavors, along with a pack of yeast.

Faster than normal brewing. Get all our stretch goals from the campaign as we finish them, including more beer kits. Most beers finish brewing in 4-7 days!!

Check out their kick starter site for more details by clicking here, and prepare yourself for what may be the next coming innovation in beer.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Beer Review: Southern Tier Cherry Gose

Here is my look at the Cherry Gose from Southern Tier Brewing Company. This Imperial sour ale comes in with an alcohol content of 8.3% ABV and is brewed with tart cherry juice. I had not previously seen an Imperial sour ale, so I am looking forward to seeing what this one has to offer. Southern Tier makes some pretty good beers overall, so let’s see how this one delivers. Check out my YouTube video below to see what I think as I run this one down. Grab a cold one; join me, and Get Your Beer On!

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Beer Review: Crooked Stave Hop Savant Amarillo Brettanomyces IPA

From Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project out of Denver Colorado comes the Hop Savant Amarillo Brettanomyces IPA, a sour IPA with an alcohol content of 7% ABV and this is my look at this ale that I acquired on a recent beer run. I had heard a lot about this brewery, so the fact that I was now able to find one that somehow reached one of my beer stores was downright awesome. So here are some of my thoughts on this beer which you will see below or you can also scroll down to the YouTube video if you would just like to watch.

Well in looking at the beer, I have to admit that I did like their labeling of the beer and it did provide some of the key details. One thing noticed was that they placed details for the best temperature for enjoying the beer. That’s always a nice thing to know and for this beer, the desired temp was between 46 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the beer in the glass, it poured out a nice hazy golden color with a large foamy white head. The head was actually larger then desired, so I did have to let it settle for a little bit. Why this took place, I was able to get a good sampling of the aroma and the notes of the beer. The Amarillo hops came out easily but there was also the funkiness and sourness of the brettanomyces as well. But it wasn’t like a tart sour, but more of something almost like sour milk but just not as bad. I mean really, funky is the best word in describing it.

The tasting of the beer was solid though as it carried all of the usual characteristics of an IPA. There was a citrusy feel as I received orange as well as a piney and earthy feel. There wasn’t much if any of grapefruit which is common in IPA beers, but think of that being replaced with the brettanomyces as well. That sour taste sat on the tongue but unlike the aroma, it was more pleasant for me. Medium bodied and somewhat dry, this ale did provide a nice overall crisp texture and solid taste.

Overall, I found this beer to be one of those unique ones. I had another much more straight forward variant of this ale and for me that one would be more to preference. That being sad, I did enjoy the ale enough that I rated it 3.25 out of 5 for my Untappd score. You can definitely tell it was an IPA as pretty much mentioned earlier, but again that funkiness just was a standout for me. How about you? Have you had this beer? If so then leave a comment and let me know what you thought. That all being said, thanks for stopping by to check out my post and if you like then catch my YouTube video below as well and catch a little bit more tidbits about this beer. Cheers and Get Your Beer On!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Beer Review: Magic Hat Brewing Circus Boy Hefeweizen

Time to take a look at the other side of the mixed Hefeweizen collection that I had picked up from Magic Hat Brewing Company and this is Circus Boy. Now previously I looked at Zirkus Boy which is their German styled Hefeweizen, Circus Boy is their American version. Wait, there’s an American version? Shhh, don’t ask questions and just play along. So Circus Boy like its counterpart also comes in with an alcohol content of 4.5% ABV and shares some of other commonalities as well with some slight differences.

One of the first differences noticed for me deals with the appearance. This offering does provide more of a haziness which was not really offered by the German version which had great clarity. The head itself was a little more as well but still dissipated quickly. It seems like this would be more suited for the German version but maybe that’s just me. Anyway, the appearance wasn’t bad at all and in fact, it was pretty solid for the style.

Once I got into the aroma and taste, all was there that was to be expected. There were the notes and tastes of clove and lemon qualities, although I did find the banana lacking. However, there was also a crisp and refreshing quality which also stood out with the beer. And as for mouthfeel, there was a good amount of flavor and tingling which I enjoyed. The texture was solid and not too thin for this light bodied beer and surprisingly, it wasn’t as yeasty as I was expecting.

All in all, the beer delivered nicely in my opinion as I rated it 3 out of 5 on my Untappd. A good beer that won’t knock you back but I don’t think it will disappoint you either. Especially if you like a beer that can offer that often needed refreshing quality following a hard day of work. Have you had this one? If so then leave a comment and share your experience with this beer. I always enjoy hearing feedback from others about the beers consumed so please feel free to share.

That all being said, thanks for stopping by and checking out my look at this beer, and hope you keep coming back as well. Cheers!

If you would like to see my full YouTube video review of this beer as well then just click the video below for some other key highlights about this one!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Beer Review: Magic Hat Brewing Zirkus Boy Hefeweizen

Sometimes you just want a refreshing beer to end the day or to cap off the finishing of some yardwork. Something that brings a certain quench and satisfaction and says job well done, now kick back and enjoy a cold one. Zirkus Boy for me kind of brought that type of quality of enjoyment. I found it to have a subtle refreshing quality with it and at 4.5% ABV, a few of these could easily be had an enjoyed.

The beer itself from Magic Hat Brewing Company out of South Burlington, Vermont, was done in the style of a German Hefeweizen and did well bringing together some of the qualities associated with this beer style. There was a subtle aroma of banana and clove along with that of lemon and some breadiness. But with a Hefeweizen, the beer is expected to be cloudy and hazy as this is a bottle fermented style usually. This one was as clear as a bell, more looking like a Pilsner than a Hefeweizen. But appearance aside, we know that taste is really the thing that brings it home. So how was the taste you may be asking?

Zirkus Boy offered a refreshing taste overall in my opinion and opened up with a nice flavor burst which led to a pleasant mouthfeel. All of those on the nose also came through in the taste: the lemon zest, the clove, the banana and on the back a little bit of a spice kick as well. So while the look was off, other factors were definitely there. There was a nice crisp finish on the back-end, and the light body of the beer made it to be one that could easily be quaffable. And this is always a positive as far as I’m concerned.

All in all, I think this was a decent beer and for me I rated it a 3 out of 5. This places it at the good level for me. Is it going to knock you back? No, but it’s not going to knock you down either. And, the beer itself was a pleasurable drink that I would drink again. There wasn’t much disappointment at all with this one. So that’s my take on Zirkus Boy from Magic Hat Brewing. Have you had this one? If so then leave a comment and share your experience with this beer. I always enjoy hearing feedback from others about the beers consumed so please feel free to share.

That all being said, thanks for stopping by and checking out my look at this beer, and hope you keep coming back as well. Cheers!

If you would like to see my YouTube video review of this beer as well then just click the video below!

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Press Release: MadTree Launches Pilgrim Cans, Helps Combat Food Waste And Partners with Busken Bakery


CINCINNATI (September 14, 2017) – MadTree Brewing Company is releasing Pilgrim Fall ale in cans for the first time on Thursday, September 21. Fall is a time for friends and family to come together and Pilgrim is the perfect, approachable companion. This lightly hopped beer combines cranberry and vanilla to complement the pleasant lemon and berry flavor of Pilgrim hops. Give thanks for a bountiful harvest, good friends, and great beer.

MadTree will host a can release party to celebrate the new beer and support La Soupe, a local non-profit that rescues otherwise wasted produce to create delicious and highly-nutritious meals for customers, non-profits and food-insecure families. In 2016 alone, La Soupe rescued 125,000 pounds of perishable food from going to the landfill (“ugly” or over ordered produce from grocery stores) and donated almost 75,000 servings to people living in food insecurity. They are on track to double their impact in 2017.

“Pilgrim is a beer we’ve wanted to offer in cans for a long time but we never had the production capacity to do so,” said MadTree Brewing taproom GM, Chris Stokley. “The taproom and retail accounts always fly through this beer when on draft so we are really excited to offer this on a much larger scale to more people. Plus, being able to partner with La Soupe and their unique approach to eliminating food waste makes it all the more special.”

MadTree also teamed up with Busken Bakery to create the Pilgrim Cranberry Mountain cookie. Just up the road from the brewery, the bakers at Busken Bakery will be offering their Pilgrim Cranberry Mountain cookie just in time for the Pilgrim tapping. “The Pilgrim Fall ale reminds us of ‘Thanksgiving in a glass’ and this was our inspiration for the cookie,” said Brian Busken, Vice President of Busken. The hearty PCM cookie contains chopped walnuts, cranberries and bittersweet chocolate chips with a subtle vanilla finish. You will be able to sample the cookies for free at the upcoming release party, as well as purchase them at Busken’s flagship Hyde Park location for a limited time.

The can release fundraiser will be held on Thursday, September 21, from 4PM-8PM in the MadTree taproom (3301 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209). A portion of the proceeds of the sales of Pilgrim cans, shirts, and posters will be donated to La Soupe. Catch-A-Fire CafĂ© will offer some special Pilgrim-themed menu items, along with their full menu all day. The cost is $10.50 per six-pack (including tax).

Can and draft distribution to restaurants, bars, and retailers will begin Monday, September 25, in all markets that MadTree serves.

About MadTree Brewing Company


Cincinnati’s MadTree Brewing made history when they opened in 2013 by becoming the first modern craft brewery to can its beer in Ohio. In February 2017 they opened a new $18M brewery, taproom, beer garden, and private event spaces in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood. MadTree is known for focusing more on great tasting beers rather than following traditional brewing style guidelines. Their award-winning beers are distributed throughout Ohio by Cavlier Distributing and throughout Kentucky by Beer House Distributing. For more information about the beers, brewery, and taproom, visit madtreebrewing.com or connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

About La Soupe


Headed by Chef Suzy DeYoung, La Soupe is bridging the gap between food waste and hunger. They rescue “ugly” and over-ordered perishable food to create delicious and highly-nutritious meals for food-insecure families. A small percentage of soup is sold to paying customers and sales of the meals fuel our donations to Cincinnati’s food-deprived individuals. La Soupe is a non-profit organization that relies on soup sales and individual donations to operate.

About Busken Bakery


Founded in Cincinnati by Joseph C. Busken Sr. in 1928 the company started from humble beginnings, selling baked goods from the counter of a meat market in East Hyde Park on Erie Avenue. In 1962 Busken moved the bakery operation to its current location at the corner of Madison and Edwards roads in Hyde Park. The bakery operates around the clock, seven days a week and pushes out over 100 unique varieties of baked goods every day. The Hyde Park store has remained open 24 hours a day since it opened, always available for late night snackers.

Portion of taproom sales to benefit local non-profit and get your first taste of the new cookie

Press Release: Ale-O-Ween Offers Ohio Craft Beer Treats in Dayton


Ale-O-Ween Offers Ohio Craft Beer Treats in Dayton


Annual beer festival will be the first public event at newly renovated Dayton Steam Plant

DAYTON, Ohio – Promising all treats and no tricks, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association presents Ale-O-Ween, a Halloween-themed craft beer festival, at the Dayton Steam Plant on Saturday, October 21st from 6-9 p.m. Thirty Ohio craft breweries will be on hand, pouring samples of seasonal styles and popular favorites.

Formerly known as Dia de las Cervezas, Ale-O-Ween will be the first public event at The Steam Plant, located at 617 E. Third Street in downtown Dayton. Built in 1907, the former Dayton Power & Light power-generating facility has been renovated for use as an event venue, carefully preserving the unique architectural features such as high ceilings, exposed beams, brick walls and iconic floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ale-O-Ween is sponsored by Boelter BeverageMosaic Employee BenefitsBrewers Professional AllianceFrantz Ward LLPWarped Wing Brewing CompanyYellow Springs BreweryLock 27 BrewingCrooked Handle Brewing CompanyThe Dayton Beer CompanyEudora Brewing CompanyHairless Hare Brewing CompanyMunicipal Brew WorksSeventh Son Brewing Company and Toxic Brew Company. Our official print media sponsor is Dayton City Paper.

In addition to craft beer samples, Ale-O-Ween will feature live music by The AmpFibians and Team Void, food from The Drunken Waffle and other food trucks, face painting. Attendees are encouraged to dress up to win prizes in the Ale-O-Ween costume contest. Ohio On Tap users in attendance will also earn five bonus passport stamps to be used to redeem prizes from the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

General admission tickets are available in advance for $40, which includes a souvenir glass and tasting tickets for 20 four-ounce samples. Early admission tickets are also available for $50, granting admission at 5 p.m. Designated driver admission is available for $15 and includes a food voucher. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.beerfesttickets.com/aleoween

Ale-O-Ween is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry.

This year’s participating breweries include:
Crooked Handle Brewing Company
The Dayton Beer Company
Elevator Brewing Company
Eudora Brewing Company
Fifth Street Brewpub
Hairless Hare Brewing Company
Little Fish Brewing Company
Lock 27 Brewing
Lucky Star Brewery
Municipal Brew Works
North High Brewing Company
Seventh Son Brewing Company
Star City Brewing
Toxic Brew Company
Warped Wing Brewing Company
Yellow Springs Brewery
 
Up-to-date brewery list can be found at http://ohiocraftbeer.org/ale-o-ween
 
Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.




Friday, September 15, 2017

Beer Review: Magic Hat Mother Lager

The Mother Lager from Magic Hat Brewing Company out of Vermont is a Euro-style lager and the latest focus of my next beer review. Coming in with an alcohol content of 5% ABV and an IBU level of 30, this beer is being marketed by Magic hat as an evolved Euro-style lager. Check out my look at this beer by hitting play on the YouTube video.



Brewery Links:

Magic Hat Brewing: http://www.magichat.net/

Mother Lager: http://www.magichat.net/elixirs/motherlager/

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Unboxing: A New Rod J BeerVentures Custom T-Shirt

So I decided to take a look at creating some t-shirts since it seems that I am always wearing one. So, why not have my own? This is the first look at one of the newer designs that I decided to create and will look to build on going forward. Let me know what you think and if interested in one then let me know that too or check out the site here: https://squareup.com/store/rodjbeerventuresstore!

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Beer Review: New Holland Mischievous II

This is a look at the Mischievous II from New Holland Brewing Company out of Holland, Michigan, and it is a kettle-soured brown ale that is featured as part of their Sour Series. It is fermented with local peaches to provide a boost of sweetness and add to the fruitiness of the nose. I ended up picking this beer up as a 22 ounce bomber and the beer itself comes in with an alcohol content of 6.5% ABV and a low IBU level of 10. If you are not familiar with New Holland Brewing then I definitely recommend checking them out as they usually have a good amount of decent beers. But looking forward to see how this one plays out, so check out my video to see and hear my thoughts on this sour ale.



Brewery Links:

New Holland Brewing: http://newhollandbrew.com/

Mischievous II: No current listing on website for beer

Monday, September 11, 2017

Beer Review: Moerlein Beautiful View Russian Imperial Stout

Beautiful View Stout is the result of a collaboration between Christian Moerlein Brewing and Quaff Bros., and it is the subject of my latest review here. Branded as an imperial stout, this ale comes in with an alcohol content of 8.2% ABV. Much isn’t really known about this beer though as much isn’t shared on the label, and much is shown in the website for Christian Moerlein. But that’s okay; I have no problem taking a look at this beer of mystery. Check out my video to see what I find and think, and to see how this beer holds up.



Brewery Links:

Christian Moerlein Lager House: http://www.moerleinlagerhouse.com/

Beautiful View Stout: N/A

Beer Review: Ballast Point Bonito

The Bonito from Ballast Point is a blonde ale with an alcohol content of 4.5% ABV and an IBU level of 20; it is also the subject of my next beer review which you can see here. Ballast Point definitely takes its maybe more than fair share of shots, especially now as being under the umbrella of Constellation Brands along with what I would consider to be price question worthy beers. However they do still seem to deliver a nice product and as far as a brewery, it’s hard to find faults in many of their beers. The Bonito is what I would call one of their session offerings at the low ABV and definitely could be a nice fit for the days of summer, although it is a year round offering. Join me and check out my video as I take a look at what it has to offer, and if you have any thoughts on the beer then also please feel free to comment.



Brewery Links:

Ballast Point: https://www.ballastpoint.com/

Bonito: https://www.ballastpoint.com/beers/year-round/

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Beer Review: Anderson Valley Summer Solstice

This is a look at the Summer Solstice from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, and just so happened to be another one of the beers I gathered during a recent beer run. This seasonal beer offering can fall into the style I guess of a spice or herbed beer, but looking to see what it has to offer as summer is being closed out. The alcohol content on this one is 5% ABV so it shouldn’t be too heavy at all. Check out my video to see what I think of it, and if you have had it then please feel free to also leave some comments and your thoughts. And if you haven’t subscribed on YouTube then please remember to do so, this will keep you up to date on my beer updates as they happen. Cheers and keep drinking those could craft beers!



Brewery Links:

Anderson Valley: https://avbc.com/

Summer Solstice: https://avbc.com/our-beers/summer-solstice/

Beer Festivals: Cincy Summer BeerFest 2017

Here are a few highlights and a walk around from our summer Cincy Beerfest which occurred September 8th and 9th in which we had a lot of beer and a lot of fun. We featured beer from all over the country as well as our local breweries from right here in the Cincinnati area. It was a great day for some outdoor beer drinking and a good time for all. Check out some of my footage here and Cheers!

Friday, September 8, 2017

Beer Review: Guinness Draught

The Guinness Draught from Guinness is a classic in the beer world and a staple that all beer lovers and drinkers pretty much know. The Draught version is a Dry Irish stout which I have drank many times in the past, but oddly enough it is also one that I hadn’t reviewed. So what better time than the present to do so, as it was another beer that was included in the Brewers Project from Guinness that I had previously purchased. This version of stout comes in with an alcohol content of 4.2% ABV making it a sessionable beer to which many have certainly enjoyed as such, and has also been characterized as being a great low calories option for those watching the waistline. I’m not doing that but I am drinking beer, so let’s take a look at it shall we? And please feel free to comment and share any views that you may have too. I always enjoy and encourage feedback, that being said check out the video for my take and Cheers!



Brewery Links:

Guinness: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/

Guinness Draught: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/our-beers/guinness-draught/

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Beer Review: Guinness Dublin Porter

The Dublin Porter is one more of the beers that I picked up recently with the mixed Brewers Project from Guinness. This beer comes in at a low and I mean low alcohol content, as it is only 3.8% ABV. The idea of a session beer definitely comes to mind. But it’s all part of the project, so looking forward to checking this one out and hoping it provides to be a good one. Let’s see how it goes, and check out my video here to see my thoughts on this porter ale. If you have had this one before then please feel free to comment with your thoughts as well, as I always enjoy comparing feedback. Thanks for checking out the site and review!

Cheers and remember to subscribe to get updates as they are released!



Brewery Links:

Guinness: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/

Dublin Porter: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/our-beers/guinness-dublin-porter/

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Beer Review: Guinness West Indies Porter

The Brewers Project from Guinness seems to be how Guinness is looking to introduce other beers to the market, and their West Indies Porter falls right in line. With an alcohol content of 6% ABV, the West Indies Porter comes in at a decent level for a porter. I am looking forward to taking a look at this one and as a fan of Guinness; I am hoping this beer holds up to the Guinness name. Check out my video here to see my thoughts and if this beer delivers. And if you have had this one then please feel free to also comment and share your views, I would like to know what others feel about this beer as well. Thanks for watching and Cheers!



Brewery Links:

Guinness: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/

West Indies Porter: https://www.guinness.com/en-us/our-beers/guinness-west-indies-porter/

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Smuttynose Zinneke | Beer Review | 8.7% ABV

Zinneke is a Belgian-style stout that was released by Smuttynose Brewing and although it is now no longer in production, I was able to locate one during a past beer run and it is the subject of my next beer review here. This beer comes in with an alcohol content of 8.7% ABV and an IBU level of 46. Smuttynose Brewing is based out of Hampton, New Hampshire and always seem to have some pleasant beers. I am looking forward to checking this one out, so check out my video here to see what I think about this hybrid of two styles. And if you have had this one then feel free to comment and let me know any thoughts that you may have.

Keep drinking those good craft beers and Cheers!



Brewery Links:

Smuttynose Brewing: https://smuttynose.com/

Zinneke: https://smuttynose.com/beer/zinneke/

Monday, September 4, 2017

Beer Review: New Holland Dragon's Milk Reserve: S'mores

From New Holland Brewing Company comes the Dragon’s Milk Reserve: S’mores Bourbon barrel stout and my look at this one thanks to my buddy Eric and make sure you check out his YouTube Channel EricALionsFan. He has some great beer reviews as well as some other things from around Michigan.

This beer itself has an alcohol content of 11% ABV and I am looking forward to seeing what it has to offer for sure. The beer itself is only offered in July according to the website, so glad that I was able to receive it for sure. Check out my video to see what I find and discuss the barrel aged stout in more detail. I will also share Eric’s link below so you can check out his channel, and again thanks buddy. Cheers!

Eric’s Link for EricALionsFan: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ucenf13Dhrhw9OqpCJMBA



Brewery Links:

New Holland Brewing: http://newhollandbrew.com/beer/

Dragon’s Milk Reserve S’mores: No listing on the site since beer is not offered now

Talking Hops: Alpha Acid And Why It Matters

Ever wonder what alpha acid means and why the percentage matters as it relates to brewing? I have been asked about this from time to time and just thought that I would share a post from Wikipedia which gives a pretty good summary.

In essence though, the higher the alpha acid percentage then the higher the potential bittering effect as the new compound is created. This why hops like Simcoe and Amarillo have become key favorites for many pale ales and their variants.

Just a little beer knowledge to share and click the link here: Alpha Acid to go to the Wikipedia post for more details. Cheers!





Sunday, September 3, 2017

Beer Review: Deschutes Swivelhead Red

This is my look at Swivelhead Red from Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, Oregon. This red India style ale comes in with an alcohol content of 6.5% Abv and an IBU level of 70. It is highlighted as having a nice hop aroma and a smooth caramel maltiness in flavor and taste. Check out my video here to see my thoughts on this beer and check out my Untappd if you would like to see my rating for this ale. Let’s crack it open and see what it has to offer and as always, keep drinking those good craft beers. Cheers!



Brewery Links:

Deschutes: https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

Swivelhead Red: https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/beer/swivelhead-red/

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Beer Review: Thirsty Dog Bernese Barley Wine

The Bernese Barley Wine Ale from Thirsty Dog Brewing Company out of Akron, Ohio is my latest subject here for a beerventure and beer review. This ale comes in with an alcohol content of 10.5% ABV along with an IBU level of 75, but don’t think hoppy as this one is definitely smoothed out by the malts that were used. It is also a seasonal offering available from November to March but as you can imagine, it is a beer that can be cellared and is often encouraged to do so by Thirsty Dog. It is available in four packs, although I was able to purchase as an individual.

But as for the beer itself, check out my video to catch my full details on this one. But in short, I was overall pleased with this offering and always tend to enjoy a good barley wine. The appearance, aroma and taste were all solid and did well meeting what it should for the style. For me I rated it 4.25 out of 5 and would definitely enjoy it again. Check out my video to see why and if you have had this beer then feel free to leave comments on your thoughts as well. And as always, keep drinking those good craft beers and Cheers!



Brewery Links:

Thirsty Dog Brewing: http://thirstydog.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT

Bernese Barley Wine: http://thirstydog.com/news/images/Barley-Wine-Ale-Sell-Sheet.jpg

Friday, September 1, 2017

Beer Review: West Sixth Transylvania Tripel

The Transylvania Tripel is a limited offering from West Sixth Brewing out of Lexington, Kentucky and there is nothing scary about this Belgian-style Tripel. Coming in with an alcohol content of 9% ABV this take on the Belgian ale style is done so in a nice way that keeps that to which we are accustomed, but also allows them to add their little twist. Good appearance, aroma and flavor all around highlighted this beer for me, but check out my video here to see and hear my thoughts in more detail. You will see why this was an easy 4.25 out of 5 for me.

Keep drinking those good craft beers, Cheers!



Brewery Links:

West Sixth Brewing: https://www.westsixth.com/#home-section

Transylvania Tripel: https://www.westsixth.com/transylvania-tripel

Beer Review: De Struise Brouwers Aestatis

Here is my look at Aestatis from De Struise Brouwers, this Imperial Saison ale comes from Belgium and was brewed in collaboration with Monks CafĂ© and Brewery. I happened to find this little dandy while on a beer run, of course, but had no idea about it because very little was given on the label. But what the label did have was an alluring look and that sold me enough because as many of you know, I enjoy finding good Belgian ales. Alcohol content on this beer is 11% ABV and IBU level is noted at 59. Now, the one that I am reviewing here is the vintage 2015 edition, and I have not seen any newer than this so it may not be in production anymore. The fact that I couldn’t find it on their site kind of makes me think this as well, if anyone else knows different then please let me know by leaving a comment.

Away from all of that stuff the beer itself played out magnificently, so much that I ended up providing a personal rating of 4.75 out 5. Check out my video here to see why and as always, keep drinking those good craft beers. Cheers!



Brewery Links:

De Struise Brouwers: https://struise.com/

Aestatis: No link on website found

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