Maui Brewing is obviously from Hawaii and it very recently began distribution in our area. I bought it because it has a awesome picture on it. It’s classified as a premium lager at 4.5%.
This beer pours a very clear light yellow color with a white type head.
Aroma is bitter pilsener malts and grains. Slight metal and sweetness.
Flavor is sweet malts with a bready grain flavor. It finishes much the same.
Pretty straightforward brew. Cheers!
So very nice that my faith in the Mavericks last night was validated! They move on to the 2nd round and I move on to Day 118. I also thought it would be appropriate to feature YET ANOTHER beer from Oregon….just to rub some salt on it. 🙂
Rogue Ales are based out of Newport, OR, so not quite Portland but still within the same state. This beer is classified as a Heller Bock or a Maibock. This beer was originally created in celebration of All Souls Day, November 1st. Apparently it was so popular they decided to put it into regular rotation. Now it’s one of their top sellers!
This beer pours clear copper orange color with a foamy white head. Very carbonated.
The aroma is woody sweet with a dry bitter maltyness. There is also some sort of spice that I can’t exactly place. It’s like a mix of fruity notes and woody, earthy spices.
The flavor is spicy with hops and bitterness, with sweet flavors of fruit and sugar. The malty flavors come in afterwards that finish with a tea-like flavor. Interesting…to say the least. I would drink this again if it were offered me, but it is honestly not my favorite style.
Cheers!
Just sitting down for the night to watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Portland Trailblazers. If Dallas wins tonight they move on to the next round. Excuse me, I should say “WHEN” Dallas wins. This makes tonight’s beer just about perfect for this situation.
Widmer is based in Portland, OR, the city of the soon-to-be losers. Their Broken Halo is an India Pale Ale at 6%, and it was the very first IPA I ever tried. I had no idea what to expect and the taste of hops bowled me over. I remember calling it a Christmas Tree Beer, because that’s what it reminded me of. It has been awhile since I’ve approached this beer again and it is definitely time. I also read an article recently that said Widmer was thinking about phasing this beer out. I’m not sure if that was for good or if they were just referring to their seasonal mix pack. Either way, I need to get on this one. Check out how appropriate my glass is too.
When I got this glass, it wasn’t really basketball season and the beer they put in it had nothing to do with basketball, so I never really understood what the deal was. Now I realize that I got this glass for this night; this very moment in time! To watch the Mavericks sail on past the Blazers.
The beer pours a clear yellowish orange color with a fizzy white head. Nice basketball net around the edges too.
The aroma is, wow, LOTS of hops! Just like I remember. It is sappy and spicy with a strong citrus and pine element. Lots of outdoors characteristics. For my first IPA I sure picked a kicker!
The flavor is sharp hops and bitter grain. Very piney in taste with some sap and resiny notes. Leafy with some bready finishings. Dry finish as well. This seems like the type of beer where if it were then it would be quite intense. Not sure the age on this bottle but I think it might even get more intense then it already is. I certainly like it more this go around though.
Go Mavs!
(Special note: When I began this post I was under the impression I would be drinking an Oktoberfest beer today, but halfway through my post I realized this was not the case. But I had written so many good things about Oktoberfests in general so I decided to leave it all. Just deal with it.)
Don’t hate on me; some people start their Oktoberfest celebrations early! 🙂 As you may or may not be aware, Oktoberfest is a multi-week celebration held in Munich. It was first started in 1810 and continues on today as a very important part of Bavarian culture. It is traditionally held at the end of September, sometimes pushing into the first few days of October. The style of beer that is most celebrated during this festival is the Märzen, or the Oktoberfest. This is a dark lager style of beer that is usually fairly malty and can be higher in alcohol, although traditionally they were around 5%.
(Just google Oktoberfest women and you will love the results!)
So you may be asking yourself, “What the heck Cavie? Why are you reviewing an Oktoberfest beer now? It’s only April!” Well that’s a fantastic question. I honestly had not planned on reviewing any until September, at which time I would do a week dedicated to the style. I still may do that, but for this review there is a very good reason. A local bar, The Flying Saucer is hosting this beer for their pint night. No big deal right? Yeah that’s exactly what I thought. I can find this beer anywhere in DFW during the real Oktoberfest so why spend my money and gas on this now? Well……as you know I am quite the glassware collector, and when I saw what the glass looked like, I couldn’t pass it up. You’ll see.
Warsteiner Brauerei is based in Warstein, Germany and has been family owned and operated since 1753. It is also Germany’s largest privately owned brewery. The beer I am actually drinking has an ABV of 4.8% and is classified as a Classic German Pilsener.
Check it out! A freaken BOOT OF BEER! Totally awesome and worth it. Their are 2 main sizes of glass beer boots, 1 and 2 liters. The one that I have now is a 1L, with a sweet Warsteiner crest embossed on it. There are a few legends about how the boot came to be a popular drinking vessel, most of which have to do with soldiers during war-time. The real truth is, with the release of the movie Beerfest, a fictional movie about an invitation only beer festival in which the contestants compete in olympic-style drinking games, came the interest in drinking from a boot. Much of the plot line in this film revolves around the odd shape of the boot and how to correctly drink from it without a bubble forming in the toe that results in the beer exploding in the drinker’s face. I’m not sure if this is actually true but I won’t be testing it out tonight as I’m at the bar. Maybe some day.
Wow this place is pretty busy, and as soon as I walked in I heard someone shout “DAS BOOT!” Haha I’m in the right place. “What’ll it be?” the bartender asks me. “I’ll take a boot” I answer in the most gruff, Texan accent I can muster. She smiles, disappears behind the counter and returns with a glorious shining boot ‘o beer! $20? Yikes! I’ll tab out please. (side note they sold out in 15 minutes)
Anyways, enough about the glass. It’s totally awesome but absolutely worth it to enhance my glassware collection.
On to the beer….
The beer pours a very clear, light yellow color with a foamy white head. And it’s in a boot.
Aroma is lots of pilsener grains and dry malts. Has the almost metallic touch that most Bavarian pilseners have to them. I believe the water there is harder than what I am accustomed to drinking and is rich in minerals which may explain my sedimentary sense. It also comes in a boot.
Holy crap. So I’ve been drinking this for awhile now while I’ve been blogging on my phone, and I just now reached the part where the toe will contain an air bubble. I KID YOU NOT, the moment the air bubble reached it, the beer bubbled like crazy and beer started shooting out the top of it! If I wouldn’t have realized it, I would have ended up with a face full of beer! Beerfest was absolutely right about that! I’m shocked. Ok now to employ the rotating method they discuss in the film.
The taste is lots of grain and light malts. Very bready as it warms. Some metallic tastes as well with a lightly bitter finish. Annnnnnnd it’s in a boot.
Man the beer was just so-so but the glass….WOW!
CHEERS!
We have a staple in Belgian beer for today, which is even more well known for it’s distinctive glassware. I’ve got both!
Duvel is brewed by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery located in Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium. The brewery opened in 1871 and release some very well known Belgian beers, with Duvel being the most recognized. The Danish word for “devil”, Duvel was described as being “a devil of a beer” which earned it it’s current moniker. The beer is classified as a Belgian Strong Ale and carries with it an alcohol percentage of 8.5. The Duvel glass is also very distinctive and quite recognizable. Many consider it to be the standard of the tulip style, with an oversized bowl, gently sloping sides and a very wide flare at the rim. The glasses are also laser-etched in the bottom to create a continuous stream of carbonation to hold the distinctive white head. The Moortgat Brewery also had a hand in establishing the Ommegang Brewery in the US and currently owns it as well.
Very much looking forward to this one….
Before I get into the beer I’ve got to mention some things that are printed on the label. First off on the front it instructs the drinker to “pour unhurriedly”. This is to what I assume slowly develop a tall frothy head while leaving the yeast to deposit at the very end. Also, on the back of the label is printed some of the best advice I’ve had in a long while. It says “best served chilled with discerning friends or good-looking strangers”. And with that, I drink.
It pours a clear to slightly hazy golden color with a very tall white head. The head actually continues to develop well after the drink has been poured and only begins to fall in well after.
The aroma is fresh and sweet. Sharply sweet fruit such as banana and orange can be detected, with a light touch of darker berries. I’m also getting just a hint of alcohol that this beer delivers. Light yeasty notes.
Flavor is tart grape juice at first, with a dry bittering grain soon after. Other sweet fruit notes begin to emerge after it warms, as does an increasingly stronger throat tingle.
Don’t be fooled, this beer packs a punch. However it is very flavorful and is no wonder why it is so well recognized and enjoyed by many a beer enthusiast.
Cheers!
Day #114. This day is special to me for a few reasons. When I was in college I was in the band service fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi. I was an active member for several years and had quite a lot of fun doing it. Our particular chapter was number 114, so we went nuts over anything 114. We’d take pictures with highway mile-markers, addresses, room placards…you name it. 1919 is also significant because it is the year the fraternity was founded. Glad I made it to 114. AEA brothers!
1919 Choc Beer comes from Petes Place, which is a brewpub in Krebs, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is one of the few states that has very strict regulations on alcohol. They cap the alcohol level that can be sold at grocery stores at 3.2%; anything higher must be sold at a liquor store. They also have some sort of limits on Sunday sales. I dropped by this brewpub on the way home from Oklahoma a few years ago, but they wouldn’t sell me any of their beer because it was Sunday. Well I take that back, they did offer me their lightest one which I think was in the 2% range but I passed on it.
This beer is classified as a wheat ale and measures right at 5%.
Pours a clear yellow color with lots of white foamy head. This is bottle conditioned so there was lots of yeast sediment at the bottom of the bottle, but I chose not to pour it in with the beer.
The aroma is very dusty, like what you might shake off an old box found in the attic. Dusty smell with a bit of aging grains and perhaps light lemon? Not a whole lot of citrus but just enough to detect it.
Flavor is grainy with lots of wheat tones and definite lemon flavor. The finish is slightly sweet with the taste of fruit and wheat with some sweet malts as well. Not bad, sort of dry.
Cheers and AEA!
Reviewing this beer on the road today. I am LIVE from the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington watching the Rangers play the Kansas City Royals. They have a pretty good record so far and hopefully they will keep it up!
I am quite the baseball fan and have grown up with the Rangers. I remember my mom pulling me out of school to go to opening day every year, and the most memorable was when their current ballpark opened in 1994. I’ve been hooked ever since. I was lucky to stumble upon this lovely beer stand called “Beers of Texas” and how could I pass that up?
I found plenty of great Texas beer available and a Rahr beer that I have yet to review! And what better time to review a Texas beer than under the Texas sky in the Rangers Ballpark? Let’s do this.
Rahr Blonde is classified as a Helles Lager which is in the pale lager family but has a little more “oomph” to it. Alcohol is at 4.6%. Sorry, no sweet glassware today. They served it in this dinky plastic cup. Whatever.
The appearance is a clear golden color with absolutely no head. Seriously I had to sip the cup before I could even pick it up. I KNOW this beer usually has a tall white head, it just wasn’t poured that way today.
The aroma is lots of grain. Grain and bread with some sweet malts. Light floral notes.
Flavor is sweet bread and fresh grain. It has the usual Rahr floral notes which I am now convinced are due to the house yeast strain they use. Very refreshing altogether. Just wish I didn’t pay $9 for a tall glass.
Cheers anyway! Oh and go Rangers!!
Spent the day playing golf. First round of the season and I shot a 93. Not bad for shaking off the winter rust.
Yes that is the Cowboys Stadium in the background. Now I’m home and flipping between the Mavericks in playoffs and the Rangers game tonight. 3 Dallas/Arlington sports references means it’s time for a beer….or 2 or 3 or 4. 🙂
Sierra Nevada is a BIG player in the US craft industry. Still 2nd behind Boston Beer Company but growing quickly. As far as I know the Kellerweis was first released in 2009 as a late spring seasonal. I haven’t tried it since 09. It’s a German Hefeweizen at 4.8%, and it seems like the right kind of day for a wheat beer.
The instructions on the label said for me to pour 2/3 of the bottle, swirl, then pour the rest. That’s what I did. I poured the first 2/3 and it was a very clear golden color. After I swirled the bottle and dumped the rest of it in, it turned a crazy yellow orange color that was very murky. Apparently this is bottle conditioned and they want you to dump all the yeast in. Well here we are. It also developed a tall white head that dissipated quickly.
The aroma is lots of banana. Lots of fruit and bready yeasty notes. Also a tart type of fruit like a grapefruit almost but not as intense. Some spice.
Flavor is of earthy clay, spicy bread, yeast and fruit. Bready and wheat dry finish. The clay follows through to the finish. Like a dry powdery feeling. Interesting.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s special LIVE ON THE ROAD REVIEW! It’ll be exciting.
Cheers!
Well this is not really a Texas Beer anymore but it used to be, and that counts for something right?
This beer was originally brewed by Celis Brewing which was based out of Austin, TX. In the 1990’s, Pierre Celis sold his company to Miller and moved to Belgium. Michigan Brewing Company purchased the Celis brand and beer and revived the label soon thereafter. It is now brewed in Webberville, Michigan at their brewery. I think the recipe is still somewhat similar to the original Celis beer but I am not certain. It is classified as a Belgian Witbier with an ABV of 3.9%. Very sessionable for sure!
This beer pours a hazy light yellow color with a very tall white head. The head response was immediate from the moment the liquid hits the glass.
The aroma is dry and dusty, with grain and a spicy clove element. I suppose I could pick out some lemon notes as well.
Flavor is sweet fruit with some zesty characteristics. The spice leaves a nice tingle on the tongue with some light bready notes. Light mouthfeel for sure. This has a nice finish too that is fairly refreshing. Definitely a hot day kind of beer.
Cheers!
Another Belgian beer for today. Hooray foreign beer!
Leffe Blonde was originally brewed at the Leffe Abbey in Belgium by the monks that lived there, but was bought out eventually by InBev Belgium making this….you guessed it….NOT OFFICIALLY CRAFT BEER. Remember to be a craft brewery it has to be small, traditional and independent. The independent part of this is what this beer lacks, as it is owned by a non-craft company. Oh well, I’ll still review it as it is a beer I purchased, AND I have a really cool glass to go with it. This beer is actually brewed at the Stella Artois brewery in Belgium now, cutting it’s ties with the original Leffe Abbey. It holds an ABV of 6.6% and is classified as a Belgian Ale. I am super official with my glass today.
This beer pours a mostly clear golden color with a solid white foam head. There are lots of carbonation bubbles emanating from the bottom of the glass.
The beer smells pretty good; actually I caught a whiff of it the moment I cracked the cap and that’s a good sign. I smell some sweet Belgian fruit and yeasty notes, kinda bready with perhaps a sweet touch of banana and grapes. Very appealing.
Flavor is pretty smooth with easy going spicy notes, soft fruit and a light tingle on the back of the throat. Very smooth and fruity. Clove notes as well give it the spicy kick I am enjoying. I am liking this! Too bad it’s not officially considered craft beer, but I’ll still give up a hearty Cheers!
A Year in Beer 