Ranchero is Spooktacular!

Ghoul approved

Mexican Lager has been a style that I have really started to notice over this past year. The history of Mexican Lagers is quite fascinating. It was the Austrian and German immigrants in Mexico wanting to make their lager recipes but realized it was difficult to get the malts they needed. The brewers decide to introduce an abundant resource of corn to produce a lighter lager with a hint of sweetness. Thus the Mexican Lager came into existence.

What a beautiful patio to enjoy a Ranchero!

The beauty of a good Mexican Lager is the malty soft bodied beer that many will equate to traditionally to being a summer beer. Lagers are excellent any time of year especially when you are looking for something that is not on the hoppy side.

Ranchero from Divots Brewery in Norfolk, Nebraska has put together a great recipe utilizing:

• German yeast

• German hop blend of Tradition and Magnum

• A nice bit of corn

The result is an easy drinking beer with such a slight bitterness of the hops that finishes just a bit sweet from the corn. The flavor for me is wonderful and I personally would pass on the lime to get everything I can out of this 4.6% ABV and 13 IBU beer.

I have gained a real appreciation for lagers this year and thanks to Divot’s Brewery for introducing me to the Ranchero!

Cheers!

Big Kahuna or Almond Joy?

Choices to be made!

When Groot offers you an Almond Joy or a Big Kahuna, what do you choose?

For me it has to be the Big Kahuna. I have been on a quest to find this beer for a long time! Brewed by Catalyst Brewing (formerly 5168 Brewing) out of Lincoln, Nebraska, they took an incredible Hawaiian Porter full of coconut, chocolate, and coffee and aged it for 12 months in a whiskey barrel.

What was the result? A really nice whiskey, oak bouquet with coconut and chocolate aroma. The whiskey flavor is forward but not too overpowering in this 10% ABV Imperial Porter. The chocolate and coconut comes through midway and lasts into the finish.

These young fellas seem to be super pumped about the Big Kahuna. You can’t blame them! No offense, Groot but I will take the Big Kahuna any day over an Almond Joy!

I now know what my Halloween treat needs to be every year.

Cheers!

Upside Down

Upside Down, the song by Diana Ross has lyrics that speak to the Inverted Mosaic from White Elm Brewing Company. Whether upside down or inside out, the piney, earthy, citrus flavor remains constant in this Double IPA. The body is nice and soft. I enjoy the hop bitterness finish of this 8.0% ABV DIPA.

White Elm Brewing from Lincoln, Nebraska. has well-crafted beer in many styles. I am a big fan of their IPAs and incredible stouts! If you are not in the Nebraska area, I have heard that you can find some of their brews on Tavour.

Cheers!

S'more Now

I will take my s’mores in liquid form any day around a nice fireplace

Every once and awhile, you have that beer that you say, “Wow I don’t think it gets any better than this!” Well S’more Now from Hwy 14 Brewing Co is one of them. The sweet chocolate grabs your attention right away. Then as you get in further, notes of graham cracker and marshmallow are introduced. The body is soft and silky. The flavor is just tremendous in this extremely sessionable 4.3% Porter. This is absolutely the best S’mores Porter I have ever had!

This is one brewery who crafts small batches of incredible beer. Take a trip to Albion, Nebraska to enjoy the brewery and the very cool main street of this town.

If you see Greg or Mandy, tell them Joe says “Hi.”

Cheers!

Max's Addiction

What to you get when you have a brewer named Max who loves Heath bars?  One hell of a toffee milk stout is the answer!  Max's Addiction will have you after the first sip of this wonderful chocolate and toffee milk stout.  Oh and if you stop in to the brewery, bring Max a few Heath bars to make sure he keeps brewing this beer.  Cheers!

Sorry Garfield, Your Now the #2 Fat Orange Cat

Looks like Garfield is not happy being #2

This is the second beer that I have had from Fat Orange Cat Brew Co and I am liking their brews! All Cats are Gray in the Dark is a White Stout. The first thing I noticed about this white stout compared to others I have had is its full body. It is thick and soft and a slight hint of booziness as it comes in at 7.2% ABV.

The forward notes are definitely full of chocolate with hints of vanilla. The middle has a slight sweetness that then turns to a bit of a coffee note and a noticeable balancing out with a little bit of bitterness. A very enjoyable beer!

This is probably my fourth or fifth white stout and it is very solid. I tend to like just a little bit more coffee flavor in mine but that is because I like coffee.

Find yourself some Fat Orange Cat craft beers. They have a great selection of styles. I know I enjoyed their NEIPA - I Don’t Like Mondays - how true!

Cheers!

Wind of Change

The wind of change is in the air. Though it is 90 degrees outside, my maple tree has some leaves already turning red. Seasons might be ready to change, but a great New England style IPA tastes good all year around!

Hazy Cosmic Jive from Divots Brewery in Norfolk, Nebraska is a captivating NE IPA starting with the brilliant orange color. Upfront, you will get orange citrus, peach, and mango flavor. A slight sweetness remains from the front to the middle of this soft bodied IPA. The finish has a little bit more earthy tones with some pine.

The hop profile is made up of Amarillo, Mosaic, El Dorado, and Azacca hops which pack about 40 IBUs in this 6.85% ABV beer.

Make the trip to Norfolk and enjoy the many styles of craft beer that Divots Brewery has to offer. I would bring a cooler, because they do have crowlers and I bet you will want to take some home with you.

Cheers!

Total Eclipse Dunkel Bock

You knew this one had to make the list the week that solar eclipse took place. This beer goes out to the people you meet when the moon crosses the sun!  I thought I was a big Total Eclipse fan until I met Sarah, Libby, and Nate this week.

This is one German style beer I had never heard of until I started going to Thunderhead Brewing. This deep brown malty beer is so smooth that for most, you would never guess that it is a 10% ABV brew. I also get some nutty tones with the Total Eclipse.  It is a great sipper with chilled or slightly warm. Give this one a try, you won't be disappointed!

Hoppy National IPA Day

Hopsy is ecstatic over this version of Fairy Nectar

What a day for a fresh beer release from Kros Strain Brewing Company! The dry hopped Sabro version has been highly anticipated. As I opened the can and poured into my glass, there was a great amount of tropical fruit aroma and for me it was primarily pineapple.

The front part of this New England styled IPA has wonderful tropical fruit flavor. The body is soft, but enough carbonation that really brings out an earthiness and somewhat spicy finish. I really enjoy that this IPA has all the fruit flavor without being sweet. I think the Sabro hops make this an intriguing variation of Fairy Nectar.

A beautifully colored tropical treat on National IPA Day! For those who like the technical details, the ABV is 6.2% and the IBUs come in at 65.

Cheers!

Keeping Your Eye on the Prize

Check out the nice bubbles in this beautiful Belgian Ale

So never in a million dreams could I pull off a 106C or forward triple flip. While taking swimming lessons, I dreaded the diving part. The instructor would shout out, “Keep your eyes on the prize”, shortly after that my belly flop would spray water all over!

I try to keep my eye on the prize when it comes to seeking out great craft beer. I will admit this summer I have found some really good Tripels and the latest is 106C Tripel from Crane Brewing.

The spiciness of the Belgian style beers is so intriguing. It is not a hot spiciness, it is an herbal, floral presence that enhances the fruit notes. I pick up peach and apricot notes primarily. This beer is nice and crisp. There is a little back end dryness and a white wine type of characteristic.

This is a gem of a tripel! It has so much flavor and each sip is very captivating. Little bit up there on the ABV at 8.0%. I recommend this to craft beer and wine lovers. I think both will enjoy this beer tremendously!

Cheers!

Elbow Fives Deserves a High 5!

A Colorado collaboration beer with Crook Stave and Westbound & Down

I love collaboration brews and this glass of sunshine was a great find! Crooked Stave and Westbound & Down breweries got together on this hazy, juicy DIPA called Elbow Fives.

Two awesome Colorado breweries. Crooked Stave out of Denver and Westbound & Down from Idaho Springs. A little research (but not confirmed) says that the hops used in this IPA were Azacca and Sabro. This would explain the citrus and tropical fruit flavor with notes of coconut. Nice soft mouth feel with a light carbonation. So much flavor packed into this 8.0% ABV DIPA!

I know why we have the elbow fives now, but just not into it. I suggest some nice sanitized hands and a High 5! Elbow Fives definitely deserves it.

Cheers!

Dessert Time!

Kros Strain Brewing Dessert Dreams

I am a big fan of Mexican Chocolate Stouts! When Kros Strain Brewing released Dessert Dreams, I had to try it.

One of the key characteristics I look for in this type of stout is to get that spicy heat in the finish. I can imagine it takes some experimenting to hit that sweet spot and Dessert Dreams did that. A very distinctive heat from the habaneros, guajillos, and ancho chiles.

The body of the stout is smooth and semi-sweet from the ghana cocoa nibs and lactose. The ABV is 6% so not too heavy to enjoy the 16 oz pour after dinner!

Great dessert beer and I highly recommend this one.

Cheers!

Dang This is Dope!

Zipline Brewing Co just keeps on creating the most interesting and delightful IPAs! Dope has been on my list for a few weeks now and I snagged a six pack to see for myself what everyone else was saying about it.

I love how the front end grabs your attention with a burst of citrus and tropical notes. The finish starts out with a dankness and slowly fades into a subtle bit of sweetness for me. I like the carbonation levels in this one, I think it really enhances the flavor profile!

Dope is made with these two hops:

• Lotus brings orange, vanilla, and tropical fruit notes. Orange is a big factor in the aroma also.

• Cashmere brings overtones of lemon, peach, and melon. The aroma is citrus and tropical fruit.

This IPA comes in at a healthy 7.7% but definitely doesn’t drink like that. Looking forward also to having this one on tap!

Cheers!

A Special Wood Werks

Isn’t the color incredible

I never turn down the opportunity to try something incredibly unique. A good friend got me this Great Divide barrel aged Old Fashioned inspired Belgian styled ale and I couldn’t wait to try it!

Immediately the aroma grabs you with fruit and floral scents. This beer is complex in trying to break down all of the flavors. I do get some of the cherry, but it is not overpowering. It seems to come out more in the finish for me. There is light fruit flavor throughout and you really get a nice maltiness in this beer. I am not a brandy drinker so I can’t exactly explain the details on what it provides other than some additional fruit tones and the light booziness of a barrel aged beer. Great Divide did a great job of not going to crazy on the alcohol as this beer comes in at 8.8% ABV.

I think this beer will attract a large audience of people. Those who enjoy craft beer, wine, and spirits. The uniqueness of the experience of having this beer is one you will be talking to friends about for weeks to come!

Cheers!

Mountain Standard IPA

It is not a West Coast IPA nor is it a New England style IPA. It is described as a Mountain style IPA. Odell Brewing Co. has come up with an excellent slightly hazy IPA that says I am what you need to quench your thirst after a long hike!

Mountain Standard IPA has light citrus and fruit notes up front. The back end is more piney and earthy. A nice level of carbonation makes this such a refreshing IPA! The IBUs come in at 39 and the ABV is 6.5%.

The bright color of this IPA matches your thoughts of a warm, colorful, and enjoyable day! I am glad I picked this one this weekend. It is a delightful beer!

Cheers!

I'm Nutty About This Zipline Brown Ale

I was in the mood for something more malty than hoppy. I looked in the beer fridge and their it was, the Nut Brown ale from Zipline Brewing Co out of Lincoln, Nebraska. The style is actually an English Brown Ale, so I quickly did some research as to find out more about the style.

English Brown Ales came from the English Mild Ale; however, the browns tend to be maltier and sweeter to the palate. The Nut Brown is definitely malty and forward sweet. The finish though is somewhat dry and that is where I picked up on some of the hazelnut notes.

This beer is brewed with a trio of golden, amber, and brown specialty malts giving it all of its unique characteristics. A very nice lower ABV beer coming in at 5.8%.

A great year around treat amongst all the other Brave New Brews that Zipline has to offer.

Cheers!

Barman Another Thornsberry's Best

An English Best Bitter and I didn’t have to go to London

I always have wondered what England pubs would be like. I didn’t realize that all bartenders and beertenders are called “barman”. If I were in an English pub and wanted to try a really good beer, then an English Bitter would be the way to go! This style in a Special or Best is very interesting in that the ABV is sessionable between 3 to 5.5%.

I think Thornberry’s Best from First Street Brewing Co out of Hastings, Nebraska might be my second beer in this style. The color ranges from golden to copper or amber. The flavor up front is mild with a touch of sweetness from the really nice maltiness. The middle and finish is where the spiciness and bitterness appears. From an IBU perspective, it comes in at 36 IBUs. The ABV is 4.3%.

I was outside at home enjoying Thornberry’s Best so I am not sure temperature wise where the beer was at, but it is one that you don’t want overly chilled. Anywhere between 40 and 50 degrees is a good range for this English Best Bitter (EBB).

What it is fun about craft beer road trips is finding styles of beer that normally would not be your go to, but ones that you completely enjoy! First Street Brewing has so many good beers and I always love my trips to Hastings.

First Class in every glass!

Cheers!

It's Coming Back To Me

What was it? A Hazy Memo - no that’s not right. Hazy Memory - that has to be it!

Lagunitas Hazy Memory is something you won’t forget! When you open the can there is a rush of peach, pineapple, and floral notes. This IPA pours with a nice amount of carbonation and a soft subtle hazy. The flavor is very tropical fruit with passion fruit, pineapple, and other citrus flavors. The finish has little to no bitterness.

Great hop profile that includes:

• Turbid Loral 291

• Hallertau Blanc

• Galaxy

• Citra

Super easy drinking but be careful! This hazy IPA comes in at 8% ABV!

Cheers!

Star Snake Dank IPA is Out of this World

A close encounter of the dank kind

If it weren’t for a cold December night and an Ashland, Nebraska patrolman having a close encounter, this beer may never have been created. The Los Angeles comic book author Michael Jasorka’s comic book, “December 3rd 1967: An Alien Encounter” was the inspiration for this Kinkaider Brewing Co. IPA.

Star Snake Dank IPA is in its second year and l was excited for the spring release. A beautiful golden color greets your glass. Not too much aroma with this one, it is very light. The front end of this IPA is malty and a little sweet. Quickly that fades into a grapefruit and piney finish. The bitterness of the hops lingers and stays with you.

A super fresh IPA that transitions from sweet to bitter in a genuinely nice way. This year’s version is lower in ABV than last year coming in at 6.5%. Not sure on what hops were used, but the IBUs come in around that 80 mark.

You will find Kinkaider Brewing Co in Broken Bow, Nebraska. They also have a restaurant and taproom in Grand Island and another taproom in Lincoln.

Always farm fresh when it comes to their beers!

Cheers!

It's Just a Phaze

Or is it? Are hazy IPAs just a phase that will come and be gone like the wind or are they here to stay?

The name of this Crane Brewing Co beer might start a debate but I would like to think that hazy IPAs are here to stay! When done right just like this one, you get to experience the aroma and flavor of the hops with the subdued bitterness that some people might not enjoy. The mouthfeel is soft but can still have a level of carbonation that enhances the flavors.

It’s Just a Phaze has amazing peach and apricot aroma. The front end of this IPA has lemon and grapefruit flavor that lingers into a nice, mild hop bitterness finish. Mouthfeel is soft and there is a decent level or carbonation that stays throughout the duration of the pour. At times it might remind you of a Farmhouse Ale. It comes in at 6.5% ABV and 60 IBUs.

I have had a few Crane Brewing beers and have enjoyed them all! I would put this one as my number one or two! If you make it through Raytown, Missouri, Crane Brewing better be on your list of places to stop!

Cheers!