It's Time for a Attitude Adjustment

Digging the color of this one!

Sunday afternoon and you are dreading the upcoming work week. I have the perfect cure for that! Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) Pale Ale from White Elm Brewing Company will raise your spirits and remove the doom and gloom thoughts!

The color is definitely an attention grabber! This 6.0% ABV Pale Ale has a light body and is full of citrus and stone fruit notes. The finish is very mild from a hop bitterness perspective. Such a wonderful beer to enjoy this past weekend!

White Elm Brewing has a positive attitude toward brewing exceptional beer!

Cheers!

Now That's Italian!

The gold etched glass is a perfect touch to this classy Pilsner!

It is always interesting to see the different takes on Pilsners. You have your German, Czech, and now Italian Pilsners. The simplistic definition of an Italian Pilsner is a German Pilsner that has been dry hopped with Noble hops. The idea is lots of hop aroma without the hop bitterness.

The Zipline Brewing Co. version is crisp and clean with a dry, somewhat spicy finish. They used Italian-grown barley and lightly dry hopped with Hallertau and Saphir hops to create this 5.0% ABV lager.

I want to try this with various pasta dishes. I believe it would pair very well!

Cheers!

We Belong Together

End of the Route is an amazing beer any time of the year!

I got caught up in a Boyz ii Men moment when I was about to take that first sip! “We belong together, and you know that I am right. Why do you play with my heart, why do you play with my mind.”

Early this year, I had just a small taste of End of the Route from Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales, and I had this incredible connection. I had this bottle at home, and my stomach was full of butterflies anticipating opening it tonight!

I am not a guy with a great nose, but at first, I picked up an oak aroma. Then as I let the glass sit for a while, I got some bourbon and vanilla. This is my first wheat wine so I don’t have anything to compare it to. All I know is I love the dark fruit (raisin, date) notes combined with the bourbon and vanilla! Soft body and warming. This is one you want to submerge yourself in that leather couch and enjoy the moment!

Oh, I bet you saw that 13.5% ABV. Yes, it is up there, so please take your time to take in this one!

Cheers!

Willie's Fruit Stand NEIPA

Hopsy needed some shade on this scorching June afternoon to enjoy this IPA

Always fun when beer friends travel and bring back some of the great ones they enjoyed on vacation! This is my first beer from 3 Car Garage Brewing Co. out of Bradenton, Florida. The name of this one has me thinking of driving along the ocean and stopping in for some fresh oranges and grapefruit!

Willie’s Fruit Stand NEIPA has distinct orange and grapefruit notes upfront. The body is soft and holds the citrus notes until the end, where you get some hop dankness. A nice 6.5% IPA to savor in the shade today with the temperature in the upper 90s.

Cheers!

Bringing Sexxxy Back!

Step aside Timberlake, Lupulin Brewing out of Big Lake, Minnesota is bringing sexxxy back! Sexxxy Hops Hazy Triple India Pale Ale will have you saying Yes, Yes, OMG Yes!

Tropical notes up front quickly fade into this supercharged, hop buzz in your mouth. The finish is nice and dank! A powerful combination of Strata, Idaho 7, and El Dorado hops in a 10.5% ABV, 45 IBU IPA. I don’t know how you can get to this ABV level without being overpowered by the malt, but Lupulin Brewing has it figured out!

Oh, and you know what else is sexy? The crazy, cool label art Lupulin Brewing has! You have to make it a top priority to get your hands on this IPA and anything else from this brewery.

Cheers!

The Harvester

This is one freaking cool label

I am always intrigued by a good Saison, but I am all in when you see a label as sweet as this one!

The Harvester from Jukes Ale Works is spot on for the style. I love the light body and spiciness of this beer. Each sip draws you in, and the dry finish has you wanting to reach for the glass very quickly! I think it has the perfect ABV, around 6.3%.

This Saison, for me, is unique in that it has a good deal of Rye malt that adds to the spiciness. I am looking forward to having this beer on the patio while grilling or smoking some fine meat! I am anxious to see how it pairs with different kinds of smoked meat.

If you haven’t been to Jukes Ale Works, it is an excellent place for the fantastic craft beer and the great food. Also, their rooftop patio adds to the wonderful experience!

Cheers!

Reflections of Thickets and Thorns

As a mediocre photographer, I was excited to review Thickets and Thorns from Vis Major Brewing Co because of its beautiful color. The sun was bright, and as I started to take the photos, the color depending on the sun was this deep crimson to a more brilliant red. To top it off, no matter the angle, I was getting lots of reflections!

If you were to reflect on this raspberry Saison, the berry aroma is an excellent attention grabber. The tartness of the raspberry and the dryness of this Saison have cider and wine characteristics. I think that is why Mrs. Joe has enjoyed this one and only beer in her travels with me!

The finish has those peppery notes you will find in the Saison style. Thickets and Thorns is a unique beer that is quite the sipper coming in at 9.1% ABV!

Take time to seek sanctuary at Vis Major Brewing to enjoy their wide variety of craft beer in an extremely inviting atmosphere.

Cheers!

Deep Into The Abyss

“Admiral, I am not sure my nerves can take it much longer. Are we close yet?” The admiral replies only in the darkest, deepest part of the sea will you find the treasure you are looking for.”

All of a sudden, there were screams! Ok, it was me; I was freaked out by the huge octopus that attached itself to the vessel. Somehow without any water getting in, the wonderful elixir Admiral Abyss from Odd13 Brewing appeared!

I love the label art, so I had to have some fun with this one! This Chocolate Milk Stout has deep roasty chocolate notes both upfront and in the finish. The middle has a touch of sweetness in this smooth, full-bodied Stout. Very enjoyable at 7% ABV.

Be adventurous and find some Odd 13 Brewing beers today!

Cheers!

Are You a Yooper?

Can anyone identify the location of the where this picture was taken?

I never knew there was this thing about Yoopers and Trolls in Michigan. It seems it has a lot to do about what peninsula area you live in.

In the name of research, I had to try the Yoop Juice IPA from Site-1 Brewing! This American IPA was made with only hops from Michigan. The hop profile is Mackinac, Emerald Spire, and Michigan Copper hops. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but oh my was there some delightful peach, apricot, and canteloupe notes in this IPA!

The color reminds me of when my dad would cut a nice ripe canteloupe from our garden! Medium, soft body for this 6.5% ABV, 66 IBU IPA. The finish is somewhat dank, which adds to the experience of this American IPA.

I think I could be a Yooper!

Cheers!

Do You MoZee?

How often do you slow down in life to take a pleasant stroll or to spend several minutes taking in that latest Toppling Goliath Brewing IPA? If you are pondering this question, then it is time I show you how to MoZee!

Looks can be deceiving as when I see a hazy-bodied IPA. My mind immediately thinks this is going to be fruity and somewhat sweet. I have been spending a good deal of time with this IPA trying to enjoy the complexity of the hop combination of Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic hops. The first impression is that this is a drier IPA pulling in grapefruit, tropical fruit, and white wine notes. The finish has a decent level of bitterness that lingers on the back of your tongue.

MoZee comes in at 6.2% ABV and 30 IBUs and is delightful for those of us who truly enjoy IPAs.

Cheers!

Apricot Au Poivre Saison

Beautifully aged in a Chardonnay Barrel

When I purchased this reserved series Saison, I thought about the apricot tree in my grandfather’s yard. When the fruit became ripe, it was a treat to pick and eat them! The thing I love about an apricot is that it has great flavor without being overly sweet. Over the years, I have had a few apricot beers, but never a barrel-aged one, so I was intrigued by Apricot Au Poivre Saison from Nebraska Brewing Company!

The nose on this Belgian Saison is a light apricot and wine aroma. The front end has apricot notes that blend into the tartness of the Chardonnay from the barrel-aging. The mouthfeel is light with a good amount of carbonation from this bottle-conditioned Ale. The pepper note becomes present as you reach the middle and adds to the irresistible dry finish.

A delightful warming beer at 7.5% ABV that I believe beer and wine enthusiasts will both enjoy!

Cheers!

A Tribute to Betty

Nothing better than a leather couch, fire place roaring, and a glass of 2020 MOAB

What does it take to be The Mother Of All Bettys? It is like saying what doesn’t it take to be the Mother Of Dragons but in a more significant way!

This Russian Imperial Stout from Nebraska Brewing Company is everything you love in Little Betty but amplified 100 times! The nose is bourbon and molasses. The deep, dark chocolate notes are impressive. A bit of dark fruit works its way in with the bourbon that adds to the flavor profile.

MOAB has a full mouthfeel that is also silky. The body is perfect for holding all of the flavors together. You would think that this beer having twice the average amount of malt and being double mashed would be overly sweet. This is not the case with this Stout that is so well balanced. How can that be? A good dose of Warrior hops is the key to balancing out the finish.

Nebraska Brewing Company does a great job barrel-aging beers. In terms of MOAB, the bourbon barrel definitely enhances without overpowering the flavor of this incredible Stout.

The 2020 version of MOAB came in at 13.7% ABV. A warming, fantastic Stout that everyone should experience in their life. If you get the chance, raise a glass and look to the stars remembering every great Betty that has walked this earth.

Cheers!

Deftones Ceremony

The head on this beer is like a light, fluffy cloud

Is it possible that this solar-powered light can absorb all the energy from this bright IPA?

Deftones Ceremony from Belching Beaver Brewery is a Double Dry Hopped light hazy IPA. The aroma from this IPA is light tropical fruit. The head is this light and fluffy, reminding you of flying through a cloud.

There are tropical and stone fruit notes up front, with apricot and mango being the most dominant flavors. There is also a slight sweetness that fades into this incredible herbal darkness. I would love to know what hops are in this beer!

The slightly hazy IPA is full of flavor and so enjoyable. It comes in at 6.5% ABV and 30 IBUs. A perfect choice to warm your spirits on a January day!

Damn Good Times.

Cheers!

Rock Song, Cigar, or Oatmeal Stout?

A great Stout to enjoy on a cold, winter’s night

You would be correct if you answered yes to all of the questions! I have a feeling that Sweet Euphoria from Pint Nine Brewing Company was named after the song by Chris Cornell knowing James Watson’s music background!

This full-bodied Oatmeal Stout is super roasty and creamy. Check out that beautiful thick, tan head on this Stout; quite impressive, isn’t it! The mouthfeel is incredibly soft and allows coffee, chocolate, and nutty notes to come through. This Stout is a decent warmer coming in at 7.3% ABV.

So the next time you see a Euphoria fragrance commercial, think to yourself, I bet that is the feeling you get after having the Sweet Euphoria Oatmeal Stout.

Cheers!

Joy to BCS Café de Olla Stout!

I have held onto this one for 2 years and it was worth the wait!

I usually am the type of person that gets way too excited to hold onto a beer for very long. Every time I saw the Café de Olla Stout, I wanted to open it! A coffee, bourbon stout is music to my tastebuds, but then you throw in cassia bark, orange peel, and panela sugar, and it is a whole new ballgame!

Goose Island Beer Company has been making Bourbon Count Stout since 1992. They have generated such an immense following that lines are waiting outside of stores across the United States on Black Friday. The base BCS is awesome, but it is also very rewarding to get your hands on any of the variants!

I was utterly blown away by the deep, dark chocolate notes in this beer! The secondary notes are the coffee, bourbon, and tartness in the middle, which I am guessing is from the orange and spicy cinnamon-like characteristics of the cassia bark. The finish is more chocolate, but it is sweet chocolate this time, which frankly is mind-blowing!

It is a given that this one is quite the warming beer since it comes in at 13.5% ABV. Being a lover of great coffee, I need to get some of the Intelligentsia coffee used in this stout!

Café de Olla Stout has been a wonderful way to enjoy this winter evening. I would say I now have a bigger smile than Rudolph, and my nose might be just as red.

Cheers!

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Inspired by Jonathan Zierdt who passed away from cancer this spring.

We all are inspired by those that fight the battle with cancer. Hero Hazy IPA is a tribute to a gentleman who had close ties to Luplin Brewing and the Mankato Brewery. This beer is for Jonathan Zierdt and the support of those dealing with this terrible disease.

I am new to Lupulin Brewing out of Big Lake, Minnesota. Recently they began distributing to my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. This Hazy IPA they have created packs an enormous amount of tropical fruit aroma! Upfront, you will get pineapple, citrus, mango, and a touch of stone fruit notes. A nice transition from the sweet fruit notes to a spark of hop bitterness balances out this hazy IPA very nicely!

For those that like to know more about the details on the beer, here are the details.

Malts: 2-Row Barley, Flaked Barley, Spitz Malt

Hops: Citra, Eldorado, Mosaic, Mandarina Bavaria

ABV: 8.18%

IBU: 66

SRM: 6

I really enjoyed this IPA and I am looking forward to trying more beers from Lupulin Brewing!

Cheers!

Fiesta De Sol

Celebrate every day that you have a great Mexican Lager

Fall is upon us, and all I can think about are those warm summer days with an easy-drinking Lager.

Site-1 Brewing has created a fantastic Mexican Lager called Fiesta De Sol. My Spanish is poor, but I believe this translates to something like Celebration of the Sun, from what I can tell.

The color is bright yellow with a thin white head. The flavor is bready with this light spiciness in it. This exchange of mild saltiness and sweetness adds to the experience of this light-bodied lager!

You can also celebrate that this beer is only 4.5% ABV allowing you to enjoy more than one!

Stop in at Site-1 Brewing in Omaha, Nebraska, at 25th and Farnam Street to enjoy a great selection of craft beer, cocktails, and food.

Cheers!

In Search of the Great Pumpkin ... Ale

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

Just like Charlie Brown, I am in the search for the Great Pumpkin! The one I have been searching for is an ale with those amazing pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The presence of the spices needs to be well balanced with the ale. Too much cinnamon and might as well be having a Fireball. Not enough, then it is just another disappointment.

This year a friend gave me a Schlafly Pumpkin Ale to try. I was excited to see how this one would be because the prior selections were not hitting the mark this year.

Nice nose with the spices present. Pumpkin and caramel notes wrapped in the pumpkin pie spices. Mild carbonation and medium body that makes it an excellent sipper! This ale comes in at 8.0% ABV, which you notice on the backend with a bit of warming in your belly!

What an excellent pumpkin ale! So glad to get to try this one. I am looking forward to having other beers from Schlafly.

Cheers!

Pucker Up!

Don’t worry; Joe is not asking you for a kiss! This is all about the tartness of the style of craft beer known as Gose. As for where Gose came from, it was Goslar, Germany. The grain bill is at least 50% malted wheat. The style is very tart and even sour. The saltiness is a personal favorite characteristic. Lastly, the ABV is typically lower between 4 and 5 percent.

Gose is a style that is very new to me. I think I have had like 5 in total. What I get out of this Weldwerks Brewing Co Gose is lots of lime notes. I haven’t had Guava fruit before, so not sure what to expect on flavor from it. The carbonation is nice, and I really enjoy the salty body. One thing I did notice was that I found it to be more enjoyable colder. As it warmed, it wasn’t as good.

Cheers to a trying new style of beer!

See You Later Rubber Ducky There's a New Ducky in Town

This is the second collaboration beer that I have had from Lua Brewing and Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. and it was everything I expected it would be!

OG Duckies is a hazy DIPA coming in at 8.5% ABV. The nose on this one is full of citrus aroma with a touch of earthiness. For me, the prominent notes are stone fruit, especially peach. The secondary notes are citrus that end up finishing on the dank side. The body is lighter for a hazy but fabulous!

This IPA has a unique blend of Citra, Strata, Idaho 7, and Cryo Pop hops. Incredible flavor to enjoy in the tub without your rubber ducky!

Cheers!