Liberty Street The American IPA: Review

Liberty Street Brewery

Plymouth, Michigan, USA

Libertystreetbeer.com

6.7% abv

76 to 100 IBUs

$12 Growler

I have said it before, ‘I hate growlers.’  64 ounces of beer and I have to drink it the day I open it.  Some people say, it is still good for a day or two.  To me – No Way.  The next day it is flat.  I think the beer actually starts to break down with them pouring the brew into the growler and then you have to take it home. I swear the transportation helps to diminish the flavors and mouthfeel.  Then, pouring your beer from the growler is just plain awkward.

 

Appearance: a shiny golden amber body with a little white head that leaves some spotty lacing

Aroma: sweet cotton candy hops – grapefruit peel like; interesting – cotton candy grapefruit  

Flavors: candy like sugar swirls around pink grapefruit with a light pine aftertaste

Mouthfeel: low carbonation; medium body; moderate bitterness; dry; the light pine aftertaste lingers;

The cotton candy pink grapefruit was really noticeable on the first glass.

Doggy beer bong lid - Filler Up

To the Point: a nice, pleasing, rather simple IPA.  Easy to drink. 

Pair this with: white fish; how about soaking your shrimp and scallops in this ale and sprinkle some oregano or sage. 

Cigar pairing: Drew Estates Undercrown – which I smoked with this growler.    

Liberty Street Barber’s Garden IPA: Review

Liberty Steet Brewery

Plymouth, Michigan, USA

Libertystreetbeer.com

Growler $12.00

Using their American IPA recipe they use the hops from the plants they grow right next to their brewery.  Which they don’t explain but, I think there is a Barber shop next to them. 

Damn, I better stop peeing on them bushes.

The American IPA has a 6.7% abv with a 76 to 100% IBU. 

No notes about the Barber’s Garden on their website. 

Is this the old ‘Brewers Garden’?

Appearance: misty deep earthy gold body with a white one finger head that leaves a few spots of lacing.

Aroma: mild-medium floral hops

Flavors: medium floral hops, light piney bit, fruity underneath making me think of mango under a nice touch of pink grapefruit,

Mouthfeel: light carbonation; dry; moderate bitterness – maybe a 45 to 60 IBU; light bitterness on the finish and a lingering grapefruit like bitterness on the aftertaste; medium body;

To the Point: a nice tasting IPA; moderate (at best) bitterness for an IPA; fairly simple; making for an easy to drink IPA; 

Refer to the posting just before this one and did I say the Detroit Lions would do their best to lose that football game?  Yes!

I am sure glad I spent some time running to Liberty Street during this game.  I did something productive than watching a loser football program.  

Detroit Lions - SOL

The good ol’ Detroit Lions are playing Tampa Bay Buc’s.  The Buc’s have a losing record and are worst than the Pittsburg Steelers.  The Lions lost to the Steelers last weekend and don’t expect a miracle from the Lions – they will loss today.  

Why?

Because it is a game they ‘should’ win.  And this point here brings us back to the “Same Old Lions” SOL. 

I hear, Oh we beat the Bears!  Yes, we won that game by what 2 points – and they had a one legged quarterback who was playing the game with one hand on the football and the other hand on his … groan.  Then, the Bear put in the back-up quarterback on the last possession and the Lions made him look like Payton Manning.    

The TV announcer just made a comment about how great the Loins fans are for selling out this stadium year after year with a team that has a losing record year after year.  Is that ‘Great’ or is that ‘Stupid?’

I left and went to Liberty Street to buy a couple of growlers instead of just sitting and watching the Lions.  I am back just in time to watch the last quarter of the game and here we are watching the typical Lions.  Struggling to beat a really bad team.  If this is not the SOL – I’ll eat my own underwear. 

With 5:30 left they just fumbled.  Commercial break and then we'll hear the call. But, this is the typical Detroit Lions fall from power!  First Place!  They can't stand being in first place they will give it up.   

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale: Review

Samuel Adams

The Boston Beer Company

5.7% abv

Ale Brewed with Pumpkin and Spices

Appearance: dark dirty copper with a reddish tint; thin light tan head;

Aroma: nice pumpkin spice pie;

Flavors and Mouthfeel: fine fizzy carbonation feel; the spice is up front, allspice; hint of pumpkin; it has a nice ale quality,

To the Point: a nice Pumpkin Ale; I like the spicy brown notes; I’ll give this a B;

Pumpkin Ale reviews for the week: I reviewed all three on the same day; I preferred the Post Road Pumpkin Ale by Brooklyn Brewery; then the Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale; and then the New Belgium Pumpkick.

New Belgium Pumpkick: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

6% abv

Ale Brewed with Pumpkin Juice, Cranberry Juice and spices

Fall Seasonal

Appearance: shiny copper with an orange-ish tint; half-finger off-white head that did not stay around long

Aroma: hint of pumpkin pie; nice spice, cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg; I’m searching for the cranberry note – maybe my bloodhound wife can pick it up

Flavors and Mouthfeel: I pick up the tart cranberry on the palate; pumpkin pie like with nice allspice; flavors seem a little muddled; light carbonation; lightly dry;

To the Point: this is okay to good; might be a good introductory Pumpkin Ale; I’ll take the Post Road Pumpkin Ale over this one; but, I am not a big fan of Pumpkin Ales in the first place; if I was going to give this a grade I would give it a C+/B-

Post Road Pumpkin Ale: Review

The Brooklyn Brewery

Utica, New York, USA

Brooklynbrewery.com

5% abv

Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices

Appearance: lightly tarnish copper body with no head

Aroma: solid dash of allspice and a pinch of nutmeg, nice fall seasonal spice

Flavors: nice pumpkin pie that has an extra dash of brown spice; the allspice comes through with the nutmeg; maybe I should put a dollop of whipping cream on top

Mouthfeel: light carbonation gives it a fine fizzy feel; spice lingers; easy to drink;

To the Point: a nice Pumpkin Ale; no wonder my wife likes it; this would be an excellent choice to serve with your upcoming Thanksgiving Dinner; that is way I tried using a white wine glass to sample this ale; 

John Henry West Indies Pale Ale: Review

Cold Spring Brewing Company

Cold Spring, Minnesota, USA

Coldspringbrewery.com

9.4% abv

Brewed with two and six row barley and

Aged with dark rum oak spirals

Their web site is not worthy of a visit - Uhm, that reminds me of the Detroit Lions. 

After the game review (referring to the Detroit Lions and Steelers game) 

Appearance: ruddy brown body with a thin off-white head with no lacing

Aroma: dark roasted grains; touch of milk chocolate; hint of oak; I am not picking up the rum here

Flavors: roasted barley coming through; sweet malts; hint of the rum; nice oak – a little spicy oak; brown spice like with a dash of white pepper; not making think of a West Indies Pale Ale – but, what is a West Indies Pale Ale? On this one it is not IPA like. It is more like a very good brown ale oak aged beer. 

Mouthfeel: the alcohol did not really play a role here; low carbonation; toasted flavors; a bit thin; easy to drink; thin aftertaste – light roasted barley notes and light oak linger;

To the Point: nothing special here; flavors are not all that bad but the mouthfeel comes across thin for what I was expecting and it just seems to wash away the flavors;

Grading for being an oak aged West Indies Pale Ale: D; for being an oak aged brown ale B-

I do like the flavors thinking of it as a brown ale.  I like this ale with a quality oak style cigar.  I lit up a Man O War Ruination Cigar and this is a nice pairing.  I have to say that I do feel the 9.4% abv.  Or I might have been the Detroit Lions football game against the Steeler. 

I called the game to be – Lions 17 and the Steelers 27 thinking the weather would be a big factor with all the ‘extreme’ weather talk.  But, the score ended up: Lions 27 and the Steelers 37.  Did I not say they are a true 4 and 5 team going into this game and not what their record shows a 6 and 3 team.  You can’t have the players the Lions have and lose to a struggling Steelers team.  Coaching! 

Come to think of it this Ale is just like the Detroit Lions.  I was expecting a West Indies Pale Ale and I only get a Brown Ale.  Lions finish the season 8 and 8.  And, if they do they need to fire the coach. But, not the Lions they will give him a 10 year contract.   

Round Barn Indecision Ale: Review

Round Barn Brewery

Baroda, Michigan, USA

RoundBarnBrewery.com

5.3% abv

No date on the bottle

I did not know what I really wanted when I stopped by this store so, when I saw the name Indecision Ale I knew we were meant for each other. I was also trying to make a decision to head up north for the week-end or not.

This beer started out as an Amber Ale and morphed into a Red and then into ???  - copper ale.  Well, that is their story in a nut shell.

Appearance: a dirty muddled amber body with 5 inches of light tan foam; I barely poured one or two inches of liquid on an easy pour and the foam just exploded; probably a beer that has gone bad; the one I had last night was okay;

Aroma: once the ale sat long enough for the foam to settle, I was able to get a sniff; just like last night – nothing much nor special; little hops and a little nondescript malt on the nose

Flavors and Mouthfeel: wow that carbonation is a killer; this beer had been sitting too long in the store; nothing like the one last night; cutting through to the flavor there is a little nondescript malty note again and a little hoppy spice – amber ale like; from what I recall from the ale last night it is pretty much the same on the flavor front; as for the mouthfeel – this one is just plain old bad – another bad craft beer or should I say a craft beer that has gone bad because retailers are not storing these beers properly. 

To the Point: the Indecision Ale that I had last night, I thought was just okay, nothing special; of course the one today is bad and I’ll water the rain soaked ground with this one.  I have wasted so much money on bad beers this year it is crazy. I did return a couple of six packs but, I should have returned up to two or three cases worth of bad beers or beers that have gone bad.  

I am going to make a few changes in my purchasing habits: 1) No date on the bottle forget it; don't buy it.  2) visit breweries to try these beers or visit a quality bar that carries a lot of craft beers. 

While the Detroit Lions game has started here is my call anyways: Lions 17 Steelers 27  

6 and 3 Lions my ass - we will see they are really a 4 and 5 team with the record of 6 and 3.  The problem? 

All coaching.

5 ways to tell if you are being scammed on Health Care Insurance

Health Care Insurance Scams

With the government launching one of the greatest government run programs since the ‘War on Drugs’ or go back as far as the ‘War on Poverty,’ we can now see how effect the government is going to be delivering a product/service to the people.  Since the web site doesn’t even work the scammers are out there developing their own Obama Care web sites.  So, don’t be scammed!

Here are my top five ways to tell if you are going to be scammed by a health care program.

5. The web site actually works.

4. They offer less than 10 options; with reviews.

3. The health care option are affordable - without smoke and mirrors.

2. You can read about the options; you don’t have to buy it to find out what is in it.

1. You are on the official Health Care Program web site by the U.S. government.

But, don't forget: You can keep what you have and like.  

Good-bye Sullivan's Black Forest Brewery

Sullivan's has sold off all their brewing equipment and are no longer making fine porters and stouts.
Sullivan's is located in Frankenmuth Michigan and was one of my favorite brew pubs.  Their ales were always pleasing and I really liked their porters and stouts. I'll miss this brewery.

While I was enjoying a couple of their beers (end of summer - just before they stopped brewing) at my up north place in Grindstone City Michigan I had a visitor and my dog Annie had a blast telling that snapper - stay away.  Last week, on Friday, Annie had surgery to remove a growth on her foot.  The growth mass does not look good and the situation may not look good for her in the long run but, she is doing just fine right now and recovering well.  Go Annie!

Looks like one old snapper

Arcadia Ales Imperial Stout: Review

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Arcadiaales.com

2010 Vintage

9% abv

90 IBUs

$15.99 a four pack

Appearance: pitch black body with a thin tan head with some spotty lacing

Aroma: big rich dark roasted notes; light smoke; fairly simple nose

Flavors: dark roasted grains; bittersweet chocolate coffee; burnt dark sugars; light alcohol peppery spice on the back

Mouthfeel: very low carbonation; just a hint of fizz; semi-syrupy; full-medium body; light astringent note on the finish and aftertaste; burnt notes linger; I am sure the alcohol note has mellowed with age

To the Point: seems to be just short of an Imperial Stout; not as thick and syrupy as I would expect; very nice none the less; seems to be aging nicely; for 16 bucks a four pack I want it to knock my socks off - 

Dark Horse 4 elf: Review

Dark Horse Brewing Company

Marshall, Michigan, USA

Darkhorsebrewery.com

Winter Warmer Ale

8.75% abv

$9.50 a four pack

Appearance: super dark brown body with a half a finger light tan head that leaves some lacing on the glass

Aroma: Oh yes, winter holiday spices; allspice with a hint of clove;

Flavors: the holiday spice profile dominates; brown spices – nutmeg, pinch of cinnamon, hint of clove; brown holiday breadiness; roasted grains; coffee;

Mouthfeel: moderate-low carbonation; fine fizzy feel; medium body; little thicker than a lager and a little thinner than a porter; light dry bitterness; the alcohol really didn’t play a role

To the Point: a very nice winter warmer; easy to drink; it’s all about the winter holiday spice; if this one is too much for you then, try the Frankenmuth Christmas Town Ale, it is just a little lighter in body and the spice is also a little lighter

Hofbrau Oktoberfest: Quick Review

Picked up the little can keg and had myself a little party.  I played some polka music that I found on-line and I winterized my up-north home.

The Oktoberfest is a pale golden yellow with typical Oktoberfest flavors – little grassy, light yet typical Oktoberfest spice, medium body and easy to drink.

Thunder Trail ESB: Review

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

ArcadiaAles.com

English Style Ale

ESB – Extra Special Bitters

6% abv

ESB’s are not one of my favorites. Don’t be misled with the name Extra Special or Extra Strong Bitters.  To me there is nothing ‘special’ or ‘strong’ about it. I find them to be on the one dimensional boring side of town. Now, this is my opinion, if find them to have a hay/grassy hop style and a lightly sweet and toasted malt tone. Other than that, nothing much to talk about as far as I am concerned. 

While I do find them to be boring, I like them with food.

Appearance: glowing muddled amber body with a half finger off-white head; no sticky lacing on the glass

Aroma: dry grass hops; light roasted note

Flavors: the dry grass style dominates; lightly sweet roasted earthy malts; what I would call – typical

Mouthfeel: moderate bitterness; a sour-bitterness on the aftertaste; moderate-low carbonation; dry earthy feel; medium in body;

To the Point: nothing special about this ESB; it’s nice; would be good with a sandwich;

The Michigan vs Michigan State game is today and here is my call: State 31 to Michigan 10