Michigan Awesome Hatter Review

New Holland Brewing

Holland, Michigan, USA

Newhollandbrew.com

Michigan grown IPA

Malts and hops grown in Michigan

5.8% abv

55 IBUs

1pt 6oz bottle

I don’t have a price

Appearance: lightly misty; deep amber body with a one finger head; good staying power; half way done and there still is a ¼ inch head floating; some lacing; an easy two finger head on the second half of the bottle

Aroma: light nose overall; lightly toasted grains and a touch of dusty citrus peal

Flavors: nice touch of bittering with a hint of citrus meat; toasted grains; and that’s it

Mouthfeel: light fine carbonation for little fizzy feel; medium body overall; moderate bittering; simple;

To the Point: an okay tasting simple IPA; I can’t say that I would look to buy this again; it is easy to drink; this beer would be good with bar food; 

Hatter Series – Click on the links below

Black Hatter IPA

White Hatter IPA

Rye Hatter IPA

Imperial Hatter IPA

Oak Aged Hatter IPA

Mad Hatter IPA

Imperial Hatter IPA Review

Imperial Hatter India Pale Ale

New Holland Brewing

Holland, Michigan, USA

Newhollandbrew.com

2014 Vintage

9.3% abv

1pt 6oz bottle

$9.99 a bottle

76 IBUs

19 plato

The High Gravity Series

Appearance: misty copper body with a one finger off white head that didn’t stick around long; spotty lacing on the first pour; good sticky lacing once I poured the rest of the bottle into the glass

Aroma: piney, citrus nose

Flavors: light sweet citrus on the front followed by a prickly pine; white grapefruit bitterness; toasted multi-grain bread;

Mouthfeel: medium-full body; fine carbonation; peppery citrus on the back and finish; prickly feel on the palate; light alcohol warmth which is surprising with a 9.3 abv

To the Point: a nice hearty Imperial IPA; this 2014 vintage seems fairly simple which is not a bad thing; nice to try

Hatter Series – Click on the links below (I'll add when they are posted)

Black Hatter IPA

White Hatter IPA

Rye Hatter IPA

Michigan Awesome IPA

Oak Aged Hatter IPA

Mad Hatter IPA

Amstel Radler Review

Amstel Brouwerij BV

Amsterdam, Holland

2% abv

12 oz bottle

Made with lemon juice

Appearance: hazy pale yellow with a one finger white head that didn’t stay around long; no lacing

Aroma: fresh lemonade like

Flavors: a refreshing lemonade soda

Mouthfeel: light body; very refreshing; pleasing sweetness with a twist of lemon

To the Point: I am not a fan of Radler style beers BUT I really like this one; perfect for that hot summer day which we did not get too many of this summer here in Michigan; I would buy this again

Perfect with my Shrimp Salad Kabob 

St. Bernardus Extra 4 Review

Brouwerij St. Bernard

Watou, Belgium

Specialtybeer.com

4.8% abv

11.2 oz bottle

$18.99 a four pack

Seasonal: Spring

I have not seen this one before and I found out why?  The brewery has not produced this ale since the 1970’s. 

Appearance: glowing golden wheat field body with a one finger white head on an easy pour; not much on the lacing

Aroma: delicate; hint of fresh lemon meat and yeast

Flavors: light lemon zest; acidic; yeast; wheat; grassy on the back and finish as the ale warms up

Mouthfeel: zippy citrus; moderate-low super fine carbonation; medium-light body – the acidic citrus zip elevates this body feel to me; grassy/grainy aftertaste with a light moderate citrus

To the Point: a pleasing summer beverage; pair it with white fish, shellfish, or veal chops; this ale has a nice wit style to me; the ale does not thrill me overall; I’ll give it a B-; You can find something for 9 bucks a six pack that is just as good if not better 

New Holland Oak Aged Hatter IPA Dinner Review

New Holland Brewing

Holland, Michigan, USA

NewHollandBrew.com

7.12% abv

62 IBUs

$4.99 a bottle

1pt 6oz bottle

Ale Aged in Oak Kentucky Barrels

Vintage 2014

Appearance: burnt amber body; copper if you will; clear; one finger off-white head; light on the lacing

the clarity started off a bit misty and then turned clear

Aroma: aromatic hops; toasted grains; faint oak; light bouquet overall

Flavors: prickly hops, pine like; light spicy hops; little oak wood; toasted grains; faint sweet grains;

Mouthfeel: seems a little thin on the delivery; hops on the mid; toasted notes on the back; light fine carbonation; very dry; moderately bitter; dry spicy toasted notes linger;

To the Point: what did they age in those Kentucky barrels? 7-up; kept waiting for the bourbon or whisky notes; just visited their website and they don’t say anything about it being bourbon or whisky – just "oak wood barrels" – then that is what I got out of it – a woody note; an interesting twist to this IPA

I paired this with an 8oz Filet Mignon medium-rare, black rice with a few applewood smoked shrimp left over from last nights dinner (Mad Hatter Dinner Review) and beans with carrots.  OHHHH so good!  I really like the black rice with a Filet. 

The Oak Aged Hatter paired nicely with my Filet.
Click here to read the Mad Hatter IPA dinner review

Hatter Series – Click on the links below

Black Hatter IPA

Michigan Awesome IPA

White Hatter IPA

Rye Hatter IPA

Imperial Hatter IPA

Mad Hatter IPA

Strongbow Honey and Apple Hard Cider Review

Strongbow Hard Cider

Stassen SA

Aubel, Belgium

5% abv

Sample bottle from Importer

Gluten Free; apple juice concentrate; glucose-fructose syrup

On a hot and humid day grab yourself a Strongbow Honey and Apple Hard Cider.

Appearance: rich golden body with some bubbles slowly floating to the top

Aroma: a nectarine and apricot combination just in front of the fresh apple and pear; light honey sweetness

Flavors and Mouthfeel: follows the nose; the honey sweetness swirls around the flavors; low carbonation maybe low-moderate at best; fine fizzy feel; fruit upfront; sweet on the mid; dry yet sweet on the finish; light body overall; heavy on the sweetness

To the Point: the nose is very pleasing; a little more complex than the Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider on the nose and the palate; very tasty; perfect for a humid day like today; it is very sweet but not overpowering like the Gold Apple; there is a little bit of dryness that takes the edge off; I would try this one again

Grilled Lambburger

Lambburger with Smoked Gouda and Grilled Asparagus Spears 

Grill the asparagus spears first and then place on the lambburger on the flipped side and then add the smoked gouda cheese slice

Today I used an orange balsamic vinaigrette to top it off with 

Toasted Oat Nut bread

Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider Review

Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider

Stassen SA

Aubel, Belgium

5% abv

Sample bottle from Importer

Gluten Free; apple juice concentrate; glucose-fructose syrup

Take a Break from that beer that leaves you with that sluggish feel on a hot summer day.  Find yourself a refreshing Hard Cider.

Appearance: sparkling golden crystal body with a few bubbles slowly floating to the top

Aroma: fresh sweet apple and pear; cotton candy like

Flavors and Mouthfeel: Fuji and Gala sweet apple with a light tart note of a honeycrisp; ripe pear in the mix; very crisp almost creamy feel; low carbonation that gives you a fine fizzy feel; sweet upfront; very light tart note on the mid; sweet on the finish; light body overall; heavy on the sweetness

To the Point: the nose is very inviting; if you like a sweet hard cider this is it; to me it is very refreshing at first and then the sweetness takes its toll on me

Mt. Pleasant Crazy Train Black IPA Review

Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA

Mtpleasantbrew.com

6.3% abv

12oz bottle

$12.99 a six pack

Appearance: dark brown edges with a blackish brown core with maybe a one finger light tan head that leaves some spotty lacing

Aroma: light spicy hops and a slight roasted note; not much overall

Flavors: roasted grains on the front followed by a dry bitterness on the mid and a light-moderate pine bitterness on the finish;

Mouthfeel: light-moderate carbonation; a one note dry bitterness to the hops; non-descript roasted grains, dry on the mid and finish; lingering moderate bitterness; a dry grainy IPA

To the Point: not very “reviewogenic” - boring to review but, in person I want to like this ale; now I have only had two bottles of this ale before this review and back when I drunk them – I remember enjoying them;