Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Beer Journal #67: Illumination Double IPA, Grand Circus IPA, Firemans Brew, 1020 Pale Ale, Green Chile & More



Butt Head Bock Lager
German Style Bock Beer
Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub
Idaho Springs, CO

I celebrated filling up my beer cap map with this bock on 5/17/15.

Facts off the label:
8.2% ALC/VOL         IBU 33
A big malty traditional German style bock beer
Colorado Mountain Town Craft Beer
Tommyknocker has been creating quality lagers and ales in the Colorado Rocky Mountains since 1994.
Tommyknocker legend:
Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800's with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm's way and to the gold they sought.
Best by: May 18 15

My input:
Although I drank this past the best by date, it tasted fine to me.

Iron Works Alt
Metropolitan Brewing LLC
Chicago, IL

On 5/17/15, I posed my bottle and full glass in my newly planted perennial garden before getting down to the business of drinking it.

Label info:
An assertively hoppy top-fermented beer, polished by the wisdom and patience of lagering. Think of it as an octogenarian with a punk rock attitude.

Strawberry Best
Malt Beverage with Strawberries and natural flavor added
O'Fallon Brewery
O'Fallon, MO

I sampled this beverage on 5/18/15.

Label findings:
636-474-BEER
Puerto Rico
Proteja El Ambiente No La Tire

Dynamo
Copper Lager
Metropolitan Brewing LLC
Chicago, IL

I posed my bottle and glass beside my geranium and enjoyed this lager on 5/19/15.

Label info:
If malt and hops are the two poles of brewing, our Vienna lager is the gently spinning sweet spot between them.

Komodo Dragonfly
Black IPA
Upland Brewing Co.
Bloomington, IN
Midwest
USA

I fetched my garden dragonfly for this photo and enjoyed the brew on 5/19/15.

Label findings:
6.7% ALC BY VOL     67IBU
The Rarest of Species
Best enjoyed by Jun 2015

Schlafly
Pale Ale
The Saint Louis Brewery
Saint Louis, MO and Stevens Point, WI

I had this ale on 5/20/15.

I learned from the label:
4.4% ALC./VOL.         25 IBU
Schlafly Pale Ale is a smooth, balanced, copper-colored session beer with mildly spiced flavor and aroma from the East Kent Goldings hops. This British-style ale is the perfect flagship beer for Schlafly. Available year round.

Dirty Blonde Ale
Ale Brewed with Orange Peel and Coriander
Atwater Brewery
Detroit, MI

Label disclosures:
Alc. 4.5% by Vol.
Enjoy Everyday!
Bottled on F 15

Castaway
India Pale Ale
Kona Brewing Company
Kona, HI * Portland, OR * Woodinville, WA * Portsmouth, NH

Off the label:
6% ALC. BY VOL.
Aloha Series
Fresh, Responsible, Always Aloha
Set Sail For Adventure!
Hawaiians crossing the channel between Oahu and Molokai face a perilous journey. Our Castaway IPA is inspired by these brave island explorers. A smooth yet spirited brew, it's as refreshing as the wind in your face when you set sail for adventure.
FEB 26 15 

Green Chile
A Blend of Hot and Mild Anaheim Chiles Infused in a Refreshing Lager
Tommyknocker Brewery
Idaho Springs, CO

Label info:
5.3% ALC/VOL         27 IBU
Colorado Mountain Town Craft Beer
Tommyknocker has been creating quality lagers and ales in the Colorado Rocky Mountains since 1994
Flavored Beer
Tommyknocker Legend:
Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800's with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm's way and to the gold they sought.

1020
Pale Ale
The Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins, CO

The label says:
Our 1020 Pale Ale has a magnificent citrus aroma with underlying tones of pine and grapefruit zest that inhabit the flavor, while a smooth, light body and crisp, clean bitterness from Magnum, Cascade and Chinook hops leave your palate both refreshed and liberated. 

Firemans Brew
Pilsner Lager/Blonde Beer
Firemans Brew
Ukiah, CA

Label disclosures:
5% ALC. BY VOL.
Premium Microbrew
A Classic American Beverage
Award winning Golden Pilsner with a crisp, clean finish, created by Firefighters to support Firefighters.

Hanukkah, Chanukah
Dark Ale
Shmaltz Brewing Company
Clifton Park, NY

From the label, I learned:
8% ALC. BY VOL.
8 Malts * 8 Hops
Pass the Beer
Come On Bubbe, Light My Fire!
No matter how you spell it, you now hold the official Chosen Beer of this holiday season. After 18 years at Shmaltz (and over 2000 years of Hanukkah tradition), we thought it was finally time to release a beer specifically to celebrate all the miracles of the 8 crqzy nights. We hope our fermented creation will bring some light to the winter darkness and pair perfectly with latkes and the battle royale of dreidels. Pass some Chanukah Beer over to your favorite friends and family and delight in the warming of the season. Chaim!
Jeremy Chwas, proprietor
Menorah painting by Jennifer Maher  

English Style Special Ale
Sand Creek Brewing Company
Black River Falls, WI

Label info:
ALC. 5.5% BY VOL>
Real Wisconsin Beer
Product of USA

Anniversary Special Hell Lager
Church Street Brewing Company
Itasca, IL

Off the label:
ALC. 5.5% BY VOL.        IBU 28
In honor of our anniversary we give you a new twist on an old favorite. A helles brewed with Weyermann's famous floor-malted Bohemian pilsner malt, decoction mashed for a truly unique deep malt character and texture.
Made in the U.S.A.
Est. 2012
  
Grand Circus IPA
Atwater Brewery
Detroit, MI

Label revelations:
Alc. 4.5% by Vol.
We drink all we can and sell the rest.
Our "Session" India Pale Ale
Kick back, relax and enjoy a cold craft beer in your city's "Grand Circus Park."
Bottled on A 2015

Belgian-Style White Ale
Malt Beverage Brewed with Spices
Cathedral Square Brewery
S. Genevieve, MO

Label disclosures:
5% Alc. by Vol.
This traditional White Ale is faithful to the Belgian Style with its light body, cloudy color and touch of spice. A complex, refreshing Ale that's perfect for any season.
Divine  Beer
turning sinners into saints.

Illumination Double IPA
Central Waters Brewing Company
Amherst, WI

Label statistics:
A walloping double IPA, Illumination is immensely bitter yet unfathomably well balanced. Copious amount of Centennial, Chinook and Simcoe hops give it a citrusy mouthful of tropical pineapple and mango, nicely rounded with toasty malt for gentle sweetness. Here's to all you hopheads.
ALE, SUN. EARTH and SKY

2 comments:

Cap said...

What Shaddy is a beer cap map? You wrote .. I celebrated filling up my beer cap map with this bock on 5/17/15 .. you used this term right up front .. As usual what a great job with all of your supporting props .. Smiles .. Amazing ..

Cheryl Peters said...

Cap:

If you look at the first photo, you'll see a thin piece of wood in the shape of Wisconsin. That's my beer cap map.