Beer Journal #29: Polka King Porter, Fantasy Factory, Oktoberfest Beer x 3, Captain's Copper Ale & More Brews For You

"Captain's Copper Ale"
Shipwrecked Microbrewery
Egg Harbor, WI (Door County)

We visited this brewery and I brought this bottle home. I enjoyed it on 10/24/14 and gave it a So So rating. 

"Oktoberfest"
German-Style Marzen
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Chippewa Falls, WI

Label fun:
The Pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Since 1867
Carefully Brewed by The Leinkugel Family For Six Generations
A perfect beer to celebrate the fall season, featuring Munich, Pale & Caramel malts with four specialty hops.

I enjoyed this beer at Copper Falls in Clinton, WI on 10/24/14. I gave it a So So rating. Unfortunately, I undressed this bottle before taking its photograph!!! 

"Blonde"
American Lager
Guinness Brewing Company
Latrobe, PA

Label fun:
No. 1 in the Discovery Series
Finest Mosaic & Willamette American Hops
Guinness Artistry & Brewing Tradition
Est 1759

5% alc/vol

I awarded Guinness Blonde with a Yes Yes rating on 10/25/14.

"Oktoberfest"
Berghoff
Seasonal
Marzen Style Lager
Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
Stevens Point, WI

Label fun:
A stone-cold autumn celebration, no more, no less.
Since 1887

5.6% alc/vol

On 10/27/14, I rated this Oktoberfest lager as a So So beer.

"Hop Rise"
Session Ale
Central Waters Brewing Co.
Amherst, WI

Label fun:
An explosively hoppy yet sessionable IPA, bursting with a citrusy array of mango, orange and pineapple pleasantries. Hop Rise is a brewer's beer for one and all, generously hopped throughout the boil, then dry-hopped at the tail end of fermentation for a large bouquet.
ALE, SUN, EARTH AND SKY

So So is my rating for Hop Rise on 10/27/14.

"Fantasy Factory"
India Pale Ale
Karbena4 Brewing, LLC
Madison, WI

Label fun:
I must say that the armed cat atop the fire breathing horse with a rainbow background is a fantasy indeed.

6.3% alc/vol

I had this beer at The Rock on 10/25/14 and rated is So So. They had only recently added this bottled beer to their inventory.

"Oktoberfest"
Maerzen Style
Rhinelander Brewing Co.
Monroe, WI

Label fun:
This is a classic Maerzen style Oktoberfest with rich, biscuity malt flavors highlighted by old world noble hops.

5.2% alc/vol
IBU 21

Yes Yes is my rating for Rhinelander's Oktoberfest which I enjoyed on 10/26/14.

"Polka King"
Porter
Door County Brewing Co.
Brewed & bottled by Sand Creek Brewing Co.
Black River Falls, WI

Label fun:
You Sir & You Ma'am, Thank You for Your Kind Attention
Good Beer Will Make You Want to Dance
Hey-Hey  What-U-Say
Long Live the King!
Brewed With Pale Chocolate Malts & English Hops
OOM-PAH-PAH  OOM-PAH-PAH  OOM-PAH-PAH

On 10/28/14, I gave this porter a Yes Yes rating. That is quite amazing, considering that it was this beer that nearly did me in when I had it in Door County!


Awards go to:
Polka King, Guinness Blonde & Rhinelander Oktoberfest for Yes Yes ratings.
Leinie's Oktoberfest for the most colorful label.
Polka Kind for the most entertaining label, although I enjoyed Hop Rise's beer description on its label as well.


CHEERS!

Beer Journal #28: Cheers to 3 Sheeps' Baaad Boy,Deschutes' Mirror Pond, 2XONE, Hop Whoopin' Beers & More

Baaad Boy
Black Wheat Ale
3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
Sheboygan, WI

Label fun:
Well, just look at all the sheep on the label. I'm not sure what that green thing is on the forehead of the dude in the forefront but his earrings are quite stunning! Oh my gosh! He's got a pierced eyebrow and nostril as well!

5.5% alc/vol

I gave this beer a So So rating on 10/18/14, but it rocks anyway.

It's truly BAAAD!

Mirror Pond
Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon

Label fun:
Crafted for explorers everywhere since 1988.
"A distinct hop nose and deft balance made this pale ale an instant classic. It is aromatically complex, multi-layered and unmistakably honest. Your handy compass of 'right' when exploring beer."

5.0% alc/vol

The best by date on my bottle of Mirror Pond was 10/27/14.
Phew, I just made it by enjoying it on 10/19/14!!

Hold on folks; I gave this beer a Yes Yes rating!!

Let the good times roll!!

IPA
Shipwrecked
Egg Harbor, WI

The familiar face of the captain adorns this beer label.

No alc/vol is available.

No label fun is available.

Woe is me!

I drank this IPA on 10/19/14 and rated it So So.

2XONE
Single Varietal Ale (Seasonal)
Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Lakewood, NY

Label fun:
Brewed with 1 variety of hop and 1 type of malt.
Upon close inspection, I was delighted to find several male figures on unicycles on the lower edge of the label.

8.1% alc/vol

Regarding the taste, I gave 2XONE a So So rating.

Hop Whoopin'
Ale
O'So Brewing Co.
Plover, WI

Label fun:
S.M.A.S.H.  95 IBU  INTENSE  FREAKISH  OBNOXIOUS  EXCESSIVE DERANGED
Join the fight against boring beer at OSOBREWING.COM!
Discover the art of freestyle brewing.

No alc/vol is available.

On 10/21/14, I rated Hop Whoopin' as a So So beer.

I must say that I do love the radical adjectives.

Brown & Robust Porter
Wisconsin Brewing Co.
Verona, WI

5.2% alc/vol

Today, 10/21/14, I give this porter a So So rating.

So So isn't a bad rating. This beer relaxed me and helped make it a good day. That's the main thing! That's really all I ask.

Summer Ale
Summit Brewing Co.
St. Paul, Minnesota

Label fun:
Ingredients: water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops
I like the birch trees and the duck on the label.

4.4% alc/vol

I had this beer on 10/22/14 and I couldn't do better than a So So rating. Sorry! 

Outboard
Cream Ale
Milwaukee Brewing Co.
Milwaukee, WI

Label fun:
"That's local flavor."

5.0% alc/vol

I gave Outboard a So So rating, today, 10/23/14. I wasn't thrilled.

The beer name "Outboard", makes me think this may be a seasonal (summer) beer. I found it at the local grocery store a few days ago and I'm drinking it today for fear it's approaching old age. (I'm still researching the subject of beer freshness).

Awards go to:
Hop Whoopin' and Baaad Boy for the cleverest names
2XONE for the most alcohol at a whopping 8.1 % alc/vol
Mirror Pond for the loveliest name, prettiest label and also for a rare Yes Yes rating!! 

CHEERS! 

Beer Journal #27: My Growing List of Beers Consumed Since I Began My Quest

I have a ritual when I have a beer. After I select a beer from the refrigerator (my selection always includes several single bottles of beers I've never drank). I record the name of the beer on my computer beer list. Next, I take a picture of the beer bottle. Then I pour the beer into a glass (a Teku glass) and photograph the empty bottle and the glass. I also write the name of the beer on my calender on the date I drink it.

When the bottle is dry, I apply a sheet of Label Lift to the bottle label, take the label off, write the date and my rating on the back of the label. I put the label on a shelf until I accumulate enough to create a beer journal blog post. After they've made their appearance on my blog, I put the labels in my album.

You're right. It's a challenge to find time to actually drink the damn beer!!!!

If we dine at a restaurant that doesn't have a bottled beer available that I've not tried, I drink water. Then, when I get home, I have a never-tried beer; several are always chilling in my refrigerator.

Call me crazy and I'll reply "Thank you."

P.S. I don't expect you to read the list, just to see how long it is. 

Beers I've drank:

A
Abita Turbodog
Abita Amber
Against The Grain (Wold Top Brewery)
Alaskan Alt Style Ale
Alaskan Amber
Alaskan APA
Alaskan Freeride
Alaskan Hop O Thermia Double IPA
Alaskan Icy Bay IPA
Alaskan IPA
Alaskan Stout
Alaskan Summer
Alaskan White
All Day IPA (Founders Brewing Co.)
Amber Ale (Bell's Brewery)
Ambergeddon (Ale Asylum)
Amstel Light
Amstel Radler
Angry Orchard Hard Cider
Angry Orchard Traditional Dry Cider
Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider
Avalanche Amber Style Ale

B
Baaad Boy (3 Sheeps Brewing Co.)
Batch 19 Pre-Prohibition Style Lager (Coors Archive Brewing)
Bayside Blonde Ale (Shipwrecked)
Bedlam! (Ale Asylum)
Beck's Sapphire
Berghoff
Berghoff Germaniac Alberbier Kotbusser Style Pale Ale (Berghoff Brewery, Inc.)
Berghoff Original Lager (The Joseph Huber Brewing Co.)
Berghoff Reppin' Red Ale
Berghoff Sir Dunkle Crispy Dark
Berghoff Solstice Wit
Berghoff Straight Up
Biere De Seigle (Door County Brewing Co.)
Big Sky IPA (Big Sky Brewing Co.)
Big Sweet Life (Wisconsin Brewing Co.)
Big Wave Golden Ale (Kona Brewing Co.)
Billy Bock (Minhas Brewing Co.)
Bitch Creek
Blue Moon Belgian White Wheat Ale (Blue Moon Brewing Co.)
Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat (Blue Moon Brewing Co.)
Blue Point Long Island Toasted Lager
Boatilla Amber Ale (Big Bay Brewing Co.)
Booyah (Milwaukee Brewing Co.)
Bud Light Aluminum
Bud Light Lime
Busted Knuckle Irish Style Ale (Gray's Brewing Co., Janesville, WI)

C
Calypse Spiked Island (Adult Lemonade)
Capital Wisconsin Amber
Chainbreaker White IPA (Deschutes Brewery)
Cherry Wheat Ale (Shipwrecked)
Coast Radler
Commodore Perry IPA (Great Lakes Brewing Co.)
Corona Light
Crabbie's Ginger Beer (John Crabbie & Co.)

D
DayTime (Lagunitas Brewing Co.)
Dark Voyage (Capital Brewery)
Dortmunder Gold (Great Lakes Brewing Co.)
Dos Equix
Dos Equis Ambar
Dos Equix Azul
Drafty Window Farmhouse Ale, Hopothesis
Dream Machine IPL (Magic Hat Brewing Co.)
Drop Dead Blonde (Stevens Point Brewery)

E
Edmund Fitzgerald (Great Lakes Brewing Co.)
1845 Pils (Minhas Brewing Co.)
Ellie's Brown Ale
Extended Play Inda-Style Session Ale (Lakefront Brewery, Inc.)

F
Fire Rock Pale Ale (Kona Brewing Co.)
Fixed Gear American Red Ale
Founders Porter
400 Pound Monkey (Left hand Brewing Co.)    
Relative Madness (4 Brothers Blended Beer Brewing Co.)
Whipper Snapper (4 Brothers Blended Beer Brewing Co.)

G
Geneva Lake No Wake
Glacial Trail India Pale Ale (Central Waters Brewing Co.)
Good JUJU (Left Hand Brewing Co.)
Goose Island Endless IPA
Goose Island Honker's Ale (Goose Island Beer Co.)
Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale
Grolsch
Guinness
Guinness Draught
Guinness Extra Stout
Guinness Foreign Extra

H
Harp Premium Lager (Guinness)
Hazel's Nut House
Headless Man (Tyranena Brewing Co.)
Heineken
Hilbourn Hop Ale (Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co.)
Hofbrau Original
Honey Ale (Gray's Brewing Co.)
Honey Ale (Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co.)
Honey Blonde (Port Huron Brewing Co.)
Hop-A-Peel (Atwater Brewery)
Hopdinger (O'SO Brewery)
Hop Whoopin'(O'SO Brewery)
Horizon Red Ale
Huber Bock

I
Ice House
Imperial Jack Double IPA (Rhinelander Brewing Co. LLC)
In-Heat Wheat
Innis & Gunn Original
IPA (Shipwrecked)

J
Jockamo IPA (Abita Brewing Co.)

K
Kilbourn Hop Ale
Killian's Irish Red
Kingpin (Bridgeport Brewing Co.)
Kink (Ale Asylum Brewing Co.)

L
Lake Louie Pale Ale (Lake Louie Brewing, LLC)
Landshark
Lazy Mutt Farmhouse Ale (Minhas Craft Brewery)
Left Hand Brewing Co. Good JuJu
Legacy Lager (Minhas Craft Brewery for Tonka Beer Co.)
Leinie's Canoe Paddler
Leinie's Creamy Dark
Leinie's Hoppin Helles
Leinie's Orange Shandy
Little Sister Witbier (Door County Brewing Co.)
Little Sumpin' (Lagunitas Brewing Co.)
LoneStar
Longboard Island Lager (Kona Brewing Co.)
Lucky U IPA (Breckenridge Brewing Co.)

M
Mad Hatter (New Holland Brewing Co.)
MadTown NutBrown
Memory Lane (O'So Brewing Co.)
Messiah Nut Brown Ale (Shmaltz Brewing Co.)
Miller 64
Mirror Pond (Deschutes Brewery)
Modelo Especial (Cerveceria Modelo Brewery)
Molson Canadian Lager
Molson Golden (
Moose Drool (Big Sky Brewing Co.)
Moosehead Lager (Moosehead Breweries Ltd., Saint John, NB, Canada)
Murphy's Red Ale (Murphy Brewery)
Mystical Jack (Rhinelander Brewing Co.)

N
Negra Modelo
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale (New Belgium Brewing Co.)
New Belgium Snapshot Wheat Beer
New Belgium Trippel
New Castle Brown Ale
New Glarus Back 40 bock (New Glarus Brewing Co.)
New Glarus Blonde
New Glarus Coffee Stout
New Glarus Dancing Man
New Glarus Fat Squirrel
New Glarus Moon Man
New Glarus Spotted Cow
New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest
New Glarus Totally Naked
New Glarus Two Women
New Glarus Yokel
Night Train (O'So Brewing Company)
Nitro Milk Stout (Left Hand Brewing Co.)
Nitro Sawtooth Ale (Left Hand Brewing Co.)
#9 (Magic Hat Brewing Co.)

O
Oarsman Ale (Bell's Brewing, Inc.)
Oatmeal Stout Dark (Breckenridge Brewing Co.)
Oberon Ale (Bell's Brewing, Inc.)
Oktoberfest Marzen Style (Stevens Point Brewery)
Oktoberfest (Upland Brewing Co.)
Ol' Reliable Beer (Wisconsin Brewing Co.)
Old Scratch

P
Pacifico Clara
Pastoral (Door County Brewing Co.)
Peroni Birra
Pike Kilt Lifter Ruby Ale
Preservation IPA (Minhas for Tonka Beer Co.)
Pumpkin Ale (Shipwrecked)


R
Rampant (New Belgian Brewery)
Redbridge Gluten Free Sorghum Beer
Redd's Apple Ale
Redd's Strawberry Ale
Red Stripe
Relative Madness (4 Brothers Blended Beer Co.)
Rocky's Revenge (Tyranena Brewing Co.)
Rogue Dead Guy (Oregon Brewing Co.)
Rolling Rock
Rustic Red (Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co.)
Rusty Red Ale

S
Sam Adam's Boston Lager (The Boston Beer Co.)
Sam Adam's Cherry Wheat
Sam Adam's Cold Snap
Sam Adam's Escape Route
Sam Adam's Irish Red
Sam Adam's Maple Pecan Porter
Sam Adam's Summer Ale
Sam Adam's White Water IPA Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA)
Satisfaction Jacksin (Ale Asylum)
Scrimshaw (North Coast Brewing Co.)
Scurvy (Tyranena Brewing Co.)
Session IPA (Wisconsin Brewing Co.)
Shipyard Brewing Co.
Shiner Bohemian Black Lager (Spoetzl Brewery)
Shiner Kosmos
Shiner Premium Beer
Shiner Ruby Redbird
Shiner White Wing Belgian White
Shiner Wild Hare (Pale Ale)
Shock Top Belgian White
Shock Top Honey Bourbon Cask Wheat (Shock Top Brewing Co.)
Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat
Shock Top Honey Wheat
Shock Top Raspberry Wheat
Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale (Expressionist Collection--Blue Moon Brewing Co.)
Sibling Rivalry (4 Brothers Blended Beer)
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA
60 Minute IPA (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery)
Smithwick's Premium Irish Ale
Smitten Golden Rye Ale (Bell's Brewery, Inc.)
Snake Dog (Flying Dog Brewery)
Special Lager (Stevens Point Brewery)
Sprecher Special Amber Vienna Style Lager (Sprecher Brewing Co., Inc., Glendale, WI)
Stella Artois
Stella Artois Cidre
Sunset Wheat (Leinenkugel's Brewing Co.)
Swiss Style Amber (Minhas Brewing Co.)

T
Tampa Bay Rollin Dirty Red Ale
Tecate Imported Mexican Beer
Tecate Light
The Big O (O'So Brewing Co.)
The Poet (New Holland Brewing Co.)
Third Shift Amber Lager (Band of Brewers Co.)
3rd Wheel (O'So Brewing Co.)
Three Beaches Honey Blond (Tyranena Brewing Co.)
312 Urban Pale Ale (Goose Island Beer Co.)
312 Urban Wheat Ale (Goose Island Beer Co.)
Thumper American IPA (Rhinelander Brewing Co.)
Trilogy 2 (Bridgeport Brewing Co.)
Trout Slayer (Big Sky Brewing Co.)
Two Hearted Ale
2XOne (Southern Tier Brewing Co.)
2X Stout (Southern Tier Brewing Co.)

U
Unshadowed Hefeweizen (Ale Asylum, Madison, WI)
Uptown Girl (Uptown Girl Beverage Company)

V
Victoria

W
Waterslides (3 Sheeps Brewing Co.)
Wavehopper Kolsch Style Ale (Big Bay Brewing Co.)
Wheat Monkey Ale
Whipper Snapper (4 Brothers Blended Beer Co.)
White Rascal (Avery Brewing Co.)
Woodchuck Amber Hard Cider

X

Y
Yuengling Lager

Z

Beer Journal #26: In Praise of Pastoral Farmhouse Ale, Door County Brewing Company

I love reading beer bottle labels for the interesting tidbits often hidden in the fine print. I've discovered that the beer carry cartons are worth examining as well.

I found the following narrative on the Pastoral Farmhouse Ale carton pictured above.

"It's about your everyday man. The dirt underneath his fingernails is not just a constant, but a comfort. He wakes and dawns with the sun, he farms his own land, and he brews his own beer. Not just any beer, but a beer brewed in the tradition of the Belgian farmers before us. In Door County, Wisconsin, hard seasonal workers forged our rich heritage. Pastoral is a celebration of the seasons and the land--from farmhouses past to fields present. Both refreshing and dry, with hints of pepper, citrus and green grass, the recipe is not just about the beauty in simplicity, but also the pride in tradition."

I find those words to be as comforting as the affects of a good beer.

CHEERS!

Beer Journal #25: Let's Take a Look at 5 Beers Including Trout Slayer, All Day IPA, Biere de Seigle and Pastoral

All Day IPA
(Unfortunately the frog doesn't come with the beer).
Session Ale
(A session ale is any beer that contains no higher than 5% ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hop characters which creates a beer with high drinkability. The purpose of a session beer is to allow a beer drinker to have multiple beers within a reasonable time period or session without getting drunk).

 Founders Brewing CompanyGrand Rapids, MI

4.7% alc/vol

I give this beer a Yes Yes rating. I liked it and learned what a session ale is by googling it in the process of posting this here.

In other words, drinking beer makes you smart!! 

Biere de Seigle
An authentic rye farmhouse ale
Door County Brewing Company
(brewed and bottled by
Sand Creek Brewing Company
Black River Falls, WI)

I love the label fun scattered here and there:
"Vive la Port des Morts!"
"A tour de force"
"You are thristy, non?" (spelled that way)
"Oh la la! A biere au naturel!"

No alc/vol number on label

I gave this beer a So So rating. It was quite strong.
 

Trout Slayer
Wheat Ale
Big Sky Brewing Co.
Missoula, Montana

No clever wording on the label, although the picture of the trout fishermen is sweet nice and colorful.

5.0% alc/vol

I tossed a So So rating to this beer.

Pastoral
Farmhouse Ale
Door County Brewing Company
(brewed and bottled by
Sand Creek Brewing Co.
Black River Falls, WI)

Label info:
Of The Land
For The People!

A alc/vol is not on the label.

I wasn't thrilled so I gave this a So So rating.

Bayside Blonde Ale
Shipwrecked
Door County
Egg Harbor
WI

No label cleverness although the picture of the captain is fine and dandy.

I found no alc/vol statistics. Perhaps, it's sometimes better not to know.

I bestowed a Yes Yes to Bayside Blond Ale. And yes, blondes do have their share of fun!

I feel compelled to award:

Biere de Seigle with the most entertaining label.
Trout Slayer with the most beautiful label.
Pastoral for honoring the hard working farmer.

CHEERS!
(I hope you've enjoyed your visit).

Beer Journal #24: Murphy's Red Ale, Dark Voyage Black IPA, Ambergeddon, Lagunitas DayTime Ale, Bridgeport Trilogy 2 & More

Murphy's Premium Red Ale
Irish Style Red Ale
Brewed under the supervision of Murphy Brewery, Cork, Ireland
by Heineken
Product of the Netherlands

Label info:
Premium Irish-style red ale brewed to the original recipe
Imported by United States Beverage, Stamford, CT

My rating on 10/7/14: So So

(I enjoyed this with a friend and lunch). 

Trilogy 2
Aussie Salute IPA
Bridgeport Brewing Company
Portland, OR

Label info:
 30 years proud
This Aussie-hopped American IPA is a collaboration between Australian Phil Sexton, former Bridgeport brewmaster and creator of the original Bridgeport IPA, and our brewmaster, Jeff Edgerton. It is sent through the hopjack with Centennials and Chinooks, and finally dry-hopped with bold Australian grown Galaxy and Ella hops. The result is pure IPA alchemy, a hearty and hazy trans-hemispheric brew that celebrates our brewers, past and present.

5.8% alc/vol

My rating on 10/7/14: So So

(The spider goes quite well with the label, don't you think?)

DayTime
Fractional IPA, A Dry-Hopped Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Petaluma, CA

Label fun:
Lagunitas "Say Lah-Goo-Knee-Tuss"
Fractional IPA
(Is that ridiculous or what...??)
"Have you been jonesing for something more primal and less evolved? If so, Fire is the element for you. Air, Water, and Earth are of no use. There is a freedom in burning down the house of fixed expectations and it confers an undeniable lightness to being."
"...of hops, malt, hops, yeast, and water.
LIFE IS UNCERTAIN, DON'T SIP

4.65% alc/vol

My rating on 10/8/14: So So

(A beer made especially for DayTime drinking; gotta love that!)

Dark Voyage
Black IPA
Capital Brewery
Middleton, WI

Label info:
This black ale is the perfect balance of dark roasted malt and bright hop flavors. Even with these bold and complex flavors at the forefront this beer still has a remarkably clean finish.

6.5% alc/vol

My rating on 10/8/14: No No

(The name, Dark Voyage, is rather intriguing, but, I wouldn't do this one again).

Oktoberfest
Marzen Style
Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point, WI

Label info:
Brewing excellence since 1857
Handcrafted
Point - Well Made

My rating on 10/9/14:  So So

(Tis the season for an Oktoberfest beer, indeed, indeed!)

Ambergeddon
Amber Ale
Ale Asylum
Madison, WI

Label fun:
With a fury of hop flavor and a strong malt backbone, this west-coast style amber is part ale, part sensory eruption, and all-American. Ambergeddon is brewed with passion and is best enjoyed that way.

My rating on 10/9/14: So So

(I had this with dinner at The Log Den in Egg Harbor, WI, an awesome place).

Door County Cherry Wheat Ale
Wheat Ale
Brewed and bottled by Shipwrecked
Egg Harbor, WI

Wheat ale with natural cherry flavor

My rating on 10/10/14: So So

(It was fun stopping at the Shipwrecked brewery and restaurant. I was able to pack up one bottle of each of their brews).

Door County Pumpkin Ale
Brewed and bottled by Shipwrecked
Egg Harbor, WI

Label info:
Malt beverage brewed with pumpkin and spices (nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, allspice, ginger)

My rating on 10/11/14: So So

(I didn't have far to go to find a pumpkin in Fish Creek, WI. This beer just HAD to be photographed next to a big, orange pumpkin. Right?)

Oktoberfest
Bavarian Style Lager
Upland Brewing Co.
Bloomington, IN

My rating on 10/11/14: Yes Yes

(I took this photo from our room at The Mainstreet Motel in Fish Creek. Lon was fishing so I was playing as well).

Amstel Radler
Beer and Lemon
Amstel
Amsterdam, Holland

Label info:
Double refreshing taste of beer and lemon
Due to juice content, settling may occur

2.0% alc/vol

My rating on 10/14/14: So So

(I'm back home, taking it easy after a couple of days of no drinking on account of too many beers on the 11th at Door County Brewing Company. Today's Amstel Radler is only 2.0% alc/vol. I'm taking baby steps!!)

Awards go to:

Daytime for the most entertaining label.

Ambergeddon for the darkest label image.

Amstel Radler for the least alc/vol that I've come upon.

Bridgeport Trilogy 2 for the collaboration of two brewmasters, past and present, to create this brew.

CHEERS!
 

Beer Journal #23: Shiner's Wild Hare, Crabbie's Ginger Beer, Dos Equis Ambar, New Holland's The Poet and More

Wild Hare
American Pale Ale
Spoetzel Brewery
Shiner, TX

Label fun:
Wild Hare is a classic American Pale Ale--richly hopped, fruity and floral. Munich malt nicely balances the assertive character of the U.S. Golding and Bravo hop varieties that give this brew its signature bitterness and aroma. ENJOY!
-Assertive aromas & hoppy brightness-
-Golden color & Rich malt flavor-
Hop to it!
Every drop of Shiner is brewed in Shiner.

My rating on 9/30/14: So So

Mad Hatter
India Pale Ale
New Holland Brewing
New Holland, MI

Label info:
Dry-hopped for a distinctive, floral hop aroma; subtly balanced with delicious malt notes. Pairings: spicy dishes, greens and aged cheese.

My rating on 10/1/14: So So

Dox Equis XX Ambar
Lager
Cerveceria
Mexico

Label info:
Crafted in Mexico since 1897 to commemorate the arrival of the 20th century.
Dos Equis was created in Mexico in 1897 by a German brewmaster, who blended his brewing heritage with the spirit of Mexican traditions. Originally called Siglo XX to celebrate the arrival of the 20th century it later became known as just Dos Equis (or simply two Xs in Spanish). Dos Equis Ambar is a full flavored, yet surprisingly smooth, amber-colored lager from Mexico that is easy to drink with a clean finish.

My rating on 10/1/14: So So

Kingpin
Double Red Ale
Bridgeport Brewing Co.
Portland, OR

Label info:
Double Red Ale is feared by some, cheered by many.
Kingpin Double Red Ale showcases the spicy tone of the Liberty hop variety grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley. We start with Pale, Rye and Caramel malts to create its dark red color and distinctive dry character, then add the hops at three stages during brewing for an offer you can't refuse.

7.5% alc/vol

My rating on 10/2/14: So So

Crabbie's Original
Alcoholic Ginger Beer
John Crabbie & Co.
Glasgow, UK

Label info:
Best served chilled over ice with a slice of lime or lemon.
For more than two hundred years Crabbie's has shipped its ginger from the Far East - following in the pioneering footsteps of the first Scots Merchant Adventurers - hence our distinctive Elephant Trade Mark.
Following a secret recipe, the steeped ginger is combined with quality ingredients and matured for 8 weeks to release a deliciously distinctive flavor.
Contains sulfites.
Crabbie's Ginger Beer provides a uniquely refreshing experience - only for grown-ups!
Enjoy responsibly.

4.8% alc/vol

My rating on 10/2/14: No No (too much ginger)

The Poet
Oatmeal Stout
New Holland Brewing Co.
New Holland, MI

Label info:
Oats bring a creaminess and soft-mouth feel to rich, roasty malt character. Pairings: mushrooms, beef, blooming, soft-ripened cheeses & chocolate.

My rating on 10/3/14: Yes Yes

Chainbreaker
White IPA
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon

Label fun:
Crafted for explorers everywhere since 1988.
Ale brewed with spices.
What if wheat wasn't the goal in itself? But a route to something awesomely new?
You pair wheat, hops and Belgian yeast and suddenly 'Bingo, a wheat like nobody else's.' With real depth, coriander and sweet orange peel, it's citrus-packed and silky smooth going down.
Pouring tip: Pour two-thirds in a tilted glass. Swirl what's left around the bottle. Resume pouring in all its hazy glory.

5.6% alc/vol

My rating on 10/3/14: Yes Yes

#9
Not Quite Pale Ale
Ale with natural flavor
Magic Hat Brewing Co.
S. Burlington, VT

Label fun:
The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is a performance to behold. Our mysterious melange of time-honored ingredients harmonize with chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith to create unique beers to share in the rousing company of kindred spirits. Cheers!

5.1% alc/vol

My rating on 10/4/14: So So 

60 Minute IPA
India Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc.
Milton, DE

Label info:
The continually-hopped, India Pale Ale.

6% alc/vol

My rating on 10/4/14: Yes Yes

Sibling Rivalry
Blended Beer
Brewed and bottled for:
 4 Brothers Blended Beer Co.
by Sand Creek Brewing Co., Black River Falls, WI

Label info:
This blend contains red ale, blonde ale, brown ale
Medium body, well balanced blend between sweetness and toasty malt

My rating on 10/5/14: Yes Yes

Hop-A-Peel
Ale
Atwater Brewery
Detroit, MI

Label info:
Ale brewed with orange peel
Beer is good. Enjoy responsibly.
Brewed in Detroit

7.5% alc/vol

My rating on 10/5/14: So So

Waterslides
India Pale Ale
3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
Sheboygan, WI

Label info:
Really Cool Waterslides India Pale Ale

6.2% alc/vol

My rating on 10/6/14: So So


Awards go to:

Waterslides and Mad Hatter for the cutest labels.

Hop-A-Peel and Kingpin for the most alc/vol, tied at 7.5%. (Many beers don't state their alc/vol so I can only include those that do).

The Poet for having a Halloween-oriented label.

3 Sheeps, Dogfish Head and Magic Hat for the most unique brewery names.

Chainbreaker for including pouring tips.

I could go on with awards for the cutest beer names, and so on and so forth, but I'll stop for now as I was impressed with a too many beer features in this journal.

CHEERS!

Have a Brewski! It Can Help Your Health

Have a Brewski! It Can Help Your Health

By Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN
When it comes to beverages with benefits, wine always seems to get the credit. If you're a brew lover it's enough to make you, well, want to cry in your beer. But before you do, you'll be glad to learn that, like wine, beer delivers some decided perks as well. "A cold beer is the perfect way to relax at the end of the day, it tastes great and, in moderation, it can even be good for you," says Ethan A. Bergman, PhD, RD, CD, FADA, past president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Read on to find out how your favorite brew can enhance your health.

It's Heart Smart

Whether you prefer wine, beer or liquor, people who drink one to two alcoholic drinks of any kind are less likely to suffer from heart disease according to a 2008 Journal of the American Dietetic Association article. Experts believe alcohol improves heart health by making blood less sticky so it's less likely to clot by increasing levels of "good" HDL cholesterol while lowering unhealthy LDL cholesterol.

You Can Keep it Light

With only 100 calories per 12-ounce bottle, light beer lets you kick back with a cold one for fewer calories. How do they do it? "Light beer is usually a combination of slightly reduced alcohol and carbohydrate content," says Bergman. "Because light beer contains ethanol, there is still a positive effect on heart health with moderate consumption."

It's Kind to Your Kidneys

According to an article in the Winter 2011 issue of ADA Times, that brewski may reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. Researchers found that beer lowered the risk of kidney stones in men compared to other alcoholic beverages, possibly due to its high water content and diuretic effect. Compounds in hops may also slow the release of calcium from bone that is implicated in kidney stones.

It's a Surprising Source of Fiber

Who knew that beer packs fiber? Made from barley, beer contains beta-glucans — a type of soluble fiber credited with improving heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. A 12 ounce bottle of lager sports 0.75 grams of fiber while the same amount of dark beer boasts 1.3 grams.

It Provides B Vitamins

That cold one has another hidden health benefit: it's a source of B vitamins such as folate, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12. One 12-ounce brewski supplies 3 percent of the B12 and 12.5 percent of the vitamin B6 you need in a day. These two nutrients keep your heart healthy by lowering levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that may damage your arteries and encourage blood clots to form.

You'll Strengthen Your Skeleton

While heavy drinking can weaken bones, a couple of beers a day can make them stronger. Beer is rich in silicon, an element found in few foods and drinks, which has been linked to stronger bones. In a Tufts University study, men who drank between one to two beers a day had hip bone densities three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half times greater than teetotalers.

It's Perfectly Packaged

Because beer comes neatly premeasured in its own bottle or can, you'll know when to say when. For the biggest health benefits drink no more than one to two beers a day.

Reviewed December 2012

---

Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN, is a nutrition consultant, journalist and author specializing in nutrition, health and wellness.