Microbrew and Craft Beer Reviews

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Microbrews and Craft Beers. Proof that God Wants Us To Be Happy!

Here at my Microbrew and Craft Beer Review lens, I'll be focusing on microbrew and craft beer reviews, opinions, ramblings, quips and meanderings of the completely innocent and harmless variety (all microbrew related of course). If you're a big proponent of microbrews or maybe just starting out with an interest and curiosity in craft beers of all types, styles and origins, you've come to the right microbrew website for insight on microbrews, microbreweries, craft beer news and more! 

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to visit my microbrew reviews lens, and please do check back often for my regularly posted updates (yes, I really will keep it updated! No kiddin' ;-).

Microbrew & Craft Beer Content Guide 

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A Microbrew Review of Flying Dog Brewery's Snake Dog India Pale Ale 

by Microbrew Review

There have not been all that many microbrews from Flying Dog Brewery readily available around my area here in Western Pennsylvania until within just the past few months or so. In fact, my favorite craft beer bottle shop has finally started to stock three or four microbrew offerings lately from Flying Dog Brewery and I was excited to give Flying Dog's Snake Dog India Pale Ale a try, so I grabbed a bottle this evening.

Flying Dog Brewery started out in 1994 as a small Denver, Colorado based microbrewery that's since relocated all of it's beer brewing production to their Frederick, Maryland brewery (where they'd been brewing a good portion of their beer since purchasing the second brewery in 2006).

Visit microbrew review here ===> review of Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA for the full review.

Home brewing? Yes! Brew Your Own Home Microbrew! Great Christmas Gift for the Beer Lover in your Life !! 

Brew Your Own Craft Beer For Your Next Party or Get-Together! Save Money and Drink Better Beer....


Mr. Beer - Makes a great gift!

My Microbrew Review of Saranac Winter Wassail 

By Microbrew Review

Although it's now March, I was able to pick up a straggler winter beer sampler 24 pack of Saranac 12 Beers of Winter. The 12 beers is actually only 6 different styles of beers in 2 separate 12 packs (a little misleading as I'd initially thought I'd have the opportunity to sample 2 of 12 different brews).

Anyway, the price was right and I'd had several pretty good past experiences with craft beers from Saranac (Saranac's actually one of the brand names of beers brewed by The Matt Brewing Company out of Utica, New York). This case of craft beer looked festive enough from the design on the packaging and since it is still officially winter, I thought I'd give it a try.

Saranac Winter Wassail Ale, as served from the traditionally classic brown glass bottle (with fairly festively cool label)poured a crisp cool looking copper pink into an unchilled 16 ounce standard pint glass.

The perky foamy head rose in agitated fashion to a billowy off-white head of a good three quarters inch, but simmered down in less than 2 minutes to virtually nothing.

Here's the complete ===> review of Saranac Winter Wassail ale...

A Microbrew Review of Abita Christmas Ale 

Brewed by Abita Brewing Company Abita Springs, Louisiana

I have to admit, I picked up a couple 12 ounce bottles of Abita Brewing Company Christmas Ale this evening just solely because of the shiny silver foil printed labels. Something about the appearance of the bottle just shouted "festive". I had to give it a try. And being the holiday season, this beer fit right in. I'll be blunt by saying I'd trying a couple of the year round offerings from (a microbrewery based in Abita Springs, Louisiana) and at least with those microbrews was not the most impressed. I was hoping Christmas Ale might be a little different.

Pouring Abita Christmas Ale into a standard unchilled 12 ounce beer mug, I was presented with an amber, reddish vibrant hue. The beer looked "zesty" so to speak with a bold bright color and energetic bubbles abound everywhere. Read more here... Beer Review of Abita Christmas Ale

Microbrew & Craft Beer Websites Worth Visiting 

by Microbrew Review

Mr. Beer Microbrewery Home Microbrewery System
Brew your own great beers at home. Fast...Cheap...Good beer!! Great for beginner home brewers! You won't believe how easy it is to become your own brewmaster!

A Microbrew Review of Victory Brewing Company's Hop Devil Ale 

By Microbrew Review

Grabbing a nice cold 12 ounce bottle of Victory Brewing Company's Hop Devil Ale out of the vegetable crisper bin of the ole spare fridge tonight, I knew I would be in for a special treat just based on the awesomely, cool label design of this fine .

The lable features a wonderfully conceived likeness of a smiling devil's face cleverly crafted from the image of a perfectly harvestable hop. Smiling, devilish and oh so tempting! I just had to drink it. And I did!

Victory Brewing Company is an awesome pony in the stable of I've been blessed enough to have the often opportunity to sample having them located conveniently in my own Pennsylvania backyard, so to speak.

Pouring this baby into an unchilled 16 ounce pub glass...read more at
A Microbrew Review Blog

4 Must-Have Homebrewing Books 

If you know how to brew your own beer at home or want to learn how easy it really is, these books are worth their weight in "liquid gold"!

These homebrewing books are invaluable if you have any level of interest in learning the basics and eventually the advanced skills of brewing your own superior quality microbrews and craft beers right in your own home (beginners too!). Not only will you take pride in your microbrew creations (most of which will taste better than store-bought or bar beer) but you'll also save a load of money by brewing your own along the way!!
Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home

Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home

by: Sam Calagione

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now

The Brewmaster's Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers

The Brewmaster's Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers

by: Stephen Snyder

Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now

The Home Brewer's Companion

The Home Brewer's Companion

by: Charlie Papazian

Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now

The Complete Handbook of Home Brewing

The Complete Handbook of Home Brewing

by: David G. Miller

Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now

My Microbrew Review of Mojo India Pale Ale 

From the Microbrewery of Boulder Beer Company - Boulder, CO

Last evening at my local mix-a-six microbrew bottle shop, I spied a little bottle in the corner cooler that really caught my attention. This little baby went by the name of Mojo India Pale Ale. Sure does sound catchy, doesn't it? Giving in to my curiousity, I picked up a 12 ounce bottle just for kicks. I'm a huge India Pale Ale fan and this was one microbrew (offered by Boulder Beer Company, a microbrewery based out of Boulder, Colorado) that I hadn't yet had the opportunity to sample.

I poured the bottle into a standard 12 ounce glass mug, unchilled. A nice bright copper appearance greeted me with excellent carbonation and clarity to match.

Read complete beer review for this beer and many more microbrews
here ===> my beer blog

Bell's Oberon Ale- A Midsummer Night's Dream? 

Bell's Oberon Ale is a microbrew I'll admit to actually having tried on several occasions over the past year or two. I've just never really had the time or sense to actually make an effort to jot down my own personal opionions of this true to form "American wheat ale". Well, no time better than the present I always say. And now, with summer weather here in Western Pennsylvania, there's no reason to put it off any longer. Especially since wheat beers, or "Witte" beers should I say, are traditionally those beers of summertime passion.

Right from the get go, I have to say that I actually sort of admire the colorful goofy looking Mr. Sun logo on the label first off. With colors of bright orange, yellow and blue, the bottle labeling design definitely drew my attention to Bell's Oberon Ale out of the hundreds of microbrews in my local mix and match six pack shop.

Pouring the 12 ounce brown bottle of into an unchilled teardrop shaped glass, I found a tawny bright burning of orange and light rust. A slight haze was present but nothing entirely out of ordinary for a wheat beer. A mild one finger head blanketed the surface for just a few brief minutes, but then rapidly dissipated into only thin lilly pads of splotchy froth...Read the entire Oberon Ale craft beer review here at Microbrew Review or visit Summer Beers.

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Microbrewery Tours 

Stone Brewery Tour San Diego

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FLYING DOG BREWERY TOUR part 1

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Lakefront Brewery Tour

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Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour 1

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Lighthouse Brewery Tour

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Rogue Ales Brewery Tour

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Samuel Adams Brewery Tour

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Brooklyn Brewery Tour

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Stone Brewery Tour San Diego

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Magic Hat Brewery Tour

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Microbrew & Craft Beer News Headlines 

Current beer and microbrew info and craft beer industry news.

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Troegs Nugget Nectar: Troegs Nugget Nectar is Nectar of the Gods! 

Troeg's Craft Brewery Produces another taste winning microbrew!

Troegs Nugget Nectar: Troegs Nugget Nectar is Nectar of the Gods!

Is there any better a place to visit on a 70 degree March evening than the good ole local microbrew bottleshop? I was hankerin' to snag something good, tasty and hoppy for embibing while checking out the hockey game on the tube tonight. I picked up a few proven good picks and then, out of the corner of my little eye, spied a new addition in the cooler selection roster. Could it be?

Yes, it was, one of the microbrews I've been wanting to try but haven't had the $40.00 to cough up for a whole 24 bottle case (crazy Pennsylvania liquor laws). Troegs Nugget Nectar has been high on my wish list lately, and luckily my local bottle shop just got a supply in and decided to stock it in the general assembly section of the cooler row.

is an independent microbrewery located in Harrisburg, PA and has long been known, especially amongst us Pennsylvanians, to put out some very high quality and tasty microbrews over the years (one of my seasonal favorites being the Christmastime-issued Mad Elf, but more on that one later).

Anyway, I picked up two 12 ounce bottles and, needless to say, by the second bottle I just had to post a few notes on this very impressive offering (to be accurate, the label touts this as an Imperial Amber). Pouring my slightly chilled bottle into a standard 10 ounce beer mug...

Get the whole story here ===>A Microbrew Review Blog

My Microbrew Review of Magic Hat's Hocus Pocus Wheat Ale 

Proudly Brewed by Magic Hat Brewing Company - South Burlington, Vermont

Magic Hat Hocus Pocus Wheat Ale

I picked up a 12 ounce bottle of a curious microbrew today. Hocus Pocus Summer Wheat Ale, brought to me by Magic Hat Brewing Company of South Burlington, VT.

I've tried several of the offerings in my years. None of which I'd been all that much impressed with overall. Don't get me wrong, each Magic Hat microbrewery beer that I've sampled has certainly proven itself much better than the macro swill I'd find in any bar, pub or street corner tavern in the Pittsburgh region. Let's just say it's just not been a "memorable" track record with this microbrewery in particular for me personally.

I guess what attracted me to even picking out the bottle in the cooler is the cool label design. That's what's always snagged me with Magic Hat beers. I see the funky, cool and colorful label designs, my eye gets drawn, my interest is piqued. I've gotta at least try it right? One thing about Magic Hat is that, while their label are very interesting and fun, trying to tell what style of beer is inside the bottle is like throwing darts in the dark. There is very little anywhere on the bottle to even let you know what you're spending your hard-earned cash on on the inside. After very close inspection, I noticed this is a "seasonal" microbrew offering, a "summer wheat beer" to be exact. "What the heck?" I thought and grabbed a single.

Check out the complete beer blog review here ===>A Microbrew Review Blog

Top 5 Russian Imperial Stout Beers 

These are the best I've tried to date...in my humble opinion.

  1. Victory Storm King Russian Imperial Stout -
    Hard to beat blend of roasted malts, chocolates and hops! Yes, hops!
  2. Bell's Expedition Stout -
    I've not had a better dessert beer yet! Sweet, dark, decadent Imperial Stout microbrew.
  3. Great Lakes Blackout Stout -
    A real treat and not far off from my top two Russian Imperial Stouts.
  4. Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout -
    Sweet, chocolately with a spicy alcohol bite kicking its backside.
  5. Stone Russian Imperial Stout -
    Superb, but I have the feeling a few years aging would do it well to take off the freshly brewed edge.

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout Microbrew Review 

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout Microbrew Review

Well, I think I've just about gotten to the bottom of my winter microbrew stash...finally! Not that it's been highly anticipated as I really enjoy the winter warming style micros. But hey, summer's here and it's time to kiss winter (and spring) goodbye with this final winter brew review. Here we go with Thirsty Dog Brewing Company's Siberian Night Imperial Stout.

First off, I love the label. This bottle's got a hauntingly shadowed image of a nice rendition of a wolf with glowing yellow eyes. It almost challenges you to drink this imperial stout while threatening you to stay away at the same time.

Secondly, just a little bit of history I've learned about the brand. These folks started out very small (just four people total) opening a dog-themed microbrew brewpub in 1996 based in Canton, Ohio. Their beers (including their flagship Old Leghumper Porter) grew in fame and popularity and started to rack up multiple medals in microbrew competitions. Back in 2003 however, some new investors stepped in and purchased the rights to bottling and distributing the Thirsty Dog brews. Same beer, but you might notice the "brewed and bottled for Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. by Frederick Brewing Co. Frederick, Maryland" on the side of the bottle. Don't be scared away. Everything's still alright on the inside.

Popping the cap off the twelve ounce brown bottle, I poured this rich, thick and syrupy black beauty into a 16 ounce unchilled tankard...

Get the full review here ===> A Microbrew Review Blog

Learn How To Brew Your Own Beer At Home 

Home Beer Brewing How-To Books Worth Their Weight in Hops

Hard to believe, but true. You can very easily learn how to brew your very own craft beers and microbrews right at home! This is no joke! Follow some basic instructions, mix in a little patience, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can become the "microbrew master" on your neighborhood block, seemingly overnight. Here are several of the ultimate and best home brewing books that I would recommend for any home beer brewing experience level.

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Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home by Sam Calagione

Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home by Sam Calagione

One of the best I've seen by one of the most innov more...1 point

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Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale Craft Beer Review 

By Micro Brew Review

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

I'd been eyeing a very lonely case of Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale sitting at the very bottom of a mish mash of seasonal clearance microbrews just about a month ago at my local beer distributor. I'd briefly pondered making the purchase, asked the price, and reasonably declined when I learned the asking price of $39.99. It was displayed prominently right on the side of the case as a Gold Medal Winner microbrew, but at that price, I just couldn't go "all in" for it.

Well, just this past Saturday, the wife's there at the same distributor and calls me on the celly asking me if there's anything I wanted her to pick up for me. Hmmm...let me think. "Yes, it's still here" she says and finding out that the bargain basement discount price has now dropped to $34.99, I couldn't resist and asked her (pleaded actually) to bring it on home for me (yes, a whole measly 5 bucks made the difference to me. How cheap am I?)

Once she'd brought home the bacon and chilled it down in the fridge, I pulled out the first bottle only to find that it's empty. Yes, empty! Some punk at the beer distributor, cheaper than me, must've found this beer as intriquing as I, and not having the $35.00 to spend (and probably not the loving wife willing to buy it for him) discreetly popped the cap and quaffed it luke warm in just a mere minute or two I'm guessing. After the furor of the incident wore off, I actually felt bad for the poor soul reduced to such an action.

Anyway, I've still got 23 bottles left, so I still win, right? I'd seen a few beers from Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Northern California outfit and was anxiously looking forward to sampling this interesting looking selection. So I wasn't going to let anything ruin the overall anticipation for me ($35.00 and one empty bottle in the hole or not).

Cracking the cap off of my first 12 ounce bottle (as non-discreetly as I possibly could) I poured the sample into one of my trusty, unchilled 16 ounce pub glasses.

Go see the full beer review here ===> A Microbrew Review Blog

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Great Lake Brewing Company Blackout Stout - A Craft Beer Review 

Great Lakes Brewing Serves Up A Great Microbrew!

Great Lake Brewing Company Blackout Stout

Living here in Western Pennsylvania, I'm certainly not smack, dab in the middle of microbrew heaven (what, with the strange alcohol laws, beer distribution, etc.). Any quality microbrews that can be found here in my area are few and far between, unless you know all the "secret" places to look of course.

I try to always keep my mouth shut, my eyes and ears open, and my nose to the ground when I have something, microbrew-wise, in mind that I'm looking for. And when I find it, I'm sure to snap it up in a heartbeat knowing that it may not be there tomorrow.

One microbrew I've been on the lookout for since January is Great Lakes Brewing Company's "Blackout Stout". It's a seasonal Russian Imperial Stout only available in February and March each year. Now that's what I call a small window of opportunity! Anyway, I tried this one way back last year and have been anxiously awaiting its arrival again this year for an official review (plus it's a darn fine brew to boot!) Last week, I finally found Blackout Stout at my trusty local bottle shop and quickly snatched up two 12 ouncers at $2.00 apiece. What a buy, I must say.

I wasted no time in getting them both home safely, and after about 30 minutes in the freezer, could wait no more for a long awaited reunion of chocolately, malty goodness!

Pouring the newly chilled bottle into my 16 oz. pub glass (non-chilled), I am greeted with a beverage of high viscosity. Read the complete exciting review at... A Microbrew Review Blog

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My Top 5 Double India Pale Ale Microbrews 

These are the very best IPA microbrews out of those that I've personally sampled to date. This list will be updated periodically (I'm sure)...If you have any suggestions for my next sampling, post me a blurb in Microbrew Stew.

1. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - Can this get any better?
2. Stoudt's Double IPA - Not a distant second place but higher alcoholic tone bumps it down a notch.
3. Victory Hop Wallop - By far the most in IBU's (real or perceived) that I've tried.
4. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - Very classy Imperial IPA. Anxious to try it after a year cellaring.
5. Saranac High Peaks Series Imperial IPA - New kid on the block. Saranac's first attempt heading down the "big beer" trail. Looking forward to next offering. This one was a little "raw".

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Dale's Pale Ale: Dale's Pale Ale Offers Microbrew In A Can? 

A Craft Beer Brewed by the Oskar Blues Brewing Microbrewery - Lyons, Colorado

Dale's Pale Ale: Dale's Pale Ale Offers Microbrew In A Can?

Just recently I took a wild stab at trying out Dale's Pale Ale which is proudly produced by Oskar Blues Brewery, a Lyons, Colorado microbrewery.

Being a big fan of pale ales and India Pale Ales in particular, I was more than a little skeptical of this hop offering. Afterall, it's packaged in an aluminum can. Nothing good can come of that, right? That's what I've always thought since I branched off of the macro-brew trail long ago and moved on to bigger, better things...all things micro that is.

Well, I was wrong. A good, solid microbrew does not have to ALWAYS come in a brown bottle as has proven. In fact, despite my predispositions, the whole "can" thing was what got me curious in the first place. No matter how bad I wanted to resist the marketing of this brewery and using the whole "microbrew in a can" gimmick, I gave in and purchased a mixed case (12 Dale's Pale Ale and 12 Old Chub Scottish Ales). Let me tell you what I found... A Microbrew Review Blog

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Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - A Microbrew for Hop Lovers 

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - A Microbrew for Hop Lovers
I tried another of my mix and match six pack purchased from a local bottle store tonight. Yesterday, you might recall my displeasure with my selection of the day (the Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic). But today, it's an entirely different story. Enter Pennsylvania microbreweries' Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe IPA.

I've sampled multiple IPA's and DIPA's over my time (that's India Pale Ale and Double India Pale Ale) and this recent example is one of the best, at least of those that I've tried. First off, just opening the bottle and giving it a whiff from only about 6 inches away gave off that powerful piney scent indicative of most quality IPA's. The aroma was one of the strongest I've experienced and only increased with the pour into a standard 16 ounce pint glass.

Secondly, the frothy head on this beer is amazing...read more here at A Microbrew Review Blog

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