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We had lunch at Storm Cloud Brewing Company in Frankfort, MI today. Really good food and some decent/good beers. We would go back again if we were in the area.
 
Just like the political conventions, I say PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT! Here’s my face-off between Stiegl Hell and Stiegl Goldbräu! GREAT LAGERS!

First off – let’s put this one to rest – I think BOTH of these beers fit the Helles category. They are just a bit different from each other. Luckily, I have volunteered to put them to the test!

Looking at them, Stiegl Helles is a few steps lighter in color, still plenty malty. Goldbräu is just a touch darker, malty, but no hint of residual sweetness, - might be like if you mashed a bit of C-40 in the Helles batch or kept the decoction or boil going another 30 minutes. These are really close, like maybe they share more than we think.

Great and similar head, lacing and carbonation, these two are kissing cousins in my book. Cousinen küssen!!! Prost!

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Stiegl-Hell​

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Stiegl-Goldbräu​

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Made it to the upper peninsula of Michigan today. Drove right by @orionol73 neck of the woods up route 31 to 75 then crossed the Mackinac Bridge. Staying just on the other side then going further north in a couple of days.
Sorry bud, had I planned this better I would have stopped in and asked for you to say hi in person and shake your hand.
 
Mission Brewing, San Diego. The name needs no introductions! This is one of the premier San Diego area breweries. So many of these brewers are making these double-knock out punch sorta IPA’s, it’s hard to keep track of them! Shipwrecked Double IPA arrives in a Manly 19.2 oz can (that’s right, Manly, Gavin, buncha wine thippers……) and clocks in at 9.25% ABV. That’s like drinking two regular strength beers. Arrrrghhh!

This is a terrific IPA, no idea what hops are here, but it is balanced and the alcohol is hidden – I would have guessed 7% if it didn’t say 9.25% on the can.

Truth is, 9.25% is a bit much for my preferences…. Yes, I’m cutting the rest of this one back a bit with my Bud Zero. It’s just as good and I have twice as much IPA to slake my thirst! Arrrrghhh!

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Goldbrau a Marzen? Hmmm…. Quite a bit lighter than all the others I’ve drank lately!
A Märzen doesn't have to be amber as we are constantly told. Nobody brews a true Märzen, those beers are brewed all year long. Any beer style brewed in March was called a Märzen because of the brewing restrictions. In ancient times, brewing was not permitted in Bavaria from Georgi (23rd of April) till Michaeli (29th of September). Beers brewed in March were stronger to make it true the summer and got their name, Märzenbier.
 

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A Märzen doesn't have to be amber as we are constantly told. Nobody brews a true Märzen, those beers are brewed all year long. Any beer style brewed in March was called a Märzen because of the brewing restrictions. In ancient times, brewing was not permitted in Bavaria from Georgi (23rd of April) till Michaeli (29th of September). Beers brewed in March were stronger to make it true the summer and got their name, Märzenbier.

Appearance​

Amber-orange to deep reddish-copper color; should not be golden. Bright clarity, with persistent, off-white foam stand.

https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/6/6A/marzen/
 

Appearance​

Amber-orange to deep reddish-copper color; should not be golden. Bright clarity, with persistent, off-white foam stand.

https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/6/6A/marzen/
We should let the German and Austrian breweries know they are not brewing a Märzen according to a US outfit. That is bad news for Stiegl, they have been brewing their Golden Märzen for over 120 years. Thanks to the British, the Austrian and German brewers learned how to produce light-colored malts around 1840 and started to make light-colored beers. Maybe the BJCP org. is stuck before 1840.
 
HB Hopfenweisse.

Looks a bit darker than it should in the photo but that's just the photo I think.

Third attempt at a Hopfenweisse and despite one of the most difficult, gruelling and rip-your-hair-out frustrating brew days I've ever had the end product is pretty good.

Think it needs to sit on higher carb for a bit longer though. I've jacked it back up.to 3.4 volumes as it lacks the ultra high carbonation mouth feel.

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I was able to sneak in a surprise brew day today, so armed with Imperial's version of the dry Whitbread strain, I launched a monstrous, despicable, and unjustifiable preemptive war on the 2024 UK brewing season with a new recipe called July Ordinary Bitter.

With all my vessels clean and the kitchen floor mopped, it's time to celebrate with the most recent batch of Panther Piss.

No pictures of clear beer today, it's a damned sauna in here!
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There’s just something magic about sipping on a 19.2 ounce “stove pipe” of beer …. in a glass that can hold it all! Today we’re taking another look at Mission Brewing in San Diego.

I’ve carried on and on about the great IPA brewers in the San Diego area. I mean, there are SO MANY, it is like picking your way through a box of chocolates. I mean they are ALL SO GOOD!

I suspect a lot of the beer talent gets bounced around – so many breweries have come and gone, but some of the real powerhouses remain – Karl Strauss, Stone, Mission, Ballast Point, Ale Smith all come to mind. As of March 2024, there were 195 breweries in San Diego and the surrounding area. Now you know why there is such insanity when it comes to the San Diego beer scene! It is nuts!

This is a totally balanced IPA, (they call it their IPA,) 7.0% ABV, just the range I like my hoppy ales. Delicious beer, hops are great and citrusy, just a terrific India Pale Ale. Like San Diego, you will dig it!

The Complete List of Breweries in San Diego County

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First full pour of the Leftovers Amber I kegged on Tuesday. For a “using up a little of this and a little of that” recipe this ain’t bad. 5.75%, 24 IBU, 13 SRM. I don’t know that I’d brew this again on purpose but it’s a pretty respectable beer.

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