In a recent post, Mike made reference to the beautiful artwork adorning the outside of North Coast Brewery’s, Brother Thelonious.  I could not take my eyes off the label as I drove home from the market.  It was intriguing to me as I considered that North Coast, in my opinion, never fails to deliver a [...]

Schlafly makes some products that I really like and others that I consider just okay. Their stuff would be a lot easier to get if I still lived in Missouri, but you can’t be everywhere all at once. Their Bourbon Barreled Imperial Stout and Barley-wine are among the best of their products, so they do [...]

As previously mentioned, North Coast makes some pretty good beers.  I’ve enjoyed their Pranqster (Belgian Golden), Old Rasputin (Imperial Stout), le Merle (Saison Ale), Old Number 38 (stout) and Red Seal.  It’s been some time since I’ve had Brother Thelonious, the name a reference to Jazz Pianist Thelonious Monk (which explains the piano on the label).  I really [...]

This brewery continues to be consistent in its brewing.  Namely, mediocrity is its most consistent attribute.  It is puzzling that some breweries continue to put out “craft” products that take very little crafting and ignore the traditional style.  I’ve written elsewhere about Bock as a style of beer and would point you that direction to [...]

Encounters with the netherworld are hardly verifiable.  Nonetheless, here is my account, subjective as it may be. Recently, on a dark and cold evening, my wife and I were enjoying the silence in the house.  She, watching her program; me sitting in the dining room writing for Thank Heaven For Beer.  Suddenly, Sandra, a bit [...]

Here is our first brew on our new drink with us day.  We’ve moved to Saturday but you can still drink with us. I’ve had a few of North Coast’s products and liked them all.  It’s been a while since I’ve had Brother Thelonius, so I’m looking forward to this.  If you get a chance, [...]

I’ve only had a couple of Bison’s products, and I’ve only had a few Chocolate Stouts.  However, I can say that Bison’s Chocolate Stout is my favorite one in the category.  Actually, I have to qualify that statement.  I really love Young’s Double Chocolate Stout on tap.  I like it in the bottle, too.  So, [...]

Certain breweries appropriate copious amounts of respect for various reasons.  I am speaking subjectively, in this case.  At times it is the history behind the brewery (spearheading the craft brewery movement), the beer itself, the leadership involved, or in the case of Samuel Adams it is a medley of all the above, and perhaps a [...]

I feel a bit like Doogie Howser Dark Lord, M.D.  Herein lies my diary for purchasing tickets:  I should be sleeping.  Why am I awake right now?  I’m waiting to get some Dark Lord “Golden Tickets” from Three Floyds.  What else can be done?  With an imminent move to California, I can’t expect to be [...]

Bear with me while I vent…this post follows in the tradition of Mike’s “I’ve been randomly annoyed” posts. On the drive to work today I tuned into a radio station based out of Detroit.  I listened as the DJ’s hailed St. Patrick’s day as “the best holiday all year ’cause we can drink beer for [...]