11 Beers for St. Patrick's Day

I've always had a love/hate feeling for St. Patrick's Day.  I never quite understood the wearing of the green, or how a day honoring a Catholic saint became a free-for-all drunk fest.  There's nothing wrong with celebrating your heritage with a few hundred friends, but let's not go too crazy.  After all, friends don't let friends drink green beer.  With that out of the way, here's a list of eleven beers for the irish in you.

11.  Guinness Draught Stout.  Guinness.  Ireland.  4.20% ABV.
There are more myths and wives tales about Guinness than just about any other beer.  The truth is the Guinness you find on tap at the local pub is a very mild beer that's equal in strength to Bud Light.

10.  Dogfish Head Chicory Stout.  Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  Delaware.  5.20% ABV.
Dogfish Head is known for experimental brewing and extreme beer.  Chicory Stout fits the experimental label, but it's hardly extreme.  It's a little step up from the pint of Guinness.

9.  Conway's Irish Ale.  Great Lakes Brewing Co.  Ohio.  6.5% ABV.
Conway's Irish Ale comes out just in time for the holiday.  It's a little stronger than my first two choices, but it's hardly an extreme beer.

8.  Anchor Porter.  Anchor Brewing Co.  California.  5.6% ABV.
The term "stout" (in the case of Guinness) is a shortened version of "stout porter".  Anchor's porter predates most of craft breweries in the U.S.A.

7.  Founders Breakfast Stout.  Founders Brewing Company.  Michigan.  8.3% ABV.
If your going the kegs and eggs route, go with a hearty breakfast beverage.  Made with oatmeal and coffee, you could make it breakfast on it's own.

6.  Sam Adams Irish Red.  Boston Beer Co.  Massachusetts.  5.8% ABV.
Sam Adams is often talked as gateway beer.  Take a step toward beervana with this red ale.

5.  Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.  Guinness.  Ireland.  7.5% ABV.
There are actually many different versions of Guinness Stout.  The FES is the big brother of the draught stout.  It's stronger and maltier.  The bottles are carbonated unlike the draught's nitrogen gassed body.

4.  Old #38 Stout.  North Coast Brewing Co.  California.  5.6% ABV.
North Coast's Old #38 is a little stronger, but still very drinkable stout.

3.  Brian Boru Old Irish Red.  Three Floyds Brewing Co.  Indiana.  5.9% ABV.
Three Floyds is favorite brewery of midwestern hop heads.  Brian Boru doesn't shy away from hops, but it's not as powerful as the Alpha King.

2.  Kalamazoo Stout.  Bell's Brewery, Inc.  Michigan.  6.0% ABV.
Bell's is the godfather of Michigan brewing.  Their Kalamazoo Stout is a good match for your corned beef and cabbage.

1.  Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.  Great Lakes Brewing Co.  Ohio.  5.8% ABV.
There is a fine line between porter and stout.  Edmund Fitzgerald is a good choice any day in my book.  I wonder how a half & half pour of Conway's & Edmund  Fitz would work...

11 Michigan Breweries to Visit

Tomorrow is the Michigan Brewer's Guild Winter Festival outside of Grand Rapids.  In honor of this festival and the hardy souls who are attending it, here are 11 Michigan Breweries to visit.

11.   New Holland Brewing Company.  Holland.
Grab some pub grub and enjoy a pint of Mad Hatter!
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=903

10.  Wiltse's  Brew Pub & Family Restaurant.  Oscoda.
Stop for an Oatmeal Stout on your trip up the Huron shore.
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=1423

9.  Kuhnhenn Brewing Company.  Warren.
How about a little Loonie Kuhnie or a Raspberry Eisboch?
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=727

8.  Keweenaw Brewing Company.  Houghton.
Let's go way up into the U.P. for a Pick Axe Blonde!
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=719

7.  The Livery.  Benton Harbor.
Step downstairs for a glass of Wheat Triplebock at this old horse stable.
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=771

6.  Jolly Pumpkin (Brewpub location).  Ann Arbor.
I'd suggest a glass of La Roja or maybe Luciernaga.
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=11123

5.  Michigan Brewing Company.  Webberville.
Have a Superior Stout in this very casual pub.
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=3910

4.  Bell's Eccentric Cafe.  Kalamazoo.
Pick your poison.  Two Hearted Ale.  Hopslam!  Oberon...
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=1459

3.  Dark Horse Brewing Company.  Marshall.
Fill up a mug of Crooked Tree.  (or Double Crooked Tree?)
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=341

2.  Founders Brewing Company.  Grand Rapids.
I don't think you can go wrong, but let's get one you don't find bottled.  How bout a Canadian Breakfast Stout!
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=459

1.  Short's Brewing Company.  Bellaire.
You can go hoppy with a Humalupalicious, or you could go with one of Joe's many wilder  creations like Key Lime Pie Ale, S'more Stout or Black Liquorish Lager.
http://beermapping.com/maps/reviews/reviews.php?locid=1198

Now get over to beermapping and plan that trip!

These Go To Eleven: 11 Strong Beers for a Cold January Night.

The great Nigel Tufnel said "These go to eleven".   With that I introduce the first Hoppy Notes 11: 11 Strong Beers for a Cold January Night.  Sit in front of the fireplace, and pour yourself a glass.

11. Great Lakes Blackout Stout.  Cleveland, OH.  9%ABV.

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/uploads/Beer/Profile%20Blackout%20Stout.pdf

10. Victory Storm King Stout.  Downington, PA.  9.1%ABV

http://victorybeer.com/beers/storm-king-stout/

9.  Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA.  Marshall, MI.  12%ABV

http://www.darkhorsebrewery.com/content.asp?PageName=OurBrew

8.  Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA.  Munster, IN.  9.5%ABV.

http://www.3floyds.com/our-beers-2/

7. Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout.  Denver, CO.  9.5%ABV.

http://greatdivide.com/#/beer

6.  Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout.  Munster, IN.  15%ABV.

http://www.3floyds.com/our-beers-2/

5.  Stone Imperial Russian Stout.  Escondido, CA.

http://www.stonebrew.com/irs/

4. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale.  Chico, CA. 9.6%ABV

http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/bigfoot.html

3.  Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher.  Akron, OH.  9.4%ABV

http://www.hoppinfrog.com/beers/

2. Bell's Expedition Stout.  Kalamazoo, MI.  10.5%ABV

1. Bell's Hoplam!  Kalamazoo, MI.  10%ABV

http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/