White Flame Brewing Company - Weakness, Chocolate Vanilla Porter

Is it worth drinking? Yes!

Drinkability: 8
Smoothness: 8
Bitterness: 0
Flavor: 8

This delicious porter was brought to me once again by my gracious friend Dave Holland. Weakness, is an incredible chocolate porter that isn't overwhelming in chocolate flavor. There are subtle hints of vanilla in the finish. It's quite potent, but won't knock you over. It's a well balanced beer, and you can tell that this brewery takes pride in what they do.

The story behind the brewery is quite fascinating, you can watch the video below or check out their story at whiteflamebrewing.com . I like how they operate, all of their beer is only available in their brewery/taproom/restraunt. They are very small, with a small brewing setup. I like this because I think traveling to breweries, or having great friends that live close and will bring some hard to get beer is part of this "Craft Beer Explosion" that they speak about on their site. If you get chance to get near Hudsonville, Michigan stop in, and take home a "Crowler" or two!

Odd Side Ales - Hipster Brunch Stout

Is it worth drinking? YES!

Drinkability: 7
Smoothness: 7
Bitterness: 5
Flavor: 10

This beer is fantastic! If you like KBS or CBS you will love this beer! With hints of maple, and bacon in a whiskey barrel aged coffee stout, you can't go wrong!

Odd Side Ales, from Grand Haven, Michigan has an excellent barrel program! In this write up I am discussing a very seasonal hipster brunch stout. This is direct competition to founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. In my opinion, its better! I was lucky enough to have my friend Dave bring me a bottle of this hight sought after beer, that he woke up at 5am, and traveled from Grand Rapids, to Grand Haven (about 1.5 hours) for, and was kind enough to share a bottle with me when he came in town. Thanks Dave! This beer is released around the same time that, Founders release KBS and CBS (early October) Brewed in limited amounts you need to get it while you can. So if you are ever in Michigan, or you can visit their tap room in Grand Haven (Best way to get your hands on it). You need to try this beer out! If anyone has tried both, Founders CBS, and Odd Side Hipster Brunch Stout, please leave a comment and let me know what your thoughts are.

Petoskey Brewing, Cranium Crush - Raspberry Waffle Cone Cream Ale

Is it worth drinking? Yes!

Drinkability: 10
Smoothness: 8
Bitterness: 0
Flavor: 8

So while i'm on a kick of some very crafted specialty beers with odd flavors that you would never guess could be a delicious beer, ill write about the Cranium Crush - Raspberry Waffle Cone Cream Ale. Brewed by Petoskey Brewing company from Petoskey, Michigan.  This very smooth cream ale lives up to its name. While the flavor is not as bold as the last 2 beers I have spoken about, it is still very good and lives up to the name.


This beer is a great cream ale for any cream ale drinker. While I personally am a fan of cream ales, I believe that they do have their own spectrum. This one drinks like a cream soda, with a light raspberry top note, and a waffle cone finish. The raspberry is not heavy (like a raspberry lambic), nor is the waffle cone flavor. There is just the right amount of each to fancy your taste buds. The process as described by the brewery is that actual waffle cone is added to the mash, and fresh raspberries are added during fermentation. This recipe makes for an excellent desert beer, but could probably go well with pizza. Petoskey distributes in all of Michigan, so if your visiting or in the state you should check this beer out. 

Pigeon Hill, Oatmeal Creme Pie

Is it worth drinking? YES!


Drinkability: 10
Smoothness: 10
Bitterness: 0
Flavor: 10

Pigeon Hill Brewing Company, located in Muskegon Michigan is a pleasant brewery, with many wonderful tastes. One in particular is oatmeal cream pie also known commonly as (O.C.P). Much like my last post on the Tallgrass - Key Lime Pie, this beer is way of the beaten path, and like nothing else that is on the market today. This is said to be a result of one of the brewmasters wives challenging him to create a beer that tasted like and oatmeal cream pie for her, and let me tell you, he delivered!

Based on information on their website and local publication, the ingredients are mainly oats, marsh mellow fluff, cinnamon, and secret brewmaster sorcery of brewmaster Joel Kamp. This beer comes from the tap in either nitro, or carbon, and I have had the pleasure of trying both. This beer is much smoother on nitro, and adds to the namesake with fluffy creamy head. The standard carbonation is not as good and a little harsh on the flavor however this is the most efficient method for the small brewery to deliver the yummy goodness of this beer in cans, and growlers. My initial response after drinking this beer was "Holy shit man, this tastes just like an oatmeal cream pie!" as I took the first drink, the finish was of seasoned oats and cinnamon. At the time of my tasting, I was with a friend that is from the southwestern Michigan area, but had not tried the O.C.P. and her reaction to the beer was the same. It was so good we each took a growler back home to our southwestern Indiana residence. I have a few friends that frequent the area, and I have them bring me back a six pack nearly every time since the pigeon hill brewery does not distribute to my area at this time.

If you are ever in the Muskegon area, NEED to try this beer! I wish that I had more time to taste more from this brewery. If they are as creative with the rest of their brews as they are with this one, then "Skeeter on my wheater" "LMFAO stout" and "Hoppy Kamper" are probably just as unique and delicious! This is a beer all beer drinkers will enjoy, from craft lovers to bud light regulars.