Clear, reddish hue, slim, off-white head.
In the nose: vanilla, caramel & oak right from the start. Brandy, leather, cherries, whiskey.
In the mouth: more of the same at play on the palate. Minor hops, major malt, big time barrel. Mustard seeds? Whatever. It’s all swallowed up by the bourbon. Very mellow, despite the 11%,…very smooth and comforting. And okay, maybe I’m picking up the mustard after all.?
Big Axe/South Lyndale Liquors Toffee Coffee Pumpkin Blonde.
5% ABV, Big Axe Brewing, Nisswa, MN.
I said I would review everything in my fridge, no matter what, and post my notes, unless they’ve gone bad. This can is probably a year old. No date, but it’s from last fall. Let’s see how it held up
Hazy orange hue, with floaters about, short-lived head.
In the nose: prominent coffee notes, earthy & bitter. Pumpkin lurks just below, hanging out with toffee.
In the mouth: pleasant, and pumpkin-y enough. Sweetness from the malt, just enough hops for the style. Very mellow, very groovy. If you want a blonde ale with pumpkin, and some toffee and coffee, too, this one ain’t too shabby, there.
This was probably much better fresh, but it hasn’t faded significantly. Not in its prime.
“Hey, biking skeleton! You’re not supposed to ride over that bridge!”
5% ABV, Modist Brewing, Minnesota, Minnesota.
Clear, pale gold color, slim white head.
In the nose: soft and citrusy. Herbal. Floral.
In the mouth: crisp & clean, smooth and super-drinkable. Minimal bitterness. Extra dry. When you want a Pilsner, this ain’t a bad one to have. Top notch.
Czech-Style Pilsner w/ pilsner malt, hopped & double dry hopped w/ Czech Saaz & Strata
I’ve never understood “white stout.” It ain’t white and it ain’t stout. Watch me struggle anew!
Clear, golden toned, slim white head.
In the nose: coffee up front, bold and roasted, with vanilla right behind.
In the mouth: Small bitterness, smooth and malty. So, the infusion is the addition of coffee and vanilla, which is a tasty treat that can’t be beat. But I am still absolutely hornswaggled (I think I made that up) by this “white stout” business. It’s a gimmicky name that needs to be replaced. Not by me, I can’t spare the brain cells required.
Light bodied, rich, robust, and utterly delicious, despite the confusing nomenclature.
'Immortal Toast' was pulled straight from the homebrew notebook of co founder Zac's late father - Greg Carpenter. White Stout, brewed with whole bean Ethiopian Peace Coffee, Ecuadorian Cacao nibs and Madagascar Vanilla beans. Aroma of freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate and sweet malt. Flavors of honey, vanilla and coffee. Medium body with low bitterness. Pours a hazy orange with white head.
Junkyard Scrounger Blonde Ale.
4.3 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, Minnesota.
Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.
In the nose: slightly citric, grainy/malty, low to negligible bitterness.
In the mouth: light bodied, brightly flavored. Super sessionable. Lemony. Citrus flavors abound with zer bitterness and a modicum of malt.
Ho, hum, a blonde ale, says I, til I try it, and then it’s “pretty good for a blonde ale.”
Light, crisp, very drinkable blonde ale hopped with German Tettnager hops to give it a slightly floral and fruity hop profile.
Wandering Leaf Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Beet saison.
6.2 % ABV, Wandering Leaf Brewing, St. Paul, MN.
Another beer from last fall, as I clear out the fridge? Why else would I drink a Halloween beer in late August? Why else did I drink a beet beer?
Dark red, pink head. Opaque.
In the nose: dry and vegetal.
In the mouth: yep, that’s beets in there, right up in that saison. You don’t get much saison, it’s just to have something for the beets to swim around in, and they’re only for the beer to be red, so you can take it to a Halloween party and pretend you’re drinking blood. Again, dry and vegetal. Not much else.
Was this better when fresh? Not significantly.
Beet Saison with lemon and basil
Ol’ George #43: Introducing Geni
Notes on #43:
1. I have mentioned previously how I recognized that this strip lacks an independent human female character. I said this to a friend, who remarked that Ol’ George does not pass the “Bechdel Test”! If I wanted to get over that indignity, I’d need a scene where two women characters with names have a conversation that doesn’t involve a man. I’d already written this one, but I’d been putting it off because it required designing a new character, which is work. It’s okay that one is a bird and it’s only about her drink order, right?
I decided that this new character would be based on a drawing I did seventeen years ago, which was rejected as a label design by Surly. (Go to my blog’s search bar, look up Surly Two, read about it).
This sketch still exists in pencil form, but I intend to finish it in one form or another. A great tribute to her would be that she live on as a character in this strip, after spending nearly two decades in my closet(s).
By the way, if that drawing had a title, it would be Too. It was intended for Surly Two, but was rejected because , according to Omar, she was “too pretty.”
2. She is called Geni, for reasons which shall remain a mystery. Is it pronounced “Jenny” or “Jeannie”? You decide!
3. All of George’s drinking buddies-Chester, Balonious, Riblet-and many of the guest stars-Tom Waits, Snoopy, Thelonious Monk, Santa Claus, etc.-wear hats, like him. Geni wears a cranberry beret because Surly Two was a cranberry stout and she’s a Prince fan.
4. Does George have a thing for Irma? Shhh! I mean, who wouldn’t?
 |
| Here she is, Miss Too Pretty of 2008. |
Une Année Le Seul XVI American Wild Ale Fermented with Blackberry and Lemon.
6.5% ABV, Une Année Brewery, Niles, Illinois.
Clear, deep crimson color, slim, pinkish head.
In the nose: fruity, funky, very lambic-y.
In the mouth: nicely soured, fresh and refreshing. Delightfully tart and plump with berries. Long fruity finish.
I don’t drink a lot of fruited sours, but when I do, I’m glad they’re like this.
Sierra Nevada Electric Torpedo IPA.
7.5 % ABV, 45 IBU, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California.
Clear, bright golden, lasting ivory head.
In the nose: whiff of dank, plenty of citrus, whisper of pine.
In the mouth: big blast of bitterness blazes the palate. Grapefruit and lemon on the tongue. Bold pungency. Medium bodied with a long, hoppy finish. Packs a powerful punch.
Bring this back, outside the variety pack. I’d drink it on the reg.
This high-voltage West Coast IPA features a striking balance of orange, stone fruit, and herbal hop flavors. Exclusively in the Torpedo IPA Pack.
Malts: Munich, Two-row Pale, Wheat
Hops: Bravo, Chinook, Citra, CTZ, Magnum
Yeast: Ale
5% ABV, Squatter’s Craft Beers, Salt Lake City, Utah.
So, I’m doing that thing again, that I briefly stopped doing, where I review everything, no matter what. Except for hazies, I’ll drink those, but no notes. And the “juicy IPA” is something I would never purchase on my own. Hooray for samples!
Slightly hazy, bright yellow, slim white head.
In the nose: some citrus, a touch of pine, then the sweetness starts. A trickle of tropical. (Oh, also, melon, dank, fruity, as per the label. )
In the mouth: soft and smooth, slightly malty, altogether pleasant. More citrus on the palate, light bodied, easily consumed…rather humdrum in my estimation. But, maybe you’d like it, who knows? Lacks the bitterness I want, nay, demand in an IPA, but that’s just funny little me…
Squatters Juicy IPA is a fresh squeezed glass of hazy deliciousness. Packed with bright, citrus aromas and notes of ripe stone fruit, this unfiltered Northeast IPA finishes smooth, creamy and pulp-free.
Oliphant Two Headed Dracula Weed West Coast Double IPA.
9% ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin.
Thoroughly opaque….opaque-ier than I like…bright orange-ish hue, strong & lasting snowy white head.
In the nose: dank, fruity, full. Stone, with a slice of citrus. Powerfully pungent.
In the mouth: big and beefy. Overwhelmedly hoppy and bitter, rolled up in citrus and dank. Oooo, lord! Big sticky-icky bitterness that dominates the palate. And I am digging it, rich and ridiculously rewarding. This is firmly and securely one of my favorite takes on this style. (Although some clarity would have made it even more epic.)
West Coast Double IPA. Double the fear, double the taste, double the thrill. This does NOT suck...or does it? Pull up those covers when you turn in this evening!
5.8% ABV.
Green Bay Brewing, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Huh. Wait a minute. Since when was a Vienna lager an Oktoberfest? I guess everything’s anything now.
Clear, dark(ish) golden hue, slim white head.
In the nose: malty and sweet. Classic and noble.
In the mouth: rich and malty. Smooth, easy drinking. Lightish bodied, but tasty, refreshing, satisfying. I’m enjoying this, but c’mon, Vienna lagers aren’t even a German style!
Oktoberfest pours with a deep golden color. This lager's head is thick and foamy which leaves a thick web of lace. The sweet caramel and brown sugar aroma balances well with a hint of grain. Very malty and lightly hopped, the flavor of rich caramel makes this Oktoberfest extremely drinkable.
Ol’ George #42: 42.
Notes on #42:
1. It’s #42. I had to do it. Sorry for the spoiler, anyone who isn’t aware of this franchise from the past 47 years, the books, radio play, BBC tv show, motion picture, comic books, video games, rpgs, etc.
I’m pretty sure I consumed the books first, back in the early 80’s, then TV & radio. Anything after that, I didn’t care. We won’t talk about it.
2. Okay, we will.My Zaphod and Marvin are based on their 1981 BBC TV incarnation. You couldn’t do much with special effects on a low budget in ‘81, so you could forgive Zaphod’s second head just sitting there, doing nothing. I think they dubbed some lines, or something?
But, 2005, you could put a second Sam Rockwell head up there and it would have worked, but they didn’t! And nothing against the great Alan Rickman, but I didn’t take to the new Marvin. And that is all that I will say about 2005 motion picture. There’s very little I like about it, aside from the cast.
3. The Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster is a drink created by Zaphod and is a cocktail based around Arcturan Mega-gin. We’re just pretending, for the sake of the gag, that this fictional drink is a beer.
Many years ago, I used to celebrate my birthday by creating a beer event at the Blue Nile, putting a disparate array of beers on tap, and urging my fellow beer kegs to join me. One time, a regular suggested that I create a “pan-galactic gargle blaster” from a mix of every beer on tap. I dutifully did so, and that’s all I will say about that.
De Leite Enfant Terriple Blonde Triple.
8.2 % ABV, 43 IBU, Brouerij de Leite, Oostkamp, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium.
Clear, bright golden hue, ivory froth atop.
In the nose: bright, slightly spicy, hint of bubblegum. Some citrus.
In the mouth: bold and beautiful. Bright and spicy, with increasing alcohol boarding the palate. Bubblegum feel is here, but not overpowering. Nice and warming. Just like I like ‘em.
The love between Femme Fatale and Bon Homme issued a sprog! The first triple beer by Brewery De Leite was born. The couple baptised their first offspring under the name ‘Enfant Terriple’. A ‘unpredictable’ playful beer. (do you see the pun with ‘triple’?). The Enfant Terriple is a ‘devilishly’ sunny blond beer of 8.2 volume with a playful nose. A subtle bitterness with a faint-fine citrus touch that is enveloped in a sober spicy malt taste. The agreeable bitterness lingers long. For connoisseurs with a bright outlook on life.
Modist The Time Is Nigh Festbier.
5.2 % ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It’s time for my first Oktoberfest of the year. I’ve had this one in years past, but not one to drink at home and review.
Clear, bright golden hue, full, lace-leaving ivory cap.
In the nose: fragrant and floral, absolute delight.
In the mouth: smooth and slightly sweet, delicious and malty. I don’t detect much from the oak-aging, but Modist seems to oak-age all of their lagers. This one is clean, crisp, and ultra downable. Quite tasty, too.
Festbier brewed with German Barke Pilsner, Vienna and Munich malts. Kettle hopped with Bravo and Hallertau Mittelfruh. Then lagered and aged in our Oak Foeder for 4 weeks.
Tucher Bajuvator Doppelbock Dunkel.
7.5 % ABV, Tucher Privatbrauwei, Nuremberg, Deutschland.
Dark brown brew, with crimson edges, almost opaque,rich, creamy head atop.
In the nose: sweet and malty, cocoa tones with a touch of vanilla. Quite lovely.
In the mouth: malty, rich, sweet and just enough bitter for balance. Bready, delicious, warming. Rye and pumpernickel. A little chocolate, a little nutty. Get me to a bratwurst, now! Bring on the giant pretzel, mit mustard!
I am thoroughly digging this, wish I could go back for more!
Eine Spezialität die nicht nur zur Starkbierzeit schmeckt: kaffeefarbene Optik und eine besonders angenehme Vollmundigkeit mit dezenten Röstmalznoten.
Ol’ George # 41
Notes on # 41:
1. It’s been a while for Chester, almost 5 months since he’s appeared. Got to rotate my regular supporting cast. Irma’s always, around, of course.
2. Is there a new regular on her way in? Stay tuned…
3. People ask me if George is based on me. Well, I’d never talk to my mom like that! I do owe her a call, come to think of it.
4. George Herriman used to change up his logos with great frequency in “Krazy Kat”, so that’s been working its way in. Forgot to include “@ Kelly’s “, though.
Half Acre Beer Hates Astronauts IPA.
7.8 % ABV, Half Acre Brewing, Chicago, IL.
I enjoyed the comic book series, so I wanted to enjoy the beer. But it was $18 a 4-pack, and it’s now even barrel aged or imperial or nothing. (Although, 7.8% technically makes it a double…)So, I bought a single at $5, hope it’s worth it…
Clouded (wasn’t expecting that), orange hued, slim white head.
In the nose: citrus and pine, grapefruit and tangerine.
In the mouth: big blast of bitterness, slightly pulpy mouthfeel, loads of citrusy goodness on the palate. Bit of an alcohol burn. Fuller bodied. Altogether enjoyable.
India Pale Ale with Citra
2025 edition
7.7 % SBV, 15 IBU, Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota.
Clear, bright golden, slim white head.
In the nose: banana and bubblegum, right off the bat. Citrus and spice and everything nice.
In the mouth: flood of sweet and spicy flavors blasts the palate. Bright and lively, sweet, strong, with consummate grit. Massive texture, thoroughly magical. Delicious Belgian maltiness, enchanting yeast, sublime hops. And that boozy lilt to take it all the way to Mt. Doom.
. “A beer is never late, it arrives precisely when it means to” -Gandalf. This beer is complex, light, floral, and spicy. The alcohol level has a warming quality about it that will kick you in the butt if you aren’t careful. Styrian Golding hops provide a clean bitterness that balances out the Belgian character of the beer.
9% ABV, 90 IBU, DMBC, Maple Lake, Minnesota.
This, the last DMBC beer, was released back in March. I could have reviewed it then, but, no, I put it off for four months, because that’s me.
Slightly clouded, bright golden, slim white head.
In the nose: alcohol takes the lead, followed by citrus notes. Some tropical, grapefruit meets pineapple.
In the mouth: bitterness sparks the tongue, before waves of fruity sensations wash over the palate. ABV comes roaring in. Medium body, easy drinkability (despite, etc.) Plentiful bitterness with exceptional flavors.
I might have said something slightly different back when it was fresher, but that’s how it goes. Cheers, Rob & Sarah, you left a great legacy!
