Giesenbrau Bier Co. Spaceballs the Milk Stout (& more)

Giesenbrau Bier Co. Spaceballs the Milk Stout. 5 % ABV.

Just about black coloring, rich & creamy brown head above. Looking nice.

In the nose: roasted malt, slightly sweet & gentle. Right on the nose for the milk stout style.

In the mouth: Semi-sweet, lightly bitter, mellow roasted malt. Medium-bodied, and fully flavored. Smooth and silky. Chocolate notes dominate the malt profile. Creamy mouthfeel. Tasty stuff, and I don't mind saying it: Good beer, and you can drink it.

If Planet Spaceball had run out of bier and not air, this is the bier they would have stolen from Planet Druidia. This is a dark, malty, roasty, chocolaty ale brewed with lactose, oats, and flaked barley to give it a nice body and smooth drinkability. At only 5% this is a very sessionable and approachable stout even for those of you who aren't sure about dark biers. May the Schwarz be with you!

So there's my review of the third crowler I purchased at Giesenbrau (pronounced Gee-sehn-broy, for reasons I don't totally comprehend) Brewery in New Praque, MN, back in September of last year. It was the second brewery visit of the day with Jason, after Roet's in Jordan, and before Imminent in Northfield, both of which we'd seen before.

I took in 3 beers on my visit, this one above, named for the Mel Brooks "Star Wars" spoof, a German-style IPA that I enjoyed called "Take Off, You Hoser" (Hmmm, there's a Rick Moranis trend, now.), and a double IPA that didn't quite thrill me called "Frickin Ugly"....and, wait, according to my Untappd check-in, I had another, called 31 Hour Pale Ale that met my palate more satisfactorily.

I took in the atmosphere and took down my beers, without taking notes, while my companions were engrossed in a football game. The German decor was an endearing touch. There was a special kids corner, with toys and games, as the local brewery taproom is becoming a family destination, and alternative to bars and pubs. As you'd guess from the name, New Prague, a town of 7,000 in South Central, MN, was founded by Czech immigrants, although eventually they started letting in some Germans. The mission
statement of the brewery tells us that they are intent on emphasizing this heritage: Giesenbräu Bier Co. (pronounced "GHEE-sen-broy") is a family owned and operated brewery whose goal is to serve the local community with fresh, locally crafted lagers and ales with an emphasis on German and Czech tradition.

As I told you above, I eschewed taking notes on the pints had on premise and took three crowlers home. I like the Bavarian Gangsta IPA, but wasn't especially keen on the Hefe Weizen. As reported above, the English-style milk stout was as fine as when enjoyed on tap. I was let down that the

German-style hefe weizen wasn't as accomplished as I'd hoped. Now, I haven't had everything from them, so trying out six beers, and being pleased with four of them isn't such a bad record. I'm just a bit disappointed that the one true German style among them (German IPA isn't really a true German style) wasn't quite on point. I would not hesitate, however, to return and try them out again.

Indeed Wooden Soul: Patch Work Sour Red Ale with Mixed Berries

Indeed Wooden Soul: Patch Work Sour Red Ale with Mixed Berries. Wood barrel aged Ale brewed with Blackberries, Raspberries, and Blueberries. Bottled by Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. 7.5 % ABV.

Deep, plummy/reddish-brown color, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Fruity and tart. Jammy. All the berries are up in the nose.

In the mouth: Intense puckering from the start. Blackberries are in the lead. Raspberries peek out. Blueberries, I see you, too. Bursting with fruit and sour. Oak barrel complexities fill it out. Sticks around for a stretch on the palate.

Tasty, tasty stuff. Another fine one in the Wooden Soul line. Keep 'em comin'.

Follow your nose! A melange of fruity perfumes wafts your way, intoxicating with the aromas of blackberry, raspberry leaf, and dusty lemon. Deep red and slightly hazy, with a purple hue, Patchwork plucks you up with perky tartness and handfuls of berry flavor. With this mixed berry sour red ale, the pickings easy. 

I get it. "Patch" is where you pick your berries. Good pun. Yeah....

North Lake Honey Brown Lager

North Lake Honey Brown Lager. "North Lake Brewing." "North Lake, Where You Want to Be."

5 % ABV.

This post is proof once again that I'm living up to my promise that all beers that fall into my hands will be given an equal and fair review. I don't have a great deal of info on this beer except that it's contract-brewed for a distributor in Ramsey, Minnesota, by a brewery in Wisconsin.

 I think.

Which one? I forgot. (It's Minhas.) (And, actually, in Tennessee, too, now that I read the website.)
Short story: they needed a local beer to sell, so they created one. I think.

 Let's just go ahead and drink the thing, and make my fridge a little lighter.

Clear, auburn-hued, slim, off-white head.

In the nose: Soft and malty, slightly sweet. Cereal notes, and, yeah, honey.

In the mouth: Light body. Slightly flavored. Bland taste. Moderate sweetness. Malty. Gets better as we go. Flat flavors seem to fill out a bit.

Not bad. Adequate beer and you can drink it. If you want something light and just a little flavorful that goes down easy, sure, go for it. Doesn't totally suck.

Perfect for those cool nights around the campfire
Medium-bodied lager with a touch of honey
4.8% ABV

Junkyard Citra-Zaic Double I.P.A.

Junkyard Citra-Zaic Double I.P.A. 8 % Alc./Vol. Packaged 12/17/18. "Double Up." Junkyard Brewery, Moorhead, MN.

All hazed up. Bright golden hue, Lasting ivory head. Looking good.

In the nose: Beautiful citrus explosion. Orange, lemon, grapefruit, a touch of tangerine. A little floral. Altogether delightful.

In the mouth: It's everything you've ever wanted. The classic combination does it again. Put the Citra and Mosaic in you double IPA, and you can't lose. Bright, lively, popping with citrus, tropical tones, and a touch of pine. Light bodied, smooth, and all the hops. Definitely yum.

This West-Coast style double I.P.A. is brewed and dry-hopped entirely with the legendary "Citra" and "Mosaic" hops varieties, which feature huge citrus and tropical fruit flavors. 

Prairie Artisan Ales Double Dunk Imperial Stout with Oreo

When I think about  the production of gimmicky/novelty/adjucts ales and such, and I imagine the brewers breaking open package upon package of cookies, or breakfast cereal, powdered donuts, or what-have-you, I have to wonder, to what end? Are we really supposed to expect the flavors from these extra ingredients to come through with any of the force or the flavor as they do on the plate and the palate? And those thoughts occur when I see this on the shelf, and I plunk down my hard-earned cash.

Prairie Artisan Ales Double Dunk Imperial Stout with Oreo. 11.9 % ABV. Prairie Artisan Ales, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Absolute blackness fills the glass, with a slim, brown-tinted ring of foam, completely opaque.

In the nose: Bold, assertive aromatics, led by high alcohol, rich dark malts. Chocolate and brandy. Spices, peppers.

In the mouth: Rich and chocolatey. Creamy, boozy, ...but not especially Oreo-y. Should I be looking for the flavor of the cream center, or the chocolate cookie sandwich on the outside?

This starts out a little rough, but gets increasingly tasty. Flavors are becoming more cohesive, more formidable. And I do say that I like it. Full-bodied, rich and satisfying. Tasty, yeah, but not particularly memorable, either.

I think I missed an opportunity by not pairing the stout with actual Oreos, but I'm more of a fan of beer than that particular cookie. I like mine more soft and dough-y. Diff'rent strokes for different folks.

Seattle Cider Co. Berry Rose Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. Berry Rose Hard Cider. 6.9 % ABV. Made with Washington Apples. Seattle Cider Co., Seattle, WA.

Clear, bright red, still.

In the nose: Bright and berry-is, rasp., blue- & other.

In the mouth: Very raspberry. Crisp, slightly tart, edging into sweet-land. Ends on a dry note, finishes clean. Not cloyingly sweet, as I worried. Tasty. Refreshing. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Crafted with locally grown raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Slightly tart on the start and softly sweet on the finish. This cider is both accessible and full-flavored.

Blake's Hard Cider Flannel Mouth

Blake's Hard Cider Flannel Mouth. 6.5 % ABV. Blake's Hard Cider Company. Blake's Hard Cider, Armada, MI.

It's almost the end of 2018. One of my promises early in the year was to clear out my Dedicated Beer Fridge, reviewing every can and bottle. The beverages that have remained have mostly been ciders, and I've been drinking them out of a sense of duty, rather than any desire to drink a cider.

I count the number of cans, bottles, growlers and crowlers awaiting review, I divide it by the number of days left in the year, and I think, "yeah, I can do three reviews a night, every night." And then I come to my senses.

Blonde ales also stay too long in the fridge, as well as lagers and fruity beers. But, a promise is a promise, so let's get to drinking.

Clear, light green-is yellow, still.

In the nose: Green apple. Lightly tart.

In the mouth: Crisp, fruity, refreshing, light on the palate. Just a little on the sweet side, and quite delicious. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this one.

Although I have no clue why it's called "flannel mouth." Weird name, that.

Blake's Flannel Mouth is made with a wide array of late season table and dessert apples. This combination gives it a sweet flavor than finishes incredibly smoothly. Made 100% with Michigan-grown apples.

Lupulin Imperial Chocolate Truffle Porter

Lupulin Imperial Chocolate Truffle. 9 % ABV. 30 IBU. Lupulin Brewery, Big Lake, MN.

Deep mahogany hue, thoroughly opaque, slim brown head, looking quite lovely.

In the nose: soft, even delicate, notes of cocoa, dark malts. Widening up, expanding in scope and flavors.

In the mouth: From the kick-off, sweetness floods the palate. Flat-out tasty. Full-bodied. Layer upon layer of yum. I can't stop loving this.

And that's all I have to say. Find it, drink it. Coming up: Hazelnut, & Raspberry.

Deliciously decadent, this Imperial Porter is infused with the rich flavor of chocolate. A beer this smooth and silky ought to be a sin. Sometimes it feels good to be bad... 

Town Hall Dry Shine IPA

Town Hall Dry Shine IPA. 5.6 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, milky foam atop.

In the nose: Citrus and tropical tones abound in the aroma, popping with stone fruit, too.

In the mouth: Bright, fresh expression of hop flavors, with a plentiful amount of caramel malt at the bottom. Little bit of chocolate, touch of sweetness. Tangerine, mango, and more plop on the palate, and linger long. Nice, long-lasting bitterness. Sweetness in the flavor staves it off.

Another great Town Hall IPA. Keep 'em coming.

Hop forward, ripe citrus juice, kiwi, mango, pine-like hop aroma and flavor. Snow-white foam locks in honey golden malt.

Oliphant Hunkboy The Robust Porter

Oliphant Hunkboy The Robust Porter. 6 % Alc./Vol. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

More label art that I don't get. It's based on something, but what it is I don't know. It has something to do with elevators and bellboys, but beyond that I'm mystified.

Dark brown color, slim brown head. Looking the part.

In the nose: roasted malt takes the charge, with notes of coffee and cocoa behind. Rich, earthy, lovely. Note perfect.

In the mouth: Full bodied, full presence on the palate. More coffee than chocolate, at least at first. Dark malts aplenty. Moderate hop bitterness. Smooth, easy-drinking. Just about a just right porter, in all respects.

Robust Porter with subtle roasted chocolate notes.

Venn Batch 108 Raspberry Sour

Venn Batch 108 Raspberry Sour, as "Razz Sour !" as my label reads. 8.8 % ABV. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright crimson color, slim pink ring of foam.

In the nose: sourness at the start, fresh raspberry flavors.

In the mouth: Intense sour kicks it off. Vibrant berry taste. Fresh and delicious. Medium-bodied, with a long-lasting tart/fruity finish. Lays long on the palate.

Sour ales are huge right now, but I've been keeping them at a distance. This one, though, I'm really enjoying. Well done!

A strong & sour wheat beer, infused with actual raspberries.

Malts: Domestic Pale, White Wheat, Unmalted White Wheat

Hops: None

Yeast: Lactobacillus & Champagne

And: Raspberries

Alaskan Cranberry Tart

Alaskan Cranberry Tart. Ale Brewed with Cranberries and Spruce Tips. Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, Alaska. 5.8 % ABV. 25 IBU.

Clear, pinkish hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: fruity, tart, clean.

In the mouth: Starts out moderately tart, with cranberry flavor coming through. Drops off thereafter, spruce tips take control, and it ends dry and clean. Small amount of hop bitterness, but a persistent spruce tip attack. Citrus notes pop up and blend with other flavors.

If you want an intense "sour" sort of beer, this is not it. It is a good ol' drinkable, fruity ale with just enough tart to earn the label.

I enjoyed this bottle fine enough, but wouldn't make it through a 6-pack. It's not made for me, though, this I know.


This American tart-style ale exhibits cranberry fruitiness in harmony with malt, wheat, hops, and spruce tips.

This light-pink wheat beer has a hint of spruce notes in the aroma, with a honey sweetness and fruity medley of berry intensity prominent in the nose. The flavor is tart at the beginning, with sweet cranberry and citrus mellowing the overall taste. It has a very light mouthfeel and finishes crisp and clean.

Cranberries are paired with the same Sitka spruce tips we use in our award-winning Winter Ale, with Pilsen and German acidulated malts, plus malted white wheat and Nugget hops.

Original Gravity: 1.050
ABV: 5.8%
Bitterness: 15 IBUs

Color: 8 SRM

Unmapped Saison Amelie Petite Saison

Unmapped Saison Amelie Petite Saison. 4.4 % ABV. 18 IBU. Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Clear, auburn coloration, slimmed cream-toned head.

In the nose: screams saison. Citrus fruit, spice, Belgian yeast, all the right tones are struck. Slight sweetness, just a touch of funk. Love it. Delightful.

In the mouth: Fresh and fruity. Bubblegum and banana. A taste of honey.
Lightly funky, slightly sweet, altogether cool and groovy. Light-bodied, easy drinking, smooth stuff.
A nice and likable twist on a traditional saison, whatever that might be.

What it is, though, is a good beer, and you can drink it.

Saison Amelie is our honey-brewed house Saison made with local Minnetonka Gold Honey!

We've classified it as a "Petite Saison" due to its light body, low abv, and refreshing drinkability. This sessionable treat finishes quite crisp and dry with honey and orange fruit flavors.

Junkyard Lacto BRO Cillus

Junkyard Lacto BRO Cillus. Sour Milkshake IPA. Soured by lactobacillus. 7.1 % ABV. Packaged 10/22/18. Culture. Brewed by Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN,  in collaboration with our friends at Barrel Theory Brewing Company of St. Paul, MN.

Ale Brewed with lactose, vanilla beans, passionfruit puree and peach puree.

I'm doing it, again. I'm having a go at a Milkshake IPA, even though I keep saying how much I dislike them. But, I like the breweries who make them. I like everything they make, it seems, except the milkshakes.

How can I hate something so much that they seem to love? They wouldn't keep brewing them if they didn't enjoy making them.

Can I be so out of touch? No, it is the brewers who are wrong.

Clip provided for those who don't get my Simpsons reference.

Oh, and one other thing before we drink. There are only a handful of stores that carry these crowlers and they're a bit of a trip away from where I live. I was surprised to find this one, tucked away by the fortified wine and the malt liquor, in the cooler, at a store not too far from me. If I knew they had Junkyard, I'd be stopping in more often. Now, to get them to carry Oliphant.

On with the beer:

Thoroughly and utterly hazed and clouded, dull yellow color, steady slab of ivory foam atop.

In the nose: Heavy hop notes, incoming sourness, and flush with fresh fruit. Tropical & stone fruit notes aplenty.

In the mouth: Yow! Tart attack from the start, big time sour in this, with sweetness of fruit creeping out towards the end. It's a tart/fruit tango, all the way, but not much from hops, and just the basic malts. Sweet and creamy always tangling with tart. It's interesting...and tasty...and enjoyable. But, it shouldn't be called "IPA" by any stretch. It carries none of the characteristics of an IPA. "Sour Milkshake Ale"? I don't know, but calling this an IPA...what are you thinking?

It's a good sour/fruit beer, for sure, but it's no IPA. Oh, and it's also a milkshake something, if you need your beers to be milkshake-y.

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man, not unlike a strait-laced principal whose rod up his butt has a rod up it's butt. But, though an odd fellow, also steams a good ham.

56 Brewing White Elephant Uber Festive Double IPA

56 Brewing White Elephant Uber Festive Double IPA. 8.5 % ABV. 30 IBU. 56 Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Limited Release. Brewed and canned in NorthEast Minneapolis, Fifty Six Brewing.

Hugely hazed, dull orange coloring, sizable ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: citrus & tropical tones, floral, piney, with plenty of yeasty notes, too.

In the mouth: Bright citrus and tropical flavors pounce on the palate, hovering over the lush malt and yeast flavors. Smooth and balanced, easy-going, ultra-drinkable. A great blend of complexities abound. Low bitterness. But some parts are just not meshing. There's a clash, just below the harmony.

I'm not crazy about this one. It's a bit of a mess, too many competing flavors that don't quite gel, but it's still tasty and consumable. I've enjoyed this 4-pack, but I don't think I'll return to it too quickly. Just isn't my favorite iteration of IPA, double or otherwise. They can't all be favorites.

The gift you didn't know you needed. A double IPA brewed with MN grown malted barley and wheat from Vertical Malt Company. All bundled up with hallertau blanc and nelson sauvin hops.

Town Hall Festivus 2018

Town Hall Festivus 2018. 5.3 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. American Brown Ale.

Festivus changes year after year, and this year it's a ...Brown Ale! Yeah! Nothing else? Just a brown ale? Nope. Okay....yeah!

Clear, brown color, cocoa-tinged head.

In the nose: malty, slightly sweet, nuts, cola, mostly coca. Very nice.

In the mouth: Caramel malts, a touch of toffee, starting sweet and ending dry. Medium bodied, and mostly a malty affair. Just enough hops for balance.

Good stuff. In fact, good beer and you can drink it.

Roasted chestnuts used in the being process make this brown a holiday classic.

Utepils Ewald the Dark Dunkel Weizen

And here we have the second review of a growler from Utepils Brewing of Minneapolis. Even if you are the most ardent follower of this blog, you haven't seen the first. The reason for this is that at the time of it's writing. I was operating under a series of foolish rules that I've since deemed unnecessary. I still feel that each of my posts needs an illustration, but why did I feel that the review of Glocal IPA from a growler had to contained within the review of the brewery and taproom itself, which I kept putting off, for reasons I can't satisfactorily explain? After all, drinking the growler at home and visiting the taproom are two different experiences.

As always seems to happen, the pictures got lost, (they may still exist somewhere, but I can't get to them) and the brewery report was never written or published. Because of these types of mishaps, reviews of beers from places like Bemidji, Goat Ridge, Wabasha, Lakeville, Barley John's, Talking Waters, Foxhole, Enki, Tin Whiskers, and more never got saw the light of your computer screen. (Not mentioning all the notes taken, but let's not allow me to self-flagellate further, shall we?)

What stops me from merely publishing the review, and linking to it within the brewery review? What was I thinking? I'm going to stop that, and try to get the pics and notes out in a more timely fashion. I promise.

And guess what, some of those pics from my first visit, back in February of last year, were found and it's enough to illustrate a brewery post, which is long overdue. (Question: Why only 2 visits in almost 2 years? I have to chalk that up to being unfamiliar with the area. It's a little out of the way. Why not make a better effort to become familiar? You know that's a good question.)

So, look forward to that sooner, maybe sooner than the distance between at least six more reviews of six distinct and individual breweries, another quirky rule you probably didn't know about and which shouldn't govern my actions at all times. It's a bit OCD.

Enough of my blah, blah, blah-ing, on with the beer.....


Utepils Ewald the Dark. 5.2 % ABV. 14 IBU. Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Largely hazy, reddish brown appearance, slim off-white head above.

In the nose: banana, clove, and cocoa. All malt and Bavarian hefe weizen yeast. Slightly sweet.

In the mouth: Smooth and malty. Hefe weizen yeast character reigns supreme in the taste. More banana, plus a touch of toffee, cocoa, nuts, cola. Light bodied and expertly drinkable. Clean and rerfreshing. Tasty.


I love a good dunkel weizen, and this is one of them.

Brewed with Pale and Dark malted wheat, Carawheat, lots of Munich Malt, and a touch of roast malt, combined with German Hops and our natural spring water. 

Ewald the Dark is an unfiltered, Dunkles Weißbier that pairs notes of banana and cloves with a hint of chocolate.

Also: LIMITED TIME OFFER; THINGS ARE GETTING A BIT SHADY FOR EWALD. HE’S BEEN SNEAKING AROUND QUOTING LINES FROM EDGAR ALLEN POE AND WHISTLING THEME SONGS FROM OLD DETECTIVE MOVIES. HE ALSO BREWED A DARK VARIATION OF HIS FAMOUS HEFEWEIZEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT’S SO GOOD, WE SAY: EMBRACE THE DARKNESS, EWALD.

Wild Mind Second Round Molten Lava Cake Imperial Stout

Wild Mind Molten Lava Cake Imperial Stout. Second Round, Two Year Anniversary, 08/04/18. Rye barrel aged. (Been sitting on this for over 4 months. Couldn't help myself. Damned lack of will power.)

13.3 % ABV. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Utter darkness in the glass, slim brown head.

In the nose: rich, roasted malt, cocoa, anise, spice, cinnamon. Deep and mysterious.

In the mouth: Hot. Sweet. Dry. Spicy. Full bodied and stuffed with flavor.

Whiskey notes take over, and alcohol is in command.

Some might call it "hot." Not I. Big and booming.

Sweet malty tones take over from the heat, keeping time with the spices. A multifarious adventure on the palate.

Yum. A Dum. Dum.

To Celebrate our second anniversary, it's time for another bottle of cake. This imperial stout was brewed with toasted wheat and oats and conditioned on cocoa nibs, French sea salt, vanilla beans, and cinnamon before aging in rye whiskey barrels for six months. An ode to molten lava cake, second round is a decadent barrel-aged stout with rich notes of bakers chocolate, devils food, and frosting. 

Oliphant Chocolate Squishy

Oliphant Chocolate Squishy. Sour ale with lactose, cherries, cacao nibs and sea salt. 5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Jeremy Hughes is the Salvador Dali of beer labels.
This is only half of the picture, the other half is doubly
confusing. They should come with footnotes.

Wholly hazed, thoroughly opaque, thickly raspberry-ish coloring, slim pinkish head.

In the nose: It's all there, believe it or not. The cherries and the chocolate. And the sea salt. Not picking up on the lactose, though. All there in an incredible mix.

In the mouth: Sweet cocoa, sour cherries, all at once. Creamy, salty, clean, fun, and refreshing. This is special stuff. (I'm trying to avoid falling back on saying "tasty" or "delicious", but it is.)

Dee-lightful. Fruity, sour, with cocoa flavors lurking just below. Long lasting fruity finish.

Lush. Lovely. I guess I like it.

Unmapped No Trace IPA

Unmapped No Trace IPA. 6.4 % ABV. 67 IBU. Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

I made my first and only visit to Unmapped in Minnetonka back in September of last year. "Only" because I do not drive a car and rely on my friends to take me to to places like Minnetonka. If I lived closer, you can bet I'd have logged a few more visits. On this one, I had a flight, a pint (of this IPA I'm reviewing), and a growler. The other day, I had the opportunity to taste a few more, and bring some crowlers home for review. I decided to start with No Trace IPA.

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, lush ivory head above, long-lasting, lace leaving.

In the nose: soft, citric, floral, orange and lemon, and utterly delightful.

In the mouth: Burst of citrus and pine, and all is juicy and good.
Bright, juicy, fruity, beautiful. Bitterness stays in play throughout. Medium bodied, and exquisitely drinkable. Quite tasty. Mmm, delicious.

Definitely an IPA I'd turn to again and again.

No Trace is a flavorful, hop-forward IPA.

We let the hops shine in this one- floral, pine, and tropical fruit notes abound. Tied together with a supporting cast of light caramel malts, this beer is a go-to for any season.

Gray's Oatmeal Stout

Gray's Oatmeal Stout. Gray's Brewing, Janesville, WI. 5.2 % ABV, 23 IBU.


Fully ebon, slim brown head.

In the nose: roasted malt, cocoa, coffee.

In the mouth: earthy, gritty, much malt. Espresso traces and chocolate tints. Full-bodied and hearty. A little bit of sweet, ending dry. Classic Oatmeal Stout. Nicely done.

Rich in color with a strong roasted flavor and creamy texture. A true dark beer lover’s beer. Generous amounts of fresh rolled oats, paired with aromatic hops and richly roasted barley lead to the unique coffee-like flavor.

I first tried this beer over 14 years ago. Back in October of 2004, these were my far more verbose notes:

Appearance: dark black color, with reddish tinges, under a thick, toasted tan head.

Aroma: Richly roasted, deep and dark, with hints of anise and chocolate, whiskey, even, I very much enjoyed this smell and kept my snoot in it for as long as I could bear.

Marvelous presence on the palate, nicely carbonated, good hops, but the flavor leaves too quickly, and the body thins out too fast. The promise found in the aroma isn’t quite delivered in full in the flavor.
Medium to full body, with less of a finish than I’d like. Too mellow, with too bare a flavor.
I found myself loving it at the start, and less pleased while I was drinking it. If not for that, this would be an oatmeal stout I’d be most happy to have around, day-in, day-out.

It seems like I liked it better this time around.

Sanitas Black IPA

Sanitas Black IPA. Hoppy. Dark. "A dark IPA dripping with hops." Sanitas Brewing Company, Boulder, CO.

Inky blackness, nicely roasted brown head, looking good.

In the nose: Grassy, piney hops mixed with dark malt.

In the mouth: Smooth, slightly chocolatey, with hoppy flavors staying right on top. Nice. Bitterness lasts throughout the finish. Easy going, nice balance.  Good ol' black IPA and you can drink it. And isn't it nice that this style is still being brewed. Or did I just take a time travel trip back to 2013?

Sanitas Black IPA
Dark Hoppy Ale
Deep black in color with a soft khaki head, our year-round India Pale Ale displays aromas of fresh pine resin and grapefruit. This beer uses both organic and roasted malts to bring out its flagship roasted characteristics. Flavors follow suit with punchy citrus notes and a subtle chocolate character.

*The Denver Post's "Favorite Beers of 2014"   "3rd Place LA International Beer competition 2017"
​
6.5% ABV.  65 IBU's  ROTATING SEASONAL AVAILABILITY IN CANS AND DRAFT

Omnipollo Pleroma Raspberry Creme Brûlée Sour Ale

Omnipollo Pleroma, Raspberry Creme Brûlée Sour Ale Brewed with Lactose Sugar with raspberries and vanilla added. Alc. 6 % by Vol.
Omnipollo Brewing, Stockholm, Sweden.

Reddish hue, highly clouded, slim, pinkish head.

In the nose: Sour and raspberry, from the start. Sweet and sour at play. I'm getting the cream and vanilla, too.

In the mouth: Crisp, refreshing, sour and fruity. Delicious. Can't help liking it. Fruit flavor feels fresh, lively. Medium body, long fruity finish, ending on a dry-ish note. This vanilla and lactose is not getting in the way of the raspberry sour.

It's not a "milkshake" sour, even if it is. Creamy, sweet, sour, fruity, and all good.

Venn Brewing Batch 64 Imperial Stout

Venn Brewing Batch 64 Imperial Stout. 10 % ABV. 80 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Solid blackness, slim brown ring above.

In the nose: Bittersweet. Intense cocoa. Vibrant espresso. Deep roasted dark malts. Notes of pepper and anise.


In the mouth: All that above and more. Rich chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, and more. Full bodied, full flavored, absolutely balanced and a treat to drink down. Alcohol warmth is coming through.

 Highly satisfying, largely luxuriant, and flat out tasty.

Yet another testament to the highly capable hands at work at this brewery.

Chocolate, coffee, roast. A huge Imperial Stout aged in stainless for 6 months.

Malts: Maris Otter, Light Crystal, Flaked Oats, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Extra Dark Crystal, Amber Candi Syrup

Hops: Warrior, Northern Brewer, Willamette (United States)

Yeast: American Ale, British Ale

Four Daughters Loon Juice Caramel Apple Cider

Four Daughters Loon Juice Caramel Apple Cider. 5.5 % ABV. Canned in Spring Valley, MN. Four Daughters Cidery. Ingredients: Apple Cider, Apple Juice, Caramelized sugar, Malic acid, contains sulfites.

Clear, auburn hued, slim head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet, caramel notes hover over apple.

In the mouth: Whoa! Caramel charges in from the start, an overdose of sugar. Subsequently sharp and acidic. I'm not getting enough apple cider out of this and artificial tasting caramel flavors are not doing it for me.

Your mileage, however, may vary. Some people really seem to dig it.

Eastlake Dank Aaron Double IPA

Eastlake Dank Aaron Double IPA. 9.1 % ABV, 100 IBU. Eastlake Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

It dawns on me that I've written about this beer before, but that was from notes taken at the bar, not from a bottle, or growler, or crowler.  And now, I have a crowler before me, and so I shall take some notes. Because.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim head.

In the nose: Citrus, splashes of tropical fruit, touches of stone. Nice and hoppy.

In the mouth: Big fruit, big bitterness. Nice and gritty, good and abrasive, just the way I like it. And then along comes the alcohol, boozy as all heck. Stone fruit, citrus, and that touch of the tropical. Nice, nice.

I have to note a failing in this report, however, and that is the illustration to the left. I wanted to use Eastlake glassware, but I only have one, and that is one custom made for their imperial stout, Tshthagguowhatever. I like the design for the beer, but feel that the shape of the glass is wrong for an RIS, and even wronger still for a DIPA. I should have gone with a round snifter style. I hope that you, dear reader, will forgive me.

Dank Aaron is a Double IPA that hits all the right stats - 100 IBU, 9% ABV, 755 HR – you get the idea. Stickier than pine tar from copious amounts of a rotation of our brewers’ favorite hops, Dank Aaron rounds the bases of flavor and aroma – citrus, pine, earthy, and resin. This is a beer that can hit it anywhere, any time, just make sure you can get home safely.

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Numb Tongue IPA

I went to Wild Mind the other day, my first visit in several months, and I tried this beer. I liked it so much I got a growler fill of it. But, I can't find any information on it anywhere. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough. I'll look harder, soon, but, for now, I'll take notes with only the barest information. And away we go....


Wild Mind Numb Tongue. 6.8 % ABV. American IPA. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Pop! Big citrus, juicy, tropical, awfully hoppy, utterly delightful. Little bit funky, now.

In the mouth: Yeow! Is there Brett in this, or any other funkifier? Don't know, but it does have a Belgian twist to it. Great big splash of bitterness, tons of stone fruit and citrus, too. Grapefruit and tangerines, mango, and lime. Not to mention lemon. Very, very nice.

Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish, and downright drinkable.

Here's the thing: my tongue is not numb. It's a clever, artful phrase, but it doesn't apply to this beer. Just delicious. I'll probably finish the growler tonight. And wish I had more.

The Wild Mind website has since been updated, and I've found this description: Hopped with Cascade, Centennial, Motueka, and Rakau in the kettle and during dry-hopping, Numb Tongue balances the hops with mango puree and amchoor powder (a tart powder made from drying and crushing green mangos and is common in many Indian dishes). The resulting tart IPA is bursting with  lush mango to sour lime peel fruit flavor.

So, there's our funkifier.

Oliphant The Fart Side Pale Ale

Oliphant The Fart Side Pale Ale. 5 % Alc./Vol. Brewed by Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

It's a riff on Gary Larson's The Far Side, And Beer Nerds, apparently, and, vegetables, I guess. Oh, yes, and farts, too. Not 100% sure if I fully get it, but that's alright. Let's drink the beer.

Highly hazed. Dull orange coloring, solid white head.

In the nose: Bright citrus and pine notes. Nicely fruity. All the big citrus-y notes, orange, lemon, tangerine.

In the mouth: Big hoppiness from the start, met with caramel malt, and a dose of chocolate. Lot of malt going on here, with citra hops shining above. Nice mix of fruity hops, sweet, dark malts.

It's a good beer. And you can drink it. But it's not a very good beer, and I'm not crazy about it. It's just...okay. The disparate parts don't hang together very well. But, they do hang. And you can drink it.

Sorry, when I try a beer from a favorite brewery and I don't love it, it's a bit difficult. I don't want to knock it, so I find it hard to, you know, tell the truth. And like I said, I don't want to knock it, so...

I wish I could get technical information about the ingredients in this beer from the website, but all I get is this:

the fart side

i met dean ween in a dream last night. i was in a perpetually long line at target. at one point he jumped up from the crowd and shouted at the crowd that he is dean ween of ween. i raised my hand up and said “hi dean ween” we connected a solid high five, and became fast friends. before giving up on the long line, i asked dean for a guitar tip i could relay to matt. he said that esp guitars are great for shredding. you can play all types of metal on them. then i drove across the hudson bridge and a bunch of cars were hanging of of it.

 pale ale w/citra hops. 5% abv

P.S. I've never had a dream about Ween, but, well, you should read this, if you haven't.

Hammerheart Draugr New England-style Black India Pale Ale

Hammerheart Draugr New England-style Black India Pale Ale.  7.9% ABV, 80 IBU. Hammerheart Brewing, Lino Lakes, MN. Bottled 11-8-18.

Thick blackness, utterly impenetrable, rich cocoa-tinged head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Grassy, citrusy, slightly tropical-y, while just about covered up in dark malt flavors, too. Interesting, and exceptionally likable.


In the mouth: Clean and smooth, then opening up to greater complexities. A touch of smoke, which some consider de riguer for a Hammerheart brew, and further echoes of cocoa and espresso. It's like hops and ash in the same glass. Roast-toasty, with a touch of anise next to the ash. Nice.

Hey, if it's an NE-style, where's the haze, brah? I'm sure somebody's saying that, somewhere, someway, but I don't care.

I like this one. It's not for everyone, but it's for me.

Was it worth the $10.99 I paid for it? Definitely.

Black or Cascadian IPA using New-England IPA methods...you can't see the haze, but the effect is the same. We are pretty excited about this one. The art for this beer was illustrated by Jordain Kinnander...the Draugr is a featured creature in his book BEINGS OF YGGDRASIL: ANCIENT CREATURES from GERMANY and SCANDINAVIA. An excerpt from the book: "The Draugr was an Old Norse word for the corpse of a deceased person, which was reanimated after death...A Draugr came into being typically by either a curse from a sorcerer, or person with knowledge of forbidden magic, or out of a strong urge by the spirit of the deceased to seek revenge on those who wronged him in life."

Inbound Abbey Single Ale

Inbound Abbey Single Ale. 5 % ABV, 35 IBU. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly cloudy, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: A cornucopia of fruity malt flavors, from fermentation: apricot, orange, peach. Belgian funky yeast apparent. Floral. Little hit of spice. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Lean bodied. Moderate hopping. Belgian flavor all over the place. Nicely spicely.  And beautifully fruity. Has it all going on, Belgian single-wise, this is. Sweetness, spice, fruit notes, and excellently drinkable. Good Belgian pale ale and you know what you can do with it.

Light and sweet malts offer a pale color and grainy palate to this spicy and floral Belgian-style Ale.

Venn Blood Orange IPA

Venn Batch 117 Blood Orange IPA. 6.3 % ABV, 20 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Cloudy, light orange hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Orange and other citrus fruit notes. Minor hops, meager malt, but appealing enough.

In the mouth: Bright, fruity, bursting with citrus flavors. Light hop bitterness. Lean malt profile. Quite an easy drinker. Blood orange flavor gets bigger as we go, but I think it could be bigger, still. Let's call this one subtle. Even, delicate. But definitely delicious. Quite nice.

You know what else it is, though? It's a good beer and you can drink it.

A juicy, fruit-forward IPA infused with actual blood oranges.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Malted Oats, Caramel 10

Hops: Citra, Amarillo (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Blood Orange

Sisyphus Tilt! Pale Ale

Sisyphus Tilt! Pale Ale. 5.8 % ABV, 30 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

In the nose: Big citrus. Grapefruit, lime and tangerine. Slightly sweet, leaning into a touch of tart.

In the mouth: Juicy, lightly bitter, and once more, a slight taste of tartness. Little bit of sweet fruitiness in there. Light-bodied, and expertly drinkable. Just like a pale ale should be. Smooth malt mouthfeel. Quite tasty. This is one for the bumpers.

American Pale Ale brewed with heavy dose of oats. Hopped with Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe. Hazy, juicy and sessionable. 

Vander Mill Vandy Session Cider

Vander Mill Vandy Session Cider. 4.2 % ABV. 4.0 Brix. Produced and canned by Vander Mill, Grand Rapids, MI.

Clear, bright golden color, slim/no head.

In the nose: bright, green apples tones, notes of pear.

In the mouth: Crisp. Apple-y. Sweet, but not overly so. Fruit flavors last long on the palate. Light bodied and easy-drinking.

Vandy is the answer to the old adage of an Apple A Day. It's a cider that blends the crisp and clean flavor of fermented apples with the fresh harvest of those just pressed. At 4.3% ABV, this is an everyday go-to cider. 

BlackStack Summer's Over Australian Summer IPA

BlackStack Summer's Over Australian Summer IPA. 7.3 % ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Somehow, this one got past me. Of course, Summer's been Over for months now, and we are in the grim, cold times. Found it on special at the local shop. And it's definitely well past time I got around to the notes, this being can #4, the first three consumed with pleasure, but no note-taking.

Hazy (of course!), dull orange color, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: floral and fruity, bright citrus. Touch of honey, lingering dryness. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Citrus fruit blast. Brisk bitterness. Fresh 'n' zesty. Tropical fruit notes hit up against citrus and hop bitterness blazes. Tasty tango Increasingly delicious.

One more in a long string of satisfying India Pale Ales from BlackStack.

Days in the sun and nights in the rain. Summer is over. Simple and plain. We made a beer that's good for the pain. This one is made with all summer hops from Australia. As far as we know, the last lot we'll ever be able to get of it. We're not sad it's gone, that's just smoke in our eyes. Let's raise a tall glass to short days.

Goose Island Old Man Grumpy Pale Ale

Goose Island Old Man Grumpy Pale Ale. 5.8% ABV. 44 IBU. Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL, and wherever else Budweiser wants to brew it.

I am an old man, and often quite grumpy. Is this the beer for me?

Clear, bright orange hue, large ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Bold, piney, resinous. Citrus notes mixed with caramel malt tones.

In the mouth: Bigger and bolder on the palate. One might call it "dank", if one wishes. Rather rich with hoppy goodness, and plenty of malt, to boot. Juicy, tropical, citric, just a touch. Fruity and bitter to beat the band. Chocolate and caramel flavors lay in deep in the malt profile. Quite complex, and easily drinkable. Good pale ale and you can drink it.

Inspired by our grouchy-yet-gifted brewmaster, Old Man Grumpy is a deliciously drinkable pale ale sure to lift anyone’s spirits.

This lighter-bodied ale is dry hopped with Huell Melon and Mosaic hops that give the beer a tropical flavor profile of pineapple followed by pine hop characteristics.  It has subtle malt sweetness, balanced bitterness with a clean finish.

Cheer up.  Drink Up.

Style: Dry Hopped American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 44
Color: Golden
Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Huell Melon, Mosaic

Malts: 2-Row, Caramel 40, Special Pale

Excelsior Minnehahop IPA India Pale Ale

Excelsior Minnehahop IPA India Pale Ale. 5.9 % Alc/vol. 55 IBU. Excelsior Brewing, Excelsior, MN.

Hazy, dark, murky orange, prodigious creamy head drifts down to a slim ring.

In the nose: funky, dank, resinous. Fresh hoppiness.

In the mouth: More dank, more delicious. Medium bodied, long lasting hoppy flavor. Hits juicy once in a while, but sticks with the dry. Sticky-icky. I like this one. It's a bit of a mess, but I like it, all the same. I wouldn't drink it by the 6-er, but once in a while, sure.


A crisp dry IPA chock full of Citra, Amarillo and Sorachi Ace hops. 
Our newest IPA is named after The Minnehaha Steam Boat that was salvaged from the bottom of the lake in 1979 and restored in 1996. You can now cruise the lake on the Minnehaha all summer long with the help of 100's of volunteers that maintain the boat every year.

Ska Brewing MoSka Mule Ale with Ginger & Lime

Ska Brewing Moska Mule Ale with Ginger & Lime. 6 % ABV, 7 IBU. Ska Brewing, Durango, CO.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Lime starts it off. Quite limey. Then, ginger comes on board. Nice. Now, we have it.

In the mouth: Boom! There it is. Powerful stuff. Tart and spicy. Ginger and lime doing the trick. Light bodied, easy drinker...if you like those flavors. This would be a one and done, for me. One of those gimmick brews that I can't imagine having more than one of, lacking in hops, malt, and other beer-y flavors that I demand from my ales.

To tell the truth, I'm not sure if I can finish this one. I'll try, though, I will most certainly try.

Update: I couldn't do it. Tossed some juice in there, just to give it something.

Brewed to celebrate our 23rd Anniversary! Based on the traditional Moscow Mule cocktail, this refreshing ale is lightly soured yet finishes clean with delicate notes of ginger. Lime peel & citrusy hops balance the light tartness while delivering great hop flavor without bitterness.

Oliphant Supertalentfragilistic Imperial Stout with coffee, sea salt, & chipotle peppers

Oliphant Supertalentfragilistic Imperial Stout with coffee, sea salt, & chipotle peppers. 9 Percent Alc./Vol. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin.

It's been a few months since I've made the trip to Somerset and stocked up on some Oliphant beers. I miss them so, and yearn to return. But, luckily, I don't have to cross the St. Croix to get their stuff. More and more of their beers are being crowlered with new, amazing Jeremy Hughes artwork and being taken over the border to find a place on local shelves. It's only a handful of stores, though, so you've got to get out there. This can was purchased at 1010 Washington in Minneapolis, which is located guess where. Zipp's. Stinson, Minnehaha Lake, Elevated and a few others...very convenient, but it's not the same as going to the source.

Solid ebony, under a slim brown ring of foam.

In the nose: Cocoa, coffee, cream, and then the peppery heat. Cinnamon? Quite a mix going on, here.

In the mouth: An explosion of flavors, starting with the big malts and bursting out with the peppery heat. Typical coffee/cocoa, rich malt aplenty, then the chipotle makes a big splash on the palate. The heat and the sweet are keeping perfect time, here, with the spice at an extra edge on it.

Big malt, smooth chocolatey/coffee flavors, all smothered by the chipotle. And I don't mind it.

supertalentfragilistic

next up in a series of never ending madtness. this is the flavor of a parking lot full of bargain hunters and the lonely, joining collective hive minds. savings equals power, power equals hunger, hunger equals thirst. you can almost hear them buzzing with dealzzzzzz.

russian imperial stout w/ coffee, chipotle peppers, & sea salt. 9% abv

Surly Abrasive Ale 2018

This is my first time reviewing Surly's Abrasive Ale Double IPA from a can.

Back in January of 2011, almost eight years ago, I did a post where I used the notes that I had taken from the beer's original incarnation as 16 Grit, from a growler. If you read that old post, I tell the story of the origin of the beer, which I won't go into in this post.

So, Abrasive is back. I've got a keg at Acadia waiting to go on, and have already gone through a 4-pack at home. I received a package from Surly the other day with 2 cans and a press release attached to a sanding disc. 16 Grit, of course. What a fine opportunity to at last review Abrasive Ale from a can? And away we go, note ahoy!

Surly Abrasive Ale 2018. 9.2 % ABV. Bitternes: High AF. (when, oh, when, will this stupid "AF" thing go away?)Hops: So. Much. Citra. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

Clear, deep amber color, bright ivory head.

In the nose: Dank. Resinous. Slightly sweet. Piney, citric, deep. Candyish. Stone fruit, tropical. Tangerine, grapefruit, guava. But, it's all citra. Nothing but nice.

In the mouth: Big blasts of bitterness hits it off, fierce and formidable juicy hop flavor burst on the palate. Bold citrus and stone fruit flavors. Juicy, intense, brash, and tasty. Oh, yeah, and AF. (Sigh.)
Oh, so delicious, and oh, so, smooth. Good old oat malts keeping it nice and easy.

Abrasive Ale is a poorly named beer, because there's nothing really abrasive about it. Easy-drinking imperial IPA as you're going to get.

A MASSIVE DOSE OF CITRA HOPS LAUNCH OUR LEGENDARY DOUBLE IPA (MINNESOTA’S FIRST, AND A NOD TO OUR ABRASIVES FACTORY ORIGIN) INTO THE HOPHEAD STRATOSPHERE.

We brewed this beer originally at the end of 2008 as a farewell to growler sales. As usual, we underestimated the demand for the first Double IPA in Minnesota. We brewed the beer again in the spring and released it as a draft only beer. It was originally called 16 Grit, a size of abrasive grit used at the old abrasives factory that houses the original Surly brewery in Brooklyn Center.

Boom Island Biere de Garde Belgian Farmhouse Ale

Boom Island Biere de Garde Belgian Farmhouse Ale. 6.8% ABV. 18 IBU.
Boom Island Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark Burgundy hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet and malty. Dark fruits. Figs and plums. A bit of raisin, stone fruit. Much more. Copious amounts of flavors, here.

In the mouth: Lush, malty, delicious. Quite rich, fruity, ultimately ending dry. Medium bodied, long malty finish. Belgian yeast at play. Little bit o' spice. Sweet, tasty, ever-so nice.

Hey, I like this one.

Mikkeller Raspberry Blush

Mikkeller Raspberry Blush. Berliner Style Weisse Beer Brewed with Raspberries & Coffee. 4 % ABV. Mikkeller Brewing, San Diego, CA.

Bright red, opaque, slim pinkish head.

In then nose: Tart and fruity. Very raspberry. Complexities about, but nothing too deep.

In the mouth: Big tart, big fruit, and then the coffee comes in and weirds it up. What's it there for? Fruity, sour, and...coffee? It turns it dry, and adds...something, but...huh.

I don't often say this, but ... I can't imagine why this was brewed, and I'm curious how other people like it. Do they? If you just want the sour, and don't mind the coffee, I guess, but it just gets in the way, and doesn't really contribute anything. Except a sense of ... I don't know. If you just want the raspberry, the coffee really messes with the flavors.

I'm confused. I'll pass on this one from here on out.

Ale Asylum 12 oz. Curl Premium Pilsner

Ale Asylum 12 oz. Curl Premium Pilsner. 5.2 % ABV. Ale Asylum Brewing, Madison, WI. "Wisconsin's favorite workout."

Clear, bright golden color, bright fluffy white head.

In the nose: floral, grainy, lightly hoppy. Nice.

In the mouth: Crisp, clean, light bodied, exquisitely drinkable. Neat little buzz from hops, smooth malt. Good and tasty.

Not much more to say than that. If you're looking for a easy-drinking pilsner, look no further.

Clean, crisp, smooth, and supremely drinkable like a Pilsner oughta be. 12 oz. Curl will be available year round starting February 2018 both packaged and on tap throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.