56 Marshall St. Series Barleywine

56 Brewing Marshall St. Series Barleywine. Brewed and bottled in NorthEast Minneapolis, MN by 56 Brewing. 9% ABV, 90 IBU. Bottle #307/432. Date: 2017.

Richly colored, largely opaque, burgundy hued, under a slim, off-white, cream-toned head.

In the nose: Dark fruit, stone fruit, burnished fruit. Deep, rich, fruity, wine-like, and very malty. Alcohol threatens, at first.

In the mouth: Richness, dark fruit, leather, molasses, caramel, toffee, deepness....intensity. Full body, full flavor. I like it. (If I don't exactly love it.) Good barleywine and you can drink it. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.


This American barleywine has the aroma of raisins and nugget hops with flavors of deep caramel malt and toffee. The finish is slightly sweet with a crisp bitternesss.

Firestone Lager

Firestone Lager. 4.5% Alc./Vol. Helles lager. Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head, soon gone.

In the nose: Clean, lightly malty, airy....not getting much else.

In the mouth: Light bodied. Lean malt mouthfeel. Slightly cracker-y, biscuit-y, clean and lean. Super drinkable. Yep. It's a lager, and you can drink it.

Here are more words, not written by me, about this beer, from the people who trying to sell it:

We created our first Firestone Lager in 2000, and it proved to be well ahead of its time. Now it's back, new and improved, for those who finally want a better lager.

In a craft world dominated by hoppy beers, we have gone back to basics with Firestone Lager. this is our hardest beer to make--and our easiest one to drink. Made in the classic all-malt Munich Helles style, Firestone Lager demands technical perfection from our brewing team, with a transparent canvas that would otherwise reveal the smallest flaw. Gambrinus pilsner malt establishes a crisp, dry base with a soft mouthfeel, while noble German hops provide just a whisper of bitterness. The result is an impossibly smooth and immensely drinkable beer that aims to help redefine American Lager. 

In the words of Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, "Firestone Lager is made for drinking, not thinking. It's all about enjoying a good, clean beer."

Town Hall Citracade IPA

Town Hall Citracade IPA. 6.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, copper-y colored, slim white head.

In the nose: Nicely hopped, citrus and tropical tones aplenty. Malt flavor exudes aromatics from below the hopping. Nectarine, tangerine, lemon, lime. Very cool and lovely.

In the mouth: Bright and beautiful. Slight sweetness smashed up against bitter. Clean exit. Medium bodied. Tasty new twist on an IPA. Not enough to make the regulars put down their Masala Mamas. They'll try it on Happy Hour, sure. But they never forsake Mama, no, never.

There have been 137 Town Hall beers reviewed here in the Nib. More than any other brewery. And 399 IPAs, as of this writing. More than any other style. Not sure what any of it means, but I know I can count on the beers of Town Hall, especially when it comes to the hoppy ones.

Citracade Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery •   IPA - American •   6.3% ABV
IPA featuring Citra hops and a well-balanced malt backbone. 

Oliphant Red Hulk Lager

Oliphant Red Hulk Lager. 5.5% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 1 quart/32 oz crowler.

Clear, dark reddish hue. Slimmed-down off-whitish head.

In the nose: Good and malty, sorta sweet, brightly burnished. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Starts off slightly sweet and fruity, but, moreover, majorly malty. Light bodied, fully flavored. Tasty stuff, and easy drinking.

This one is a beer that has brewed for quite some time at Oliphant, and I think that this crowler is my first time trying it. No, it's not. According to Untappd, I tried it out in August of 2015. But I never chose to bring it home in a crowler/growler until now, because I just don't prefer lagers, even red ones.

And when it comes to Hulks? I go with the Green ones.

red hulk

don't get so angry. be like me and hide in a closet and break popsicle sticks when life has got you down.

red lager. 5.5% abv

If only Jeremy were there on my visit, I could have pestered
him with questions about this chalk drawing. It doesn't
really resemble the gamma-irradiated form of General
Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. It looks more like Dan Hedaya
with a sunburn. Or Harvey Pekar, maybe.

Ballast Point Aloha Sculpin Hazy India Pale Ale

Ballast Point Aloha Sculpin Hazy India Pale Ale. 7% ABV, 70 IBU. Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, CA. "Juicy Tropical Notes from Brux Trois yeast."

Lightly hazy, bright golden hued, slimmed down ivory head. Looking' alright.

In the nose: Tropical fruit aromatics. Pineapple. Guava. Etcetera. Maybe mango. And still, a lot of hoppiness. Nicely bitter.

In the mouth: Bright and fruity, bold and bitter. Juicy. Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish. Tasty. Hey, this is alright. Good ol' IPA, and there ain't nothing wrong with it.

With Aloha Sculpin, we used Brux Trois yeast to turn our award-winning IPA into a tropical oasis, with bright and refreshing notes of mango, pineapple, and guava.

Ale Asylum High Coup India Pale Ale

Ale Asylum High Coup India Pale Ale. "A dank and resinous India Pale Ale from Ale Asylum in Madison, WI. 6.2% ABV.

Clear (slight chill haze), bright golden color, sizable and staying head of ivory foam above.

In the nose: Blast of citrus notes and hop bitterness. Grapefruit, orange and lime. C hops ahoy. Fierce upfront, mellow thereafter.

In the mouth: Juicy and bitter, together. Dank and resinous is right. All the pieces in all the right places, all taking part in playing their part. (Pssst, I just gave away the secret of great beer.) Lean bodies, easy drinking, long, hoppy finish. Astringency hangs on the palate, just the way I like it.

Very nice IPA. Good work, AA.

6.2% abv.– Bold yet approachable, this resinous IPA is dank and resinous and packs the flavor of a high octane beer in a more sessionable 6.2% abv package. Aromas and flavors of tropical fruits dance wildly over your palate before a splash of juicy bitterness washes them away. High Coup is available April through June 2018, both packaged on tap throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange IPA

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange IPA. Ale brewed with Orange Peel, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA & Mills River, NC. 6.8% ABV, 45 IBU.

Haven't I had a beer like this before? Ah, yes, I have. But it was a pale ale. Did they IPA it due to consumer demand? "Pale Ale? Pffft! Ho-hum, wake me when you've got an IPA." Seems likely.

Light chill haze. Bright golden hue. Milky white head.

In the nose? Robust citrusy aromatics. Bitter orange peel, with a side of hops.

In the mouth: Fresh and zesty. Medium body. Nice little hoppiness on the palate, but little is the key word. Orange remains a force to contend with. Bitterness returns and stays, stronger than ever. Hey,  guess what? Good beer, and you can drink it.

We pushed the complex and citrus-heavy flavors of hops to a new level with this orange-infused IPA. Combining bright and bold hops with real orange in the fermenter creates layers of citrus-crazy flavors, yet it maintains a balance and a crisp hop bite that make it the perfect aromatic IPA.

Inbound NoLo Pale Ale

Inbound NoLo Pale Ale.
Named for their neighborhood, the NOrth LOop. (I would've called it NorLoo, but I'm not in charge of these things, am I?)
 4.6% ABV, 45 IBU, Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

This is a new name for a beer that it appears that I've had 3 times before, according to Untappd. A few times at the taproom, once from a sample at home. This is my first time from a can. That sample was a bottle, and was probably labeled "American Pale Ale." I like this design, the Minneapolis skyline, etc. Well, enough palaver, let's dig in.

(Side Note: Should a pale ale be served in a tulip? No, but I don't have an Inbound pint glass, and I don't want to use an old Lucid glass instead, which I've done before. Maybe some day I'll have an Inbound pint glass....until then, this one will have to do.)

Lightly hazy, copper-y colored, slim white head on top.

In the nose: Nice citrus-y hop flavors up front, grapefruit, orange, with a bit of earthy, herbal character in there, as well. Tantalizing.

In the mouth: Quite tasty on the tongue. Hop bitterness spanks the palate right off. Crisp and refreshing. Hop bitterness continues to lay on the palate, ending nice and dry. More citrus and tropical fruit flavors play upon the sense. I'm digging this. A fine sessioner, for sure. If you're hankering for a good ol', hoppy pale ale, go for this one.

Tropical hop flavors. Packed with Eureka, Citra, and Mosaic hops. Copper color sets the tone for an easily enjoyable liquid.
The best neighborhood nickname in the midwest, and the most sessionable Pale Ale you've ever had. 

A brief reminder: I don't read the brewer's description before I post it here, and can't be held responsible for those times when what they say and what I say seem to be matched up precisely. Almost. I did not make a claim for NOLO being such a cool name, if you recall from above.

Also, when did people start swapping out the word "liquid" for "beer"? I didn't sign off on this, and it's really starting to bug me. Stop me before I go on a rant.Yours truly, Grumpy Old Man.

Fulton All-City Cosmic Stallion Citrus Wheat Ale

Fulton All-City Cosmic Stallion Citrus Wheat Ale. Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN. 5.3% ABV, 25 IBU.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Flowery, citrus-y, largely lemon-y. Nice.

In the mouth: Mild bitterness. Light body. Extreme smoothness. Extravagant drinkability. Citrus flavor pops out. A little touch of spice, hops. Otherwise, uncomplicated. Goes down easy.
Perfect brew for summer heat. Like, now.

We brewed this citrus wheat ale in partnership with our longtime friends and collaborators at All-City Cycles. The name and package design pay tribute to All-City's top of the line all-road / endurance cycle, Cosmic Stallion. The beer is similarly versatile: the wheat forward body is punctuated by notes of lemon and lime zest, with kettle and dry hop character provided by Galaxy, Summer, and Nelson Sauvin. The flavors come together for a bright, easy-drinking beer that's flavorful yet refreshing --  making the Cosmic Stallion the embodiment of summer in a can. Ride on!

Insight The Misadventures of My Rowdy Uncle Moscow Mule Style Ale

Insight The Misadventures of My Rowdy Uncle Moscow Mule Style Ale. 6% ABV. Insight Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, pale golden, big, effervescent head.

In the nose: ginger ale. And that's about it.

In the mouth: No, ginger beer. Hot and spicy. Slim bodied. Very crisp and clean. There's no beer here. There's no vodka, either. Just ginger beer, hidden in some kind of an ale. This is the second "Moscow mule" beer that has left me underwhelmed to say the least.

I want to drain pour, but it goes against my core beliefs.

Why?
Why, why, why?
Next time, I'll just pass. There's no point to this.
I'm not sure why they're making these fake cocktail beers, but it should really stop.

Brewed to taste just like a Moscow Mule, this beer shouts “GINGER” on the nose with a light, fresh citrus lime balancing out the ginger in the flavor. Poured straight into the pint or over ice, this beer tastes best in the sunshine and warm weather.

MOSCOW MULE STYLE ALE
notes:
BRIGHT
GINGER
MOSCOW MULE
availability:
SUMMER
abv:
6.0%
ibu:
N/A

Oliphant IFeelcream Blackberry

First Confession: I am an Oliphant Junkie. I need to add all of their beers to this blog. One by One, as best as I can, I'll do it. So this beer has to be reviewed. (Addendum: I'll never do it, there's plenty I 've missed and will never, ever see. But I'm not going to pack up and move to Somerset, just to continue this obsession to it's fruition.)

Second Confesson: is not a confession. I've said it over and over, I'm not into the milkshake beers, the lactose fruit beers, other variations on this. But, see #1.

Also, I tried it on tap at the brewery last week, and I liked it. So, here we go:

Also, I was drawn in my this parody of Frog & Todd, with these new characters Morg (Matt, I presume), and Joash (Josh, of course), and damn, it's wonderfully weird.

Oliphant IFeelCream, Blackberry, Fruit Ale, 8% all./vol. Brewed by Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Mildly hazy, very blackerry-y appearance, slim creamy/pinkish head.

In the nose: sweet, tart, fruity, berry-ish, lovely.

In the mouth: more fruit, more juice, more tart. Hardly any hops, lactose adds some creaminess, but not too much. I'm not encountering a beer smoothie, this time. There's enough bitterness here, and enough beer-y beerness, that I like it.

I like it quite a lot. All blackberry lactose ales should be this good.


ifeelcream
back from the depths of giant trevor's tiny black brew book: this beer. 

ale brewed with lactose and snuggled atop blackberries. 8% abv

BlackStack Thread Count Double Dry Hopped Double IPA

BlackStack Thread Count Double Dry Hopped Double IPA. 8.5% ABV.

Thoroughly, utterly hazed. Brush. Dullish golden hue. Big, gleaming ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Juicy from the jump. Pineapple first, guava, passionfruit, mango. All the tropical stuff. Nary a note of bitterness. Very nice.

In the mouth: Smooth, soft, fruity and fine. I just figured out the name. It's cause comforting as a blanket. At first I was going to connect it to that desired virtue of "pillowy", but pillows don't have thread counts, do they? No....

Back to the beer. Strong. Powerful. (in alcohol) Hoppy. Smooth, light, and dangerously consumable. A little citrus and a bit of the bitter peeks through the yeast and the tropical. I still haven't given myself over to the hazy style. I still drink a beer like this and wish it wasn't. But it's very good.

And as lovely and sweet and delectable as it is, I miss the bitterness I most enjoy in a double IPA. That's just me, though.

A double IPA double dry hopped with Cashmere and Mosaic hops.

We've all heard less is more, but the thread count we've found more is more. Higher thread count makes for softer sheets and more dry hopping makes for softer beer. Cashmere hops at a double dose are woven (HA!, get it?) with Mosaic creating a seamlessly (HA!, again!), silky synthesis, but dank. Who knew soft could go so hard? 

Modist Shook Strawberry

Modist Shook Strawberry. 7.5% ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

It was my own fault.

It had been months since I'd been to Modist, despite my best intentions. I finally stopped in on Sunday, May 13, dodging a few dogs to get to my barstool. There were a few beers new to me, including Deviation 11 and Double Ghost Vision Double IPA. But, I couldn't take home a growler or a crowler because, well, they said so. (And not because it was past 6 on a Sunday, which seems to be a suburban thing.)
I'm sure that if I got there weeks ago, when they were newly on tap that it might have been allowed. But not anymore. And that meant that they only beer I could take home that I'd never tried was the strawberry milkshake beer.

And I've made myself know on my opinions of milkshake beers.

So, even though I promised, I'm going to do it anyway. It's the second in the Shook series, after the pineapple, which I entirely missed. They're being called New England IPAs on Untappd. Maybe they don't have a "milkshake" category yet? I hope they never do.

Completely clouded, color of cream and strawberries, a little pink, a touch orange-ish, with a slim, but solid, staying slab of foam above.

In the nose: a little bit of hoppy buzz right off, then it's all fruit. Strawberry and hops. Okay.

In the mouth: nice hop blast at the start, then creamy, and after that it's all fruit. Sweet, slightly tart, and just a bit creamy. We've got the vanilla and the milk sugar, and "tons of strawberries". Plus, just the right hops, naturally. It's a beer and I can drink, and I appreciate the hoppiness, but it just doesn't work in this format. If they'd just disassociate this experiment from IPAs. Make your milkshakes, just don't make them as IPAs. Doesn't work.

I wish I'd sampled this as a single can. This 750ml crowler is more than I want. But I had to try it.
Couldn't help myself. I'll finish it, but I've gotten my fill already. On the other hand, I swore an oath to drink every beer that I drink. No drain pours.

Damn those oaths.

IPA brewed with tons of strawberries, vanilla bean, milk sugar, tons of Citra & Mosaic hops, and tons of fire emojis

Ale Asylum Unshadowed Hefe Weizen

Ale Asylum Unshadowed Hefe Weizen.  6% ABV. "Fermented In Sanity." Ale Asylum, Madison, WI.

Heavily hazed, pale yellow, large ivory toned head on top.

In the nose:  Classic hefe weizen aromatics, banana, clove, wheat. Nice.

In the mouth: Fruity, slightly tart, fresh and refreshing. Great wheat malt character, weizen yeast flavor, smooth and easy-going. Quite a quaffer, this. Nice version of a hefe weizen, one I would never turn down.

"Vibrant as a summer sun and uber refreshing, our Hefeweizen is soft on the palate with an effervescent finish. Unshadowed is all natural and unfiltered. It is brewed with passion and is best enjoyed that way. "

Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy Session IPA

Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy, Session IPA with blood orange and honey. 4.6% ABV. Flavored ale.  Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Highly hazed, pale yellow appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: nice bitter and fruity notes. Getting as much grapefruit as blood orange, and honey peeks around the corner.

In the mouth: pop, pop, pop, from the hops. Good 'n' hoppy from the front. Starts with a slap, then leans back. Lightish body. Slides down nice and easy. Blood orange flavor isn't as strong as I'd like, but as it is, it's a fine drinking ale and there's nothing wrong with that. Takes turns between bitter and sweet. I like it, I'd drink one again.

Wild Mind Double Dry Hopped Velvet Crush

Wild Mind Double Dry Hopped Velvet Crush. 6.5% ABV. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold and beautiful, bright and lovely, plenty of citrus. Tropical fruit, pineapple and mango. Big fruit and low bitterness.

In the mouth: Tasty, tasty. Lean, clean, fresh, lightly bitter, majorly fruity. Smooth. Yum.

That's where my notes left off. I didn't finish the crowler, and had to go to sleep. Finished the rest the next night, and tried to come up with more. Sorry, this isn't one of those times where I dug deep into the essence of the ale and divulged secret treasures not known to the average person. I simply found it smooth and yum. That happens sometimes, and this was one of those times. I heartily recommend it, if you ever come across it. I recommend most of what these guys do, that's for sure.

Venn Brewing Batch #49 West Coast IPA

(Editor's note: In doing some research for this post, I came upon the information that this beer is no longer available at the brewery. It was purchased on May 7, consumed on May 21. I should have known that it would not be on tap by the time that you read this. If this interests you, do not go to Venn expecting to find it. However, there's a couple of other IPAs on now that I haven't tried yet, Grapefruit IPA, Mosaic Mandarina, and it looks like Sticky Icky is still around, that's one I recommended a few weeks ago. So, don't be disappointed that this one isn't there, go to Venn anyway and try something new. I'll meet you there.)

Venn West Coast IPA. 7.5% ABV. 70 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, sizable ivory head, leaving lace, looking good.

In the nose: bold, fresh, citrusy, zesty. Love it.

In the mouth: Big bitterness, nice and abrasive. Big citrus. Refreshing and delicious. Brash hoppiness, tons of flavor, lean-ish body, nothing but hoppy. This fits right in with what the style should be, and I can really dig it.

Tropical fruit, light pine, dry. A dry, bitter, West Coast-style American IPA featuring Vic Secret, Simcoe, Citra, and Amarillo hops.

Malts: MCI Stout Malt, Pilsner, Wheat, CaraVienne

Hops: Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe, Warrior (United States); Vic Secret (Australia)

Yeast: American Ale

Oliphant Perpetual Cabaret Pilsner

Oliphant Perpetual Cabaret Pilsner. 5.8% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.


The other day, Jason and I went down to Somerset, thought we'd drink us up some Oliphant beers. This time around, 7 of the 10 beers on tap were ones that have appeared here in the ol' Nib before. Some of them will return with me because they have been bedecked with new Jeremy Hughes artwork. Ever since they put out crowlers with this new art, I've stopped crushing and recycling them. Now, where to store them?

For the first time, then, I was able to check off all the boxes. Took those three new-to-me brews home in crowlers and growlers. They weren't the types of beers I normally pick up, no matter how good they are. So, first time here in the Nib, the pilsner, Perpetual Cabaret.

Clear, bright golden color, beautiful ivory head, leaving lace, looking perfect.

In the nose: Floral, spicy, hoppy, just a little grainy. Nice, pleasing.

In the mouth: Slightly sweet at the top, then turning dry. Bone dry. Clean, easy-drinking, good and hoppy. Classic pilsner. Damned delicious, too.

once a year danny the street finds his way to somerset. 

cavalier showmen lineup for their chance to grab the microphone and sing grand their grand exuberances to the audience. seals dress like lions, lions dress like monkeys, monkeys imitate great apes, and on and on. high heels clack, clack, clack across the brick pavement as the giant and mighty oliphant dances and trumpets across the land. 

it's a place of freedom, of perpetual cabaret. it's where gandalf takes a strong hit of his pipe, clutches his staff, and exclaims, "dance, you fools!" it's where the somber-faced mulder and scully do the shag-and-scooby dance; their shoulders hunching up and down to the rhythm as the techno-color dream sun bounces fat beats that echo into each other from the brewery's concrete walls. 

there are some in this world who would have danny the street destroyed. the fly fisherman of the dank river styx cast barbed thoughts at the streets, trying to penetrate in with a malicious fervor. the central slug agency sends it's slimy agents to try and cover everything in a slick muck. the men from n.o.w.h.e.r.e. who wish to rid the world of it's quirks. 

we think little of them and in a different way we can say the same thing about them about us. 

so please dance on and be merry at our --

perpetual cabaret | pilsner | 5.8% abv

I was curious about where the name came from, but now it's clear. Obviously, another reference from Grant Morrison's run on "Doom Patrol" in the '90's. I don't think that's where Jeremy's chalk art came from, though. This one's still a mystery.

Town Hall Broken Paddle ESB

So, I was at the Town Hall Brewery the other day, looking at what was available in growlers. Have I done Broken Paddle ESB yet? Nothing turned up, but there was a beer merely called ESB back in September of 2011. Also in that month of that year I checked in on Broken Paddle in Untappd. There is no ESB in Untappd, only Broken Paddle ESB. Did they just forget to use that name at the brewery, that one time, causing me to believe it was a new brew?

So, here's what I'm going to do. I will resurrect my original notes from October, 2003. And I'm going to drink a mini-growler here in May, 2018. And I'll leave that 2011 post alone. Sounds good? Here we go....

Broken Paddle ESB, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN. 6% ABV.

Tawny bronze hue, with a neat, cream-toned, fuzzy head.

Aroma: fresh, clean, but softly fruity. Bread-y malt.

Lively on the tongue, brisk and fairly buzzing with hops, much more active than many an ESB I've ever encountered.

Bright, fruity flavor, and copper-toned on the palate. Crisp finsih, that lasts pleasantly in the mouth and the memory. Mostly malt, nicely bread-y. Light body, but surprisingly full-flavored. Leans back on the palate, thius ale, and makes itself comfortable, leaving it's stamp everywhere it goes...very nice ale, indeed.

Coronado North Island IPA

Coronado North Island IPA New England-style India Pale Ale. Hazy. Tropical. Juicy. 7.5% ABV. 40 IBU. Coronado Brewing, Coronado, CA.

It's hazy, bright golden hued. Slim, milky white head.

In the nose: Tropical fruit notes aplenty. Pineapple, guava, etc. Soft'n'fuzzy. Bitterness on low.

In the mouth: Nice and bitter up front, on the way back it's mild and smooth. Soft mouthfeel, while bitter hops flavors lay low. More soft and fuzzy on the palate. Bright and citrus-y. A tasty one.

Well, it's a New England IPA. If you like that. Go knock yourself out.

This New England-style IPA is bursting with ripe, tropical juiciness. British ale yeast accentuates the hop fruitiness and gives this unfiltered beer a dense, foggy haze like the coastal marine layer swallowing the north side of our island.

New Belgium Special Release Guava Spruce DIPA

New Belgium Special Release Guava Spruce DIPA. Brewed and canned by New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO & Asheville, NC. 7.6% ABV. 84 IBU.

Quite hazy. Golden hued. Prodigious ivory foam on top.

In the nose: Sweet and fruity. Plump and piney. Pleasant, indeed.

In the mouth: Smooth. Fruit-y. Or, "fruit forward", as the nerds would say. Easy-drinking. Low bitterness.

Is it a double IPA? I'm not getting any extra dimension of hoppiness. I'm not feeling a greater level of alcohol. I get the guava, yet not the spruce. Color me un-impressed. It's not bad, it's just ...eh, I want better. What's wrong with that?

An exotic, hoppy double IPA dripping with delicious guava and wild-harvested, citrusy spruce tips.

Sisyphus Mandarina Bavaria Lager

Sisyphus Mandarina Bavaria Lager. 5% ABV. 15 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: a little hoppy, a little grainy, some citrus. Lightly floral.

In the mouth: Nothing but nice. Light bodied, smooth, easy-drinking. Little bit of hops, nice citrus-y flavor. Excellent consumability. I can drink it down with ease, and I will.


An American Lager hopped with Mandarina Bavaria Hops. Orange fruity taste and aroma.

Surly Heat Slayer Kolsch-style beer

Surly Heat Slayer Kolsch-style beer. 5% ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. Available in the summer sample pack or on tap.

This beer came with a letter. So many funny things in it that I'm going to share it with you at the bottom. And none of them appear on the can. More hilarity there. It's all so small I can't even read it. Maybe I'll try it later. For now, I'm anxious to taste this one, I'm a fan of kolsches done right, so let's crack open that can, and check it out.

Clear, bright golden color, small but lasting head of ivory foam above. Looking very nice.

In the nose: light and floral, slightly grainy, just a touch of fruity sweetness, way off in the distance.

In the mouth: Crisp, dry, just a touch bitter. A little bit of fruit, melon, apple, backed up with a smack of hops. Light and easy drinking. Very mellow, very cool.

So this one is light, dry, crisp and, yes, "crushable", as everyone likes to say these days. Some day they'll tire of it. I hope. And it's a bit hoppier than I'd prefer, but this is the Surly way, after all. A purist would condemn it. I'm not that much of a purist, but I could go with a little less bitter, and more from apple and pear. Those delicate fruit notes that the kolsch yeast gives, in the true interpretation. Which this is not. (Help! I'm caught in a time loop!)

Again, though, this is the Surly interpretation. They never said they'd be true to style. And I could definitely toss a few back without a quarrel.

The mercury climbs, the humidity oppresses, and the sun bakes. Our solution? HeatSlayer, a crisp, refreshing answer to the summer swelter.

MALT
Pilsner, Wheat, Acidulated Malt, Carafoam
HOPS
Spalt Select
YEAST
Kolsch German Ale Yeast
OG
11.5
COLOR Straw-Yellow

Peak Organic Brewing Winter IPA: A New England Style IPA

Peak Organic Brewing Winter IPA: A New England Style IPA. A winter india pale ale. Brewed and canned by Peak Organic Brewing, Portland, Maine. 6.2% ABV.

I have got to clean out that fridge. Got to. And what better beer to leave the collection of cans and crowlers waiting their turn than one whose very name places it out of season. Winter is officially gone, but we can still pretend. And a New England IPA is always in fashion, somewhere, sometime, for some reason.

It's a hazy one, clear at the foot, with a slimmish ivory head.

In the nose: Nice dose of bitterness starts it out, rounded it out with citrus and tropical fruit notes: grapefruit, mango, pineapple.

In the mouth: Big bite of hops up front, then clean and clear, smooth and light-bodied. Bitterness grips the palate and holds on for the long haul. Easy-drinking. Slightly sweet, fruity. The tropical tones keep on coming.

All in all: Passable. Good IPA and you can drink it. That's about it.

Winter IPA is a hazy, hop-bursted New England Style IPA, brewed to brighten things up a bit as the colder weather sets in. Infused with a juicy blend of Calypso, Azacca, Simcoe, and Citra hops, we hope this beer helps keep you warm and happy as we wait for Spring. 

BlackStack On One Double Dry Hopped Double IPA

BlackStack On One Double Dry Hopped Double IPA. 8.5% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Heavily clouded, one might say "hazy", dull orange/golden color, with a prodigious layer of ivory head atop.

In the nose: creamy, sweet, fruity. hoppy, damn. Grapefruit, lemon and lime. Wow. This is nice. Very nice.

In the mouth: Sweet, bitter, creamy, delicious. Milky, creamy, lush, malty, ...I already said delicious, right? Smooth. Flooded with tropical fruit flavors, pineapple, mango, & more. Beautifully, delightfully hoppy. Medium body, easy drinking. Not quite feeling the buzz yet....almost....there we go.

This was a good one, and it went down in no time. Wish I had some more.

We turned one. We're on one. Let's crack one. On One is a sumptuous celebration. A similar yet singular saturnalia. The setting of malt provides structure, depth and balance. But once again, the hops are the life of the party. We invited some of our friends, Galaxy, Vic Secret, and El Dorado, and boy did they deliver. Hope your invite wasn't lost in the mail. Somebody should've told you. 
BlackStack is family-run. 

Inbound Juicy Lucy IPA

Inbound Juicy Lucy IPA. Hazy IPA made with El Dorado, Super Galena, Citra and Simcoe hops. 5.8% ABV, 75 IBU. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN. Crowler dated May 9, 2018, purchased May 13.

Clear, bright reddish hue, layer of off-white foam holds down the fort. (I know it says "hazy", but I can see through it, so...)

In the nose: Big fruit in here, plump berry/cherry/apple notes in this one. Lower bitterness, rich 'n' juicy.

In the mouth: Juicy and bitter up front. Luscious malt. Bitterness hangs in there for the long haul. Nice and fruity, bitter and tasty. Cherry/berry, melon, apple. Delicious. I'm digging this one. A very diggable IPA.

Careful calling it hazy, though. It's juicy, but, man, these days you get hazed if you aren't that hazy. There are some strict standards of turbidity out there. I personally don't care at all. If it tastes great, that's good enough for me.

On the menu, there was some commentary about the name of this beer, saying "let the debate begin!", referring to the never-ending squabble about who created the Ju(i)cy Lucy hamburger, Matt's Bar or the 5-8 Club. Based on their spelling, we know what side Inbound has chosen.

Hazier than a hotbox. A brand new brew made with El Dorado, Super Galena, Citra, and Simcoe hops. 

Surly/KEX Collaboration - Enigma Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour With Peaches

Surly/KEX Collaboration - Enigma Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour With Peaches. 5.5% Alc. by Vol.

Clear, bright golden, slim head, soon-gone.

In the nose: Lightly hoppy, lightly soured, lightly peachy. There's something here. It's nice enough, for now.

In the mouth: Tart at first, then fruity. Getting the hops, and more of the fruit. Lean bodied, light, very drinkable, not too sour.

Do they have peaches in Iceland? Does it matter? Everyone loves peaches. And most people also like Herb. Reunited, and it feels so good.

Mild tartness, mild fruit, mild everything. There ain't nothing wrong with it. But we expect a bit more, especially from Surly. This stays far from the edge.


The first beer in our 2018 Collaboration Series is a bright kettle sour we brewed with Iceland’s KEX Brewing. Expect subtle peach notes and fruity hop aromatics from Enigma dry-hopping. 

Brunswick Bierworks & La Trappe Ora Et Labora Doppelbock

Brunswick Bierworks & La Trappe Ora Et Labora. Doppelbock. Brunswick Bierworks, East York, Ontario. Canada. 7.5% ABV. 30 IBU.

I'm always about the proper glassware, so it's time to break out my La Trappe chalice for this one, lacking any Brunswick Bierworks chalice, that is.

Clean, deep burgundy color, slim brownish head.

In the nose: Dark fruit: plum, raisin. Molasses, brown sugar. Big, sweet richness, but not too much.

In the mouth: More plump, malty flavors. Good balance. More richness, more sweet, but all kept in check. Creeping alcohol. Clean, with a dry finish. A tasty nightcap. Even if I'm not quite ready for bed.

Editor's note: If you live where I do, and are interested in this beer, I have to apologize. I think you have to be in Ontario. I just have to write about every beer I drink, and share it here, whether you can find it locally or not. Sorry.

And to Nick, the next two are coming, sorry it took so long.

Handshake brews for a Good Cause

The first of the Brunswick bierworks handshake Brew Series serves an almighty moreish New World Double Bock named Ora et labora which translates to Work & Pray the philosophy of the La trappe monks Brewed by La Trappe's Brouwmeester Lodewijk Swinkels and Brunswick Bierworks Brewing Ambassador Christian Riemerschmid von der Heide, this collaboration weaves traditional krausen fermentation with a mighty maltbill and a unique blend of Opal, Loral, Mandarina Bavaria and Ontario Newport hops sourced from the Americas and Europe; bridging the two worlds of brewing

Town Hall Hefe Weizen

Town Hall Hefe Weizen. 5.6% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

I've never reviewed the Hefe Weizen from Town Hall? Man, that's some slacking. Although, looking on BeerAdvocate, I actually reviewed it originally almost fifteen years ago. But then, in the 7 and 1/2 years of this blog, I never went back to it? Shame, shame. So, here's what we'll do: I'll review a pint from this growler I've got, then share that bit of juvenalia from 2003.

Highly clouded, dusky gold, ivory head.

In the nose: Big banana, minor clove, a little touch of citrus.

In the mouth: Nicely spicy on the tongue, clean and smooth on the palate. Orange and banana, with a touch of pepper and clove. Medium bodied, smooth wheat mouthfeel, slightly sweet, ending dry.
Just about right on the money for a Bavarian hefeweizen.

Traditional southern German-style unfiltered wheat beer.

From June, 2003: Appearance: a very solid yellow, with a fine, sturdy white head. The tone is already being set here, for it perfectly hits all the right notes for a hefe weizen.

Aroma: big fat lemon, and I wish the server might have asked whether I needed the addition of a slice of said fruit. Probably out of sheer habit, the way one would be foolish to not serve a Corona with lime. The masses like, I don't. She merely tossed it out, after I did. The lemon looms so large, that the slice is overkill. Spicy, sparkling, zesty, uplifting, fresh, perfect.

Great weizen texture, too, lively play, decent hop showing, just-right malt spine. Creamy, tasty, refreshing, full-bodied.

Sweet fruity flavors persist all the way down the pint, which was fully enjoyed. A bright shining example of a hefe weizen. I'll try to take in more of these while summer lasts, and make the most of it!

Good job again, Town Hall!

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion Revolving Hop Series Revolution No. 009 IPA

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion Revolving Hop Series Revolution No. 009. Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA. 5.9% ABV, 59 IBU.

Crystal clear, bright golden color, beautiful bone white head on top. Looking gorgeous.

In the nose: Vibrant citrus-y hop flavors burst out at first, lemon lime, grapefruit. Beautiful citrus explosion.

In the mouth: Bitter hops attack up front, blazing the palate, ending nice and dry. Medium body, expertly drinkable. Blisteringly bitter. Bright, fresh and lively. Some juicy/fruity notes and hop bitterness that just won't quit. Light bodied and highly drinkable for a hop head like me.

I like this one a lot. Go out and get some.

Revolution No. 009 is a showcase for five "public domain" hops from the United States and Germany, offering a fresh twist on some not-so-familiar favorites. 
The lead hops include two varieties from the Pacific Northwest – one that provides exotic tropical notes, & another that offers a balance of earthy pine and citrus qualities. The German hops round out the blend with a dimension of bright fruitiness. 

Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale

This might be the first beer I've had a beer named after a style of shirt. I can't think of another. Can you? Leave a comment below. Wait. Just though of one. Are there others? Let's make a game of it!
Anyway, on to the beer...

Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV. 50 IBU. Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL.

Clear, golden-hued, significant slab of ivory foam above, leaving lace.

In the nose: vivacious flowering of citrus notes, orange, lemon, tangerine. Nicely hopped.

In the mouth: Bitter hop bite up front, big and citrusy. Orange peel and lemon zest, bitter hop flavors grabbing the palate. Slightly sweet in the back, but bitter takes charge of the front. Minimal malt, easy drinking. Goes down nice and easy. A likable pale ale, indeed.

Traditional throughout Latin America, the guayabera shirt combines style, functionality, form and tradition in it’s four-pocketed design.  We at Cigar City feel the same reverence and appreciation for the guayabera that we do for the Citra hop varietal, an ingredient that imparts notes of tangerine, lime and berries to this traditional American Pale Ale.  The exclusive use of Citra hops in this beer creates a flavor that’s at once unique and recognizable, while it’s dry, crisp character and moderate alcohol make it as refreshing and functional as a crisp linen guayaberas.

Again, a first, this time for real. Drawing a comparison between a beer and apparel. Okay, whatever works.

Venn Brewing Batch #50 Sticky Icky double IPA

Venn Sticky Icky double IPA. 9.7% ABV, 90 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden/orange-ish hued, slim white head on top.

In the nose: "Dank" is the correct terminology, as well as the titular sticky-ickiness. Pungent, all up in there. Underneath the bouquet of Otto's jacket, comes the citrus notes, the whiff of pine, the traces of tropical. Nice.

In the mouth: Powerful hop attack on the palate starts it out. Big, bountiful and a little fuzzy around the edges. Remarkably smooth past that. Despite the strength, a good drinker. Medium bodied, tasty malt component, amazing hop blast. Bright and beautiful. Alcohol warmth starts shining through....very, very nice. Tasty stuff, indeed.

Face ripper! Straight resin - hold onto yer butts! A super-hoppy, super-dry, super-bitter, resinous, dank enamel-scraper, featuring Eureka and Idaho 7 hops. Sticky icky!

Malts: Domestic 2-Row

Hops: Eureka, Idaho 7, Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

Blackstack Local 755 NE IPA

Blackstack  Local 755 NE IPA. Hazy, Juicy, Soft. Brewed and packaged by BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 6.6% Alc./Vol.

I know when I've been negligent, and I certainly have been negligent in covering the beers of St. Paul's BlackStack Brewing. I'd been there once last March, not long after they opened, but did not take notes. When I'm with people and in conversation, I tend to keep the notebook closed. But I promised to return and consider their products here in the Nib, but no matter how much I meant to, I just never did. So many reasons. They're in St. Paul. It's way over there. Etcetera.

On that first visit, there were no growlers or crowlers available. Then, they started appearing in stores. Something always jumped ahead of them, though, and I never purchased one. I finally bought a 4-pack of this beer in cans a few weeks back, but drank them all before taking notes, something which rarely happens. To correct this, I made it back down to the brewery last week and stocked up on some BlackStack offerings, and will commence making up for lost time with this one, in that much favored NE IPA style. (I was with friends again that time, and also did not crack the spiral, but these cans will make up for lack of notes.)

Well, is it ever hazy. It's got the haze craze for days. Bright-ish golden toned, solid layer of cloud white foam on top. Looking nice.

In the nose: soft, silenced, citrus. Muted, would be another way to put it.

In the mouth: Big juicy. And "pillowy", too, is a word I'd use. Light bitter, high juice, and a big dose of tropical tones, with a side order of citrus. Just bitter enough. Medium bodied, easy drinker.

It's got all those things the NE-style lover wants, but this one does not make the case for replacing the original style. As it is, mighty fine version of the style. I can drink it and be happy.

New England style IPA. A specialty of Blackstack Brewing: soft, juicy and refreshing. A reserved bitterness lets the pungent aromas from the hops shine brightly.

Hmm. I feel like more can be said. From the label: "Blackstack is family run and Local 755 is our baby, our spoiled, spoiled baby. This ale gets what it wants, Period. Citra, Amarillo and Azacca hops? Done. Two massive dry hop additions? But of course. The result is a juice bomb of white peach and ripe mango flavors with minimal bitterness. Soft, hazy, and truly as perfect as we think it is, biased though we are. Pour up." 

There's an odd phrase right there: "As perfect as we think it is." I've been on record about calling your own creation 'perfect.' Talk about spoiling the baby.

Ska Rue B. Soho Grapefruit Lager

Ska Rue B. Soho Grapefruit Lager. 5.1% ABV, 20 IBU. Ska Brewing, Durango, CO.

Clear, bright golden, large, ivory head.

In the nose: big grapefruit, large citrus. Intense ruby. I like it. Nice hoppiness.

In the mouth: Bright citrus, bold grapefruit, ending dry. Clean, crisp, full flavor, refreshing. Fruity, delicious. Very likable. So, I guess I liked it.

Like Ruby Red slippers, this grapefruit lager will take you where you want go...if where you want to go is beer heaven!

At first, your nose is treated to the aroma of bright and crisp citrus. Then your tongue is tickled by the carbonation that delivers flavors of tart and light grapefruit juice. Lightly acidulated, Rue B. Soho is a refreshing lager brewed w/ cascade hops and grapefruit.

Bull Falls Nut Brown Ale

Bull Falls Nut Brown Ale. Bull Falls Brewery, Wausau, WI. 6.3% ABV. 25 IBU.

Clear, caramel-toned brown body, slim, whitish head.

In the nose: Nutty. Malty. Semi-sweet.

In the mouth: Mostly malty, caramel and cocoa, slightly sweet. Well balanced and agreeably flavored. Medium bodied, good drinkability. Moderate bitterness.

 It's a good brown ale and you can drink it.

An American Brown Ale with caramel and chocolate like characters with a slight nut presence. Finishes very clean with no aftertaste.

Surly Hop Shifter IPA India Pale Ale

Surly Hop Shifter IPA India Pale Ale (what? that's what the label says!). 6% Alc. by Vol. "Crafted to reduce gluten." Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN. "Don't settle, Get Surly."

Clear, slight chill haze, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Usual citrus notes pop up. Lemon and lime, brief cameos from orange and grapefruit.

In the mouth: Big blast of citrus-y hop flavors and bold bitterness from the start. Intense palate-grabber. Fresh and refreshing. Light bodied, if a trifle thin. Long-lived citrus-y hop finish.

 I think it's fine. Not terrific, not bad, just fine. A good IPA India Pale Ale, and you can drink it. Why not? It won't hurt you none.

Who controls the horizontal? Who controls the vertical? Not you. Not us. What we can control is Hopshifter, our line of experimental, gluten-reduced IPAs. Every tank has a new hop profile. Once a batch is gone, it’s gone. Embrace the temporary.

I grabbed that from Untappd. There's more on the can label, but I can't be bothered to copy it all down, nor can I decipher it all.

For more, click on this.

Lupulin Straight Hash Homie Double IPA

Lupulin Straight Hash Homie 100% Hop Hash Double IPA. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. 7.7% ABV, 60 IBU.

I haven't been to Lupulin Brewing since 2016, and I can offer no excuse as to why not. When this beer was being talked up and highly hyped, by both the beer geek community, and the brewery itself, I wasn't on board right away, and had a few questions. "Hop Hash?" Oh, you mean Lupulin powder. I guess we're doing drug references. They had a 4/20 release for it, on 4/20 at 4:20. "cause it's so dankalicious. I tire of drug references.

So, I listened to the raves and convinced my bosses that a keg this expensive is worthwhile. And I bought a 4-pack to do this review. These notes are from can #4. I'm not too sad that they're gone, because it's on tap now I can drink it every night after work. Unless we get swamped and the keg runs dry. I see this as a challenge for you, dear reader, if you live in proximity to where I work. Try to drain the keg before I do.

Lightly hazed,  bright golden hued, slim slab of ivory foam above.

In the nose: Fresh, lively, vibrant. The citrus notes are at play, and the piney ones, too. Hop bitterness and flavor rings and echoes through the caverns of the senses. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Here. it's more clear, intense, incredibly flavorful. An essential distillation of all things lupuloid. Day-yum. I may have an issue or two with their insistence on using the potty talk, but if this isn't "the good shit", I don't know what is. Juicy, slightly sweet, luscious. Pineapple and papaya meet a touch of grapefruit and lime, and it lingers long on the palate. Did I say "delicious" yet? Well, I should have by now. Unless I plan on using up every synonym before I get to it.

This is just strong enough, bitter enough, and flat out fantastic enough to make it one of my favorite IPAs of all time. Favorite beers, even? Maybe. It's so damned good.

Straight Hash Homie is made using only pure, 100% Lupulin powder. In the boil, while whirlpooling, and dry hopping(or Hash Hopping), not a pellet or cone saw the beer. Bursting with flavors of fresh tropical fruit, with a soft bitterness.
Don’t get left holding the bag! This beer is a limited edition beer!

Upper Hand Escanaba Black Beer

Upper Hand Escanaba Black Beer. 4.5% ABV. Upper Hand Brewery, Escanaba, MI, a division of Bell's Brewery.

Solid blackness, slim brown head.

In the nose: cocoa, cola, char. Roasty. Like any good dark beer should be.

In the mouth: Sweet, a touch.  Cocoa, some coffee, a touch of carob.  I'd guess that we have a schwarzbier lager bier here. (Although I have found no evidence to back up or refute this claim of mine. Their website gives no category. Untappd calls it a "dark ale." BeerAdvocate calls it a "Black ale", and RateBeer a "stout." Okay, maybe I'm wrong.)
Smooth, drinkable, but rich and malty. Medium bodied. Mild hop attack.

Escanaba Black Beer is malt forward, dark, and delicious. Its moderate roastiness is balanced with a mild hop bitterness. The result is a silky smooth finish for this sessionable ale, making it the perfect beer for anything the north has to offer.

Also: Escanaba Black Beer is at home around summer fire pits and winter fireplaces. This dark, delicious, malt-forward black ale has a moderate roastiness that’s balanced with a silky-smooth, mildly bitter finish.

I think they're trying to emphasize the silky smooth finish.

Firestone Walker Pivo Pilsner

Firestone Walker Pivo Pilsner. 5.3% ABV. 40 IBU. Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA.

Crystal clear, bright golden color, gorgeous snow-white head. Beautiful.

In the nose: floral, hoppy, light and lovely.

In the mouth: Lean, clean, crisp and delicious. Light, refreshing, malty, and delightful. It's a good ol' pilsner, done right.

That's all I have to say. If you want to hear more, listen to these guys:

Everything we love about classic German Pilsner with a hoppy Bohemian twist. Pils is a bright straw colored lager beer with playful carbonation topped with beautiful white foam lace. Delicate lightly toasted malt flavors underscore noble German hop character. Hallertau-grown Magnum hops deliver the lupulin foundation while generous amounts of Spalter Select hops bring floral aromatic and spicy herbal notes. As a twist on the traditional Pils, we dry hop with German Saphir for a touch of bergamot zest and lemongrass. A refreshing, light-bodied and hop-driven Pils.

Cigar City Invasion Tropical Pale Ale

Cigar City Invasion Tropical Pale Ale. 5% ABV, 50 IBU. Dry-hopped with Simcoe and Mosaic hops. Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, Florida.

Mostly clear, light haze, golden hued, under a slim layer of ivory foam.

In the nose: tropical fruit tones appear, mild bitterness.

In the mouth: Bitterness mild again, drinking is easy. Mellow. Cool. Hops keep smacking the palate. Citrus and berry flavors abound.

Nice pale ale. I like this just fine, but no more. Wouldn't go out of my way for one. You'd have to thrust it right into my face.

The people of Tampa Bay have fallen prey to Pirate invasion every year for well over 100 years. After more than a century of failing to repel these seafaring raiders in their anachronistic wooden ships, despite access to modern sea, land and air arsenals that ostensibly should make short work of wind powered vessels equipped with naught but cast iron cannons and raging scurvy, it occurred to the folks of Cigar City Brewing that if you can’t beat them start saying Arrrr Matey! And so we have brewed Invasion Pale Ale, a citrusy and tropical session beer brewed for those long days of marauding, pillaging and pirating. Cheers!

Ballast Point Moscow Mule Ale

Ballast Point Moscow Mule Ale. Ale with ginger and lime added. Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA.  10.2% ABV.

Clear, amber-ish hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Hey, there's ginger in there. And along comes the lime, as advertised. And nothing else.

In the mouth: Big, fierce, large and in charge ginger flavor. Once again, lime comes next, in full force. Light bodied. Lean, clean and powerful. Crisp and refreshing. But, where's the vodka? And, while we're at it, where's the beer?

This is not for me. Gimmick beer. Too much lime, too much ginger, not enough beer. No, thank you. I don't even think it's very good. I hate saying that, but sometimes you have to.

But, I didn't drain-pour. I always finish, whether I want to or not.

Ginger, lime, refreshing; all the good things you’d expect from the cocktail of the same name. We started with a light, sour base beer and then loaded it up with tons of fresh ginger and lime zest. All that is missing is the copper cup.

Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative Minute Man New England IPA

Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative Minute Man New England IPA. 6.8% ABV. 45 IBU. Minneapolis, MN. Canned on 4/18. Purchased: 4/30. Consumed: last night.

Another one of those New England hazy IPAs everyone's so into now, eh? Well, okay, I guess, if I have to....

And it's the first Broken Clock beer I've bought in a store. Why is that significant? I didn't know they were selling in stores. Good for them.

Highly hazy, golden hue, big white head.

In the nose: ah, lovely! Pure hoppiness. Piney, resinous, citrusy. Right on.

In the mouth: vanilla, cream, pineapple. Leafy green. Nice, low-laying bitterness on the palate. And juicy. Did I forget to mention juicy? All the things, the juice, the fruit, the haze and the soft. Ending dry and just a little bitter.

I like this. It's pretty danged good.

Maybe I'm turning the corner on this "Hazy, juicy, NE"-IPA stuff. Maybe. Anything's possible.

A hazy, juicy IPA with the aroma of a hopped up IPA, but without the harsh bite. Loaded with hops with citrus and tropical fruit flavors.