Sisyphus Gin & Guava

Sisyphus Gin & Guava. 5.7% ABV. Saison aged in gin barrels, with guava puree added. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim, swiftly departing head.

In the nose: Fruity phenolics. Tropical and plush. Like it.

In the mouth: Sweet and fruity. And here comes the booze. Tasty tango going on here. Plump and luscious. There's a saison here somewhere, covered in guava and gin, and it's alright. I enjoyed this one all the way down.

The latest beer to come out of our barrel room! This Saison was fermented with a Farmhouse yeast strain and then aged in local Gin Barrels (Millers and Saints). We added pureed Guava to create a truly unique brew. We will have limited bottles available ($15 - Only 24 available - Limit 2 per customer).

Dogfish Head Mixed Media Vino-esque Ale brewed with grape must

Dogfish Head Mixed Media Vino-esque Ale brewed with grape must. 7.5% Alc. by Vol.

Clear, golden-hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly tart, slightly sweet, fruity. Quite pleasant. Very musty.

In the mouth: Light bodied, delicate, with high fruit. Just the right amount of sweetness and the correct dose of vinosity. (I may have made that up.)

Sweet turns to dry on the palate. Grape and melon notes abound. Rounds out nicely. Light hops, minimal malt. Tasty treat, this one. I can dig it.


The closest an ale can legally be to wine! With 51% of the fermentable sugars coming from grain and 49% coming from grapes, Mixed Media is a complex saison-esque ale brewed with a distinct Belgian yeast strain. Using a late-harvest Viognier grape must from our friends at Alexandria Nicole Cellars in Washington, you'll find notes of white grape and melon in the aroma, and greeted with a spicy white wine body in every sip.

As our newest spin in the beer-wine world, Mixed Media appeals to both the Pinot Gris and beer drinker alike with a crisp, dry and tart ale that will leave you 'puckering' for more.

Utepils 2018 Moment Czech Style Dark Lager

Utepils 2018 Moment Czech Style Dark Lager. 5.1% ABV, 42 IBU. Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown color, fully opaque, slim beige head,

In the nose: Sweet, earthy, nutty. Whole lot of dark malt going on. Low bitterness. Delightful.

In the mouth: As in the nose, on the palate. Caramel malt keeps it nice and tasty. Hops lay low, but keep the balance. Sweet turns to dry. Light bodied and terrifically drinkable. Nice and toasty, lightly fruity. Good ol Dunkel.

Utepils 2018 Moment beer is very dark, almost black in the glass, but it has a surprisingly light body. It’s brewed with Czech hops, which give it a nice balance and aroma. The malt flavor comes through with suggestions of toasted bread, chocolate and dark fruit. 

Inbound BrewCo The Fuzz Apricot Pale Ale

A few months ago, I reviewed this beer from a crowler, before it was re-named The Fuzz and sold in a 12 ounce can.  A little later, I received a can, along with the others now available with the spiffy, colorful designs. Should I review it again? Oh, why not.

Inbound BrewCo The Fuzz Apricot Pale Ale. 5% ABV, 24 IBU. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bronze/copper-y coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: sweet stone fruit. Ripe and lovely. The very flavor of the fruit, with a side dose of hoppiness.

In the mouth: Nice blend of the bitter and sweet. Apricot flavor is strong and stays strong. Medium body, long lasting taste. Bitter hop flavor keeps up with the fruit, Quite nice.

An award-winning favorite known for its fresh apricot flavor and mild spiced candy flavor. It's a local favorite, whether you've got a lil bit of peach fuzz or you're rocking a full brewer's beard.

Town Hall Coconut Moonrise

Town Hall Coconut Moonrise. 5.2% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown coloration, showing clear at the foot, with a slim and quickly disappearing head.

In the nose: oh, coco-nutty! Dark malt, toasted coconut, very nice.

In the mouth: There's that coconut. Light hop bitterness. Smooth malt. Medium body. Tasty, tasty stuff. Good coconut dark ale and you can drink it.


A smooth and light bodied coconut dark ale.

Lupulin Sexy Hops India Pale Ale

Lupulin Sexy Hops India Pale Ale. Vic Secret. Kohatu. 6% ABV, 50 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Ultra-hazy. Bright golden. Slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet 'n' hoppy. Tropical notes abound. Side order of citrus. Quite likable.

In the mouth: Sweet starts it, but it quickly turns out dry on the palate. Big dose of bitter that slides right off. Medium bodied, good drinking. Refreshingly approachable. Goes down smooth and begs for more. Pineapple and lemon. Bright and delightful.

These guys. They keep on making these beers that I can't help but like. What's their deal, man?

Sexy Hops is a series of one-off IPAs brewed with the sexiest hops available today. Each beer will be a different and unique showcase of some of today's hottest hops. 

Sexy Hops #1 - We dropped loads of New Zealand Kohatu and Australian Vic Secret dry hops into a base of the finest Maris Otter malt. Bright waves of passion fruit, pineapple, tropical fruit and lime abound in this sexy brew. 

Cuvee des Jacobins Prestige Flemish Sour Ale

Cuvee des Jacobins Prestige Flemish Sour Ale. Very Limited Release. 7.6% ABV. Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste. (formerly Bockor). Bellegem, West-Vlaanderen Belgium.

There are times that I take my picture of the beer
and the bottle on the coasters, and I wonder to
myself if the Spider-Man coaster is appropriate.
And then I answer myself, "why wouldn't
it be?"

Here's another one that I'm going to describe to you, but I can't tell you where to find it. Not available in the home market, for reasons no one can explain. Thanks, again, Nick.

Clear, bright crimson color, slim white head.

In the nose: vinegar, fruit, oak. All that funky brett weirdness and big bunch of complexity. Sweet, then sour, then funky and a lot of fun that we're in for.

In the mouth: Pow! Wow! The fierce funk on the tongue, rich and wild, strange cherry-ish tones, the bark of the oak. Lip-smacking sour. Fresh and refreshing. Non-stop tasty.

I enjoyed the heck out of this one.

Prestige is a blend of 24 month-old foederbier, spontaneously fermented in and blended from foeders IX, XI and XIV. It has a deeper brettanomyces character and an overall soft and fruity character. Sourness is here in plenty, just like the Cuvée Rouge, but the balance is finer and tipped more toward stone fruit.

Oliphant Berry Meowton Amish Strawberry Milkshake IPA

Oliphant Berry Meowton Amish Strawberry Milkshake IPA. 5.6% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

I've said before that I don't like "milkshake IPAs" and I should stop reviewing them. And then, I'm trying to keep up with my favorite breweries and find that I have no choice. It happened recently with Modist, and it's happening now. It's been almost two months since my last visit to the brewery, and I also haven't been visiting the stores much lately. At a recent visit to a store that carries Oliphant, there were two crowlers available, one I'd had before, and this one. So, I bought it, and here we go, I'm going to drink it.

But before I drink it, I can't figure out the name or the label. Some sandworm king vs. a strawberry worm? Barry Meowton? I'll figure it out....Has Jeremy been reading "Dune" or watching it, lately? Is that it?

"Amish Strawberry"? Sure, I get that. They got some strawberries from the Amish.

It's a cloudy one. Vaguely strawberry-isa in color, a dull crimson, with a fine head of milky froth.

In the nose: well, there it is. Strawberry ice cream. Very nice.

In the mouth: Sweetness and fruit, small amount of bitter. Creamy, smooth, ultra-drinkable. Sweet, sweet strawberries. Man, do I love strawberries. I will never turn one down. Come on, prove it. Prove to me, show that you have evidence of me turning down a strawberry. It never happened.

So, where were we? Yeah, it's a strawberry milkshake IPA and I paid $9 for it and it's something I can drink and even enjoy but my opinion of "milkshake" beers still holds. I'm not getting enough of the beer, and certainly not enough of the IPA. But that's not to take anything away from the brewery.
Or any of my other favorite breweries that make this style that I hate. It's just....it's just not beer....

Eastlake Creedence Tapes Hazy Pale Ale

Eastlake Creedence Tapes Hazy Pale Ale. 6.66% ABV. Eastlake Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly hazed, golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: tropical fruit notes, guava, pineapple, mango, and a bit of creamy. Smooth. Nice. Low bitterness. Along comes the citrus. Mmm, hmm.

In the mouth: Slight astringency. Touch of sweet. Here comes the bitter.  Nice and juicy. Lean bodied. Drinkability is high, here. Pretty darned tasty.

Hazy Mosaic Hash IPA.

Nice name, too, but I think that's enough Lebowski references for me.

Venn Brewing Batch #60 Mounds Bar Porter

Venn Brewing Batch #60 Mounds Bar Porter. 6.5% ABV. 27 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown color, rich brown head, large and looming. Altogether impressive.

In the nose: malt comes forward, and the cocoa is unleashed. Sweet and chocolatey, with a hint of coconut. Never too much so, though.

In the mouth: Coconut is big on the palate, from the very start. Coconut and cocoa, in perfect harmony. Nicely bitter, with loads of lush malt. Delicious. Yum plus yum.  More richness, more chocolatey goodness. Full bodied, utterly decadent. I'm going to luxuriate on this one.

Actual chocolate, actual coconut, porter.
A porter with chocolate and coconut.

Malts: Maris Otter, Munich 9L, Oats, Pale Chocolate, Caramel 60, Chocolate, Victory.
Hops: Warrior.
Yeast: American Ale.
Other: Ghana Cacao Nibs, Chocolate Syrup, Vanilla, Coconut.

BlackStack Play Date IPA

BlackStack Play Date IPA. 6.2% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, small but lasting ivory head. Looking great.

In the nose: Muted hop flavors, shy fruit, slowly unfolding tropical tones. Pineapple peeks out. Pine trickles through. Softly, citrus sneaks in.

In the mouth: Nice burst of hop bitterness on the palate from the get-go, but none too harsh. Soft and smooth, in true BlackStack fashion, though isn't in the hazy style. And thank goodness for that. We need some change of pace from that ballyhoo. Little bit of berry, smack of pine. Smooth, sweet, and plenty of hoppiness.

This, I like. It's got the smooth and the bitter.

Dark Horse Smells Like A Safety Meeting India Pale Ale

Dark Horse Smells Like A Safety Meeting India Pale Ale. 8.5% ABV, 48 IBU. Dark Horse Brewing, Marshall, MI.

Reddish hue, fully opaque, slim beige head. Interesting look for an IPA. But, I can dig it.

In the nose: Deep and malty, earthy and herbal, lots of fruit, but not the typical citrus and tropical everyone trots out. More berries, stone fruit, apple. I like it. Most unusual. And highly "dank."

Sidebar: I get it now. This brewery used to have a beer that was unimaginatively called "Smells Like Weed." This name is more subtle, and evokes the true phrase that comes up when co-workers wish to blaze one together.

In the mouth: Big bitterness busts out on the palate, blitzes the tongue, leaving a trail of hoppitude. It's a powerhouse. Full, rich body. Major malt. Much complexity. Whole lot going on here. I can't help but like it. It's nearly a double IPA, almost a barley-wine, even. Not sure why they don't name it as such.

S.L.A.S.M. is our most Aromatic IPA. This India Pale Ale is very reminiscent of the hop’s cousin in the Mulberry family. Lots of hop aroma with just the right amount of bitterness as we like to keep balance around here. Between the secret blend of the most DANK hops we can get our hands on and a "more than healthy" dose of double dry hopping, this beer can be announced to the nose from across the room that someone is definitely having a Safety Meeting.

Founders DKML Imperial Malt Liquor Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Founders DKML Imperial Malt Liquor Aged in Bourbon Barrels. "Kicks You Where You Most Expect It."  14.2% ABV. 38 IBU. Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI.

Slightly hazy, bright amber/golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Pungent alcohol appearance from the first, Big booze, powerful fruit, intense hops, and whiskey a-go-go. Vast, rich, intensely flavorful.

In the mouth: More intensity. Sharp, loud, boisterous, banging. Spilling it all over the place. Busting out of it's britches. Alcoholic edges step over their boundaries. Corn. Vanilla. Malt. Booze. All that and more clambering over the fence and itching to get into it.

This one didn't slay like it warns us all. I was very satisfied, finished my glass, and tucked myself in, nighty-night, waking up none the worse from it all.

Or, maybe I'm lying. Maybe it done my brain in, and I burst forth from my home, naked as the day I was born, howling at the moon, and running wild until the coppers tore me out of that tree and tossed me into the hoosegow.

Maybe that's it. I'll never tell. You'll have to check the police blotter.

I did like it, and I'm glad I tried it. Thanks, Jeff!

By the way, this marks the first "malt liquor" in the Nib. Some of my better written reviews of the past were of malt liquors that friends gave me, in order to see what I would write. Somehow, I haven't been able to buy them in order to re-post the reviews. If you care to donate, I'll send you my address.

Here you have what could be the first malt liquor worthy of a glass. Typically a slighted style, we thought we would class it up with a stay in the wood and a healthy dose of dry-hopping. A huge hit of corn gives this one a smooth sweetness while its time spent aging in bourbon barrels will give you reason to share. Be warned: this one’s a pry-off, not a twist-off.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche Neo-Berliner Style

Dogfish Head Festina Peche Neo-Berliner Weisse Style. Tart summer session sour. 4.5 % alc. by vol. 8 IBU. Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE.

A refreshing neo-BerlinerWeisse fermented with honest-to-goodness peaches to (get this!) 4.5% abv! Because extreme beers don't have to be extremely boozy! Available in 4-pack and draft during the sweaty months

Clear, light peach-toned appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweetness and fruit are first, then along comes sour. Very promising.

In the mouth: Pucker kicks it off, with lush peach flavors coming in after. Tart. refreshing, light in body.  Nicely balanced, not too anything, just right. Not a trace of bitterness, and not too sweet. Crisp and tasty. I'm enjoying this, and you know what? I do recommend it.

I wonder what I said about it 10 years ago? This was posted on BeerAdvocate in February of 2008:

"In a spiffy Belgian tulip-type glass...

Hazed faint peach/pear appearance, nice, if slim slab of white foam above.

Effervescence at large in aroma, light fruit, again, peach and pear, ...pilsner-like...slightly sweet, slightly dry.

Taste: sour, puckering, spritzy, ...citric, tart, then dry...like pear champagne. Light bodied, light finish, too...and the flavor's not doing it for me.

Boy, I've been meaning to try this for a long time, grabbed a bottlle in Wisconsin that was foul, and now this time...not crazy about this. It's probably as good as it should be, but, clearly, it's not pushing my buttons.

It's actually growing on me as I finish it. Would make a nice
dessert brew. Sparkling, dry, and a little fruity. Good. Not great."

A different take, to be sure. Did the beer change or did I? Maybe both. I've certainly learned to appreciate it more.

And here's what the brewery wants to tell you:

A refreshing neo-Berliner Weisse, Festina Peche is available in 4-packs and on draft during the sweaty months.

Sadly, there are only a few breweries left in Berlin still brewing the Berliner Weisse style, which is characterized by its intense tartness (some say sour). There were once over 70 breweries in Berlin alone making this beer!

In addition to fermentation with an ale yeast, Berliner Weisse is traditionally fermented with lactic cultures to produce its acidic (or green apple-like) character. Served as an apertif or summertime quencher, Festina is delicately hopped and has a pale straw color. To soften the intense sourness, Berliner Weisse is traditionally served with a dash of essence of woodruff or raspberry syrup.

In Festina Peche, since the natural peach sugars are eaten by the yeast, the fruit complexity is woven into both the aroma and the taste of the beer so there is no need to doctor it with woodruff or raspberry syrup. Just open and enjoy!

Inbound Super G Lovshake Milkshake IPA

Inbound Super G Lovshake Milkshake IPA. 7% ABV, 108 IBU (huh?), Inbound BrewCo., Minneapolis, MN.

Hazed up. Murky golden hue, slimmed down ivory head.

In the nose: creamy, milky, fruity. Slightly tropical fruit up in this nose. Very pineapple-y.
Mild, almost non-existent bitterness.

In the mouth: Milky, creamy, sweet and fruity. Just like in the nose, and now it's on the tongue. Tasty, for sure. But, but....Stop calling these "IPA", if you're trying to destroy the thing that makes IPA IPA. If you're draining away, or replacing the bitterness, you're steering away from an IPA. Called it a milkshake ale, unless you're trying to lure people in with the name.

Come to think of it, this and the New England style makes me wonder if there's a class of people that were only ordering IPAs because they thought that was the cool thing to do, and didn't really want to drink a beer with such bitterness. I think so, I really do.

Cream, fruit, not a lot of hops. If that's your thing, it's a good one. Everybody, though: drop the IPA from your labels. It's tremendously misleading. I'm not getting a smidgen of what I expect or want from an IPA. None of these milkshake thingies are IPAs, at all.

Otherwise, I guess it's pretty good.

A Milkshake IPA made with Super Galena hops plus lactose, orange, and vanilla. Tastes mostly like an orange creamsicle, but it's also a beer. The brew house is a little ol' place where we can drink together.

Ska Brewing Pink Vapor Stew Sour Ale

Ska Brewing Pink Vapor Stew Sour Ale. 5.1% ABV. Ska Brewing, Durango, CO.

Pink Vapor Stew? That's the name of a beer? What? Okay, here we go.

Bright crimson, opaque, slim whitish head,

In the nose: Odd. Vegetal? I'm not getting much sour yet, or fruit, or whatever I'm supposed to....just a big "huh." Yeah, Huh.

And now, we drink. Here's the sour, very profound tart on the tongue. Hits quick and dissipates. Light bodied, not much for malt. Lot of sour, and I can't tell what else.

I'm going to read the can now. On top: "Roots-moral panic-recycle-mirrors-beets-recycle-piquant-b-movie-recycle-ready-steady-go." Oh, really, now? More: "MOD Project No. 1: Malt beverage brewed with apples, ginger, carrots & beets. Sour ale. 5.1% ABV." Who the Hell is saying "needs more carrots" in the brewhouse?

Are the beets for color? Are the carrot and apples for...? What? I'm not getting their flavors, neither for ginger. This is confusion. It's tart, sour, and not the least bit fruity. Guess we got to go with vegetal.

Is this designed for sour-heads, who want to steer clear of fruity, don't want a touch of the sweet? And what the hell is Pink Vapor Stew? It's from a Fishbone song? That I've been aware for many years? What?!?

I had no idea they were singing "pink vapor stew."
 I had no idea what they were singing.

Anyway, it's a weird beer, but it's good. If this sounds good to you, go ahead and drink it. Don't let me stop you.

Venn Brewing Batch #52 Grapefruit IPA

Venn Brewing Batch #52 Grapefruit IPA. 6.7% ABV, 65 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

to the eye: hazy, pale golden hue, slim white head.

in the nose: hoppy,  citric, fruity, lightly bitter. I'm getting some grapefruit.

In the mouth: More bitter, more citrus, more grapefruit. Light bodied, crisp malt, an easy drinker.

Quite delicious. Quite nice. Quite, quite, quite.
I'm finishing this crowler in record time.

Grapefruit from hops! Grapefruit from grapefruit! 

Malts: Domestic 2-Row, Munich 9L

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe, Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Grapefruit! 

Fair State Lactobac -the can

Fair State Lactobac -the can. 5.6% ABV, 10 IBU. Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis (& St. Paul), Minnesota.

LÄCTOBÄC is our mixed culture playground. We've dropped the numbers and the kettle souring, but the fun remains. Fermented with Saison yeast, Lactobacillus, and Brettanomyces, this batch features fresh ginger, lemongrass, and lemon zest. Funky, drinkable, and satisfyingly summery.

Hazy, dull yellow, slim & quickly disappearing head.

In the nose: fresh citrus, ginger, funky, wild. Lemon sticks out.


In the mouth: Yow! Tart, indeed. Big blast of sour citrus up front, then along comes spicy ginger. Delicious. Lean bodied, light, crazily consumable. It's a drinker, alright. Goes down smooth, until the tart holds that grimace tight, fierce funk, intense sour, and then smooth and refreshing.

Steel Toe Brewers' Evolution Series Pilsner

Steel Toe Brewers' Evolution Series Pilsner. 5.4% ABV. 20 IBU. Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN.

So, I made it to Steel Toe the other day. First time in nearly a year. Why? Why, why, why? I have simply got to stop saying, "I must see them more often" and just do it. Once a month, is it that hard? It's a fifteen minute bike ride, less time than it takes me to get to work. Just do it, dummy! (I'm talking to me, there, not you. Unless you visit Steel Toe even less than me.)

And there were many fine beers there, but only one that I could take home that I'd never written about here in the Nib. And now we will drink it.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Nicely hopped. Floral and lightly spicy. Sight grain/cereal/malt.

In the mouth: soft and smooth. Hops up front, laying long on the palate. Classic German hop profile. All the nobles. Pilsner malt. Little bit of cracker. Nicely balanced. Light bodied. Tasty. Consumable. Yeah, this one works. Good pilsner and I can drink it.


Color: Straw, brilliant clarity
Aroma: Slight floral, light, sweet cracker malt
Flavor: Balanced, pilsner malt, distinct and refined noble hop character and bitterness

Dual Citizen University IPA

Dual Citizen University IPA. 5.5% ABV. 75 IBU. Dual Citizen Brewery, St. Paul, MN.

Clear-ish, copper-y colored, slimmed white head.

In the nose: Earthy, herbal-y, citrus. Flowery. Nice.

In the mouth: Hops pounce and play on the palate. Just enough bitterness, just enough sweet. Mixture of malt nears complexity, but doesn't quite make the grade. Feels a little unbalanced, but I can't say in which way. There's a lot of bitter, and a bunch of sweet, but they just don't mesh. Jarrylo, Galena, and Chinook are the hops in this one.

It's a good beer, but it's not much better than that. It is likable, but not lovable. So, I do like it. And I would drink another. But. And, there's always a but. ....

I'm going to keep an eye on this brewery, and hope that the next one I write about here is one I like just a little bit better.

Hop forward aroma with notes of melon, pear, and black pepper. Medium body with bitter hop astringency. Malty sweetness balances piney hops bitterness before giving way to an earthy, dry finish.

Sisyphus Churro Imperial Brown Ale

Sisyphus Churro Imperial Brown Ale. 8% ABV. 27 IBU.

Clear, bright crimson, near brown coloring, slim brownish head on top.

In the nose: malty, caramel, cinnamon (light).

In the mouth: Rich, spicy, malty, delicious. Mellow. Fine. Medium bodied. Cinnamon is mild on this one. It's there, though. Caramel malt, mild spice. I like it, it's tasty, and it goes down nice and easy. Pretty, pretty good.

I searched and searched and couldn't find any information on this one, other than those basic stats above. Nothing about what makes it "churro." I'm going to have to track down Sam and grill him on it. See what good that does me.

Ale Asylum Tears of My Enemies Pale Ale

Ale Asylum Tears of My Enemies Pale Ale. 5.9% ABV.

Clear, golden-hued, large white head.

In the nose: aroma of fresh wort, oddly enough. Oats and yeast. Oddly enough. Some semblance of hops simmers somewhere.

In the mouth: Okay, there's some hoppiness, there's a fresh, zesty taste. Hop bitterness plays it kind of low and easy in this one, fades off fast. It's smooth, tasty, and rather unremarkable. Especially for one with so drastic a name. I don't really feel like I am chilling in the capital city of Fruitland. (See below.) It's a rather ordinary APA.

I like it okay. But no more than okay. Okay?

Zesty and bold upon the first sips, with luscious notes of apricots, peaches and oranges like you’re chilling in the capital city of Fruitland. Tears of My Enemies is available March through July 2018, both packaged and on tap throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.

Inbound Fruit of the Loop Citrus IPA

Inbound Fruit of the Loop Citrus IPA. Brewed and canned in the North Loop, Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

There's several layers of punning. Fruit of the Loop refers both to the neighborhood that the brewery is located in, as well as the underwear company, and then the breakfast cereal, Fruit Loops. 

"Get the juicy tastebud extravaganza with the North Loops' fruitiest American IPA. Best enjoyed with Saturday Morning cartoons."

Oh, yeah? They don't show those anymore. So, I'll go on Youtube and look for some Captain Caveman. Dynomutt. Bugs Bunny Road Runner. You know.

Clear, amber/bronze coloring, slim, but staying ivory head.

In the nose: bright citrus, big fruit. Lightly flowery, intense hop bitterness, sweet malt. Nicely balanced. Delightful.

In the mouth: More bitterness boards the palate at first pounce, but then comes the sweet and juicy, the fruity and malty. Tasty stuff. Tangerine, grapefruit, lemon and lemon. Orange zest for a bit. We're keeping it all in the citric, with big juicy bites of fruit. Medium bodied, easy drinker. Long bitterness, generous fruit.

I can dig this one. Good citrus IPA and you can drink it.

Hop & Barrel Lactose Panda Chocolate Milk Stout --the can

Hop & Barrel Lactose Panda Chocolate Milk Stout --the can. 6.1% ABV. (So says the website can reads 5.5%.) 30 IBU. Hop & Barrel Brewing, Hudson, WI.

A little bit ago, my friend Brian Priefer announced online, in the social medias, the he'd just finished canning some beer. I begged, cajoled, and wheedled him (those are all real words) to drop off a sample for me on his way home. When he did so, it was this one, which I'd already reviewed based on a crowler brought back from the brewery. If I only knew they were canning it, I'd have bought a different crowler.

So, I asks Brian, I asks him, is this any different from that? And he says: it's the version I'm happy with, so that does it, I'm reviewing this one. And patiently awaiting delivery of the other two.


Obsidian-tinged, richly roasted & toasted brown cocoa-brown head on top, leaving lace, looking lovely.

In the nose: soft, smooth, semi-sweet, velvet-y and chocolatey. Very enticing.

In the mouth: Mmmm, warm dark malt sensations, more chocolate, cream, yummy. Yep, that's a technical term, they teach it down at the beer drinking school. Medium bodied, caramel malt meets chocolate, with lactose delivering the smooth. Sweet, but beautifully balanced. Creamy, luscious, rich, and delicious. I like this loads.

You can't get it here yet. Got to go to Wisconsin for it. It'll be worth the trip, though.

An easy drinking milk stout. Layers of milk chocolate and light caramel with a subtle roast backbone make this stout suitable for any reason in any season.

There's more on the label: "Know the one thing pandas dig more than pandas dig more than bamboo? Chocolate milk. True Story! The lactose addition in this rich, creamy stout gives it layers upon layers of chocolate character, making it decadent and sippable, at once. A lack of Lactose Pandas in our fridges makes us sad pandas."

Town Hall Pollen Party

Town Hall Pollen Party. 7.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, amber-ish hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Big on the sweetness, high on the honey. Not a whiff of hops. Meager malt. But interesting.

In the mouth: Spicy, sweet, herbal notes aplenty. Smooth malt mouthfeel. A tangy kick keeps coming back on the palate, tickling the tongue. Hops are popping. Tasty. Sweet, strong, snappy.

Nice one. I wouldn't go back to it often, but I can appreciate it.

Brewed with Vienna malt and wheat, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Fuggle hops, dandelion honey from Bar Bell Bee Ranch located in northern MN, and a blend of garden herbs.

BlackStack Inc. Stout

BlackStack Inc. Stout. 6.5% ABV. IBU: Low. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Solid blackness, utterly opaque, slim brown head.

In the nose: rich malt, roast, cocoa, some sweetness. Very nice.

In the mouth: More of the same. Bittersweet, roasted, slightly toasted, medium-bodied, and fairly easy-drinking.

I like this one. Good stout and you can drink it.

Rich and roasty aromas of bakers chocolate giveway to a soft and rounded mouthfeel and flavors of medium roast coffee and burnt caramel. A firm but restrained bitterness layers with the roast for additional depth of flavor. Wonderfully balanced with all of the flavors perfectly... Incorporated.

Surly Zest Crazed Pale Ale with Grapefruit and Lemon added

Surly Zest Crazed Pale Ale with Grapefruit and Lemon added. 5.5% Alc. by Vol. Surly Brewing, Brooklyn Center (& Minneapolis), MN.

Slightly hazy, bright golden hued, slim white head, leaving lace. Quite nice.

In the nose: Citrus explosion. Zest is king here, hops are second fiddle. Fruity as you get. (Within reason, naturally.)

In the mouth: Boom! Zest and hops hit together! Oof! Pow! Blam! Blaze of bitterness blasts the palate, with the juicy fruit keeping time behind. Bright, fresh and lovely. Light-ish bodied, easy-drinking. You can toss back one after another.

Go ahead and drink it.

Our brewers couldn't say no. Once they got a taste of the peel, they were hooked. They were....Zest Crazed Maniacs! The bright aromatics, paired with juicy grapefruit and lemon zest, dominate our citrus-heavy take on the American pale ale. 

BREWED FOR: THE TYPE OF FLAVOR YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT.

Bright hop aromatics and grapefruit and lemon zest combine in our citrus-heavy take on the American pale ale.

AMERICAN PALE ALE WITH ADDED CITRUS
COLOR
Dark Yellow

HOPS
Warrior
Citra
MALT
2-Row
Acidulated
Honey Malt
Simpson's Golden Naked Oats
OG
13.6º Plato
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Low
ABV
5.5%

SURLY MN USA

Bent Paddle Infusion Series Tea Break Blonde Belgian-style Blonde Ale

Bent Paddle Infusion Series Tea Break Blonde Belgian-style Blonde Ale. Infused with Green Tea and Lemon. Bent Paddle Brewing Company, Duluth, MN. 6% Alc./Vol.

Slightly hazy, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Light, herbal, slightly spicy/citric. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Fruity at first, sweet, herbal, floral, pleasant. Just flat-out delightful. Low, even negligible bitterness. Sweet malt Quite tasty, and terrifically drinkable.

I used to be a skeptic of tea-infused beers. Not for long, though, and not for this one, for sure.

City Lights Coconut Porter

City Lights Coconut Porter. Brewed in Milwaukee, USA. 5.3% ABV. 35 IBU.

Solid blackness, under a thin, dark brown head. Looking great.

In the nose: soft, sweet, rich. Full of coconut flavor. Lightly roast-y. Quite nice.

In the mouth: I hate to keep repeating words, but it's all there. Sweet, rich, full. Roast. Chocolate. Coconut. Smooth. Medium body. Light cocoa finish. Vanilla. Toasty. Delicious.

This is quite good. I'm really not that into coconut beers, so I'm happy that this is a one-and-done, but it's good one, so take my advice and go try it out.

Bright, pleasing malt character is cradled in a soft, cushiony, smooth mouthfeel that glides easily down the throat at each swallow. Lip-smacking hints of coffee and chocolate readily move across the tongue, as the dark body gives up its aromatic coconut roastedness. The addition of Madagascar Vanilla comes through in the finish to round out the sweetness of this delicious beer. 

Dual Citizen NOT Grand Russian Imperial Stout

On the 3rd of May, I went on a little bike tour with my friend Ed to see some breweries in St. Paul. The first stop was new to me, Dual Citizen, open for about 5 months. I had two beers, an IPA and a Belgian golden strong, and I liked them both, but I wasn't taking notes. I thought I would try out their imperial stout at home, and took home a crowler of that. Waited a solid month to open it, and what happened next is something completely unprecedented.

Dual Citizen Grand Russian Imperial Stout. 8% ABV. Date: 4/27. Dual Citizen Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Huh. I poured this out into the glass and I'm thinking....this is not the color of an Imperial Stout. But that's what it says, that's what they told me it was, I'll go forward thinking that that's what this is.

So, it's a clear, crimson color. Off-white, lace-leaving head. Definitely does not look like an imperial stout. And I tasted it before I bought it. A month ago. Does the label not say "Grand" and "8.1% ABV" ? It does.

In the nose: Bright, fruity, beautiful. Stone fruit, apple, berry. Moderate bitterness.

In the mouth: Fresh and fruity. Low hop bitterness. Big malt backbone. Tasty and drinkable. And an utter mystery. Definitely mislabeled. But what am I drinking? Is it the red ale? The pale? Not one of their several IPAs. Not the Belgian IPA. Or is it? I'm getting a lot of fruity funk.

As you can tell, I'm disappointed. If I knew that I didn't have their RIS in my possession from a month ago, I would have bought one yesterday. (I went back on another St. Paul jaunt, this time with Jason, and it was his first time.) And what if I open up the crowler I did buy then (the University IPA), and find out it's the same as this one? (Probably not. Not hoppy enough....maybe.)

Again, a first for me. I've bought a growler of a crowler that was completely mislabeled. I paid for an imperial stout, and I did not get it. I sincerely hope this never happens again.

Inbound Laser Loon Kolsch

Inbound BrewCo. Laser Loon Kolsch. Brewed and canned in the North Loop.  Inbound BrewCo., Minneapolis, MN. 4.3% ABV, 22 IBU.

Warning: I may say the following again. I've had a crowler of an Inbound Kolsch before. But this is the first time I've had one from a 12 ounce can with the name of Laser Loon. Is it the same? Is it different? Both? Neither? Let's find out.

Clear, pale golden color, slim, but staying ivory head. Looking good.

In the nose: Light. Faint. Slightly fruity. A touch floral. Nice.

In the mouth: Slightly hoppy. Just a touch fruity. Requisite delicate apple and pear notes. Light bodied, and exquisitely easy drinking. Dainty and delicious. Mmm. This is all kinds of nice. You can drink it, and drink it, and drink it without worrying about nothing. Delightful.

Glancing at the earlier review, hmmm, ...yeah. Pretty much.

German style, refreshing lightness. Bright honey and grain malt notes. Crisp hop balance from subtle lemon-herbal and floral aromas.

Town Hall Tangerine Reflections

Town Hall Tangerine Reflections. 5.5% ABV. American Pale Ale. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: bright, citrus-y, sweet, lightly bitter. Soft, not too harsh, never too bitter.

In the mouth: Big citrus, big bitter. Full-on fruity, tons of beautiful hop bitterness. Sweetness, slickness, easy-drinking, smooth mouthfeel, tasty.

American Pale Ale with tangerine and citrus hop flavors

Ale Asylum Goddambergeddon

Ale Asylum Goddambergeddon. Imperial version of Ambergeddon. 8.2% Alc./Vol. Ale Asylum Brewing, Madison, WI.

ALE ASYLUM is unfiltered and all natural. We use no additives, preservatives, fruit, horse hooves, fish guts, or extracts. Our ingredient list: water, malt, hops, and yeast. This is what we mean when we say our beer is FERMENTED IN SANITY. You know who makes it, you know what it’s made with.

Largely clear, deep burgundy hue, solid head of creamy/white foam on top. Looking nice.

In the nose: Much malt, much hops, big in every way. Tons of citrus meets a load of caramel & toffee, with a pinch of bread crust, too. Much richness, as well. Bold, son.

In the mouth: Boom, bam. Chocolate, caramel, toffee, underneath a big blast of citrus-y hops. Big buzz of booze to meet the extra hoppy/malty kick. It's a burly one, a brawler, a big-boned bastard. Brash, unabashed and fuzzy. And I can dig it.

A bigger, angrier version of the big and bold Ambergeddon Amber ale that is both complex and supremely drinkable. Goddambergeddon will be available February through April 2018, both packaged and on tap throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.