Wild Mind Rider NE IPA

Wild Mind Rider NE IPA.
6 % ABV, 20 IBU.
Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Hazy, bright golden, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Big, bold fruit flavors, stone and citrus and otherwise. Plump and scrumptious.

In the mouth: Mmmm, yeah. Peach, apricot, grapefruit on the downlow. Bright and beautiful bitterness blasts the palate.Medium/lightish body, easy drinker, IPA lover's treat. Very vibrant fruity character bounces on the the palate, delights the senses. Tasty stuff.

Rider was brewed with Vic Secret, Equinox, and Simcoe to create an IPA bursting with bright citrus notes with a dank, bitter finish.

Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter
6 % ABV. 33 IBU. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, Indiana

More Three Floyds beers are being released into our market, including some I've never had before. But, because I can't take all the beers home on the bus with me, I had to pick one and that one was this one that I first had 15 years ago. Acquired a bomber in a trade with an Indianian (?), and reviewed on BeerAdvocate.com in November, 2004. Here are those notes, warts and all:

deep brown color, with crimson highlights peeking through, blessed with a thick, prodigious cocoa-tan head...

Aroma: mmm, roasty-toasty, cinnamon, ginger, toffee, coffee, and cream...oh, yummy, oh, very good...nice as it gets...

Taste: Very smooth, yet terribly dark and full in the body, full in the flavor, ...a spicy, tastiness rings through the edges and uplifts and illuminates every aspect of the experience...nutmeg and clove...

Body never flags, stays full, and continually delivers flavor...finish isn't as strong as I'd like, but hangs on well enough...

overall, an excellent winter warmer/spiced ale, not a surprise from this outstanding brewery...wish it were easier to find though...

In 2019, would I change these notes? Less ellipses, more capitalization, better grammar and punctuation. About the beer, no. I wouldn't pull back on the enthusiasm. Maybe throw in a "yum, a dum, dum." And I'm so glad it is easier to find, now days.

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. 11.3 % ABV, 40 IBU.
Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI.

This has been an elusive one for me. For many years, it was only released as a bomber, limited editions, selling out immediately. I never saw one for sale. Now, I walk into a store and there's a 4-pack on the shelf. $22 for 4, so it had better be worth it. Right?

According to Untappd, I've had it twice before, a few years ago, when Bryant-Lake Bowl had it on tap. I don't order enough Founders kegs to qualify to receive a specialty like this one, and these days?

Anyway, let's drink the beer:

Rich ebony coloring, fully impenetrable, under a slim brown head. Looking great, in every way.

In the nose: Molasses, licorice leather. Smoke. Dark rum. Treacle. Dark chocolate, espresso, caramel and coffee. And maple syrup, of course. Damnably decadent. Utterly lovable. Oh, my. Ridiculously delightful.

In the mouth: Sweet, dense, delectable, powerful. Thick and delicious. All kinds of depth and decadence. Big 'n' bourbon-y. Tickles the tongue, pleases the palate. Indulgent all the way. Dark fruit, vanilla, cherries, chocolate, oak, sweetness and dryness together at once.

Canadian Breakfast Stout is an Imperial Stout brewed with a blend of coffees and imported chocolates, then aged in spent bourbon barrels that have most recently been aging pure Michigan maple syrup. 

CBS was born when we stumbled upon some bourbon barrels that had previously housed maple syrup. We opted to put the same base beer as KBS, an imperialized version of Breakfast Stout, in the maple barrels and, after one taste, we knew we had something special. Rich maple syrup, roasted coffee and velvety chocolate meld together in what can only be described as a transcendental drinking experience.

Venn Lunarising. Stout with Coffee, Chocolate & Vanilla.

Venn Lunarising. Stout with Coffee, Chocolate & Vanilla.
6.6 % ABV, 20 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.


Fullest blackness. Utter richness. Slim brown head.

In the nose: Boom, cocoa! Boom, coffee. And, ah, vanilla. Earthy, lush, sweet, divine. Wow. Quite nice.

In the mouth: It's all there, again. Delicious. In fact, even yum a dum, dum. Much malt, moderate bitterness, plenty of coffee, cocoa, and vanilla, altogether tasty. I enjoyed this one all the way through.

Coffee, chocolate, vanilla. Venn's take on a Breakfast Stout.

Malts: Maris Otter, Munich, Roasted Barley, Caramel 80, Chocolate

Hops: Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla, Lactose 

Huh. If this is Venn's take on a "breakfast stout", then is this just a new name for their Breakfast Stout?

Lupulin S & M IPA

Lupulin S & M IPA.
7.5 % ABV, 60 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Hazy, bright golden, slim white, lace-leaving head.

In the nose: Big citrus. huge fruit. Grapefruit, tangerine, orange peel, lemon and lime. Blueberries. Delightful.

In the mouth: Beautiful, bountiful hop attack upon the palate, flush with fruity sensations. Light/medium bodied. Ease of drinking is high. Popping with hoppy delights. Nice buzz, good bitterness, exceptional smooth.

Simcoe and Mosaic? Those are the best hops! You can't go wrong with those two.

A bit fuzzy, heavy on the yeast...they can't quit the haze, bros...I'll forgive them for that. I'm still tired of it, but I am enjoying this.

IPA brewed with Simcoe & Mosaic Hops

Castle Danger Choice Pils

Castle Danger Choice Pils. 5.6 % ABV. Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, MN.

Clear, bold, bright yellow coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: lightly fruity, hoppy. Slightly floral. A tad grainy.

In the mouth: Light-bodied, easy -drinking. Starts off a touch fruity, then turns dry. Nicely hopped. Clean. Crisp-ish. Likable. Nice pils.

Choice Pils is brewed in the tradition of classic German pilsners with our own dangerous twists. We use fine German malts and pure Lake Superior water for a great start, and finish with Saaz and Cascade hops for a floral, citrusy, and spicy zing. We chose to blend a classic European style with American craft brewing ingenuity. Here’s to making good choices.

Schell's Snowstorm 2019/2020: Red Ale

Schell's Snowstorm 2019/2010: Red Ale. 6.5 % ABV.
August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.

Clear, bright crimson color, slim white head.

In the nose: Some sweetness at the start, lightly fruity, mostly malty.

In the mouth: Grabs the palate with a brisk bit of bitterness, lingering on the tongue. Bright fruitiness, crisp and clean, meaty malty flavors. Medium bodied. Excellent ease of drinking. Moderate hopping, medium bitterness, just enough to keep me happy (hoppy). Long lasting flavors in this highly likable ale.

A reddish amber ale for the seasoned winter veteran who can withstand even the coldest of days. Delicious malt flavors and a crisp, hoppy finish will leave you asking one question, were you prepared for the storm?

Drastic Measures Morning Dream New England IPA

Drastic Measures Morning Dream New England IPA.
7.1 % ABV. 66 IBU. Drastic Measures Brewing.

Absolutely hazed, bright golden, nearly peach-toned, with a lasting layer of ivory head above.

In the nose: Bitter orange peel and grapefruit. Pineapple and lime. A delight.

In the mouth: We're getting the haze, as well as the bitter. Nice and hoppy. Sweetness occasionally parlays with the bitter hop experience. A little dusty in the throat, a little chalky, but that is this style. I remain not the world's biggest fan of it, and will continue to cry out for the old school style of IPA, but this is a tasty one, for sure.

Collab with candian buddies Jeff and Russell!
Mosaic/Vic Secret

Firestone Walker Sucaba Vintage 2019 Barley Wine Ale

Firestone Walker Sucuba Vintage 2019 Barley Wine Ale.
11.3 % ABV. Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA.

Dark mahogany-hued, slim white-ish head.

In the nose: Big, boozy barleywine aromas, popping out the wazoo. All the earmarks of a classic big ol' barley-wine. Ablaze with all the the raisin and fig, the woody character, the deep malty, chocolatey, tobacco and leather notes.

In the mouth: here's where it's all delivered, right on the palate. More big, more booze, massive malt, plenty of bourbon, vanilla, cherry, and all the deep, devilish dark fruits aplenty. Yum a dum, dum. I could have sat on this another five years, but I just had to try it now.

One of the best barleywines I've tasted in a good long while. Mmm, hmmm.

As always, this latest vintage delivers big, boozy bourbon and American oak aromas combine with soft chocolate malt undertones. Complex malt flavors are framed in oak with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, toasted coconut and a touch of dark cherry. Sucaba is a one-of-a-kind sipping experience. It is a beer built to last, and one that will reward careful cellaring for years to come. We highly recommend counting the years with an abacus.

Sisyphus Brandy Barrel-aged Weeliam Wallace Wee Heavy

Sisyphus Brandy Barrel-aged Weeliam Wallace Wee Heavy.
9 % ABV. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Rich, mahogany-hued, slim head.

In the nose: the brandy and the booze comes spilling out. Barrel business covers over everything else.

In the mouth: Bigness upon bigness. Sweetness, thick maltiness, flavors upon flavors. Big bad brandy barrel smothers all, covering an otherwise big beer. Caramel and toffee all over the place. Altogether delicious. Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Needless to say, I'm liking this immensely.

Venn Grisette

Venn Grisette. Batch 215.
5 % ABV. 25 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

It's time to try my second "grisette" ever, proving again that Venn is trying to brew every single style in the world.

Crystal clear, bright golden hue, large, white, but disappearing head.

In the nose: Funky. wild. spicy. Some strange yeast probably at work here. Sweetness, some wheat malt. A touch floral.

In the mouth: Lightness and smooth. Slightly spicy, moderate hops. Lightly fruity, citrusy, lemony. And if I knew what spelt was all about, I'd mention it here, but I haven't got a handle on the whats, whys, and wherefores of spelt. Starts out sweet and fruity, ends on the dry side. Expertly refreshing.

Good grisette and you can drink it.

Complex, crisp, dry.
A fruity & spicy Belgian table beer brewed with spelt, oat, wheat, and pilsner malts.

Malts: Spelt, Oats, Wheat, Pilsner.
Hops: Cascade.
Yeast: French Saison.
Other: Dextrose.

Inbound Cinna-Man Buns Imperial Brown Ale

Inbound Cinna-Man Buns Imperial Brown Ale.
9 % ABV. 25 IBU.
Inbound BrewCo., Minneapolis, MN.

Some puns simply should not be made. This beer name is one of them.

Deep, dark brown, slim cocoa-tinged head.

In the nose: Cinnamon strikes first, quickly joined by other spices, ...cardamom, coriander...clove? It's  a mix, with rich malt base below. Caramel and toffee and a touch of coffee.

In the mouth: Slightly hot and quite spicy. Cinnamon leans on strong, holding it down heavy on top of this imperial brown ale. Starts a little sweet, and turns quickly dry. High alcohol starts ringing in high. Boom, boom, boom, boom. And I'm digging it. Not too shabby.

May have to come back for more of this.

Double brown ale with cinnamon, caramelized wort reduction, and toasted pecans. As sweet and warming as fresh cinnamon rolls...or a man bun. You pick. Brewed in collaboration with Invictus Brewing Co.

Madhouse Blue Dream Blueberry Sour Ale

Madhouse Blue Dream Blueberry Sour Ale. 6.7 % ABV.
Madhouse Brewing Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

One of the last of the bottles brought back from Des Moines a few months back, from this now-defunct brewery. 7 % ABV.

Thoroughly hazed, deep crimson, no head.

In the nose: Big time sour from the start. Intense, fruity, lovely and promising.

In the mouth: Blast of sour and fruit kicks it off, big pucker on the palate. Big, bold fruit, and exceptionally refreshing. Juicy stuff, very blueberry.

Good sour blueberry ale and you can drink it. Glad I got to, twice. (Once at the brewery, as part of a flight.)

Mikkeller Did you Mist ME? Collaboration with Fair State

Mikkeller Did you Mist ME? Collaboration with Fair State. Smoked lager brewed with hot rocks.
5.5 % ABV. Mikkeller SD, San Diego, CA.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweetness. Malt. Rye? Smoke. Hmmm. Highly likable.

In the mouth: Slightly sweet, mostly malty, lightly spicy. Light bodied, and tasty. Nothing beating that, it's flat-out enjoyable. Nice and delicately smoked.

Smoked Lager brewed with Hot Rocks. Collab with Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA.
7 % ABV. 57 IBU.
Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, large and lasting ivory head of froth.

In the nose: Bursting with citrus notes, and traces of the tropical. Prickly pine pokes in. Delightful.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness on the palate, loads of hoppy flavors. Tons of citrus and pine. Medium bodied, easy drinking, flat-out tasty. Just enough juicy. Sparked with citrus, charged with delicious. I'm enjoying this one all the way.

Getting all aggro can sometimes be a negative. Getting aggro with your hops however? Awesome. (Try singing that aloud in your best Stone Aggro heavy metal falsetto). Equally awesome: getting aggro with hop agronomy. It's often a tradition passed down through generations, as is the case with Perrault Farms in Toppenish, Washington. Since 1928, the Perrault family and friends have honed their craft to breed new hop varieties with ever more awesome (sing it again) flavors and aromas. This beer features the powerhouse hop Citra as well as two new varieties - Sabro and the as-of-yet unnamed HBC 692. These new beauties balance classic citrus notes with intriguing hints of coconut, herbs and stone fruit. We've gotten aggro many times with our beers since 1996. So a tip of the hat to aggro agronomists like the Perrault family who give us the tools to aggressively propel our craft forward.

Town Hall Brown's Double ESB

Town Hall Brown's Double ESB.
6.2 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.
Canned on 11/4/19. (The day I bought it.)

Clear, caramel-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: Malty, sweet, more caramel tones, this time in flavor rather than color. So far, so delightful.

In the mouth: Clean, well-balanced, crisp and delectable. Lots of malty flavors here, all kept in check. A bit bigger than the average ESB, surely, but doesn't go overboard. I wouldn't really call it double, more like one and a half, but it definitely is tasty, and I'm enjoying every sip.

Surreal Brewing 17 Mile Porter (N/A)

Surreal Brewing 17 Mile Porter.
o.35 % ABV. Crafted and distributed by Surreal Brewing, Campbell, CA.

A while back, I received four samples from this non-alcoholic brewery. They were terrible. Two more to go. Because I have to. This is my promise, this is my quest.

And, who know, maybe this is the one that doesn't suck?

Dark brown, caramel-y colored, tight cocoa-tinted ring of foam above.

In the nose: dusted baker's chocolate...malty...eh...

In the mouth: here we go...and, thud. Just nothing. Joyless. Merest flavor. But, yet, not terrible. Not yet. I could drink this if I were forced to....and yet, I am not, so down the drain it goes. I can't waste time and bladder space on "beers" I just don't enjoy. And, still, I can't really recommend it. Although, why not? It's not awful, but it doesn't supply the pleasures a good porter should. Maybe this is as good as an N/A porter can be? Who can say, I've never had another.

Here are some words from the brewery about it:

17 Mile Porter is complex and delicious. Notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee are well balanced by earthy hops. It delights the senses with it's deep aroma and pours black with a tan head. 

Pairings: It pairs well with hearty stews, grilled meats, and desserts. Perfect for outdoor adventure during Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer;) 

The artwork on our 17 Mile Porter features the famous Lone Cypress tree which can be found along the California Pacific Coast Highway near Monterey. 

It goes especially well anytime you need a refreshing adult beverage without strings attached.

Surly Yummi Bear West Coast IPA

Surly Yummi Bear West Coast IPA.
6.9 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN.

So, it's like a Gummi Bear, but Yummy? I guess? Let's find out...

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Powerfully pungent. Intense citrus and pine aromatics. This is exactly what I want in an IPA aroma. Just about perfect.

In the mouth: Slight sweetness meets bracing bitterness. Medium bodied, smooth, easy-going. Loads of citrus and pine on the palate. Judicioius juiciness, ultimately dry and delightful.

Thanks, Surly, not not merely trotting out another NE Hazy IPA over and over again, like some breweries I could name. Thanks, for making IPA bitter again.

This west coast-inspired IPA is dry, bold, and hop-heavy–but with a twist. Yummi Bear swaps out the dank, resinous SoCal vibe for a bright, citrusy hop flavor and a hint of tropical fruit character. In other words, it’s Yummi.

Dogfish Head American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA

Dogfish Head American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA.
7% ABV. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE.

Another Grateful Dead beer. This one is no longer a granola pale ale, but ties in with the only beer anyone wants anymore, the hazy IPA. Even Deadheads are into them, now. So, let's drink one.

Hazy (naturally), bright golden tone, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrusy hop notes hit first, fresh and lively. Tangerine and orange, with a splash of lemon. Just lovely.

In the mouth: Juicy, juicy stuff. Splash of fruity hop flavors on the palate, ending on a dry note. Medium bodied, refreshing and delightfully drinkable.

It's a good hazy ripple IPA, and you can drink it. Here's some more about it:

It’s been a long strange trip, and we’re not about to stop now. After six years and four releases of American Beauty, we’re back with an encore … only this time you haven’t heard the melody.

Together with the Grateful Dead, we’re proud to introduce our latest collaborative iteration – American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA.

Inspired by the Grateful Dead’s beloved “American Beauty” album, American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA is an unfiltered India Pale Ale brewed with spelt – an ancient heirloom grain that contributes earthy notes and a natural haze – that’s then dosed with a special yeast variety to accentuate hop aromatics.

The result is a psychedelic 7.0% ABV ale that’s bursting with notes of tropical fruit and juicy citrus, while the style callout lovingly references the fan-favorite track “Ripple.”

Excelsior Rip Rap Peanut Butter Cup Stout

Excelsior Rip Rap Peanut Butter Cup Stout.
5.6 % ABV, 18 IBU. Excelsior Brewing, Excelsior, MN.

Thoroughly black, slim brown head on top. Looking good.

In the nose: Peanut butter is big here. Boom! It's a bomb. Quite nice. Rich malt below. Sweetness and lovely.

In the mouth: Mmm. Tasty stuff. Peanut butter flavor stays on top, stout body keeps it afloat. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Peanut butter isn't too anything in this, nicely balanced. Just enough flavor, never too much. Good drinkin' stout. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Riprap Peanut Butter Cup Stout is made with enough peanut butter cups to protect any shoreline. Each batch begins with our traditional stout recipe, then infused with milk chocolate peanut butter cups. The result is a familiar aroma and a touch of sweetness on the front end, finishing with the smoothness of a perfectly roasted stout

Oliphant Flex Morehard Bock Lager

Oliphant Flex Morehard Bock Lager.
6 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Dark brown color, large cocoa-tinged head.

In the nose: Malt dominates the aromatics, rich and chocolatey. Caramel abounds.

In the mouth: Once more, malt is in charge, flooding the palate with dark deliciousness. Minor hops. Medium bodied. Easy drinking. Waves upon waves of chocolatey malt goodness crashing the senses. I like a good bock beer, and this is one.

flex is a muscly lady. how does she get so strong? she simply flexes with all her might, and bam! stronger. another flex, bam! more strong! it keeps going.

bock lager. 6% abv

Sisyphus Straight out of Chester (CT)

Sisyphus Straight out of Chester (CT) New England IPA.
6.8 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Hazy, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Citric, slightly tropical, a touch of pine. Nice. Lovingly pleasant.

In the mouth: Sweetness, hoppiness, and utterly smooth and beautiful. A delightful ale. My favorite kind. touch of sweet, pinch of hops, drizzle of bitter. Altogether smooth, light bodied, delicious.

Good IPA and you can drink it.

Our Head Brewer took a trip out to Connecticut to visit an old friend/regular that started Little House Brewing in the town of Chester. This beer is straight out of Chester, as they shared their yeast blend and Hazy IPA Secrets with us to create this Connecticut IPA.

Venn Double Pilsner

Venn Double Pilsner.
9.2 % ABV. 55 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

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

In the nose: Slightly sweet, mostly malty, a little grainy. Clean. Little bit of hops.

In the mouth: Jumps on the palate crisp, clean, light, and looming. Greater potency awaits, I'm sure. Flies off the palate with ease. Light bodied. Easy drinking, but for the booze a'coming. Just a touch of bitterness on the palate, followed swiftly by grainy malt.

Halfway in, the boozy bits are flaring up. I liked it, I could drink it. "nuff said.

Lemon pepper, crisp, clean. A scaled-up version of Venn's house Pilsner.

Malts: Pilsner

Hops: Tettnanger (Germany); Loral (United States)

Yeast: American Lager

And: Dextrose

Indeed Taiga IPA

Indeed Taiga IPA with fresh hops.
7 % ABV. 60 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, dark amber/ nearly crimson-colored, ample ivory froth atop.

In the nose: fresh, vibrant, dank. Most dank. Scattered seeds on the forest floor. Citrus and pine, backed with malty aromatics. Caramel malt, behind the pine.

In the mouth: Big splash of bitterness at the start, lush, spicy malt mingles in. Medium bodied, easy drinking. touch of sweet, slice of fruit, all malt on the way out. Citrus and pine all the way, simply delicious.

There's not a lot of extra information on this one, not on the can label, or anywhere on their website. No matter. It's a good IPA and you can drink it.

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber.
4.5 % ABV. 11 IBU. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO.

Clear, brilliant golden hue, large ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Cucumber kicks it off, sweet from the start, followed quickly by tart, nothing but cool.

In the mouth: Sour hits first, lots of pucker, then comes the sweet from the cuke. Light-bodied, easy drinking, refreshing. Like the label says: Cool, crisp, fresh. Even if the can has been in my fridge for a while. This is probably past it's season, reviewing it late because I'm lazy. Even so, it's thoroughly diggable. Utterly delightful. Go drink it.

Aromas of freshly picked cucumbers and a subtle, grassy sweetness cool everything down in this slightly tart, pale golden ale. Lively carbonation leads to a crisp, dry finish that inspires primo relaxation.

Modist Bite Size Chocolate & Vanilla Stout

Modist Bite Size Chocolate & Vanilla Stout. 6.7 % ABV.
Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly black, impenetrable, creamy tan head on top. Looking good.

In the nose: Cocoa hits first, nice and chocolatey. Bittersweet, dry, decadent. Enticing.

In the mouth: Both dusty and lusty. Tasty chocolate notes, massive malt, hints of vanilla, medium to full bodied, nicely textured. This one has it all, while never having it too much. Rich and delicious.

I'm glad that this one is referred to on the label as a chocolate stout, but saddened that it's called a "pastry stout" on the side. This stupid, stupid name has to die. Oh, how it must die. That, along with "pastry ale" and "pastry lager"....beers aren't pastries, people! Duh! How do people get hooked on utterly idiotic designations like "pastry stout"? How does an entire industry (almost)?
And how do we kill it?

I also like that they kept it simple, didn't throw in graham crackers, lactose, cinnamon, chili peppers, and Butterfingers candy bars. And that it's under 7 % ABV. And that it's tasty and smooth. Go drink some.

A Pastry Stout you don't have to share! Brewed w/ pale, wheat, crystal, roasted chocolate malts, Ghana cacao nibs & Madagascar vanilla beans.

Town Hall Juice Clarity IPA

Town Hall Juice Clarity IPA.
7.2 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

IPAs, IPAs, IPAs! Is that all you drink, Al? Seems like that's all you ever write about, am I right? Hoppy, hoppy, bitter, blah, blah, blah.

That's what they're saying, right? That's what someone's saying, anyway. But it's not true. I drink plenty of different styles of beers. IPA is where I naturally go, though. They're my "reach-for." (Think that'll catch on, and take over from "go-to"? I don't either, but I'm going to try.)

So, I'm going to drink this new IPA from Town Hall, but not before pointing out something else new from Town Hall: crowlers. At last, at long last! They started selling them last week, so I had to pop in tonight and get some. Finally, I don't have to plan ahead and carry my glass growlers with me if I'd like to bring a beer home. Well, I always could, but that would mean more in the collection back at home. And now that they're doing cans instead of mini-growlers, I have four that I don't need anymore. Thanks a lot, Town Hall! Grrr!

On to the beer:

Perfectly clear, bright golden color, lasting, creamy white head on top.

In the nose: Popping with pine and citrus. Fresh, leafy, green. Just lovely.

In the mouth: Sweet for a second, swiftly balanced by bitter. Juicy indeed. Citrus and pine aplenty. Lightish bodied, lower malt content. Low bitterness. Super smooth.
Pleasant and drinkable to a high degree. Yum. Nay, yum-a-dum, dum.
And the juicy never stops.
This can will be done in no time flat.

 The IPA the haze bros would craze fo' if they'd just open their damned eyes.

Clear IPA with all the juicy hop and haze craze flavors packed in.

Barrel Theory Not On My Worst Day West Coast IPA

Barrel Theory Not On My Worst Day West Coast IPA.
7.5 % ABV. ? IBU. Barrel Theory Beer Company, St. Paul, MN.

Barrel Theory Beer Company of St. Paul opened up in the summer of 2017 and their beers have appeared here in the Nib a total of nine times prior to this post, all of those occasions being reviews from growlers that I've taken home from visits to the taproom. I've been there maybe six times, most of them in company of my good friend Ed. This is the first beer I'll review from them that I did not transport back from St. Paul, and that's because Ed brought it to me in Minneapolis. That's what a good friend Ed is.

There's an important reason that Ed bought a crowler and crossed the river to give it to me. This beer seems to be the first non-hazy IPA ever produced by BT. I'm taking Ed's word for it, for he goes there much more than I. (None of their IPAs reviewed here in the Nib have any clarity.) And both Ed and I are very bored of the ubiquitous hazy IPA. Come on, already, people! Get off the haze train!

Well, they did, and Ed liked it so much, that he made sure that I could review it here, before it goes away. And notes begin....now.

Crystal clear, light amber/bronze coloration, sim white head on top.

In the nose: Citrus and pine, grapefruit, lime, tangerine, lemon rind. Classic West Coast IPA aroma. If a bit subdued.

In the mouth: Big blast of hop bitterness and juicy citrus fruit flavors right from the start. Bitterness lays long on the palate, but slide off in time. Medium bodied, lush malt, easy drinker. Pops with all the classic citrus and pine flavors, with just a little bit of extra juiciness. This one is giving me all the hop flavors I demand, without this cushion that seems to be demanded these days. An old school IPA. The kind that old school beer fans that Ed and I love.

I'm feeling good now. It's making me think of all my favorite IPAs. This doesn't happen with the haze craze for daze IPAze. This one is not only yum, it is yum-a-dum-dum.

This is pretty much absolutely perfect. Make more, BT, make more. Evade the haze! Phooey on the fuzzy!

West Coast IPA with Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo, & Cascade hops