Odell Pulp Theory Hazy IPA

Odell Pulp Theory Hazy IPA.
7.5 % ABV, 45 IBU.
Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Why did I buy this? A. I trust Odell and can depend on liking anything they put out. B. It was a 6-pack for $10.99. C. I'm betting that it is a good beer that I can drink, and we need those more now than ever.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: bold citrus, orange and grapefruit, fruity and fuzzy.

In the mouth: From the jump, bitter and juicy, together again. Flashes of fruity and juicy, quickly turning out dry on the palate. Light-bodied, crisp, refreshing.  It's a good ol' IPA and you can drink it. But it's got that haze for those who are into the craze.

The mind of a brewer is a complex space, blending the worlds of art and science. Pulp Theory is our mad journey into both with a hyper-hopped hazy IPA crafted to accentuate bold hop flavors of ripe orange, pineapple juice, and fruit punch. Join us at the collision of imagination and possibility.

Venn Cosmosis: Pomeguava

Venn Cosmosis: Pomeguava.
An imperial kettle sour infused with Pink Guava and Pomegranate.

9% ABV, Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Cloudy. Light golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Tart from the start. Mega-fruity. Tropical to a T.

In the mouth: Intensely sour, sufficiently fruity. Juicy. Bursting with the tropical combo. Biff, boom, bam comes the double blow of the sour and the fruit heading into the booze.
We don't see fruity sours this strong,
now, do we? Whoa...

I'm really digging this one. Really digging....Taste-y.....yum, I say, a dum dum.

Sour, actual Pink Guava, and Pomegranate.
Malts: Domestic Pale, White Wheat, Unmalted White Wheat.
Hops: None.
Yeast: Lactobacillus, Champagne.
Other: Pink Guava, Pomegranate, Dextrose.

Great Notion Juice Jr. IPA

Great Notion Juice Jr. IPA. 6 % ABV. NE IPA.
Great Notion Brewing, Portland, OR.
"With a passion for hops and the patience for sours."

Yet another new-to-me brewery, thanks, again, to Dave. I'm chomping at the bit to try it out.

All clouded-up, as per usual. Bright orangey coloration. Slim white head.

In the nose: Popping with citrus and tropical tones. Orange and guava lead the charge.

In the mouth: Bountiful hop explosion upon the palate. Fresh, lively, and dripping with the juicy. Hop bitterness is no slack, either. Smooth without losing the hoppy. Fruit flavors abound, orange and lemon, pineapple, mango, with a slice of pine on the side. Light bodied and easy-drinking.

Great stuff. I'd bet I'd like Juice, Sr., too. Some day, some day...

This sessionable IPA is brewed with an insane amount of Mosaic hops and lots of love. Juice Jr. is the little brother of JB DIPA.

Jester King Dry-hopped Oat Saison

Jester King Dry-hopped Oat Saison. 6.6 % ABV.
Jester King Brewery, Austin, TX.

At long last, my first Jester King beer.* Thank are in order, once more, to Dave.

Lightly hazy, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Belgian yeast tops the bill. Funky, fruity, floral.  Nice.

In the mouth: Delicious. Citrus, apricot, and a beautiful hoppiness all on board the palate.. Light-bodied, smooth, easy-drinking. Juicy/fruity, ...bubblegummy, even...and exceptionally refreshing.

I need more from this brewery, that's for sure.
* My first JK beer in the Nib, but the first I've ever tried. Had the Black Metal Farmhouse Imperial Stout at a tasting with friends two years ago.

This is the first beer we've fermented with a native yeast culture from Community Cultures Yeast Lab in San Antonio. We selected their Prickly Pear strain, which was harvested during the spring season in Lajitas, Texas near Big Bend National Park. The Prickly Pear strain is known for its bright, floral, citrus character and relatively high attenuation.

We decided to complement the native culture with a light, fluffy, medium-strength wort that features malted oats from our friends at TexMalt in Fort Worth. The malted oats were mixed with local two row malt from our longtime malt supplier Blacklands Malt in Leander, TX.

We dry-hopped this desert yeast oat saison fairly aggressively with Idaho 7, Citra, and El Dorado.

New Image Brewing Pure Isolate Hop Terpene India Pale Ale

New Image Brewing Pure Isolate Hop Terpene India Pale Ale.
9.5 % ABV, 35 IBU.
New Image Brewing, Arvada, CO.

Here's another that arrived as a gift from Dave, a first from this Colorado brewery.

Hazy as she goes. Bright orange coloring. Sizable ivory head atop.

In the nose: Grassy, citric fruity, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: Juicy and bitter at once when it lands on the palate. Tropical fruit, a hint of stone fruit, and the usual citrus. There's a bit of a tug of war between bitter and sweet. Sweet wins out in the end, with bitter just hanging below it. Medium bodied and easily-drinking. Yeast character threatens to dominate from time to time.

All in all, a tasty ale that fits the New England IPA profile with gusto. My first from this brewery. Hope to try more some day.

Although I am going to have to do a little bit of research on this. I have never heard of a "hop terpene" before. Apparently, they're only being talked about and used in Colorado, that I know of. Here's something I grabbed off of the internets: "Terpenes are naturally occurring hydrocarbon chains found in all organisms. These hydrocarbons are made up of building blocks of five carbon chains known as isoprenes (isoterpenes, C5H8). Terpenes are important in brewing for their role in hops, specifically, but not isolated to, their presence in hop essential oils. These comprise between 0.5% and 3% of the total hop weight. Terpenes in essential oils are broken down into three types of compounds—hydrocarbons (50%–80%), oxygenated hydrocarbons (20%–50%), and hydrocarbons that contain chemically bound sulfur (1%). The relative concentrations of these can be used to identify different hop varieties."

Okay, that's interesting.

Hop Terpene IPA dry hopped with Strata terpenes

Oliphant Festbier

Oliphant Festbier. Oktoberfest Lager.
5.5% ABV.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Lightly hazed, deep amber/bronze hue, slim white, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Sweet malt, caramel notes, minor hops, classic herbal aromatics.

In the mouth: Bright, crisp, a lush malty flavor. Very minor hop presence, no bitterness, a bit on the unbalanced side. Aside from that, it's tasting fine. A little under-attenuated, perhaps. Slightly sugary. Could be better. But, I still like it. I won't be going out and stocking the fridge til the drawers crack open, but consider it recommended.

festbier

i’m so excited, but i will hide it as i am a midwestern boy.

oktoberfest lager. 5.5% abv

Klockow Supply Line Hazy IPA

Klockow Supply Line Hazy IPA. 6.5 % ABV.
Klockow Brewing, Grand Rapids, MN.

All that cloudy, hazy stuff. Bright gold. Slim white head.

In the nose: Citrus hops, plus. pinch of pineapple.

In the mouth: Fresh and juicy, with a side order of bitter hops. Light bodied. Nice and drinkable. Long-lasting bitterness. Citrus, pine, and touches of tropical. Quite tasty. Top notch all the way.

I'm enjoying this, as I enjoyed the 3 cans before it. In fact,  I've like everything I've tried from these guys. Can't wait to see what else they have.

Made in the Northeast/New England style, this juicy IPA is made with huge whirlpool and dry hop additions of some of the juiciest hops available. The haze comes from copious amounts of flaked oats and wheat, as well as the type of yeast! 

Junkyard Juice King IPA

Junkyard Juice King IPA. 6. 6% ABV. American IPA.
Strata, Sabro, Mosaic. Filled on: 8/13. Purchased: 8/18.
Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

Clear? A clear Junkyard IPA? What The--?!? Also, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: citrus and pine, slightly tropical, also dank and sticky icky.

In the mouth: It is juicy. Lightly bitter, ultimately dry. Plain and simple hop juice. Lingering fruity/juicy flavors, lasts longer than bitterness upon the palate. Flavors of apricot, peach, mango, grapefruit, and orange. Light bodied. Super smooth. And deeee-licious. Nice one, guys.

Constructed on the the shoulders of legendary hops Strata, Sabro and Mosaic, this IPA is dripping with hypnotizing hop nectar. The nose lends clean aromas of pine and citrus zest, followed by soft & juicy flavors of grapefruit, blueberry, and mango. Finally, this mesmerizing IPA finishes balanced and bitter.

Because "juice" or "juicy" leads many beer geeks these days to tune their minds in only one way, I would like to do a thing that I do from time to time and gather some comments from the reviewers on Untappd. What do they have to say?

Connor B. says: "Not the color I was expecting, but still very tasty." He wanted a high pulp glass of O.J., I think.

Brandon B. says: "Not very juicy and definitely not the king of juice as far as IPAs go." So literal minded, B.B. And guess what, Budweiser is not the King of Beers.

Jeremy Z opines: "A bit flat tasting, and definitely needs a new name, too." Okay, Jeremy, aka, King Know IT All.

According to Clint S: "Light, easy drinking. Not sure about juice king?!? Not that juicy..." Clint knows how juicy juicy should be.

Evan H. delivers his own brand of wisdom: "Holy shit. So light, yet it reaches out of the BIG BOI can to slap me. Delightful"

Well, after that, I'm glad that no one commented that "it slaps!" Just the latest dumb catchphrase that's sweeping the youth of today. Better than "it fucks", but not by that much.

Woodland Empire Broke My Own (Mixtape IPA Series)

Woodland Empire Broke My Own
Mixtape IPA Series.
6.5 % ABV.
Woodland Empire Alecraft, Boise, ID.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Assertive citrusy hop aromatics. Touch of sweetness, whiff of the tropical.

In the mouth: Nice blast of bitterness on the palate turning juicy ending dry. Hops: Mosaic, Comet, Chinook, Idaho 7, Cashmere, El Dorado. Medium body, easy drinker, for the hopheads among us. Great balance. Classic IPA. Good to know they're still being brewed out there in Idaho. I'm going to enjoy this one all the way down.

Thanks to Dave for the sample!

Montgomery Tiger King Juicy Hazy Double IPA

Montgomery Tiger King Juicy Hazy Double IPA. Featured Hop Sabro.
8.6 % ABV. 16 IBU.
Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN.

Well, this is more like it.So many breweries these days leave the "hazy" off the label, as if you're just expecting every IPA and double IPA to come naturally hazy. You don't know what you're getting! "What, you actually care about whether your IPA is or is not "hazy/juicy" Sorry about that." No, they're probably not sorry.

On with the beer:

Absolutely hazed-up, with a dull orange color, and a thin ring of foam.

In the nose: Aburst with citrus and a touch of pine. Hop-tastic.

In the mouth: Powerful on the palate, forceful radiation of citrus hop flavors, brimming over with grapefruit, lemon and orange. Juicy, sure. And wonderfully bitter. That's the problem with the "juicy/hazy"'s, I don't know if I'll get enough bitter. And that 16 IBU...that can't be right. Bitterness flashes on the palate, then subsides. Fruity, bitter, dry, yum.

Medum bodied, with a long, bitter finish, ending dry. Citrus hop flavor never ends. Quite a tasty beer. Go out and get some.

Something tells me they wanted to call this Sabro-tooth Tiger, but then they found out Surly already had that name. Or, they just got caught up in all that Tiger King mania that was all the rage in the early part of quarantine. Glad to see it's been tamped down some, lately. Hey, maybe, just maybe, Carol Baskin didn't kill her husband, you ever think of that? How did that maniac (Joe Exotic) become popular, I wonder, and then remember that Donald Trump is president.

Broken Clock Forbidden Hugs NE IPA

Broken Clock Forbidden Hugs NE IPA.
6.6 % ABV. 45 IBU.
Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, MN.

Hazy as all get-out, bright golden hue, slim, but staying, ivory head.

In the nose: soft, shy, lightly fruity...

In the mouth: Little bit of bitterness at the start, citrus splashes on the palate. Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit. Light-bodied, lean, and tasty. Bitterness remains, soft, juicy, and supple keeps on keeping on. I like this one a lot, more than I can say for many NE IPAs.

A hazy, juicy IPA with the aroma of a hopped up IPA, but without the harsh bite. Loaded with local hops from Mighty Axe hops, the beer has aromas and flavors of citrus, melon, tropical fruit, and fruit pebbles.

Pryes Course Correct Citra Pale Ale

Pryes Course Correct Citra Pale Ale.
5.1 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

The final can from my sample pack. Three of the four beers were first-time tries, to the best of my knowledge. I like those odds.

Highly hazed, bright orange coloration, slim white head.

In the nose: Big citrus, grapefruit, lemon and lime.

In the mouth: Intense bitterness from the start. Lush,  juicy, and hoppy. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Quite refreshing. Simple, citrusy pleaser. I like it, go get you one.

Sometimes we veer askew of where we intend to go. A fresh, easy drinking Course Correct can point you back on track. Hit reset.

Octopi Galaxy India Pale Ale

Octopi Galaxy India Pale Ale.
5.5 % ABV. Octopi Brewing, Waunakee, WI.

This is my fourth can from the 4-pack, my first from the brewery. I couldn't figure out those first three, now it's time to struggle with it.

Fully hazed-up, orange/golden appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: Orange dreamsicle. Cream and fruit. Not what I was expecting. There's nothing on this label to alert us to the fact that we seem to be heading into a freaking milkshake IPA. There's nothing to indicate any kind of IPA. Sweetness and lactose, that's it.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness strafes the palate, with fruit and cream flavors just behind. What the hell? I look on the website and find this: Description: New England IPA brewed with Citra and Galaxy hops and just the right touch of vanilla

The thing is that I'm getting hardly any of the flavor of the hops and far too much of vanilla. Why put vanilla in an IPA? 

Times are tough for people like me who are just looking for an IPA. There's nothing about New England, Hazy, or vanilla anywhere on the label. Nothing to warn me that it would be this warped thing that hardly resembles the beer I want to drink. 

Go ahead, insert Grandpa Simpson meme here. 

It's not that bad. I can drink it. But it's a mean trick to play on a guy who just wants an IPA. 

I'll have to be careful around this brewery, that's for sure. 

Falling Knife Circle Pit S'mores Pastry Stout

Falling Knife Circle Pit S'mores Pastry Stout.
10.2 % ABV. Falling Knife Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

This beer has two strikes against it before I start drinking: 1. It calls itself a "pastry stout", an appellation I despise, and 2. it employs marshmallows. Well, if you're making a "s'mores stout", you kind of have to. So, I plunked down $18 and now I'm going to drink it.

Utter darkness, complete opaque, slim ring of tannish brown foam on top. Looking great.

In the nose: Massive malt, deep chocolate, and...graham cracker? I believe it is. Can you smell the marshmallow? Don't know if you can. Looming alcohol.

In the mouth: Big malt, huge mouthfeel, bombastic texture. Outsized sweetness, immense cocoa presence. Am I really tasting the graham cracker and the marshmallow? Is that possible?

But, damned if it doesn't taste like a s'more, if it had a lot of booze in it and was liquid. Is a S'more really a "pastry", though? Do we need to keep using that idiotic term? Can't we lay it to rest?

I think I'm in the minority on that one, even though I'm right.

It's a hell of a beer, though. But I'm looking forward to stouts from these guys are that less gimmicky.


S’mores Pastry Stout with chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker

Junkyard Mama's Trip to Hawaii

Junkyard Mama's Trip to Hawaii. Fruited Sour.

6.2 % AV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

Clouded, deep, murky crimson coloring, slightly pinkish, nearly raspberry-ish, with a small white head, gone in no time.

In the nose: A trifle tart, overwhelmingly fruity, getting sweeter as we go.

In the mouth: More tart, more sweet, and lots more fruity. Juicy, juicy, juicy. Pineapple, mango, guava, and hibiscus. It's got the goods. And then some. Good balance between sour and sweet. Sweet wins out, in the end.

Tasty treat, and quite refreshing.

We brewed this mouth-watering tropical treat with a hint of hibiscus and conditioned it on passionfruit, guava, pineapple, mango, blood orange, tangerine, and apricot, plus a little tropical punch drink mix.

This last part strikes me utterly unnecessary. They put in seven different fruits, and then need to throw in some packets of Hi-C?

Klockow Travelin' Jack West Coast Style India Pale Ale

Klockow Travelin' Jack West Coast Style India Pale Ale.
6.2 % ABV.
Klockow Brewing, Grand Rapids, Mn.

Mostly clear, bright golden hue, stark white and long-lasting head. Looking good.

In the nose: Quite pleasant amalgamation of citrusy hop flavors.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness jolts the palate. Citrus and pint blazes the senses. Clean, lean, bold, fresh and beautiful. Bitterness never quits, but neither does it cling. Grapefruit, lemon, lime, and pine aplenty at partying hearty in the mouth. This is just what I like in an IPA, and I'm so happy they brewed it.

If you don't like real, genuine, bitter and ballsy IPAs, stay clear away from this one!

Made from the West Coast’s best hops: Citra, Mosaic, and Cascade. This one will set your taste buds on an adventure!

Fair State Purple Tooth Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

Fair State Purple Tooth Barrel-aged Imperial Stout.
9 % ABV. Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN.

Serious blackness, complete opacity, dark brown head.

In the nose: Red wine takes the lead, bourbon a bit behind. Cocoa and coffee even farther back. Barrel aging's got a hold of this one.

In the mouth: Mmm. The flavors of an Imperial Stout comes forward on first sip, with swaddled in the barrel effects just off to the side. Cocoa, caramel, coffee, dark fruits, lapped up in layers of the wine and then the whiskey. Very delicious, very potent. Full-bodied, and pretty damned remarkable. Utterly satisfactory. Yum meets a dum dum.

Barrel-aged stout aged in bourbon barrels previously used to hold redwine.

Founders Unraveled IPA

Founders Unraveled IPA.
6.6 % ABV, 50 IBU.
Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI.

Largely clear, bright golden hue, slim layer of ivory foam above.

In the nose: Bright citric hop aromatics, led by lemon and lime. Very sunshine-y.

In the mouth: Bold hoppiness, brash citrus fruit flavors. Tangy and tasty. Light/medium bodied, and terrifically easy drinking. Long, lingering bitter hoppy finish. Fairly refreshing and exquisitely down able. Lean malt body. I'll kill this 6-pack in no time.

We unraveled some of our favorite American hops to get to the juicy goodness inside. Dry hopped with traditional hop pellets along with lupulin powder, an innovative hop product that separates lupulin from the hop flower, Unraveled IPA is incredibly flavorful and aromatic. Wheat and oats form a smooth backdrop to carry all those wonderful hop characteristics, while the pour is beautifully clear.

Omni Oktoberfest Märzen

Omni Oktoberfest Märzen.
5.6 % ABV, 23 IBU.
Omni Brewing, Maple Grove, MN.

My first Oktoberfest of the year, and this is not because I'm feeling the need for seasonal creep. Nope, it's all due to my efforts to avoid the expensive beers. What's this, a 4-pack of pint cans for only $9.99? You're coming home with me, little buddy! It's also my attempt to branch out and include different styles into my daily drinking. I don't only like IPAs, but I wouldn't blame you if you got the notion.

Mostly clear, auburn-hued, slim off-white head.

In the nose: slightly sweet and malty, herbal, caramel-y and clean. Classic märzen aromatics.

In the mouth: Ah! All the flavors of the season arrive on the palate. Warm, rich malty goodness, a teaspoon of sweet, with a minimum of bitter. Nice balance all around. German malts, noble hops, caramel-y flavors, medium-bodied, easy-drinking. Lower alcohol than some others that we see around. Classic and to the style in every way.

Delicious. I would return to this one again and again.


OMNI's Oktoberfest is a classic Marzen/Oktoberfest style lager. We added biscuit malts to enhance the pleasant breadiness. Prost!

Toppling Goliath NugMo IPA

Toppling Goliath NugMo IPA.
6.68 %, 30 IBU.
Toppling Goliath, Decorah, Iowa.

So, I'm at the store picking out beers, and I'm need of a new-to-me IPA. Got to keep abreast of those. I see this one, and in the cart it goes. Let's take a chance on some Iowa beer, see if it's any good. But later, I realize that I never checked the price. Will this be a repeat of the last Toppling Goliath 4-pack that I bought, where I found out too late that I'd broken my latest commandment and picked up a beer that went over the $18/4-pack line? These days, that line is at $16 and over. I checked the receipt. $15.99. Whew, close one.

On to the beer:

Hazy, dull yellow, ivory layer of froth atop.

In the nose: Citrus and tropical fruit at play in the aroma, with a side order of pine. Orange and guava, and a slice of pineapple.

In the mouth: Fruit charges out of the gate, slightly sweet, with bitterness right behind. Grapefruit cuts in. Long lasting flavors. It's a hazy, citrusy IPA with all the bitterness I crave. medium bodied, soft, smooth, easy drinking, fresh, lively, and lovable. Nicely balanced, with a slightly bitter finish. I like this one. I'd drink it again.

Mosaic, Sabro, Simco, and Amarillo hops join forces to create a bouquet of tropical citrus and pineapple aromas. This bold, hop-forward IPA captivates the senses as you raise a glass in tribute to lord NugMo. May he bless your taste buds with a bounty of flavor.

With a name like "NugMo", I 'd have thought the recipe would comprise of Nugget and Mosaic hops. Well, there must be a better reason for the name, I guess.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel.
5.3 % ABV. 14 IBU.
Bayerische Staatisbrauwerei, Bayern, Germany.

Whenever I inquire about whether I've had a beer such as this or whether I need to add it to the Nib, I first search, of course, the Nib itself. In The Bitter Nib, I've posted reviews of the Non-Alcohol version of the Hefe Weizen. And the regular Hefe Weizen. Also Vitus, the Weizenbock, as well as Korbinian, the Doppelbock. But not the HefeWeissbier Dunkel.

Looking on BeerAdvocate, it seems that I've previously reviewed, on their website, the Kristallweissbier, the Original Helles, and the beer I'm concerned with in this very post. Was my review from February of 2003 good enough to copy and paste and re-use for this review? I'm going to just say no and write new notes, soon. I'm still searching, though.

I will look elsewhere. What about on Untappd? Untappd tells me that I checked into this beer on January 18, 2020, on tap at ...wait? Acadia? Where I work? That means that I ordered this keg, hooked it up myself...now I remember how I complained about not getting the proper tap handle for it, and yet I never once decided to do what I've done so many times in the past, and taken a photo of the beer, while using my old notes from 16 1/2 years ago. Rats, I could have saved a whole $3.99.

January, huh? I remember. Teaching my co-workers how to say Weihenstephaner, easily moving this brew, happily pouring it...ah, January, 2020, you were such an innocent time, you seem so far away...

Ah, well, it's just as well. Let's write some new notes, eh.

Semi-clear, caramel-toned coloration, fine ivory-hued froth atop.

In the nose: Malt, spice, banana, citrus, dark fruit, cola. Mellifluous melange.

In the mouth: Smooth, clean, beautiful mix of cocoa, creamy, citrus, banana, clove, orange and lemon, minor hops, moderate malt, and a whole lot of yum a dum dum.

You don't see a lot of dunkel weisses around, do you. If you do see one, and it is good, then you should drink it. You will be richly rewarded. Lovely dark wheat beer. Smooth, delicious, cocoa-tinged, dark fruit-infused...ever-so-sweet and extra-consumable.

Say, what did I say in February 2003?An impressively foamy, bilious head tops a beer with a dark brown, almost pruney, or figgy hue. Aroma is lively and satisfying: citrus, notes of vanilla, banana, cloves, rich, deep, dark. Reminds me of Belgian abbey dubbels, a favorite. Taste is sharp, dry, with a hasty finish, that leaves you yearning for more. A very sociable beer: not too difficult to drink, and not in the least forgettable. Slight bitterness, medium body, and as for flavor, I feel like it's close to a lighter version of a barleywine, crazy as that sounds.

I'm still not sure what I think of what I thought.

And what do they say? Our dark wheat beer is impressive with its creamy white foam. A fruity-fresh sweetness and hints of mature bananas harmonise with delicious flavours of roasted malt, sparkling and full-bodied with a light caramel taste on the first sip. An excellent accompaniment from hearty meals and game to chocolate and nut desserts. Brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition on the Weihenstephan hill.

This is a great Bavarian beer. And you should drink it.

Starry-Eyed Stray Double IPA

Starry-Eyed Stray Double IPA.
8 % ABV. 100 IBU.
Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, Mn.

Clouded, dark crimson coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: Fruity, hoppy, malty in all one. Incoming alcohol. Heady blend.

In the mouth: Starts out with aggressive hops, intense bitterness, and rising alcohol. Juicy / fruity malt flavors bubble up from below. A little caramel, a slice of toast, all mixed up with apples, berries, and citrus. Hophead's delight.

A big beer to showcase the wonderful Simcoe hop.  Smoother than the IBUs would suggest, our copious use of the Simcoe hop brings forth the decadent character of peaches and pine.  With enough caramel sweetness to keep everything in balance, and enough alcohol to warm the coldest of bodies and souls, we suggest taking your time with this one.  Enjoy in moderation, as they say.

Pryes Main Squeeze Lemon-Lime Blonde Ale

Pryes Main Squeeze Lemon-Lime Blonde Ale.
4.6 % ABV, 22 IBU.
Pryes Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Light and slightly malty. Lemon and, later, lime chimes in.

In the mouth: Citrus fruit is charge from the start. Nice and lemony-limey, minor hops, medium malt. There's a genuine blonde ale below all the citrus fruit, and it works. Crisp, breezy, refreshing, easy-drinking, with a consistent lemony-limey flavor. I don't not like it.

Our refreshing, golden, citrus ale is the ideal sidekick for a day in the sun. Packed with real lemon & lime, this “juice” is worth the squeeze

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel. Munich Dunkel Lager.
5 % ABV. 21 IBU.
Privatbrauwerei Ayinger, Bayern, Germany.
Authentic Bavarian Dark.

Clear, caramel brown color, large-ish head that drift down swiftly.

In the nose: Sweet and malty. Caramel and plums. Brown sugar.

In the mouth: Rich and malty on the tongue. Toasty, sweet, but balanced. Modicum of hops amidst a mass of malt, while clean, smooth, light bodied, and oh, so tasty. Caramel and toffee flavors on top, with dark fruit just below, raisins, plums, a dash of nuttiness, and it's pretty much yum-a-dum-dum.

I first wrote about this one nearly 18 years ago. I think that in the intervening years that I have become fonder of this style of beer. I also think that this may be a fresher sample than the one that I had when I took these notes that I posted to BeerAdvocate.com in December of 2002: Cream-colored head, dissolves quickly. Malt background prominent. Toffeeish sweetness, quick, but pleasing finish.Nutty flavors, coppery, metallic, even. Very little hoppiness, clean, simple. Dark lager isn't one of my favorite styles, but this has to be one the best.

Up until the Second World War, dark beer was the predominant beer type in the Munich area. The hard water found in the region played a special role in producing this specialty. In his book “Beer International”, the world-renowned English beer writer, Michael Jackson, accurately describes the Ayinger “Altbairisch Dunkel” as: “A good example of its kind. Impenetrably dark with a golden-brown gleam when held up to the light, and with a warm aroma and malty taste, while summoning up coffee taste sensations on going down. It is brewed from five types of malt (two of which are torrified dark), and it is only lightly hopped.” It is produced using the traditional double fermentation process. 

Oddside Imperial Mayan Stout

Oddside Imperial Mayan Stout. With Coffee,
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Habaneroes.
10 % ABV, 32 IBU.
OddSide Ales, Grand Haven, MI.

Absolute blackness, complete opacity, full, rich brown head on top.

In the nose: Heat hits first, followed by the cocoa. Coffee comes in next, and it's an immense mess of malt.

In the mouth: Peppery heat again leads the charge, with coffee and cocoa right behind. Big, bold body, massive malt presence, dwarfs any hops in the house. Hot, spicy, rich and delicious. Lays long on the palate, spice never quits. Alcohol takes it's time, but begins to grow and dominate. Tasty, tasty stuff. Yum a dum dum.

Imperial version of our Mayan Mocha Stout. Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. It is carefully blended with Dutch chocolate coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, and habaneros which will leave you with the perfect balance of chocolate and heat.

Lake Monster Most Most Hazy IPA

Lake Monster Most Most Hazy IPA.
6 % aBV. 50 IBU.
Lake Monster Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Almost completely clear, hardly hazy at all. Bright golden hue. Large and long-lived ivory head.

In the nose: Bold citrus notes, some pine, and touches of tropical. Slightly sweet and nicely hopped. A delight.

In the mouth: Mild bitterness. Juicy malt. Judiously hopped. Bright citrus hop flavors, some pine, slight traces of sweet tropical notes. Smooth and tasty. Medium bodied, soft finish. Lingering bitterness meets easy-drinking and delightful. Nice stuff.


Hazy IPA with boat loads of Mosaic, Amarillo, and Mandarina Bavaria hops.

Sisyphus Scott's Oatmeal Raison Cookie Porter

Sisyphus Scott's Oatmeal Raison Cookie Porter.
7.5 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Complete darkness, absolute opacity, slimmest of heads.

In the nose: Malt first, then cinnamon creeps in. Next, the raisins.  Nice.

In the mouth: Spice and fruit blast the palate together, cinnamon and raisins charge the senses. Warm, rich malt backs it up. Quite tasty. Sweet, spicy, fruity, strong. All things that I like. Chewy, full bodied, rich and delicious. I'm liking this more and more as I drink it.

I don't like that it's being called a "pastry porter", though. Even if that fits. Cookies aren't really "pastry", technically, are they? First time I've seen these guys use "pastry" anything. I thought they were off the hook. Milkshakes, peanut butter, pastries...where does it end, the infantilization of beer...? Where does it stop?

They're (not Sisyphus...yet...jk) doing popsicle beers, and creamsicle beers, ...where's the Kool-Aid beer? Don't tell me, I don't want to know.

Scott's a regular and he had a beer idea - an oatmeal raisin cookie porter. So we made it for him! Brewed with 30 pounds of Raisins, 100 pounds of Oats, and a dose of cinnamon. Just like grandma used to make - the homebrewing grandma's anyways. 

Montgomery Double India Pale Ale

Montgomery Double India Pale Ale.
8% ABV. 72 IBU.
Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN.

Mostly clear, deep amber hue, nearing crimson in color, fine helping of ivory froth on top.

In the nose: Sweet malty notes hit first, followed by fruit, and hints of hops. Slightly buttery?

In the mouth: Hop bitterness is in command at first sip, swallowed up surely by malt flavors. Well-balanced, this, while juicy and bitter. Alcohol strength is held at bay for a bit. Bright, fresh, and hoppy. Mmm, this is tasty stuff, and here it comes, the booze arrives. Held in check by full flavors, malt and hops held equally aloft.

This is the specialty batch that was requested so often it required us to add another tap and expand our flagship lineup.
West coast style, Midwest heart. Smooth and bold at the same time. 

Brasserie d'Achouffe Cherry Chouffe

Brasserie d'Achouffe Cherry Chouffe.
8 % ABV, 10 IBU.
Brasserie d'Achouffe, Achouffe, Belgium

Brasserie d'Achouffe has been one of my favorite breweries since I had my first sip of chouffe, so long ago, but they have not appeared here in the Nib in seven years. That one was La Chouffe, one of their flagship beers, or whatever the Belgian equivalent of that might be. Prior to that was N'ice Chouffe, the holiday offering, Biere de Soleil Saison, McChouffe, the scotch ale, Houblon Dobbellen Tripel IPA, and the collaboration with Ommegang called Gnomegang. Those are between the years 2011 through 2013, only six beers.

Doing a little research, I find that Untappd has them at 16 beers (and this platform has numerous duplications, multiple entries, etc.) and BeerAdvocate had them at 10, (or is it 29?) with some of these being beers that don't leave Belgium.

As you can see, it's not a lack of love that keeps me from trying new brews by the gnome-themed brewery from deep in the Ardennes forest. I was delighted, then, to find this one on a recent beer run, and doubly so when I saw they were only $11 for the 4-pack. Will they be worth it? Come on, it's d'achouffe, right. It's got to be good, right?

Clear, bright crimson/deep plummy hue, large at first, but quick to settle dark pinkish head.

In the nose: Sweet and tart together, very cherry, but with a slight plastic/medicinal feel.

Before I drink, I noticed something curious on the label. It reads: "beer with natural flavors and colored with vegetable juice." Curious. Were they not able to get the right color with cherries and had to bring in some beets? I wonder...

In the mouth: More tart, more sour, more fruit. The intense pucker leaves after a bit, but lingers lightly on the palate. Another sip, and it's more tart cherry, but a bit of plum in the back. Thins out a bit, but the sweet cherry flavor looms in the background. Medium bodied, refreshing, tasty. Just a bit too much on the sweet side, at times.


For some reason, I wasn't that into the first two bottles I had, but this third one is tasting just fine by me. This label is the first to introduce a female chouffe (gnome), her name is Micheline. All of the chouffes have names that start with M. There's Marcel (La Chouffe), Malcolm (McChouffe), Matthew (Houblon), and now Micheline,  the lady chouffe.

If you've gotten tired of reading the word "chouffe", if you're the type of person who is annoyed by that other race of Belgian little people, the Smurfs, and how they use "smurf" as a catch all word for everything, verb, noun, adverb, or adjective, DO NOT VISIT THEIR WEBSITE. It is so Chouffe. You can't even chouffe how chouffe it is.

Anyway, here's what they say: The gnomes love Achouffe beers and the juicy cherries which grow in their magical land. Every year they gather and store them in the attics at the brewery. One day, after an abundant season, the floor gave way under the weight of the harvest, and some cherries fell into the Mc CHOUFFE brewing below. Impish as ever, the gnomes kept quiet about the incident. Surprised to discover a glowing, ruby-tinted beer with a fruity taste, the master brewer decided to bottle it up. Enjoy Cherry CHOUFFE carefully to avoid staining your beard and always drink it in delightful company. 

Because of COVID, the delightful company has to be my cat, Sonny Boy. But as delightful as his company is, he will not pose with a Chouffe hat on his head.

Also, they say this: This is the latest addition to the Achouffe Brewery... The aroma of Cherry CHOUFFE gives pride of place to cherries. It also reveals notes of strawberry, almond, spices and sweet Port. Round-bodied, soft and delicate, Cherry CHOUFFE delights the gourmands among us. It has a satisfying finish, with a very slight bitterness.

Wild Mind La Femme Forte

Wild Mind La Femme Forte Saison.
5.9 % ABV. Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Funky yeast, fruity, (peach, mango?) intriguing and inviting.

In the mouth: A little spicy, and a lot fruity. Belgian yeast is in command, definitely an addition of fruits to this saison. Light bodied, easy drinking, and refreshing. A dash of pepper to match the fruit.

Tasty stuff, this, and I'm digging it.


Saison with our house culture yeast. Refermented on mango and peach. Brewed with the help of the women from The Forgotten Barrel Society on International Women's Day.

Starry-eyed Lindy Hopped IPA

Starry-eyed Lindy Hopped IPA.
6.6 % ABV. 36 IBU.
Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory-toned head. Looking great.

In the nose: Beautiful bouquet of citrus and pine.

In the mouth: Juicy, bitter, pulsating with pine and citrus notes. Slides down the gullet with alarming ease. Medium bodied. Long, lingering bitter finish. Citrus and stone fruit takes over the flavor for the long haul.

My kind of IPA, right here. Just delicious. I'll take more, thank you very much.

A tame, yet flavorful, American IPA.  “Late boil” and “dry” hopping is used to showcase the flavors and aromas found in a couple highly prized hops, without the aggressive bitterness found in most modern American IPAs.  The essential oils in mosaic hops lend hints of blueberry, tangerine and papaya.  Citra dry hopping contributes notes of passion fruit, lychee, melon and/or grapefruit.  A perfect IPA for those who think that they don’t like “hoppy” beers.

Pryes Pragmatic Pils

Pryes Pragmatic Pils.
4.2 % ABV. 26 IBU.
Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Crystal clear, bright golden hue, soft white head. Looking fine.

In the nose: Nicely hopped. Lightly floral.

In the mouth: Slight sweetness, moderately malty. Crisp, clean, with a light body and an easy drinkability. Ending on a classic, dry note. Tempts the tongue to take another sip. Not bad, not bad at all.

Pragmatic is a clean, crisp, easy drinking classic Czech pilsner, that is a practical choice in almost any setting.

Drastic Measures Ze German Hefe Weizen

Drastic Measures Ze German Hefe Weizen.
4.4 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Drastic Measures Brewing, Wadena, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, short white head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet and citrusy, banana & clove. little floral notes.

In the mouth: Light and smooth and just a touch sweet and fruity. Minor hops, mostly malty. Medium bodied, easy drinking, just like a traditional hefe weizen should be. Perfect summertime refresher.
Just delightful.

I don't only drink IPAs, you know. I also enjoy a fine hefe weizen from time to time, and this is one.

Sprechen sie bier?
Translation: Do you speak beer? Well, at Drastic Measures, we sure do . That's why we felt compelled to brew one of  the oldest styles around, the traditional German hefeweizen. This one is perfect for any occasion, from a day on the lake to an Oktoberfest celebration. So, pour yourself a pint or a boot, and we think you'll be saying "Danke Schoen" (thank you) after the very first sip. 

Weyermann pale wheat
Weyermann pilsner
Weyerman Caramunich 
Weyermann Aciduated 
Hallertau Mittlefruh 

Andechs Lager yeast.

Tin Whiskers Thunder Bot and Lightning IPA

Tin Whiskers Thunder Bot and Lightning IPA.
7.4 % ABV. 36 IBU.
Tin Whisker Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Hazy (of course), bright golden hue, small white head.

In the nose: Bold citrus aromatics, orange, guava, lemon, et al.

In the mouth: Juicy and bitter at once. Nice hoppy bite on the palate. Medium bodied, with a long bitter finish. Citrus and grassy pine abounds in the flavor, which I am digging in a major way.

Once more, this is the final can from a 4-pack. I'm wishing I had a few more, again. What's wrong with 6-packs, exactly?

Brewed with Amarillo, Southern Passion, and African Queen hops, Thunder Bot and Lightning is the 11th installment of the Bot Series of IPA’s. This golden IPA features notes of guava, coconut, gooseberries, lemongrass and tangerine.

Venn Solarising Golden Ale with Coffee, Chocolate, and Vanilla

Venn Solarising Golden Ale with Coffee, Chocolate, and Vanilla.
6.6 % ABV. 25 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

I had this one at my last visit to Venn a few weeks back, but did not choose to take a crowler home. Luckily, they're distributing to one of the liquor stores in my neighborhood, so I didn't have to make another visit to the brewery to get this one. But I will be back, soon.

Crystal clear, amber hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Chocolate and vanilla hit first---mmm!, nice!--with coffee flickering behind. Sweet, slightly bitter. Again: mmm!

In the mouth: Sweet cocoa meets earthy coffee notes taking over the palate. Moderate hopping, clean, lean malt background. Vanilla rises up. Nothing but delicious.
The coffee golden ale is not new, but coffee, chocolate and vanilla golden ale? Mmm, mm, mm. This one has the goods

Actual coffee, actual chocolate, actual awesome. A golden ale infused with coffee, chocolate, & vanilla. Not vegan! Previously named "White Stout".

Malts: Domestic Pale, Flaked Oats, Caramel 20

Hops: Warrior, Willamette (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla, Lactose

It's like déjá brew all over again. Our golden ale looks like a light bodied patio pounder, but it drinks like a breakfast stout. Because it is one. Heavily infused with coffee, chocolate and vanilla, this seasonal sipper is a caffeine fix, sugar rush and beer buzz all rolled into one.

Montgomery Hop Junkies Citra IPA

Montgomery Hop Junkies Citra IPA.
7.2 % ABV. 61 IBU.
Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN.

All hazed up. No one can help it anymore. Whether they intend to or not, whether it's called a "hazy" or it ain't, they all come out hazy now. Dull golden, large lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Big citrus explosion. Lemon, orange, and grapefruit. Quite nice. Touch of pine. Trickle of tropical.

In the mouth: Big citrusy flavors bounce on the palate. Big bitterness brings big delights. Medium bodied and easy drinking. Hops put the palate on constant alert for non-stop bitterness. Juicy, slightly sweet, utterly delectable. Bright, lively, delicious, de-lovely.

This is my kind of IPA. Too bad I'm on the last can. Better go back for more. Can't help it, I'm a hop junkie.

Ayinger Weizenbock

Ayinger Authentic Bavarian Weizenbock.
7% ABV.
Ayinger Brewery, Bavaria, Deutschland.

Clear, amber-hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Malty. Sweet. Slight banana. Growing clove notes. Increasingly complex.

In the mouth: Wet and wonderful. Biscuity malt. Ah, liquid bread and then some. There's that banana and clove, with a caramel and toffee just below. This is not as dark as many other weizenbocks I've had, nor as rich. But, who am I to even suggest that the Ayinger way is not the right way? Smooth drinking, just a bit on the strong side, but getting stronger.

Halfway in, I'm liking this more and more. I could have a few of these in a sitting and be very happy, indeed. Prost!

Weizenbock
alc. 7,0% vol. - 16,5° plato

Our winter specialty is brewed with four different malts and wort separation method. The result is an alcohol degree of 7.1% by vol. and the Original gravity is 16.5°plato. Ayinger Weizenbock is a top fermented and unfiltered wheat bock beer. Colour is golden with copper tones. Aroma is typically and unique for Ayinger wheat beers. You will find low bitterness and dry taste.

Wild Mind Punk Tacos Blueberry

Wild Mind Punk Tacos Blueberry. Fruited IPA.
6.7 % ABV.
Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, deep crimson, nearly purple color, slim-soon gone head.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, tart, that order.

In the mouth: Grassy, citrusy hop flavors board the palate first, accompanied by the fruit. Here comes the blueberry, but the hops take turn, too, and stay in front. The hop flavors, the fruit, and the malt clash. No true integration or balance. It's medium bodied, consumable, but a bit of a chore. Too much clash between the hopping and the fruit. Ends dry, but unsatisfying.


I would not return to this one, sorry. You can't win them all.

Fruited IPA hopped with Centennial, Cascade and Amarillo. Referemented with Blueberries

Andechser Vollbier Hell

Andechser Vollbier Hell.
4.8% ABV.
Klosterbrauwerei Andechs, Bavaria, Deutschland.

Prior to a few weeks ago, there had only been one beer from the Klosterbrauerei Andechs here in the Nib, and that was their Doppelbock Dunkel, posted back in 2011. I had a regular customer at my old bar, the Blue Nile, who would travel to Germany and bring bottles back for me. According to BeerAdvocate.com, he also brought me the Spezial Hell and the Weissbier Hell. I know I have before me for the first time the Vollbier Hell. And I have to find out what it is, this Vollbier.

Meaning: "full" beer, or "strong. Original Wort Gravity of 11-14o Plato (sorry, I still haven't figured out the degree symbol on my keyboard). It's an old tax classification that's no longer used. I can't say what sets it apart from other helles lagers, other than they're brewing to those guidelines, and using that name. This one is 11.5o. On the lower side of "strong". Read more here for fascinating backstory of German tax categories.

Enough of that, let's have some Vollbier Hell, already.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet, touch of grain, mild hops, mostly malty. Lightly floral.

In the mouth: A bit bolder than the average Helles. Quite light in body, but maltier than most. Sot, a touch sweet, exquisitely balanced, and utterly easily drinkable. Refreshing and tasty. Every time I review a lager, I feel that I have to remind the reader that it is not my favorite category, and every time I praise one, you can be sure that I mean every word.

Go get a case for when you're lollygagging at the lake cabin. It'll cost more than Keystone Light, but it'll be worth it.

A product of traditional multiple mashing, Andechser Hell presents a bright straw yellow and clear gleaming look that cannot fail to fascinate.

Andechser Hell – tangy, classical, Bavarian
Its head is firm and fine pored. Its aroma is pure and fresh from the cellar, with soft malty accents imbued with floral hoppiness.

Its light and soft body leaves a pleasant, tangy taste in the mouth. The mild sweetness marries well with the velvety bitterness of the hops. It concludes on a rounded, harmonious note.

Andechser Hell is therefore a classical Bavarian Vollbier (11.5% original extract and 4.8% alcohol by volume).

I wish the phrase "Velvety bitterness" would ever occur to me. I wish I ever thought of "rounded, harmonious note."

Sisyphus Neverlasting Gobstopper with Key Lime and Guava

Sisyphus Neverlasting Gobstopper with Key Lime and Guava.
3% ABV. 20 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, pale yellow/green color, slim head.

In the nose: Tart, fruity, key lime in charge.

In the mouth: Bracingly sour at the start, big puckering, with key lime screaming out of the gate. Washes down nice and easy, with a little salt at the end, finishing nice and dry. Light bodied, easy drinking. Guava lurks far behind the key lime flavor, but it's there. If this were "only" key lime, it might be too much lime for my taste.


Good sour ale, though, if you like 'em limey and salty.

Inspiration for beers and beer names can come from all sorts of places. In this case, our sour beer "Neverlasting Gobstopper", comes from one of my favorite movies from my childhood, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Everyday I come to work and brew beer I feel like Willy Wonka, but just because of the messed up things we do to people on our tours. Infused with Key Lime and Guava.

Funkwerks Tropic King Saison

Funkwerks Tropic King Saison.
8% ABV, 30 IBU.
Funkwerks, Fort Collins, CO.

Clear, bold golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: fruit and booze are popping. Ripe citrus and stone. Belgian yeast pokin' in. I'm liking this.

In the mouth: Yum. Flat-out yum. Delicious-o. Medium hops, moderate malt, big Belgian yeast, little bit of bubblegum. Citrus and stone fruit, again. And the alcohol comes roaring in. It's a clever combination that pulls me in every time. Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Hoppiness is huge, matched by booze, slight spice and pepper balancing it out. Very tasty, very rewarding. I like this one a lot.

Originally designed to be a hoppier version of our flagship Saison, the accidental (but fortuitous) addition of two extra bags of Munich malt balanced out the hop bitterness leaving us this very unique beer. Tropic King bursts with fruity tropical characteristics from the use of New Zealand hop varietals. This beer is a flavor extravaganza that has developed a loyal following. Notes of passion fruit, mango, pepper, and ginger.

Big Axe Axe Kicker Double IPA

Big Axe Axe Kicker Double IPA.
Proudly brewed in Nisswa, MN.
9% ABV. 100 IBU.

$12.99 for 6 12 oz. cans at South Lyndale Liquor. That's cheaper than Sticker Fight, and a whole hell of a lot cheaper than the trendy ones, the milkshakes and the hazies and such.
But, how's it taste?

First, though, how's it look?

Clear, bright golden hue, pure white head, lasting long. Looking great.

In the nose: Pine and citrus present and accounted for. A little on the shy side, though.

In the mouth: Hops blast the palate from first sip, growing as we go. Big fruit, juicy, spilling out orange and grapefruit, turning bitter and dry. Right amount of bitterness here, fresh and lively, definitely downable and downright delicious. And getting delicious-er and delicious-er, while the alcohol rises up. Everything is in it's perfect place.

Man, I'm digging this one. The first five cans went down so nice, and I saved the last can for the torturous task of taking notes. This is delivering everything I want in a double IPA: clean, mellow, full of hop flavor, tons of bitterness, not too much malt. And just enough booze, if not more than enough. I'm going to keep adding it to the fridge. Big Axe Axe Kicker, you're in the repertoire.

This 6-pack is actually the second time I've had this beer, the first being nearly four years ago when I saw the brewery in Nisswa. I ended up not writing a blog post about that visit, for reasons still unexplained. It vexes me to this day. That was a hell of a fun day: Roundhouse in Brainerd, then Gull Dam and Big Axe, and then a fourth one. Who was it? It'll come to me, I'll figure it out...
(Just checked my data: Jack Pine in Baxter was the second stop. What a day!)

Loads of Amarillo and Citra Hops are heaped into this one. A crisp, light malt bill lets the juicy citrusy, tropical hops flavors and aromas shine through. The smooth bitterness balances the rich hop flavors.

La Doña Ocēlōtl Barrel-aged Barley-wine

La Doña Ocēlōtl Barrel-aged Barley-wine.
10 % ABV. 56 IBU.
La Doña Cervecería, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark, Burgundy-hued, large, creamy/tan-toned head. Looking great.

In the nose: Also smelling great. Not hiding it's strength. Mezcal barrels are on top of this. Brandy-is, very malty, very bold.

In the mouth: Big, thick, rich, and boozy. Caramel and toffee malt flavors loom largest, touched with the traces of the barrel work. Mezcal is delivering the goods in flavor. Very sweet, this, quite rich and definitely delicious. I am absolutely loving this. Makes me wish I'd bought two bottles, instead of one. Maybe they still have one? Nah.

More flavors unfold, there's dark chocolate, dark fruits, minor hops and bitterness, yet still well-balanced. Well, somewhat balanced. It's a big beer, and it's amazing.

Our long anticipated Mezcal barrel aged barley wine.

Toppling Goliath Sun Reaper Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Sun Reaper Double India Pale Ale.
7.8% ABV. 50 IBU.
Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, Iowa

Here's a beer where I picked up the 4-pack, (everything's in 4-packs now), and didn't even check the price because I wanted a double IPA, and hadn't had a Toppling Goliath in a few months. I looked at the receipt later and cursed myself. $18.79. Not quite $20, but close enough. I'm trying to skip the $18-$20 4-packs lately. I don't care what people are saying about it, I'm staying away from them, out of principle. I don't care how good they are supposed to be, I just can't reward that.

Enough about price, let's open and drink:

Absolutely clouded (of course), bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory-toned head.

In the nose: Bold, fresh and citrusy, big lemon and grapefruit.

In the mouth: Brash bitterness kicks it off, slaying the palate. Citrus fruit flashes bombard the senses, bitterness keeping pace. Yeasty haze flavors swallow it up. Long bitter finish. Light bodied. Easy-drinking, despite alcohol and bitter astringency. Citrus flavors hold it down throughout.

Sun Reaper eclipses all others with its medium body and low bitterness. with notes of pineapple, orange and passion fruit flavors up front and a layer of soft pine in the finish.

Now, here's the thing. Pine? Yeah, I got that, but forgot to check it off. But, passionfruit? Maybe. Bitterness and citrus flavors eclipsed all else. (Damn, I just notice they used "eclipse" up above. I'm just too impressionable. That's why I don't read the brewery's notes before I write mine.)

Anyway, I enjoyed this, but while it's good, it's not $4.67 a can good. I'm going to continue looking for beers that aren't above $16 a 4-pack.

St. Bernardus Abt. 12 Barrel-aged Sour

St. Bernardus Abt. 12 Barrel-aged Sour.
10 % ABV. 22 IBU.
Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Watou, Belgium.

With so many barrel-aged beers priced at $20/25 and up, and up, and up, this one, at $15 for the 750 ml bottle is a steal. I hope. I haven't tried it yet. Never heard of it. Saw it at the store, last bottle, how could I pass up a barrel-aged sour version of one of my all-time favorites? Couldn't! So, now we drink!

Dark, Burgundy-hued, slim, mossy, cola-tinged head, Looking nice, so far.

In the nose: Sour and fruity, at first. Red wine barrel is key, in this. Ripe, tannin-y, tart.

In the mouth: Complexities abound. Sour, sweet, malty, deep. Caramel and toffee, mixed with dark fruit, oak and red wine. Perfect balance, through it all.

Almost too perfect. I can imagine that some will try this and declare that it is not sour enough. Or, not sour at all. Well, phooey on that. I think it's too sour. Which means, of course, that I'm not getting enough of the Abbot 12 flavors from the Belgian yeast that I love and the barrel aging has covered it up. That's me, though.

Slowly, but surely, the alcohol comes through. You don't find 10% sour ales that often. Refreshing and delicious, this. I like the restraint. I'm glad I wasn't going in expecting overpowering pucker, which you can get elsewhere.

Masterful blending.

St.Bernardus Abt 12 is the flagship beer of Brewery St.Bernardus and is considered as one of the best beers in the world. The Abt 12 is brewed according to an original recipe from 1946. St.Bernardus Abt 12 Barrel Aged Sour is brewed with that same recipe. After the brew, we let the beer rest in Oak barrels for 3 years. This beer aging lets the beer go sour. In June 2019 we blended it with freshly brewed Abt 12 and bottled it in 75cl bottles. Balanced in flavours, perfect as can be, heavenly nectar within your reach. Enjoy! 

Junkyard Christian Bale Ale

Junkyard Christian Bale Ale. Is it a pale ale? Or a season IP---It's hoppy! Brewed with Citra, Belma, and El Dorado hops.
4.8 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

Why is called Christian Bale Ale, if the illustration features Robin? There's no Robin in the Nolan Bat-universe. And don't bring up Joseph Gordon Leavitt.

Throughly hazed, luminescent orange juice hue, slim whitish head.

In the nose: big citrus, full-on fruit, totally haze, bro.

In the mouth: Fruity and smooth. Slips down the throat easily-peasily, with splashes of citrus, moderate bitterness, and all that hazy yeast. Bitterness, at first mild, grows on the palate. Lasts long, crosses over into astringency territory, almost. I'm liking this, more and more.

Crazy, hazy citrus, with touches of tropical, too. Tasty stuff, and I'm digging it.

Oliphant Summer Squishy Sour Ale

Oliphant Summer Squishy Sour Ale. Pineapple and Coconut with lactose, vanilla, and sea salt.
5 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Lightly clouded, pale golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Salt comes first, then fruit. Coconut comes on strong. Pineapple peeps up.

In the mouth: Here they come again, though not necessarily in that order. Pineapple is big on the palate. Terrific balance in this, between the sweet, the salt, and the sour. Medium bodied, long sweet/tart finish, expertly refreshing and consumable.