Indeed Giant For a Day Double IPA

Indeed Giant For a Day Double IPA.

9 % ABV, 60 IBU. Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

And here we are, nearly 10 years into the life of the Indeed Brewing Company, and they have released their first ever double IPA.They've put out a double pale ale before, and many IPAs, but no double IPA. Let's check it out and see if it passes muster. 

Lightly hazed, not as clear as I'd hoped, probably chill haze, bright golden, orange-ish hue, voluminous ivory head. 

In the nose: big citrusy aromatics, orange, lime and grapefruit, plus candied apricots. A bit of peach and mango, too. Quite lovely. 

In the mouth: Pungent and powerful. Lip-smackingly delicious. All manner of citrus with a smack of pine, and a bit of the ol' sticky-icky. Citus plus stone and a dash of tropical. Dank, a little resinous, with oncoming high alcohol. Medium bodied, long hoppy finish, loaded with hop bitterness. This tasty nectar has it all. I'm impressed. It's no Steel Toe Sticker Fight or Surly Abrasive, but as it is, not too shabby. Could it be better? Of course, but I'm happy with it as it is. 

Keep on brewing, Indeed, keep it up, and I'll keep a'drinking.

Orkney Skull Splitter Scotch Ale/ Wee Heavy

Orkney Skull Splitter Scotch Ale. 

8.5 % ABV, 55 IBU. The Orkney Brewery, Stromness, The Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Skull Splitter, Skull Splitter! When was the last time that I saw Orkney Skull Splitter? It's been many a year. And out of the blue, some showed up at the store where I work. I had to get a 4-pack and reunite myself with this old chum. Here are my notes from way back in June of 2004. I gave it a 3.82 out of 5, which was 6.4 % below the average. Was that right of me? Probably not. I can't excuse the behavior of the me of 18 years ago. Yet, I still share these ancient ramblings. 

Clear, bright garnet hue,nearing auburn, with huge carbonation, bubbles all over the place, with a flush head of beige foam that goes down in a flurry of vanishing bubbles.

Aroma, deeply, darkly malty, woody, some spices float about in the nose, caramel, some fruitiness, dark ones, grapes and cherries, a wealth of complexities...

nice taste, caramel leads the flavor, just nearly definable as "rich", but not quite..nay, not quite as full in the mouth as we'd hope, and then the booze kicks in, and it tastes something like a blend of dark rum and cherry brandy. I swear I wasn't drinking officer, well, one teensy little beer, maybe...

Body's a bit medium, finish is, too, doesn't quite maintain a presence on the palate. Overall, a tasty, boozy blend of malt and fruit. 

For the sake of my skull, though, I plan to visit this brew at well-spaced intervals.

Guess what? I still like like it.

Skull Splitter has a rich fruity wine-like complexity. Flavours include fresh and dried fruits; warm exotic spice and mellow summer fruity notes.  

Sophisticated, satiny smooth and full flavoured beer. It is one of our strongest beers, named after Thorfinn Einarsson the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney. 

Pair with fruit puddings and or rich dark meats such as venison or alternatively, Skullsplitter is a delight as a digestif.

Bad Weather Glory Daze West Coast IPA

 Bad Weather Glory Daze West Coast IPA.

8.5% ABV, 77 IBU, Bad Weather Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

I like the Bad Weather Brewing Company. I have said it before and I'm saying it again. And now they have a West Coast IPA, and I have made my feelings very clear about them. Have they made the right West Coast IPA for me? Let's find out. (Actually, I've already found out, as this is the fourth can from the pack, and I had it at the brewery in September 2019. )

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: Big hops, bristling with citrus and pine. Highly likable. 

In the mouth: Hop explosion on the palate, a flurry of citrus, orange and tangerine, lime and grapefruit, brimming with bitterness. Only the slightest bit juicy,with bitterness aplenty. Medium bodied, with a long dry finish. 

Relive the style that got you into craft beer in the first place. Some will say it's washed up, past it's prime or already peeked. Before the haze was the Glory Days... of the West Coast IPA. 

GLORY DAZE is a collaboration brew with our friends at the soon to be open Arbeiter Brewing Co. Inspired by our favorite "classic" West Coast IPA's this beer is clean, very hop forward with a firm bitterness. Hoppy aromas of citrus, pine and resin.

Schell's No Frills Pils

 

Schell's No Frills Pils. German -style Pilsner. 

5% ABV, August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, Mn.

Years ago, the August Schell Brewing Company had a beer called Schell's Pilsner. It was good. Even I like it. And I don't really go for lagers. Then it was switched to Schell's Pils. This lasted for years, until it was dropped and later replaced by Keller Pils, which was very well received. And it went away. Now, this. Personally, I want to see this brewery pick a pilsner and stick with it. Maybe this time it will happen, maybe not. We'll see. Meanwhile, let's try it out. 

Clear, bright yellow, small white head. 

In the nose: Lightly floral, slightly sweet. Minor hops. Mildly malty. 

In the mouth: Light bodied. Malty flavors, played in a minor key. Delicate flavors unfold as we drink deeper down. Hops are more on the march, bitterness is small and plays well on the palate. Light, refreshing and definitely drinkable. 

I don't mind this one tiny bit. And I didn't detect a single frill anywhere in it. Someone who requires a pilsner devoid of hop bitterness might, though. 

Arbeiter Wee Heavy Scottish Strong Ale

Arbeiter Wee Heavy Scottish Strong Ale.

9.9 % ABV, 43 IBU. Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Man, do I love a good Wee Heavy, and was I happy that Arbeiter brewed one. Let's drink it up and see how it is. 

Dark brown color, clear, slim head atop. 

In the nose: Caramel malt sweetness hits first, with a twist of toffee, too. Deep richness, sure to deliver decadence. 

In the mouth: More richness, more massive malt, more caramel and toffee. No hops to speak off, but still well balanced. Sweet, but not overly so, and the strength has only started. Getting bigger, boozier, ballsier, more rich and delicious. Yum a dum dum. 

Damn, this is nice. Keep 'em coming, guys. 

Pipeworks Unichrome Double IPA

Pipeworks Unichrome Double IPA.

9.1 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lush, creamy ivory head.

In the nose: bold citrus and pine, vibrant and hoppy as all get out.

In the mouths: starts out brash and bitter, with citrus and stone fruit joining the party. Bitterness hangs on the palate, but it’s more mild and mellow. Medium bodied, long, fruity/hoppy finish. Slight sticky, dank sweetness, just a kiss of the malt. Wonderfully resinous.

And the booze starts booming. 

This is what I want in a double IPA (aside from a little more dryness) and I am happy that Pipeworks took a break from the hazies to release it. 

Once again, this is can #4 And I wish I had more. Good thing there’s more to be found.

Unichrome is a robot unicorn made of chrome BUT ALSO a Double IPA with lush aromas of coconut, guava, and tangerine 

Portage Pine Line DDH West Coast IPA

Portage Pine Line DDH West Coast IPA.

6.8 % ABV, 65 IBU. Portage Brewing, Walker, MN. 

And here we have the first appearance of the Portage Breewery in Walker, MN, here in the Nib. I've only had one of their beers before, a mild ale that Dave shared with me. This one is in one of my favorite styles, although I've gone on record to say that doing the ever-so popular Double Dry Hop effect with a West Coast IPA is at the least counter-intuitive. Let's check it out. 

Clear, bright golden hue, huge ivory head. Looking the part. 

In the nose: Blast of citrus and pine, powerful, aggressive. Right on the money.

In the mouth: Grapefruit, lemon and orange, with a kick of pine. A little juicy, a lot of bitter, and ending on a dry note. Almost picture perfect. Medium bodied, with a long bitter, hoppy finish. This one is no piker, and I'm happy to see them putting something like this, a real IPA, that contrast with New England after New England, ad infinitum. 

I do wish this ever bitterer, but I'm happy they took it this far. 

Paying homage to the hops that the hoppy era you see today - made with Warrior, Simcoe, Chinook, Cascade hops. Bitter, piney.

I'm going to pretend that the above is an actual sentence that makes sense. 

Surly Gimme S'more Darkness Russian Imperial Stout 2021 Variant

Surly Gimme S'more Darkness Russian Imperial Stout. 2021 Variant. 

12 % ABV, Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Strictly Stygian , completely and utterly opaque, with a brief brown head. 

In the nose: Rich and roasted, caramel, toffee, vanilla. Oncoming cinnamon. Nothing from the barrel. Not much, anyway. 

In the mouth: So, the name suggests  a "s'more stout", as that is a thing. But there are no additions of graham cracker or marshmallow, which makes me respect Surly. Is cinnamon a thing in a 'smore? Or even vanilla? Isn't it just graham crackers, marshmallow, and sometimes chocolate? Are they trying to approximate the flavor without bringing marshmallows into the brewhouse? Again, props. 

Starts out sweet, spicy, hot, smooth, all at once.Cinnamon hot, vanilla cool. Big chocolate and notes of whiskey, lots of oak, big and bountiful. Char, molasses, treacle, slick and syrupy. A sweet, delicious treat that still dwells in the depths of darkness. 

Gather 'round the campfire with this Darkness variant conceived by Surly's Dave McGrath. Aged on vanilla and cinnamon in bourbon barrels, Gimme S'more more than lives up to its name. 

Pivovara Medvedgrad Crna Kraljica Schwarzbier

Pivovara Medvedgrad Crna Kraljica Schwarzbier. The Black Queen. 

4.8 % ABV, 20 IBU. Medvedgrad Brewery, Zagreb, Croatia. 

Hey, look , it's another Croatian beer. And it's another German style, one that I usually enjoy. And another awesome label illustration. Let's drink it up and see how it stacks up. 

Dark brown, nearly black, almost opaque, with rich tan head above. 

In the nose: Cocoa and cream. Caramel and coffee. So far, so nice.

In the mouth: Slight bitterness. Clean and balanced. Dark malty flavors are dominant. Medium body. Exceptionally smooth and easy drinking. Chocolate, coffee flavors return to the palate and are held in check. Rich and roasty and a little bit yum a dum dum. 

A dark lager with additional hops and a characteristic taste and aroma from dark, roasted malt grains. Crna kraljica (Black queen) is available throughout the year.

Bauhaus Froth Bite Dry-hopped German -style Pilsner

Bauhaus Froth Bite Dry-hopped German style Pilsner.

4.9 % ABV, 35 IBU. Bauhaus BrewLabs, Minneapolis, MN. 

It's about time I got around to this beer from the Bauhaus Freezebox. It's not freezing anymore. Snow is melting, temperatures are rising. And no one is getting frost bite. That pun is dead. Let's drink a bneer. 

Clear, bright yellow coloring, small white head. 

In the nose: floral, light citrus, minor hops. 

In the mouth: Clean and smooth, but something short of crisp. Soft, for sure, light, and exceptionally easy drinking. Appealing flavors, quite tasty, lightly hoppy and ultimately quaffable. A delightful little pilsner. 

Lift Bridge Batch 4000 DDH DIPA

Lift Bridge  Batch 4000 DDH DIPA.

8.5% ABV, 5 IBU. Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, MN. 

Semi-hazy, bright golden hue, lovely little layer of ivory froth atop. 

In the nose: Citrus notes on top, touch of tropical on the side. Pleasing. 

In the mouth: Bitterness hits first. Big, juicy, candyish fruit flavors, led by orange, grapefruit, tangerine. Bold, aggressive, and certainly strong. (How strong I cannot tell, it is missing from the label. I'll find it somewhere.)

All in all, for a DDH DIPA, not too shabby. 

Powered up double dry hopped double IPA with aromas of citrus, grapefruit and tropical fruit from strata, mosaic and citra hops to celebrate hitting the 4000 mark on batches brewe

Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa Imperial Stout

Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa Imperial Stout.

12 % ABV, 45 IBU. Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI. 

Solid blackness, thoroughly opaque, slim ring of brown foam above. 

In the nose: Creaminess. Vanilla first, then along comes cinnamon, and plenty of cocoa on the side. Everything else stands below. 

In the mouth: Spice hits first, surrounded by cocoa. Cinnamon bomb, some might say. Vanilla pops up and mingles. Big cocoa. Spice flits throughout. High ABV gives it a kick. The coffee and the bourbon barrels are in here somewhere, but they're swallowed up by the cinnamon. Rich, spicy, delicious. 

Here’s one for the cocoa lovers: KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – the sumptuous, deep coffee and chocolate flavors of KBS rise to the next level with a swirl of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla to create a sweet-but-not-too-sweet barrel-aged drinking experience. It’s a whole new spin on KBS that’s sure to sweeten your spirits.

BlackStack The Lost World TIPA

BlackStack The Lost World TIPA. Collaboration with Toppling Goliath. 

10.1 % ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Once upon a time, a triple IPA meant something specific, a rarified category of ale. Rich, malty, dank, above 11% ABV, nearly barley-wine-esque in flavor. These days, it's any IPA more than 9.5 % ABV. Let's see what this one is all about. 

Clouded, of course, bright yellow coloration, large ivory froth atop. 

In the nose: Soft and fuzzy. Citrus notes, but more from tropical. Orange and lemon meets pineapple and mango. Maybe a pinch of guava and passionfruit. 

In the mouth: Bright, just and just a little bit juicy. Alcohol shows up early. Big hoppy flavors, balance between citrus and tropical, moderate bitterness, medium body. Long lasting finish. The warm fuzzies are flowing in. 

Despite my reservations about the ubiquitous hazy TIPAs, I didn't mind this one. 

Our homies from Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. came back up to get prehistoric again. To pay homage to their Dino classics & the not infrequent jokes about the amount of plants in our taproom, we used with earth rattling quantites of our Hand-Selected Mosaic & Mosaic Cryo with TG’s Hand Selected Citra, Mosaic Nelson Sauvin & that new hotness, Riwaka, from their super secret stash. Lots of oil. Tread Lightly.

Clutch Ruff Day American Porter

Clutch Ruff Day American Porter.

6.4 % ABV. 32 IBU. Clutch Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Nearly black, almost opaque, , slim brown heads rests atop for a spell. 

In the nose: Mostly malty, notes of coffee and cocoa, nicely roasted. 

In the mouth: Balanced, cool, mellow. Minor hops, major malt, medium body, excellence of drinkability. Requisite flavors of roasted malt, cocoa, coffee are in attendance. 

It's a good porter and you can drink it. 

This dark delight boasts a bold roast up front with smooth notes of chocolate and coffee that longer, with delicate herbal notes to balance.

Sweetwater 420 Imperial IPA

 Sweetwater 420 Imperial IPA.

9.1% ABV, Sweetwater Brewing, Atlanta, GA. 

And here we go again. Despite my dedication to sampling all the double/imperial IPAs I can find (minus the hazy/New England ones that I despise, of course), I didn't snatch this one up right away. But, once it was in a 19.2 oz. can, that's when I buy it to try it. It doesn't make financial sense, unless it turns out that I don't actually like it. That's where $3 for this big can works out to be a better deal than $10 for 72 oz, all told. Let's see if I was right to go with this format. 

Clear, crimson hued. nice dollop of milky froth atop. 

In the nose: Sweet notes, beeries and other fruit. Specifically: Crunchberries. It's that kind of sweetness. Not quite the hop aroma I was looking for. 

In the mouth: More berries, slight citrus. Minimal bitterness. Hop flavors abound amid a malty mouthfeel. Some citrus sneaks in, but it's hard to pick apart among the mess. And a mess it is. If you only want to high ABV and some manner of hop flavors, sure, it works for you. For me, it's lacking a lot. I mean, I can drink it, and that buzz is coming around, but the thrill is not here. 

A craft classic deserves imperial treatment. A fresh take on ingedients from the original 420, this bold, flavor-packed new brother features a fresh combo of hops for added intensity and complexity, creating flavors and aromas of mango, peach, pineapple, citrus, and pine. The result is a well-balanced Imperial IPA thats a super tasty, higher abv brew.

Oliphant Ingrained Midwest IPA

Oliphant Ingrained Midwest IPA.

6 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Lightly clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bold citrus notes, orange and grapefruit, lemon, with a pinch of pine. Exceedingly pleasant. 

In the mouth: Bitterness blazes the palate, ever briefly in force, lingering lightly thereafter. Almost aggressive. Medium bodied, easier drinking. For those who insist on bold smack of bitter in their IPA. Just what Dr. Hophead ordered. 

This one, as is my usual habit, was the final can of the four. The first three were gobbled down with astonishing alacrity. I'm going to take my time and relish this last one. 

Midwest IPA Collab with Trollhaugen Ski Resort & Interior Plain Project Snowboard Company for Lord of the Ropes with Chinook, Columbus, Cascade & Mosaic hops! 

Arbeiter Citralus Double IPA

Arbeiter Citralus Double IPA.

8.1 % ABV, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

This is rather unheard of of late, so I have to point it out to one and all. This beer was released on Friday, March 11, to absolutely no fanfare that I was aware of, and I bought this crowler the same day, and here I am reviewing it on Monday the 14th. (And not published until Saturday the 19th for some reason.)I don't always get as timely as that. I feel slightly ashamed of all the less-fresh beer that's been patiently waiting it's turn in the fridge, being pushed aside by this hot new can. Still working on clearing away the contents of the cooler, which means a lot of saying no to new beers. A vow which I broke by the lure of this Double IPA, as often happens. Oh, and also, I had already made up my mind to buy this when I discovered there was a BOGO going on! If I hadn't decided to buy a crowler, that would have changed my mind. 

Clear, bright golden, large creamy, snowy white head. 

In the nose: Lemon, lime, orange, and an echo of grapefruit. Exceptionally citric and utterly pretty. Delightfully floral. 

In the mouth: Hop bitterness spanks the palate on first sip. Big citrus and pine. Clean and crisp. Medium body. Slides down smooth, with brittle bitterness breaking the fall. Lip smackingly delicious and refreshing, despite the higher ABV coming a-calling.

Was the first double IPA from Arbeiter? Possibly. Let it not be the last.

Pivovara Medvedgrad Grička Vještica Doppelbock

Pivovara Medvedgrad Grička Vještica Doppelbock.

7.5 % ABV, Medvedgrad Brewery, Zagreb, Croatia. 

These Craotian beers showed up today. I've never had a beer from Croatia before. (Edit: not true. I had one called Karlovacki 19 years ago.)They're all German styles, and look, here's a doppelbock. You know I llove a good doppelbock. Why don't we drink it? 

Clear, crimson-hued, slim auburn head. 

In the nose: Rich, sweet malty flavors, caramel and toffee in charge. Beautiful. 

In the mouth: More caramel, toffee, brown sugar and butterscotch at play on the palate. Medium bodied, smooth, sweet and malty. Good balance, and easy drinking, though the higher ABV lo is increasingly encroaching. Floods the mouth with deliciousness and warmth.

Grička vještica (The Grič Witch) is a strong dark lager of a subtle ruby red color. It's flavor is light, rich in fine sweetness and of a pleasant aroma. The quality is ensured by the layering period of no less than 60 days. It is named after a legend of The Grič Witch, who was so beautiful as to enchant the people of Old Zagreb. 

Three Floyds Aggro Master Coffee Ale

Three Floyds Aggro Master Coffee Ale.

7.5 % ABV. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN. 

Dark brown, not quite clear, slim beige head above. 

In the nose: Roasty/toasty, earthy, lot of coffee going on to match the malt. 

In the mouth: Starts out with sweetness from the malt, with coffee flavor on the chase. Medium body, maybe lighter than I'd like. Coffee flavor never flags, though. Sweet, slightly spicy, smooth and delicious. Nothing from hops buy balance, Sometimes that's all you need. And every now and then, you get a glimspe of the Scottish Ale below it. 

As coffee and dark ales collide on the battlefield of flavor, a new hero emerges victorious! Combining a malty, Scottish-style ale with hand-selected roast coffee, the Aggromaster is your champion of full-bodied beers . . . Destined for and greatness and enjoyment. 

Junkyard Undersea World Belgian-style Golden Ale

 Junkyard Undersea World Belgian-style Golden Ale.

6.8% ABV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

Here's a beer I would have bought, except that I got it for free. It's by Junkyard, it's in a favorite style, and one I've never tried from this brewery. And it was only $10.99 for the 4-pack. I would have bought it, but for the getting it for free. Maybe if I like it well enough, I'll buy one. Let's see. 

Bright golden hue, large, lush ivory head, clouded, though it oughtn't be. 

In the nose: bubble gum and banana kick it off. Light fruit, delicate spice, ethereal yeast notes. Nice,

In the mouth: Bubblegum and banana again on the palate. Citrus speaks up, some light spice dances on the tongue. It's a bit busier in the mouth than it ought to be, should be crisper and cleaner, to be of my liking, but it's not bad at all. This would have done well with some filtering. But it's got enough of the good stuff to keep me happy. 

Almost. I felt the promise of the higher ABV coming on, then falling short. And then I find out it's only 6.8% ABV, not 8%+. I don't really think about Belgian Golden Ales that aren't Belgian Strong Golden Ales. Isn't that just a Belgian Blonde Ale? 

In the end, I like it, I just wish it would be making me drunker. 

Come on an Undersea Water adventure with us!? Growing up Aaron loved and still loves watching the undersea adventures of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. That was the inspiration for the label. If you haven't seen any of Cousteau's underwater footage, we highly recommend giving them a view. Preferably with an Undersea World Belgian Style Golden Ale in your hand.

Flavor profile: A great balance of banana, honey, and clove.

Surly Permanent Echo Double IPA

Surly Permanent Echo Double IPA.

9.2 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

I like to try out all the double IPAs, you all know that, if you know me at all. I also still want to give Surly a shake once in a while, especially when it comes to that style. Finally, this 6-pack was only $11.49. Can't pass that up. I've vanquished five of them with no problem, time to take notes on #six.

Slightly hazed, bright golden hue, large, vibrant, ivory head. Looking good.

In the nose: Screaming out citrus. Orange, grapefruit, tangerine. Dankness supreme. Also, candied apricots. Because, sure. 

In the mouth: Big, bold hoppiness coats the palate. Bitterness is moderate for this style. Just a little juicy before the heat comes in. More citrusy/ fruit flavors abound, flanked by layers of dank. Alcohol burbles on the palate and bubbles in the brain. This one hits me right where I want to be hit. Yum a dum dum. 

Like sound waves bouncing back to your ears, Permanent Echo’s aggressive hop flavor resonates and reverberates. Brewed with Strata, Cascade, and Mosaic hops for a citrusy, fruit-forward flavor that’s impossible to isolate, this beer leaves your head ringing.

Lupulin/ Drekker Operation Cohoperation Double Dry Hopped Triple India Pale Ale

Lupulin/ Drekker Operation Cohoperation Double Dry Hopped Triple India Pale Ale.

10% ABV. 10 IBU. Lupuin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. Collaboration with Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND. 

Highly clouded, bright golden hued, large, long lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Outsized aromatics. Big citrus notes abound. Largely lemon, orange, a hint of grapefruit. 

In the mouth: Starts out slightly sweet and tropical, with some juicy business on the palate. Pineapple and passionfruit joins the citrus. Soft and slightly fuzzy. Got to be all hazy with these two at the helm. Once again I am reminded that the Double Dry Hopped Double IPA from the fashioners of the fuzz, any of them, is not for me. They deliver some kind of pleasure, but keep the bitterness that I crave completely at bay. There's alchohol, hoppy flavors, and big juiciness, but it's all a bore to me. 

Too thick, too yeasty, too chock full of unwanted, unneeded proteins, too, too not what I want in a double IPA. But, the kids seem to dig it. 

Think about it. 10 IBUs in a so-called "triple IPA"? No way. 

Is it wrong for me to wish for just a bit of bitterness from a double IPA? They are trying to rid my favorite style of beer of all of it's joy. Why do they do this? Why? 

Insight Fathom Double Oat Stout

 Insight Fathom Double Oat Stout.

8.2 % ABV. Insight Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Another Insight beer with a label by my old friend, Mark Rivard, and this one is especially impressive. Can't wait to see what's next. 

Absolute ebony appearance, fully opaque, rich brown head. 

In the nose: Malty, rich, and semi-sweet. 

In the mouth: More rich, more sweet, but well-balanced. Smooth and nearly creamy. Full-bodied, but compellingly drinkable. Flavors of chocolate, coffee, brown sugar, and cream. Increasingly delightful. 

Winter Limited Double Oat Stout brewed with loads of flaked and malted oats, nine different malts, and a touch of vanilla. This malty-chocolate double oat stout has a beautifully layered, dark, rich, creamy flavor.

Kros Strain Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Kros Strain Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

13% ABV, Kros Strain Brewing, La Vista, NE. 

So, there I was, minding my own business, doing my job, and someone asks me to help him pick out 24 beers to take back home to Omaha. New England IPAs, preferably, and some weird, stuff, too. Okay, so, 6 4-packs, that should be easy, and I grab from Modist and BlackStack and Falling Knife and Lupulin, it's fairly quick and pailnless, and he thanks me, pays up, takes it to the car and returns to give me this can, from his brewery in La Vista, Nebraska. I never would have heard of them, if not for this incident. And now I will drink this beer. 

First of all, what kind of name is Kros Strain Brewing? I'm going to make a wild guess and say that a guy named Kros meet a guy named Strain. I might be wrong, though. 

Imperial Stout aged in Willett barrels for 20 months. With toasted coconut and hazelnuts added. I am eternally grateful that they did not refer to it as a pastry stout.

Strictly Stygian appearance, absolute opacity, slim to no head. 

In the nose: Coconut bomb. Flavor comes screaming out of the glass. Let's go in deeper. Coconut smothers everything. Not even getting any hazelnut, let alone the other barrel flavors or RIS flavors. It's all coconut. 

In the mouth: HUGE coconut flavors, with more trying to escape form underneath. Rich malt, thick, impenetrable, and sweet, with possibly some small hazelnut flavors showing, but I am also not really picking up any bourbon effects, either. It seems that everything has been swallowed up by the coconut. That might work for you, but, as for me, I'd like a little bourbon feeling in there somewhere. 

If you're coockoo for coconuts and in the Omaha area, go for it. 

Imperial stout aged for 20 months in Willett Whiskey barrels then finished with over 100 lbs of toasted coconut and hazelnut. Dessert in a glass! 

AleSmith .394 Pale Ale

AleSmith .394 Pale Ale. San Diego style pale ale. A collaboration with Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.

6% ABV. Alesmith Brewing, San Diego, CA. Hand-forged Ales. 

Here's a beer that I'm trying for the first time for reasons utterly unknown to me. I should have ordered a keg of it when it first entered our market, many years ago,while I was in the business of ordering kegs for a bar,  but never did. Because I like Alesmith and I enjoy pale ales, there's no reason that I should have missed out on buying a 6-pack in the intervening years. But now that they have it in 19.2 ounce cans, that's when I finally plop down $3.99 to give it a whirl. Wait ...four bucks for a single 19 ounce can when a 6-pack is 9.99? I did not play this one correctly. Anyway, who cares, let's drink it. 

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, large and lasting pure ivory head. 

In the nose: bursting with citrus and a dose of caramel malt on the side. 

In the mouth: Crisp, clean, light bodied, smooth. Lightish bodied. Slightly malty. Just enough caramel malt. Sweet and bitter in perfect harmony. Super drinkable. Yeah, I'd drink a few of these at a Padres game, if that ever happened. Why not? 

In early 2014, Tony Gwynn’s team approached AleSmith to create a distinctive beer for the baseball legend. A meeting was called at the Gwynn household, which included a sampling of AleSmith beers to identify Tony’s preferences. He wanted the beer to be “light with a kick” which he elaborated further to mean full of hop character and light in body and color. The result of the Gwynn family’s feedback on test batches rendered a golden pale ale full of American hop flavor and aroma, with a subdued bitterness and a malty sweet finish. AleSmith San Diego Pale Ale .394 pays tribute to the city that Tony loved and the career-high batting average that he achieved in ‘94. Discover what happens when a Hall of Fame perfectionist crafts a beer with a world-class brewery. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation (TAG).

Bad Weather Calamity Russian Imperial Stout

Bad Weather Calamity Russian Imperial Stout.

11.4 % ABV, 70 IBU. Bad Weather Brewing, St. Paul, Mn. 

Thoroughly black, completely opaque, slim brown ring holds court above. 

In the nose: roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, caramel, ash, and a little anise. 

In the mouth: Rich, malty and bittersweet. Just the right balance here. Roasted malt meets chocolate with a hint of dark fruits. Bold, full bodied, long malty finish. There's a little heat here, and not a small amount of smoke. And a whole lot of chocolate. 

This one lays on the palate for the long haul, and I'm enjoying it. 

Bold and daring. This full-bodied imperial stout is for the fearless. Those who like it dark, roasted, and big on flavors. Settle in for a sweet yet bitter taste with notes of chocolate and dark fruit.

Oliphant Sangy Squishy Sour Ale

Oliphant Sangy Squishy Sour Ale. Peanut Butter, Blackberry, & Banana Sandwich Sour Ale. 

I haven't been checking out sours much lately, you may have noticed. Various reasons. But this is Oliphant, man, I got to, and there's a blue skinned version of Josh and his fruit buddies and some naked Oliphant heads dudes and ...there really needs to be explanation for the label designs somewhere. I get bewildered. 

Murky and crimson-hued, large pink head. 

In the nose: Peanut butter pops out first. then banana. Where are you, blackberry? Here it comes, mingling in the middle. 

In the mouth: Sour start to the affair. With all the component flavors taking shelter below the sour. Banana and blackberry shine above the peanut butter. Where's you go, PB? Suddenly, sour subsides and sweet creeps in. Full bodied, smooth, and delightfully drinkable. 

Bell's Wild Spruce Chase India Pale Ale with Spruce Tips

Bell's Wild Spruce Chase India Pale Ale with Spruce Tips.

6.5 % ABV, 45 IBU. Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. 

Clear, bright golden color, 1/4" of off-white foam on top. 

In the nose: Citrusy hop notes shine first, with the spruce coming up and taking over in no time. Piney and sprucey, together at last. 

In the mouth: They've come up at once this time, the hops and the tree pieces. It's an odd idea, isn't it, to toss such stuff into the boil. How often might we think to ourselves that we would want such a flavor in our IPA? But, heck, it works, I guess. And I kind of like it. Just a little bit of bitterness, just enough to keep me happy. Lean-bodied, light and drinkable. Spruce isn't too much, just a dash for flavor. 

The Wild Spruce Chase is the annual search for the perfect tree. There’s no need to measure this one. Brewed with real spruce tips, this IPA is full and fresh and fits perfectly.

Spruce tips, harvested from the mountains of Colorado, are "new growth" and can only be harvested during a very short, specific time frame.

Bottles of this beer are available exclusively in the 2021 Jingle Bell's variety pack. Some locations will have it on draft, but it will be limited.

Firestone Walker XXIV Twenty-fourth Anniversary Ale

Firestone Walker XXIV Twenty-fourth Anniversary Ale.  Special Reserve Barrel aged Blend. Limited Edition Release. 11.3 % ABV. Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA. 

I've been sitting on this one for over a year now, so it seems like a good time to take notes on it. Regretting that I passed on the 25th edition that came out a few months back, but for two reasons: 1. I'm trying to reduce the size of my collection, not increase it. 2. I am taking a hard pass at most single bottles/cans priced at $10 or more. Most, you will note, not all. Being very picky and economical. Sometimes  I can't pass them up, though, such as when I bought this guy. Now, let's drink it. 

Dark brown body, thoroughly opaque, slim, cream-toned ring of foam atop. 

In the nose: Ah! Bourbon barrel! Vanilla, oak, smoke, char, hints of cherries and dates. Deeply delectable. 

In the mouth: Bold, hot, and sweet all at once. Rich, roasted malts command the flavors. I'm trying to pick out the base beer, but in the end it turn's out to be a fool's errand. This one is a blend of six different beer, of a multitude of styles, the main thing in common is strong and malty. 

Deep flavors of dark fruit (raisins, date, plum), chocolate, charcoal, oak, vanilla, whiskey. Damned delicious. Spices  pop up on the palate. Warm and wonderful. This is a panoply of pleasures. 

Our annual anniversary ale, blended with the help of local Paso Robles winemakers. Components: 27% Velvet Merkin, 26% Stickee Monkee, 17% Parabola, 17% Smoked Imperial Walker's Reserve, 11% Bravo, and 4% Tequila Barrel Helldorado 

Zoller Zwickel

 Zoller Zwickel. 

5.5 % ABV, 18 IBU. Brauwerie Zoller-Hof, Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

When was the last time I had a zwickel?  I certainly can't remember. Perhaps I had a zwickel but it was called a Keller, who knows? Well, let's not wait around, we're going to crack this crown and reacquaint ourselves. 

Lightly hazed, bright yellow color, large, rocky, ivory head. 

In the nose: Slight citrus, floral notes. Touch grainy. 

In the mouth: Minor hops on the palate, leaving some somelemony, citruys flavors. Light yeast flavor keeps this from being too crisp and clean. Light bodied, smooth, refreshing and just about tasty. 

What is a zwickel, anyway? Let's check Wikipedia....Zwickelbier[edit]

The term Zwickelbier refers to a weaker and less full-flavored variant of Kellerbier.[2] Originally, it was used to refer to the small amount of beer taken by a brewmaster from the barrel with the aid of a special siphon called the Zwickelhahn.

It is less hoppy, and typically not left to age as long as Kellerbier.

Then, what's a Kellerbier? Kellerbier is a type of German beer, a lager, which is typically neither clarified nor pasteurised.[1] The term Kellerbier literally translates as "cellar beer", referring to its cool lagering temperatures. Its recipe probably dates to the Middle Ages.