Bent Paddle Passion Fruit Pilsner

 

Bent Paddle Passion Fruit Pilsner. Pilsner lager with passion fruit.

5% ABV, Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota.

Last one from the previous variety pack. I’m still behind, but I’m trying. Blame it on my procrastination. 

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

In the nose: fruity and funky. Ripe and pulpy passion fruit.

In the mouth: here, passion fruit is king, as well. Light bodied, clean, and fairly refreshing. Tart art and fruity. Original Pilsner character swallowed up by the fruit, not that I mind. 

"Passion Fruit Pilsener" brings a splash of the tropics to our Venture Pils. The unique taste of passion fruit lends a complimentary tart fruit presence to our year-round pilsner and adds emphasis to the crispness of our lager. 

Lagunitas Maximus 2022

Lagunitas Maximus 2022. Colossal IPA. Robusticus Flavorcus. For all the Hop heads.

9% ABV, 60 IBU. Lagunitas Brewing, Petaluma, California & Chicago, Illinois.,

This is a re-review. In 2015, I did a post about this beer, using my notes from 2003. I wasn’t impressed, then, for whatever reason. And this year, the beer was packaged in cans and 12-packs at a very attractive price. I decided to try it again, and saved the last one for this re-review. 

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

In the nose: floral, slightly citric. 

In the mouth: dank and snappy. Big time resinous and citrusy. Increasingly sticky icky. Candied apricots to mingle with orange and grapefruit. Emerging alcohol blazes the palate. Booze befuddles the senses. I’m liking it. It’s got a lot going on. And I can dig it. It’s not my all-time favorite, but it’ll do in a pinch.

Our Colossal take on a Double IPA, full of Simcoe, Cascade & Centennial hops balanced against tons of rich malted barley. Kinda like our IPA on steroids. Flavor so hoppy it threatens to remove the enamel from one's teeth.

BlackStack Shine On NEIPA

 BlackStack Shine On NEIPA.

6.9% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

I remember the first time I heard someone say “DIPA” as if it was a word, not an abbreviation. Dippa. Does anyone pronounce IPA as Eye-pa? Do people ever read these cans and want to say “knee-pa”? Or maybe Nay- pa? I think about these things. 

Lightly clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: soft and citrusy. Mellow. Floral. Faint tropical.

In the mouth: Juicy/fruity. Soft and sweet. Traces of pineapple and guava. Bits of low level orange and lemon. Even lower level bitterness. Altogether unremarkable.

It’s no secret that I’m not moved by the Neipas out there, by and large. I like some better than others, but they’re not for me. I accepted this free sample gladly, so I can’t go out of my way to blast it. I remain disheartened that blander versions of this ubiquitous style are the default setting at so many breweries.

We got together with the Children's Hospital of Minnesota's Shine Bright for Cancer Kids Foundation to support their mission of supporting children & their families dealing with cancer & blood disorders. These kids are extremely strong & resilient, just like diamonds, so we loaded up this gem of an IPA with Citra, Citra Cryo, Simcoe, Simcoe Cryo &  Cascade Noble hops with Phantasm. Shine bright... like a diamond.

Oh, it’s a charity beer. You’re not allowed to criticize them. Now, don’t I look like a jerk.

Surly Digital Wizard Mango Pale Ale

 

Surly Digital Wizard Mango Pale Ale. Ale brewed with mango. Hoppy/Fruity/Magical.

5.5% ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Again, from the previous Surly variety pack. I’m still so far behind.

Clear, golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: fruity, tropical, hoppy.

In the mouth: brief bitter bite, then it’s all about the mango. Light bodied, sweet, smooth, hoppy, delicious.

Quite nice. I’m liking this.  

Like the blacklight posters that adorned your buddy’s basement, this fruit-forward pale ale expands your mind. Brewed with mango, Digital Wizard casts a spell of intense flavor and easy-drinking approachability.

Revolution Trident Hero IPA

 Revolution Trident Hero IPA.

6.2% ABV, 42 IBU. Revolution Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

This one comes from a Revolution League of Heroes variety pack, where new IPAs are imagined as various superhero types, all with hops for heads. 

When I think of tridents, I first think of Neptune, Namor, Aquaman, and that one weird SNL sketch where Will Ferrell murders Chris Parnell with one. Anyway, now I think of another undersea hero with a Hop for a head. 

Slightly clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Dank, piney, resinous, certainly citric. Everything I want in an IPA, plus a touch of the tropical.

In the mouth: blast of bitterness at the onset, blazing the palate before cooling off. Flavors of grapefruit, mango, tangerine and orange zest continue to please.

Flat out deliciousness, thoroughly enjoyed. 

The king of the depths strikes with aromas and flavors as expansive as his undersea kingdom. Citrus, passionfruit, and kiwi character reach from the reef to the shores.

Alesmith / Other Half Hop Cypher DDH West Coast-style India Pale Ale

 Alesmith / Other Half Hop Cypher DDH West Coast-style India Pale Ale.

6.5% ABV. Alesmith Brewing, San Diego, California. 

Clear, bright golden hue, lush, lace-leaving ivory head. 

In the nose: floral, citric... nice, but not especially expressive.

In the mouth: flush of fruity flavors from the start with muted bitterness. Tropical notes, mango, guava, melon, play with citrus, but softly, quietly. Very smooth, with flashes of deliciousness. Ends mostly on the dry side.

If this was from anyone else but Alesmith and wasn’t called a West Coast IPA, I’d be mildly satisfied. But this is a far cry from what I’d expect out of an Alesmith West Coast IPA. Is it the DDH-ing that’s rips out the bitterness that I look forward to? Is it the inevitable compromise that comes with a collaboration with a brewery known for it’s New England IPAs. You know those hipster breweries love to DDH the shit out of everything. 

We free-styled with our friends at Other Half Brewing to bring you a Double Dry-Hopped West Coast IPA jam-packed with Strata, Mosaic, and Chinook hops. Intense notes of grapefruit, mango, and strawberry bring this collaborative brew together for a must-cop IPA.

Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout

Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout.

12.5% ABV, Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, Florida. 

According to Untappd, I’ve tasted this one before, as early as 2013, but I took no notes or pics and can only assume it was some friend or friendly stranger’s generosity. For this can I must think the friendly stranger who gave it to my sister at Russian River, and also thank my sister, who gave it to me.

Deep ebony, full opacity, brief brown head.

In the nose: deep, rich, murky,sweet. Dark fruit mingles with molasses. More red wine than raisins. Plums, a little. More dark malt flavors slowly emerge.

In the mouth: chocolate pops onto the scene, with a hint of espresso. Alcohol comes in strong from the start. Fruity throughout. A bit sweeter than I am used to in the Imperial Stouts that I enjoy. And then along comes cinnamon. Chocolate and cinnamon are now masters of the palate atop this mountain of malt. 

This is not my favorite style of RIS, but I enjoy it nonetheless. 

Central to Mayan mythology is the story of twin brothers named Xbalanque and Hunahpu, the Hero Twins. After the Twins’ father was murdered by evil deities from Xibalba, his corpse became a cacao tree that spawned our two Heroes. Epic adventures followed, culminating in a journey to Xibalba to avenge their father’s death. Vanquishing their enemies handily, the Heroes then ascended unto the heavens where they became the sun and the moon.

Deschutes Farmstand Fresh Mango IPA India Pale Ale

 Deschutes Farmstand Fresh Mango IPA India Pale Ale. 

6.4 % ABV, 45 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, Oregon.

From a previous variety pack, since released on it’s own.

Lightly clouded, bright golden, large layer of ivory froth atop. 

In the nose: some sweetness, tropical tones, mango coming through. Delightfully hoppy.

In the mouth: fresh and zesty, mango flavor rules the palate. Moderate bitterness, medium bodied. Just bitter enough to keep me liking it. Quite delicious. 

Bravo, Cashmere and Mosaic hops combined with mango juice brings a juicy hop experience with poppin’ fruit character.

Town Hall Höplischious German-style IPA

 Town Hall Höplischious German-style IPA. 

7% ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Lightly clouded, golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: nicely hoppy, citrus, floral, bit of pine. Grapefruit and lemon up front.Orange zest. 

In the mouth:  brash hop explosion on the palate. Juicy, then dry, with a blaze of bitterness throughout. More citrus, crisp, dry, refreshing, delicious. Exceptionally smooth. 

. German wheat beer meets a modern IPA. I like it. 

Old world German wheat, barley, and yeast meet modern bright, fruity German and New Zealand hops.

Schell’s Snowstorm 2022 Mahogany Lager

 Schell’s Snowstorm 2022 Mahogany Lager. Guided by Tradition. Brewed to Endure. Since 1860. A storied legacy of fine beers. (Phew! That’s a lot of mottos on one label!)

6.7 % ABV. August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, Minnesota.

I gave up the notion long ago that the Snowstorm series could, or should, be consisted of more full bodied beers. You can’t really sell a lot of inexpensive 12-packs with 8% Baltic Porters. These days I know better just to except something dark. And now, “mahogany lager.” Whatever that may be...

Murky, mahogany (can’t argue with that), slim, tannish froth atop.

In the nose: soft and malty. Subtle hints of cocoa, caramel, toffee. Quite pleasant, edging into deeper deliciousness, but sticking on the safe side.

In the mouth: comes on board the palate lightly hoppy, and full of malty flavors, while remaining medium bodied and easy drinking. There is a kind of richness in the flavor that hints at a certain fullness, yet doesn’t deliver that. If it had gone farther, the ABV would go up and the price, too. 

I have reviewed every beer from this series since I started this blog in 2010. Here’s what the last twelve were: 2010, Weizen Doppelbock.

           2011: Wee Heavy. 

            2012: Biere de Noel

              2013: Begian Golden Ale

           2014: Grand Cru

           2015: Wallonian Brown Ale

           2016: ooops, can’t find it.  Maybe I did miss one? English Strong Ale says BeerAdvocate. Looks like I never even tried it, if Untappd can be trusted. (It says I didn’t check in to 2014 and ‘17, either, but I didn’t check it every beer back then. Too many apps to keep track of.)

           2017: Rye Ale   

           2018: Speciale Belge 

           2019: Red Ale

           2020: Oat Stout

           2021: Oat Starkbier.

And how does this one compare? For the fourth year in a row, they kept it safe, but tasty. 

Omni FAD Freaking Awesome Delicious New England Double IPA

 

Omni FAD Freaking Awesome Delicious New England Double IPA.

8% ABV, 40 IBU. Omni Brewing, Maple Grove, Minnesota.

In another time, another universe, I might have gotten around to this one earlier. But then came the ban. The boycott. That ruling from Me on High Above that shouted NO! at the heart of the hazies. One exception to this is when they come to me free. I shouted no to buying them with my own money, but I’ll try them for free, no problem. ( I’ll use my own cash for the beers I know I’ll like.) It can’t be helped what I’ll say, though.

A lighter shade of haze, here, pale gold color, thin ivory head.

In the nose: lively, bright, a little sweetish. Citrusy. Fuzzy. But not too much so.

In the mouth: spark of hop bitterness, swallowed up by bright citrus goodness. Medium bodied, well balanced, with the booze creeping in. Somewhat snappy, quite tasty. A top notch creation.

To quote C. Montgomery Burns: I know what I hate...and I don’t hate this. 

This is our new and improved 2nd anniversary beer that is full of Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo Hops.  This one has an aroma that is hard to resist.  This New England DIPA is not just a fad, it’s Frickin’ Awesome & Delicious!

Bent Paddle Tropical Hop India Pale Ale with orange zest

 Bent Paddle Tropical Hop India Pale Ale with orange zest. Featuring Vic Secret + Galaxy + Citra hops.

 6.2% ABV, Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota. 

This one comes from the variety pack. Not the current one, the one from before. I’m still behind. 

Lightly clouded, pale orange hue, slim white head.

In the nose: there’s the orange, and a blend of citrus and tropical notes coming in from behind.

In the mouth: a brace of bitterness blazes the palate, before finally fading. Then comes a rush of fruit, just a little juicy, brief appearances by mango, passion fruit, grapefruit.  Beautiful medley, with enough hop bitterness to keep it interesting. Medium bodied, long hoppy finish.

Tropical Hop" introduces tropical-oriented hops Vic Secret, Galaxy and Citra to our classic Bent Hop recipe. Orange Zest highlights the natural tropical flavors of the hops while still giving space for the Bent Hop to shine. 

Hammerheart Olaf The Stout Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Stout

 

Hammerheart Olaf The Stout Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Stout.

10.8% ABV. Hammerheart Brewing, Lino Lakes, MN. 

A few weeks back, I shared with you what I said was my last can from Hammerheart. Can, yes, but I still had this bottle. I had been holding off because I wasn’t sure if I’d had it before. Ive reviewed Olaf, when I had it on tap at the Blue Nile, so long ago...but that one wasn’t Barrel aged.  So, here come the notes. 

Strictly Stygian, completely opaque, under a rich tan head. 

In the nose: cocoa and smoke. Coffee and smoke. Vanilla and smoke. Char and smoke. A smorgasbord of smoke and malt.

In the mouth: remarkably smooth, at first. Then, the flavors unspool, the chocolate, espresso, the oak and the barrel. Chock full of Barrel-y, malty goodness. Deep, decadent, delicious. Hangs hard into the division between bitter and sweet, staying on the side of bitter....and dark...rich....unique and uncompromising. 

This, to me, is Hammerheart. I can’t wait until they return. 

Named for King Olaf II of Norway, an Imperial rye stout aged in bourbon barrels, as black as his hearty and as bitter as his reign. Charcoal art by Tanner Anderson.

Hofbrau Dunkel

 Hofbrau Dunkel.

5.5% ABV. Staatsliches Hofbrauhuas, Munich, Germany.

Clear, deep mahogany hue, slim whitish head.

In the nose: caramel notes pop out first, then cola. Mostly malty, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: caramel and a touch of toffee, cola, again, and perhaps a hit of coffee. Malt-driven. Light bodied, slight hop bitterness and just enough sweetness. Drinks down nice and smooth.

It’s a good dunkel, but not great. Not that I’m complaining. 

Dark beer existed in Bavaria long before light beer. This was the first type of beer to be brewed at Hofbräuhaus when it was founded. Today, when beer-lovers all over the world talk about dark beer, they usually mean a Munich style beer. Today, Hofbräu Dunkel - the archetypal Bavarian beer - is still as popular as ever. With its alcoholic content of around 5.5% volume and its spicy taste, it’s a refreshing beer that suits all kinds of occasions. A beer in the traditional Munich style! 

BlackStack DDH Jurassic Park DDH TIPA

 BlackStack DDH Jurassic Park DDH TIPA. Collaboration with Toppling Goliath. 

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

Impenetrable haze, dull yellow color, slim white head. Some floaties when I empty the can. 

In the nose: softly citric and slightly tropical. Hint of pine, behind the haze. 

In the mouth: aggressively sweet and sugary. Slightly tart, too Hoppy flavors appear, but it’s in the midst of this morass. A lot of thickness to this. And, yeah, too much Many fruity flavors play on the palate, but, eh, this is not what I look for in a “TIPA”, DDH or otherwise. This entire style of beer is something I actively resist and rail against. But, them, I end getting a free sample and I hope against hope that I don’t hate and have to tell everyone.

Maybe some day I’ll turn down a free beer. I wonder what that’s like.

Our homies from Toppling Goliath came up to get even more prehistoric with us. To pay homage to their dino classics & the not infrequent jokes about the amount of plants in our taproom, we used even more earth rattling quantities of our hand-selected Citra & Citra Cryo & that new hotness, Riwaka, from New Zealand. All of the oils. Tread lightly. One might even say too much Citra... someone is gonna get sued!

Surly Battle Vest Strata IPA

 

Surly Battle Vest Strata IPA.

6.7% ABV, Surly Brewing, Twin Cities, Minnesota.

From the recently retired variety pack. I’m still behind.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: bold and expressive citrus notes. Lemon and grapefruit with a splash of pine.

In the mouth: nice bitter bite up front, good and hoppy stuff going down. Bright berries join the citrus crew. Bitterness clings to the palate. Hop flavors bouncing up and down. Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish. Tasty stuff. A little juicy, a little dank, the best of all worlds. 

A headbanger’s vest showcases the fiercest of metal icons. If someone makes a hophead vest, the Strata hop that drives this juicy, tropical IPA gets the Pantera spot. 

Revolution Oktoberfest

 Revolution Oktoberfest. German-style lager. 

5.7% ABV, Revolution Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

We’re getting close to the end of the new Oktoberfest beers I tried this year. One more to go after this one.

Clear, amber hue, slim white head.

In the nose: malty, grainy, classic. 

In the mouth: sweet, caramel-y flavors dominate the palate. Noble hops here for balance. Nice and toasty. Light bodied and easily consumed. Pairs well with tubas and bratwurst. Tasty märzen goodness. 

A stein full of traditional Märzen offered in anticipation of those days filled with sausage, pretzels, and a table full of friends. Our brewers put all the time and care into this long-lagered beauty using traditional German ingredients and methods. Smooth, toasty flavor and the inviting aromas of hearth-baked bread, finishing with just enough Noble hop character to keep you coming back for another round. One of our most popular food-pairing beers, or worthy of a hearty "prost!" on its own. 

Sierra Nevada Liquid Hoppiness Juicy IPA

 

 

Sierra Nevada Liquid Hoppiness Juicy IPA. 

7% ABV, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, California, & Mills River, North Carolina. 

One thing that I will never be is that person who says “do we need another IPA?” However, there are circumstances when that question is indeed appropriate. More on that later. 

It must again be noted that I have established an embargo against the hazy IPA, except in the occasions when I get them for free. But there are times when the hazy is not listed as such, and I have learned to identify the usual perpetrators. Sierra Nevada is a company I’ve come to trust through the years. This is labeled as a “juicy IPA”, whatever the hell that is...

...but it’s hazy, though not so murky as some, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: citrus, stone fruit, peach, melon, slight sweetness.

In the mouth: ver little bitterness up front, mostly juicy fruit, turning dry at the end. Just enough bitterness to qualify. The flavor is more of that melange of fruit salad identified in the nose. Medium bodied, easily passed past the gullet. Has certain delightful attributes, but seems hardly necessary.

I may seem harsh in my assessment, but I am not alone. This the second beer that SNBC has released this year that no one asked for, and which replaced a beloved seasonal. Summerfest lager was replaced by Summer Break, a hazy IPA, of course, and this one replaced, of all things, their Oktoberfest. “Sorry, no more seasonal lagers, you guys, just hazy IPAs from now on....that’s all you guys like anymore, right?”

Sierra has since announced that those beers will be back next year. It’s a good thing they didn’t mess with Celebration or there would be pitchforks and torches descending on Chico, California.

Ride the rapids of Liquid Hoppiness, flowing through canyons of hops and haze where fruity notes of grapefruit, orange, and fresh berries thrive in this juicy IPA flavorscape.

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA Hazy Imperial IPA

 New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA Hazy Imperial IPA.

9.5 % ABV, New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado & Asheville, North Carolina.

This one came to me via the latest NB variety pack. It’s an Imperial IPA, which I like. And hazy, which I don’t. Which side will win? 

Hardly hazed, mostly clear, bright golden hue, large, lace lace-leaving, ivory head.

In the nose: big tropical fruit: mango, pineapple, papaya. Barely a hint of citrus. No wait, here comes grapefruit and tangerine. Fruits ahoy! 

In the mouth: blast of bitterness at first, then comes the fruity and juicy. Alcoholic strength shows it’s stripes. More juicy than bitter, all in all, which does not please me. But it is pleasant, easy drinking and boozy, which I like. So, it’s a draw. I can drink it and I don’t hate. I wouldn’t buy another, though. 

Town Hall IPA 25

 Town Hall IPA 25. 

6.7% ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

It was in the summer of 2002 that I entered Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery for the first time. That’s means that for five years I passed by and thought “brewpub? Come on, how can they be as good as Summit? Pass!” Such a young fool. My obsession with beer was at all time high in 2002: toying with the beer selection at the Blue Nile, trying every new beer I could, beginning to take notes and discovering the communities at BeerAdvocate and ratebeer online, reading about everything and always exploring. I was ready to fix that mistake and got hooked on Masala Mama IPA from the first taste.

I posted the first BeerAdvocate review of Mama on January 1 of 2003. Go to my review for the rest of the story. As of this writing, I have 264 reviews of their beer on that site, and 200 here. There is a lot of crossover, but I haven’t yet determined what my total number of TH reviews should be. That’s a project for some rainy day.

Back in those early days, before Surly and the explosion of breweries and taprooms, Town Hall was one of the few places to find freshly brewed beer made on premise. I was there for almost every new release, took a growler (remember those?) home and took notes on every one. Things have only continued in greatness at Town Hall, but’s I don’t get down there like I used to for several reasons. Most importantly, I no longer live or work as near to the location as used to, and also, there’s the draw of the other, newer breweries nearer to me. Sisyphus, Wooden Ship, Arbeiter and the like see me much more often. 

It seems that I’ve only been there twice so far this year, for Barrel aged week, and just recently for Anniversary Week. I wasn’t able to make it to the big shindig on Saturday, I did stop in last Friday night to toast their 25th, and found some new beers. This one will make it 201.

Clear, bright golden toned, large ivory head.

In the nose: delightful aromatics, citrusy, floral.

In the mouth: happiness gets down to business from the get-go. From first sip and gulp, I am certain that they brewed this with me in mind. Refreshingly bitter, dry, even brittle. Customer made for my palate. Light bodied, with merest malt, easy drinking, a hopheads.

This is what should be coming out at every other brewery, instead of hazy, hazy, hazies. These guys know how it’s done!

Cheers to Pete, Mike, Derek and everyone else at Town Hall for 25 years of amazing beers!

Also had on tap, 97 Masala, a recreation of the original recipe last released in 2017.

I liked this one, Höplischious, so much I took home a crowler. Notes coming soon.

Can’t pass up a Grand Cru, one of my all-time favorites, and you know I love the Belgians.