Pipeworks Ninja vs. Unicorn vs. The Cryo Double IPA

 

Pipeworks Ninja vs. Unicorn vs. The Cryo Double IPA.

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting snow white head.

In the nose: soft, floral, slightly citrusy. Nice. 

In the mouth: more soft, more smooth. A bit of juicy, while still remaining dry. Not as fierce and bitter as regular. Plump with citrus, pine, a dose of tropical, without the deliciousness, punishing bitterness. Medium bodied, delightfully drinkable. Pales in comparison to the original, though. That’s progress, I guess. 

Ninja vs Unicorn Double IPA but with Cryo hops. Do you feel that? It's a chill... It's a freeze... IT'S THE CRYO! The Ninja and The Unicorn have teamed up against their coolest mutual enemy... THE CRYO! Will the be able to overcome, or will they be iced out of a win...

"Cryo hops" more or less refers to a process of processing fresh hops that uses very cold temps which shatters the hops and hop oils resulting in an extremely fresh hop aroma. This beer is basically our Ninja vs Unicorn Double IPA but with a cryo hop twist! 8.0% ABV

Goose Island Neon Beer Hug IPA

 Goose Island Neon Beer Hug IPA.

7.0% ABV, 40 IBU. Goose Island Beer, Chicago, Illinois & Fort Collins, Colorado.

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

In the nose: fresh blast of citrus, largely lemon, with accompanying grapefruit and orange. 

In the mouth: big bite and the front, delivers bitterness to the palate, then slowly fades back. Starts vibrant, fruity, ending dry and delightful. Light bodied, long, hoppy finish.  Good beer and you can drink it. Also, not too shabby there. 

A shockingly easy-drinking 7.0% ABV IPA with an electric bouquet of tropical & citrus flavors. Nugget, Sultana, Citra, Mosaic, and Eureka hops provide the spark that makes Neon Beer Hug shine!

Half Acre Nelson Double Daisy Cutter Double Pale Ale

 Half Acre Nelson Double Daisy Cutter Double Pale Ale. Nelson Sauvignon, Falconers Flight. 

7.5% ABV. Half Acre Beer, Chicago, Illinois. 

All hazified, dull orange hue, lush and lasting bright ivory head. 

In the nose: lemon and grapefruit, maybe melon, slight florality.

In the mouth: typically gauzy mouthfeel of a hazy pale ale. Daisy Cutter isn’t hazy, so why does this variation on Double DC have to be? 

Hop bitterness is low, severely softened. Definitely drinkable, medium bodied, fresh and zesty. Wish I liked it more, but it doesn’t really deliver what I’d expect from a double pale ale. Pleasant enough beverage, heck, I even enjoy it. Just expecting something else. 

An exploded view, single hop data set using Double Daisy Cutter as medium. Nelson, a southern hemisphere heartthrob hop, still offers that wonderful other. High minded fruit, Kiwi Sauv Blanc grape, Humboldt diesel, tropical salsa and a slew of interconnected bursts all total some foreign exchange student difference that makes you want to travel. This beer billows, feels good and is a great addition to this lineage of DDC variants.

Back Channel District 5 New England India Pale Ale

 Back Channel District 5 New England India Pale Ale.

6.25% ABV.Brewed on the shores of Lake Minnetonka by Back Channel Brewing, Spring Park, Minnesota. 

And here we have the first appearance in the Nib of the Back Channel Brewing Company of Spring Park, Minnesota. I have not yet had the opportunity to visit their taproom, and they have only lately joined the ranks of local beers on the shelves at the store where I work. Until recently, they only sent us New England IPAs, which I do not buy. Then, at last, something new: a rice lager, which I will neither purchase nor drink. And I will now try them for the first time, a hazy, because I got it for free. 

And here I am without a bowl.

Drab orange, all hazed out, large, milk white head.

In the nose: big time citrus, orange aplenty, some tangerine, touch of tropical.

In the mouth: lightly bitterness, with moderate hop flavors on the palate. Lacks any real zing, though, or zazz. Just kind of lays there. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Maybe too easy. 

I’m hoping the rest of their IPAs are better than this. They have to be, with the reputation they’ve garnered. Or maybe I’m so against the style that stuff like this will never impress me? 

Melon // Ripe Stone Fruit // Agave Nectar

Dual Citizen Dreaming with our Heads Cut Off IPA

 Dual Citizen Dreaming with our Heads Cut Off. Pacific NW IPA.

7% ABV. 72 IBU. Dual Citizen Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

And here we have the first Dual Citizen beer in the Nib in a can. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to buy some of their canned beers, just never felt compelled to do so. This one came to me as a free sample, and was never for sale at the store, perhaps because of the terrible name.

Clear, amber hued, slim off-white head.

In the nose: slightly citrusy. Mellow fruity notes. 

In the mouth: huh. What is this? Vaguely...chocolatey? Earthy. Mostly malty. Gets a little juicy. Little hop bitterness. Doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. It’s a decent enough IPA, but doesn’t stand out. I don’t mind it, but that’s as far as we go with this one. Am I being harsh? Not too. 

Orange in hue with a creamy off-white head. Aromas of grapefruit, burnt orange peel, and slight pine notes towards the end from Centennial hops. Medium body with layers of hops coating the palate gives way to a hoppy clean finish.

Edit: I am drinking a fresher can in 2023 and am more satisfied this time. I must have an aged an off version when I wrote the above.

Venn Titan of Terror Hazy Triple IPA

 Venn Titan of Terror Hazy Triple IPA. With Sultana & El Dorado Salvo + Sultana Cryo, El Dorado Cryo, & Citra Cryo hops.

10% ABV. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Hazed. Unclear. Orangish hue. Slim white head.

In the nose: big, hoppy, and bright. Citrus explosion. Orange and lime and maybe a pinch of pineapple. Very nice. 

In the mouth: vibrant, electric, a pulsating buzz on the palate, a tripwire on the tongue. Huge citrus, major dank. Edging into Candyland. Alcohol starts to bubble. The warm feelings begin to glow. Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. (Remember, when those five booms appear, that you should hear it with the voice of John Lee Hooker.)

BlackStack Citra ...But Make It Pop NEIPA

 BlackStack Citra ...But Make It Pop NEIPA.

7% ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Another Neepa from BlackStack is in my glass, and drink it I must. 

All clouded-up, bright golden hue, huge head, long lasting, lace leaving. 

In the nose: bold and citrusy, big lemon, orange, grapefruit. Big and beautiful. 

In the mouth: Juicy and just a little bit bitter. All fuzzy and yeasty, with bitterness dying on the palate. Tasty and bright, to a point, but ...lacking necessary pizzaz. Yeah, I need an IPA to have pizzaz, but the kneepas never do. 

I mean, they’re okay, I guess, but I still don’t get the fuss. Meh. 

A new series dedicated to our hop suppliers & their tolerance for us during selection. It’s a running joke when we go out West to rub hops each harvest… “Yeah, I like everything about it… I just wish it popped more.” It turns out that “popping more” can be an incredibly difficult thing to quantify for a lab that is trying to screen hop lots as they come in. Showcasing some of our favorite selected lots and putting them out to pasture with Cryo Pop, a blend from Yakima Chief Hops specifically formulated for dry hopping during primary fermentation. Yeah, I like it… But can we make it pop?

Surly Mozzofiato Italian-style Pilsner

 Surly Mozzofiato Italian-style Pilsner.

5.9% ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The very last can from the previous Surly Variety Pack. I said I couldn’t buy the new one until I finish the old. And pilsners aren’t a favorite style, sorry if that shocks you. So, let’s take a look at this one so I can finally try the Baltic Porter in the new variety pack. 

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: lightly hopped, floral, slight sweetness.

In the mouth: soft, smooth, with negligible bitterness. Clean, crisp, highly drinkable. Light bodied. Lingering, likable finish.

I’ll keep trying out these Italian Pilsners when they come my way, as they are bound to, being such a popular style. I can’t see myself going out of my way for one, though. 

Italian pilsners differ from their German cousins thanks to a pop of dry-hopped flavor, adding a little bit of swagger to an otherwise reserved style. Classic Saaz hops make this “breathtaking” Italian Pils sunny, bright, and lemony. 

Hmmm. I really didn’t taste any swagger. Oh, well…

Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA. W/ Added Passion fruit, orange, and guava.

 Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA. W/ Added Passion fruit, orange, and guava.

8.1% ABV. Stone Brewing, Escondido, California.

I bought the Stone 12 Days of IPA box. Just couldn’t resist it. I started drinking one a day on December 13  and I will finish on the 24th. First three: IPA, Ruination, Scorpion Bowl. This is the first one that has not been reviewed here before. I skipped this when it was released because it has “hazy” in the name. I get the hazies only when they’re in a variety pack or when they are thrust into my hands as a free sample. Or, sometimes, if I don’t read the label closely.

Lightly clouded, hardly hazy, amber hued, with a surprising number of floating particles. This bottle can’t be that old. 

In the nose: tropical sweetness starts it off, gaining in intensity. Overwhelming citrus rising up. Orange supreme.  

In the mouth: juicy, citrusy, slight bitterness. Smooth stuff. Glides down the throat with nary a trouble to be found. Bold citrus and tropical tones keep popping on the palate. Lighting bodied, with alcohol starting to creep on in. 

I’m not overly fond of fruited IPAs, but this one hit the spot, and it wasn’t hardly as hazy as advertised. 

West Coast hops.  East Coast haze.  Passion fruit, orange and guava juice inspired by the popular Hawaiian drink.  This ridiculously tasty double IPA combines influence from across the country into one of the most flavorful beers we’ve ever released.  One could call it a perfect storm, we’d say it’s Peak Conditions.

Junkyard Tony’s Big Show New England Style Double IPA

 

Junkyard Tony’s Big Show New England Style Double IPA. 

8.1%  ABV, 40 IBU. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, Minnesota.

Clouded and golden toned, slim, lace leaving ivory head. 

In the nose: soft and citric. Fuzzy and tropical. Grapefruit and mango, orange and pineapple. 

In the mouth: juicy, fruity, bright. Just a little bit bitter, with plenty of orange, tangerine, grapefruit. Plenty of flavor pleasing the palate. Medium bodied, long hoppy, nearly-bitter finish. Tasty stuff. I can enjoy it. Lots of bright, beautiful flavors. Yum. A dum dum.

 Brewed with Simcoe (+Whole Leaf), and Amarillo (+Whole Leaf), this DIPA isn't called Tony's BIG Show for nothing...it's definitely BIG! Big flavors & aromas imbue distinct orange with citrus, tropical fruit, and berries to follow. You can also find a nice woodsy earth undertone with an intense hoppiness that steals the 

Ursa Minor Big Bad John Triple IPA

 

Ursa Minor Big Bad John Triple IPA.

10.5% ABV. Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota.

Lightly hazed, nearly clear, bright golden/ orange hue. Lasting, lace-leaving, lovely ivory head.

In the nose: dank and resinous, bristling with citrus and pine. 

In the mouth: oooh, wee, that’s the stuff! Popping with hops, bursting with bitterness, buzzing the palate. Intense and immense, large in body, astounding in it’s intentions. Beefy and brimming with citrus tones, stone fruit, pine, and stick-ickiness. 

I’m digging this big time. 

A truly special brew for the Ursa Minor Crew. Brewed in honor of Ben’s father, Big Bad John is the beer that inspired Ursa Minor itself. Big Bad John had a personality that filled the room. He cared about his neighbors, loved his family, and had a knack for bringing people together to enjoy life. He was humble and strong and exuded confidence. We brewed this beer to embody Johns’s personality. A triple IPA, because a double IPA was simply not enough. Filled with intense hop flavor and aroma with an alcohol level to match. A full-bodied malt backbone supports the incredible bold flavors in this brew. Strong, bold and always down for a good time. Come together, enjoy new and old friends, and share your story. Cheers!

Cigar City Pineapple Tangerine Jai Alai India Pale Ale

 

Cigar City Pineapple Tangerine Jai Alai India Pale Ale.

7% ABV, 65 IBU. Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, Florida. 

From the Jai Alai Variety 12-pack.

Clear, amber-gold hue, small white head, leaving a little lace.

In the nose: tangerine pops out first, pineapple coming in after. Citrusy aromatics with a dash of the tropical.

In the mouth: bright and fruity on the palate, tangerine shining through, with just enough bitterness to keep my tongue happy. Medium bodied, easy drinking. The IPA beneath the fruit holds it’s own. Juicy, bitter, delicious. I’m digging it. 

The bright citrus qualities of our iconic India Pale Ale are accentuated in this innovated iteration through the addition of pineapple and tangerine, creating an intensity of flavor yet maintaining highlighters balanced profile.

BlackStack Killer Bees Shaolin Style DDH DIPA

 

BlackStack Killer Bees Shaolin Style DDH DIPA.

9% ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thoroughly hazed, bright golden hue, slim, lace leaving ivory head.

In the nose: fruity and sweet, bursting with citrus notes. Bright and lively.

In the mouth: sweetness starts it off, again, with a good dose of juicy. Virtually no bitterness, which makes for an undesirable DIPA, in my opinion, but the booze is coming along, so maybe that’s where this one shines. Hops are felt on the palate, but, again, bereft of bitterness. Honey is definitely here. Smooth, sure.

I see why people like these, but it doesn’t work for me. Lacks a necessary spark. 

A 9% beer with 9 hops for the 9 Gods from Shaolin to celebrate another year of 36 Chambers. Mosaic, Azacca, Idaho 7, HBC 630, Strata, NZ Wakatu, Loral Cryo, Amarillo Cryo, & naturally, a healthy portion of Triumph hops form like Voltron with a lil kiss of Honey Malt... you knnow.. for the bees. Killer Bees on the swarm.

Starry Eyed Pitch Imperial Stout

 Starry Eyed Pitch Imperial Stout. 

12% ABV, 63 IBU. Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, Minnesota. 

I’ve been sitting on this bottle for far too long. Bought it at the brewery in May of last year, a good year and a half ago. Maybe I hesitated because the Barleywine I opened (notes I have not shared...yet), did not impress. No time like the present, so let’s do it. 

Ebon-hued, opaque, slim, slightly brown, tannish head, looking nice.

In the nose: creamy cocoa hits first, nutty, rich, almost sweet, not quite what I expect from an IS.

In the mouth: rich and malty, chocolate and coffee, touch of anise and char. There’s a tug of war between sweet and dry, darkness and light. Stays nice and balanced, for a beer so big. Unfortunately, it stays a little shy of what I really like from an Imperial Stout. I want a little more. Ain’t nothing wrong with it. Just chocolate-y enough, with plenty of booze, to boot. This ain’t bad. In fact, I’m liking it more and more as we explore the bottle. I’m grooving on it. 

Surly Sixteen Barrel aged Imperial Red Ale with Raspberry & Strawberry

 Surly Sixteen Barrel aged Imperial Red Ale with Raspberry & Strawberry.

12.5% ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

And here we have the first Surly anniversary beer I had to talk myself into buying. The pieces just don’t seem to spell out something I’d like. Maybe I would...but for $14 a can? I generally skip beers that expensive. On the other hand, I’ve never not sampled a Surly Anniversary beer...did I want to start stopping?

Well, here it is...better drink it...

Murky looking, with an indiscriminate hue...off-crimson, maybe? Definitely the color of muddled fruit, wrapped up in bourbon barrels. Slim, whitish head on top. 

In the nose: whiskey and berries, vanilla, cream & fruit. Sweet & fruity, with bourbon poking through. 

In the mouth: fruit & Barrel, together at last. A weird melange, the berries predominant, but just barely, sweetness caught up in the bourbon barrel. Not a graceful liquid, no elegant ale. Might be called a mess. Sometimes the fruit is forward, then the barrel is bold and takes command. Not especially smooth or well integrated, and to hell with balance. It’s rough and tumble, but I don’t hate it. Does that mean I like it? There have been sixteen of these and I’ve tried fifteen of them (still hoping to try 12 some day.)...and they’re all different and some are weird. They can’t all be normal, but they should be good. 

Decision: not too shabby. Maybe just shabby enough.

It takes a measure of grit to persevere through sixteen years of business, and that ability to stick it out and keep pushing boundaries inspired this beer. The base beer started life as a strong red ale—not quite a barleywine but in the neighborhood. Then it laid down in a variety of barrels, including Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey Barrels, Elijah Craig 12-year Bourbon Barrels, and a handful of ruby port casks to add a top note of complexity. Once the beer matured, we blended it with fresh strawberry and raspberry puree to add fruitiness and necessary brightness to this malty mosaic of flavors. 

Revolution Imperial Anti Hero Imperial IPA

 

Revolution Imperial Anti Hero Imperial IPA.

10% ABV. 70 IBU. Revolution Brewing, Chicago, Illinois. 

Clear, bright crimson coloring, slim, lace-leaving head. 

In the nose: dank supreme. Resinous Maximus. All the dark fruit, citrus and otherwise.

In the mouth : big, bold, almost chewy. Grassy meets deeply resinous and redolent of all things gobsmackingly hoptastic. 

Big booze rings in early. Here we have a triple IPA in the real sense. Stone fruit and citrus intersect, embiggened malt turns monstrous, and the result is a ripper. Drinkable, to a point. Only to be enjoyed when one is in stumbling reach of the bedpost. 

Witness the tremendous power of the American hop assault empowered to Imperial proportions. A vast and mighty double dry hop marshals all the citrus, pine, and floral notes possible toward a crisp, bright finish.

Schell’s Fresh Prints Cold IPA

 Schell’s Fresh Prints Cold IPA.

6.5% ABV. 60 IBU. August Schell’s Brewing, New Ulm, Minnesota. 

A few things occurred to me when this beer was initially released. First, surprise in that August Schell tried out a very new style so quickly. And then, not surprised because this style is a hoppy lager, and lagers are what they do. Finally, more surprise that it became a year round, core brand, flagship, whatever, quite so soon. Now, let’s drink one. 

Clouded. Are Cold IPAs supposed to be clouded? Bright yellow. Slim white head. 

In the nose: orange, lemon, and... banana? I swear, banana. Is this a Weizen yeast at work? Oddly like banana cream pie. Not much from hops.

In the mouth: here’s where the hops come in. Brief bitterness, citrusy hop flavors, more banana blended with lemon and orange. Just enough bitter to call it IPA. Crisp, clean, smooth, decently drinkable. ...and distinctly odd. I still feel this a weird IPA/ Hefe Weizen mash- up. In any case, it’s sorta not too shabby there.

Our remix of a West Coast Style IPA. Fresh Prints has fresh, bold citrus flavor and tropical fruity aromas, with an icy, clean, cold-fermented finish you expect from a Cold IPA.

Okay, now I’m more confused. There’s little West Coast IPA about this. Maybe they’re trying to continue the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme? 

Modist Double Ghost Vision DDH Citra New England Double IPA

 

Modist Double Ghost Vision DDH Citra New England Double IPA.

8.6% ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This is a beer I first had at the taproom four and 1/2 years ago. If I’d managed to bring home a crowler and reviewed it then, or had commenced the practice of phone posting earlier, I might have said nicer things, for I hadn’t yet placed the embargo on NE DIPAs (except when I get them for free).

When reading this review, keep in mind, that I review for my taste. If this is right in line with your style, you may think this is the bee’s ever-lovin’ knees. 

Let’s break down the style of this beer, shall we? DDH, I’m not crazy about. It’s an effect that enhances aroma, but not flavor. Citra is a hop that can’t be beat, used well. New England? Fine part of the country, but not my favorite style of IPA. Double IPA? I love them, except when you put New England in front.

Hazy. Thick and clouded. Pale, yellowish hue, slim white head.

In the nose: bold, bright, and citrusy, if slightly muzzled.  

In the mouth: bursting with hoppy flavors, popping with Citra, a lacking crucial bitterness. Soft, smooth, tasty. Lays limpidly on the palate. Doesn’t really grab me worth a darn. Too mellow and squishy for my palate. It’s got the goods, strength-wise, there’s a nice booze burn warming everything up. But, it doesn’t work for me. When it comes to Double IPAs, I need crisp and clear. 

New England Double IPA brewed with malted oats and malted wheat. Hopped and double dry hopped with our hand selected Citra & Citra Cryo.

Junkyard The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes Dragonfruit Mango Sour

 Junkyard The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes Dragonfruit Mango Sour.

6.2 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, Minnesota. Pkgd 6/27/22.

Once upon a time, I would buy whatever Junkyard beer I’d come across, no matter what. That was before the ban on fruited sours, New England IPAs/hazies, and anything with marshmallow in it. So I don’t drink much Junkyard these days. This one came to me free, and can’t say no to free, so here come the notes. 

Clouded, crimson hue, slim pink head.

In the nose: ultra fruity. Yeah, I’m getting the dragon in this, maybe the mango. 

To the mouth: terribly sweet, with just a touch of tart. Unsure why these are labeled as sours. All dragon fruit, mango’s muddled in the mix. Full bodied and fruity sweet. Not much more to say. I can drink it, but that’ll cover my fruited Sour rationing for a good while.

Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes is a unique fruited sour that was brewed with dragon fruit and mango! The combination of the mango and the dragon fruit gives this sour a refreshing sour with the perfect kick of sweetness!