BlackStack That Remains Unclear West Coast IPA

 BlackStack That Remains Unclear West Coast IPA.

7.1% ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: big citrus, loads of lemon & pine.

In the mouth: highly hoppy, lean bodied, smooth & sufficiently delicious. Hardly any bitterness, which is required in a West Coast IPA. Let’s take another sip and see if there’s some hiding. Okay, there’s some… a little…but not enough. For me, and for the style. 

Crisp-ish, clean, clear, and almost as bitter as I like an IPA to be, I shouldn’t complain…(Although…I followed this with an Alesmith…)

How's it looking out there? Where to start... Smooth sailing & clear skies courtesy of some choice Nugget & Amarillo with Amarillo Cryo & Mosaic Cryo. That remains unclear, but clearly... this crispy little number is a winner.

HeadFlyer Friend of a Friend Hazy Pale Ale

 HeadFlyer Friend of a Friend Hazy Pale Ale. Collaboration with Elm Creek Brewing. 

5% ABV, HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

All hazed up, pale golden hue, large & lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: little bit of citrus, drop of floral. 

In the mouth: bursts of citrus and tropical fruit sensations from the start. Just a little on the sweet side (maybe a lot?), with plenty of hop flavors, but slight bitterness, at best. Orange peel and mango. Medium bodied, excellent drinkability, quite refreshing. 

Normally, I don’t go for the hazies, and this is clearly not my style, but it’s well done and I’ll finish without regret. 

Summit Saga Imperial IPA

 Summit Saga Imperial IPA.

A mighty 9% ABV, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, Mike. 

It’s been a while since Summit released a double/ imperial IPA. One based on Saga should be pretty good, right? Let’s find out. 

Clear, deep crimson, creamy white head, long lasting and lace leaving.

In the nose: soft, floral, fruity, delightful. Some citrus.?Slight caramel malt aromatics. 

In the mouth: blast of bitterness pervades the palate, citrus and berries dance upon the tongue. Alcohol rises up and makes it’s presence known. Maltier than expected. This is not the bright citrusy Saga turned up a notch or two, but a different style of IIPA using the Saga banner, much as how every new IPA from New Belgium rests under their Voodoo Ranger emblem. Saga is a brand now, not a specific beer. 

Only a few weeks ago, a Saga sampler 12-pack came out with the phrase “4 legendary beers “ on the box. How can they all be “legendary “ when three of them are less than a year old? Also, I submit this photo of the 12-pack box (still the only format that this beer has been released in, by itself), to show that they got the color wrong. 

It’s a fine enough DIPA (or IIPA, take your pick), and at the price, it will compete with Sierra Nevada (who currently has three double IPA 12-packs out, all at $17.99), New Belgium & others. I’ll probably return to it to give me my DIPA fix, from time to time. 

Bold, Intense, and Delicious

Perfectly balanced 9% ABV IPA with notes of tangerine, sweet stone fruit, and caramel flavors blended together with a honey malt base. This Imperial IPA also boasts classic hop flavors of pine and citrus with a warm finish.

Conversation Starter

One of the highest-ABV beers produced at Summit Brewing – Sága Imperial. With a perfectly balanced 9% ABV, this IPA boasts an explosion of flavors like notes of tangerine, sweet stone fruit, and caramel, all complemented by a honey malt base.

De Glazen Toren Canaster Scotch Ale

 De Glazen Toren Canaster WinterScotch Ale. 

8.7% ABV, Brasserie de Glazen Toren, zeroed-Mere, Belgium. 

Opaque, dark brown, lasting tan head atop.

In the nose: cocoa and cream, cool and serene. All malt pleasures found here.

In the mouth: sweet and smooth. Mild hops, no bitterness, perfect balance. Getting richer and more plum-like as we delve further. Dark fruits, bakers cocoa, simply luscious. Full-body, complex, and completely wonderful. Nicely warming, as well. Good way to celebrate bring out of the zeroes. 

I haven’t had a Glazen Toren since I put four of them on tap at the Blue Nile twelve or so years ago. Now that they’re back and on the shelves, well, it’s a pity they’re expensive (paid $17 for this bottle) but worth it. 

Brown color with reddish hints, medium brown/white head.

Fruit hints of raisin and bananas.

Strong, dry dark ale.

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub Doppelbock

 Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub Doppelbock.

8.5 % ABV, 18 IBU, Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

It seems that it’s been almost six years since I’ve posted about a Northbound beer, even though my ol’ pal Andy is still there, making great beers day in, day out. I just never get out there, which is a habit I have to get out of.What can I say, I am a flawed individual, deeply in need of improvement.

A few weeks ago, I found myself in the neighborhood and I and my palate were witness to an embarrassment of dark, malty goodness. Took a crowler home for the first time, though, according to the label I should have opened it two days ago. Well, now’s the time!

Clear, reddish brown color, slim semi-dark head.

In the nose: caramel and toffee. Magnificent maltiness. 

In the mouth: starts out smooth and unfolds into undulating richness. More caramel and toffee, more massive malt, low hops, and the high ABV is setting’ the woods on fire. Full-bodied, fully flavored, rich, multi layered and ridiculously delicious. Also, boozy. All that said, it’s doing it for me.

This is certainly not the first time I’ve had this beer. According to Untappd, I’ve logged into this one in February of 2014 (a few months before I briefly worked there) and once in 2017, but never thought to take it home and write about it. Very glad I finally rectified that error. 

Man, there is nothing like a good, strong doppelbock to get you through a chilly winter night.

Schell’s Snowstorm 2023 Four Rye Dark Ale

 Schell’s Snowstorm 2023 Four Rye Dark Ale.

6.3% ABV, August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, Minnesota. 

And here we have this year’s, or should I say last year’s, seasonal offering from August Schell. Four Rye Dark Ale, what the blooming’ heck is that? I only bought a six pack this time for reasons too banal to relate. I’m down to the last can, so it’s note taking time.

Clear, medium mahogany hue, slim slab of cream-toned head. 

In the nose: malty richness, rye spice, pumpernickel. 

In the mouth: the palate is graced with light pepper tones, mixed with earthy, bready malt flavors. Medium bodied, long finish, quite smooth. Touch of cocoa, bit of dark fruit, coffee. A wealth of rich and delicious tastes. Warmingly wonderful.

Yum a dum dum, I say, and I mean it this time.

(Just kidding, I always mean it. From deep down in my heart.)

Lakes & Legends Local Haunt Hop Head Farms Collaboration Grungeist Lager

 Lakes & Legends Local Haunt Hop Head Farms Collaboration Grungeist Lager.  

4.2% ABV, Lakes & Legends Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large lush ivory head. 

In the nose: floral, hoppy, alarmingly gorgeous. 

In the mouth: smooth, sleek, lightly bitter, absolutely delicious. Light-bodied, citrus flavored, supremely drinkable. Some tropical notes, as well. No ordinary lager. 

This is quite possibly the penultimate review I will pen for Lake & Legends Brewing, for they were one of several local casualties in 2023. I went to see them one final time the day before they closed and when my tab was settled, there were some rewards points coming to me,  fifteen bucks worth. I grabbed this crowler and a final pour of their BA Imperial Stout, my third of the evening. That will probably be the final review, for I had them fill a crowler for me. 

I’ll miss them, they brewed some fine beers. Wish I knew what a “grungeist “ is, though. I’ll figure it out, don’t worry about me. 

Ommegang Super Kriek

 Ommegang Super Kriek. Blend No. 003. A blend of Flemish Oud Bruin Ale and Belgian Amber Ale with cherries and natural flavors. 2020.

7% ABV, brewed and bottled by Brewery Liefmans, Oudenaatde, Belgium, imported and bottled by Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York. 

And here’s one I’ve been sitting on for too long. Maybe since 2020? Time to drink up. already. 

Deep reddish hue, clear, slim white head. 

In the nose: cherries and tart from the start, malty and brown below. Deep complexities abound. 

In the mouth: crisp and clean, funky and fruity. Growing sourness. Flowering fruit. Ripening cherries. Alternatively sweet and sour. Oaky. Ancient and refreshing at once. I did not err in aging this. 

A d Belgian Kriek Ale and American Wild Ale

An unlikely alliance of freshness and funk, this Blenderie Ommegang release combines pure Belgian kriek with barrel-aged American wild ale. Bright cherries, assertive sourness, oaky tannins and barnyard notes make Super Kriek a deeply layered, richly complex, and distinctive beer.

Boom Island Wake Up Call Blonde Ale

 Boom Island Wake Up Call Blonde Ale.Coffee. Vanilla. Lactose.

5.6 % ABV, Boom Island Brewing, Minnetonka, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue,?slim white head.

In the nose: vanilla pops up first, coffee just below. Nice. 

In the mouth: starts off smooth and creamy…and ends that way. In between, coffees on top, a little earthy/nutty. Light bodied, long, pleasant finish. Good and easy drinking. All in all, not too shabby there. 

Behind a seemingly straightforward exterior, Wake Up Call is bursting with unexpected flavor. Toasted vanilla, a blend of locally sourced light roast coffees, and lactose meld harmoniously with a blonde ale malt bill to make this beer a contradiction that makes perfect sense.

Outstate Backroad Hazy IPA

 So, I made a New Year’s Resolution to clean out the fridge of beers and also review them all. Even the hazy IPAs, you ask? Well, maybe not all of them, but I have to include one that may have been brewed by my nephew Shawn. He gave it to Nikki, who gave it to me, back in June. That’s too long to sit on it, but I’ve been sitting on others longer. We’ll get to them soon. 

For now, Outstate Backroad Hazy IPA. 

6.5 % ABV, 33 IBU. Outstate Brewing, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. 

Minor haze, just barely. Bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: soft and citrusy, some melon, a touch of tropical. Nicely hoppy.

In the mouth: slightly sweet and smooth. Mild bitterness. Just enough. Light bodied and easy drinking

Not too hazy, this one, with just enough IPA character for me to like it. Enough citrus zest and hoppy buzz to keep the palate happy. 

DDH with Citra, Azacca, Cashmere and Cryo Citra hops. 

Harvieston Old Engine Oil Black Ale

 Harvieston Old Engine Oil Black Ale. Product of Scotland. 6% Alc./Vol. 40 IBU. 

Harviestoun Brewery, Clackmannashire, Scotland. 

Inky black, impenetrable, slim cream-toned head. 

In the nose: blackstrap molasses. Cocoa. Coffee. 

In the mouth: creamy, bittersweet, dark, deep, rich and full bodied. Lingers long on the palate. Beautifully balanced, smooth and delicious. Lovely roasty malt flavors. Wonderful Scottish stout. 

This beer is just the job for anyone who appreciates beautifully engineered stuff that used to be made properly. So undo the top button of your pressed pits overalls, ease into the wingback and roll out a rare taste of a truly great British beer.

Old Engine Oil is a remarkably smooth, creamy brew with a beautiful velvety mouthfeel. Enjoy flavours of coffee, slightly buttered toffee, dark chocolate and earthy hops. You may find some mild cherry fruit within the residual sweetness, neatly accompanying the roasted flavours that ride with you all the way to the finish.

This beer is just the job for anyone who appreciates beautifully engineered stuff that used to be made properly. So undo the top button of your pressed pits overalls, ease into the wingback and roll out a rare taste of a truly great British beer.

Born in 2000, this winner of the first ever Tesco Beer Challenge was always designed to have a thick, dark, gloopy appearance. We piled in the oats to smooth out the bitterness from the roast barley and laid on a super-high-temperature mash to make the wort less fermentable. The result is a really black beer that has a greater sweetness and fuller flavour than many other stouts and porters, as well as a surprisingly light texture.

HOPS: Galena, East Kent Goldings, Fuggles

MALTS: Roast barley, oats.

Luce Line Snowdrift West Coast IPA

 Luce Line Snowdrift West Coast IPA. 

6.9 % ABV, 60 IBU, Luce Line Brewing, Plymouth, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: highly hopped, citrus and pine. Grapefruit on point.

In the mouth: bracingly bitter up front, lean bodied, nice and dry, even brittle.Crisp and clean, citrus and pine abounds. Once again, Luce Line doesn’t shirk from the cause when it comes to delivering a West Coast IPA. 

Snowdrift is our winter West Coast IPA. Both fruit forward and dank, Snowdrift is generously hopped with Columbus Cryo, Mosaic, and Sultana hops which create a melange of pineapple, dank resin, berry, and subtle pine.