Surly Stunner Tropical Ale

Surly Stunner Tropical Ale. 6 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

So, "tropical ale" is now a thing. It's actually referred to as "tropical-style" by Surly, whatever that can mean. Is it a style of ale brewed in the tropics? I don't think so. Tropical regions brew lagers and stouts. No, this is a recent American invention, and it must refer to the addition of tropical fruits, like pineapple, mango, coconut, etc, right? Nope. Just hops that give off tropical fruit flavors. And now we call it Tropical Ale, because that's what we do now.

Slight haze, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Bright, fresh, and fruity. Yes, we're getting more tropical tones than citrus. Passionfruit, guava, et al.

In the mouth: Lively and juicy upon the palate. Moderate hop bitterness. Medium bodied. Easy drinking. Mellow malt mouthfeel. A touch of sweet, mixed with a trace of tart.

I like this one. Good beer and you can drink it. And a lot better than some other stuff they've been putting out lately. Pretty can design, too.

Get a taste of the tropics in the comfort of your own home with this tropical-style ale, dry-hopped with Amarillo, El Dorado, and Mosaic for notes of orange, papaya, and mango. A hint of lactose sweetness makes this easy-drinking ale a legit Stunner.

Gray's Honey Ale

Gray's Honey Ale. 4.78% ABV, 12 IBU. Gray's Brewing Company, Janesville, WI.

I have in my hands a can of Gray's Honey Ale from Janesville, Wisconsin. Fourteen years ago, I took notes on what I can only presume was a bottle of said beer. I will now drink the can and look back on the notes that I posted in September of 2004 and see if I was wrong, or perhaps the beer has changed, or, am I still right? Let's see. Here come the notes:

Ultra-clear, pale honeyish hue, thick, fat fizzling white head, that zips down in nothing flat.

Nose is softly herbal, lightly sweet and honeyed, a little citric, leaning into sour. Not crazy about it, really.

Taste: too, too mild, bearing little in the flavor department, not even the advertised honey tastes. Very light bodied, short on texture, limp in the finish.  Even irritating...I can't find much to like in this one. So sorry, I really held up hope, but it's just not working out. Too, too blase'...cheers to anyone out there who digs this, but don't count me among the crowd.

I really like the bee on the label, though. Pity there's no close-up available here, he's really a demented looking bug!

So? I have to concur with my younger self. This is wholly unremarkable. There is some honey in the aroma, but the flavor is a total washout. Nothing here at all. And the demented bug is gone, replaced on this can by a man with a beard of bees. Why, he couldn't grow his own? That's no excuse.

This is actually very bleh. I may need to reverse my no drain pour policy.

Oliphant IFeelcream Blackberry

First Confession: I am an Oliphant Junkie. I need to add all of their beers to this blog. One by One, as best as I can, I'll do it. So this beer has to be reviewed. (Addendum: I'll never do it, there's plenty I 've missed and will never, ever see. But I'm not going to pack up and move to Somerset, just to continue this obsession to it's fruition.)

Second Confesson: is not a confession. I've said it over and over, I'm not into the milkshake beers, the lactose fruit beers, other variations on this. But, see #1.

Also, I tried it on tap at the brewery last week, and I liked it. So, here we go:

Also, I was drawn in my this parody of Frog & Todd, with these new characters Morg (Matt, I presume), and Joash (Josh, of course), and damn, it's wonderfully weird.

Oliphant IFeelCream, Blackberry, Fruit Ale, 8% all./vol. Brewed by Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Mildly hazy, very blackerry-y appearance, slim creamy/pinkish head.

In the nose: sweet, tart, fruity, berry-ish, lovely.

In the mouth: more fruit, more juice, more tart. Hardly any hops, lactose adds some creaminess, but not too much. I'm not encountering a beer smoothie, this time. There's enough bitterness here, and enough beer-y beerness, that I like it.

I like it quite a lot. All blackberry lactose ales should be this good.


ifeelcream
back from the depths of giant trevor's tiny black brew book: this beer. 

ale brewed with lactose and snuggled atop blackberries. 8% abv

Ballast Point Moscow Mule Ale

Ballast Point Moscow Mule Ale. Ale with ginger and lime added. Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA.  10.2% ABV.

Clear, amber-ish hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Hey, there's ginger in there. And along comes the lime, as advertised. And nothing else.

In the mouth: Big, fierce, large and in charge ginger flavor. Once again, lime comes next, in full force. Light bodied. Lean, clean and powerful. Crisp and refreshing. But, where's the vodka? And, while we're at it, where's the beer?

This is not for me. Gimmick beer. Too much lime, too much ginger, not enough beer. No, thank you. I don't even think it's very good. I hate saying that, but sometimes you have to.

But, I didn't drain-pour. I always finish, whether I want to or not.

Ginger, lime, refreshing; all the good things you’d expect from the cocktail of the same name. We started with a light, sour base beer and then loaded it up with tons of fresh ginger and lime zest. All that is missing is the copper cup.

Venn Brewing Batch #15: Modern Sahti

Venn Brewing Sahti. 8.5% ABV, 30 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Growler filled on 2/18/18, consumed one week later.

Personalized growler labels are rare and always
appreciated.

What do we know about "sahti"? It's a scandanavian beer style, Finnish to be exact, where parts of trees, like juniper berries, or spruce tips are used for flavoring, in place of hops. Just check this out. I've only had one Sahti here in the Nib before, and that was Harriet's version, four years ago. Checking that review reveals that I've had two before, one from Dogfish Head and one from Finland, but they are in the distant past.

To the eye: clear, amber hue, slim white head.

In the nose: herbal, vegetal, slightly fruity/malty. Minimal hops. Interesting and inviting.

In the mouth: Sweet and creamy. Herbal, slightly hoppy, mostly malty. Increasingly interesting. Yeah, I'm drinking the forest floor, right? That's it? But it's damned tasty, and wonderfully strong. Delicious is a word I would use. Medium bodied, increasingly alcoholic, and very likable.

(And finished the growler in one evening. Couldn't help
it.)

What's the brewery have to say? Again, with the three word thing: Juniper, Complex, Full Bodied. 
Wait, I found more: Venn’s modern spin on a historical style from Finland. Traditionally brewed with a multigrain malt bill, juniper branches and berries, and fermented with baker’s yeast, we kept the core elements of the diverse malt bill and juniper berries but updated the yeast to a modern lager fermentation resulting in a cleaner finish.

Malts: Two Row, Dark Munich, Rye, Golden Naked Oats, Torrified Wheat, CaraMunich.
Hops: Chinook.
Yeast: American Lager. Other: Juniper Berries.

New Belgium Juicy Watermelon Ale

New Belgium Juicy Watermelon Lime Ale. Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO and Asheville, NC. 5% Alc. by Vol.

Crystal clear, pale amber color, slim white head.

Light fruit in the nose, slightly sweet, ...huh.

In the mouth: very watermelon-y, and there's the lime. Light bodied, drinkable, but...not really hitting the flavors notes we want. Seriously lacking deliciousness. What do we want in our watermelon ales? Do we want watermelon ales? I know watermelon wheat ales are popular, but beyond that? Non-wheat, with lime added, like this guy?

I know I don't. Gonna do something uncharacteristic and pour it down the drain. No fun in this one.

"Cool off with this refreshingly fruity summer beer brewed with watermelon and lime."

Or don't.

Upper Hand UPA

Upper Hand Upper Peninsula Ale. 5.5% ABV.
Upper Hand Brewing, Escanaba, Michigan.

Clear-ish, amber-hued, big ivory head, leaving lace, looking good.

In the nose: fairly quiet, some hop notes, light caramel malt.

In the mouth: Earthy hops up on the front, bitter, but balanced. Caramel malt tones greet the palate next. A little fruity, little floral, nice and even. And a little complexity, too, lot of different flavors at play. This is alright, good upper peninsula ale, and you can drink it.

Also, there ain't nothing wrong with it.

From the label: "Brewed and bottled where it's meant to be enjoyed." If that's the case, why do they ship it out of Michigan? What is this bottle even doing in my hands?

From the website: Upper Peninsula Ale is an American Pale Ale, brewed just for the north. The use of toasted malt gives it a nice, deep golden color, and the Mosaic hops impart citrus, floral, and berry aromas, and give UPA® a crisp, moderately bitter finish.

Brooklyn American Ale

Brooklyn American Ale, brewed by the Brooklyn Brewery, Utica, NY. 4.5% ABV.

Clear, bright golden coloring, slim white head.

Mild hop aromatics, low bitterness, nice and even, lightly fruity. Grapefruit and orange zest.

In the mouth: Bright, sunny, citrus-y. Light bodied, good balance, lean malt bill, as well. Low hop bitterness. Good ol' American Ale and you can drink it. Ain't nothin' wrong with that.

Sisyphus Anti-Social Apple Ale

Sisyphus Anti-Social Apple Ale.

Clear, pale straw golden color, no head at all.

Nose: all apple, sweet, lightly tart, dry...nice.

Taste: dry and clean...honey-crisp? Maybe. Wet. And Dry. Light-bodied, crisp, tasty.
That's all I got. As apple ales go, it's all right. I don't mind it. In fact, actually, I can dig it, just a little.

Good apple ale, and you can drink it.

(notes from May 30. But you can find it at the tap-room currently, so these notes aren't entirely invalid.)

Ommegang Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms Hoppy Wheat Ale

Ommegang Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms Hoppy Wheat Ale, 6.9% ABV.

On tap at Acadia Cafe.

Clouded, golden coloring, full ivory head.

Lightly spicy, Belgian yeast-y, beautiful citrus-y notes.

In the mouth: bright citrusy flavors, slightly sweet, soft and supple. Moderate bitterness, lush wheat. Great beer, and you can drink it.

I've never seen an episode of Game of Thrones, though, so all the gobbledygook about Westvelesteros and Johnny Snow and Tyrandextorse and what not, it just shoots over my head.

Oliphant Treehouse of Gourdor II

Here's one that's lasted a bit longer than they'd like at the taproom, and I was happy to help diminish the supply. Treehouse of Goudor II, ale brewed with pumpkin and spices. 7% Alc./vol.

Thoroughly hazed, dull brown coloring, slight head, soon gone.

Aromatics start shy, then slowly grow. Spices spill out first, followed by the sweet meat of the gourd.

Taste: malt-forward, with just enough hops for balance. Pumpkin flavor is there, but not large in the least, Spices are plentiful, though. A nice, warm, well-balanced seasonal ale. Unfortunately, this is not one of their more arresting offerings. And it gets harder to move it off the taps when we get farther away from Turkey Time. It's good beer, though, and you can drink it.

Sixpoint Sweet Action

The sample man came around again, and this time he brought my first cans of Sixpoint, from Brooklyn, NY. Let's start with some Sweet Action. 12 fl. oz. 5.2 % ABV. 34 IBU. Some gobbledygook on the back that I'll read later.

Clear, bright amber coloring, huge, vast ivory head, leaving considerable lace, looking gorgeous.

Beautiful aromatics, soft, sensuous, floral. Just lovely.

In the mouth: clean and lean, soft and satisfying. Light bodied. Delicious. Session ale? You bet. Unfortunately, I lack anything else to say about it. Good beer, you can drink it, blah, blah, blah. What's that gobbledygook say? Not much, actually. I don't feel like typing it, so I'll try to find a link. It is plenty tasty, though. Compelled to peg it, I'd say American pale ale, but it is rather hard to pigeonhole. Everything about this beer feels a little out of the ordinary, and yet it is exactly right. Yum.

I kind of wish I had another.

My inability to categorize, by the way, is not some failing of mine, as evidenced here on the Sixpoint website. It's a great relief.

And before we go, mad props, big ups, and thank you very much to the Sample Man. I will enjoy the next two Sixpoint beers he gave me, and then I'll probably go out and search for the others he didn't and buy them with my own money.

Odell Loose Leaf American Session Ale

Odell Loose Leaf American Session Ale, Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado. Alc./Vol 4.5%.

Appearance: clear, pale golden color, bright chalk-white head above.

Aroma: Lively and likable hop character, spicy, citrus fruit, ultimately dry. Floral notes and light grapefruit peel.

Taste: More of the above bounces on the tongue. Juicy and bright, light bodied, ending on a spicy, dry turn. Lean finish. Good drinking ale, tasty, deftly hopped. It's a good beer, and you surely can drink a significant amount of them before your sobriety is threatened, or you waistline, but it doesn't offer much more than low alcohol and light body.

"You know those epic days that start with an idea, turn into a dare, and end with a great story to tell? This is the beer for those days. Crisp and refreshing like any respectable session, but a bit more hop-forward and flavorful than some. Perfect for going with the flow."

Maybe that's it, that I don't like "going with the flow." Though it boast more flavor and hops than some, it's not quite enough for me. Still, another well-made Odell beer.

Dave's BrewFarm 007

Dave's BrewFarm 007. 5.6% ABV.

Appearance: clear, bright amber color, large and lasting, creamy white head, leaving lace, looking lovely.

Aroma: Hops hit first, crystal clear and clean, fruity esters shining through, along with citrus hop notes, touches of the tropical. Nice.

Taste: Hops dance again on the palate, though their presence is downplayed. Malt sweetness takes the stage and they meet halfway. Excellent balance, consummate drinkability. Medium body, long hoppy finish. Tasty stuff. In a class of it's own.

What's Farmer Dave say? "Not as much mystery and intrigue as Mr. Bond, this German ale is well-hopped with Columbus, Nugget, and Brewer's Gold hops, Pale and Caramel-20 malts and fermented with "#1007" yeast (but I shortened it to make it "intriguing…").

More I drink it, the more I dig it. Beautiful.

Summit Union Series: Southern Cape Sparkling Ale

Summit Union Series Southern Cape Sparkling Ale.

I'm a bit late with this one. It came out earlier this summer, and I enjoyed many pints of it while it was on tap at Northbound. I thought I'd review it  from a pint there, but the opportunity never arose. Never found the time to properly sit down with a glass by myself, and the next thing you knew, the keg was done and that was it. Meanwhile, I never saw it on sale. Just wasn't looking at the right time. Lo and behold, there it was on sale the other day at Elevated. Good thing, I couldn't bear the notion of a Summit beer being undocumented here. Just doesn't make sense. Which reminds me that I've got to pick up the new Schell's Noble Star, and I'm way behind on Bent Paddle, and I've got to make it back

to Steel Toe soon, and there are cans of Bauhaus to check out, and there's more Blacklist out there, and I still haven't made a visit to Tin Whiskers in St. Paul, or Urban Growler, and on the subject of growlers,  why don't I pick up a growler from Dangerous Man?, and…and…and…(sigh)…it just never ends. But, I can't stop trying…

(And this is just the local scene I'm talking about!)

Anyway, on with the beer…

Appearance: highly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head, short but lasting. Very inviting.

Aroma: soft and subtle, but enticing. Notes of tropical fruit, some citrus, light spices. Beautifully delicate, hoppy nose.

Taste: Hops hit harder once the meet the tongue. Nice bitter bite, with notes of pineapple, grapefruit, and pepper. Nice lemony squirt in the flavor. Hop notes last long through consumption. Malt body is on the light side, and it's an easy-drinking affair, all the way.

This one is name after an Australian style that's a bit deceiving and inevitably caused some consumer confusion. What does "Sparkling Ale" mean, does it really "sparkle", is it effervescent like champagne, etc., etc?? No, that's just the poetic appellation they applied in Adelaide in the 1800's due to it's brightness. "Southern Cape" refers to the origins of the ingredients: Gairdiner Pale Malt from Australia, Sebastian Caramel Malt from Chile, Waimea hops from New Zealand, Southern Passion hops from South Africa, all from the bottom of the world. 4,4% Alc. by Vol., 45 IBUs.

I like this one. It doesn't fit the current season, but that's my fault entirely, of course. Strike while it's hot, they say. My lesson learned.

Northgate Pumpion Spiced Ale

Bombers. Sometimes they're just what you want, one big bottle to share, or to last through the night. That's fine when they're inexpensive, say, $5 or less, or when they're special, or rare, or imported from small Belgian artisanal breweries. When they're $8 or more from a local brewery, I find myself thinking, "that ought to be $9 for a six pack of 12-ouncers that will last me a few days, even a week."

I've been seeing a lot of local, or semi-local (Duluth is local, right?) bombers for $12, $14 and higher. Often, they are special, they are rare(-ish), and they are sometimes worth it. I just wish I could afford more than one of them. Maybe I just need to start making more money and stop worrying about this stuff. Wish I could justify those "spendy" beers (question: has anyone heard someone not born and bred here use this odd phrase?), but very often I look at a $20 bottle of Pentagram, then see a $9 4-pack of Sierra Nevada Narwhal, and my decision is made. (Notice I haven't said anything about what justifies $20 for a bottle of Darkness, or how anyone who paid so much is implicit in that price point being justified by the seller. Noticed that I haven't and let's leave it at that.)

So, I am doing my best to keep on top of local beers, and even though this bomber of Northgate Pumpion (the Champion of Pumpkins?) is $8 for a one-and-done-er, I snatched it up. Had some a few weeks ago at Autumn Brew Review, but I can't do actual reviews of beers sampled there. It's called a "Spiced Ale", it's 6% ABV, 38 IBU. Lots of ingredients listed in tiny print that is hard to read. Maybe I'll try to do that later, for now I'll open the beer.

Appearance: hazy, darkish amber-y hue, looking very pumpkinny, with a beige head, clinging on top.

Aroma: Cinnamon and nutmeg greet the nose, allspice, too. Pumpkin spices are in the lead, with lush malt behind.

Taste: Starting out hot and spicy, pumpkin pie spices staying on top and tingling the palate. Below is mostly malt. Stays wam, sweet and spicy. Minor hops, if at all. Very mellow on the tongue. Feels like an English brown ale underneath all the spice. We're getting the feeling of the pumpkin pie in a glass, without the meat of the gourd inside.

Maris Otter Pale Ale Malt. CaraMunich malt. White Wheat. UK First Gold Hops.
American Ale yeast. Spices.

It's a tasty one, and I'm digging it. One of the better pumpkin ales I've had recently. Drinkable, not too strong…which is why it be better suited in a six-pack of 12 ouncers. Just my opinion.

Sierra Nevada / Bell's Maillard's Odyssey Imperial Black Ale (Beer Camp #12)

Sierra Nevada/Bell's Maillard's Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. Alc. By Volume 8.5%, 40 IBU. Beer Camp Across America #12.

Utter blackness, toasted tan head, lace leaving, if on the slim side.

Aroma: rich and roasty nose, slight notes of coffee and cocoa, low hop bitterness.
Creamy and just a little chocolatey.

Taste: Hey, here we go. Imperial Dark Ale. What's that mean? That it's strong and it's dark, but we're not in stout category. Is it one of those "black ales", aka "black IPA"? Not hoppy enough. Just a bit of hop bitterness, then the tasty toasty malt rushes in, with all manner of dark malt flavors. Some molasses, a touch of anise. This is becoming increasingly complex and doubly delicious. Once more I'm finding myself wishing it was more than 12 ounces at my disposal, at least a bomber or a six-pack to myself.

Okay, now I'm trying to read the label. Colored letters on a burgundy background. Great, nice and readable. " This robust dark ale is layered with complex malt flavors of coffee, caramel, toffee, chocolate, and dark fruit." Sure, I'll buy that. More? Yes! "Rich, dark, and roasty. That was our shared vision, and Maillard's Odyssey is exactly that, taking it's name in part from the famed Maillard reaction--the browning of sugars and amino acids--that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer."

One distinction between their description and mine, clearly, is the missing caramel and toffee flavors that they report and that I failed to recognize. It's far too dry in the finish, and there's not really much caramel flavor to speak of, though rich and delicious it is.

Another contender for top beer of the Beer Camp pack? Maybe, just maybe….

Lake Superior Special Ale

More looking back, this time on Special Ale from Lake Superior Brewing of Duluth. And, once more, notes from that magical month of April in 2003:


Color is cloudy bronze, showing a clearer orange at the bottom of the glass, and the head is a thick, fluffy white.

Aroma holds traces of spice and fruit, is fresh and largely clean, resembling an ESB in that regard.

Hops give a full attack on the palate, and texture is smooth, but spicy. Fair enough finish, with a distinctly citrusy aftertaste.

Malt is adequate, hops are ample and tasty, beer was fully enjoyed. More hops than a bitter, and less than an IPA (at least, an American craftbrewed IPA), and quite a drinkable ale.

Town Hall Chocolate Pumpkin Ale

So, here's the thing. This beer, which I don't think I've ever had, was only available in growlers as part of a 3-pack, which got you a dollar off on each. Also, the Cranberry Abbey Ale. However, I didn't realize until I got my bill that those two were $19 each. Did I really want to pay that much? Well, you know what they say...YOLO!

Ahem. So, I purchased those two, and the Autumn Blaze, and also had a Dark Krystal that I had purchased the week prior and hadn't touched, all of which I intended to take to Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Now, I'd never written about any of these, and if I'm spending almost $20 on some, I'd better get some reviews out of it, so I took out a 12 ounce pour of each to take my notes on them all. Took me up until about 2 a.m. (kind of early for me), along with the Schell's and Summit beers I recently posted. All was well, I got plenty of sleep and woke up ready to go, on time, took my growlers to the gathering, and here's what happened. Everyone enjoyed the beers, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, Mom, and while I didn't get a ton of specific feedback, I found that they drank all of the Cranberry Abbey before I got any (good thing I took my notes last night!), and the only one with any left was this one. I don't think the words Chocolate next to Pumpkin really sold the deal for anyone.

I looked on ratebeer.com and found four reviews. In 2013, 2 raters gave it a 3.7 and a 3.8. Five years ago, 2 reviews in 2008 gave it a 1.3 and a 1.5 and said some damaging things about it. Over on BeerAdvocate, 2 reviews from 4/5 years ago gave it a more charitable 3.7 average.

What did I think? Check it out:

Town Hall Chocolate Pumpkin Ale.

You put your chocolate in my pumpkin! YOU put your pumpkin in my chocolate.

Clear, dark russet brown, head starts out okay, but disappears with a quickness.

Aroma: Pumpkin hits first, swallowed by chocolate. Chocolate maintains it's dominance, though it's more cocoa powder than anything else. Nice.

Taste: Mmm! Wow! This is nearly a perfect marriage of these two flavors, big and bold, flooding the mouth of flavor. Big-time choco-tastic flavor-iffic. Yum. Did I say that, yet? Fullish body, fastastic-al flavor.

Apparently, they got it right this time. Or those ratebeer reviewers are nincompoops. And some people get scared off when they think of chocolate and pumpkin. Wonder why? 

Town Hall Autumn Blaze Fall Ale

Town Hall Autumn Blaze. Described to me as like an ale version of an oktoberfest. Similar to Capital Brewing's Autumnal Fire? Or, something else? Nothing a ton of other info available right now, so, let's jump into it.

Clear, bright and burning crimson, hue, small to no head on top.

Aroma: rich, dark malts, some, small sweetness. Oktoberfest meets doppelbock, wit more of the hearty fruity notes of an ale.

Taste: Rich fruity flavors rise to the top. Cherry jumps out hardest? Apple and berry, a little bit oaky, a touch of tobacco. Something like that. Even it's not accurate, there's plenty of complexity. This is ever so tasty. About medium-bodied, delicious fruit/malty finish. Mmmm, mmm, good.

(I can't find any further info on this one. It's no longer listed on their site, not on ratebeer, but it is on BeerAdvocate, without the brewer's description, and is called a Fall Ale, categorized as an American Brown, listed as 6.4% aBV, and reviewed by one person.