Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout.
5.3 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Belching Beaver Brewery, Oceanside, CA.

Thoroughly black, rich brown head on top.

In the nose: peanut butter, cream, cocoa, dark malt.

In the mouth: Sweetness starts it off, nuts, peanut butter, rich, dark malt, cocoa. Tasty stuff, indeed. Medium bodied, expertly drinkable. Smooth and creamy. Goes down nice and easy. Pretty okay peanut butter stout.

Hey, you know what? Why don't we try the nitro version?

Just as black, with a creamier brown head.
Maltier nose, peanut butterier, if a touch.
Smoother, more mellifluous mouthfeel. Mmm, hmm, mmm.

Even more pretty okay peanut butter milk stout.

Our Peanut Butter Milk Stout is simply irresistible. It’s like dark chocolate Reese’s in a glass! Rolled oats and Lactose add to the creamy body of this beer while heavenly aromas of roasted buttery peanuts and chocolate greet you with every sip. Try this out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a real treat!
Silver Medal – World Beer Championships 2014

Eastlake Southside Pils Pilsneresque Ale

Eastlake Southside Pils Pilsneresque Ale.
5% ABV. 40 IBU.
Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

"Pilsneresque Ale"? That's a new one for me. I'm pretty sure it was an actually lager when it was first released, four years ago. Or was I misled?

Clear, bright golden, flush and fuzzy ivory head holds down the fort.

In the nose: Floral and slightly citric. Nicely hopped. Crisp and clean.

In the mouth: Hoppiness on the palate from the top. Slightly fruity, mildly bitter, judicious hop presence. More crisp, more clean, and lightness personified.

Southside is brewed in the style of a Czech Pils, only with a cool-fermenting ale yeast. We call it Pilsner-esque. A picaresque brew indeed, crisp and refreshing, Southside rolls with noticeable bitterness and spicy aroma from noble Saaz hops. This “Helles of the north” is the perfect beer to throw down after a long ride down the alleys and streets of Southside Minneapolis.

Paulaner Original Munich Helles Lager

The circle closes, ever tighter. A new sample can from the sample man, bringing me a German beer I took notes on back on 9/19/05. I posted them on BeerAdvocate.com, and as I drink this fresh can, I share them with you:

Paulaner Munich Helles Lager. 4.9 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Paulaner Brauerei, Münchner, Deutschland.

A dazzling tornado of carbonation is an appealing part of this pour, spinning and whirling from bottom to top of the glass. The show's over soon, though, and then we consider the paleness of the yellow, and admire the long-lasting frothycloud nestled on top.

As for aroma, it's soft and pleasant, grainy, lightly honeyish, a little floral...not bad. On par or better for a typical lager.

Taste it, already!
Clean and solid, on and off the tongue. Crisp and zippy, delicate, but well-appreciated hops, minimal malt. But I don't think a lager can get more classic than this. Hops are more pronounced on the tongue the more I drink, and I like it like that.

Light bodied, tidy, hop-inflected finish. Perfectly palatable, excellently designed and executed.

I'm thumping myself to think that I've never tried this before. If ever I'm in the mood for a good, smooth, utterly untroubling lager, this would be my choice.

Fourteen years later, I still like it. Am I becoming a lager liker? Amazing!

Our Original Munich Lager is a true classic with its clear and bright gold sparkling hue, crowned by a pure white head. A beer which always goes down well: mild, elegant malts, with a hint of sweetness and a soft hint of hops in the background. This Munich beer is ideal to accompany spare ribs and spicy dishes. Just try it!

Dave's BrewFarm Orange-U-Glad-I Didn't

Dave's BrewFarm Orange-U-Glad-I Didn't.
4.5 % ABV.
Dave's BrewFarm, Wilson, WI.

It's been a few months, but I finally made it back to Dave's. And I had 2 empty growlers, but I can't see something 2 feet in front of where I sit, so I only brought one with me to the LaBrewatory, and one beer back home with me. It was this one, which according to Untappd was first entered into their database in late 2016. I've probably had it before, because the name seems familiar, but it's my first time bringing it back for some note-taking.

And lo and behold, it's in the Untappd database, and a grand total of 2 people have checked into it. For some reason, it's listed as a Belgian Strong Golden Ale, although it is nothing of the sort. Or did the beer change? It is listed as 6.5 % ABV (not very strong), but the one I'm enjoying is 4.5 % ABV.

Here's the thing about this: Not many of the BrewFarm fans are online beer reviewers, like me.  They're just regular ol' beer lovers, who aren't going to create a new entry for a beer on Untappd, or BeerAdvocate or Ratebeer. I know Dave isn't. The last time I was there, several of the beers I'd had were not in the database yet.I've added some to BA, probably RB, but maybe not to Untappd. If it's not in there, I may not check in to it, but it will always be here in the Nib. It's too bad. I wish that every brewery had it's scribe, and all of their beers were entered into a book that is a record of all that they have achieved. I try my best to assist in this with my favorites, but I can't do it all. Even with my very favorites, it's impossible to keep tabs with everything they do. If I were to attempt that, it would be to the detriment of all the others. And how do you pick your favorite, how do you justify neglecting the others? It's tough, man. I'm glad I don't have to have these conversations. "See, you're number 24...sorry!"

As it is, Dave's BrewFarm is definitely one of my favorite breweries. It is the 4th most reviewed brewery in the Nib, behind Town Hall, Surly, and Oliphant. 85 beers reviewed so far. Out of 215 listings on Untappd, 124 on rate beer.com, and 91 on BeerAdvocate.com. (Guess I'm off about the BrewFarm not being visited too highly by Untappd users.) Not too bad. (Especially since I only get out there a handful of times a year, at best. Since it's sixty miles away, and I have to resort to the help of friends to drive me out, and it's only open sixteen hours a month, at most.) And it makes me wonder how many BrewFarm beers there actually are. I'm sure Dave knows the answer. Maybe he'll tell us one day. He alone holds the key to the legend of the BrewFarm.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold and hoppy, citrusy. Lemon and orange, with a light undercurrent of spice.

In the mouth: Light, crisp, snappy. More vibrant citrus-y flavors. Slightly grainy malt character. Light bitterness. Smooth and tasty, going down easy. Refreshing. Delicious. Almost, but not quite, yum-a-dum-dum. Juicy, fruity, and ever-so nice.

Hey, I like it.

A refreshing beer brewed with Pale malt, Northern Brewer, Columbus, and Nugget hops and a late addition of sour orange puree. Fermented with an English yeast. Perhaps you're glad I did? 

Indeed Old Breed Bourbon Barrel-aged Barley Wine

Indeed Old Breed Bourbon Barrel-aged Barley Wine.
9.9 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Murky mahogany, burnt umber, short-lived brownish head.

In the nose: Glorious. Vanilla, cherry, tobacco, & leather. Rich, magnificent malt, all covered up in whiskey. I'm a natural born sucker for it.

In the mouth: caramel & toffee. Deep malt flavors, brandy, rum, raisins, and all those whiskey associations. Plum delicious. Full bodied, full flavored, right on in every aspect.

The flavors are generous and incredible, then in walks the booze, right on time. Here comes that wonderfully warm feeling, coating the senses, coaxing the brain.

A luxurious nightcap, well-equipped to send me off to slumberland.

Town Hall Hop Ryeval IPA

Town Hall Hop Ryeval. Rye IPA.
4.9 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

What is a "ryeval", anyway? Just a pun, using a word that starts with the sound of "rye"? Anything more to it than that? If you find out, let me know.

Lightly hazy, bright golden/amber hue, beautiful and long-lasting ivory head.

In the nose: powerful citrus and pine aromatics. Grapefruit and forest floor. Certified dank.

In the mouth: Hops hit hard up front, but it's smooth on the way back. Spicy malt takes over in the flavor department. Hop bitterness hangs on long on the palate. Best of all worlds for me, here. Medium-bodied, easy drinking, richly rewarding. Juicy malt takes over from spicy malt, and it's altogether delicious.

One of my favorite recent Town Hall creations. Keep 'em coming, guys.

Brewed with malted rye. Heavy on hops, easy on the palate.

Oliphant Splendid Squishy Sour Ale

Back in September, I told you about Super Squishy, the Blackberry Raspberry sour ale. Well, now we have Splendid Squishy, which is not explicitly named after a Simpsons reference. There is something about a witch and a 3-eyed cat which may come from somewhere, and maybe someday, I'll know.


Oliphant Splendid Squishy Sour Ale.
w/ lactose, pineapple, ras/lem, vanilla, sea salt.
5.6 % ABV.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Berry red color. Slim white head.

In the nose: More fruity than sour, at the start. Full of the berries and lemon, with those ingredients off the side. I'm picking up some pineapple. Vanilla, lactose, and sea salt, are these the new magical ingredients? We'll find out...

In the mouth: Here comes the juicy, salt on the side. Smooth and slightly creamy. Stays clear of being either too sweet or too sour. Pineapple's not dropping, the raspberry's in charge. All these ingredients are doing something in harmony, here, and in balance. That's the story of the Splendid Squishy.

This is tasty and beautiful stuff, indeed.

glendid the good witch descended upon our quaint village with three demands. i interrupted her and asked, “aren’t you supposed to grant us our demands?” she raised her wooden harold potter’s twig at me and said “that is a genie, i am a witch, and a good witch at that.” the next thing i know, i’m a large three-eyed cat. sweet!

sour w/ raspberry, lemon juice, pineapple, vanilla, & lactose. 5% abv

Zundert 8 Trappist Ale

Zundert 8 Trappist Ale.
Brouwerij de Kievert,
Klein Zundert, Noord Brabant The Netherlands.
8 % ABV. 34 IBU.
Ale brewed with spices.
Product of Zundert, Netherlands.

The people of the Netherlands. They are Dutch, and they live in Holland, which must be the same thing as the Netherlands. And some of them are Trappist monks who actually brew their own beer. I love Trappist ales, and was surprised and delighted to see a new one on the shelves of a local store.




Zundert. I like the sound of that. Kievert sounds nice, too. That's the little bird in the logo.

Although it doesn't say so on the label anywhere, this one is purported to be a tripel, which is a style that I love. I found this out through articles I've researched before opening the bottle. Why they don't want to say so anywhere on the label, I'm not sure. (Edit: Now, I know after drinking. Because it isn't, really.)

Enough is enough. Let's open it up and see if I'll be back for more Zundert.

Clouded, chestnut/amber- hued, large and lasting fuzzy, cream-toned head. Looks terrific.

In the nose: Ah, that's the stuff! That's the classic Belgian aroma that I dream of...I wish I could smell this every day. Put it in a locket and hang it 'round my neck. Light floral hops. Sweet malt, nutty, stone fruit, earthy, funky, wild and wooly. Some citrus and spice. Everything nice.

In the mouth: More malty goodness spreading on the palate, with spicy notes become prominent. Delicate, well-balanced hop presence. Medium bodied. Quite tasty. Firmly in the Belgian-style, but more of an amber, not anywhere near a dubbel, and just missing the mark for a tripel. It is it's own thing.

Let's see if the label tells us anything: We brew a beer that we describe as slightly unruly--our Trappist 8 is a beer you must take time to understand. Chestnut-colored and bottle-conditioned, with aroma of herbs and spices, initially floral and slightly sweet, character develops from light caramel to a lovely dry, hoppy bitterness as the flavor opens. Brewed within the walls of Zundert Trappist Monastery by monks. 

Zundert 8 is a Trappist beer produced by De Kievit Trappist Brewery, part of the Trappist abbey Maria Toevlucht, from the town of Zundert in the Netherlands. Since 2018 De Kievit Trappist Brewery produces another Trappist beer.

This "other" beer is called 10 and I'll be looking for it. As it is, 8 is truly beautiful. Somehow I left out  the fact that while the brewery is called Kievet, after the bird, and the beer is called Zundert, after the town, the abbey is actually called Abdij Maria Toevlucht. More confusion. It's okay. Just takes a little time to figure out.

Earth Rider Superior Pale Ale

Earth Rider Superior Pale Ale.
5.7 % ABV. 56 IBU.
Earth Rider Brewery, Superior, WI.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Brisk, crisp, bold citrus. Lemon, grapefruit, orange, lime.

In the mouth: Brash bitterness, cascading into smooth and delicious. Medium-body. Super drinkable. Classic American Pale Ale. Just flat out tasty. Good ol' sessionable pale ale. And, it need not be stated but I shall, you can drink it.

Denali and Citra hops lend citrus and pineapple notes in this easy drinking pale ale. A crisp, clean, and dry-finishing pale.

Kona Big Wave Golden Ale

Kona Big Wave Golden Ale. 4.4 % ABV. 21 IBU. Kona Brewing, Kailu Kona, HI.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Fairly faint. Nothing much here.

In the mouth: Slight bitterness, minor malt, some grainy texture. Light bodied, naturally. Drinkable, of course, but blasé'. Someone's gonna like, though, but that's where I stand.

Big Wave is light golden ale with a subtle fruitiness and delicate hop aroma. A smooth, easy drinking refreshing ale. The lightly roasted honey malt contributes to the golden hue of this beer and also gives a slight sweetness that is balanced out by our special blend of hops.

2 Towns Ciderhouse Easy Squeeze Raspberry Lemonade Cider

2 Towns Ciderhouse Easy Squeeze Raspberry Lemonade Cider. Made with Meyer Lemon and raspberries. 5 % ABV. 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR.

Clear, pink-ish red.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, citrusy. Spritely and lively.

In the mouth: At first sip, the tartness starts. Raspberry lemonade. Briskly tart, fruity, crisp and refreshing. The sweetness is never too much, and neither is the tart. Good balance. Good cider and you can drink it.

Citrusy and refreshing, Easy Squeezy is crafted with fresh-pressed Northwest apples, Meyer Lemons, and raspberries. Bringing the pink lemonade vibes, this cider goes down easy squeezy.

Loon Juice Rose, Eh? Hard Cider

Loon Juice Rose, Eh? Hard Cider. 5.5 % ABV.
Four Daughter Winery, Spring Creek, MN.

Clear, pinkish, no head.

In the nose: apples, fruit, sweetness.

In the mouth: Tart from the start, rose-y, fruity, sweet. Tart, sweet, slight bitter, then dry. Light bodied, easy-drinking. Not bad, but not for me. I'd get tired of this real quick. But, I will finish this can. And be ready for something more substantial.

56 Brewing Tart IPA

56 Brewing Tart IPA.
5.6 % ABV. 30 IBU.
56 Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clouded, bright golden hue, lush, long-lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Tart at the start, wild & funky. Sourness subsumes any IPA character there may be.

In the mouth: Huge sour at first sip, with a jolt of juicy. Bracing pucker on the palate. Substantial sour, with not much hop bitterness detected. Sweet juiciness (from malt, I presume) balances out the sour. Quite a tasty sour ale, and you can drink it.

I hate to harp on the same point over and over again, though, but...for all the good, I just gotta. There's not much of an IPA underneath all the sour. Wish they'd stop calling everything an IPA, when it's clearly gone beyond the style.

A juicy and tart kettle soured IPA then dry-hopped with Citra and Loral. The 2nd version of this will be a special collaboration (to be revealed) and released April 20th in the taproom and a limited quantity of 16oz cans.

Blacklist BIPA Belgian-style India Pale Ale.

Blacklist BIPA Belgian-style India Pale Ale.
6.2 % ABV. 60 IBU.
Blacklist Artisan Ales, Duluth, MN.

Hazed, pale crimson hue, lace-leaving, cloud-white head atop.

In the nose: sweetness fruit, Belgian malt. Lightly hoppy.

In the mouth: Bitter bite kicks it off, blast of citrus. Belgian malt, caramel malt apparent on the palate. Hops deliver a nonstop buzz. Tasty stuff, medium bodied, quite likable. refreshing, fruity/juicy, malt-malicious, and every inch a delicious IPA. Good stuff.

“Oh, so juicy!,” not something a lot of IPAs can say, but when you rock Belgian-style with an IPA, that’s exactly what you get. The natural fruit aromas paired with tropical and citrus hop aromas keep the “flavor train” rolling longer than a stick of gum. Perfect for any event requiring “brewery casual” attire.

Lupulin Javatized Coffee Stout

Lupulin Javatized Coffee Stout.
6 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Solid blackness, under a rich, full brown head. Quite enticing.

In the nose: Earthy, malty, coffee. Bits of cocoa below.

In the mouth: Smooth and delicious. Coffee flavor strong on the top, dark malts hold down the fort on the bottom. Nice blast of hop bitterness at the start. Full bodied. Full flavored. Full everything. Flat out delicious.

Lupulin, you've done it again.

We Javatized this stout with freshly roasted coffee from our friends at Paradise Coffee Roasters. With flavors of fresh coffee, dark cocoa, and a balanced sweetness, it's perfect for any time of day.

Eastlake Increasingly Lost Saison

Eastlake Increasingly Lost Saison.
4.1 % ABV. 31 IBU.
Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly clouded, bright golden hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Bold bubblegum. Citrus, straw, spices.

In the mouth: Lean and clean. Light bodied, easy drinkability. Citrusy, lemon-y, Belgian yeast-y, with moderate bitterness. Quite consumable.

Nice summer refresher. Anytime refresher. Just a good ol' drinking' saison.


A highly drinkable French/Belgian rustic farmhouse style paled with clove and cinnamon aroma. Pours a hazy straw gold.

Tin Whiskers Spring IPA

Tin Whiskers Spring IPA. Spark Series.
Artfully Engineered. 7.5 % ABV. 33 IBU.
Tin Whiskers Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Lightly hazed, amber color, lush ivory head, looking good.

In the nose: Burst of bright citrus notes, slight spice, and that peculiar Belgian yeast note we tag as "bubblegum"...huh. Is this a "white IPA", or an IPA/Witbier hybrid?

In the mouth: Big bitterness, floral flavors, rich malt, nice and drinkable. And interesting. I'm not getting as much fruit as expected. It's a little confusing. There's a lot going on here, and I'm not sure it hangs together well. Lacks cohesion. I'm confused why these flavors are together. And I'm gonna pass on it, yet I still finish the can.

A spring-centric IPA with notes of tangerine, melon, bubblegum, and spice.

Dogfish Head Super Eight Super Gose

Dogfish Head Super Eight Super Gose. 5.3 % ABV.
Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE.

Slim white head, bright crimson color, slightly hazy.

In the nose: Bright, fresh, & fruity. Very berry. Which ones? Can't saw for sure. Rasp-, black-, straw-? Maybe Mango, guava, some super fruits, knowing these guys. I'm going to the rare thing, for me, and peek ahead.

Huh. I'm glad I read that. A collaboration with Kodak. SuperEIGHT, like the film. Wacky. With eight ingredients:  "prickly pear, mango, boysenberry, blackberry, raspberry, elderberry, kiwi juices, toasted quinoa and an ample addition of red Hawaiian sea salt! Okay, so technically that's nine, but it 'gose' without say that there's going to be salt. "

Okay, let's drink: Tart, salty, juicy, then dry, almost all at once. Quite an experience, this. Let's try it again. Lift glass to lip, then sip: There it is again, all those tasty fruits, the tartness, the salt and then ending dry. Light bodied, swift finish, and easy drinking.

Yeah, I like it. Good stuff, guys.

This sessionable super gose is brewed with eight heroic ingredients: prickly pear, mango, boysenberry, blackberry, raspberry, elderberry, kiwi juices, toasted quinoa and an ample addition of red Hawaiian sea salt! Okay, so technically that's nine, but it 'gose' without say that there's going to be salt. These unique ingredients give this beer a vibrant red color, with delicious flavors of berries and watermelon, along with a tart - yet refreshing - finish.

But that’s not all … it also effectively develops Kodak’s Super 8 film. From the can to the stop bath, there’s a whole lot of science and alternative processing that takes place to bring the imagery to life. And it’s so totally worth it.

Belching Beaver Hop Highway IPA India Pale Ale

Belching Beaver Hop Highway IPA India Pale Ale. 7.3 % ABV. 65 IBU.
Belching Beaver Brewing, Vista, CA.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Fresh, vibrant bouquet of citrus and pine.

In the mouth: Brisk, crisp, delicious. Juicy malt body. Bold expressions of hop bitterness, flavors of grapefruit, lime, pine. Quite tasty. A good ol' IPA and you can drink it.


Named after California’s Highway 78, this India Pale Ale was brewed in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the city of Vista. With plenty of Galaxy, Falconer’s Flight, Southern Cross and just a tad bit of Nelson hops, our latest IPA is truly sessionable. Aroma’s include grapefruit, passionfruit, and citrus.

Beaver Island Maibock Helles Bock

Beaver Island Maibock Helles Bock. Dam. Fine. Beer. 6.9 % ABV.
Beaver Island Brewing, St. Cloud, MN.

Clear, amber-hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet, grainy, malty. Clean, lightly floral. Nice.

In the mouth: More sweetness, more malt. Clean, crisp, tasty. Light bodied and refreshing. Classic maibock in every way. I like it. I'll drink it again.

As temperatures rise teasing that summer is near and another winter is behind us, spring is the perfect time of year to celebrate new growth. To commemorate the season we have meticulously crafted our first Maibock (literally May Bock). A careful blend of imported German malts, a rush of German aromatic hops from St. Cloud's sister city, and a long cold aging process result in a beautifully balanced brew. Prost!