Lift Bridge Juice-Z NE IPA

Lift Bridge Juice-Z NE IPA. 5 % ABV. 40 IBU. Lift Bridge Brewery, Stillwater, MN.

Quite the hazy. Bright golden. Slim white head.

In the nose: Soft. Fuzzy. Fruity. Lacking what I look for in a normal IPA, but right on the line for this NE Hazy stuff.

In the mouth: More soft, more fuzzy. Minor bitterness. Tropical notes to match the citrus. Smoothish, and light bodied. Easy drinker. Yadda, yada....

It's hazy, it's juicy, if that's what you want, here you go. If you read my words with any regularity, it's plentifully evident that I don't have a lot of love for this style. This version is not changing my case in the least.

A monstrous blend of fruit-forward hops is balanced out with golden malt, wheat and oats. Forget the bitter aftertaste – this New England Style IPA is smooth, citrusy ray of tropical sunshine in an otherwise chaotic world.

Three Floyds Necron99 IPA

Three Floyds Necron99 IPA.
 7.3 % ABV. 61 IBU.
Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN.

Here it is, folks, the fourth Three Floyds beer to come over to Minnesota since their return a few months ago, and the first one that is wholly new to me. Gumball Head, Alpha King, Zombie Dust....I'd had them all before. Now what's this one all about?

Clouded, pale amber color, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold citrus. She notes of other, sweeter fruits, creeping toward the tropical.

In the mouth: A brace of bitterness, matched with juicy. Tasty and bright. Long lasting bitterness on the palate. Medium bodied. Tropical tones match the citrus bite. Easy drinker.

Side note: Examining the packaging, it bears a strong resemblance to the artist behind the Space Riders comic book series, the very one that Oliphant named four of their beers after. Yes, indeed, it is Alexis Ziritt who designed the label for this Interplanetary IPA.

Note: Scortch ale, not Scotch ale. This is in reference to the film, Wizards. Tropical fruit aroma, primarily passion fruit, pineapple, and mango. More subtle notes of berries, melon, citrus, and floral are also present with a full malt profile and a bitter finish.

From the six-pack holder: "A juicy and interplanetary IPA ideal for roaming the radioactive Scortch Wastelands in search of peace."

Mikkeller Awful Gato Imperial Brown Ale with Vanilla and Coffee

Mikkeller Awful Gato Imperial Brown Ale with Vanilla and Coffee.
10.1 % ABV. Brewed and canned by Mikkeller SD, San Diego, CA.

Solid blackness, thin ring of cocoa foam. Looking good.

In the nose: Vanilla hits first, followed by cocoa. Nice and sweet. Coffee and cream, resting over a big ol' brown ale. I'm enjoying this.

In the mouth: The palate gets socked with massive malt, resplendent richness, and a healthy dose of sweet. Vanilla and coffee are in command. Full-bodied, rich, and ever so tasty. Smooth stuff, and flat out delicious. Go out and get some.

A big, luscious Imperial Brown base exuding layers of toasted crust, warm cocoa, and milk chocolate. Made sexy with the addition of espresso coffee and vanilla to imitate a comforting cup of affogato. Hence Awful Gato… you see what we did there? 

Steel Toe Mighty Fresh IPA

Steel Toe Mighty Fresh IPA.
6 % ABV. IBU: ?
Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN.

It's fresh hop season. I haven't had any fresh hop beers yet. Nor have I ever had this one. Let's kick it off...

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lasting ivory cap on top.

In the nose: Ah! Fresh, lively, pure. Plump with citrus and pine. Gorgeous.

In the mouth: Sweet at first, followed swiftly by bitter. Plenty of citrus punch on the palate, lemon, orange, grapefruit. Just the thing my tastebuds require. Medium bodied, easy drinking, just right.
This is exactly my kind of IPA.

I wish I had more information on this one, but I'm coming up empty everywhere I look. Should've taken a pic of the menu while I was at the taproom, maybe that had some answers.

Firetrucker Tropical Burn DIPA

Firetrucker Tropical Burn DIPA.
8.5 % ABV. 90 IBU.
Firetrucker Brewery, Ankeny, Iowa.

Fully opaque, deep amber/crimson color, lasting layer of ivory froth atop.

In the nose: Nice and fruity, more tropical than citric. Creamy-smooth.

In the mouth: More fruit on the palate, with low bitterness. Juicy malt. Medium bodied. Alcohol picks up steam. Brief citrus bite, matched by a mix of tropical fruit flavors, then, yeah, the burn of the higher alcohol, tearing up the palate, buzzing on the brain.

I wish this was cleaner, more coherent, but as it is, it's just adequate. Not the DIPA I'm looking for, I'm afraid.

This high-gravity double IPA is loaded with hoppy and citrus flavors. The nose begins with sweet and fruity mango, pineapple and grapefruit aromas, accompanied by a slight tang of alcohol. The initial sweet citrus flavors slowly blend into a dry and lingering hoppy bitterness. Idaho 7 and Citra hops are dominant and balance well with the large addition of whole mangos.

I don't know why, but I really didn't pick up on the mango on this one.

Barrel Theory After School Snacks Berliner Weisse with Tangerine and Blood Orange

Barrel Theory After School Snacks Berliner Weisse. With Tangerine and Blood Orange.
4 % ABV. Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Fully opaque, bright golden hue, slim head.

In the nose: Tangerine pops out, blood orange stands by.

In the mouth: Yow! That's sour! Sweet and sour...like a SweeTart! Candied citrus fruit, all soured up scores highest in the ratings. Tangerine, orange, lemon, grapefruit....tastiness aplenty.
Big time, juicy puckering in this one. Medium bodied, full-flavored, long lasting fruity/sour taste. Long finish. Very nice. Delicioso.

Only eight of Barrel Theory's beers have appeared here so far, and none of them have been their sours. Now I know what all the fuss is about. This one is top notch.

New Belgium Hop Avenger IPA

New Belgium Hop Avenger IPA. 7.7 % ABV. 45 IBU.
New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Thoroughly hazed, pale orange appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrus abounds. Grapefruit, lemon, orange. Soft, juicy, tropical fruit notes accompany. Passion fruit, guava.

In the mouth: Bright and bitter at the start. A jolt of refreshing juicy flavors. Fresh and zesty. Hop bitterness never ceases, and is never too much. Last long on the palate, continually tasty. Bold, even intense. I can't help liking it.

Looking at their notes on this, I'm amazed that I didn't feel the pineapple as strong as they do. Perhaps I'm weary of picking out pineapple. Too much pineapple in the IPAs these days.

VOODOO RANGER HOP AVENGER IPA
The people have spoken! With over 50,000 votes, Hop Avenger IPA edged out Starship IPA in the battle for the next super beer! With its super juicy tropical aromas and light sweetness, Hop Avenger IPA packs a powerful pineapple punch! 

TASTING NOTES,VISUAL
Golden haze with a light sheen and moderate white foam.
AROMA Moderate pineapple, and tropical fruit aromas.
FLAVOR Slight sweetness moving to a moderate bitterness.
MOUTHFEEL/BODY Slightly coating and warming with moderate astringency. Medium-bodied.
BEER FACTS
ABV 7.7%
IBU 45
YEAST House Ale Yeast
HOPS Nugget, Mosaic Incognito, Ekuanot Incognito, Jester, Chinook, Citra, Mandarina Bavaria
MALTS Pale, Caramel 20, Munich

Beaver Island Oktoberfest Marzen Lager

Beaver Island Oktoberfest Marzen Lager. Award Winning. Dam. fine. Beer.
Beaver Island Brewing, St. Cloud, MN.

Clear, amber/copper color, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet and malty. Just enough hops. Lush, herbal.

In the mouth: Crisp and clean, juicy malt flavors abound. Just a touch of hop bitterness, enough to keep it nice and balanced. Ends on the dry side. Tasty stuff.

This authentic Märzen transforms German malts and hops into a rich, balanced lager. Pairs perfectly with lederhosen.

Exile Dankalope American IPA

Exile Dankalope American IPA.
6.8 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Exile Brewing, Des Moines, IA.

This is not my first time having this beer. The first was at the brewery, in mid-August of this year. I did not take notes, nor a picture, and didn't check in on Untappd. I fell into a black hole where no beer reporting occurs. I was sure to pick up 4-pack before we left Des Moines, and I'm finally taking notes on the final bottle.

Clear-ish, bright golden color, large, lacey, ivory head.

In the nose: Bold, assertive, citrus and pine. Just lovely. Exactly what I want in an IPA.

In the mouth: Fresh, zesty, awash in hop bitterness and flavor. Juicy. Delicious. "Dank" without being...undank. It's Crescent Fresh, is what it is. Lots of hop interplay on the palate, medium bodied, slightly sweet malt flavors, long lasting flavors in the finish. Delightful.

This is one more example of how Iowa is making some damn good beers. Wish I'd bought a second 4-pack. Well, I would have finished them a long time ago, but I'd be four times happier than I am now. It is a clear and shimmering example of how to do an IPA best. More and more, I want to go back and pick up more examples of their beers, and sing the praises of Iowa beers.

Independent, self-reliant & free-spirited, Dankalope rides on his own terms. Dankalope American IPA is brewed with Simcoe, Chinook and Mosaic hops. Citrus and floral notes made for the open road.

Mikkeller San Diego Cryo Room IPA

Mikkeller Cryo Room IPA. 7% ABV.
Mikkeller Brewing, San Diego, CA.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Citra's popping! Simcoe and Mosaic on the side. Loads of lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit. Fine stuff, indeed.

In the mouth: Hop bitterness blasts out and buzzes the palate. Juicy on the tongue. Citra-delic, man.
Clean and delicious.
Easy drinker, for the hopheads among us.
Quite nice.

I was surprised to at last taste a non-hazy IPA from this brewery, and I was happy with the results. Good IPA and you can drink it.

IPA with mosaic, simcoe, and citra cryo hops.

Town Hall Hopfen King

Town Hall Hopfen King. 6.1 % ABV. German IPA.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Clean, grainy/malty, light hops. Slight citrus.

In the mouth: Zippy, tangy, tasty. More clean, lightly malty, just enough hoppy & bitter. Smooth stuff.  Medium/light bodied, excellent drinkability.

I wish I could share more information, but I have none. The website can only tell us: German IPA. Whatever that is.

Peace Tree Cold Brew Coffee Stout

Peace Tree Cold Brew Coffee Stout. 6.5 % ABV.
Peace Tree Brewing Company, Knoxville & Des Moines, Iowa.

Solid blackness. Slim brown head. Absolute opacity.

In the nose: Rich. Earthy. Coffee. Roasty. Deep. Slight cocoa.

In the mouth: Bright berries, dark coffee. Richness and malt. Smooth, delicious. Medium bodied, long, malty/nutty/coffee finish. Quite excellent in all regards.

I enjoyed the first 5 of this 6-pack with relish. I took great pleasure in the sixth without the aid of condiments.

Come on, you've got to let me get my jokes in, now and then.

It started with an idea in our taprooms: There should be dark beer you can enjoy year-round. Our Cold Brew Coffee Stout starts with dark and caramel malt for a roasted, chocolate character. In a process called cold brewing where time replaces heat, fresh ground coffee is steeped at cold temperatures in the final brewing stages. The result is smoother taste and fragrant aromas without sacrificing any of the rich flavor.

Boom Island Boom Light Blonde Ale

Boom Island Boom Light. Blonde Ale.
4.2 % ABV. 25 IBU.
Boom Island Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: sugar, yeast, malt. Belgian blonde is going on. Cereal, grain, minor hops. Pleasant, inoffensive, yada, yada.

In the mouth: Lightness personified. Goes down with utmost ease. Light and delightful. Somewhat. Waiting for further flavors. Light bodied, easy drinking. Continued grainy/malty flavors, minor hops, not much else. Eh. Okay beer and you can drink it.

Boom Island has picked up stakes and moved their shop from North Minneapolis to nice, safe Minnetonka, and their new taproom, which I have yet to visit, is far more popular there than the old location ever was. If you've ever worked in a taproom, you'd know that the most commonly asked question is: "what's your lightest beer." I'm glad that in order to satisfy this inquiry (which could have been done with Witness Wit, I guess), they didn't simple put out a lame light lager.

Clean, crisp and refresh­ing, this blond ale is the per­fect go-to for easy drink­ing. It’s light on hop bit­ter­ness and full flavored. 

Drekker King of the Thing Double IPA

Drekker King of the Thing Double IPA.
8.3 % ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

So, I haven't had any Drekker in a while. And here's one with an attractive grotesque illustration of some Goblin King (or is it Augra from The Dark Crystal) on the label. And it's a double IPA, which is a style I crave from time to time. Let's try it out.

All hazy. Murky yellow. Large white, lace-leaving head.

In the nose: Soft, fruity, high citrus. Big lemon and orange. Pinch of pineapple.

In the mouth: Sweetness hits the palate first, way before the bitter. More soft, more smooth, and again, I'm coming up short on what I like in an IPA. Juicy Tasty. Ending dry. Medium-bodied, with increasing booze. Leaves the palate quickly.

Personally, I feel that a double IPA should have extra hop bitterness, not just extra booze. But, that's just me, I guess.

Quick question: Are hazy IPAs just the default style now? It didn't see "hazy" or "NE" preceding "DIPA" on the label. I feel kind of cheated when I open a DIPA and find that, alas, again, it's another haze bomb, bros. I just want the OG, dudes.

Designed to showcase to the beauty and splendor of Citra, this beer is built on a mountain of oats and spelt for a decadent and smooth mouthfeel. Bursts with notes of lychee, candied lemon, and peach Bellini. It's royally smooth like the juice of the highest order.⁣ ⁣

Malt: Pale Two Row, Carafoam, Oats, Spelt

Hops: Citra

Yeast: House IPA yeast.

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2019 (collaboration with Bitburger)

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2019 (collaboration with Bitburger)
6 % ABV. 22 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

Clear, amber/copper color, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet malt pops up first, nice and toasty, caramel-y, certainly in marzen-style. Quite nice.

In the mouth: More of the same. Mostly malty, clean, with brisk bitterness. Not too sweet, just right. Crisp. Toasty. Caramel-y. Smooth and lovely.  This is yum. Even yum a dum dum.

Clean, smooth, light, tasty. Good beer and you can drink it.

It’s the ultimate season of revelry, so we teamed up with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery for an Oktoberfest that turns backyards into beer gardens. Rally your friends and celebrate with a festbier whose rich amber color, secret hop blend, and smooth malty flavor bring the Munich tents to you. 

Schell's Fort Road Porter

Schell's Fort Road Porter. English-style Brown Porter.
4.8 % ABV August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.

Fully opaque, largely brown, full tan head atop.

In the nose: Cocoa. Minor espresso. Much malt. Nicely roasted and toasted. Largely likable, so far.

In the mouth: Sweet, then dry. Mostly malty, minorly hoppy. Sweet malt kept just in check. Chocolate and coffee, with a touch of roast. Medium-bodied, easy-drinking. Every inch delightful.

This is solid stuff. I had every intention of finding fault with their attempt at an English style ale, but, hey, these guys know what they're doing, no matter what.

Chocolate and caramel notes will shine through this brew, leaving room for the roasted malts to make their appearance. With barley grown near the brewery on the historic Fort Road, this beer gets its name and runs during the colder months, opposite our Fort Road Helles.

Lupulin CPB Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter

Lupulin CPB Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter.
5.25 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Murky brown, slim, tan head.

In the nose: Peanut butter pops right out. Malty flavors lurk below. Sweet, earthy, balanced. Not getting any chocolate yet.

In the mouth: Peanut Butter flavor remains on top. Smooth and creamy. Minor hops, just enough for balance. Chocolate creeps out from under. Tasty, tasty stuff. Medium bodied and a treat to drink down.

Layers of decadent chocolate and peanut butter built into a rich oatmeal porter make this beer impossible to have just one. We're not sorry.

Oliphant 2HI2SpY Grapefruit Sour with sea salt and lactose

Oliphant 2HI2SpY Grapefruit Sour with sea salt and lactose.
5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Clear, bright golden color, large, lasting, lace-leaving ivory head, sure to drift down to a tight ring.

In the nose: Sour and salt hit first, no sign of grapefruit yet. Another sniff: maybe a little bit, but not much.

In the mouth: Tart and sour from the start, lip-smacking and puckering aplenty. Brisk, bright and beautiful. Grapefruit still remains subdued, while salt shines, but lactose? What's it up to?...not sure the idea there. I've not yet heard of a sour ale with lactose added. Are they going lactose happy, or is it's presence in the recipe guided by some principle I don't yet understand?

Grapefruit's coming on stronger, and the creamy smooth of the lactose seems to tame it, if that was the intent. Maybe I've answered my previous query. And what's else is, it's pretty damn tasty.

Delicious sour, this one. I'm enjoying this crowler, and I'd go back for more.

Wrapping my head around the name & label art. Spoof on James Bond if he was a stoner? Maybe?

Surreal N/A Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA

Surreal N/A Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA. "A brew for the limitless you!"
0.5 % ABV. Surreal Brewing, Campbell, CA.


So, it's an N/A hazy juicy IPA, and the last sample I tried was offensive. How will we do this time?

Hazy, sure, dull golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Hoppy. Citrus and tropical. Not bad, so far.

In the mouth: Oh, no, not again. Cardboard. Pennies. Garbage. Yuck. Flat. Dull. Drab. Lifeless. And, I know this is not a technical term, again: Yuck. Oh, and a touch of coconut.

Another drain pour. Yikes. Two more to go with this brewery. Are any of them any good?
We shall see.

This Hazy IPA bursts with tropical fruit and citrus character, accentuated by fruity yeast esters & a subtle, clean malt finish.

Waldmann German Triple( Strong Golden German Ale)

Waldmann German Triple ( Strong Golden German Ale).
7.7 % ABV. Waldmann Brewery, St. Paul, MN.

Here's the second crowler I've reviewed from Waldmann Brewing in St. Paul. The first was a gift from Ed, last year. This one was purchased at the brewery on September 1, when Ed and I biked around St. Paul, visiting 5 breweries, 3 of them new to me. Yes, this was my first visit to the charming Waldmann, and it won't be the last. I cannot explain why I waited a month to open the growler, though. Sometimes it just has to be the right time. And the beer held up.

Clear, bright amber color, large and lasting ivory head, leaving some lace.

In the nose: lively blend of fruity esters at work, some apple, some citrus. Unexpectedly delightful.

In the mouth: starts off nice and hoppy, with low bitterness, then the smooth, sweet malt flavors kick in. Nice interplay, good balance, excellent drinking. Crisp, clean, and complex. Lots going on, lovely taste, outright enjoyable.

A gold German stark beer. A handful of different German and Czech Pilsner malts combine with U.S. Santiam hops gor a fruity and spicy strong German ale.

Date filled: 26-Aug-2019. Version 19A