Beaver Island Coffee & Vanilla Sweet Miss Oatmeal Stout

Beaver Island Coffee & Vanilla Sweet Miss Oatmeal Stout.

And here we have beer #3 of the Beaver Island Sweet Miss variety pack. Did I save the best for last? We'll see. We'll also see more Beaver Island, for I intend to pick up their other variety pack and try out some of their beers that I've passed by. Perhaps the Axe Dragger IPA has gotten better since I tried it last, this past April? 

Solid blackness, completely opaque, slim brown ring of foam atop. 

In the nose: Coffee comes on first, cocoa just below. The, along comes vanilla. Nice. 

In the mouth: Starts out bittersweet, lightly hoppy, but mostly malty. Smooth and easy drinking, medium bodied, slightly toasty. Earthy coffee flavors continue,  sweetened by vanilla notes. 

Personally, I could do with a fuller body and a little less sweetness, but that's what I say about a lot of things. As it is, it's tasty and a treat to drink. I'd gladly have another. 

Oskar Blues Can-O-bliss IPA Series Citrus India Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Can-O-bliss IPA Series Citra India Pale Ale.

7.2 % ABV, 68 IBU. Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO. 

All  hazified, bright golden hue, small white head. 

In the nose: bold citrus notes, lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine.  Lovely. 

In the mouth: Brisk, crisp, refreshing. Just enough bitterness to tickle the palate. Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish. Fruity and juicy for a bit, but ending dry and delightful. Tasty little IPA, this one. I like it.

A complex, international blend of Motueka, Amarillo, Mandarina Bavaria, Citra and Experimental Hop #06277 contribute to a big, juicy, citrusy IPA experience with notes of orange, tangerine, and zesty tropical fruit.

Waldmann German Porter

Waldmann German Porter.

5.5 % ABV, Waldmann Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

What? German Porter? There's no such thing! You gotta be kidding me....but, if they say so, I mean, who knows, right? Let's give it a whirl. 

Dark brown, nearly black, with full opacity, and small, short-lived brown head. 

In the nose: Bittersweet. Caramel and cocoa. Expresso notes, too. Mostly malty. 

In the mouth: Chocolate and coffee hit the palate first. Small dose of bitterness, there for balance. Malt rises up to take over. Medium bodied, slightly sweet, but ending dry and earthy. Smooth stuff, easy drinking, fairly delightful. 

A “GERMANIFIED” VERSION OF A LONDON PORTER BREWED PRIMARILY IN EAST GERMANY UNTIL VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARING AFTER REUNIFICATION.  OUR GERMAN PORTER IS MADE WITH ENGLISH MARIS OTTER MALTS, GERMAN NOBLE-AROMATIC HOPS AND A CLASSIC GERMAN ALE YEAST FOR AN INTERESTING COMBINATION OF BRITISH-ALE COMPLEXITY AND GERMAN MELLOWED DRINKABILITY.

Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA

Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA. India Pale Ale brewed with Centennial and Sabro hops and juniper. 

A discovery carved by hops. 

7.3 % ABV, 40 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Stone Brewing co., Escondido, CA & Richmond, VA. 

Another one from the 12 IPAs variety pack. Not sure if this one is available on it's own, but it is back in the latest IPA 12-pack. Only four individual beers in that one, but, heck, if you like, there's more. Unfortunately, I only have this one.

On to the beer! 

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, long-lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Dank and sticky. Big citrus, tossed in with some candied stone fruit (no pun intended)...and then along comes the juniper. Interesting, very interesting. 

In the mouth: Starts out fruity, juicy, dank and delicious. Smooth, tasty, and utterly intriguing. Moderate bitterness, medium malt, long finish, fully flavored. Fresh and zesty fruity flavors never quite quit on the palate. It's a very good IPA and you can drink it. Also, I feel like it deserves a rank of: yum a dum dum.

Once again, Stone overdoes it with the label copy. Nothing wrong with that...

We often associate space with the future. Progress. What’s next. But in reality, any cosmic body you’d encounter out there is unfathomably ancient. It may take cutting-edge technology to reach it, but upon discovery, you’re immediately taken back in time. 

It’s in this spirit we offer Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA, a blend of historic Nordic brewing tradition (Voss Kveik yeast and juniper berries) and American craft beer innovation (a healthy dose of Centennial and Sabro hops). Like the eons old entity that is our watchful Gargoyle, journeying through the infinite universe, leaving cosmic breadcrumbs and waiting to be discovered by a fortunate explorer.

Today, that’s you.

Pryes Peace Offering Cold Press Stout Brewed with Peace Coffee

Pryes Peace Offering Cold Press Stout Brewed with Peace Coffee.

5.8 % ABV, 28 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

A new Pryes beer that's not a "pastry" or "smoothie sour" or anything? Coffee stout? Right up my alley, let's drink it. 

Strictly ebony, fully opaque, under slim, brown head. 

In the nose: Rich, earthy, nutty, espresso all the way. Brings me back to my days of prepping cold press for Sebastian Joe's back in the summer of '98. Exact same aromatics. 

In the mouth: Smooth as silk. Full bodied. Deep and rich. Chocolate malts dominate, and maybe a touch of caramel in there, too. Mostly malty, low bitterness. Genuine flavors, on full display. This is terrifically tasty. Definitely one of the better coffee stouts I've had in many a day. 

This silky smooth cold press stout, infused with fresh roasted Peace Coffee beans, is perfect for brunch, bonfires and breaking bread.

Junkyard Nectar-tron New England Style IPA with Citra and Nectaron hops

Junkyard Nectar-tron New England Style IPA with Citra and Nectaron hops.

6.6 % ABV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Ever-so hazy, bright yellow hue, large and lasting pure white head. Looking great. 

In the nose: The Citra. the citrus, the fuzz. I don't know from "nectaron". 

In the mouth: From the kick, it's a juicy one, and a fuzzy one. Some bitterness, but mostly low-key, mild, moderate, slim malt, but heavy on the citrus. Fruity all the way. Lemon and orange and grapefruit. Highly diggable. 

I like this character on the label. He's reminding me of my Micronauts toys from my childhood, and the accompanying Marvel comics. 

Sometimes I turn to Untappd for the description of the beers. This is all they give: New England Style IPA with Citra and Nectaron Hops. 

But, there's more on the label. Before I type that out, I'm going to see if it's on their website, so I can cut and paste. Huh, it's gone. Maybe it's on BA. Nope, it's not even on there. Jeez, you turn your back on a website for a decade, and no one rises up to cover the database. sigh. I'll get my glasses on...

We managed to procure a small quantity of the new "nectaron" hop variety out of New Zealand. This IPA highlights the citrus and passionfruit flavors of this exotic new hop variety. (Don't they mean "varietal"? It can't be a variety if it's one thing.)

This beer is everywhere you want to be. Ain't that right, JubJub? 

As I said, it's expertly diggable, and I am indeed digging it. Close observers of this blog may have noted that I have been reviewing more Junkyard beers than ever, due to my easy access to them these days. For reasons we still haven't figured out, they haven't been flying off the shelves like they used to, and we continue to stock all the new stuff. Last week was the first that I've worked at this retail location, that I can remember, where we didn't get new stuff. Maybe that's because as of last week we had 17 different Junkyard beers. 17! As of today, we're down to 10. And I tend to go with the IPAs first, stouts second, and the sours will come in last. Marshmallow beers way last. So, as they continue to supply us with IPAs, that's what I'll continue to drink. If we run out of IPAs, I'll take home a stout. After that, I'll break down and bring home a sour. Further down the line, something with marshmallow....no! Musn't! Can't Won't! Don't! 

Oliphant Cats Cats West Coast IPA

Oliphant Cats Cats West Coast IPA.

7.5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Three years ago, or so, Oliphant released a West Coast-style IPA called "cats, cats, cats, CATS!!!", or something like that. Was this the same beer under a new name, I wondered? I asked Josh who told me that they were saving that name for when they make a double IPA version. So, it begins with Cats Cats, to become Cats Cats Cats Cats, as they have done with Gorb Gorb and Zozo Gun Gun. But, I ponder, why not call the new DIPA Cats Cats Cats Cats Cats Cats Cats Cats? What about that, huh?

Anyway, same beer or not, I'm going to review it again, just for fun...and just as soon as I get this cat off of my arm....damn you, Sonny Boy!

Clear (with a slight chill haze), bright golden hue, long-lasting and lacey white head. Looking great!

In the nose: Bold citrus and pine. Orange, grapefruit, a pinch of pineapple. 

In the mouth: Brash bitterness pounces the palate, plays around and sticks it out for the long haul. Slightly fruity and juicy, but ultimately dry and just a little brittle. Medium body, light malt, nothing but hops and all the goodness that comes from them. Flawless rendition of the style. Make more of these please!

IPA w/ Cascade,Centennial Hops

So, I wonder if my old review of the earlier beer read the same, and, yeah, pretty much. Read it here. Is it the same beer, though. The other was reportedly made with Chinook, Columbus, Cascade, and Centennial hops, and for this one they kept to the final two, apparently. Nothing wrong with that, that's a classic combo right there. They can't all be Citra and Mosaic. 

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Tadcaster The Famous Taddy Porter

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Tadcaster The Famous Taddy Porter.

5 % ABV, 32 IBU. Samuel Smith's Brewery, Yorkshire, England. 

There are those times when I page through this blog and consider a certain brewery and think about which beers are represented within it, and which are not. This is one of those instances, looking at Samuel Smith's, the traditional Yorkshire brewery, and the merely seven beers contained herein.  So many missing, and among them, this, a favorite of mine for so many years. 

I will do something that I've done before and will do again. Write new notes, then look at the old, for I know for a certainty that I'd written about this one many years ago. Let's crack this crown and get into it: 

Just about blackness, conplete opacity, short-lived brown head. 

In the nose: slightly sweet, treacle, molasses, brown sugar. Mostly malty. Whiffs of anise, raisins, rum. All this in a traditional English porter? 

In the mouth: Some sweetness again, with a modicum of bitter, to match the black, caramel-y malts. Dark fruits, once more, but altogether well-balanced, smooth and satisfying. Tastes of cola, coffee, cocoa, and some spice, too. Medium body, and easy drinkability. A fine beverage, sets the soul at rest. This is truly as traditional an English porter as you're going to find with any ease at all. (If you ever see Salopian Entire Butt, get some.)

As promised, here's what I offered up to BeerAdvocate back in January of 2003, eighteen years ago (!): 

Tan, creamy head. Pitch black. Intenslely aromatic: rich, roasted coffee, butterscotch, toffee. Great hop presence. but light on the palate. Smooth, well-rounded, a porter full of character, that will remain on the top of my list until the end of time. Absolutely perfect. Light enough in alcohol to stand in as a session beer (but too expensive to actually work that way), and with plenty of body and bite.

A very dark, full bodied ale with a rich, creamy head and an intense dry, tangy character. Brewed with well water (the original well sunk in 1758 is still in use), malted barley, roasted malt, yeast and hops. Fermented in stone Yorkshire squares. The type of beer first brewed in the early 18th century; gained its name from being drunk by porters in the fish, meat and other produce markets.

Boulevard Tasting Room: Strata / Citra India Pale Ale

 Boulevard Tasting Room: Strata / Citra India Pale Ale.

5.2 % ABV, 50 IBU, Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO. 

Here's one from a variety pack that I never bought. But, someone dropped one and the package was unsellable, so they all went on sale as singles. Hence, I get to try this beer, without purchasing the whole magilla.

And here we go: 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. Looking very nice. 

In the nose: Citrus notes, and more. Citra brings us citrus, but what does Strata do? I'm a little behind on this one, admittedly? Flowers? Onions? I can't pin it down. A little funky. I like it. 

In the mouth: Nothing but juicy and fruity. Good dose of bitterness, citrus notes, touch of pine. Bright, crisp, a burst of hops on the palate. Medium/light-ish bodied, and excellent drinkability.A touch of white grapes/wine, and a whiff of cat pee. I'm enjoying this immensely. Drink this if you see it. 

Bursting with intensely juicy and floral hops this Tasting Room IPA features bright aromas of passion fruit and citrus with a balanced bitter finish.

Ommegang Double Barrel Dubbel

Ommegang Double Barrel Dubbel. "Velvety. Smooth. Majestic." Belgian-style dubbel ale brewed with spices. Aged in brandy and bourbon barrels. 

9.9% ABV. 20 IBU. Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY. 

Clouded, burgundy hued, slim, brief, magenta-toned head.

In the nose: Boom! Wow! Fruit at first, then the barrels, brandy takes hold, bourbon creeps in, cherries, vanilla, oak, caramel, and a dubbel lurks below. Mmm. Ah.

In the mouth: Grape, berries, cocoa, caramel, bittersweet. Alcohol starts in early and stays strong. Boom, boom, boom, boom! A few more sips in and the dubbel below (how I miss Ommegang Abbey Ale!) reveals itself, that special Special B malt character that I adore. Fruity, nutty, chocolatey, and all things Belgian, all at once. Bit of molasses. The very definition of Yum a Dum Dum. Rich, luxurious, delicious, complex, and ...just, damn. 

Unfortunately, this is my last bottle. I may have to leave the safety of the retail store where I currently work and look for some establishment that still has some. It's just the best. Wow meets wow. 

This luxurious brew begins with a big, beautiful Abbey Dubbel which then heads to our cellar, where it's gracefully aged for six months in a mix of bourbon and brandy casks. This blend of barrels adds an additional layer of flavor and complexity to what is already an incredibly layered drinking experience. The result is a beer worthy of slow-sipping, and deep contemplation. A beautiful fusion of dark fruit, caramel, molasses, and bourbon. Sip and enjoy, but be warned, Double Barrel Dubbel may result in a spiritual awakening. 

Stone Exotic Destinations IPA

Stone Exotic Destinations IPA.

7.5 % ABV. 53 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

This bottle came from the Stone 12 IPAs of Christmas sampler pack, in which, along with everything else they were putting out at the time, all the labels were printed upside down for some reason. I think they're back to normal, now. 

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, large and lasting white head.

In the nose: Wide and wonderful aromatics, big splash of citrus and pine. Touch of tropical. 

In the mouth: Ah, yes! This is my kind of IPA, indeed. Bold blast of bitter hoppiness from the top, juicy delivery of citrusy hop flavor onto the palate, orange and grapefruit, with a pinch of pineapple and passionfruit on the side. Long bitter finish. Medium bodied. Not an especially high IBU, but the bitterness clings on the palate through out the duration. Bright, juicy, bitter. Shove that bitterness down my happy, hoppy tongue, baby, this is how all IPAs should be!

I'm going to keep my eyes out for more of this stuff. 

Introducing Stone Exotic Destinations IPA, a 7.5% creation loaded with Citra and the brand new Talus (HBC 692) hops. Huge floral aroma with notes of citrus and sweet fruit plus just the right hint of tartness. Greetings from Beer Paradise. Population: you.

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing Imperial IPA

 

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing Imperial IPA.

9 % ABV, 45 IBU, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA (and elsewhere). 

Hey, let's review from a 19.2 ounce can, even though I still have a 12 ouncer in the fridge. Why not? It made no sense to buy this, but sense can go take a flying leap sometimes, I say. It is called BIG Little Thing. (Although, shouldn't I have a bigger glass to go with this? Probably. Wish I could bring my broken Sierra Nevada IPA glass back to life. Alas.)

Completely clear (it's so nice to see that once in a while), deep golden. almost apricottish hue, slimmish white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and stone fruit, a little tropical. Touch of pine. 

In the mouth: Starts out big and bitter, not to mention juicy. Bitterness grabs the palate and won't let go. A melange of flavors convene in the mouth, some citrus, a bit of mango, pine needles and peach. Big alcohol starts to loom, enriching the flavors on the palate and stirring the brain a bit. Earthy malt feels under the blazing hoppification. Pretty damned delicious, pretty damn strong. I'm digging it, big time. 

Make way for the Big Little Thing, an Imperial IPA flexing a full malt body, restrained sweetness, and tropical hop flavors of mango, grapefruit, and tangerine.

MALTS: Pale malt, Wheat malt, Munich malt

HOPS: Magnum, Crystal, Chinook, Idaho 7, Columbus, Cascade, Mosaic

YEAST: Ale Yeast

Blacklist Finally We Got Our IPA

Blacklist Finally We Got Our IPA.

7 % ABV, 60 IBU. Blacklist Brewing, Duluth, MN. 

Blacklist is one of those breweries who wants to do a specific thing, in their case creating Belgian-style beers, but their fan base keeps asking for an IPA. Or, more likely, people walk into the taproom and say, "what's your IPA, do you have any, or....?" Exactly the kind of question, exactly the phrasing I was once posed at Harriet. Take your West Side, and be happy, you. On the other hand, I recall hearing one of the owners at Fulton saying that people were asking them to do Belgian-style beers, to which he replied, "we love them, too, but it's not what we do." Not every brewery can be all things to all people, though some may try. 

And henceforth, Blacklist has decided to diversify and create non-Belgian style beers for those that don't want them. And here, they finally have their IPA, and I'm finally going to drink it. I like my IPAs, and I want to like this one. 

(This shouldn't necessarily go into a tulip, but it's my Blacklist glass, so use it I shall.)

Lightly hazed, bright golden/amber hue, lush and long-lasting ivory-toned head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Big, bold hoppiness, citrus and pine at play. Slight sweetness. 

In the mouth: Huge bite of bitterness, right from the top. Dankalicious. Aggressive expression of the palate-busting West Coast style. Low on the malt-o-meter. Lemon and grapefruit. Medium-bodied. Just a little bit juicy, ultimately brittle and dry. 

I enjoy this one, and I would return to it again, but I don't think it's the IPA people were looking for. Here are some excerpts from Untappd, where this beer receives a solid 3.5 average.

Jeff H says: "Bitter. Like, no malt. At all." Like, zoinks, Scoob.

Alec C. gives it 1.75 stars and writes: "Finally we got our asshole. That's what this tastes like." Ouch! Alec, do kiss you mother with that mouth?

Eric V. opines: "Good - a little more way coast than I was hoping for" I disagree, it is just the right amount of coast. 

Kyle M. offers this description: "Pretty awful to be honest. Taste like the evergreen tree in my front yard. But it’s my day off so I will still drink it & another one."

Scott G. tells us: "Good hoppy flavor with a hint of dark or chocolate flavor. I like it." To each their own, but...chocolate? No...

I'll stop there, because I'm tired of seeing pictures of people holding cans in their hands. Get a glass and pour it people, make sure it's clean, and turn the glass around if you're using one with another brewery's logo. Why is that so hard. 

Anyway, I liked it, but didn't love it. Here's what the brewery says: Sometimes waiting makes things better. Finally stretching our west-coast-wings, we introduce you to our California-yeast cousin. Bright, fresh hop notes with minimal malt to get in the way of your alpha-acid fling. So squint your eyes, look straight at the sun, ‘cause the only sense you need for this affair is your tastebuds.

Lupulin/ Melvin Brewing Operation CoHoperation West Coast style Double India Pale Ale

 Lupulin / Melvin Brewing Operation CoHoperation West Coast -style Double India Pale Ale.

9 % ABV, 100 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. Collaboration with Melvin Brewing, Alpine, WY. 

Hazy (I want to take points off for this misstep), bright golden, small white head. 

In the nose: Big citrus, orange, lemon and grapefruit. Future forebodings of the dank and resinous loom ahead. Potentially potent. 

In the mouth: Strong from the start, powerfully hoppy. Bold bitterness blazes the palate, with a slight sweetness to keep it in check. Just a little juicy. Medium to lightish body. And the booze starts swinging. 

I'm liking this a lot, and finished the can too quickly. Must. Get. More....

This West Coast Style Double IPA is big and bold with a fruity kick. A clean canvas malt bill supports the bodacious amounts of Simoce and Columbus serving up their grapefruit and dank aromas. Then we bumped it up a notch with Talus to add citrus, woody and floral notes.

Melvin Brewing was born in the back of a Thai restaurant in 2009. Six years later a 30-barrel production facility was unveiled in Alpine, WY, population 750, and from this Mothership, Melvin started shipping beer across the U.S. and went on to win Brewery Group of the Year at GABF in 2017.

Waldmann Roggenbier German Rye Ale

Waldmann Roggenbier German Rye Ale.

5.8 % ABV. Waldmann Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Clear, chestnut coloring, large and lasting creamy, near-brown head. Looking nice. (Although there some particulates floating about. It's not an especially fresh growler, nor is it terribly old.)

In the nose: Rye malt pokes out from afar. Slightly spicy. Pumpernickel. Very bready, malty nose, minimal hops. Beautiful. 

In the mouth: Slightly juicy, extra malty, rye bread flavor reigns eternal. Malty texture grips the palate, hops exist for balance only. Smooth, hearty, fulfilling. I want to take my time with this one, though it is easy on the tongue. Let's just see if there's a description...

An unfiltered, silky, deep russet colored, German-style rye beer, made with a classic Weizen strain, and a spicy finish.

Is that it? This is on the back of the can (but not on the website, so I can't copy and paste...sigh!...): Inspired by the German American brewers who supplied Waldmann's limestone saloon before the Civil War, Waldmann Brewery utilizes decoction mashing, Heritage malts & hops, horizontal fermentation and long maturation. These unfiltered beers are as central to the restoration of Waldmann as it's pine-planked floors, hand-blown windows and whale oil lamps. Please visit our historic taproom in St. Paul. 

That's some great information there. Also, it's yum a dum dum. For a moment, I'm going to relax with the rest of the crowler... ah... good stuff. 

Pipeworks Lizard King versus The Cryo Pale Ale

Pipeworks Lizard King versus The Cryo Pale Ale.

6 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

Clear, bright golden hue, snow-white head. 

In the nose: Slightly sweet and floral, soon swallowed up by citrus and pine. 

In the mouth: Soft at first, slightly bitter, but smooth on out. Citrus and pine, with trickles of tropical, bits of berries. Medium-bodied and immensely drinkable. Clean, crisp, and delightful. 

This pint will be done in no time. Wonderful hop flavors at play on the palate. Bitterness lingers ever slightly. I'm enjoying this one. Just delicious. Yum, as I've said before, a dum dum. 

Brrrrr..... THE CRYO HAS STRUCK AGAIN! This cold-hearted foe is not only the enemy of the Unicorn, but also The Lizard King! The cool and collected Cryo and his army of cold-to-the-bone soliders have raised their icicle swords against the legendary Lizard King. Will the Lizard King win this battle or will he be iced out from a win? 

We took our Lizard King recipe, but brewed this batch with Cryo Mosaic hops instead of Mosaic hops. Cryo hops are hops that have been cryogenically frozen immediately after harvest in a nitrogen-rich environment. This process preserves the hop oils and aromatics resulting in a pure and true-to-hop expression of the hop oils. 

This beer takes on an incredible berry, melon, aroma with floral and rich earthy notes. 

Junkyard Pulpasaurus New England Style India Pale Ale

 

Junkyard Pulpasaurus New England Style India Pale Ale.

7.5 % ABV, 67 IBU. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Hazy, hazy, hazy. I'm drinking another hazy, 'cause I have to try new IPAs, and they're just gonna be hazys. It's the way things go.

A short while ago, I told of a customer who wanted recommendations for hazeys, even though he didn't like them, because that's all anyone makes anymore. The same lament that often comes out of these pages. Did I have more of that rye IPA I found for him last time, or a red IPA, maybe, any kind of IPA, but hazy. He just couldn't get into them. I offered up old stand-by West Coast varieties, good ol' hoppy, bitter and dry stuff, but he needed something maltier. 

I don't know what to say, buddy. It's all about the haze craze now.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, am I right? 

So, let's drink a beer. 

All hazed up. Bright golden hue. Large and lasting ivory head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Big citrus. Lemon/lime, orange, grapefruit, along with the yeasty fuzz in attendance. 

In the mouth: Bright, fresh, and fruity. Citrus zest dominates the palate. Big ol' glass of orange juice, with a slice of grapefruit. Light bitterness. Medium bodied. Overflowing juiciness. Pretty, pretty, pretty damned good. Loving this. 

The Pulpasaurus uses his claws to crush cans of this juicy IPA! Together, Citra and El Dorado hops bring aromas of apricot and citrusy zest. These aromas are paired with flavors of tropical fruit, juicy orange, and a touch of herbal notes - creating a well-balanced, roaringly delicious drink.

Shakopee Brew Hall Fine, Whatever New England IPA

Shakopee Brew Hall Fine, Whatever New England IPA.

7.6 % ABV, 44 IBU, Shakopee Brew Hall, Shakopee, MN. 

And now we will drink the most indifferently named beer of all time. "Fine, Whatever"...yeah, that's going to get me excited. Trying it anyway. 

Mostly cloudy, bright golden hue, long-lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: hoppy, fruity, citric, fuzzy. 

In the mouth: Citrus notes first, orange and grapefruit, with tropical tones coming in soon after, pineapple, passionfruit. Starts sweet & fruity, ends on a dry note. Moderately bitter, medium bodied, long, hoppy finish. 

I wonder if the "don't care" attitude in the name reflects the feelings of the brewers and their intention in making this beer. It really comes across as a half-assed try at a NE/hazy IPA. They're not truly attempting to make a great one here, or even a good one. If you're a real fan of that style, I can't recommend this to you. If you prefer a beer that fails in that regard, yet strains toward a traditional IPA, like me, then it's okay. 

Fine, whatever...a brewer's lament to follow the phase or the craze. With the array of hops used this IPA is bursting with citrus flavor and aroma. Don’t let “IPA” fool you, while loaded with hops, this is a smooth pour - easy for conversation or dismissing a thought…fine, whatever.

Ah, ha, now, we get it. 

Montgomery Yippee Ki Yay Imperial Peanut Butter Porter

Montgomery Yippee Ki Yay Imperial Peanut Butter Porter.

7.6 % ABV. 59 IBU. Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN. 

So, it seems that MBC used to have an imperial peanut butter porter called Yippee Skippy, which I never tried.  And it also seems that the fine folks at Hormel, current owner of the Skippy peanut butter brand, took exception to the use of their trademark and sent a cease and desist. MBC changed to name to the iconic phrase from "Die Hard" and the new label for the new name for the old beer has scenes from the film acted out by peanuts. Because. 

And this is the second beer I got from my co-worker while she was winding down her peanut butter porter/stout phase. Told me she wasn't interested in finishing off her fourth can. I gave her a Beaver Island Sweet Miss Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout in exchange. She liked it okay. Will I like this one? Let's find out...

I'll note before beginning that the old Yippee Skippy was 8.6 % abv, and this new one a less imperial 7.6.

Dark brown, nearly black, ultimately opaque, large brownish head that slims down soon.

In the nose: Peanut butter and chocolate come spilling out. Not too much else.

In the mouth: Slightly sweet, minor hops, well balanced, smooth and easy going. Medium bodied, bordering on full. Cocoa more than peanut butter in the flavor. Mostly malty. 

This is tasty stuff, but not especially remarkable. 

I'm kind of on the fence on this one, so I'll poll the users of untapped: 

Laurel F. says: "Wow!! This has the best peanut butter taste hands down! Smooth creamy delicious.... Yum!!"

Two exclamation points, huh...could have used an extra "a dum dum", though, to round it out. 

Says Rick F.: "Yippee-ki-yay mother effers! This is an absolutely fantastic peanut butter Porter! Very smooth on the palate, and a nice heavy peanut aftertaste. Low bitterness, and a nice sweet Loopty loo around the tongue."

Okay, Rick, I note your enthusiasm.

And now, for the first time, I see that Untappd has it as "Yippie Ki Yay." Why they or Bruce Willis left out the "Yi Yo" part from the song Bing Crosby sang in 1936's "Rhythm on the Range" no one seems to know. 

One thing I definitely notice, though, is that everyone is tasting more peanut butter than I am. Am I missing the peanut butter gene? 

21st Amendment Down to Earth Session IPA

21st Amendment Down to Earth Session IPA.

4.4 % ABV, 42 IBU. 21st Amendment Brewing, San Leandro, CA. 

Mostly clouded, bright orange/golden coloration, slim white head. 

In the nose: soft, citrusy, fruity. 

In the mouth: Hop bitterness blasts the palate, then cools down quickly. Hop flavor persists longer. Grapefruit, orange, splash of pine, bits of berries, all the goodies you get from Cascade and Mosaic. Medium bodied, light on the malt, easy drinking all the live long day. 

Tasty stuff. I don't mind it. 

Whether you have a long mission behind you or a full afternoon ahead, this session IPA will help keep things real. More relaxed than an IPA, but with all the hop aroma and flavor, Down to Earth is our tribute to unsung heroes and unplanned adventures.

Down to Earth is the natural evolution (pun intended) of Bitter American, our original session ale. We thought it would be fitting to bring our space chimp home and let him chill. Down to Earth is available year-round in 6 pack cans and on draft and pairs nicely with a variety of things, including lunch.

Malts‍:Golden Promise, Munich, Cara-Malt, Crystal

Flavor Hops:Cascade, Mosaic

Dry Hops:Centennial, Mosaic

Bitter Hops:Warrior