Maine Beer Company Little Whaleboat India Pale Ale

 Maine Beer Company Little Whaleboat India Pale Ale.

6.5% ABV, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, Maine.

Mostly clear, bright golden hue, small white head, leaving a little lace. 

In the nose: shining strong citrus, grapefruit, lemon. 

In the mouth: hoppy splash on the palate, bright, citrusy, delightful. Light bodied, easy drinking. Minor bitterness. Just enough. Perfectly pleasant. 

Notes of tropical fruit (mango, pineapple), grapefruit, pine, and floral aromas of rose and chamomile.

Little Whaleboat Islands (made up of Little Whaleboat, Nate & Tuck) are a cluster of 3 small islands and ledges in Casco Bay, a vital link in the chain of protected islands conserved by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Protection of these islands provides sanctuary to a range of wildlife including seals, seabirds, shorebirds, and wading birds, while preserving a unique place off the coast of Maine for future generations to experience.

You know me, though. I need a little more edge, a little more bitter, a bit more bite. 

Sisyphus GSB Extra Special Bitter

 Sisyphus GSB Extra Special Bitter.

3.8% ABV, 35 IBU, Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Clear, amber toned, small white head. 

In the nose: classic English malty aromatics, earthy, sweetish, clean, restrained fruity notes. Caramel and toast. 

In the mouth: minor bitterness, mostly malty. Slightly sweet. Low alcohol, light body. Pretty tasty, too. Goes down with the greatest of ease and flush with English character. 

It’s not what I usually drink, but it’s not too shabby there. 

Our take on a classic British style - This isn't your ordinary bitter, this is a special bitter.  Made by our especially bitter brewer - Grant.  Grant's Special Bitter is here to add a touch of British charm to your day - and help you shoot a 105 at your favorite golf course.   Our take on a classic British style - This isn't your ordinary bitter, this is a special bitter.  Made by our especially bitter brewer - Grant.  Grant's Special Bitter is here to add a touch of British charm to your day - and help you shoot a 105 at your favorite golf course.   r take on a classic British style - This isn't your ordinary bitter, this is a special bitter.  Made by our especially bitter brewer - Grant.  Grant's Special Bitter is here to add a touch of British charm to your day - and help you shoot a 105 at your favorite golf course.  

Outstate Shore Lunch Shandy

 Outstate Shore Lunch Shandy. 

4.2 % ABV, 17 IBU. Outstate Brewing, Ferguson Falls, Minnesota. 

Lightly hazed, pale gold color, slim white head. 

In the nose: lemon. Floral hops? 

In the mouth: more citrus, clean and smooth. Light bodied, easy drinking, perfect for warm weather. Hey, it’s a shandy. 

fresh, zesty lemon on the nose, and treats your mouth to a dry and bubbly citrus blast upon the first sip. best enjoyed on the beach while you sauté up your fresh caught northern over a campfire. 

Pipeworks Birdbrain India Pale Ale with Cryo Amarillo and Centennial Hops

 Pipeworks Birdbrain India Pale Ale with Cryo Amarillo and Centennial Hops.

7% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, Illinois. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: nicely hopped, smooth and citrusy. Orange and grapefruit with a little lemon.

In the mouth: hop explosion on the palate, burst of citrus notes, and a trickle of pine. Crisp and clean, moderate bitterness, easily drinkable. Classic IPA, all the way. I am enjoying this beverage. 

Little Thistle Minn Bloom West Coast IPA

 Little Thistle Minn Bloom West Coast IPA.Collaboration with Pryes Brewing.

6.2 % ABV, 63 IBU. Little Thistle Brewing, Rochester, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: nicely hopped, well balanced, mildly citrusy. A little tamer than I like. 

In the mouth: coming in nice and bitter. Pounces the palate, politely. Clean, crisp, delightfully smooth, This is not the style of West Coast IPA that I crave. That would require a fierce hop attack that this one lacks. But, it’s enjoyable enough for what it is.

A West Coast IPA made with CTZ, Mosaic, and Strata hops. Here you will find a classically bitter IPA, with notes of dank citrus. We made this beer in collaboration with our friends at Pryes Brewing.

De Ranke Guldenberg Belgian Abbey Ale

 De Ranke Guldenberg Belgian Abbey Ale.

8% ABV, Brouwerij De Ranke, Dottignies, Belgium. 

Moderately hazed, deep amber Hurd, sizable slab of milky froth atop. 

In the nose: bubblegum and banana. Funky, fruity Belgian yeast. Ethereal sweet maltiness.

In the mouth: full mouthfeel, full flavors. Mostly malty, minor hops.Defies categories. What kind of an “abbey ale” is this? It’s neither Tripel, dubbel, or quad. Single? At 8%, no. It is sui generics. Not too sweet, not too strong, but quite delightful. Mix between strong amber (Kwak) and a dubbel? I don’t mind it one bit. 

(This is called a Tripel on Untappd.)

Guldenberg is a high-fermenting, balanced bitter beer. The origin of the name comes from the former Guldenberg-abbey in Wevelgem where monks used to make beer. Also, Wevelgem is the birthplace of one of the brewers.

Taste: A full-bodied abbey beer that balances between sweet and bitter. It is dry-hopped with Hallertau Mittelfrüh which results in a unique soft-bitter taste and aroma. 

Ayinger Maibock

 Ayinger Maibock.

7% ABV, Brauerie Aying, Aying, Bavaria, Germany.

Lightly hazy, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: slightly floral, minor hops. Appealing malty notes. 

In the mouth: sweet and malty, hearty mouthfeel. Pleasant on the palate. Bold and bright. Medium bodied. Refreshing and delicious. 

Wish this was a year-round. I quite like it. 

Fulton Hop Kingdom Hazy IPA

 Fulton Hop Kingdom Hazy IPA.

6.5 % ABV, 28 IBU, Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Fulton has a new umbrella, where it keeps all of its IPAs that aren’t Sweet Child of Vine. It’s called Hop Kingdom, and all feature labels with illustrations of forest animals transformed into some kind of hop beast, drawn by the great Brent Schoonover. One of them was reviewed here in 2016 when it was just called 300. This one replaces their last hazy, Moon Howler, also reviewed here. And , yes, I’m breaking my ban on hazies, just this once. 

Moderately hazed, semi-bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bright citrus, grapefruit and tangerine. Orange peel. 

In the mouth: soft on the palate, but still packing a degree of bitterness. Bursting with hop flavors, more citrus notes, with a touch of tropical. Medium bodied. Long hoppy finish. 

Hey, here’s a hazy I don’t hate.  

A wolf in wolf’s clothing, this alpha IPA leads the pack. Uncaged, untamed and unfiltered, the wild is calling.

Luce Line Heartland Hefeweizen

 Luce Line Heartland Hefeweizen.5.3% ABV, Luce Line Brewing, Plymouth, MN. 

Lightly hazy, straw gold color, immense ivory head. 

In the nose: big banana, touch of clove, some citrus, minor hops.

In the mouth: slightly sweet, smooth and refreshing. Small bitterness, light/medium bodied. Delightful wheat malt texture. Good beer and you can drink it. 

Oliphant Chonees Chonees Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Honey Golden Ale

 Oliphant Chonees Chonees Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Honey Golden Ale.

5.6% ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin. 

Clear, light brown/amber hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: sweet and malty, with peanut butter flavor shining on top, cocoa just below, and then there’s that little bit o’ honey. Nice. 

In the mouth: malty and smooth, every flavor well integrated, perfectly balanced. Medium bodied, long, sweet finish. Delightfully delectable.

On my first taste, can number one, I was disappointed that there wasn’t more chocolate. But this is style based on a golden ale. How much chocolate can it handle? Right about now, I think it’s pretty danged tasty. 

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Honey Golden Ale with Lactose.

Wooden Shop Old Man Clayton Had A Farm Farmhouse Ale

 Wooden Shop Old Man Clayton Had A Farm Farmhouse Ale. Clayton farms arugula & fresh orange peel. 5.9% ABV. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: citrus and spice. Dry, yet enticing.

In the mouth: fresh and zesty. Light bitterness, refreshing, medium bodied, easy drinking. Arugula adds a touch of spice. Pepper notes pop on the palate. 

I am enjoying this.

A farmhouse ale made with Clayton Farms arugula and fresh orange peel

Green Flash Imperial West Coast IPA

 Green Flash Imperial West Coast IPA.

8.9% ABV, 

Largely clear, with some chill haze, bright golden hue, milky white froth atop.

In the nose: citrus and dank. Deep hoppy goodness. Grapefruit rind meets lupulin oil. 

In the mouth: bitterness grips the tongue as citrus and pine flavors splash the palate. Medium bodied, easy enough drinking. Slight sweet, but overwhelmingly sticky, with bitter never losing it’s hold. This one does everything right. 

Imperial West Coast IPA (8.9 % ABV), an amplified version of the classic WEST COAST IPA® beer, featuring an epic wave of hops, delivering grapefruit zest bitterness supported by notes of dark caramel and finishing easy with floral and dry woodsy hop notes. Imperial West Coast IPA is also available in 19.2-ounce cans nationally.

Warpigs Empowering Rift Stout

 Warpigs Empowering Rift Stout. 

7.2 % ABV, 61 IBU, Warpigs USA,

Just about blackness, under a rich, full cocoa head, leaving lace. Impenetrable.

In the nose: nice cocoa nose, roasty and nutty, too. Quite delightful.

In the mouth: malty mouthfeel, rich and nearly chewy. Loads of texture. Bittersweet upon the palate. Just enough bitter, just enough sweet. Presents plenty of pleasure for the stoutophile. 

We sit on the edge of oblivion, but I must be more than a witness. After hesitation, I reach out to draw from the power of the void.

Three Floyd’s Cat Date Double IPA

 Three Floyd’s Cat Date Double IPA.

9.5% ABV, 86 IBU, Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, Indiana.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim mush, milky white head. 

In the nose: a cornucopia of citrusy delights, with a healthy dose of tropical. Lemon peel meets papaya. A little bit grapefruit, a powerful pinch of passion fruit.

In the mouth: a jolt of juice with a blast of bitter. Heavy dank and a a roar of oncoming alcohol. Ripe with resin, peeling of citrus and bitter, oily hop drippings. Medium bodied and extra potent. Glides down the gullet with both menace and ease. 

This is surely my kind of a beer. I can heap on praise and it won’t be enough. 

A categorically big Double IPA brewed to honor our little friends and their clandestine meetings. Intensely bitter with notes of citrus, grapefruit, and orange marmalade.

Luce Line Hard Tail West Coast IPA

 Luce Line Hard Tail West Coast IPA. 

7.1% ABV, Luce Line Brew Co, Plymouth, MN.

And here we have the first appearance of Luce Line in the Nib. Hopefully, not the last.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim, white head. 

In the nose: pine, citrus, grapefruit peel, essence of orange.

In the mouth: bitterness abounds on the palate, lingering through the finish. Crisp, clean, snappy. Light bodied and delicious. At last, a West Coast IPA that actually tastes like one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Hard Tail IPA, a reimagining of our house West Coast IPA. Brewed with a light malt bill and hopped in the kettle with Columbus and Simcoe, Hard Tail is dry hopped over multiple stages with Simcoe, Centennial and a huge helping of Citra hops. 

Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, India Pale Ale Brewed with Green Tea

 Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, India Pale Ale Brewed with Green Tea.

10.1% ABV. Brewed and bottled by Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA, with Baird and Kiuchi breweries, Japan. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Dank. Resinous. Fruity. Hoppy. And I’m getting a little tea.

In the mouth: why doesn’t the label say double IPA, or even triple? Doubly dank, deeply resinous overwhelming in its hop attack, gobsmackably boozy. And, sure, there’s some tea in it. Some sweetness, but largely bitter. Tea is in there somewhere. Kompai!

Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “What if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things di­fferently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a di­fferent strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and well worth brewing again. But what if we changed it up a bit? This time around, we exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand for Helga hops from Australia. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.

Southern Tier IPA

 Southern Tier IPA. 

7 % ABV, 60 IBU, Southern Tier Brewing, Lakewood, New York. 

I bought a Southern Tier 15-pack recently, because I haven’t had them in a while, and 15 is better than 12. That means I have 4 new  Southern Tier IPAs to review. Why not 5? One is a hazy IPA and I do not review those here anymore. You knew that. I’ll drink them, but I won’t enjoy and have grown tired of complaining about them. 

Clear, golden hued, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: soft, floral, slightly spicy, but most of all citric. 

In the mouth: more citrus zest and bright hoppiness on the palate. Minor sweetness to match the bitter, which hangs hard in the finish. A bit earthy, predominantly critic, with a touch of pine. Tasty stuff, good beer and you can drink it. 

Our IPA is timeless - brewed for those who give a damn about a well-crafted beer. As one of our original beers, its quality and consistency helped grow the popularity of IPAs from the ground up. The citrus and pine hop profile balanced by a subtle caramel sweetness are standard for a classic American IPA.

Wooden Ship Another IPA

 Wooden Ship Another IPA. 

5.1% ABV, Citra and Chinook. Wooden Ship Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Largely clear, bright golden hue, ivory froth atop. 

In the nose: citrus for sure, slightly spicy, a touch floral. 

In the mouth: crisp and clean and plenty bitter. Grapefruit and orange and pine.Light bodied, with just a trace of malt. Superbly drinkable. 

Very diggable IPA. 

A malt-forward IPA made with Citra and Chinook hops

Alluvial The Visitor Triple Chocolate Barrel Agef Imperial Stout

 Alluvial The Visitor Triple Chocolate Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

“September 2020 on 3rd Anna Weekend “ (was this written by Jeff, who gave me the bottle, or the brewery?)

11% ABV, 57 IBU. Alluvial Brewing, Ames, Iowa.

Full ebony appearance, cocoa tingedhead, a bit brief, utterly opaque. A little dirty at the top, as it diminishes. 

In the nose: chocolate dominates the aromatics, then along comes deeper, richer malty flavors, with barrel touches just below. 

In the mouth: thick, rich, dark, decadent. Chocolate frosting, fudge, oh, this is strong stuff, and it’s not on the label. Gonna have to look it up. Wait right here. 

11%? Is that all? I will finish this bottle and it will put me to sleep and I’ll be just fine in the morning, I promise. 

Whiskey barrel flavors coming on stronger, with dark fruits rising up to match the cocoa. Thoroughly delightful. 

Cholaca liquid cacao, Ghirardelli cocoa and Tcho cacao nibs. Aged 1 year in first use whiskey barrels.

Montgomery Brewing MNCity Pale Ale

 Montgomery Brewing MNCity Pale Ale.

4.7 % ABV, Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, large, fluffy white head.

In the nose: floral, citrusy, hops a’poppin.’ Vibrant, vivacious.

In the mouth: soft slide onto the palate, with appropriate bitterness clinging on through the finish. Just malty enough, hoppy enough to bring balance. Meanders a bit to the sweet side, but bitter comes back to correct. Smooth and satisfying. 

"Minn" City Pale Ale is a refreshing and hoppy brew that is perfect for any occasion. This American-style pale ale is brewed with a blend of three classic hop varieties - Centennial, Cascade, and Amarillo - which gives it a distinct citrusy, floral aroma and a well-balanced flavor profile.