Rodenbach Alexander

Rodenbach Alexander. Federbier with sour cherries. Brouwerij Rodenbach, Roeselare, Belgium.

Clear, crimson coloring, slim white head atop.

Aroma: ah, cherries! Ah, funk, ah, weird, ah, sour......You can smell the barrels, you can feel the cobwebs, you can drink in the age, the complexity, the depth. Oh, Ah. ooooh.

In the mouth: Sweetness first, then the sour takes over. Cherries jubilant. Big tart, and huge refreshment. Wow. Palate gripping, mouth-pursing, tongue twisting, and ultimately delicious.
Yum. Flat-out yum.

This is the first time I've had this beer in probably 15 years or more. (Edit: Wrong! See below.)My memory is not good enough to recall how closely this matches the earlier versions. But, damn, if this isn't just what it's supposed to be. So good. So sour, so cherry, so tasty, and so very deep and so very good.

Why aren't you drinking one now?

P.S. Surprise! Guess what? I reviewed this one 13 1/2 years ago, way back in my infancy. I hadn't had a lot of experience with Flanders Reds, or as the kids call them these days, "sours." Here's what I wrote about it when I was but a babe....

Bubbly head, and deep, dark cherry red color.
Aroma is loud and sweet, projecting a fierce cherry flavor far and wide.
Sour cherries! Tantalizing, lively. Not a kriek lambic, but merely a "sour ale" flavored with "cherry essence."
And that's just the thing. It's simple and consistent. You get sour, you get cherry. I like it, and I can imagine it as an excellent dessert treat, but it's not the sort of thing you can imagine drinking very often.

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.

Bauhaus Still Kickin Summer Pale Ale

Bauhaus BrewLabs Still Kickin Summer Pale Ale. Limited Release. "On the Haus"
Better drink this one before it's too late and we're officially out of summer.
5.6 % ABV. 50 IBU.

Slightly hazy, amber/golden hue, slim white head.

Aroma: mild fruity esters, citrus-y hop notes, low bitterness. tropical tones, too.

In the mouth: smooth sailing. Light malt, light hops, just enough flavor to hold you through. Good balance. Citrus-y/tropical hop flavor keeps it fun and tasty.
Pretty easy going. Good beer and you can drink it.
The can has more gobbledygook about the fine charity that this beer supports. Ain't nothin' wrong with that.

Bell's Oatsmobile

Bell's Oatsmobile. Final bottle from a six-pack, the other 5 long gone. Been putting this off. Far too long. Session Pale Ale brewed with oats. Brewed and bottled by Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI.

Hazy, golden-hued, slim ivory head atop.

Big citrus-y nose, nicely hopped, malt lurks below.

In the mouth: Smooth, malty, toasty and tasty. Citrus-y hop flavors continue on the palate, easy-drinker, nice and lean and clean. Many pleasures to be had in this one. I'll have another, thanks. (Oh, wait. Oops.)

From the label: "Aromatic. Approachable, Unique. Intriguing. Happy-go-lucky. Full-bodied. And we're not just talking about the horse.

Minnesota Breweries One by One #77: Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, with HopMosa

It's Thursday, September 1, and it's finally time to visit Bent Paddle Brewing Company in Duluth. (This is stop #6 of my 2 1/2 day Up North Mid-Week Vacation. Don't worry, we'll get to #'s1-5 soon enough. This time I mean it.)

I've known the owners of Bent Paddle for years. Bryon Tonnis since he took over the reins of the downtown Minneapolis Rock Bottom from Todd Haug in 2005, and Colin Mullen from his years brewing at Barley John's Brewpub. And their wives, Karen and Laura, as well. (In fact, Karen recently revealed to me that the four of them cemented the plan for Bent Paddle while having dinner and drinks at my old place, the Blue Nile.)

Left: Me. Right: Bryon.

When I heard that the four were joining forces and moving up north to start a new brewery in Duluth, I knew that nothing but good beer was going to come out of there. I was thrilled to try it when their first beers came out three years ago, and actually it was my traveling companion for this adventure Dave A. who brought me some of my first cans. I never got to tap them at the Blue Nile when they started distributing to the
Cities in early 2014, but once I started ordering beer for Acadia, I brought them into that bar for the first time ever, and haven't been without their beers ever since.

And so, it's been three years for them, and three years that I haven't been to their brewery. Four years since I've been to Duluth, and I was chomping at the bit to take a seat at their taproom. Total disclosure: word got out that I was coming, and so we got comped. I have to admit that it's nice when that happens, and it's good for my budget. (Visiting 8 breweries in 2 1/2 days can do a number on the bankbook.) The taproom manager Pepin Young was on hand to give us a tour, and Bryon happened to be in the brewery. (Colin was waylaid in the offices across the street, unfortunately.) We arrived at the taproom just about an hour after opening, and it was already nicely populated for a Thursday afternoon, getting downright frisky by the time we left. I can only imagine what this smallish space is like on a Friday night.

Bent Paddle has appeared in the Bitter Nib ten times so far, covering just about everything they've produced in cans. One glaring exception is Double Shot Double Black, which disappeared swiftly in bottles locally. I tasted some from a keg that we had on tap back in March.  (Hey, if you have an extra bottle that you don't know what to do with, hook me up with a trade. )

The selection on tap included the seasonals, the full regular line-up, an infusion, two nitro beers, the collaboration with Surly (called Mother of the Gut, for reasons still unknown to me), and the promise of cask to come. I took a sample of the collab, a Belgian blonde with tea, and it was nice, but not what I wanted to drink. I went with a pint of Cold Press Black, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and picked a Bent Hop IPA to take inside the brewery for the tour.

The Bent Tap, as the taproom is called, is a cool, homey space of wood, brick and steel, though is seems a bit small for a brewery as popular as Bent Paddle. I was told a plan is in the works to move it to a larger location. All the normal taproom things are in place: board games, merch racks, a food truck idling outside. But this is a brewery that needs a wide open drinking hall, not a cozy room.

Beer #3 for me was the HopMosa, which I took home in a growler, with notes below. My fourth beer of the visit was a pint of the seasonal Roof Rack Lager, also recently reviewed from a can. I've got a firkin of that to tap soon at a Acadia. Cask Vienna Lager? Yeah, that's new to me, too. Looking forward to trying it, that's for sure.

And so we'd seen the facilities, we got the low down, we soaked up the atmosphere, and enjoyed some fine beers. It was time to move on to the next one and check yet another brewery off the list until I can say that I've been to them all. But, I'll be back to Bent Paddle the next time I'm in Duluth, and every time after that.

Now here are some notes on a growler I took home with me:

HopMosa,  beer I had for the first time as part of the Infusion Evolution event we hosted at Acadia in March. Bent Hop Golden IPA infused with orange zest. This was so popular it's been brewed over and over again, with an extra large batch just for the Minnesota State Fair. It was on tap when I visited the brewery and it's taproom for the first time, and I was lucky enough to get a growler. I'm definitely more of larger taste than I did on the day of the event.

Clear, vibrant golden/orange coloring, stable white head rests above.

Citrus explosion in the nose. The largest and loudest expression of fresh orange in any infusion I've ever had. And I like it! The hop notes are nearly blocked out by the zest, but I don't particularly mind.

In the mouth: Big orange zest again, meeting the hop bitterness, all kept in balance with lush malt. Medium-bodied, easy drinking, just delightful.

Blacklist Rhubarb Wit

Blacklist Rhubarb Wit. Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with spices & rhubarb. 8.0% Alc. by Vol. Brewed & bottled by Blacklist Brewing, LLC, Duluth, MN.

This one was a gusher when I  opened it. Is this typical, or did I mishandle it? It's stable long enough. Lost a little bit to the table, the floor, the rag....

Heavily clouded, pale reddish coloring, huge, brilliant ivory head, leaving meringue-like topping, looking good.

Aroma: soft, spicy, definitely Belgian yeast at work. No rhubarb evident yet.

In the mouth: Soft, smooth, malty, with just a hint of the vegetable. It's getting bigger as we go, but never too big. And who wants that? So here's just enough vegetable sweetness for flavor and body, and I like it. Not bad at all. And it gets better as it goes. Removes some of the citrus zest I really like in a wit, and replaces it with completely different flavors. Rhubarb flavor gets stronger, but doesn't deliver it's truly sharp and tangy essence, which is fine by me. You don't really want that. This skirts shy of the full flavor of the plant, but gives just enough.

This is only the second rhubarb wit I've heard of, the other being from Urban Growler. Hope it's still on, it would be nice to compare them.

Lagunitas Stoopid Wit

Lagunitas Stoopid Wit. Alc. by Vol 6.3% ABV. 50 IBU. The Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA & Chicago, IL.

Hazy, orange-toned hue, immense ivory head, lasting long atop the glass.

Aroma: Spices hit first, followed by citrus notes. Light and lovely. I suspect there's more than coriander in this, though. Plenty hoppy.

In the mouth: Higher heat than normal. Smooth, slightly sweet, utterly refreshing, but for that pepper-y heat. Did they use peppers? Doesn't say anywhere, and I've looked. Or maybe just a lot of coriander?
Okay, it's calmed down some. It's smoother now. Nothing but smooth. Just delicious. And I like it. Good stuff, go drink it.

I don't like a preponderance of puns, and here's some anyway: The Bard said that it's better to be a witty fool than a foolish wit. True dat. Wit dat in mind we take you now to the stoopid side of the classic wit on the wings of Yakima's finest. What's it got to do with beer? Give us a call. 707.769.4495. Cheers!

Bent Paddle Roof Rack Vienna-style Lager

Bent Paddle Roof Rack Vienna-style lager. Brewed and packaged by Bent Paddle Brewing Company, Duluth, Minnesota, contains: water, malt, hops, yeast. 5.7% ABV, 27 IBU.

Clear, bright golden hue, edging on orange, large, lush ivory head, leaving lace.

Aroma: vibrant, malty, with light fruity esters. Classic vienna profile, with a slightly hoppier twist to it. Plenty of peppy citrus-y notes.

In the mouth: Soft entry, with the lush, sweet malt sliding in, and just enough hops to keep it in check. Balance is key here, and it is just about perfect. Delicious, smooth, and so easy drinking. Mmm, mmm, good.

Let's read the gobbledygook on the side: "The end of paddle season comes with a sense of the bittersweet---just like our roof rack lager. This Vienna lager plays malty with a bit of toastiness from Vienna malt and is dry-hopped with Mandarina Bavaria hops. Hoist your craft to your roof rack and enjoy this festive lager."

The key note there is "festive", as the flavor "plays malty" like an Oktoberfest. If this is their seasonal offering, a la marzens, I'm all for it.

Full disclosure: This wasn't really a gift from the Sample Man (though I don't always tell you, the reader, every time that a beer reviewed here is), but was part of a 6-pack given to me when I visited the brewery a few days ago. I wouldn't have gone out and bought one anyway.

Alpine Mandarin Nectar

Alpine Mandarin Nectar.  Brewed and bottled by Alpine Beer Company in San Diego, California. Orange Blossom Honey Ale with Orange Zest and Coriander.

I had this beer for the first time a few months ago at a neighborhood pub. I like it so much I tried to get a keg of it for Acadia, but I was too late. Settled for some Willy Vanilly instead. Now, I've finally got a bottle of Mandarin Nectar and it's time to open it up and see what's inside....

Clear, deep golden/amber hue, hefty helping of ivory froth atop.

Aroma: citrus and cream hits the nose first. Lots of fruit and spice.

In the mouth: citrus zest begins the fray, juicy malt holds it up from behind. Hardly any hops here, it's all malt and smooth and fruit. Orange aplenty. Low bitterness. Good balance. Tasty. Consummately consumable. Coriander never quite quits, butting in amid the citrus from time to time.

This one is a beautiful summertime refresher, and yes it's still summertime, and I'll continue to say so for the next few weeks until I'm forced to wear a jacket everywhere. Until then, ....ah!!! Delicious. So good. Go out and drink it. You won't be sorry.

"Delightful and zesty--like a mountain breeze through the citrus trees. Mandarin Nectar is a crisp blend of the finest malts. We've added generous amounts of citrus zest, coriander, and a touch of orange blossom honey for exceptional flavor. Perfect for warmer weather. Don't drink more. Just drink better." Also, "DRINK ALPINE BEER or GO TO BED!" Yikes, no need to yell it!

Castle Danger Red Hop Rising Red Ale

Castle Danger Brewery Red Hop Rising Red Ale, 6.9% Alc./Vol. Brewed and packaged by Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, MN.

Clear, dark crimson coloring, big, creamy head, vast and lacey.

Aroma: thick, slick, and resiny. Bittersweet, fruity, yet dry. Very nice. Piney, fruity, plump.

In the mouth: Boom! It's a big ol' mess of sweet malt and resiny, piny hops. Long malty finish. Lays heavy on the palate. Medium-bodied. Full-flavored. Big malt, big hops, big, big, big.

I'm not crazy about this one. It's a nice treat once in a while, but I can't imagine having two in a row.

Minnesota Breweries One by One #57: The Freehouse, Minneapolis

It's Sunday, July 24, and I'm checking off another local brewery to complete this list. Which one? TheFreehouse brew-pub in the North Loop neighborhood of Downtown Minneapolis, part of the Blue Plate group of restaurants. This brewery appeared here in the Nib twice before, two years ago, as part of this little project,  and last year, for this one. This visit may have been my fourth or fifth, and my opinion hasn't changed about it much. It has a great location, and brews decent beer, but the clientele seems more interested in cocktails and wine. It's a restaurant first, that just happens to brew beer. Nothing wrong with that, and the beer is fine, but it's not really an atmosphere that says "pub" and doesn't really attract a craft beer crowd.

But they are a brewery, and I said that I would see all the breweries in the state of Minnesota during the year 2016, so I've got to check them off my list. I sat down at the bar, perused the offerings and chose No. 11, the Witbier. All the beers are numbered, and numbers 1-4 (Kolsch, IPA, Brown Ale  & Stout) are always available. The highest number I've seen is 50. (Last year, I noted that the highest number was 21. If that's true, then I'm impressed that they've done 29 new beers in the past year. If it's true.) I feel that I've had the Witbier before, and I believe that I was as satisfied with it then. This time I found an appropriately fruity, spicy, fresh aroma, a nice
wheat-y texture, smooth and refreshing, note perfect for a witbier. 5.4% ABV.10 IBU.

Next up, I tackled the Blueberry Blonde, because, why not? A distinctively fruity nose, more of the same in the flavor, light-bodied, easy drinking, not bad at all. Low hops, pleasant fruit, nice. 4.9%
ABV. 4 IBU.

At this point, I might note that while I applauded the number of beers produced here as a sign of creativity, productivity and turn-over of beers on-site, I also see from their website that the list of beers has not changed much at all since this visit one month and some ago. The Blueberry Blonde is still on, the Witbier, as well as the Tripel, which I skipped that time. There's an El Dorado single hop IPA on, but not the Simcoe IPA I tried. There really may be nothing to say, because they may have made a large batch, or a second one. Perhaps they're very popular? No way to say.

Moving on, my third beer was the 5% ABV Simcoe IPA, with a big citrus nose, booming grapefruit esters, medium-bodied, with juicy hop flavors. Smooth, crisp, and just about perfect for the style. I was very happy with this one, and was curious about the Tripel, but felt like it was time to move on, rather than have a fourth beer in one sitting. No, I would find that fourth beer elsewhere.

Here's a brewing concern in downtown Minneapolis that makes fine beer, but nothing terribly exciting. And the atmosphere seems more like a yuppie hangout than I'm comfortable with. Will I return to Freehouse again? If I'm in the neighborhood, and I absolutely have to stop for a beer and don't have time to make it to Fulton, or Modist and can't make it all the way down Washington Avenue for Town Hall.

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb, Paulaner Brauerei, München, Deutschland. 5.5% ABV.

As I said in my recent post about the Paulaner Oktoberfest, I was shocked--shocked!--that their beers haven't appeared here yet. I just so happened to have the Hefe Weizen on tap at Acadia, poured a glass, took a pic, and will now share my old notes on a bottle, from June of 2003:

Appearance: perfectly cloudy straw yellow, with a majestic white head atop.

Aroma: everything you want in a hefe weizen, fresh, citric, fruity, but still somehow dry, straw-like, so very lemony, and that element of yeast fills the nostrils as well.

Excellent texture, great play on the tongue, spicy, but smooth. Fresh, fruity, delicious. Medium bodied, tasty, longish finish, very memorable flavor. The yeast and citrusy taste dominate and create a most adequate beverage for any occasion.

Drinkability? I could toss down a million of them!
I still rank Schneider and Weihenstephaner up above, just slightly, but there's not a thing wrong with Paulaner's offering, not a thing at all.

Goose Island Goose Oktoberfest

Goose Oktoberfest. Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago, IL, Baldwinsville, NY, and Fort Collins, CO. 6.4% ABV. 17 IBU.

Clear, deep amber coloring, slim whitish head.

Aroma: malt-forward nose, of course, coppery, slightly sweet, but clean and well-balanced.

In the mouth: Lean, clean, malt-y and slightly fruity. Classic construction. Low hop bitterness, right on the money malt. Fits the profile, but goes no further. Good oktoberfest, and you can drink it. Nothing much else to say.

Oh, except the label tells us: "pleasant hints of DRIED APRICOT AND TOFFEE AROMA." (No need to yell, dude!)

The label also says: "Serve in a stein." Oops.

Central Waters HHG APA

Central Waters HHG APA, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Americana Pale Ale. Amherst, WI.

Highly hazed, deep amber coloration, slim white head.

Lively, vibrant & loud hop aromatics, big pine and citrus, major league grapefruit. Bold and unrepentant.

Same goes in the mouth, fresh and zesty, lots of hop flavor all over the palate. Nice balance, just enough bitter, just enough sweet. Medium-bodied, crisp and clean. Not bad, not bad at all. I'd have another one, no problem.

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Wild Pale Ale

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Wild Pale Ale. 6.5% ABV. 40 IBU. Hazy, golden-hued, big, fluffy white head, leaving lace.

Aromatics: bright lemon, orange, tangerine, with light spice, a whiff of funk.

In the mouth: Light hop bitterness up front, with smooth fruity malt coming in quick. Bitterness stays on top, citrus stays strong. Bit of a Belgian twist from the yeast, quite nice.
Lush and tropical. Refreshing and delicious. Smooth and easy drinking, with non-stop hops. I like this one a lot.

Hey, what's the official word on it? "An estery ale strain and our local microflora, this dry pale ale is dry hopped with 1 pound per barrel of Azacca and Citra. Notes of peach, mango, pineapple, and citrus."

That sounds about right.

Caveat emptor department: You'll notice that I am reviewing this from a growler, filled at the brewery. I turned the logo away, to avoid confusion. They will fill any 64 ouncer that you bring in, but you have to bring in a cap. They don't provide those. (They should, though. I understand if they don't, but they should.)I've been trying to discard them, actually, but found one for the occasion, as I imagined this very circumstance. See, sometimes I'm not so dumb.

Jack Pine Fenceline Pale Ale

Jack Pine Brewery Fenceline Pale Ale, 5.4 % ABV. Baxter, MN. Crowler brought back home from a visit to the brewery last Sunday (watch for the Breweries One by One report coming soon!).
Contains unfiltered, unpasteurized, fresh beer, Keep it cold.

(I do wish they could crowler up some of the other beers they had on tap that day, rather than just those three listed on the can, but each brewery has it's reasons for these policies, and I respect them.)

Clear, light amber coloring, big frothy off-white head, leaving lace.

Aroma: soft and pleasing, low hop bitterness, moderate fruity esters. Beautiful balance of bitter and sweet notes.

In the mouth: Nice hop attack starts it off, but kept in check with sweet malt. Clean and understated. Very mellow pale ale, but not shy with hop bitterness, either. Smooth stuff, terribly drinkable. Citrus-y hop flavor stays on top. Classic pale ale here, no confusing it with an IPA, just nice and hoppy, and good to go.

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen

Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen, München, since 1634. 5.8% ABV.

Last week, I was paid a visit from a representative of the importer of this beer, and was given this sample. I thanked him, and assured him that I would try to get at least one keg on the lines at Acadia during Oktoberfest season (which I don't believe should begin until September). Last year, I think we only did one German Oktoberfest, and it wasn't from this brewery. I pointed out to him that we had the hefe weizen on tap currently, and it's been popular. Then, later, I was surprised by a fact revealed to me on the internet. The internet of this blog, which told me that no beers from Paulaner have ever appeared here.

What? Can it be true? Yes, in fact, I haven't covered a lot of German beers, because I spend so much time on the American and the local scene, like everyone else. Surely, I've had plenty of them before I began this blog, right? Looking on BeerAdvocate.com, I see reviews of: Helles Lager, Premium Pils, Hefe Weissbier, Salvator Doppelbock, and this one. But, no, I did not return to any of them in the past almost six years. Or at least, if I did, I never thought to use the opportunity to reproduce those old notes here (as is my custom). Well, I'm going to take care of this one right now, drink this sample bottle, and look back at notes from March, 2003:

Distinctly amber color, clear, with creamy, frothy head.
Rich aromas abound, with spicy, herbal, vegetal notes, some floral hints, too.
Great, even perfect balance here, malt and hops are evenly matched. Sweet toffee notes on the palate, terrific tasting, and smooth drinking.
I recall a print ad where a cartoon duck embraces a bottle to declare "we go great together". This probably matches any meal well. Quite nice.

Bull Falls Five Star Ale

Bull Falls Five Star Ale, Bull Falls Brewery, Wausau, Wisconsin.

Clouded, highly hazed and amber-hued, under a good serving of whitish froth atop.

Earthy, yeasty aromatics. Is this an unfiltered British pub-style ale? An ESB? Really unsure of the style, but I'll check it out later after blindly guessing for a bit. Low bitterness, minor fruity notes.

In the mouth and on the tongue: smooth and mild. Low hops. Earthy and fruity at once, while remained well-balanced and utterly drinkable. Yep, good beer and you can drink it. I'm tasting the hops a little more now, bitterness grows on the palate a bit.

It's a smooth one, and I like it. Not a bad beer in the slightest.

Left Hand Good Juju Ale

Left Hand Good Juju Ale Brewed with Ginger, Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, Colorado. Alc. 4.5% by Vol. A refreshing frivolity. Brewed on the banks of the mighty St. Vrain. A light ale brewed with ginger to create a spicy aroma and unique flavor.

Clear, amber/copper-y coloring, slim white head atop.

Aroma: big ol' ginger, with a side of lemon and orange.

In the mouth: Intense ginger flavor boards the palate at first gulp. Keeps it up with each new sip. Clean, with a light malt character, crisp and cracker-y. What this is more than anything else is a ginger delivery service. A nice, spicy twist, an occasional treat, but nothing I would really want to drink more than one of at a time. Just a taste, once in a while.

Minnesota Breweries One by One #71: Lake Monster Brewing, St. Paul

You know, it's been awhile since I've been to a St. Paul brewery for this project. It's been months, it seems. And it's a nice day, why not bike to Lake Monster, for my second visit ever. I went there once with Dave A. in late December of last year, but I really couldn't tell what part of town we were in. Would it be easy to get to by bike? It was incredibly easy. I took Lake Street (and I had business there anyway) all the way across the Mississippi river into St. Paul, where they change the name to Marshall Street, then take that to Cretin Avenue, and take a left. From there it's a short trip over another bridge which spans 94, and you're almost there, inside an industrial complex called Vandalia Towers at 550 Vandalia Street.

Chalkboard.

Lake Monster has appeared in the Bitter Nib twice before, you can read the reviews of their contract-brewed bottled products here. The IPA and Pilsner are still the only products that are in the market, though some of their other beers make it into bars in keg form. I had the sour brown at Acadia for our Minnesota Wild & Funky event in May, but never got around to taking notes. Well, this time I took out the old trusty notebook and sat down to examine my beers at the taproom.

Berliner Weiss. 

First up, Berliner Weiss, their take on the tart German wheat ale style. At 4 % aBV, it's a hazy gold, and refreshingly tart and quenching, and ultimately dry. It was just what I needed after a bike ride of nearly 5 miles from my home, simple, easy drinking, nice. 

Irish Red.

Next up, and Irish Red Ale, at 5.3% ABV,  called Kelly's Red, which they referred to as a "hop-forward amber ale" and I couldn't argue with that. There was rye malt employed as well, contributing to the spicy notes in aroma and flavor. Sweet and malty and hoppy, with a long, bitter finish. Continuous snappy, hoppy twang on the palate. I liked it quite a lot, and would gladly have another. 

For the third pint, I went with the IPA on cask, with Centennial hops added. Fresh, lively, beautifully bitter and green. Just right. 

Cask IPA with Centennial hops.

Murmur Milk Stout.

About the taproom itself, it's spacious, warm, and comfortable. Typical elements about: here's your chalkboard with the choices, next to that the merch, and there's the TV (thankfully off), over here's your board game shelf, over there's your water station. Off to that side, a group is gathering for some women's history trivia, for some reason. And outside, the well-used patio. Almost all of the elements in place (what, no free popcorn?), and to go with, some damned fine beers. 

I decided to have one more, and made it the Murmur Milk Stout, on nitrogen, a dark and dreamy pint. Cocoa and coffee in the nose, a smooth but substantial ale. Just about note perfect for a nitro milk stout. Not the sort of thing I normally choose, but they nailed it. 

I while away a nice little evening at Lake Monster.
Great space, good service, and excellent beers. My only complaint is hardly one at all. Just make more great beers, and don't stop doing it.

Oh, no, sorry, one real complaint: coasters, people! You've been open long enough to afford to order and use some coasters. And not just to add to my collection, you need something in between the glass and the wood. Even napkins would be nice, if you can't be bothered to do coasters. It's just civilized.