New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza

New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza. Collaboration with Mexico City's Cerveceria Primus. Watermelon, lime, hibiscus, agave. Brewed and canned by New Belgium brewing, Fort Collins, CO.
4 % ABV. 11 IBU.

Clear, bright ruby coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: Fruit in the lead, floral coming up from behind.

In the mouth: Huh. Interesting. It's as if all these flavors came together, and...well what are they doing, anyhow? Hibiscus meets agave. What's that about? Lightly bitter, slightly sweet, ultimately dry. Watermelon and lime are evident, too, but they don't taste like themselves. The combination of flavors leads to a certain kind of rounding out, a sum of their parts that doesn't leave me too thrilled.

It's a light and refreshing lager, but it's leaving me unsatisfied. Just not a good recipe. But, your mileage may vary. Apparently some people love it. One Untappd user called it "meh but crushable." Doggone it, he hit the nail on the head. I've come to my senses, bitter ones. The future of the Nib is three word reviews. Watch for it.


In collaboration with Mexico City’s Cerveceria Primus, this agua fresca ale features hibiscus, agave, watermelon and lime for a fresh, vibrant sip. Inspired by the Mexican agua fresca tradition of fruit infused beverages.

Unmapped Disorientation Belgian-style Tripel

Unmapped Disorientation Belgian-style Tripel. 8.9 % ABV. 22 IBU.
Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Clear, golden/amber color, slim, short-lived off-white head.

In the nose: Belgian delights. Candi sugar, bubblegum, spices, fruit.

In the mouth: Big booze pours onto the palate from the start. Hops buzz, malt tickles, Belgian yeast gives it it's all, and spicy/fruity flavors remain at play. This has all the hallmarks of a terrific tripel. Personally, I enjoy it.

Brewed with malts and hops from the European continent, Disorientation pays homage to the great brewing traditions of the Trappist monks. Belgian candi sugar and high-cropping yeast take this beer to new heights with elaborate ester flavors that compliment its malt sweetness

Venn Amarillo Cascade NE IPA

Venn Amarillo Cascade NE IPA. 6.1 % ABV. 45 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Hazy, bright golden color, big white head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Nice and fruity, citrus notes meet some tropical tones. Passionfruit plus lemon lime.

In the mouth: Mmm, tasty. Big citrus bite and bountiful bitterness at first, following by smooth and easy. All the right hop notes are here, lots of citrus and pine. Lemon and grapefruit. Plenty of bitterness and citrus-y snap. Lots of flavor. My kind of IPA.

Not sure where the NE comes in, just from the haze? I can't keep track anymore, so many hazy's and NE's and where do they fall in the spectrum? I'm not wasting too much thought on it, at least not today.

Hazy, citrus, soft. Old school West Coast IPA meets new school New England IPA.

Malts: Domestic Pale, White Wheat, Unmalted White Wheat, Oats

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade (United States)

Yeast: British Ale

Eastlake the Raccoon and the Bear

Eastlake the Raccoon and the Bear. 5.9 % ABV. 41 IBU.
Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

I've checked into this beer on Untappd twice: this one here, and four years ago, when it was first released. Why has it taken me so long to review it? Well, back then I didn't review their beers because I worked there, and chose not to offer my opinions on them. Since then, we've had a history, but now I assess their offerings with a free mind.

Now, on to this beer named for a couple of the forest characters they've been randomly using in on their coasters and glassware since the start.

Clear, deep crimson, large, lush, creamy-toned head.

In the nose: floral, sweet, fresh, delightful.

In the mouth: Tasty, from the start.
Pine needles, birch sap, bark, spruce, wood, hops, and all the trimmings of the forest floor.
Rich and malty.
Tasty. Bright and highly likable. Conspicuously bitter, well-balanced, terrifically delicious.

Feeling adventurous? We’re in the forest now, baby. Fir tips and red cedar shavings were added to this flame-red hoppy American Amber Ale for a bright upfront woodsy whack and a clean citrus afterglow. Belgian red malt brings a unique malty layer, and Simcoe & Chinook hops double down on the coniferous character. Just one sip and you'll be pining for more.

Loon Juice Extra Juicy Hard Cider

Loon Juice Extra Juicy Hard Cider. 5.5 % ABV.
Four Daughters Winery, Spring Creek, MN.

Clear, bright golden.

In the nose: Bright, fruity, apple-y, nice.

In the mouth: Tart and acidic at first, followed by full-on fruity. Fresh, lively, beautiful. And, juicy indeed. Not as sweet as regular Loon Juice, and exactly dry, either.

Tasty stuff, actually. Good cider and you can drink it.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA. 4 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE.

Clear, bright golden color, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Big citric aromatics, pine. lemon & lime, grapefruit.

In the mouth: Small bitterness at the front, soft malt body. Just enough flavor to make it worthwhile, but not enough hop bitterness to call it an IPA. Or, maybe I'm wrong. About being enough flavor? Maybe...

Soft, supple, easily consumable. Is it merely a session IPA, or is it truly a groundbreaking lo-calorie IPA? I can't decide, but I'm close to calling it boring. Clearly, it's not for me. Maybe others will enjoy it's low-key, low-cal, low-everything nature.

A lo-cal IPA that is slight in cals and carbs with mighty hop flavor! Slightly Mighty has all the flavor and tropical aromas of a world class IPA, but with only 95 calories, 3.6g carbs, 1g protein and 0g fat. Brewed with locally-grown barley, and a touch of monk fruit that delivers body and complexity but adds zero calories or carbs, Slightly Mighty is light-bodied and offers a lingering balanced sweetness. 

O'so Brewing Colada-Ral Damage

O'so Brewing Colada-Ral Damage. Pina Colada inspired India Pale Ale. "Tropical. Juicy. Breezy. Lush. Sunny. Relaxing. Mellow." India Pale Ale brewed with pineapple and coconut.  Brewed and bottled by O'so Brewing, Plover, WI.
6.4 % ABV. 14 IBU.

Highly hazed, murky, dull golden hue, slim ivory head, though long-lasting.

In the nose: Citrus hops and pineapple, with coconut pulling up fast, getting bigger and bigger.

In the mouth: Big coconut, bright coconut, alarmingly, overwhelmingly coconut. Brief blast of bitterness, a smack of pineapple, then back to all-coconut, all the time. Medium-bodied, easy-ish drinking, fading hoppiness, meager malt.

A pineapple/coconut hazy IPA. Huh.
Not really a fan. But, if you know me you could see that coming. Just not the kind of thing I'm likely to enjoy. You might dig it, though. Never know.

A iteration on our Hazy IPA made with pineapple and coconut. Made to resemble a Pina Colada with a nice citrus flavor. 

Fulton Cold Press Porter

Fulton Cold Press Porter. 6.4 % ABV. 30 IBU.

Brewed and packaged by Fulton Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Nearly black, thoroughly opaque, lush tan head. Looking very nice.

In the nose: Cream and coffee, with cocoa on the side.

In the mouth: Starts out smooth, creamy, coffee-ish. Slightly sweet and fruity. Gets bolder over time. Medium to full body, nice and malty.  Darkness dominates, but balance is in command. Coffee taste continues, holds dominion over the porter. Excellent drinkability, wonderfully flavorful.

A more properly balanced Porter out there? We think not. Built on a base of Pilsner and Munich Malts, our Porter also combines Chocolate and Caramel malts (amongst others) to create a harmonious and symbiotic relationship that's easily appreciated. It's complex yet refreshingly easy to drink as we think you'll agree. For the 2018 Holidazzle, we enhanced our delicious Porter with the addition of Cold Press coffee from our friends at Big Watt. The result- flavors of chocolate, coffee, caramel and roasted malt.

Mankato Rhuby Rhubarb Sour

Mankato Rhuby Rhubarb Sour. 5 % ABV. 10 IBU. Mankato Brewing, Mankato, MN.

Lightly hazed, pale crimson appearance, very rhubarb-y, slim head, soon gone.

In the nose: Starts shy, slowly unfolds. Yeah, there's rhubarb in there. And the promise of the sour.

In the mouth: Intense, a powerful pucker. A touch of sweet pops up from time to time, a flush of the rhubarb flavor, then sour takes over once more. Sour power cools off a bit, but never leaves the palate. Light-bodied, refreshing and easy-drinking. Can was consumed in no time.

Rhuby is a smooth tart who is 
delightfully sour, incredibly sassy, and tougher than anyone this side of the river.

It's a good beer, and...something tells me I should
trademark my catchphrase before it's too late.

I want to know more about this Rhuby. For one, why does she have a Skeletor tattoo?

Badger Hill Pale o' Peaches Pale Ale

Badger Hill Pale o' Peaches Pale Ale.  5.2 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Brewed and canned by Badger Hill Brewing, Shakopee, MN.

Highly hazed, orange-ish/peach-y appearance, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Peach aromas float right above citrus.

In the mouth: Sweet fruit does a tasty tango with citrus-y hops. Sweetness stays on top. Bitterness is minor, malt is clean and smooth, light in body. Delightful peach flavor stays strong. Exceptionally consumable, and a treat to drink down. Turns nice and dry at the end.




Pale O' Peaches Pale Ale is a juicy pale ale that's pairs well with warmer weather and sunny days. The perfect post-yard work brew that's not too sweet and highly refreshing. It's infused with real peach puree and you can find it on tap, in 6-packs and our Spring Mixed Pack on your favorite liquor store shelf.
Hops: CTZ, Cascade, Citra, Mosaic
Malt: 2-Row, Carafoam, Munich I 
Notes of citrus, made with real peach
Pairs with fish tacos, pad thai and tangy cheese

I'm looking at that picture I took up above and three things come to mind: 1. For some reason, BH doesn't have coasters, currently. The ones I use in these photos & reviews were brought back from the brewery when I went there three years ago. 2. Look at the coaster on the right. None of those beers are brewed anymore. 3. Look at the coaster on the left. That's Shakopee's Valleyfair amusement park on the far left. I finally figured out that mascot that they used to use (or do they still?). It's a riff on a Valleyfair costumed mascot. Right?

Indeed Hop Dab IPA

Indeed Hop Dab IPA. 7.2 % ABV. 55 IBU. Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Heavily hazed, bright golden color, prodigious, lace-leaving, ivory head. Looking great.

In the nose: floral, at first, then fruity, sweet. Citrus and tropical notes, for sure, some stone fruit. A cornucopia. Arrestingly lovely.

In the mouth: Fresh, lush, and exceptionally smooth. Bursts of grapefruit and orange greet each new sip. Blasts of bitterness pounce upon the palate. This appears to have everything I want in an India Pale Ale. Lean on the malt body, light/medium and refreshingly drinkable.

It's the classic combo of Mosaic and Citra bringing the fruity hop bouquet in this, matched with Equanaut, all delivered in a form I can't quite comprehend. There should be a tutorial video out there somewhere demonstrating what went on in the process of brewing this beer. The description I'll leave below hints at it. Whatever they had to do, it's damned delicious.

Yeah, this is nice. I would drink this over and over again. Got to get me another can, or a keg, or something.

Inspired by concentrates in the recreational world, this IPA leans on various forms of hop concentrates. Mosaic, Citra and Equanot hop oils in the kettle for a crisp and clean flavor profile and a blend of hop aromatics on the finished side along with a healthy dose of hop pellets providing a bouquet of aromatics!

"The recreational world"? Just say "pot", you guys!

Town Hall Chocolate Kumquat Bruin

Town Hall Chocolate Kumquat Bruin. 9.2 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Guys, I have a mystery on my hands here. The label of this growler, i.e. what's written on this cap, says "Chocolate Kumquat Brown." And yet, I can't find a listing anywhere online. I mean, anywhere. On Untappd, I see a Belgian Kumquat Bruin, with a mere 12 check-ins. And BeerAdvocate has no "kumquat" of any kind. But, I know what I had, and I know what I brought home, even though the C in chocolate doesn't even look like a C.

And I've been sitting on this growler for way too long, so let's open it up and see what we find.

Dark brown color, nearly opaque, short-lived brownish head.

In the nose: malty, chocolate-y, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: cocoa on the palate, rich and malty, maybe there's fruit in the middle? Doesn't reveal itself, just yet. Quite rich and delicious. Mild bitterness, big, meaty malt, mixed with chocolate and those kumquats that I just don't get. Better go get me a kumquat and try it out. For now, I can feel certain fruity flavor, mingled well with chocolate, meshed with a mess of dark malts. And the booze is riding high, sending me into a pleasant state.

This was the base beer for Project 3106, before it was aged in bourbon barrels. I've long been a big fan of the Belgian strong dark ale style. There aren't enough of them brewed locally, and this one was beautiful.

Venn Mosaic Columbus Double IPA

Venn Mosaic Columbus Double IPA. 8.2 % ABV. 75 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, large white head, looking good.

In the nose: bold citrus-y aromatics. Little bits of berries. Delightful.

In the mouth: Bitterness begins, hoppiness dominates, and it swings from bitter to sweet. Blend of fruity and citrus-y hops, lots of pop. An absolute joy to drink. Clean body, light malt, easy drinker, despite the booze. This one went down so fine and so quickly.

Grapefruit, pine, resin. A West Coast-style double IPA featuring Mosaic & Columbus hops.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Red Wheat, Munich

Hops: Warrior, Columbus, Mosaic (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

Odell Hammer Chain Fresh Grind Double IPA

Odell Hammer Chain Fresh Grind Double IPA. 8% ABV. IBU: TBD.
Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Slightly hazed, bright golden hue, firm, 1/4 inch ivory head. Looking good.

In the nose: Fresh, vibrant hop ablaze, bursting forth with citrus and tropical fruit sensations. Everything I want in a Double IPA aroma.

In the mouth: Crisp, lively, delicious. Pops with grapefruit, pineapple, lime, tangerine, all rolled into one. Lean malt body, busting out bitterness. Great balance: not too sweet, not too bitter, just right.

Tasty stuff, right here. I'm digging it big time.

Hammer Chain was born to reinvent our approach to Double IPAs. Named after the spinning blades of our custom-built machine that pulverizes each whole-flower hop, Hammer Chain is brewed with meticulously sourced, vibrant American hop varieties
and packed with notes of drippy tropical fruit, radiant peach, and sweet stonefruit.

Summit Cabin Crusher Kolsch-style Ale with Lime

Summit Cabin Crusher Kolsch-style Ale with Lime. 4.8 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Lightly clouded, bright golden, lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Soft and subtle, lime sticks out.

In the mouth: From first sip, lime doesn't merely "stick out", it's in command. Lean bodied, light and easy-drinking. A splash of summer, long before we get there. Juicy, fruity, utterly quenchable.

I'm not crazy about kolsch being the new style that gets all fruited up, these days. And I don't think I need this much lime. Just me, though. I'm certain plenty of them will be crushed at plenty of cabins.

Low in alcohol, lightly hopped and high in carbonation and drinkability, Summit Cabin Crusher is a traditional Kölsch-style ale spiked with fresh lime peel and puree, plus lemon-lime citrus-forward hops from the U.S., including Lemon Drop and Loral varieties. Balanced by malt flavors and aromas of honey, biscuit and toast, the end result is a crisp, thirst-quenching ale perfect for hot days in Cabin Country. Slightly hazy in appearance, floral notes lead to huge citrus rind aromas of lemon and lime.

Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse

Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse. 4.7 % ABV. 12 IBU. Brewed in Berlin. Geist = Ghost. Stone Brewing Company World Bistro & Gardens, Berlin, Deutschland.

Lightly hazy, pale golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: dry, slightly spicy, wheat-y.

In the mouth: Sour from the start, tart and juicy on the palate. Medium bodied, light and refreshing. Citrus notes shine. Sour returns with each new sip. Smooth wheat malt flavors send it home.

Go ahead and drink it. It's a good one.


Our citrusy and refreshing Berliner Weisse is a modern take on a true Berlin classic. Brewed using the same traditional lactic acid cultures as the Berlin brewers of the 1920's, our Berliner Weisse is a bright and sparkling thirst-quencher. The beer embodies the liveliness of summer with the fruity tang of lemon and melon and the tartness of rhubarb and gooseberries. To ensure a properly Stone (and therefore iconoclastic) Berliner Weisse, we upped the ABV to a healthy 4.7% and hopped the beer with new German varieties, Huell Melon and Callista.

Bauhaus Lounge Wizard Juicy Pale Ale

Bauhaus Lounge Wizard Juicy Pale Ale. 5.2 % ABV. 40 IBU. 12 fl. oz. Bauhaus BrewLabs, Minneapolis, MN.

Highly hazed, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly hopped, citrusy, trickles of pine. Bright and lively. Orange and lemon.

In the mouth: Soft, easy, light. Oh, yeah. All the haze of the hazy IPA, and fewer hops. Hail, hail the hazy pale. Goes down smooth-malicious. Plenty of juice clean malt bill. Light bitterness. Medium-bodied, nice and dry in the end.

I'm liking this.

Lounge Wizard is a moderate strength pale ale with a hazy appearance, a juicy hop profile, and a pleasantly dry finish. The juiciness of this beer is entirely derived from the hops, which are added very late in the brewing process in order to maximize their flavor/aroma contribution while minimizing hop bitterness. The hops we use in Lounge Wizard express pungent tropical fruit and candied citrus. 

Lift Bridge Mango Blonde

Lift Bridge Mango Blonde. 4.75 % ABV. 15 IBU. Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, MN.

It seems odd, but this is my first time with a can of this beer. Never got a sample before, never bought it in the store, and yet I've had it on tap at Acadia every year since it's release. I must've simply decided that it sounded good, and tried it out on that basis. At last, my chance to enter it here, and, as they say on the can, "Put your mango where your mouth is", whatever that means.

Clear, bright golden color, sizable, lace-leaving, lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Sweetness and malt. Mango's all over this. Nice and fruity.

In the mouth: More sweet and fruity, terribly tasty, with a judicious jolt of hops. Light bodied, clean, lean, and ever-so serene.

If you want an easy-drinker that tastes of mango, look no further.

This beer is a limited release experience of summer coming. The aroma of a tropical breeze from a fresh mango grove leads into a light bodied blonde ale, finishing with a subtle mango sweetness that does not overpower the golden malt.

I took the above from the entry on Untappd. Clearly, this was a hit from it's first release four years ago, and is no longer limited. The description on their website is exactly the same, though.

Headflyer Brewing It Was All A Dream IPA

HeadFlyer It Was All A Dream IPA. 7.2 % ABV. 47 IBU. HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

The first time I had this beer was in my home, a growler brought as house-warming gift, (or was it on moving day?), back in May of 2017, shortly after the brewery opened. (Thanks, Dave!)

The second time I had this beer was on my first visit to the brewery in September of that year. I biked there and met a friend, and I had nearly the whole line-up available at that time, through my own flights or by tasting my friend's. I took notes and pictures and had every intention of turning it into an article here, a Minnesota Breweries One by One (#120-something, I think). But, that project fell victim to my old nemesis, procrastination.

On a Sunday in  January of 2018, as snow was falling, I said "this time for sure!" (as always in the plucky tone of Bullwinkle J. Moose), and took a bus there, trudging through the new fallen snow, only to discover that the taproom was closed to the public for a private party. In the need of relief,  I walked on in, took care of business, and sat at the bar hoping for service. I was allowed to purchase a growler, but not stay. And so, I bought 64 ounces of It Was All a Dream Hazy IPA, took the growler home, drank it, took notes, and, of course, some pics.

I saved those notes under the heading of the article about the brewery that I wanted to write, and completely forgot about it. The notes were saved. The photo is lost.

I've learned lessons. Save those pics, somewhere, anywhere. Publish notes sooner than later. Get stuff done! I'm trying, believe me. So what we have here are notes from a growler in January of 2018, with a picture of the beer from on tap in September 2017, published in April 2019. It's called house-cleaning.

I will return to HeadFlyer soon and I will have more to say about them.

Bright golden. Plenty of haze. Vast swath of ivory head above.

In the nose: Nice and citrusy. Big dank. Light bitterness. Pleasant.

In the mouth: Bright, hoppy, lively, beautifully abrasive. Lean bodied. Nice 'n' tight 'n' delicious. Gets very mellow very quickly. Popping with tropical tones as well as the citrus, nicely bi
ttered. Flat out yum.

I like this one, and I will drink it again.

Venn Batch 159 Citra EPA

Venn Citra EPA. 5.8 % ABV. 35 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white, lace-leaving head. Looking good.

In the nose: All Citra, all the time. Big lemon/lime, orange, etcetera, pieces of pine. Bold and beautiful.

In the mouth: Clean and lean, light bodied, long lasting hoppiness. Smooth and super-citrusy. Never too anything, just enough and then some.Goes down nice and easy, like any good EPA. So good I couldn't stop drinking it. That growler was done in one sitting.



Tastes like Citra! An American-style Extra Pale Ale featuring Citra hops.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Biscuit, Honey

Hops: Citra (United States)

Yeast: American Ale