Inbound / Revelation Electric Grenades TDH NE IPA

Inbound / Revelation Electric Grenades TDH NE IPA. (Triple Dry-hopped New England IPA.)
6.9 % ABV, 60 IBU.
Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN, in collaboration with Revelation Ale Works, Hallock, MN.

Crystal Clear. (Sure this is an "NE"?) Bright golden color. Slim, ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Lightly floral and fruity, citrus-y. On the whole, rather shy.

In the mouth: Grabs the palate with a brief slab of bitterness, then citrus-y goodness takes over. Juicy. Pithy. Moderate bitterness, smooth-going. Light bodied, easy-drinking. Crisp, refreshing, fairly delicate. I'd even call it elegant.
There are a lot of hops employed in this one, but they don't come across very strongly. I wouldn't call it a "hop bomb", let alone a grenade.

Ends on a dry note. And all the while, it's clean and tasty. Actually, increasingly tasty the more I drink.

Good beer and you can drink it, that's for sure.

A hop grenade brewed with Cashmere, Citra, Hallertau Ariana, Azacca, Amarillo, and Mandarina Bavaria hops. Brightened with dehydrated oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Brewed in collaboration with Revelation Ale Works.

Lift Bridge Jibe Talkin' Apricot Sour

Lift Bridge Jibe Talkin' Apricot Sour.
4.5 %  ABV. 13 IBU.
Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, MN.

Lightly clouded, amber-hued, slim to none head.

In the nose: Very apricot-y, with a touch of tart.

In the mouth: Fresh, fruity, tart, refreshing. Light bodied, and easy-drinking. Simple, but highly likable, quite pleasurable. Not bad at all.

A tart & refreshing blonde ale with a hint of sweet apricot, perfect for groovin' down the river and finding your chill spot.

Lupulin Fun Pants Session Blonde Ale

Lupulin Fun Pants Session Blonde Ale.
5 % ABV. 15 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Begs a question. What other kind of blonde ale is there? Let's find out....

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head on top, looking good.

In the nose: Smooth, lightly hoppy, lightly everything. Little malt, little grain. Nice.

In the mouth: Mmm, malty, sweet, delicious. Low hop bitterness, very lean and light. Sweetness and fruity stays on top. Yum. Drinkable, of course. Tasty, ya sure, you betcha.

Mikkeller SD Citra Eyes New England-style India Pale Ale

Mikkeller SD Citra Eyes New England-style India Pale Ale. 7.7 % ABV. Mikkeller San Diego, California.

Fairly hazy, but far from chunky. Bright golden hue, slim white head, leaving lace and looking lovely.

In the nose: Aburst with citrus and a portion of pine. That's all you need, right there.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness at the front, continues through the swallow, rests on the palate. Lots of citrusy character, pine on the side. Not too sweet, not too soft. This is the kind of NE IPA that I like. The one that's not like the others. This is exceptionally enjoyable. A little bit of tropical tastes chime in, a touch of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, but not too "pillowy" (gag, puke).

I'd drink this one again and again.

Papaya, melon, citrus, grapefruit & pomelo. Soft, creamy mouthfeel by way of oats and wheat.

Eastlake Mud In Your Eye Brown Ale

Eastlake Mud In Your Eye Multigrain Brown Ale.
5.5 % ABV. 33 IBU. Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Here's one I've had many times before, having been employed at the taproom when it was introduced.  I first mentioned it here during that time in this post.
I have a growler to review thanks to the Sample Man. Now, let's drink it.

Thoroughly brown, utterly opaque, able ring of brown foam on top.

In the nose: A little sweet, a little dry. Some toast, some roast. Nice and malty.

In the mouth: Full bodied. Smooth.  Minor hops. Malty. Nutty. Toasty. Tasty. Caramel malt with a touch of sweet, bit of bitter for balance. Quite likable. Just a solid brown ale. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Biscuity hazelnut races past licorice caramel on the copper cobblestone road of sweetness and leaves you in the dust. We use four different grains for a unique malt complexity of the American Brown style. The subtle floral hop presence from Willamette hops keeps the rubber side on the road. Here's mud in your eye.

Wild Mind Tinged Saison

Wild Mind Tinged Saison.
7.3 % ABV. 10 IBU.
Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Crystal clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Tart, fruity, funky. Sharp, sweet. High citrus, some spice.

In the mouth: Even sharper, sweeter, citrus-ier. Lime looms large. A bit of floral, too, and a touch of the hops. Moderate/low bitterness. Lean body. Juicy, slightly sweet, ending dry. Swiftly finished and quite tasty. Crisp, refreshing, lemony, delightful.





Open-fermented rye saison that was blended with a small amount of foeder beer and then conditioned on marigold flowers. The yeast and rye malt bring a spice character which combines with the citrus and floral notes of the marigolds to create a complex saison with a lasting citrus finish.

Steel Toe Pacific Midwest Pale Ale

Dear friends, I have a confession to make. The last Steel Toe entry here in Ye Olde Nib was in June of last year. I thoroughly chastised myself in that post for taking nearly a year to revisit them. And after such self-flagellation, I went ahead and stayed away for over a year and two months. Not that I didn't consider it over and over again. Not that that counts. I can recount the reasons, but none of them are sufficient excuses. 

I've got to live up to the promise and stop in and see them more often, this time for sure, bike trail closures or no bike trail closures. I finally did so this past Thursday, and on this visit, there were several new-to-me (and the Nib) beers to try, and I took some of them home in growlers and bottles. Here's the first.

Steel Toe Pacific Midwest Pale Ale. 

Featuring El Dorado & Cashmere Hops, a Collaboration with Hollingberry. 

5.6 % ABV. 40 IBU. Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN. 

Fairly clear, bright golden color, solid slab of ivory foam on top. 

In the nose: bright, fresh, fruity. Citrus, melon, stone fruit and berries. Delightful and intriguing. 

In the mouth: Bursting with hoppiness, but beautifully balanced. Medium bodied. Lush malt. Crisp, smooth, and refreshing. Bitterness remains moderate, drinkability is running on the high side. Quite delicious. 

In collaboration with Randin (formerly of Steel Toe, formerly of Boneyard Brewing) now with Hollingbery & Son Hops in Yakima, WA, we bring you Pacific Midwest Pale Ale.

Our updated take on the modern American Pale Ale falls right in our favorite ABV wheelhouse, with some updated hops and processes that allow us to get maximum hop character while still maintaining a golden crystal clear appearance.

We scoured through our experience of ingredients and picked some of our favorites. Utilizing Simpsons Golden Promise malt, and featuring El Dorado ® & Cashmere hops.

The aroma is bright with ripe strawberry, pineapple, kiwi and a finishing lime zest character. Light body, but with enough light toast malt backbone to balance, it finishes crisp and dry. Supremely drinkable!

Aroma/Taste: Strawberry, pineapple, kiwi, lime

Color: Bright clear pale golden

Alcohol content by volume: 5.6%

International Bitterness Units: 40

Drastic Measures Ill Intent Double IPA

Hey, it's my first crowler from Drastic Measures, after having a 4-pack of cans. And it's another hazy double IPA. Not surprising, I do gravitate towards the hoppy stuff. But. My next beer from them should be something different. I hope.

Drastic Measures Ill Intent Double IPA.
8 % ABV. Drastic Measures Brewing, Wadena, MN.

All kinds of hazy (naturally), dull orange hue, thick and lush ivory head, leaving lace, looking luscious.

In the nose: Sweet, tropical, fruity. All hoppy, some malty.

In the mouth: Well, this has everything the hazy IPA lover wants, all the yeast, all the hops, all the fruity/juiciness, and just a little more booze. It's bright and buoyant. Galaxy and mosaic. Brimming with brightness. All the citric goodness, all on blast. Bright, juicy, orangey, lemony, yum, a, dum, dum. And it's got the haze...if you're into that thing....

Galaxy/mosaic

Let's face it, we live in some...interesting times. But when the world seems to be at it's worst, beer seems to taste the best - at least that's our take on it. And, there's never been a better time to be a beer geek than right now. Here at Drastic Measures we've been busy brewing the kind of beer we love, and we're pretty darn confident that you'll love it too!​ So when the world knocks you down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and grab a pint glass...or, drink it straight from the can. Hey, it's your beer!

Lupulin Fashion Mullet India Pale Ale

Lupulin Fashion Mullet India Pale Ale.
6.5 % ABV, 60 IBU.
Brewed by Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Hazy, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold citrus notes popping out. A little murky in the mix, but still a vibrant, hoppy IPA aroma.

In the mouth: Bursting with hoppy deliciousness from the start. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon. Gets to juicy, then dry, but never quite bitter.  Which I miss, but that's me. It almost gets to the bitter hoppy edge that I want to go to, but veers off into juicy/hazy land. It's a trip, and I can dig it.

I declare this not merely yum, but yum-a-dum-dum.

Lupulin keeps putting out tasty IPAs that I can't help but enjoy.

West Coast IPA with East Coast influences. Huge Simcoe and Citra punch. Hops: Columbus, Falconer Flight, Simcoe, Citra. Malts: Pale Ale, Carapils, Honey. 

Surly Stunner Tropical Ale

Surly Stunner Tropical Ale. 6 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

So, "tropical ale" is now a thing. It's actually referred to as "tropical-style" by Surly, whatever that can mean. Is it a style of ale brewed in the tropics? I don't think so. Tropical regions brew lagers and stouts. No, this is a recent American invention, and it must refer to the addition of tropical fruits, like pineapple, mango, coconut, etc, right? Nope. Just hops that give off tropical fruit flavors. And now we call it Tropical Ale, because that's what we do now.

Slight haze, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Bright, fresh, and fruity. Yes, we're getting more tropical tones than citrus. Passionfruit, guava, et al.

In the mouth: Lively and juicy upon the palate. Moderate hop bitterness. Medium bodied. Easy drinking. Mellow malt mouthfeel. A touch of sweet, mixed with a trace of tart.

I like this one. Good beer and you can drink it. And a lot better than some other stuff they've been putting out lately. Pretty can design, too.

Get a taste of the tropics in the comfort of your own home with this tropical-style ale, dry-hopped with Amarillo, El Dorado, and Mosaic for notes of orange, papaya, and mango. A hint of lactose sweetness makes this easy-drinking ale a legit Stunner.

Inbound / Broken Clock Shot Clock Hazy American Pale Ale

Inbound / Broken Clock Shot Clock Hazy American Pale Ale.

4.7 % ABV. 38 IBU. Inbound BrewCo., Minnepolis, MN.

Highly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrus notes aplenty. Nicely hopped. Yeast galore.

In the mouth: A whole mess of hoppy goodness at play on the palate. Juicy, citrusy, fresh and refreshing. Medium-bodied. Low bitterness. Easy drinking. Quite tasty.

Brewed in collaboration with Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Shot Clock is a gorgeously juicy, hazy American Pale Ale made with a soft malt bill plus light-profile rice and corn adjuncts. It’s hopped with Cashmere and Idaho #7 hops in the boil, and finally triple dry hopped with fruity, tropical Idaho #7 and Hallertau Ariana hops.

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout brewed with Espresso

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout brewed with Espresso.
10.6 % ABV. 65 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Solid blackness, rich, large, toasted tan head.

In the nose: Coffee. Cream. Cocoa. Mucho malt. Char, smoke, molasses, anise. Deeply complex.

In the mouth: Chocolate is king from the start. More of the same noted in the nose. Full body. Smooth, despite the strength. Nice and easy imperial stout. Full of favorite flavors. I like this. It's delicious.

With a beer as bold and robust as Stone Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout, it’s not easy to build another level of flavor. That’s why we use hundreds of pounds of espresso beans to give Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout an added layer of rich complexity. The coffee flavors meld beautifully with the roasty bitterness of the dark malts for an intense complement of flavors, while staying true to the essence of this classic, historical style.

Wild Mind Third Round Triple IPA DDH IPA

Wild Mind Third Round Triple IPA DDH IPA.
(I mean, that's what the label reads. Pick one, guys!)
12 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

All kinds of hazy, of course. Dull orange color, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Floral, fruity hop aromas. Bright, shiny, citrusy. Sweet, tropical notes creep up next to the citrus.

In the mouth: Starts off strong and on the sweet side. From the get-go, the high-flying booze in this one is detected, far off in the distance. But, we don't mind, we're going in for the taste.
Along with the hoppy, fruity, malty flavors comes the heat. The unsubtle sting of alcohol that stands in for my night cap tonight.

This was not on tap when I went to the taproom a day after their 3rd anniversary party, but the crowlers were available. I can't say that it would be a big hit. Not a summer's day kind of a beer.

Triple IPA brewed with malted, unmalted, and flaked wheat, hopped with Citra, El Dorado, and Simcoe, and fermented using Voss Kveik yeast. The result is dank, bold, and boozy with a touch of fruit on the finish.

Drekker Freak Parade Double IPA

Drekker Freak Parade Double IPA.
8.2 % ABV. 70 IBU. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

More trips/freaky cartoon graphics on the label. Groovy.

Intensely clouded, highly hazed, dull orange color, under lacey ivory head.

In the nose: Soft, floral, citric, tropical, sweetness and fruit. Quite a delight.

In the mouth: More soft, more smooth. Low bitterness, hangs hard on the palate. Juicy flavors dominate throughout. Citrus up tops, and tropical tones at the side. Big hoppy tastes, up and all the way down. Tasty stuff.

I'm still tired of every Double IPA being a hazy New England-style. It's getting really fucking boring. And I rarely swear. It's that frustrating that it compels me to curse.

I don't know how long this trend will last, but the ones who are doing it well seem to be in it for the long haul. I hope they've got something else up their sleeves when this all dries up.

Malt:pale two row, spelt, flaked oats, carafoam, malted oats.
Hops: Vic Secret, El Dorado, & Mosaic.
Yeast: House IPA yeast. 

Drekker Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Fargo, ND. Beer is our craft, but Drekker is about much more than the contents of a glass. It's about what happens when a few of those glasses get raised together. Beer is FUN, act accordingly.

Odell Cloud Catcher Milkshake IPA

Odell Cloud Catcher Milkshake IPA.
6.8 % ABV. 47 IBU. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Folks, I feel like I'm at a bit of a crossroads. For many years, I have entered notes on every beer I've had the good or bad fortune to find, right here in the Nib. If it's in my fridge, it'll be on the Nib. I broke that rule last night when I wanted another beer and there was nothing around that I hadn't written about yet. So, I cracked upon a cucumber sour and I drank it. It was a sour that tasted of cucumber. Rah, rah. I don't regret not taking notes. (Also, it was an A-B "craft" brand, and I don't care about reviewing them.) I almost did the same tonight with a grapefruit hefe weizen shandy.

But this here can I will take notes on. I've had a lot of beer from Odell Brewing of Colorado, and I've had a fair share of "milkshake IPAs". I have not, however, had a milkshake IPA from Odell Brewing. Let's see what that's all about.

Clear, bright golden hue, slimmish white head.

In the nose: Soft, creamy, nondescript. Rather a lot of nothing. Can that be true? Slightly sweet, fruity.

In the mouth: Mild hop bitterness pounces the palate at first. Creamy mouthfeel, smooth and easy-going. Some odd flavors I can't quite pin down. Chocolate?

What's makes a "milkshake" beer? The shake-y, cloudy look? This one lacks it. The vanilla and lactose? I'm not picking up on that much. One thing is for sure, the initial blast of hop bitterness goes missing after the first sip. I still do not know why these things keep getting called India Pale Ales. Or IPAs, since no-one knows what it means, anymore.

Yep, I'm still the cranky old-timer, shaking my fist at cloudy beers. You kids, get your milkshake beers off of my lawn! But, I don't think they're good when they're good, and they're worse when they fail. I like Odell and generally feel that they don't miss, but I'm not liking this one even a little. A dud.

And their can copy is worse than New Belgium's: The infamous Cloud Catcher. Her adventures are storied, as she takes flight every evening, meticulously stockpiling fluffs of Cumulonimbus. She has one mission: to capture the key ingredient to our newest seasonal brew, a deliciously smooth, cloud-infused Milkshake IPA. Hop-forward with notes of creamsicle and peaches, it delivers a citrusy punch alongside its hazy, velvety texture. Just as if the Cloud Catcher caught it herself.

Yuck. Whoever wrote that, I want to trash all of their dream-catchers.

Central Waters Unsettled New England style India Pale Ale

Central Waters Unsettled New England style India Pale Ale.
6.7 % ABV. 50 IBU.

Central Waters Brewing, Amherst, WI.

Highly hazed, pale orange hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Pungent citrus aromatics at first, grapefruit and orange. Tangerine creeps in. Slight whiff of the tropical.

In the mouth: Hop bitterness smacks the palate at the start. Nice and bracing, leading the way to calm and pleasing. Medium bodied, quite an easy drinker.
Halfway in, I'm picking up the tropical fruit notes that are de riguer for this style. It's not devoid of bitterness, and not especially soft. Lacks some of the hallmarks of that New England style, but I don't care. It's a good India Pale Ale, and I can drink it.

Ever felt like something is just...off? So have we, and we know why! Although usually clear, we have manipulated the malt, wheat, and insane amount of hops in a way that creates a purposely hazy beer. Still unsettled? Give it a try...we don't think you will be!

Venn Brewing Cosmosis: Clusterf*ruit

Venn Brewing Cosmosis: Clusterf*ruit.
11.5 % ABV. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This one was released for their semi-anniversary. The real anniversary is in Mid-December, but no-one wants to go out in that time of year, so Venn is celebrating their .5 anniversaries. Makes total sense. I didn't make it out for the party, but there were still some bottles left. (I actually tried this one on my birthday, 6/30/19, but didn't take notes, as I don't on those occasions).

All hazed up, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Big fruit. Bold aromatics. Large and in charge tropical notes and plenty of citrus. Sweet, then tart, and all fruity.

In the mouth: Boom! Yum. Juicy, fruity, sour and slightly sweet. Fresh and delicious. Big and lovely. All the juicy fruit, all the sour. Very nice. Alcohol hasn't hit yet, but, whoa, here it comes....and I can dig it.  I am digging this big time.

Actual Mango, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, and Guava. Sour & strong.
A commemorative release in celebration of our year-and-a-half anniversary.

Ready to take your taste buds on a trip to the tropics? Our kettle sour weighs in at a hefty 11.5% and is brimming with passion fruit, mango, pink guava, and pineapple. Pairs well with resting beach face.

Malts: Domestic Pale, White Wheat, Unmalted White Wheat.
Hops: None.
Yeast: Lactobacillus, Champagne.
Other: Passion Fruit, Mango, Pink Guava, Pineapple, Dextrose.

Inbound BrewCo Vienna Lager

Inbound BrewCo Vienna Lager.
5.1 % ABV. 24 IBU.
Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

You know, as much as I derail and the decry the pasty ales and lagers, the milkshake crap, the DDH NE IPAs flooding the market, every now and then there's a Vienna lager, and it's about time I drank it.

Clear, amber hued, slim white head.

In the nose: light, grainy, malty, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: Crisp, clean, refreshing. Sweet and malty. Light bodied, excellent in balance and drinkability, with malt sweetness lingering on the palate. Perfect for a day like today and perfect for the pizza.

Just a good ol' Vienna lager, and there ain't nothing wrong with that. Which I purchased because I'd never had it (though something tells me I got a sample bottle once, long ago) and it was on sale. It's not the sort of thing I normally pick up, but damn, if it isn't nice to drink.

So, pardon me, while I open up another IPA, and don't call me a hypocrite if it's yet another DDH NE, because that's all that's out there anymore.

A crisp, clean lager made exclusively with German malts. This beer is malt-forward, utterly refreshing, and a perfect pairing with giant pretzels and a second pint of the same.

Junkyard Dirty Pete and the Dungeon Chiefs NE IPA

Junkyard Dirty Pete and the Dungeon Chiefs NE IPA.
6.8 % ABV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

All kinds of hazy. Bright golden hue, lush ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Ah, hoppiness! Ah, big-time fruit! Ah, loads of citrus. Lovely. All the goodness is here.

In the mouth: Nice and bitter. Good ol' hoppiness. Creamy, lush, and tasty. It has just enough of the haze and enough of what I crave in a good ol' IPA. Yum. Even Yum a dum-dum. Quite delicious.

New England IPA with Mosaic and ekuanot hops.

Oliphant Funtalented Imperial Stout w/Raspberry and Peanut Butter

Oliphant Funtalented Imperial Stout w/Raspberry and Peanut Butter.
10 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Solid blackness, under a nicely roasted/toasted tan head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Fruit is first, berry-licious, followed by the massive malt. Peanut butter creeps in and takes over. Very nice.

In the mouth: Bitterness hits the palate first, then tart fruity flavors, then dark, rich malt. Quite complex. Nicely roasted, with the peanut butter mixing with the jelly. Whoa. They did it. A PB & J Imperial Stout. Little bitter, little sweet, then more sweet, and well-balanced deliciousness.

funtalented

yet again, this one is not about ghosts. they say, jeremy, “enough with the ghosts”, and thens i say, “enough with you!”. then it is another time out for me, but little do they know, i just treat it as a nap.

russian imperial stout w/ raspberry and peanut butter. 10% abv