Karben4 Fantasty Factory India Pale Ale

Karben4 Fantasty Factory India Pale Ale.
6.3 % ABV. 65 IBU.
Karben4 Brewing, Madison, WI.

I believe this is the first Karben4 beer I've had. I wasn't even aware that the brewery was distributed here in Minnesota. Naturally, the first one I would pick up at the store would be their IPA. And who can pass up a commando kitty cat riding a unicorn?

A little bit hazy, bright golden, nearly orange-ish tones, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Big citrus, lime, orange, grapefruit, with a trickle of pine in for good measure.

In the mouth: Splash of bitterness, juicy hops, and expressive malt hits the palate. Judicious dose of citrusy hops plays gleefully upon the tongue. Smooth, tasty, flat-out delicious. This hits all the right buttons for me. It's an IPA I'd return to again and again. Excellent balance between malt and hops, very pleasing in all areas.

Hopheads crusade on a heroic quest for the holy grail of India Pale Ales. The subconscious composes paradisiacal scenes of malty waves crashing on a ripe lupulin landscape cascading hop flavors and aromas in profuse abundance. With humble confidence we offer this brew as fantasy made reality. Balanced in every detail and gushing resinous, exceptional citrus flavors and aromas that collaborate with soft bready notes surrendered from premium English golden malted barley, this beer is a tropical dreamscape. Epic.

Oliphant Brewing's 2spacedout 2facedtrout

Oliphant Brewing's 2phasedout 2facedtrout.
Peach, mango & jalapeño sour w/ lactose, vanilla, & sea salt.
 5 % ABV.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Clear, yellowish, slim white head.

In the nose: Tart from the start, with spice and salt showing first, and fruit slowly unfolding. Sweetness of mango & peach softly billowing out.

In the mouth: Once again, the salt lands first on the palate, with the fruit flavors fast on the heels. Jalapeños, one of my most-hated legumes, isn't showing itself yet, which I'm perfectly fine with. No, wait, there's a trickle, just a touch. With each sip, the sweet, juicy flavors of the fruits comes first, and are dried out by the salt and the pepper. Lactose adds a creamy touch. I like it.

More and more, it seems that these guys have really got a handle on the fruited sour thing.

I suggest that when you drink this beer that you listen to this song:

Special bonus points if you can figure out why I picked this track.

Town Hall Unthaw Minnesotan IPA

Town Hall Unthaw Minnesotan IPA. 7.1 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, copper/bronze coloring, ample ivory head.

In the nose: citrus and berries. Major malt. More sweetness in aroma.

In the mouth: Juicy hop flavors slide onto the palate. Mostly citrusy, with perhaps a trace of tropical, but it's covered up by malty flavors. Caramel malt and more add additional sweetness. Tasty stuff, here.

Unthaw like a Minnesotan by sipping on the tropical fruit flavors of this winter seasonal IPA....or are we re-un-unfreezing?

Madhouse A.M. Haze Dry Hopped Sour Ale

Madhouse A.M. Haze Dry Hopped Sour Ale. Amarillo & Mosaic hops.
6.8 % ABV. Madhouse Brewing, Des Moines, IA. (R.I.P.)

At last, I'm cracking open a bottle purchased back in August when I visited Des Moines, unaware that the brewery would soon be closing down. How do I keep bottles for so long, all the while intending to drink them, but pushing them back, procrastinating further? I'm just bad that way. I'm trying to get better, give me a chance, folks. There's always hope for improvement in even the most hidebound procrastinators, like me.

Clear (despite the name), bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Hoppy and tart. Bold citrus aromatic bumping into the sour notes.

In the mouth: Sour from the start, bracing with citrusy hops, and a blast of bitterness. Clean, juicy, sour. Medium bodied, refreshing. I'm not entirely down with the flavors that come together, but I've never been especially keen on sour IPAs. Some tastes just don't go together.

(Of course, I also have the nagging suspicion that I might have like it better if I'd consumed it earlier, while it was more fresh. In the other hand, did I leave it in the fridge because I was never in the mood for it? I can never decide....)

Amarillo and Mosaic dry-hopped sour ale oak-barrel fermented with our house blend of yeast including Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces

Lupulin / Mankato Hero Hazy IPA

Lupulin / Mankato Hero Hazy IPA.
8.18 % ABV. 66 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, in Collaboration with Mankato Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Ever-so hazy, bright golden hue, lasting ivory head. Looking good.

In the nose: Nice hoppy buzz in here, citrusy, lemon and orange.

In the mouth: Big blast of delightful hoppy bitterness upon the palate, a bit juicy and exactly tasty. Citrusy flavors abound. Light bodied, easy drinker, alcohol slowly being detected.
I'm enjoying this tremendously.

HERO Hazy IPA is all about friendship, awareness and never surrendering to the fight against cancer. So, become aware, get tested, and live longer. The inspiration behind this beer, is our late hero Jonathan Zierdt, close friend to Mankato Brewery founder and the brother to Lupulin Brewing co-founder who passed away in March. A portion of the proceeds and donations will go to the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund, a donor advised fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.

Indeed Strange Charm Bourbon Barrel Aged

Indeed Strange Charm Bourbon Barrel Aged.
Bourbon Barrel-aged Ale with ginger, honey & orange peel.
8.5 % ABV. 15 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly opaque, Burgundy hued, slim beige head.

In the nose: Orange and ginger blend hits first. Malt forward, rising alcohol.

In the mouth: Bigness and richness, exploding on the palate. Popping with orange, ginger, lime, and sweet malt flavors. Not to mention booze.
It's tasting a bit like a beer old-fashioned. Rich and delicious. Bourbon covers everything in a warm, glowing, warming glow.
This is strange. And it is charming.
It's giving me a pleasant feeling, and I declare it yum-a-dum-dum.

Bourbon-barrel aged Strong Ale with ginger, honey and orange peel.

Firestone FlyJack Hazy India Pale Ale

Firestone FlyJack Hazy India Pale Ale.
"Citrus. Hazy. Crisp." "Beer Before Glory."
4 % ABV.
Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA.

Oh, it's hazy, alright. Lord knows it's got to be hazy. Pale golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Big citrus. Loud lemon. Splash of grapefruit and orange.

In the mouth: Juicy. Citrusy. Crisp. Clean. Light bodied. Easily drunk. Low-cal. Low-Alc. Tropical tones pop up among the citrus. Tasty stuff, if a bit on the thin side. But that, of course, is exactly what they're going for, and it succeeds.

Everything you want from a hazy IPA with nothing to weigh you down. This is Flyjack, Firestone Walker's new 96-calorie beer. Maximum flavor, minimal calories, no compromises.

Omnipollo Agamemnon Imperial Stout Brewed with Maple Syrup

Omnipollo Agamemnon Imperial Stout Brewed with Maple Syrup.
12.5 % ABV.
Omnipollo, Stockholm, Sweden.

Absolute blackness, complete opacity, slim brown ring of foam.

In the nose: all the usual suspects in attendance. Deep, rich, thick layers of dark malts, chocolate, espresso, dark fruits, tobacco, leather, anise...all of them are here. But maple syrup is running late.

In the mouth: Mmm. The whole gangs's jumped onto the palate. Rich, thick, viscous, a melting pot of dark, deep deliciousness. Getting a lot of Imperial Stout flavors in this one, but still not much of maple. Big and getting bigger.

Invited to brew in the US I wanted to use local ingredients. Agamemnon is an Imperial Stout brewed with maple syrup. Boiled 7 hours.

Insight Mango Trollway IPA

Insight Mango Trollway IPA
Insight Mango Trollway IPA. 7 % ABV. 72 IBU.
Insight Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright orange/amber color, slimmish white head.

In the nose: Nicely hoppy, with the addition of plump, round fruit. You can feel the fuzz.

In the mouth: Great big bitterness greets the palate, bumping with mango. Light bodied, easy drinking, Just enough bitter, just enough sweet. Sweet, sweet mango, sitting on top of a nice IPA. At turns juicy and dry. Quite enjoyable. Tasty stuff. Good mango IPA and you can drink it.
It's got it going on.

A Mango bomb West Coast style IPA. Brilliant bouquet of mango and grapefruit on the nose with hints of peach and lemon zest.

This is what we listen to when we think of mangoes:

Sisyphus Milli Vanilla Porter

Sisyphus Milli Vanilla Porter. 8.5 % ABV.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Full-on blackish. Slim head. Utmost opacity.

In the nose: Slightly sweet mixing with dark malts. Chocolate, espresso, caramel.

In the mouth: Slightly sweet, ultimately dry. Dark malts expressed with cocoa, caramel, coffee, and just a hint of vanilla. I'm enjoying this. It's just enough and never too much. Sweet and delicious. Never too much and just enough. Wait, did I say this, or did I just say it backwards?

Maybe the 8.5 % is getting to my head?

All in all, thoroughly enjoyable. I like a moderate amount of subtlety now and then.

And, of course, there is only one piece of music to hear while drinking this one:

It's a Vanilla Porter, minus the career ending Lip-Syncing. Trust your senses with this one and enjoy the half pound of vanilla beans that this sweet porter was conditioned on. If you were born before 1995, Milli Vanilli was a popular early 90's band.

Town Hall Ol' Jack Frost Russian Imperial Stout

Town Hall Ol' Jack Frost Russian Imperial Stout.
9.5 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

As was stated a little earlier, Town Hall Brewery is re-releasing some of their beers that go into barrels for Barrel-aged Week without the barrel aging, and are selling them in crowlers, sometimes for the first time in many years. The beer called Ol' Jack Frost Russian Imperial Stout has not appeared here in the Bitter Nib in an unadulterated format at all, to the best of my searching abilities.
But, looking on BeerAdvocate.com, where I posted reviews for eight years before beginning this blog, well, lo and behold, here is a review from nearly 14 years ago to the day. (January 26, 2006.)

So, what I will do will be is this: I'm going to drink this crowler, and post those old notes from a growler, and see if there's any difference I can ascertain afterwards. And here we go....

Solid, unsoluble black, 'neath a roasted tan head. Classic picture of an Imperial Stout. Very inviting.

Aroma brims with vitality, rich and roasty, with flavors of carob, anise, mollases, espresso and cocoa vying for their place in the nose. It's a luscious blend, full and heady.

Taste: big in the mouth as well, full and pervasive on the palate. Solid as any real IS worth the name should be, but very mellow as well. Alcoholic strength doesn't seem an issue, not until you near the end of the glass.

The rich flavors indicated in the nose come back in the taste, a mellifluous melange of dark and delightful tints, tinges, and tastes. A cavern of delights, a full well bringing forth deliciousness.

Tasty, tasty, this, a devilishly delicious stout that makes me commit the unlikely sin of wishing it were colder right now, to enjoy this warm and wonderful brew better.

The first non-bourbon/whiskey-fied Imperial Stout I've yet tasted at Town Halll, not counting the short-lived version they tapped for Anniversary Week 2005, which was the Czar Jack before the Jack.
I'd like to see a lot more of this.

As big and bold as this beer is, the growler will not last the night. It's that tasty and my will power is that weak.

Fourteen years later, yep, I said it right. I skipped on char, leather, dark chocolate, rich espresso, etcetera. but the gist is right, and it's still as mighty. Whoa. So whoa. So very, very whoa. And mmm. Almost, but not exactly, yum-a-dum-dum.

What should you listen to while drinking this ol' magical black beer? Let's ask the Chairman of the Board....

Genesee Cream Ale

Genesee Cream Ale. 5.2 % ABV.
Genesee Brewing, Rochester, New York.

This is my first time with this beer, or anything from this brewery. I was unaware that they available in this market. The brand recently changed hands, and representatives from the new distributor got me this sample. The previous vendor had done a bang-up job of keeping the brewery's existence in our market a total mystery.

But it's not as if they were high on my list, or anything. We're not talking about Three Floyds or Dogfish Head here.
Still, it's nice to know.
So, let's drink it.

Clear, pale amber color, slim, soon-gone white head.

In the nose: light cereal-y sweetness, mostly malty. Nothing from hops.

In the mouth: Light, smooth, malty. Merest touch of hops. A touch grainy/corny. Perfectly drinkable.
Nothing much else to say. Good cream ale and you can drink it.

The goal was simple: a beer with the flavor of an ale and the smoothness of a lager.

That's how Genesee Cream Ale (the brainchild of this brewery) became an American original. Today, every batch of Cream Ale is skillfully brewed to achieve its smooth character and a remarkably creamy white head worthy of its name.

Pipeworks Infinite Citra Citra Hopped India Pale Ale

Pipeworks Infinite Citra Citra Hopped India Pale Ale. 7.3 % ABV.
Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Clear, vibrant golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: positively screaming Citra. Big lemon and orange, grapefruit and a pinch of papaya. Beautiful.

In the mouth: Bursts with fruit on the palate, quickly turning dry. Nicely hopped, bumping with citrus flavors. Just a touch of the juicy. Delicious. Absolutely, positively delicious. Medium body, easy drinking. I'm enjoying this quite a bit.

And as I contemplate the infinite kitties and citrus fruits on the kaleidoscopic label art, I can only think the best thing to hear while having a few of these, would be Juan Garcia Esquivel's Infinity In Sound Vol. 2 (though Vol. 1 is good, too.)

Hey, check it out, here's the entire album!

Lift Bridge Fireside Flannel Brown Ale

Lift Bridge Fireside Flannel Brown Ale. 4.7 % ABV. 35 IBU.
Crafted and canned by Lift Bridge Brewery, Stillwater, MN.

Fully opaque, dark brown, cocoa-tinged head on top.

In the nose: Cocoa and caramel dominate the aromatics. sweet, but balanced.

In the mouth: Malt commands the palate. More cocoa, caramel, a touch of toffee, as well as a little coffee, all expertly balanced. Medium bodied, easily consumed. Just enough hops for taste & balance. Well done. I like a good brown ale, and this is one.

Fireside Flannel is a unique brown ale crafted with roasted malts and Yakima hops. Notes of roasted hazelnuts, coffee and light chocolate combine as the beer warms —  and on a crisp fall day, there’s just enough alcohol to keep you warm as well. Pairs well with cheese platters and braised meats, along with desserts including ice cream and chocolate.

The best song to listen to with this flannel-themed brown ale is, of course, this one. He's only in it a little bit, (with the singing Mounties), but we're currently using it, and many other scenes from Monty Python, to remember Terry Jones. (1943-2020)

Angry Orchard Hard Cider Crisp Apple Unfiltered

Angry Orchard Hard Cider Crisp Apple Unfiltered.
6 % ABV. Angry Orchard Cider Company,
Walden, NY.

As has been stated many times, I give ever beer or cider, or even hard seltzer that finds it's way to my fridge a review. Even samples without a proper label, from large cideries I normally pass up. (Spoiler alert: I don't really "pick up" cider, just about all of them are samples given or sent to me. When I go out buying beverages for home consumption, it's never going to be cider.)

And from that, we move on to this:

All murky and chunky, dull orange, no head.

In the nose: Sweet and fruity, touch of tart.

In the mouth: More sweet, more tart, all apple. Crisp, indeed, and also refreshing. Medium bodied. Pleasant enough. Just enough juicy, with plenty of texture. Not bad.

Crisp Apple Unfiltered is an ode to traditional American cider with a fuller mouthfeel, hazy appearance and a less sweet, fresh apple taste. It is made with bittersweet apples, the gold standard in cider making.

Lupulin Sophistry 04 India Pale Ale

Lupulin Sophistry 04. India Pale Ale. New England-style.
7.5 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Hazy, bright golden, large and lasting ivory froth atop.

In the nose: bright, fresh, zesty, lovely stuff. Mostly citrusy with a touch of tropical sweetness.

In the mouth: Mmmm. I'm in a happy place. Fresh and zesty, lightly bitter, plentiful payload of hoppiness dropped on the palate. Delicious. Bitter, dry, delightful. I'm enjoying this tremendously.

A big, chewy malt base heavy in oats gives way to a massive hit of tropical and citrus hops. With more hops than we've ever put in our custom built whirlpool, then finished with a massive dry hop of Citra, Sabro along with a cool new hop blend from New Zealand called Motu.

Because I liked this beer so well, I recommend that you drink this one while listening to the best song about liking beer ever recorded. It should also clear things up for those of you who never understood this blog's tagline. Take it, Tom:

Bauhaus Bolo Cherry Hard Seltzer

Bauhaus Bolo Cherry Hard Seltzer. 5 % ABV.
Bauhaus BrewLabs, Minneapolis, MN.

So. Another local brewery is doing a "hard seltzer", and I have one, and I'm drinking it.

Clear, no color, no head.

In the nose: sweet, fruity, raspberry, cherry, etcetera. Sure.

In the mouth: Sweet, dry. Light. Slightly boozy. That's it. Not too anything, this one. "Hard Water." Cherry-flavoring. Ho-hum. If you like this stuff, go for it. Good for you. As for me...boring. Blah. Whatevs.

I've said this before, I will review everything that finds it's way in my fridge and is remotely beer adjacent. That means sometimes there will be reviews like this. There may be more in the future. If they're not to your liking, don't be dismayed for there will be another more up your alley just around the bend.

Inbound Halucidation 2019

Inbound Halucidation 2019. 14 % ABV.
Belgian tripel fermented with grape must.
Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

I thought that this beer had never appeared in the Nib, but apparently forgot that 2018 was the first time I dropped twenty bucks for a bottle of this stuff. (Although it's been created by the various iterations from Lucid to North Loop to Inbound, for about 8 years.)
On the first day of 2020, I did so again, and I decided tonight was the night to drink it up.


Also of note is that last year's version used their Imperial Saison, and this year's the tripel.

Clear, light crimson coloring. Slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly fruity, slightly funky. Grapes are showing, stone fruit, juicy stuff. Getting bigger and more expressive as it unwinds. Sweet, ripe, tart, and more.

In the mouth: Fruit is forward, juicy, berry-fun, and not hiding the triple. Plenty of Belgian funk, yeast, and warming alcohol. The 14 % is making itself knowing right away, not being shy in the least. Boom, boom, boom, boo. A nifty nightcap for sure.

Light bodied, refreshing, and delicious. Tangy and tasty. Juicy and boozy. I may have to go get another bottle to sock away for a special occasion.

Let's read the label, shall we?

Release your expectations and open your mind to Halucidation. Brewed somewhere in the valley between beer and wine, Halucidation is a collaboration beyond your wildest drinking dreams. Inbound’s own Belgian Tripel fermented with Frontenac grape must from Parley Lake Winery.  Halucidation is a hybrid temptation of mind-tripping proportions. deceptively light and sweet for a boozy masterpiece the seventh iteration of Halucidation is this season's greatest temptation. 

I wondered what music would pair best with this beer, and I eschewed the obvious first thoughts of something psychedelic and trippy by the Beatles, Hendrix or the Strawberry Alarm Clock, and thought that this little track by one of my favorite bands would do the trick. Put on your headphones, sports fans, for "We Are Normal" from the second LP by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, 1968's "The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse"
They're singing just for you covered in sequins:

Invictus Hazy Crazy IPAzy NE IPA

Invictus Hazy Crazy IPAzy NE IPA. "Beer for the Unconquerable Soul."
7.3 % ABV. 60 IBU.
Invictus Brewing, Blaine, MN.

All clouded up, dullish orange hue, layer of ivory froth.

In the nose: Nicely hopped, if a bit muted. Nothing really sticks out here. Flavors slowly unspool, widen, grow. Give it time and it gets louder yet, more citrus and topical notes popping up.

In the mouth: Starts with a brief bitter buzz upon the palate, then it's all fruity and juicy. Much yeast haze happening in the flavor. A bit more than I care for, but not enough to be a problem. Citrus and tropical galore.
Smooth, delightful, light and just tasty enough.

I don't like this as much as the other Invictus IPA I've had, but then I don't need them to be hazy. Or crazy.

You know some people think that crazy hazys are lazy.
What would Nat King Cole say about that?

Oh, I wish it were summer...

Brewed with loads of oats, wheat, and a few specialty malts. Then double dry hopped with Vic Secret, Jarrylo, and Amarillo. Lighter in color with a soft pillowy head. Aromas of pineapple, mango flesh, slight banana, and citrus round out this IPA. Tiki drink meets IPA.

Town Hall Cherry Grand Cru

Town Hall Cherry Grand Cru.
Fruited Belgian Strong Ale. 9.5 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Here is the beer that becomes Manhattan Reserve, before it goes in the barrels. And I've got a whole crowler to myself. Yum, a dum, dum....or am I going too far ahead?

Bright, bold crimson coloring, thoroughly opaque, slim whitish head.

In the nose: Cherries on top, Belgian malt and yeast just below. Belgian funky feel melds well with fruit.

In the mouth: Sweetness grips the palate first, big fruit flavors are in full command. Sweet fruit flavors and alcoholic warmth, hand in hand. Juicy malt pokes it's head up, but the cherry infusion completely suffuses the other aspects of this brew. Not that there's anything too terrible about that.

This may be a bit too sweet for me. I am enjoying it, but I wouldn't return to it too quickly.
Actually, I find that I really should have saved this for a special dessert, with some sweet chocolate treat. Or, maybe it should just be shared. It's a bit much for one person in one sitting.

Grand Cru finished with tart cherries.

What music should one pair with this beer? There's only one choice: