Wild Leap Brew Co. ETA Transcontinental IPA

Wild Leap Brew Co. ETA Transcontinental IPA. "Born in the sky, brewed on the ground." 

7.5 % ABV, 40 IBU. Wild Leap Brew Co., La Grange, GA. 

All hazed up, 'cause that's the way it has to be now, bright yellow color, slim, but lasting, ivory head. 

In the nose: mild aromatics, faint whispers of citrus and pine.

In the mouth: soft and mellow. Low bitterness. Light citrusy hop character, just a little bit juicy. Very laid back and comfortable. A little too much for my taste. This is listed as an American IPA on Untappd, as well as on BeerAdvocate, but they're clearly shooting for a hazy/NE IPA with this one. If you go in thinking it's a regular IPA, and you get this self-described "fluffy" thing with no hop bitterness, you're going to be a bit disappointed.

But, hey, it's first Georgia beer on the Nib in over 8 years. I should track down some more Georgia beers. Maybe I'll like them better than this one. 

ETA is a First-Class Transcontinental IPA that pairs the comfort of a soft, fluffy mouthfeel with the pleasure of a smooth and juicy hop combination.

Falling Knife HypeBeast Triple Dry-hopped DIPA

Falling Knife HypeBeast Triple Dry-hopped DIPA. With Strata and Galaxy hops. 

So, I broke my rule against 4-packs of 16-ouncers of a certain price for this one, because I feel that I ought to, once in a while, especially in situations such as this one. 

"HypeBeast" is a fitting name for a brew like this coming from two very hyped local breweries, riding high on their reputations for pumping out the hazys and the DDHs. Now, a TDH? In a DIPA? But, or course...(Something's telling me that the name is actually a video game reference, though. But I'm sticking with my take.) 

Collaboration with BlackStack Brewing, 8.5 % ABV, Falling Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Hazy, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: soft and fuzzy. There's some hops in there, somewhere. 

In the mouth: Bitter up front, just a touch, then it's all about hops, pouncing on the palate. Mellow malt, bright citrusy hop flavors, medium body that's all full of fuzz. Juicy stuff, for sure. High alcohol is starting to rise up, and I'm feeling alright. 

I don't regret splurging on a $17.50 4-pack, but I also don't see the difference. What do you get from one more dry-hopping? Maybe I'm slow, but they are all tasting the same to me. I just can't get excited about the hazys. Double dry-hopped, triple, quadruple, where do we go from here?

Starry Eyed Robust Porter

Starry Eyed Robust Porter.

5 % ABV. 24 IBU. Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, MN. 

Dark brown color, mostly opaque, slim brownish head. 

In the nose: roasty-toasty malt is foremost, cocoa comes up from behind. Hint of espresso. 

In the mouth: Bitterness up front to match the sweet, but it's brief, and we quickly settle into a chocolate-y, coffee-ish, caramel-y, medium-bodied kind of porter that I love to drink. Nothing out of the ordinary here, other than the fact that these sort of beers don't appear very often. Not when DDH DIPAs are all the rage, and milkshakes and marshmallows, etc. 

Swift finish in this, but the flavor never quits. I like it. Good porter and you can drink it. 

Spiral Archimedean Series Formula 2 Belgian Quad

Spiral Archimedean Series Formula 2 Belgian Quad.

11.2 % ABV. Spiral Brewery, Hastings, MN. 

Hazy, burgundy-hue, small, beige head. 

In the nose: caramel, toffee, bubblegum, bananas. Sweet, but balanced, calm, and cool.

In the mouth: Sweet. Caramel-y. Malt forward. Fruit. Stone, apple, banana. Candied orange slices. Touch of toffee. Alcohol warmth rises. Got some fire in it. Well rounded, smooth, despite the heat. Very relaxing, calming, an excellent nightcap. 

This one can't stand up against the best quads out there, but it ain't bad., and I am enjoying it.

Stone Enjoy By 01.01.2021

Stone Enjoy By 01.01.2021 Unfiltered IPA.

9.4 % ABV, 90 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Lightly hazy, bright golden hue, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: pouring out citrus and tropical tones, arresting and lively. Shockingly pithy and poignant. 

In the mouth: Aggressively assertive bitterness blazes the palate, with the fire and the fury of the high alcohol ready at its command. Huge hoppiness. Bitterness delivers. Citrus and tropical notes offer a sweetness to match the bitter, with high firepower poised right behind it. Medium bodied, long, bitter finish. Great complexities in this, and an abundance of pleasure. 

Just about yum a dum, dum. Wait, hold on...yeah. Candied fruit, mixed with magical pixie dust, and big ol' booze. I'm digging it. Holding onto one last bottle for tomorrow night, to welcome in 2021, and hope it doesn't resemble 2020. 

For this version of Stone Enjoy By IPA we thought: “We don’t always have a filter, so why should our beer?” By skipping a step and letting this devastatingly fresh, golden-hued double IPA go un filtered, the beer takes on a hazy appearance and its peach and tropical fruit hop aroma are intensified. So though it may sound like it, this missed step was no misstep.

Like the other IPAs in this series, this version is brewed specifically NOT to last.

Venn Cinnamon Maple Latte Imperial Stout

Venn Cinnamon Maple Latte Imperial Stout.

12.5 % ABV. 50 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

In my cynical way, I can easily call out this beer, before drinking it, for being too many things. It's something that I enjoy doing. Cinnamon, and maple, plus "latte" in an imperial stout? What---??? And, for anyone else, in a different format, I might easily pass it by, and probably have. But, this is from Venn, and I trust them, and I like to try their new beers, so here we go. 

Utter darkness. Slim brown head. 

In the nose: big, fat maple screams out of the thing. Slight cinnamon. Some coffee. And this, without coming in for a deep sniff. On closer inspection, those are dominant, and other flavors are pushed down, some. 

In the mouth: Ridiculous. Doubly thick and rich. Huge coffee, chocolate, and overwhelming maple. Decadent. Luxurious. Breakfast stout extreme. Cinnamon's on the bottom, below cocoa and maple, and is there milk/cream in this to make it "latte"? Doesn't really deliver on the palate, the "latte" part, so far. 

And the cinnamon rises. Fairly smooth stuff. 

An Imperial Stout infused with actual cinnamon, maple, & coffee.

Malts: Maris Otter, Roasted Barley, Special B, Chocolate, Caramel 60, Caramel 40

Hops: Warrior

Yeast: American Ale

And: Cinnamon, Maple, Coffee, Dextrose

Broken Clock Fade to Black Black IPA

Broken Clock Fade to Black Black IPA.

7.6 % ABV. 85 IBU. Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, MN. 

Solid blackness, complete opacity, full, rich, creamy brown head. 

In the nose: Hoppy aromatics, floating over dark chocolatey malts. 

In the mouth: Bittersweet, malt-backward, with hops shining high up front. Chocolate and coffee meets pine and grass, with a slice of citrus. Medium bodied, smooth, tasty. Nicely hopped. Big time bitterness matched with sweet malt. I'm digging it. 

Whatever happened to you, Black IPA, aka Hoppy Porter? Will you ever return in earnest, or are the hazies really here to stay? I'm glad you pop up from time to time, and cheers to breweries like Broken Clock for returning you to us, if just once in a while. 

This black IPA is heavily hopped, but has a smooth malty backbone. It has notes of chocolate and caramel in the finish. The hops selected for this beer give it a lingering citrus and piney aroma and flavor.

Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager

Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager.

4.7 % ABV. 13 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

This is not the kind of beer I would seek out on my own. How did I acquire it? The beer manager at the retail store where I work decided that it had been moving very slowly, and knocked ten bucks off the price of a 12-pack. That did not inspire me to buy one, for I have too many beers right now, clogging up the fridge, even at fifty cents a bottle. No, my kind co-worker who did buy one, gave me one of his twelve. And though there are five other Stone beers in the fridge to review, I jumped this one to the front of the line just so I could thank him, or curse him, for it. 

Clear, bright yellow, slim to no head. 

In the nose: malt, cereal...not picking up on salt and lime, yet. 

In the mouth: Crisp-ish, clean and smooth, light, and, hey, here comes the ...no, not yet, not really. What's taking so long? I think it's there....okay, now I'm getting some salt, and there has to be some lime, right? Very little, if any. Fine with me, I wouldn't have cared for it, anyway. The salt and lime was originally added to Corona to make the skunky beer palatable. But Stone knows how to make good beer, so they don't need to throw a lime in to add flavor, ...or, do they? 

Now I'm tasting it, it's very minor, but just enough. It's not great, of course, it's not bad, it's a good lager and you can drink it. 

Brewer Ben Sheehan created this beer while working down at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station. Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager’s inspiration comes from Southern California, which is vibrantly influenced by our neighbors to the South. California's spoiling, warm weather encourages outdoor activity year round - and now the rest of the nation can join in. From surfing our coasts, to snowboarding and biking in the mountains, off-roading through deserted lands, or boating and fishing in our lakes, Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager is an excellent companion. It’s a thrillingly crisp, clean, refreshing Mexican-style lager that quenches thirsts, while gratifying taste buds via lime and sea salt.

Surly Dumpster Fire 2020 DDH Hazy DIPA

Surly Dumpster Fire 2020 DDH Hazy DIPA.

9.3 % ABV, Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Some years past, there was a literal, actual dumpster fire at the Darkness Day event in Brooklyn Center. To commemorate this, a beer was brewed with chili peppers and smoked malt, a smoked IPA. This year of 2020 has been called the Dumpster Fire year, and naturally Surly revived the name, but not the recipe, because you can sell a hell of a lot more DDH Hazy DIPAs than you can smoked pepper IPAs. Just makes sense. Although I am disappointed. I wanted to see them have the guts to release that beer again. 

(Looking at Untappd, I've had it three times, once at the brewery three years ago, and before that, in 2013, once in October, probably at the Darkness Day event, and later in December, though I know not where. At a bar, the Brooklyn Center taproom? Enquiring minds want to know. But if I recall from those tastes, it was definite a beer I would only try once in a while, and not one that I'd buy a whole 4-pack of...maybe...)

Hazy, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: well-hopped, with notes of citrus, pine, some tropical fruits. 

In the mouth: Juicy from the start, following by brief bitterness. Juicy turns to dry, and begs another sip. Just enough bitter on the palate to keep my tongue happy. Medium bodied, refreshing and easy drinking. (Despite the 9.3 % ABV, which hasn't been felt yet, "famous last words.") And here it comes...high booze is ringing in. 

The thing of this is, is that it's a tasty beer, but tastes just like all the other DDH DIPAs, and that's getting boring. 

Years ago we released a beer called Dumpster Fire. It was named for a literal dumpster fire in our parking lot. We never thought we'd need to brew a sequel.

We thought wrong.

As 2020's metaphorical dumpster fire rages out of control, we're making the best of this mess with a double dry-hopped hazy double IPA, brimming with juicy hop flavor. Cheers to you, 2020. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

DUMPSTER FIRE 2020: Good | F*cking | Riddance

DDH HAZY DOUBLE IPA

COLOR: Hazy Gold

HOPS: Galaxy, Citra, Experimental HPA 016, Mosaic

MALT: Vienna, Pilsner, Unmalted Wheat, Flaked Oats, OG

YEAST:Hazy Ale

IBU:Moderate

ABV:9.3%

SURLY MN USA

Sixpoint Trail Haze Session IPA

Sixpoint Trail Haze Session IPA.

4% ABV, 10 IBU. Formulated and brewed by Sixpoint Brewing, Brooklyn, NYC, NY.

Ultra hazy, bright yellow, slim white head. 

In the nose: Bold citrusy hop notes. Lemon, grapefruit, orange. 

In the mouth: More of the same. Light bodied, light flavors. Easy-drinking, but lacks character. 99 calories, but at what cost? Citrus remains biggest flavor involved, lemon and lime. Bitterness is low, malt meager, happiness remains high, but overall, it's meh. Eh...yeah, not that great. Good beer that one can drink, but delivers few rewards. Not enough taste. It might work for some, on some level, but not working for me. There's just not enough beer here. 

Hazy “Adventure” IPA with Vic Secret and Enigma.

99 Calories. Don’t call it a light beer. Just 4% ABV and 99 calories, but dry-hopped and brewed like those haze bombs people wait in line for. But we know you... you’re not standing around waiting in line—you’re hiking up mountains and forging ahead to the next adventure. Blaze your trail with some haze that can actually keep up. 

Three Floyds Chevalier Bertrand de Guesclin

Three Floyds Chevalier Bertrand de Guesclin American Sour Ale Aged in Wine Barrels with

Blueberries. 8.9 % ABV. 3 IBU. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN. 

Clouded, crimson colored, slim, scarlet head. 

In the nose: wild, wine forward, blueberries in the back. Slight sweetness, consumed by overpowered sour.

In the mouth: Intense puckering from the start. Immense wine barrel character. Blueberries pop in at the end. medium bodied, long, sour finish. Acidity meets sweet berry flavor and tart, tannin-y wine character. Tart, fruity, tasty. I quite like it. 

Higher alcohol doesn't reveal itself until,...whoop, there it is...

This American sour ale is aged in wine barrels and it is named after Bretton Knight and French military commander Bertrand du Guesclin. He was also known as the “Eagle of Brittany” or the “Black Dog” so he’s obviously the perfect historical character to name an American Sour ale after.

The Bruery So Happens It's Tuesday Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

The Bruery So Happens It's Tuesday Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

15.3 % ABV, 22 IBU. The Bruery, Placentia, CA. 

Utterly and apparently black, in all ways, absolute opacity, slim brown head. 

In the nose: ridiculously rich, notes of caramel, cocoa, dark fruit, vanilla. Powerful whiskey notes, anise, smoke. Bourbon begins to conquer the senses. 

In the mouth: Sweetness reigns at first sip, and the mouthfeel is thick, rich, viscous. Massive malt, boisterous bourbon barrel effects, vanilla, cherries, molasses, more. And the booze is ringing in. Intense, vibrant, astonishingly flavorful. Fullest of bodies, richest of flavors, pounding down on the palate, and the high ABV is conquering the mind, as well. 

Whoa. Deep stuff, here. Deep, deep, ..whoa.

Our infamous Black Tuesday® stout is named in honor of the great stock market crash of 1929. So Happens It’s Tuesday is similarly dark and delicious, but in a more affable format, reminding us that there is always a bit of good to be found within the bad. Things happen, life goes on. This beer can be enjoyed in all of those moments and seasons

Modist Bite Size Peanut Butter Cup & Coffee Stout

Modist Bite Size Peanut Butter Cup & Coffee Stout.

7.2 %  ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

A few years back, Modist released the first beer in this series, a "pastry stout" with chocolate and vanilla. I reviewed it favorably here and tapped a keg at Acadia. They've continued the series with variations on the theme. The last one before this was with coconut and almond, and I got to try some, enjoying that sample as well, but never picking up cans to take home and review. Snoozed and losed. So, I made up for that miss by getting a four-pack of this one, just under the assumption that I would like it. Let's see. 

Dark brown color, mostly opaque, and a head that starts strong and soon dissipates, leaves behind a dirty ring. Tiny dots of ...something...float on the circus. It resembles a muddy glass of Swiss Miss Cocoa Mix, but dirtier, uglier. Very disappointing. 

In the nose: Coffee hits first, following by peanut butter and chocolate. Dark, chocolate malts hold down the fort. 

In the mouth: Peanut butter cup flavors are foremost now, coffee takes a back seat. I don't think they make for a harmonious blend of flavors, and I wonder who thought they would be a good combination. It's not the sort of idea that would logically enter into the average brain. I personally don't think they belong together. But, it's not bad. It's not great, either. 

As we continue to drink it down, the various oddments cling to the side of the glass, leaving a dirty, ugly, grimy trail. It's not a bad beer, it has it's moments, and is tasty to a point, but is hardly delicious, and not even slightly yum a dum dum. 

Yuck!

The largest sin is the look of the thing. How did they screw it up? How can Modist explain this blunder, or excuse it? It's not quite forgivable. 

Chocolate Stout brewed with Golden Promise, malted wheat, and roasted chocolate malts. Conditioned on Reese’s™ Peanut Butter Cups, Brazilian coffee and Ghana cocoa nibs.

Sierra Nevada Barrel-aged Narwhal Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Barrel-aged Narwhal Imperial Stout.

11.9% ABV. 50 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA (& elsewhere).

Full ebony appearance,  complete opacity, slim brown ring commands the top. 

In the nose: Coffee and cocoa start it off, with more associations to follow. Dark malts, dark fruits, a touch of vanilla. A whiff of smoke. 

In the mouth: Thick. Rich. Big sweet, but met with balancing bitter. Viscous texture. Cocoa and coffee again lead the charge, with hints of cherries, vanilla, whiskey. Dark fruits, dates, cherries, fig, some smoke, tobacco, leather. Yum. Even, a dum dum. Full and rich and mellowing. High ABV kicks in right away and slows everything down. Whiskey gets larger on the palate, sweet and bitter continue their interplay, and the booze hangs high. Dark, deep, delicious. 

In earlier days, this would be bottled with a high price tag. I'm glad this was released as a 4-pack of 16 ounce cans for, what was it, $17? If this is the format to follow, I'm all for it. 

Barrel-Aged Narwhal is our deliciously dark Imperial Stout aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. Barrel aging is a strange science; it mellows some characteristics of the original beer while intensifying others. Narwhal’s aggressive roastiness has calmed, but the rich, chocolate-like malt backbone is brought to the fore. Black as midnight, this intense stout is complex with notes of cocoa and espresso balanced with hints of vanilla and toasted coconut from the oak casks. Nearly as rare as it’s nautical namesake, try Barrel-Aged Narwhal while you can because like the creature itself, it will soon dive into the depths and leave nary a trace behind.

Junkyard Triple Double Triple IPA with Strata and Sabro Hops

Junkyard Triple Double Triple IPA with Strata and Sabro Hops.

9.7 % ABV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Heavily clouded ("I will not repeat past complaints, I will not repeat past complaints"...), bright golden hue, large, looming. lace-leaving ivory head. 

In then nose: citrus, pine, tropical notes. Slightly sweet, fruity. 

In the mouth: Flavor is fruity, slightly tart, and undoubtedly delicious from the first sip. Getting mostly tropical tones, pineapple, papaya, passionfruit, more so than citrus. Juicy stuff, too. Low bitterness. Mild malt. Sweet takes turns with the bitter. Very unique flavors coming through. Berries abound. Almost creamy, this. Tasty stuff. Medium bodied, easy-ish drinking, he writes, as the alcohol rears it's head. And I enjoy it when it does.

Easily one of the more interesting and enjoyable beers I've had in quite awhile. 

Packed with a dynamic duo of Sabro and Strata hops, this brew boasts huge aromas of tangerine and super ripe tropical fruit. Flavors of pineapple, mango, and dank pine lead to a lasting, bitter finish. 

Broken Clock That Salty Quaker Sea Salt and Caramel Oatmeal Stout

Broken Clock That Salty Quaker Sea Salt and Caramel Oatmeal Stout.

6.8% ABV, 30 IBU. Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, MN. 

The label illustration riffs on the Morton's salt label, combined with Quaker Oats. Clever, I get it... except that  I can't get what's raining on him (caramels?) or what he's holding (some kind of salt shaker?)...

Thoroughly black, completely opaque, slim brownish head. 

In the nose: Dark malts, caramel, smooth and creamy. Picking up the salted caramel. 

In the mouth: Seas salt is foremost on the palate as we kick it off. And it hangs in there for a long spell. Caramel is just beneath it. We get some of the roast of an oatmeal stout, but the salt is dominant. Medium bodied, long, malty finish, easily consumable, but...this time, there's a but...it doesn't deliver the delights of an oatmeal stout, strays too far from caramel flavors, too taken over by the salt. I get what they were trying to do, but it doesn't work. 

Ah, well, win some, lose some. 

This Oatmeal stout has a generous amounts of flaked oats and caramel malt. Has chocolate, caramel, and burnt toffee flavor and aroma. Salt added to the boil adds an interesting twist to the finish.

Venn Cocoanut Porter

 Venn Cocoanut Porter.

7% ABV. 20 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Thoroughly ebony, rich, roasted brown head above. 

In the nose: sweet, malty, and then the cocoanut pops up. Perfectly likable. 

In the mouth: Even sweeter, even cocoa-nuttier, holding court along with cocoa caramel malts. Touch of vanilla. Rich, robust body, full and vibrant. Lush and delicious. Cocoanut continues to dominate the flavor and it's just delightful. I would have definitely picked up a second crowler to take to Christmas dinner if this was a normal year, and not 2020. 

Porter with actual chocolate & actual coconut.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Munich, Flaked Oats, Caramel 20, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Special B

Hops: Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Chocolate, Coconut, Lactose (NOT vegan)

Why the lactose, though? Can we try to keep milk out of beer? 

Surly Double Vanilla Darkness 2020

Surly Double Vanilla Darkness 2020.

12 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Variant #2 of three. Double Vanilla Darkness. Rye Barrel Russian Imperial Stout with Cacao and Vanilla Beans. Another can in a box. I'm liking this approach. I mean, it could be just a can. Is the box the new wax-dipping? 

Absolutely ebony, under a rich, roasted brown cap of foam. Complete opacity. 

In the nose: Sweet vanilla notes at first. Cocoa below. Beautiful. Slowly, the other flavors of Darkness unfold, the molasses, anise, dark fruits, tobacco, smoke.

In the mouth: Big and rich, but well tempered. Nicely balanced, not too sweet. Incredible deployment of flavors. Deep, vast, cavernous. Much mocha, devastating dark malts, mounds of chocolate and vanilla in balance and at play upon the palate. This is a truly treated Imperial Stout, and I must say that I admire Surly's reluctance to utilize the hip, trendy appellation of "pastry stout", and I deeply hope they never do. Or make a marshmallow variant. Thank you, Surly, thank you. 

Everything is working here, and at last, almost halfway in, the booze is starting to show. Everything is getting warmer, rounder, fuller, more intense, more epic. Am I getting any of the rye barrel character? Some. Not sure. What sets it apart from the addition of the vanilla and cacao nibs? I'm getting some whiskey barrel flavors, but not sure what sets rye apart from bourbon. (Oh, I know, but I never stop wondering. Once again, remember, that the Bitter Nib is that blog that does not flaunt it's expertise, but instead never stops pondering the big questions.)

As it is, it's damned delicious, this is. Even, as I've said before, yum a dum dum. 

Earthy, coffee, rich and sweet, cocoa, vanilla, ...and wow. As if Darkness couldn't be improved upon, here is that proof. 

Darkness already has inherent notes of baker’s chocolate and dark fruit–making it the perfect candidate for a double dose of aromatic vanilla. Double Vanilla Darkness features rich cacao flavor, sweet vanilla, and a honeyed character from aging in spirit barrels that were previous used to age rye whiskey.

Stacked Deck Bob Ross Masterpiece IPA

Stacked Deck Bob Ross Masterpiece IPA. 

7.2 % ABV. Stacked Deck Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Brent Schoonover's been knocking them out of the park with his illustrations for the Stacked Deck cans, and this one of PBS painting instructor Bob Ross is a beaut. No wonder it sold out so fast. Once again, I am on can four of the 4-pack, having guzzled the first three with a quickness. Now, it's note-taking time. 

All hazed-up, because that's how all IPAs arrive these days, large white head, bright yellow coloration. 

In the nose: blend of citrus and tropical notes, with sweetness stealing the stage. Pineapple and papaya loom over orange and grapefruit. 

In the mouth: Bright, sweet, fruity, with minor bitterness. Bit o' pine. On the juicy side. Quite tasty. Medium bodied, easy drinking, effortlessly enjoyed. 

Once again, I do wish I had something hoppier on my hands. When they leave out the juicy and the hazy on the label, I'm fooled into thinking it's the kind of IPA I like, the bitter, brittle kind, like they used to make in the good ol' days. I have to reduce my ire, mellow out some, and think of happy little trees. I guess...

Idaho 7 and Simcoe hops. 

Hofstettner Granitbock Ice

Hofstettner Granitbock Ice.

11.5 % ABV. Brauerei Hofstettner, Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, Oberösterreich, Austria. 

This bottle is from 2011. It's about time someone drank it. 

Dark brown color, nearly opaque, brief brown head. 

In the nose: Caramel and raisins. Deep malty flavors. Dates and molasses. 

In the mouth. More richness abounds on the palate. Dark fruit and caramel flavors continue to traipse about the tongue. And before you know it, alcohol rings in, loud and clear. 

This is quite possibly the first eisbock here in ye olde Nib. Let's check and see. Nope, none on here. Going onto BeerAdvocate.com, they tell me that I've reviewed eight, way back when. They are rather hard to find. (It would be nice to try the Schneider Weiss Aventinus version again.) But, they can be a tasty treat, that's for sure, if a bit too much on the boozy side. This would feels like it lacks a bit in body, for a brew of such strong flavors. I feel that it has surpassed it's peak. 

Durch ein spezielles Tiefkühlverfahren wird der legendäre Granitbock zu einem mächtigen Eisbock ausgefroren. Die ohnehin schon kräftigen Aromen konzentrieren sich dadurch zu einem überwältigenden Spiel der Dunkelmalzaromen auf.