Town Hall Project 3106

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Project 3106. 9.2% ABV. IBU: ?

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN. 

This is a beer that's been released every year for the past five. I've taken home a growler home only once, but those notes never ended up here on the Nib. So, here we go, again, for the first time. Into the glass, from the growler, it goes...

Dark brown coloring, slim whitish head, looking fine. 

In the nose: sweet, creamy, fruity, chocolate-y. Mmm. Bourbon barrel, vanilla, cherry...not sure about kumquats. Where do they come in? Interesting. 

In the mouth: Full bodied, powerfully strong, flush with fruit flavors and chocolate. Dense, rich, malty and delicious. So nice. Big time flavors, big time depth. More and more flavors, maple, molasses, dark fruits. Fig and raisin? Port wine? It's a damned interesting mix, it is. And I can dig it.

Strong Belgian-style Bruin (brown ale) with Belgian dark chocolate & kumquats aged in bourbon barrels. 

56 'ssippi Squeeze IPA

'ssippi Squeeze India Pale Ale. 6% ABV, 23 IBU. 56 Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Light haze, bright golden hue, sizable, lasting creamy white head. Looking nice.

In the nose: Bold, beautiful bouquet. Tropical fruit notes pop out: mango, guava, passion fruit, mixed with mild bitterness and slight citrus.

In the mouth: Clean, crisp, and powerful hop flavors board the palate, bitterness spreads 'round the mouth. Tongue tingler. Palate gripper. Fierce and flavorful. Tropical tones and matched with citrus-y notes, some grapefruit and tangerine complete the bill. Fresh waves of hoppy flavor hit with each new sip.

I like this one. Can you tell?

A golden and hazy New England IPA hopped exclusively with Citra and Mosaic hops. The aromas are of citrus and ripe mango with flavors of tropical fruit. You’re sure to enjoy the hop squeezed flavor! 

Bent Brewstillery Nordic Blonde Amber Blonde Ale

Bent Brewstillery Nordic Blonde Amber Blonde Ale.  5.7% ABV. 27 IBU. Bent Brewstillery, Roseville, MN.

Before we begin: I was going to drink a different Bent Brewstillery beer, but as I went seeking out information on it, I kept seeing various opinions on this one. These were expressed on the internet in the form of photographs of the beer being poured down the drain. I never "drain pour". I drink every beer I pour, straight down my throat. Mostly. If it's very awful, I may mix it with something. Will that happen this time? Let's find out...

Clear, amber hue, slimmish ivory head.

In the nose: light malt, minimal hops, some cereal, some...I don't know what. Eh. Not sure what's up.

In the mouth: huh. um. yeah. Nothing exciting or even pleasing is happening here. It's light-bodied and mostly...amiable? Non-threatening? Not altogether repulsive? Dry, clean, malty, but has no charm or personality. Drinkable, but not especially enjoyable. I don't drink Blonde Ales, but I do appreciate their appeal and this has none of them. What's an "amber blonde"? Has anyone asked for that? Does anyone want it? It's a hybrid without a home.

Okay. Alright. Not bad, but not really very good. It brought little pleasure, and yet, I persisted. Drank it all down, but didn't enjoy it much.

This is a clean, crisp, delicately balanced beer with subdued sweetness and a pleasantly refreshing tang in the finish. Because of the low hop bitterness and dry, light body, this beer is easily mistaken for a lager or light beer. These qualities make it a great summertime beverage. This beer is brewed using our local pure water without any additives.

This beer was our very first recipe. It was our introduction into craft beer. We brewed what we wanted to drink, and this quickly became a favorite among our friends and family who weren’t ready for the more brutal styles on the Bent Brewstillery beer menu. We make this beer our own by using richer Munich malts to give it a more complex and deeper flavor. This beer is best when fresh.

Venn Brewing Batch #15: Modern Sahti

Venn Brewing Sahti. 8.5% ABV, 30 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Growler filled on 2/18/18, consumed one week later.

Personalized growler labels are rare and always
appreciated.

What do we know about "sahti"? It's a scandanavian beer style, Finnish to be exact, where parts of trees, like juniper berries, or spruce tips are used for flavoring, in place of hops. Just check this out. I've only had one Sahti here in the Nib before, and that was Harriet's version, four years ago. Checking that review reveals that I've had two before, one from Dogfish Head and one from Finland, but they are in the distant past.

To the eye: clear, amber hue, slim white head.

In the nose: herbal, vegetal, slightly fruity/malty. Minimal hops. Interesting and inviting.

In the mouth: Sweet and creamy. Herbal, slightly hoppy, mostly malty. Increasingly interesting. Yeah, I'm drinking the forest floor, right? That's it? But it's damned tasty, and wonderfully strong. Delicious is a word I would use. Medium bodied, increasingly alcoholic, and very likable.

(And finished the growler in one evening. Couldn't help
it.)

What's the brewery have to say? Again, with the three word thing: Juniper, Complex, Full Bodied. 
Wait, I found more: Venn’s modern spin on a historical style from Finland. Traditionally brewed with a multigrain malt bill, juniper branches and berries, and fermented with baker’s yeast, we kept the core elements of the diverse malt bill and juniper berries but updated the yeast to a modern lager fermentation resulting in a cleaner finish.

Malts: Two Row, Dark Munich, Rye, Golden Naked Oats, Torrified Wheat, CaraMunich.
Hops: Chinook.
Yeast: American Lager. Other: Juniper Berries.

Sociable Ciderwerks Freewheeler Dry Apple Cider

Sociable Ciderwerks Freewheeler Dry Apple Cider. 6.4% ABV. Sociable Ciderwerks, Minneapolis, MN.

Boy, this is a long time coming. I finally got some samples. That's all it takes. Just give me the beer, or cider, and I'll write about it. Well, I wrote about the first one two weeks ago, and I got the 4-pack some weeks before that. I'll get to the other two soon, but for some reason, in the past two weeks I've opted not to pick one from the fridge. I'm on a mission to close it on out. But we start with Freewheeler:

Clear, bright golden, no head.

In the nose: Sweet, slightly tart, very apple-y.

In the mouth: ah, that's nice. Straight up cider. Dry, a little tart, and fruity. Never too sweet, this one. Light bodied and refreshing. Snappy, scrappy, satisfying. It's good cider, and you can drink it. Mmm, mmm. If I were drinking a cider, I'd be drinking this one.

Freewheeler blends the Midwest’s finest freshly pressed apples with a touch of lightly hopped cane sorghum. The result delivers more mouth feel, more bright acidity and more effervescence than most cider… never too sweet and always a refreshing alternative to great craft beer.

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale. Ale brewed with raspberry and lime puree' and raspberry essence. All. 4.2% ABV. Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO, and Asheville, NC.

Lightly hazy, bright crimson/pinkish hue, slim pink head on top.

In the nose: fresh, fruity, tart, and citrusy. Nice.

In the mouth: Fruity, tart. Low to no bitterness. Minimal malt. All fruity and tart. A bit artificial tasting. Maybe it isn't, but it tastes that way. Light bodied. Forgettable. It may please some, but doesn't put a smile on my face, not this time, anyway.

Brewed with raspberry and lime purees for an irresistibly playful sweet-tart sip that’ll put a smile on your face every time.

Inbound Golden Tea

Inbound Golden Tea Belgian Golden Strong brewed with Oolong & Pu'er Tea. 8,5% ABV. 30 IBUs. Bottle #466. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazy, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: There's the Belgian whiff, the bubblegum, the sweet and the funk. Also herbal, a little spicy.

In the mouth: Right from the start, it's damned interesting, this. Light-ish bodied, lush, sweet malt from the start, matched with a modicum of bitter hops, then overwhelmed by the Belgian yeast and more. Along comes the tea, and the fruit, and it's nothing but delightful. Tasty, delicate, sweet and lovely. A tea Belgian Golden Strong? Huh? Really? Yeah.

Thanks to the folks at Running Tap for running this out to me.

A Belgian Gold Strong Ale brewed with Oolong and Pu'er Tea from our friends at Verdant Tea in Minneapolis. Its fruity esters bring out mild spicy notes and low peppery phenols. The tea enhances the pear, orange, and even apple-like flavors that are present throughout the experience of this liquid

Town Hall City Glow Amber Ale

Town Hall just wrapped up their annual Barrel Week yesterday. I made it there three times, and brought home some growlers, which I'll be reviewing shortly. But, first let's have an amber ale. Why that, when so many of you may be anxious to hear how the barrel aged beers were? Because, it's early in the day, and I would rather drink an amber ale than a big ol' barrel aged boozer. That's why. And so:

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery City Glow Amber Ale. 5.9% ABV.

Crystal clear, amber-hued, slim white head above.

In the nose: clean, malt-forward, some sweetness, herbal, moderate to very light hopping.

In the mouth: Little bit of hops up front. After that, crisp, clean, smooth and easy drinking. It's a malty one, but maybe a little too easy. Could use a bit more flavor for me, though I can see what they're going for with this one. And they're ain't nothing wrong with it.


English Amber Ale brewed with English Pale malt, English crystal malts, and American wheat malts. Hopped with Centennial.

Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA

Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA. 6.2% ABV, 55 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

A little hazy-ish, crimson-colored, nice and lasting creamy-toned head. Looking good.

In the nose: Caramel and toffee meets citrus and a little pine. Sweet, plus hoppy, with but a twist of bitter. Nice.

In the mouth: Hops hit first, but the lush malt mouthfeel fills it in right away. Shiny, sparkly, clean, crisp and vibrant hop profile fills the palate, too, and continues to shine. Hops grow and climb over the malt, getting brighter and bolder. Citrus hop notes tower over other flavors, in the end, and I like that. I could drink a few of these with no problem at all,

This was from the 4-Way IPA sampler pack. Three more to go.

Flipside finds the perfect balance between hops and malt in this easy-drinking red IPA. It features just enough smooth and slightly sweet malt body to support huge citrusy and tropical fruit-forward hop flavors from the use of Simcoe, Citra, and Centennial hops.

HeadFlyer Wicked Jump Shot Pale Ale

HeadFlyer Wicked Jump Shot Pale Ale. 5.4 % ABV. 28 IBU. HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Hey, guess who else has crowlers? HeadFlyer! I went there a few weeks ago, brought my growler, got that filled, and picked up an extra, because, why not? So, let's drink it:

Clear, amber-hued, big, fluffy white head.

In the nose: soft and citrusy. Lightly spicy. Lively hop flavors.

In the mouth: Caramel and cocoa malt flavors flood the palate at first. Smooth stuff. Light-bodied. Clean. Little bit sweet, little bit bitter, and quite drinkable. Not especially interesting, but that's not really what the pale ale is about. Still, this isn't as arresting as we'd like, even for a pale ale. Am I trying hard not to say it's boring? Maybe. May...be...?

But it is nice, and you can drink it. Citrus-y notes continue to play on the palate, and the time passes peaceably. Further into the pint, I like it more and more.

This soft, hazy pale features loads of late addition Mosaic and Amarillo hops to produce plenty of juicy flavor in a more sessionable package.

Notice that they had to hit those "Juicy" and "hazy" points, to drive in those trained to react to them. ....sigh....

Venn German Pale Ale

Venn Brewing German Pale Ale. Batch #17. 5% ABV. 27 IBU. Venn Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Last Sunday, I made my first visit to Venn Brewing in about 5 weeks, mostly due to my efforts to re-visit other breweries I've been neglecting. I really wanted to try the Breakfast Stout that was on after my last visit, but, alas, it was gone, but more new beers replaced it. And what else was new? Crowlers! Cool! Almost every style was available, pre-filled.
So, I got my first crowler there, along with a growler fill, but it's great to know that I don't have to remember to bring one along.

Clear, golden hued, slight, soon-gone head of ivory foam.

In the nose: floral, hoppy, nice and noble. Lightly spicy, and lovely.

In the nose: Cool, clean, calm, and smooth. Light malt flavor, nicely balanced hop bitterness.

In the mouth: More clean, more lean, more hoppy and fruity. Some citrus, a little apple. Maybe melon. Bright, beautiful, and very tasty. Medium bodied. I said tasty already, right?

I like this one aplenty, and admire the creativity going on here. Gonna have to be more regular about checking out their wares.

On the menus, Venn works in the same method as Pryes, Indeed, and others: 3 short words or phrases to give you the message about the beer. Luckily, I found a little more information to go with it.

Mandarin Oranges, orange marmalade, pear. Fruit-forward German pale ale, featuring a new hop: Mandarina Bavaria. 

Malts: German Pilsner, German Pale Wheat, German Crystal 10

Hops: Mandarina Bavaria, Warrior

Yeast: German Kolsch

Forager Impeach Me Sour Ale

Forager Impeach Me. 7.3% ABV. 10 IBU. Date packaged 12-16-17. Brewed and packaged by Forager Brewing, Rochester, MN. American Wild/Sour ale brewed with peaches.

Much thanks to the CityElf Himself for muling this one back from Rochester for me. Once I heard of it, I had to have it. (Even if it did take a year and a second batch.)

 Clouded, orange hued, Cheetos-toned, slim, nearly bald-headed dome on top. (Not at first, though, as you can tell by the pic.)

In the nose: Some sweetness, and fruit, and all kinds of delights, a little bit of sour. Kinda funky, kinda cool.

In the mouth: fresh, zesty, wild, and fruity. Full of peach. Just delicious. Little bit of sour, little bit of sweet, lots of peach. And the sour never quits, either. Damned likable. So happy to get my large hands around it get it down my throat.
Sparkling, effervescent, a true fruity delight. I'd go for one again, and again.

Not him, of course. His ruinous reign could not end any faster.

Apparently, there was some controversy over this beer when it was released last year. I'll share this insightful blog post right here.

Cheeto colored Sour Ale in honor of POTUS 2017.
Vagabond collaboration beer first brewed on Inauguration Day in Berlin, Germany. We wanted this ale to be sour and Cheetos-Colored. Packed with over 3 pounds of peaches per gallon. Aromas of Trolli peach rings complement the big juicy stone fruit flavor.  Reach across the aisle and share this ale with love and friendship. 

Pryes Winter IPA

Pryes Winter I.P.A. 7.1% ABV. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

My patience works at separate speeds. I had little of it
to spare in waiting for the head to die down in taking
this pic, but I had to practice some before drinking.

Here we have a growler purchased at the brewery on January 13, and consumed on January 14. So, these notes and photos have been sitting on my laptop for about five weeks for reasons too tedious to mention. Let's waste no more time, before winter leaves and spring is in command of the land.

Clear, amber-tinted hue, voluminous creamy white head. Looking great.

In the nose: nicely spicy, dark fruity, floral, some malt in there, altogether beautiful.

In the mouth: More hops, more spice. Nice and fruity. Delicious malt, easy drinker, high quality. So many flavors. Spruce? Juniper? Various fruits and spices. So many nice hops. Nice meets nice plus nice. Good drinking IPA.

In Pryesian fashion, the beer is described with a trinity of words or phrases: Pine, Hoppy, Black Currant

Eastlake Kirby Pucker #17

Eastlake Kirby Pucker #17. Coconut & Pineapple Sour aged on oak and mescal. "if you like Pina Colada." 5.2% ABV.

Clear, bright golden, slim to none head of foam.

In the nose: funky, fruity, sour. What? Oh, I'm getting the pineapple, it's thick and pungent. Sweet, tart, and wild & weird. Very interesting.

In the mouth: Wow! Intense puckeration. Lively souring. Lean bodied, sleek, tasty and sour. Nice, if you like that. (and I do.) Pineapple is here. Coconut? I'm not getting it. Some citrus at play here, and, hey, wait, here's a touch of the coconut. Thought you'd get away, eh, little guy?

Not great, but not bad, either.

Stepping up to the plate is Kirby Pucker, our rotation of brews that undergo a second fermentation with lactobacillus.
Every iteration in the series is a unique Eastlake take on postmodern American sour beer. Pucker up! After all, Lake Street Is For Lovers. 

Town Hall Pitstop Cherry Lager

Town Hall Pitstop Cherry Lager. 5% ABV. IBU: ?. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Mpls, Minn.

To the eye: opaque, dense, and murky, thoroughly crimson, and a slim ivory head, gone in a trice.

In the nose: Sweet, tart, fruity, yum. Pulpy, fresh, nice. Good start.

In the mouth: We begin with the fruit, and the tannins, the tart and the sweet. Pulp-Tactic fruitiness. Low bitterness, even malt. Lots of fruit in this one, and much more flavor than you'd think from a beer of this kind. But that's if you're comparing it to the output of other breweries, who would make a beer like this and make it very boring and predictable and less like this one.

Pitstop is tangy and tasty, full-bodied, rich and fruity. I like it more and more.

Pale lager finished with Michigan balaton cherries.

Sisyphus Barrel Room Coffee Stout

Sisyphus Barrel Room Coffee Stout. 7% ABV. 55 IBU.  Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dense, thick, deep black coloring, with a rich brown head of foam above. Looking fantastic.

In the nose: earthy, semi-sweet, cocoa & espresso. Slightly creamy. Utterly delightful.

In the mouth: Sweet, chocolatey, creamy, rich and delicious. Just that, and also more. And that's just sip one. Let's dive in again. MMMM, mmm, malt-tastic. Lush and luscious. I keep liking this more and more the more I drink it. So good. And I mean that. So, so good.

Read more about tit here: Stout infused with Sisyphus Brewing Barrel Room Coffee.
The beans were aged in an Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel and roasted on 2/2 by Roundtable Coffee Works. This Full City Roast hits you with a bright and chocolatey warmth and finishes with a toach of Oak, Fruit and booze. Is it coffee or beer? Or beer coffee? Who cares.

Dangerous Man Cran Razz Sour

Dangerous Man Cran Razz Sour. 7.3% ABV. 20 IBU. Dangerous Man Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. 750 ml crowler.

To the eye: pinkish, purplish coloring, slim, whitish head.

In the nose: fruity, tart.

In the mouth: fruity, tart. Berry-licious. Cran-tastic. All those trite advertising cliches. Increasingly sour, ever-lastingly fruity. Fruity, fruity, sour, sour, nice, nice, nice. (I'm channeling something there, not sure what. Maybe you know?)

All in all, not bad at all.

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Northern Bloom

Wild Mind Northern Bloom Pale Ale. 5.8% ABV. 45 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

There's a little trick in reviewing some beers from Wild Mind, these days. Some of the names have changed since their early, unoriginal monikers. Have I had Northern Bloom before? Doesn't show up in the blog. So, I check Untappd. It says I've had it twice, and the first time, I had a picture of it, from August of 2016. That beer was called Wild Pale Ale. But that one was 6.5%  ABV. And 40 IBU, different from this crowler I'm about to open. So, I'm going to re-review as if it's a new beer. Because it probably is. Here we go.

Hazy, dull orange, slim white head, soon gone.

In the nose: light bitterness. small citrus. a whiff of the wild.

In the mouth: more hops, more bitterness, increasing spice. Citrus flavors returns on the palate. Medium bodied, robust mouthfeel, tasty, tasty, tasty. Definitely delicious. I like this one. Good beer and I can drink it.

Postal script: This is the 500th post tagged "Minneapolis". I noticed that this number was being reached when the tag "Minnesota" was around 986. What if Minneapolis hit 500 at the same time as Minnesota hit 1000? How could this happen, do I just stop posting Minneapolis reviews, in favor of Minnesota ones? (Keep in mind, of course, that a Minneapolis tag is also a Minnesota one.)
Too hard. I already had reviews lined up, I didn't want to wait too long to post them, just for this. How many Minnesota/not Minneapolis beers did I have in the fridge waiting for review? Some St. Paul, some Roseville....a Mankato. It wasn't enough. And too many Minneapolis I just had to get to.

Another tactic: go through the reviews and see if there are any where the tags were forgotten. A time-consuming effort that yielded few results. And when I found that place where I'd omitted both "Minneapolis" and "Minnesota", that didn't get me any further along in this mission, for the one number grew along with the other. Before I knew it Minneapolis was at 499, Minnesota at 991, and I didn't have the heart to search for eight more missing Minnesota tags. I'd have to throw in the towel.

Do I go out and get more non-Mpls./MN beers, review those, save the ones I'm sitting one, put off the ones in wait? That's far too complicated for something so silly. You never know, I might have to delete a post or something, then it wouldn't be the 500th anymore. And maybe that's not worth all the worry. Or, is it?

See, that's what the inside of my brain looks like. And if you've read this far, you're proven that you're one of those people who wants to get a peek.

HeadFlyer Heavy D.

Here we have the first appearance of HeadFlyer Brewing in the Nib. I've been there three times, and drank their beers there twice. I'll tell you about that later. I'll certainly be back in the future. And I've got more to say about them, of course, but let's just celebrate their entrance with these notes on a growler I picked up Sunday last.

HeadFlyer Heavy D. 8.5% ABV, 48 IBU. HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Heavy haze, ultra cloudy, slim white head, murky golden hue.

In the nose: Citrus-y hop flavors, a little pine, a pinch of grapefruit. Nice.

In the mouth: ooh, juicy! Hmmm, lots of bitter hop flavors deployed on the palate. Bold and tasty. It's sweet and malty, then turns to bitter and citric. Tons of tropical tones. Strength rises and rises. Just enough of the flavors and feelings to keep me satisfied. It's my own personal chocolate Jesus. But hoppy and beer. And you don't have to wrap this savior up in cellophane.

Tasty stuff, indeed. Good hazy IPA, and I'm drinking it. Am I turning a corner on this? Maybe it's not the road to ruin. One never knows....

The bigger, heavier cousin to our Juicy IPA. Double dry hopped with a heavy dose of Citra and El Dorado, we added Amarillo to the mix to produce a juicier nose. 

Flat Earth Loyalty & Honor Chocolate Mint Porter

Flat Earth Loyalty & Honor Chocolate Mint Porter. 6% ABV. 45 IBU.

Two thoughts are springing to mind: One, who decided to change the name of Flat Earth Brewing Company to "St. Paul's Flat Earth Brewing Company", and why. Was it meant to differentiate it from another FEBC? Or, to make sure no one forgets they're in St. Paul? And ....it's weird, is all. Never seen it anywhere else.
There's no "Fort Collins's Odell Brewing" or "London's Fuller Beer", or ...something like that.

Two: I'm obsessed with my collections. It's why I collect them. And I use my beer related items in the photos here. After my last post, about another Flat Earth beer, I saw the picture and thought, "dang, why didn't I use my Flat Earth coasters!" I corrected that oversight for this one, and after I this picture I thought, "dang, why didn't I pull out my Flat Earth pint glass?" My head is full of stuff like this.

Now, I'll shut up and tell you about the beer.

Solid blackness, slim brown head, looking good.

In the nose: Mint hits first. Chocolate just behind.  Nice.

In the mouth: Sweet, minty, cocoa, rich malt, smooth. Not bad at all. Everything is in proper order here. Plenty of the appropriate flavors, but not too much.

I like this.

Flat Earth Dubbel Agent

Flat Earth Dubbel Agent. Belgian-style abbey dubbel ale.
Saint Paul's Flat Earth Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN. 7.1% ABV.

So, there are times that I get samples from breweries that don't have the usual packaging designs. These are beers in the initial stages that haven't been pushed through production. Or, in this case, are beers that are at the taproom, or available for sale to bars, but won't be sent out to stores. Not yet. It's a better way to get a taste than taking a growler around to various accounts and giving everyone a couple of ounces. There are times that I share my notes on these, and this is one of them.

Clear, caramel-colored, slim whitish head.

In the nose: sweet, malty, dark fruit, fig and raisin, lightly spicy, delightful. Nice. I'm digging it.

In the mouth: more of the same. Dark fruits, spices, sweet-ish and malty. Has the telltale flavors of the Belgian dubbed, but lacks the depth. Medium-bodied, easy drinker for those into the style, like me.

Ultimately, I chose not to buy a keg of this because we already had a locally brewed Belgian dark ale on tap, and I didn't want to build up a collection of these beers. Them's the breaks.

By the way, I pronounce "dubbel" as "double", not, as I sometimes hear, "DOO-bell" or "Doo-Bull". I think I'm right and I'm sticking with it. The same people who say "dooB-Ull" also pronounce "triple" as "Trip-EL." Drives me nuts.

Fair State 7 Principles Pale Ale

Fair State 7 Principles Pale Ale. 5.1% ABV, 40 IBU. 750 ml crowler. Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, MN.

Pale ale brewed with entirely Minnesota-grown ingredients.

Clear, bright golden color, large and lasting ivory head above. Looking good.

In the nose: bright and citrus-y, fresh and lively. Beautiful and enticing.

In the mouth: citrus hop flavors bounce on the palate, clean and smooth. Minimal malt. Stripped down and succulent. There are a few flavors in here the I can't quite pin down. Reminds me of beers I've had with Crystal malt. Plenty of the citrus and pine, with other fruits figuring in and making up the mosaic. Melon, for sure. Blueberry, maybe.

This is a tasty pale ale, and I'm glad I'm drinking it. Very mellow, very smooth, and full of unique character.

So, does it taste like Minnesota? Close, very close.

Here's more about it:

7 Principles started as a set of cooperative guidelines. Now, it’s also a beer: A dry-hopped pale ale made with all Minnesota ingredients (hops from Mighty Axe in Foley/Ham Lake, malt from Vertical malt in Fisher, MN). 5.1% ABV, 40 IBU.

“I’m excited about this beer – to me, it’s a bit of a milestone to be able to source quality base malt and pelleted, ready to use hops locally,” Niko, our Head Brewer commented. “We’re sitting at the starting point for an entire industry of small, artisanal producers of raw beer ingredients, and it’s important that breweries support their efforts wherever it is possible to do so. Often local beers lack true locality, a sense (and taste) of place. We have no idea what MN terroir in beer means, but we’re starting to make strides towards figuring it out.”

We used aromatic and pale malt from Vertical malt, which yields a beer with a crisp, slight malt presence and pale golden color. It is hopped in the kettle with Cascade and Columbus hops, and the dry hop is a heavy dose of Columbus. As a result, the beer is pretty dank, with pine and citrus rind in the background.

Odell Rupture Fresh Grind Ale

Odell Rupture Fresh Grind Ale. 6% ABV. 36 IBU. Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO.

Lightly hazy, bright orange/golden hue, small, but lasting, ivory head. Looking great.

In the nose: fresh and zesty, bold and juicy. Big citrus. Popping with orange and grapefruit.

In the mouth: Bursting with hop flavors. Lean bodied, cracker-y malt base below. Hops give their all on the battlefield of the palate. Oily, resinous, ever-so delicious. Bitterness is on the low end. Juicy hangs high. Quite tasty. I could drink this over and over again. (Which I did, as this is once again, the final can from a six-pack.)



Rupture was born out of our obsession with getting the most out of each and every hop. In fact, we built a machine in our brewery to incorporate a unique fresh grind process. By grinding the whole hop, we "rupture" the lupulin inside - releasing the oil that gives the beer its flavor. And what we grind that day, we use that day. Leaving you a beer that's fresh, aromatic, with an unparalleled bright, hoppy character.

Summit Imperial IPA

Summit Imperial IPA. Proudly Brewed in St. Paul, Minnesota. 8.5% ABV.

Clear, bright golden color, active carbonation, slight layer of ivory foam above.

In the nose: Ah, nice. Citrus and tropical tones, tangerines and grapefruit, with a splash of pine. Sightly resinous, a little on the juicy.

In the mouth: Lands beautifully on the palate, dropping fruit. and moderate bitterness. A little bit of berry to match the citrus and tropical, hitting all the right notes. Medium bodied, fully flavored. Lasting hop bitterness, increasingly likable. I don't like it quite as much as their last Double IPA, but like it I do.

The baddest beast on the block, Summit Imperial IPA will batter your senses with immense aromas of tangerine, stone fruit, melon and lemon — all thanks to powerful all-American hop additions both in the kettle and the fermentation tank. Weighing in at 8.5% ABV and 105 IBU, the imperial offers clean bitterness and a medium body with supporting malt notes of caramel and toast.

{Limited Release}
Original Gravity: 18° P
Alcohol by Weight: 6.8%
Alcohol by Volume: 8.5%
Color, (deg. L.): Pale Orange (12 L)
IBUs: 105
Malts Utilized: Golden Promise, US Pale, Carapils Copper, Malted white wheat
Hops Utilized: Eukanot, Mosaic, Denali
Yeast: US Ale
Established: 2018

Milk & Honey Fauna

Milk & Honey Fauna. 7.3% ABV. Milk & Honey Ciders, St. Joseph, MN.

Clear, bright yellow, slim head, soon gone.

In the nose: Aburst with apple. I would embarrass myself if I guess which ones. It's an "elite group" according to the label. Whichever, it's pretty darned apple-y. Tannin-y, Dry, slightly bitter, not a touch sweet.

In the mouth: Tart, to start. Sharp and tasty. Lean and clean. Likable, to be sure. Again, I must reiterate that I know very little about cider, and seldom drink it. This is impressive. It's charming my socks off. Quite a lot to like in this one. I do believe a beer will, once more, be my next beverage, and probably something hoppy, but I would not turn one of these down if offered.

Within Fauna you will find and an elite group of apples capable of truly great cider. Tannic apples for depth and body. Sharps for bright fruity-vinous character. Interesting heirlooms for aromatics. Every year the apples may change depending upon the whims of the orchard, but they will always impress. Let the apples shine.

Utepils Pils Czech-style Pilsner

I was glad to get this sample recently, from an Utepils representative. I'd had some of their cans before, all of them but this one, and reviewed them all here in the Nib. I'd had it before at my one and only visit to the brewery (I will be back, mind you.) and had gone through a couple of kegs at Acadia, for our rotating local pilsner line. (And it will return there, too.) Just needed a can for the review. And now we do it.

Utepils Pils Czech-style Pilsner. 1 pint can, 5% all. by vol. 37 IBU. Brewed and canned by Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden coloring, slim ivory head.

In the nose: slightly sweet, malty, floral, nicely hopped.

In the mouth: climbs on board the palate with a slight malty sweetness, checks out with a dry style. Crisp meets clean. Light bodied as can be. Each sip urges on another. Minor hop bitterness, exquisitely approachable, terrifically drinkable.

I don't drink a lot of lagers, or pilsners, but I can appreciate a good one. This is one.

UTE = OUTSIDE | PILS = BEER; NORWEGIAN FOR THE FIRST BEER ENJOYED IN THE SUNSHINE AFTER A LONG, DARK WINTER. OUR SIGNATURE PILSNER IS BREWED WITH CZECH-GROWN BARLEY AND HOPS; FERMENTED WITH A CZECH LAGER YEAST STRAIN.

Wild Mind Artisan Ales This Is Reality IPA

Wild Mind Artisan Ales This Is Reality IPA. 8.0% ABV. Growler filled 2/4. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazy, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: tropical tones, some citrus, slight sweetness. Fruit abounds. Very nice.

In the mouth: beautiful fruit flavors, moderate bitterness, big hop flavors. Big citrus tones. Very smooth and easy drinking. I drank it up like there was no tomorrow. Goes down almost too easy.


I'm liking the variety of India Pale Ales from Wild Mind, but this one does not top the list. I look for more bitterness in my IPAs. Nothing wrong with those who don't, though.

Wild Mind Artisan Ales specializes in wild, sour, farmhouse, and rustic ales that are created using barrel aging, blending, and our own wild Minnesota yeast. This Northeast-style IPA was fermented with our house ale yeast cultures and hopped with Simcoe hops at every stage of the brewing process to create layer after layer of hop flavor, resulting in a hazy beer bursting with notes of fresh grapefruit juice, citrus peel, and just a hint of dankness.

Sociable Ciderwerks Spoke Wrench Java Apple

Sociable Ciderwerks Spoke Wrench Java Apple. 5.8% ABV. Crafted and Canned by Sociable Ciderwerks, MPLS-MINN. Decidedly Different. Delightfully Sociable. Stout Apple. Ingredients: Fresh Pressed apples, malt, hops, cacao, coffee, yeast.

Dark brown, opaque, slim white head, soon gone.

In the nose: coffee, cola, apples. I don't really ever mix coffee and apples. Maybe I'll bite into an apple after drinking some coffee, but mixing them? Nah.

In the mouth: Big apple flavor up front, you know it's a cider, and yet....coffee? Coffee cider? I'm still, like, what? Light bodied, easy drinking, but very strange. I'm not sure who this is meant for, and, yet, I don't mind it at all. I'm not in love with it, it's touching my special buttons, but, man, it does not suck. Actually, I'm starting to like it.

Spoke Wrench reworks what you’d expect from apples by blending the Midwest’s finest freshly pressed apples with fresh cacao, chocolate and roast malts and cold pressed coffee. The result is a taste bud tune up that takes you from subtle chocolate to roast toffee without ever losing that signature apple crispness. If you're in the mood for a bit of a change this Spoke Wrench is sure to get you tuned up. 

Northbound Snowmaggeddon Imperial Honey Brown Ale

At last the third in the snow trifecta is in my hands.....I've had Snownami, and Snowpocalypse, now the last in the trilogy:

Snowmaggeddon. Imperial Honey Brown Ale. 9.8% ABV. Northbound Brewpub, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown body, slim whitish head.

In the nose: mostly malty and rich, treacle. brown sugar. honey. Nice.

In the mouth: Rich and malty again, nicely balanced, not too sweet, not too bitter, just right. Leans towards the sweet, with flavors of molasses, dark fruits, becoming increasingly bolder, bigger, fiercer. Delicious. And, yeah, strong. A nice combination.

Snowmageddon is a 9.8% Imperial Honey Brown Ale that is sure to keep you toasty warm.

Fair State Mirror Universe Interphasic Rift DDH Hazy Double IPA

Fair State Mirror Universe Interphasic Rift DDH Hazy IPA IPA. 8.3% ABV. Fair State Co-op, Minneapolis, MN.

I think Star Trek is okay, you guys. I'm not anti-Star Trek. But,the fact is that it's terribly low on Wookies, and hasn't even one Yoda. So, I'm really not that into the Star Trek, though I'll always applaud an obscure Sci-Fi reference. (Is it obscure if it's Star Trek, though?) Reminds me, I need to get back there and try their new collaboration with Forager, Obscure Reference.

Thoroughly hazed, bright orange color, slim whitish head.

In the nose: Passionfruit, guava, mango,  all the tropical goodies, ...oh, wait, here's a twist of pineapple, don't forget that. Citrus lurks just below.

In the mouth: Bitter and smooth, all at once. Hop flavor comes crashing in, with alcohol looped in it's elbows. Minor bitterness, major smooth. Gotta say that I've never had a hazy double IPA. Or have I? Not sure. I miss the bitterness. It's what makes a good IPA, if you ask me. Aside from that, there are zero things wrong with this. Damn good hazy double IPA and you know what you can do. You can drink it. If you find it, drink it.

A DDH Double IPA brewed with oats, Citra lupulin powder, and Strata hops.

Bent Brewstillery Enuff India Pale Ale

I've written about the beers of Bent Brewstillery before, and I didn't always have the best impression. Some of their sour beers seem interesting, but I don't find myself taking them up to the register, due to the price tag. This leads to a lack of interest in the brand. Some cans fell into my possession recently, and I'll give them as fair a shake as I can. We've had one of the four already, and now here's, at last, number two:

Bent Brewstillery Snuff IPA. Alc. 6.5% by Vol. IBU: 65. Brewed and packaged by Bent Brewstillery, Roseville, MN.

Clear, bright amber color, beautiful ivory head.

In the nose: floral, lightly spicy, plenty of hop flavor, citrus, herbal. Nice stuff.

In the mouth: Starts off with a nice bitter hop blast, citrus and pine, while malt sweetness starts to pour in. Generous malt mouthfeel, persistent bitterness. Lightly fruity, and flat-out tasty. Good ol' drinking' English-style IPA, just the way I like it. Hey, this one's not bad. I'll drink it. You can, too.





A classic London-style, export-strength IPA loaded with specialty malt and buckets of hops, notes of tangerine, grapefruit marmalade, and green tea finishing crisp and thoroughly hoptastic. Too much? Just Enuff !

Indeed Strawberry Fields

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to...

Indeed Strawberry Fields Sour Ale. 5.7% ABV. 18 IBU. Brewed and canned by Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This beer was originally released in the summer of 2016 in a very small batch, with a limited release. I was able to get one small keg that vanished in no time, but not before I took down some notes, which you can see here.

At last, their latest beer named for a Beatles song (Day Tripper, Lucy (In the Sky with Diamonds), the New Belgium collaboration beer Come Together), is available in cans. And my brother-in-law Pete can stop pestering me about it.

Utterly opaque, rosy-reddish toned, with a nicely pinkish head. Looking' pretty.

In the nose: touch of sour with tons of sweet fruit. Getting sweeter and fruitier as we go, but never too much.

In the mouth: Pow! Puckeration. Mmm, intense sourness, matched with bright, lovely fruitiness. An incredible combination. Sweet, sour, sweet, sour, all the live-long day. It works very well. It's strawberry, and it's sour---what? Yeah, it works, and it's good. Non-stop pucker, long fruity/sour flavors. And great drinking for that sour-head in your life. Tasty stuff, Indeed.

You want strawberry? You want fields? Forever, maybe? You got 'em.

Jam-packed with juicy goodness, Strawberry Fields Ale is back. Originally created as part of New Belgium Brewing's "Beers with Vrienden" collaboration series, this Strawberry Kettle Sour found a permanent patch at Indeed. An addition of Lactobacillus provides a tart backdrop for playful notes of strawberry to kiss you right on the mouth. Light and crisp with a dry finish, you'll want to drink Strawberry Fields forever.

Eastlake Kirby Picker #8: Sour Beet Gose

Eastlake Kirby Picker #8: Sour Beet Gose. Brewed with pickling spices. Bottled Dec. '17. 5.5% BV.

Clear, light crimson coloring, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Now this is funky. Wild yeast aromatics, herbs, vegetables, spices. It doesn't scream "beets!' yet, but I'm sure we'll get there. Very much on the strange side.

In the mouth: intense puckering from the start, sour and a bit sweet at once. Some of the salt is coming through, if not a real beet flavor. Nicely spicy, though. Medium bodied, long-lasting sour, and refreshing. Easy-drinker, for the sour-head. A unique twist on the frequently fruited Gose style. Unless there are other beet versions out there. Maybe there are, but I'm dumb to them.

Stepping up to the plate is Kirby Pucker, our rotation of brews that undergo a second fermentation with lactobacillus.
Every iteration in the series is a unique Eastlake take on postmodern American sour beer. Pucker up! After all, Lake Street Is For Lovers. 

Town Hall Hop Completion I.P.A.

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Hop Completion India Pale Ale. MTHB, Mpls, MN. 5.9% ABV.

Apparently we had a football game go on around here that many people took an interest in. I know enough about football to know that the name of this beer is some sort of reference to it, but what that means is beyond me. Points? Yardage? Something that rhymes with "hop"? I don't care, I'm just here for the beer.

Clear, bright golden hue, small white head.

In the nose: big citrus notes, orange and lemon. Growing in intensity.

In the mouth: Sweetness in the malt base, almost succulent. Hop bitterness stays in charge, bright citrusy flavors on top. Lean bodied, easy drinker. Quite tasty.

Brewed with English base malt and flaked wheat. Hopped in the kettle with Nelson Sauvin,El Dorado, and Falconer's Flight. Dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, El Dorado, Falconer's Flight, Citra, and Mosaic.

Sisyphus Deaf by Coconut Stout

Sisyphus Deaf by Coconut Stout. 7.6% ABV. 30 IU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Full on darkness, rich, brown head, looking good.

In the nose: nutty, fruity, sweet, big blast of coconut. It's Co-co-nutty. big time. got to love it. Or not, your choice.

In the mouth: Rich, malty, delicious. hmmm, yeah. Plenty of the coconut. All is very mellow and good. Full-bodied, full flavored. Extra flavors drown out the roast and the toast. Coconut's alright in a porter, but only as a sometimes beer. Once in a little, little while. Great beer, don't get me wrong, just not one you'd consider for a session ale. Unless you're some kind of coconut freak. Weirdo.

We heard it from our Mom's, drink too much coconut and you'll go deaf. And it happened. This porter is loaded with 5 lbs of coconut per barrel, let it warm up a bit, maybe on a beach somewhere, before consuming to truly get the full coconut flavor.

Dangerous Man Dry-hopped Mango Sour

Dangerous Man Mango Sour. Dry-hopped. 6% ABV. Dangerous Man Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. Canned on Jan. 24/18.

Hazy, light golden hue, slim ivory head, slowly dissipating.

In the nose: kinda fruity, kinda funky. Mango flavor grows and grows.

In the mouth: Boom, the sour! Pow, the funk! Nice bitterness. Good 'n' juicy. Light bodied, fully flavored. Good mango sour (dry-hopped) and I could drink it.

Samuel Adams New England IPA

Samuel Adams New England IPA. Hazy & Juicy. Keep Cold, Drink Fresh. 6.8% all. by vol. 35 IBUs. Ale. Proud to be Independent American Craft. Brewed at the Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA.

Thoroughly hazy, bright orange tint, voluminous ivory head above.

In the nose: Soft, delicate hop aromas. A model of restraint. Floral, lightly fruity, not much else.

In the mouth: Okay. Juicy. Definitely juicy. Minor bitterness, not much hop flavor going on, but juicy.

Confession time: I drink a lot of juice. In my fridge, there's always some o.j., but there's also a companion. Grapefruit. Apple. Strawberry kiwi. Cranberry raspberry. Peach. Pineapple Mango. With Lime. I drink juice all day, every day. Even the fancy, chunky kind, when I can afford it.  I drink much more juice than I do beer, or water. Juice, juice, juice, I love juice.

But I don't need my beer to be juicy. It's okay when it is, and I like it. But it's not a characteristic that I demand in my IPAs. What I want in my IPAs are hop bitterness, which some people apparently feel should be omitted entirely. No way, I say.

And it's very lacking here. They have to stop calling this style "IPA". Hazy, juicy something, but not IPA.

Medium-bodied, easy drinking, tra-la-la. Good New England IPA, and you can drink it. I guess.

The slight sweetness is perfectly balanced by the pineapple and grapefruit hop character, without being overly bitter. Clocking in at 6.8% ABV and a low 35 IBUs, the unfiltered IPA provides a burst of fruited hop aroma and leaves drinkers wanting another sip. In comparison to West Coast style IPAs which have prominent hop bitterness and a light, dry mouthfeel, New England IPA’s are generally known for a juicy, luscious mouthfeel and opaque, hazy appearance - and are best enjoyed fresh.

Milk & Honey Flora

Milk & Honey Flora. 6.9% all. by vol. Milk & Honey Cidery, St. Joseph, MN. Ingredients: apples, yeast, sugar.

Clear, pale yellow, slight ring of foam 'round the edges.

In the nose: bright, crisp, fresh, apple-y. Very inviting.

In the mouth: Sparkling. Beautiful. Sharp, acidic, delicious, dry. Hey, guess what? I like it.

Scaldis Triple Blond Ale

Scaldis Blonde Ale Tripel, Brasserie Dubuisson, Pipaix,Belgium. 10.5% ABV.

I can't believe I've never had this before. Where has it been? Here in the Nib, I've included only a few beers from Brasserie Dubuisson, those being the Scaldis Noel (they're called Scaldis in the States and Bush in Belgium, probably due to issues with Anheuser-Busch.) and the Cuvee des Trolls 10th Anniversary edition. Over in BeerAdvocate.com, where I posted my reviews before starting this blog in 2010, I've had, in addition to those, the original Cuvee des Trolls, Peche Mel, Scaldis Amber, and Bush de Noel Premium. How did this one escape me? Well, I finally found it, marked down at a local store.

I can't help second-guessing my glassware choices.
I hunted for my Scaldis glass, which must have gotten
broken long ago, but should definitely have gone with
a fancier Belgian chalice, rather than this simple snifter.

To the eye: slim, white head, murky appearance, amber hue, very rustic-looking.

In the nose: a little sour at first, slightly fruity, touch of hops.

In the mouth: Hops, fruit, alcohol. Bigness in each. A load of crispy, cracker-y malt on the palate, but high hops, booze, yeast loom over all. Large and boozy. Not that that's ever a bad thing. Big, boozy, Belgian-y, yum. I enjoyed this big bottle until the night came to a crashing end. Funky, fruity, wild and weird. These guys....man, these guys. Note to self: Go out and get the rest of the Scaldis', bring 'em all into the Nib.

In this tripel, the in-bottle re-fermentation has given an intense effervescence to the aromas of the Bush Blonde. The re-fermentation has also sympathetically developed the Blonde's well-rounded, tender character. 

I yanked that off of Untappd, not sure where they got it from. This is the back label: "Scaldis Blond Triple is Brasserie Dubuisson's golden ale. Sharing the finesse and balance of all the delicious Scaldis beers, it is an elegant and day ale with wonderful orchard fruit aromas of orange and peach. And because it is re-fermented in the bottle, it has the natural sparkle that perfectly compliments it's flavors. Suitable for cellaring."

Destihl Wild Sour Cranberry Criek

Destihl Wild Sour Cranberry Criek. 5% ABV. 17 IBU. Kettle sour ale with cranberries and cherries. Destihl Brewery, Normal, IL.

Clear, bright crimson coloring, amble off-white (bordering on pink) head on top.

In the nose: sweetness and sour, nice and fruity. Not too this, not too that, right on.

In the mouth: Sourness grips the palate right away, an intense, puckering sour sensation that true sourheads will enjoy. Cranberries pop and spark, cherries give it the sweet and yum. Rich and vinous. Refreshing and delicious.

Our non-traditional Cranberry Criek evolved by merging tart cranberries with sweet cherries, normally associated with a traditional Kriek, but in a kettle sour beer that is wonderfully intricate, balanced, fruity and tart. We then dry-hopped this crimson-colored beer for a touch of citrus aroma and flavor, adding another layer of complexity and a perfect finish. Cheers! 

56 Nosehair Bender IPA

My first taste of this was from a sampler growler brought to me by a brewery representative. Naturally, I said, "what the heck kind of name is that?" And I tried it, and I liked it, and thought, okay, put that one in the maybe pile. Later, I saw cans at the store, amazed they stuck with that name, and bought a six-pack with my own dollars. Drank five down just fine, and here I pick away at the sixth.

Nosehair Bender Dry-hopped IPA, Brewed and canned in NE Minneapolis by 56 Brewing. 6.8% ABV. 65 IBUs.

Hazy, bright golden-hued, creamy white head holds down the fort on top.

In the nose: soft, lightly bitter, slightly spicy. Citrus and pine rises in power.

In the mouth: With the first sip, a juicy bomb explodes, blasting surgical strikes of bitterness about the palate. Very tasty, this one, hits all the right notes for me. Pleasing hop attack turns from juicy to dry, and I don't mind that one bit. Medium body, long-lasting hoppy flavor. I'm liking this more and more.

But that name? Come on. What do nose hairs have to do with anything? The aromatics are perhaps the least impressive part to this one. Ah, well. I wish them luck with it, but the phrase isn't pleasing and the imagery revolting. Someone should have said no somewhere.

A New England Style IPA brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook, Citra and Simcoe Hops, which are all added in the whirlpool and fermenter. This produces an intense citrus aroma, like walking through a tangerine grove. The body of the beer is smooth and sweet. It finishes with a pleasant citrus bitterness.

Bell's Larry's Latest Sour Ale

Bell's Larry's Latest, Sour Ale, Kettle Soured Ale with a dry hop burst. Brewed and bottled by Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. Alc. 5.0 % by vol.

Lightly clouded, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: wild, tart funkitude. Lactic sourness. Little hop bitterness. Flash of citrus.

In the mouth: Refreshing tartness at the forefront. Citrus-y and tropical fruit flavors tango on the palate, hops come in and join the fun. Sour remains on top. Light bodied, with long, lingering tart twang. Definitely downable, for the sourheads out there. Go ahead and get one, it won't hurt you none.

The name “Larry’s Latest” is a nod to the spirit of innovation and experimentation that Larry started in 1985 and continues within the brewery to this day. Our latest sour recipe has a refreshingly bright, citrusy tartness combined with pungent tropical aromas.

Indeed First Draft IPA

Indeed First Draft IPA 2.0. Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 6.4% ABV, 70 IBU.

Growler filled Thursday 1/25 at Indeed Taproom, drinking it the AM of February 1. I'm sure it held up for a week.

I'm going to blather on for a bit about one of my obsessions, and it won't be Benjamin J. Grimm, aka The Thing of Marvel's Fantastic Four. No, something more directly related to this blog, and that is my beer glass collection. I am about to open an IPA from Indeed, but I have no IPA glasses with the Indeed logo. I have two "IPA glasses",  (what's the name for them? I thought they were called 'spiegelau', but that's the manufacturer) one branded for Surly Todd the Axe-Man, and one for Town Hall Masala Mama. (Used to have a Sierra Nevada, but it broke, alas.) Should I use one of those, when I have other Indeed-branded glasses, a shaker pint, a Belgian-style tulip/snifter, and a "teku" that is really designed for a sour beer? You know, they do have Indeed logo IPA glasses. Should I get one and add to the already too large collection? Do I need every style of glass for every brewery? What's wrong with the shaker pint? Oh, they just look better in the other glass!

So, I'm going to try out the sour ale "teku" style just for fun, see how it looks, if it helps the aroma, etc. Of course, it will, who am I kidding. But I had to hear from all sides, of course. Now that the panel has concluded it's discussions, it's time to drink!

Big snow-white head, clear, golden-toned. Looking great.

In the nose: fresh, lively, vibrant, alive with citrus, berries, pine. Beautiful, ripe and fruity.

In the mouth: a cornucopia upon the palate. Blueberry, lime, grass, pine, starting fruity, turning bitter. Lean bodied, crisp, light malt. We've got the classic combo of Mosaic and Citra, that old standby Simcoe, and that new one, Denali, which doubles down on the citrus and pine. Wonderfully consumable, this, with a non-stop bitter hop delivery. I enjoyed the heck out of it.

This one is called First Draft 2.0 because they plan on tinkering with it some more until they've perfected some kind of final version to be their year-round India Pale Ale. Getting close, guys, not too shabby.