Friday, March 30, 2018

Bent Brewstillery Nicked Export Double Stout

Bent Brewstillery Nicked Export Double Stout. 7.7% ABV, 77 IBU. Bent Brewstillery, Roseville, MN.

Utter blackness, slim brown head. Fine looking stout.

In the nose: Some cocoa, traces of coffee, slightly sweet, but more dry. Promising.

In the mouth: Earthy. Hearty. Rich, chocolatey, with a shot of espresso. Nicely balanced. Soft, slightly sweet, full-bodied, adequately down able. Some spice popping in, a touch of cinnamon. (It's not in there, it's something I'm picking up.) Little bit of hoppiness board the palate.

I't's a good stout and you can drink it, but it lacks the warmth and charm that would draw me back for another.

A mid-war historic stout that was the precursor to today’s big, stronger stouts. Flavors and aromas of Italian espresso, toasty, husky bread, dark chocolate, rummy cherries, and roasted figs, swimming in a pool of citrus and pine needles.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Oliphant Citizen Krang Campfire Bock

I try to make it out to Oliphant as often as I can, but it's not up to me. I don't drive a car. I'm dependent on the kindness of my friends to drive us out there. I watch their social media, see the new beers out and wish I could go. Jason and I finally made it out last week. I'd missed out on several beers since my last visit over two months ago. I still returned with crowlers and growlers that I hadn't reviewed here yet. This one I'm about to review is the second of those five, and the only brought back in a glass growler. That's what I do, bring back one growler fill, and the rest are cans. Unless there's a special barrel-aged beer in mini-growlers. Those seem to be going away, as more of them are being crowelerized, and I was lucky to bring back two of them. Which we'll get to later.

And this is the one I filled a growler with, and it confuses me just a little. On Untappd, I find a bock named Citizen Kang, a bock named after a Simpsons reference, or an Avengers one, whichever illustration Jeremy was using at the time. But there's no Citizen Krang (which would be a TMNT reference, of course), which is different because Trevor threw some smoked malt in by mistake. Are the folks at Untappd just slow, or....I don't know. I'm not throwing stones.

Oliphant Citizen Krang Campfire Bock. 6.3% ABV.

Clear, amber-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: Soft and slightly smokey aromatics. Mostly malty, low bitterness.

In the mouth: More smoke. More malt. But not too much of either. A little heat, a little spice, but, again, pretty mild. Tasty stuff, easy to drink, and I am digging it.

josh ate 2 quarts of spaghetti and everyone made fun of him. i heard him mutter under his breath, "13 or 14 more times, and i'm leaving." was he serious? i don't know, but i haven't seen him since. no one has. check your milk cartons.

campfire bock. 6.3% abv.

I don't turn to the Oliphant website for factual information. If all I get is some type of weirdness, that's fine with me. We use this nonsense on our menus at Acadia. I don't mind if it freaks some people out. Of course, I also hope it doesn't turn people away from trying the beers.

Inbound Safety Committee IPA

Inbound BrewCo Safety Committee IPA. 6 % ABV. 60 IBU. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, golden-toned, tangerine-tinted, mighty white head above it all.

In the nose: beautifully bitter, citrus notes aplenty. Bursting with orange, lemon, and pine.

In the mouth: Hits you right on the palate with hop bitterness, coming from the usual suspects, armed with citrus and pine. Lean-bodied, just enough malt to keep the mouth happy. Fresh, zesty, and a little spicy. Earthy, caramel-y malt flavors hold it down, while the citrus-y hops do their fandango. Long-lasting finish, highly hopped, hits me in all the right ways.

An exceptional India Pale Ale. One of my new hometown favorites. Nice one, Inbound!

Safety Committee carries so much citrus aroma, you'll be seeing orange for days. Loaded with Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Citra, & Simcoe hops - It's a bitterly balanced batch!

Hop & Barrel Mango Me Happy Blonde Ale

Hop & Barrel Brewing opened in downtown Hudson, Wisconsin last December, and I've been aching to check them out ever since. I've already missed out on several beers over these few months.

One of the owners is my friend Brian Priefer, formerly a brewer at Inbound in Minneapolis, and before that American Sky, also of Hudson. I finally made it down there with my pal Jason last Sunday, and brought some crowlers home with me, after doing sample flights. Here's the first of the crowlers.

Mango Me Happy Blonde Ale. Blonde Ale infused with mango. 5% ABV, 24 IBU.

To the eye: clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: sweet, fruity, light bitterness at first. Nice. Delightful.

In the mouth: more sweetness, much malt, beautiful hoppiness. Utterly lovely. Mango reveals itself over the blonde ale and the malt base. It's tasty stuff and the drinkability is a non-issue. Crush-ability is off the charts.

Why did I pick this one, when I'm not that huge a lover of blonde ales? Well, I like all the beers, you know, I like to give them all a chance. There's more fun to come, as I check in on the others.

Jason and I sat at one of those barrel tables in the front room off of Main Street of Hudson, WI, and each had a flight of four. There was a larger room off to the side of the bar area, and it was full of people buying cactuses, because that's a thing, now. I didn't spend too much time in there. wWhen Brian arrived we got a tour of the brewing facilities. They're ready to go, these guys, set to unleash several styles of beers in cans at each side of the St. Croix, with illustrations by one of my faves, DWitt. Coming in a few weeks. Can't wait to get my mitts on those, but first, coming soon, those notes on the other crowlers.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Town Hall Amber Falcon

So, I'm at the pub, and looking at what I can take home in a growler. And there's Amber Falcon. Have I done that one? It's been around for about five years, off and on. How could I have skipped it for all this time? Just because it's an amber and, like lagers, I tend to pass on them because they're not my favorite style? But, they are good beers and you can drink them. Also, there ain't nothing wrong with them. And so....

Town Hall Amber Falcon. 5.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bronze/copper-toned look, sizable head of creamy froth atop.

In the nose: Malt forward, bright malty flavors, lean hops. Most enticing. Hop bitterness increases on the palate, keeping time with the malty mouthfeel. Caramel malt sweetness, hitting up against hops.

Toasty and tasty. I can dig it. My kind of amber ale.


American Amber Ale single-hopped with Falconer's Flight.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Oliphant The Fangkor IPA or Hazy IPA with Citra and Kohatu hops

Oliphant The Fangkor. New England IPA, I guess. 5.6% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Hazy India Pale Ale with Citra and Kohatu hops. So says the brewery.

Medium haze on this one, slimmish ivory head, golden/orangish-hue. Looking nice.

In the nose: soft, citrus-y, resinous, piney. Some might say dank. Touch of the tropical. Passion fruit and guava mix with the lemon and the pineapple.

In the mouth: Bitterness boards the palate first, bold and fresh, but it doesn't dominate. Juicy on the tongue, fruity all the way. Lean bodied. A fine example of this new-ish "NE" IPA style. So says me. But, however.

Some people think they know everything about this nascent style, now becoming more and more official. I am the 38th person to log into this beer on Untappd. Just for fun, here are some of the notes from people who logged into it before me:

Barclay O. says on March 25, the same day I had it for the first time: It's not a bad IPA I just don't think the ne style really comes across.

Darin picked up a can at Casanova's in Hudson: Easily the worst Oliphant beer I’ve had. Doesn’t come across as NE style at all. It also has a bit of a malty note that is out of place.

Seth has all of this to say: Not a hazy NEIPA. Deep golden. Smooth. Slight tropical fruit in the tongue.

Michelle L. lays it down like so: A bit boring, but super drinkable. This is one you could knock back all day, and what a happy day that would be.

Tim D. is my favorite, though: I don’t want to be one of those dorks that is like “a bloo bloo bloo this isn’t hazy” but it’s not really? Just grassy as hell hops but blah

Aren't we all,like a little  "a bloo bloo bloo", sometimes?

Well, it's a good beer and I can drink it and who the hell gives a Flying Burrito Brother if it's "not" a "hazy IPA"? Who gives a flipping flarg?
 I wish these people knew anything about any another style of beer at all.
I wish they knew anything.

Good hazy IPA. I can drink it. Not my favorite Oliphant IPA (haven't figured out which one that is, there's so many to choose from), but yeah, it's not because of that "out of place malty note." It's hoppy, juicy, bitter, and damn, it goes down with ease. Nothing wrong with that.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Sisyphus Sam's Tree House

Sisyphus Sam's Tree House. NE IPA. 7.3% ABV. 60 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

To the eye: very hazy, cloudy, pale golden hue, under a strong, stable ivory head of foam. 

In the nose: Fresh, vibrant hoppiness. Less bitter, more fruity, tropical tones, pineapple/guava more than citrus and pine. It's all there, but it's more mango than anything else. 

In the mouth: Creamy and smooth. Fresh and fruity. Lower bitterness, smooth malt mouthfeel. Tasty stuff.  Lovely. Good ol' drinking IPA. This is delicious.

We went a little higher up with this take on Sam's Shrub-House. Higher in alcohol, higher in hops, higher in flavor.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Castle Danger White Pine Project IPA

Castle Danger White Pine Project IPA. 5.6% ABV. Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, MN.

Mostly clear, bright golden color, flush, fresh, highly stable ivory head atop.

In the nose: Some pine, plenty of citrus. Forest floor meets Tropicana. Nice. Grapefruit and tannenbaum.

In the mouth: 1st impression: Mmmm! 2nd Sip: yeah! Tasty, tangy, citrusy, tingly, delightful. Third time down the throat?: Mmm, plus yeah!, in addition to hell, yeah, and then some. Medium bodied, if not lightish, minimal malt. Hey, I like this. Damned fine IPA.

White pines were once a staple in the landscape of the North Shore. Our White Pine Project IPA is a beer with a purpose – to help reinstate the white pine population in our back yard. Proceeds from this beer will go directly to planting targeted areas along the North Shore that will stand for future generations to enjoy. This IPA flaunts a robust aroma of bright citrus, tropical fruit, and pine, with just enough bitterness. The mellow golden malt character and effervescence carry these towering hop flavors as high as a stately white pine.

Friday, March 23, 2018

Pryes Barley-wine Ale

Pryes Barley-wine Ale. 9% ABV. 2017 Small Batch Series. A Hand Crafted Limited Batch made with 100% malt and zero additive sugars. Bottle No. 181/250. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Burgundy tint. Clear. Rich, creamy, large and lasting head of foam.

In the nose: mostly malty. fruity. Stone fruit, dark fruit. Nice and lovely.

In the mouth: Sweet, malty, but balanced. Classic English-style barley-wine. Big amount of fruit in it, slight bitterness, but more of the malt. A little bit of spice, just enough. In fact, everything is all in the right place.

As it is, this one is right on. On the money. On target, On the nickel, over there. Tasting terrific. Hits all the right notes. Damnably delicious.

I missed this when it was on tap at the brewery. (The bottles, I mean, it seems to still be available in the taproom.) A representative came through with a bottle for me. He suggested that I wait a month or two to open it for maximum freshness, or lack thereof, and it worked.

Now, those three little words: Warm, Fig, Malty.

Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo Tropical IPA

Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo Tropical IPA. I mean, that's what the label says. 6.7% ABV. 55 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California, and wherever else.

Clear, golden toned, slim, white head.

In the nose: tropical fruit sweetness first, with increasing hop bitterness. Nothing but sweet, fruity, and slightly bitter on this front.

In the mouth: Juicy. Juicy, fruity, and bitter. Pineapple, papaya, grapefruit, guava, lime. Lightish bodied, excellent censurability, eternal hop flavor, nothing but refreshingly delicious.

There just ain't nothing wrong with it.

Hey there's something on the label: Inspired by the island life, we created an IPA completely disconnected from the mainland. We used our one-of-a-kind Hop Torpedo to deliver an intense rush of hop flavor and the lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passionfruit with every sip. Enjoy our tropical twist on the American IPA. This beer is hopped with Amarillo, Citra, Comet, El Dorado, and Mosaic. 

Odell Tree Shaker IPA

Odell Tree Shaker IPA. 

I must admit, this is a beer that should have appeared in the Nib before. Years ago. I took notes from a can, found them lacking, rejected them. Same thing with the last time I had it on tap at Acadia, a year or so ago. Enough with that. Time to do it for real.

What is the meaning of Tree Shaker? Where does it come from, this desire to release the peaches from the branches, so strong is the love? Steve Miller sang of it, but he wasn't the first, was he? Googling it gives all manner of interpretations, but doesn't divine the original source. Finally, Clyde McPhatter comes along, and the Clovers. They weren't the only ones, were they? (Miller outright stole those lines, along with Lovey Dovey for The Joker.) This had to have been used by other blues/r&b musicians, but I haven't the time to do all the research. Blind Lemon Jefferson. Ma Rainey. Bessie Smith. Irving Berlin? And naturally more. I shook enough off the tree. Ella Fitzgerald, Carl Perkins....that's plenty, I want to drink!

In this case, as the label shows, it's no one lecherous doing the tree shaking, but a hungry pachyderm. Perhaps the very one who had the idea to put them in this India Pale Ale?

Odell Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA. 8% ABV. 48 IBU. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Clear, golden hued, long lasting ivory head atop.

In the nose: Sweetness and fruit, light bitterness. Plump and lovely.

In the mouth: full, fresh, fruity, increasing bitterness. Sweet and malty. Peach flavor rises, but is never too large, nor is ever in charge.  Tasty stuff. Bitterness never outstretches the sweet, nor the other way 'round. Alcohol slowly grows.

I remember this being rather forward when it was first released. Feels smoother now, less of a brow beater. I like it this way. I can drink it, and drink it.

Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA has roots right here in Colorado. We balanced familiar citrusy hop notes with the subtle sweetness of local peaches. You might say we gave both the tree and the style a playful little shake.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Town Hall Deflate NE Lager

Town Hall Deflate NE Lager. 6% ABV. India Pale Lager. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

This one was first released in late January, ahead of that football contest that took place in our town, the one that set the Connecticut Wildfire versus the Massachusetts Ruffians. No, that's not right. The Nashville Ne'r-do-wells against the Saratoga Scalawags? The Pennsilvania one against the New England one, the NEs, the guys who can't keep their balls inflated, I think.

So, in honor of them, an "NE Style", done not as IPA, but IPL.

Thoroughly hazy, orange/gold coloring, adequate slab of ivory froth atop. Looking fine for the style.

In the nose: soft, murky, muddy. Citrus-y, some tropical tones. Low bitterness, negligible malt.

In the mouth: Super citrus from the start. And then the soft, the smooth, the yeasty and creamy comes along.  Low bitterness, hop flavor, not hop bitterness. Light bodied, easy-drinking And it's good and I can drink it. I'm liking this quite a bit.

It gives me what I miss in lagers and delivers much of what I like in IPAs.  (Though I could use a few more IBUs.)

A hoppy lager inspired by New England IPAs. Grain bill of Pilsner malt, Vienna, wheat, and oats. Kettle hopped with Pacifica, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin. Dry hopped with Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, and Simcoe.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Sociable Cider Werks Hop A Wheelie Hopped Apple Cider

Sociable Cider Werks Hop A Wheelie Hopped Apple Cider. 6.7% ABV. Sociable CiderWerks, Minneapolis, MN. Dry-hopped with Chinook, Cascade and Golding hops.


Clear, bright golden, slim head.

In the nose: Apples and hops. Beautiful balance of bitter and sweet.

In the mouth: Starts more bitter and slightly tart. Bitter bite. Spicy. Light bodied and very drinkable. I can find no reason not to enjoy this. What is it? It's a good ol' hoppy cider, and you can drink it.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Hammerheart Gesik Finnish-style Sahti

And now we have the first Hammerheart bottle I've ever purchased. Why is this? Well, I haven't been to the taproom in nearly a year and a half, due to various circumstances. (Hey, friends, give me a call, and a reason to wake up on my days off!)
I've always got them on tap at Acadia, where I seldom write reviews, (though my last review was there, in December, 2016) but the bottles? Whenever I see them at stores, it's either avbeer I've had before, reviewed from growlers, or maybe the price was higher than I wanted to pay at the time.
In any case, it's time to bring them back into the Nib.

So: Hammerheart Brewing Company Gesik Sahit, Northern European-style Juniper ale, brewed by traditional methods. 7.6% alc. by volume. Lino Lakes, MN.

Highly clouded, crimson hued, slim, amber-toned head.

In the nose: Requisite Hammerheart smoked malt kicks it off, slightly spicy mixed with juniper. Summer sausage.

In the mouth: there we have Hammerheart at their game, being most uncompromising and iconoclastic. No hops at all. Just enough of the berries. Mild on the palate, but tasty and well-balanced, finely crafted. Medium/light-ish bodied. Whoever put those twigs in my beer knows what they're doing. Smoked malt provides appropriate balance and flavor. Very nice.

There's a bunch of tiny type on the bottle to give us some insight into the beer. Very tiny. Maybe they'll put it on the website one day.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Lupulin Strange Illusion Imperial Stout

Lupulin Strange Illusion Imperial Stout. 9% ABV. 75 IBU. Big Lake, MN.

This one went by another name, one that's appeared here before.  But new name and new package means new beer, so I'm re-reviewing it now.

Solid blackness, rich, brown-toned head, leaving lace, looking nice.

In the nose: Chocolatey malt meets grassy hops. More hop flavors emerge, citrus-y, orange and pine, matching the mocha-ish malt. Nice.

In the mouth: Hops are huge in this RIS, and the malt is big and tasty. Great balance in a big beer. Increasingly delicious. Creamy, hoppy, strong, delightful. I like this more and more.

I don't normally go for hoppy stouts, but this one has got me.

A world of nonsense. Nothing is what it isn't, because otherwise it would be what it is. An Imperial Stout with dry hops? What a Strange Illusion that would be.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Oliphant Peanut Butter Rodent

Oliphant Peanut Butter Rodent. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Black Ale. 8% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin.

Dark brown body, creamy toned head, lasting long, looking good.

In the nose: peanut butter meets chocolate and comes screaming out of this glass. Sweet, creamy, chocolatey, nice. Love it.

In the mouth: More of the same and then some. Richness and deliciousness. Peanut butter and chocolate reign supreme. Very mellow, very cool. And very likable. So tasty. So malty. So peanut butter-y and chocolate-y.

peanut butter rodent

something really funny happened to me this morning. i will tell you about it later. well, you might not think it is that funny, but i could hardly breathe i was laughing so hard. ok, i can't wait to tell you. last night when i was sleeping, all my teeth fell out and i swallowed every single one of them. funny, right?

black ale with peanut butter and cacao nibs. 8% abv

Weldwerks Coffee Coconut Stout

Weldwerks Brewing Coffee Coconut Stout. Weldwerks Brewing Company, Greeley, Colorado. 8% Alc. by Volume.

Solid blackness, rich brown head, leaving lace, looking good.

In the nose: chocolate malt first, then comes the coffee. And right after that, we get the coconut. It's not as smooth of a blend as I'd like, though.

In the mouth: Again, they appear on the palate in a similar order. Here's Mr. Malt, all dressed in chocolate, ushering in his friend, Señor Coffee, and sliding in from behind, the Coconut Kid. It's flavorful, full-bodied, not over-anything, in the least. It comes together in a smoother fashion than it did in the nose. It has that going for it, and it's mild in it's expression. Tasty stuff, still: good beer, and you can drink it.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Venn Raspberry Porter

Venn Batch #29 Raspberry Porter. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 6.5% ABV, 20 IBU.

Dark brown body, nearly black, with crimson highlights. Brown ring of creamy foam on top. Looking great.

In the nose: Sweet and fruity with a twist of tart. Deep, dark malty notes lurk just below. Bright and delightful.

In the mouth: Fruit forward, bobbing just above the rich, malty flavors that dominate. Coffee and chocolate notes slightly submerged by the berry. Full bodied, full-flavored, and quite drinkable. I like this. Not too much of anything, well-balanced, well-blended, nicely done. In a word or seven: good beer and you can drink it.





Raspberries up front, porter on the back. Our Batch #9 Porter infused with raspberries. Fruit is prominent up front, with dark chocolate and coffee in the finish.

Malts: Crisp Maris Otter, Munich, Oats, Pale Chocolate, Caramel 60, Chocolate, Victory

Hops: Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale

Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale. Ballast Point Brewery, San Diego, CA. 7% ABV. 10 IBU.

Bright, bold crimson coloring, slimmed, creamy head above, looking good.

In the nose: tart, fruity, very blackberry.

In the mouth: Big sour from the start, big blast of blackberry. A little bit of lactic sour. Bright, bold, fierce. Puckering. Refreshing. Lightish bodied and easy drinking. Tasty.

If you're into fruity kettle sours, why, by all means.

This pretty lady will make you pucker.
Our Sour Wench Blackberry Ale is a fruity Berliner Weisse-style beer bursting with Oregon blackberry flavor and aroma. The fruit addition adds a beautiful violet hue, and the taste has an approachable soft tartness from kettle souring. This artful gypsy will surely lure you into the world of sour beers.

And here's more, less marketing-ese:
Sour Wench was a Home Brew Mart recipe that we made every year for the Southern California Home brewers Fest in Temecula. This Blackberry Ale was originally developed by Ballast Point’s original Master Brewer Peter A’Hearn and Colby Chandler. While interning in Germany, Peter fell in love with the Berliner Weiss style of beer. A beer made with a procedure in which the mash was soured. The tartness of the Oregon State Marion Blackberries, at one pound per gallon, was a perfect addition for this sour style. Sour Wench is not aged in oak barrels. In the end, it’s a great bridge beer into the sour styles.

Sierra Nevada No Middle Ground Coffee IPA

Sierra Nevada No Middle Ground. 6.9% ABV. 50 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California. (And elsewhere.) Ale with coffee added.

Clear, copper/bronze color, big ivory head that slips down shortly.


In the nose:Coffee and hops butting heads. Mixing and mingling, but none taking court. Earthy coffee notes with pine and citrus just below. And then hops take command.

In the mouth: Earth and coffee grit get on the palate first, with sweet malty flavors beneath. Slowly, hops flavors kick up from below. Medium-bodied, long finish, lush malt. This is an odd one. I'm still not on board with this not quite a style. Coffee IPA? Why? Does it work? No.
I'm not getting what I want from an IPA and the coffee ingredient adds little value. These two elements don't belong together, no matter what it says beneath these words.

At first glance, it might seem strange to combine coffee and hoppy beer, but really, the two flavors have a lot in common. Good coffee and hops both have complex and fruity aromas which create layers of flavor. No Middle Ground is brewed with fruit-forward hop varietals and cold-brewed coffee for a unique take on the IPA.

INGREDIENTS

YEAST  Ale yeast
BITTERING HOPS  Simcoe
FINISHING HOPS  Citra, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe
MALTS  Two-row Pale, Munich, Oats, Midnight Wheat

OTHER  Cold Brewed Coffee

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Pryes Raspberry Sour

Pryes Raspberry Sour. 4.8% ABV, 5 IBU. Preyes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear and crimson, slightly pinkish, with minimal foam coverage.

In the nose: slightly tart and mostly fruity. Sweet and lovely.

In the mouth: more sour, more pucker, and plenty of fruit. "Raspberry-forward", I'd say if I was the pretentious type. Fruity, slightly sweet, then dry and puckering. Sweet, tart, sweet tart, doing the sweet-tart tango. Light-ish bodied, easy drinking session sour.

Three words and then some: Tart, Ripe, Fruity

Inspired by fresh raspberries, our Raspberry Sour is full of tart, ripe and fruity flavors. The beer opens with big fruit and tannin flavors from raspberries. Passion fruit flavors fill out the middle, a bridge between the tart and sour. It ends with a crisp tart finish. A beer that continually evolves during your drinking experience.

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale. 11.8% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: bubblegum, fruit, sweetness. Slightly sharp, alcoholic.

In the mouth: A sweet, malty, fruity thing in the mouth. More bubblegum. Sweet, sharp and boozy. Mellow malt. Not as dry and spicy as I'd like from a triple, but not bad, not bad at all. Nothing too complex or complicated, easy-drinking, despite the strength. Pleasant stab at this Belgian style.

Belgian-style Tripel Ale brewed with candy sugar and honey.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Oliphant Anutart Cherry Sour

For the first time, crowlers from Oliphant feature unique and original painted art by Jeremy Hughes on their labels, and for the first time I'm trying out "anutart", which I'm just going to assume is pronounced: "A new tart." This is one I've never tried, though they've been making it for some time. I always seem to visit the taproom when it isn't there.

A word or two about Jeremy's picture. It looks like a tooth holding hands with a cat and a dog inside a mouth. Nothing strange about that. Except his creepy google eyes. And that his butt is on backwards. Must be a reason. Or not. (Wait. Should a tooth have a butt?)

Oliphant Anutart Cherry Sour Ale. Berliner Weisse? 5% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Clear, bold crimson color, slim whitish head, done in a quickness.

In the nose: bright and fruity. Growing tartness. There's your cherry.

In the mouth: Sweet, tart, fruity. Mmm. Nice. Tart, cherry, sweet, repeat. Medium bodied, quite drinkable, mmm. Maybe a little thin. Perhaps a full Wisconsin-sized crowler is more than I needed.

I'm not really into fruited kettle sours, but I can enjoy them and certainly see the appeal. A little of this one went a long way, though I finished the contents of the crowler with nothing but ease.

Did I buy this because the idea of the beer intrigued me, or because I drink every beer this brewery makes, or because I love Jeremy's art and want to have this on poster. Or t-shirt. Or something. I know for sure that I won't crush this one and toss it in the recycling bin.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Tin Whiskers Phase Shift 02/2017

Tin Whiskers Phase Shift 02. 7.5% ABV. Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Barrel Shifter Porter. St. Paul, MN.

Utter darkness, fully opaque, slim brown head.

In the nose: Cocoa, coffee, molasses, more. Vanilla, cherry, whiskey? Rich, luxurious, lovely. A feast for the senses.

In the mouth: Boom! Big whiskey notes on the palate right from the start. Outsized flavors, rich malt, big barrel tones, vanilla, cocoa, coffee, blackstrap, a touch of anise, more. Full bodied, full flavored, non-stop delicious. Starts out sweet, rounds out dry.

I took a peek at my previous report on this beer, it's earlier iteration, and I'm not disappointed. Whatever flaws I felt then are not apparent now. I like this much better than before. Perhaps abler hands are at the wheel, here? Or time bringing experience and wisdom?

Thanks again to the Running Tap for bringing it to me?

PHASE SHIFT 02 // ISANTI SPIRITS RYE WHISKEY BARREL AGED PORTER
Released November 19, 2016 // Local rye whiskey barrels from Isanti Spirits contribute rich, complex malt and wood characteristics to a porter previously aged on white oak and cherry wood. • 7.5% ABV


56 Brewing Citrus Chaos IPA

56 Brewing Citrus Chaos IPA. 5.7% ABV. 25 IBU. 56 Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Date filled 3/3. Date consumed 3/11. Date received 3/8.

Highly hazed, utterly thick and orange-juicer, slim white head above.

In the nose: soft, slightly bitter, fruity. Tropical notes start it off, with grapefruit coming in quickly. Orange and lemon smother the pineapple and guava.

In the mouth: Juicy, fruity, soft and smooth. Some bitterness pops up, but not enough for me. Or, maybe it is enough, but I keep wanting more. Lots of yeasty goodness on the palate. Medium bodied. Easy drinking. Smooth as it gets.

Not a bad rendition of this style that I'm still on the fence about.  Still like those old-fashioned IPAs. 25 IBUs does not an IPA make. They should call these something else, is all I'm saying. When folks want to tell me "this IPA has less bitterness", I want to answer: "then it ain't no IPA!"

Aromas of juicy and tropical fruit, with a clean grapefruit/orange bitterness. A hazy American pale ale dry hopped with a heavy dose of Amarillo and Citra hops.

Grotten Sante

Grotten Sante. Brouwerij Kazematten, leper, West-valanderaaen, Belgium. 6.5% ABV.

Very opaque, burgundy-hued, large and lasting lush, creamy head. Looking fantastic.

In the nose: Fruit, spice, funk. Lots of the dark fruits, fig, raisin, grape, plum, a trifle sweet. Rich and vinous, small amount of sourness. Exquisitely complex Belgian character takes hold, though it can't be quantified or categorized. There aren't always words for the specialness of Belgian ales, but we have to try. Candi sugar in this one, rich, deep, dark malts, too. Brown sugar. I've spent so much time on smell, I'm dying to taste.

In the mouth: Boom. Fruit, spice, sweet, tiny tartness. Tasty. A lot of tasty. Very wine-like, deep, dark fruits. Grape, plum, raisin, again. This is delightfully delicious. Not quite a dubbed, more than an amber or a brown, far from a quadruple, but very unique and flavorful. Starts sweet, ends dry, spends time in the mouth most magical and transcendent. I can't help but like it. Yum, yum, yum.

Grotten SantĂ© is an darkbrown, spicy beer of 6 % ABV, with small quantities of an ‘exotic’ ingredient that creates a slight dryness.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Venn Brewing Denali IPA

Venn Brewing Batch #40 Denali India Pale Ale. 7.2% ABV. 65 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazy look, bright golden color, massive, lace-leaving ivory head atop.

In the nose: Tropical tones aplenty, pineapple and passionfruit, mango and more. Not getting much else, not that I mind. Lovely stuff. Exquisitely pleasant.

In the mouth: Bolt of bitterness blasts the palate first, then fades and invites in the fruit. Scrumptious. I haven't said that in a while. Fruity, while not quite sweet, then dry. Nice little dance between the fruity and the bitter. Medium bodied, long-lasting bitterness. Delightful. Hits me in all the right places.

This is an IPA I would return to again, and again.


Let's hear those three little words: Pineapple, melon, bitter. 

A single-hop IPA featuring the new Denali hop variety, a neutral malt structure, and a clean fermentation.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Caramel 10

Hops: Denali (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Freehouse #33 Gose

The Freehouse #33 Gose. 3.4 % ABV, 10 IBU, The Freehouse, Minneapolis, MN.

This is the first stand-alone review here in the Nib of a beer from The Freehouse, the brewpub in the downtown district called The North Loop. I've been there several times, written about them a few times here, but never brought home a growler, or a crowler. I have to thank The Running Tap for getting this one to me.

Clear, bright golden, slim to no head on it.

In the nose: tart, fruity, salty, just like a good Gose should be. Sharp, arresting, Intriguing.

In the mouth: Tart grips the palate from the start. Fresh, zesty, tart and tasty. Light bodied, easy drinking. Slightly salty, a touch of fruit. Low bitterness, lesser malt. Big time sour. Nice gose, and you can drink it.

There making some good beers here. Go check them out.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Schell's Citra Blanc American Pale Lager

Schell's Citra Blanc American Pale Lager. 6.7% ABV. 44 IBU. August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, large and lasting ivory head on top.

In the nose: sunshine-y citrus-y notes steal the show here. Blend of lemon and grapefruit, with a twist of the tropical, too. Beautiful.

In the mouth: A hop explosion kicks it off, gives out fruit, swiftly turns out dry. Crisp and refreshing. Light bodied. I always remind the reader that I'm not a lager lover, but I am in favor of flavor, and this one packs it. This is nothing short of delightful. Any time I've had a citra hop lager, I'm liking it, and this one is crafted exquisitely. Tasty, tasty, tasty, and almost yum-a-dum-dum.

Similar to an IPA, Citra Blanc is hop-forward and refreshing, for those who like their beer to pack a punch. A citrusy, hoppy lager. Citra and Hallertau Blac hops create bright flavors and aromatics. 

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Surly 60 Below Rye IPA

Surly 60 Below Rye IPA. 6.5% ABV. Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN. "Brewed For The North."

Grinning frozen skulls. Yes, some of us feel this way in the winter-time. We've had a few nice days in a row, the snow is slowly melting, but, no, it's coming back tomorrow. You think, it's March, we're on  our way to spring! We can break out the bikes again! No. No. No. There's still that threat. Keep the gloves and hats handy. Don't put away the long underwear yet.

Lightly hazy, crimson colored, large, creamy ivory head above, lasting long, and leaving lace.

In the nose: Richly, caramel malty aromatics hit the nose first. Lush and lively. Earthy, spicy hops.

In the mouth: Hops shine first on the palate, bright and citrus-y, but quickly swallowed up by malt, spicy, rich rye malt. Hardy, robust, and lively. Fruit flavors unfold. Sweetness creeps in. I believe I read someone somewhere someone's description of "candied grapes", and I get that, too. Dark fruits, spicy malts, altogether tasty. Good rye IPA, and you can drink it.

There’s cold, and then there’s COLD. Teeth-chattering, extremity-numbing, eyelash-freezing cold. On February 2, 1996, Tower, MN hit the all-time state record low temperature. 60 Below, a hardy rye IPA, pays tribute tothat mark and the unforgiving Minnesota winter. Enjoy it before frostbite sets in and turns those beer-holding fingers blue. Best served…cold.

This hearty rye IPA uses experimental hop varieties that lend notes of candied grape, orange, and vanilla cream. Cararye and flaked rye contribute a deep red hue and spicy malt notes.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Sociable Ciderwerks Fat Bike Mulled Apple

Sociable Ciderwerks Fat Bike Mulled Apple. 5.2% ABV. Sociable Ciderwerks, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, golden toned, no head.

In the nose: Cinnamon, clove, allspice. Apple behind it. All the pumpkin pie spices at play.

In the mouth: Hot, juicy, spicy, cloves, cinnamon-y, all-spicy. This has it all going on. Spiced apple pie. Nice. Very nice. Light bodied, lots of flavors, good drinking. I like this one. It's pretty darned alright.

Actually, it's damned nice. Good stuff.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Sierra Nevada Know Good IPA

Sierra Nevada Know Good IPA. 6.2% by Vol. 62 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly spicy, sightly citric, very mellow. Floral. Kinda quiet.

In the mouth: more bright, sunshine-y, citrus, a little bit juicy. Honey-ish.. Lovely stuff. Lightish bodied, fully flavored. Good ol' drinking IPA. Ain't nothing wrong with it.



This straightforward, slightly hazy, American IPA has just enough malt body to launch the citrus and floral hop notes straight to your palate, making Know Good perfect for today or any day. When it comes to hop flavor, we know what good is, and you do, too.

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub Apex Pale Ale

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub Apex Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV. 40 IBUs. Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hued, beautiful ivory head above, looking nice.

In the nose: a little piney, a little citrus-y, soft, and lovely. Very pleasantly hoppy.

In the mouth: there it is, just the right hoppitude to dance upon the palate. Nice fruity essences, good and citrus-y. Tasty stuff, and very drinkable. Malt is lean and clean, a bit bready. Tasty stuff, nicely hoppy, easy drinking. Good ol' pale ale. Just the way I like 'em.

This was made with Summit hops but they couldn't call it Summit Pale Ale because that's been taken. So, Apex it is.

The malt is a bit buried by the hops but showcases the bready, caramel, and honey notes. Hops are the star of the show here. A generous amount of Summit hops were used and dry hopped with Mosaics hosp. Big notes of tangerine, grapefruit, tropical fruit, citrus, a touch of pine dominate.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Barrel Theory Rain Drops Northeast India Pale Ale

Barrel Theory Beer Company Rain Drops Northeast IPA with Citra and Mosaic. 7.5% ABV. St. Paul, Minnesota.

I bought this on 12.31/17. I was filled three days prior. These beers are supposed to be consumed as fresh as possible. So,why did I sit on it for 2 months? I wanted to tie it in with the overall report on the brewery and my notes on their other beers, until the enormity of the endeavor always seemed more than I have time for. Well, no more of that. From now on, when I have a beer, I review it and publish it, and that's that. I've lost too many notes to time and procrastination.

Thoroughly hazed, naturally, utterly orange, with a prodigious, fluffy, lace-leaving white head. Looking great for the part.

In the nose: bright, brilliant, aburst with sunshine-y Citra hop sensations. The key to this beer is the extra dry-hopping with that do-no-wrong duo of Citra and Mosaic. Alone, they do just fine, but together they're unstoppable.

In the mouth: there's that "juicy" that's essential in the NE-style. Juicy, juicy, Joo-say! Bitterness garbs the palate just a bit at first, then is swallowed up by the juice. Touches of tropical meets the citric. Guava and passionfruit to bridge the orange and grapefruit. Malt is almost an afterthought. What we have going on in the mouthfeel is plush, yeasty, pillowy, squishy. Makes the beer go down mighty fine.

It's a tasty one, that's for sure. An admirable and absolutely likable brew. I might be turning around on these NE-IPAs, maybe, possibly, don't quote me on that. I still like them old time IPAs.

The more I drink it, the more I want to call it damned delicious. And maybe I will.

And two months old, it doesn't seem to have lost any freshness or vitality.

Although, it would be nice if folks could get it together: New England or Northeast, pick one and stick to it. Maybe that will happen. No one could settle Black IPA vs. Black Ale vs Cascadian Dark Ale, and before you know it, no one cares.

Sisyphus WEE-liam Wallace

Sisyphus WEE-liam Wallace. 9% ABV. 15 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This is a Sisyphus beer I've enjoyed many times at the taproom, but never at home, to review, from a crowler. Then, once in a little while, someone does you a solid. So, here we go.

Clear, dark, caramel-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: rich and malty, sweet, molasses, caramel, toffee, delightful.

In the mouth: Sweet, malty, chocolate. Rich and delicious. Deep and delectable. Medium bodied, long, malt-forward finish. A little vanilla, a touch of treacle, and definitely delightful.

Scotch ale brewed with yeast from Dunnottar Castle. To Beer-Dom !

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Insight Gravity Well Rum Barrel Aged

Insight Gravity Well Imperil Stout. Rum barrel-aged. Insight Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 12 % ABV.  75 IBU.

Growlers of "SpeciaAL Juice" only goes to
Special Als.

Solid blackness, rich brown head that starts strong and ends as a tight ring.

In the nose: Ah, me oh, my. Big richness. Sweet, malty, Cocoa, espresso, anise. Getting the rum barrel action, too.

In the mouth: more big, more rich, more vast and huge. Increasing alcohol. Increasing yum-a-dum-dum. (Remember that one?  I'm still pushing it.) Thick, rich, intensely flavorful, but still deliciously drinkable. Full of everything. Yu-uh-um. In a big way.


With flavors as intense as fine port, Gravity Well boasts aromas of chocolate, toffee, and sherry that meld together with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and dark fruit. Trinidadian rum barrels adds slight cane sugar character that balances the roast of this brew perfectly.