Arbeiter Cranberry Arbeiter

Arbeiter Cranberry Arbeiter. 

5 % ABV, 20 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And now we have a beer that maybe I should've opened up last week, on Thanksgiving Day. Or at any time in the last five days. It matters not why or how not, but I'd better drink it up quick, I've got three more Arbeiter beers to get to, so let's get to drinking. 

It's a cranberry version of their "light ale", sometimes referred to as a kölsch, but not necessarily by them. 

Clear, deep crimson coloring, small white head. 

In the nose: There's the berries. All-cranberry, nothing but. Not too tart, though. 

In the mouth: Here it is on the palate as well. Bit of a bout between tart and sweet, but it's mostly pleasant. Little bitterness, minor malt. Not much happening underneath the fruit. Light bodied, clean, slightly tart, simple. 

I would have taken this to my family gathering, but instead I met up with friends. Was I thinking that it wouldn't have gone over as well with my beer nerd friends, or was it just that I wanted to bring more interesting beers to our get together? 

I think the answer is both. 

Metazoa Brewing Company Salmon Cannon Pacific Northwest India Pale Ale

Metazoa Brewing Company Salmon Cannon Pacific Northwest India Pale Ale.

7 % ABV, 60 IBU. Metazoa Brewing Company, Indianapolis, IN. 

Now we have another first, my first beer from Metazoa, and all thanks and praise go to Dave for sharing. 

Clear as a bell, bright golden hue, beautiful, lasting white head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Alive with hoppiness, citrus playing with pine and tropical. Grapefruit and orange mingle with papaya and passionfruit. 

In the mouth: blast of bitterness up front, just the way I like it. Crisp and dry. Light bodied, and packed with hop flavor. Citrus is king, sweet tropical notes from aroma don't join the party so much as stay on the sidelines. Long, bitter, hoppy finish. This is my kind of IPA all the way. 

Loaded with over five and a half pounds of hops per barrel, Salmon Cannon uses a blend of Salmon-Safe certified hops including Comet, Strata®, Amarillo®, Chinook, and Crystal hops sourced from Crosby Hops in Woodburn, Oregon. Salmon-Safe farming practices protect water quality in the salmon watersheds where we source our hops. With a diverse combination of hops and a slight toastiness from Munich malt, this IPA glides through flavors — of citrus, pine, mango, and peach — as effortlessly as the majestic salmon that populate the Pacific Northwest and its waterways.

Surly Ten Ale-- Five Years Later

Surly Ten Ale-- Five Years Later. Old Ale. 

9.5 % ABV, 63 IBU, Surly Brewing, Mpls./BC, MN. 

Maybe I didn't need to open this bottle tonight. After all, an old ale should last even longer than five years. But, you know what, I just felt like it. Why the hell not? I wish I had some party to bring it to, but, alas, ...here we are, with a beer to open and I wish I had someone to share it with. C'est la vie. (Is this a blatant cry for more of my friends, or potential friends, to invite me to their parties? Maybe. But this is still going down tonight.) 

Oh, those days of bomber bottles, and wax-coverings. Ah, nostalgia! So, so...so sweet, the memories! 

Dark burgundy hued, deep and opaque, large, rich, creamy tanned head. Looking great, five years on. 

In the nose: soft, malty, warm, rich. Grapes, dates, raisins, ...leather, tobacco...wer're in barleywine country. Plums, apples, rich malt, so much goodness. 

In the mouth: Mellow. Smooth, Malty. Rich. Just a little indulgent. A panoply of dark fruits, malt-forward, minor hops, much molasses, slightly syrupy, but well-balanced. I feel like I should compare against fresh notes. 

But first...I reviewed this one first in July of 2016, when it was brand new. I checked into it on Untappd nine times before today. The first check-in was from a the first bottle I bought and reviewed in September of 2016, them later, one at the taproom. Next, in October of '16, at Acadia. I must have been sitting on a keg for an event. A few days later, I posted a picture with a slurry of Surly tap handles.  Apparently, I still had it on in November, and then it next appeared at a Surly event at McKenzie's, and something at Jason's farm, and once in a while cracking one open at home, and this is my last one. 

It's still, five years later, huge, rich, powerful, full of flavor. I certainly could have waited several more years, but you never know, do you? Better safe than otherwise. The last thing I want to do is tell everyone: "I waited too long. I's past it's prime." This is not. There is no drop off in flavor, in body, in anything at all. This is brilliant, and I love it. 

Oliphant Nose Hozzle Baltic Porter

Oliphant Nose Hozzle Baltic Porter.

8% ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Here is a beer I was in search of for years, ever since my first visit to Oliphant, back in late 2014. I had tried a sampler portion of Gaer Bear, a Baltic Porter, but chose an IPA to take home in a growler, and review here, instead. These were the days before crowlers, and I wasn't going to purchase multiple glass growlers and grow my collection even larger. I never saw that beer again. The closest I came was a barrel-aged version, but not the original. And then, earlier this year, Oliphant announced that they were re-releasing Gaer Bear under a new name, Nose Hozzle, for some reason or another. I asked my boss, the beer buyer at the retail store where I currently work, to please order some when it became available. Perhaps he forgot to, maybe it was solicited on a week when he was going to skip that distributor, who knows, but it never happened, he never ordered it, the beer was never on the shelves at South Lyndale Liquor, and I wasn't in the habit of shopping elsewhere. 

Months went by, and I finally brought it up with Good Ol' Josh, when he came to the store to discuss a tasting event. Wouldn't you know it, they still had some at the brewery, and the next week Mr. Miller delivered and at last they were mine. And now I will open one, and tell you about it. Let's see if I like it as well as when I first had it, almost seven years ago. 

Dark hued, nearly black, opaque, with a slim, creamy tan head. 

In the nose: Roasted malts hit first, dry and bittersweet, Cocoa and coffee in the aroma, with moderate hops. Good stuff going on here. 

In the mouth: Comes on smooth, but hearty. Robust and flowing with flavor. Sweet malt cuts through the hops, leaves a load of cocoa and espresso on the palate. Dark fruit abounds as well, cherries, figs, berries. Dark and delicious. This is exactly what I want from a Baltic Porter, and I wish I could grab this one on the regular. Sometimes, on occasion, I do desire more than an IPA. 

So good. So very, very good. 

Bearded Iris Illusion Double IPA

Bearded Iris Illusion Double IPA. Motueka. Enigma. Elusive Yeast. 

8% ABV. Bearded Iris Brewing, Nashville, TN. 

And now, Bitter Ones, we have the first appearance of Bearded Iris Brewing of Nashville, TN, here in the ol' Nib. Why not til now? Well, every beer I've seen from them before has been a New England IPA, and I tend to pass on those. Also, the price of them. Guess what, this was a free sample, and it's says neither hazy nor New England anywhere on it, although that means nothing, this I have learned the hard way. 

All fogged up, of course, brightish yellow hue, large and lasting, bold ivory head. 

In the nose: sweet, soft, citrusy. lemon and orange muffled up in gauze. Everything is muted in the hazies. 

In the mouth: More soft, more citrus. More missed opportunities. There's a good Double IPA here struggling to get out. Damn, I wish I could just forget about what this style does to me, relax, and enjoy it, but I can't. There needs to be a new name for this style, maybe Weak-Ass DIPA. Or DIPA with it's Balls Cut off. Like booze, and some hop flavor, but not enough? This dumb fake style is for you! 

Nobody likes the bitter bite anymore. Everything's "soft"...sigh....

Now you see it? An intertwining apparition of Motueka + Enigma that unravels into zingy citrus, ripe raspberries, and smooth peach syrup

Raspberries is a reach. And peach syrup? Huh. Whatever. 

A-Side American IPA

A-Side American IPA. 

6.7 % ABV. 65 IBU. 

A-Side Public House, St. Paul, MN. 

There's a new brewpub in town. Not this town, the next town over. So, Ed and I went to A-Side Public House in a former firehouse on on Randolph Street in St. Paul for lunch and beers. It's a nice spot, if a little high-toned. I ate some quiche, and had some beers, then took some home with me. Let's drink one. 

Clear, deep amber hued, large and lasting, creamy-toned head, looking good. 

In the nose: Herbal and floral notes emerge first, followed by fruit, citrus, apples, a little pear in there. Multidimensional loveliness. 

In the mouth: A touch spicy and a lot hoppy, big and juicy at the start. Slightly sweet malt holds down the fort, with grapefruit and pine at play on the palate. Little bit of lemon. Medium bodied, long, lightly bitter finish. Classic rendition. Refreshing, with just enough hoppy flavor and bitterness to keep me happy. 

A hoppy, bitter American ale brewed with classic American Cascade and Centennial hops. An iconic grapefruit & pine aroma/flavor with a firm, lasting bitterness - balanced with a light caramel malt sweetness. 

Stacked Deck The Airing of Grievances Festbier

 Stacked Deck The Airing of Grievances Festbier.

6 % ABV, Stacked Deck Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

This beer arrived right around the time that Stacked Deck announced that it was closing down. I wondered why they released an Oktoberfest-style beer slightly outside of the season, but then give it a name reflective of a fictional holiday that was meant to correspond to Christmas. Slightly confusing. And Brent Schoonover's illustration has a Last Supper tableau that featured many of the characters he's drawn in his labels over the past few years. There's Larry from Weekend at Larry's (a hazy IPA, which is why you never saw it here), the Hardy Boys, Kurt Russell, the superhero cat, the Beastie Boys, Bob Ross, and more) And then I got it. He knew this was would be his final label, and he knew they were closing up shop, for whatever reason. 

And I didn't think that this one would enter this blog, for I didn't want to spend money on a 4-pack, since Festbier isn't one of my favorite styles. And then Ed gave me this crowler, and I have no choice. That's how it works. So, let's gather around the pole and air some grievances. Or not.

Crystal clear, amber hued (not golden, as I'd expect from a Festbier), slim layer of whitish head. 

In the nose: Malty, herbal, lightly floral, slightly sweet. 

I am getting the impression that this is actually a Marzen, but called a Festbier. Oktoberfests can be so confusing, for this very reason. 

In the mouth: Yep, it's a marzen. Rich maltiness. Deep flavors. Hearty. Medium bodied. Excellent drinkability. Moderate h0ppiness. Delightful and delicious. I certainly would have bought a 4-pack if I knew it was truly a marzen, not a festbier. 

I'm enjoying this one, which will be the second to last beer from this brewery to appear here, and I especially like how Brent is utilizing the "infinity cover" concept here, where the characters in the image are drinking from the can with the image that appear on ....and on the can, they are drinking the can, which has them drinking from the can, where they are on the can, and on the can, there they are, and they're drinking from the can that they're on...and so on, and so forth...and most of them are drinking from a glass, though, not straight from the can, like truly civilized people. This concept was used in comic books over the years, such as Superman reading the very copy of his own comic book that you are holding in your hands, and that Superman in that issue is also, and so on, and so forth, unto infinity....

Smooth, Creamy & Dank German Hop Flavor.

New Belgium Special Release Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale -Four Roses

New Belgium Special Release Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale -Four Roses.

9 % ABV. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. 

Clear, burgundy hued, creamy-toned head, moderately sized, but long lasting. Looking nice. 

In the nose: Smooth bourbon notes dominate, vanilla and cherry, with a touch of oak. I'm not sure what kind of ale this is at the base, but it's not getting in the way of the barrel. 

In the mouth: Tasty and toasty. Caramel flavors find their way on the palate to match the vanilla, cherry, oak, etc. Chock full o' bourbon goodness. Medium bodied, very mellow, warm and cool at once. Feels like a strong amber ale, wrapped up in the barrel. I keep going back to smooth, and I'll add elegant. 

I'm having this bottle along with the remains of a bottle of Four Roses (though not the Small Batch). The character comes through. 

We first began brewing Oakspire in 2018 as a special release around the Holidays and it has since become a fan favorite. In 2021, we're thrilled to partner with Four Roses Distillery, known for their smooth, fruit forward and slightly spicy bourbons. Oakspire features a custom-built, proprietary infusion method to pull the flavors from the bourbon-steeped charred oak and marries it with a malty-sweet, deep amber ale.

Arbeiter Sessionista Session IPA

 

Arbeiter Sessionista Session IPA. 

4.7 % ABV. Arbeiter rewing, Minneapolis, Mn. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lasting, lace-leaving ivory head. 

In the nose: Malt sweetness hits first, then hop flavors rush in. A touch of farmhouse funk? Or something.

In the mouth: Mostly malty, with a light hop bitterness on top. Light and easy. Good drinker. Still curious about that thing that I could only call farmhouse funk. Was it something from fermentation? Well, there's nothing wrong with it, just stood out of place in an IPA. Which I don't think this is.  Can't we say "pale ale" anymore? 

Like the cool breeze of fall amidst the chaos of autumn events like going back to school, Oktoberfest, beer releases, and pumpkin spice everything, we bring you Sessionista. A clear, crisp crusher featuring Callista hops, Sessionista is a reset button, a pause, a low ABV beer so you can step back into the chaos and not miss a step.

Callista hops are a new German-grown variety with parentage to the classic fresh-cut hay, floral, and earthy Hallertau Tradition. Callista exhibits stone fruit aromas along with these more traditional hop elements.

Lagunitas Contents Under Fresher Fresh Hop IPA

Lagunitas Contents Under Fresher Fresh Hop IPA. with Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra and Sabro. 

7.7 % ABV. Lagunitas Brewing, Petaluma, CA & Chicago, IL. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Pow! Popping with fresh and vibrant hop aromatics, citrus and pine aplenty. Lemon and grapefruit up front. 

In the mouth: Hoppy as she gets, with appropriate bitterness blazing the palate. Light bodied, easy drinking, refreshing and delicious. Stone fruit joins citrus for a flash of peach. Hop flavor shines bright throughout. This goes down far too easily and is a brisk delight. 

This is the latest leap in Lagunitas’ never-ending quest for capturing the essence of fresh hops. Contents Under Fresher features whole-cone Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe & Sabro hops harvested and rushed from our family of farmer friends in Yakima. Expressed here in their absolute juiciest form.

Maine Beer Company Lunch India Pale Ale

 

Maine Beer Company Lunch India Pale Ale.

7 % ABV. Maine Brewing Company, Freeport, ME. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large and long-lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Soft and fuzzy. Floral. Grapefruit and lemon. Lovely. 

In the mouth: Fresh, lively, delicious. Blast of bitterness up front, flash of citrus, starting out bitter then turning dry. Medium bodied, long bitter finish, even handed, well -balanced. Just a little bit juicy, just enough. Malt has it's place here, and it's in harmony with the hops. Pretty much a perfect IPA. And I can dig it. 

Our “East Coast” version of a West Coast-style IPA. Intense hop flavors and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits and pine dominate. A subtle malt sweetness brings the beer into balance.

Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout

Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout. Cinnamon and Vanilla Spiced Nitro Stout.

6 % ABV, 33 IBU.

Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA. 

Thoroughly black, completely opaque, cocoa-tinged ring of foam resting above, 

In the nose: Big cinnamon, more sweet than heat. Vanilla comes up right behind it. Soft cocoa notes off in the distance. 

In the mouth: Comes on sweet and spicy. Cinnamon is more delicate on the palate this time, vanilla swims in and keeps it sweet. Chocolate malt flavors hold down the fort just before. Medium bodied, well-balanced, and tasty. I can see this going well with rich desserts. Cakes. Over ice cream. Mmm, I'm getting hungry now...

We reimagined our nitro milk stout into something entirely new and seasonal. Conditioned on whole Madagascar vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks, for a rich profile reminiscent of a cinnamon dolce latte.

Falling Knife All Nighter Imperial Golden Ale

Falling Knife All Nighter Imperial Golden Ale. With Costa Rican Natural  Coffee, Madagascar Vanilla, & Ghananian Cacao Nibs. Collaboration with Earth Rider Brewing. 

7.9 % ABV, Falling Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Coffee, vanilla, & cacao nibs...in a golden ale? At almost 8%? What'll they think of next? 

Clear, golden-toned, slim white head that disappears in a moment. 

In the nose: Coffee and cream comes roaring out of the nose, cacao nipping at it's heels. Vanilla lurks below. 

In the mouth: Tasty little mix going on here. Coffee and cream with a side of cocoa, and a slice of vanilla. Minor hops, medium malt. I'm not usually into golden ales, but when they're as yum a dum dum as this, that's a game changer. Wonderfully done. 

Lupulin Sexy Hops El Dorado India Pale Ale

Lupulin Sexy Hops El Dorado India Pale Ale.

7.7 % ABV, 50 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. 

Hazy, bright golden hue, large and lasting pure white head. Looking good. 

In the nose: bold citrus and pine personified, dankness in effect. Great display of hop aromatics. 

In the mouth: Juice drops at the start, dripping grapefruit and orange with a touch of peach and apricot. Slight sweetness matched with appropriate hop bitterness. Exceptionally smooth, with astounding amounts of juicy, hoppy flavor.  Definitively yum a dum dum. 

I may wish they didn't all have to be hazies, but I am never disappointed in a Lupulin IPA. 

Sexy Hops is a single hop IPA series showcasing the finest ingredients in the world. Rich and robust like the legendary golden city it’s named after, El Dorado hops bring flavors of tropical fruit including pineapple and mango, and aromas of pear, watermelon and stonefruit.

Brooklyn Black Ops Four Roses

Brooklyn Black Ops Four Roses 2021. Russian Imperial Stout. 

12.4 % ABV. Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY. 

I remember when I began my current stint in retail, there was a bomber of this one on the shelf, and I was interested, but that $20+ price tag? No, no, no. It sat for many months. Then, a week or so ago, this version came out, 4 packs of 16 ounce cans for $14. Hell, yes. There were two left on the shelf, out of two flats (12 four-packs), when I grabbed this. Probably all gone by now. Let's drink one, and, as long as I have a bottle, do a shot of Four Roses with it. 

Solid blackness, thoroughly opaque, short brown head that slims down quickly. 

In the nose: Bourbon screams out of there, big barrel flavor, add to that cocoa, licorice, huge vanilla, charcoal, cherries, ...the whole magilla. Enormous nose. 

In the mouth: Massive. Amazing. I'm drinking this colder than I should. I have never been one to cup a glass to warm it. Something about that seems excessively geeky. I'll let my patience do the trick, as it warms in my belly. Again, though, this is gigantic, huge. It's a fantastic trip, big bourbon, big stout. Boom, boom, boom, boom. A very nice nightcap, this. Sweet dreams, everyone. 

The rumors are true: Brooklyn Black Ops is real, and it is delicious. This vintage of Black Ops was aged in Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon barrels to call forth big chocolate and coffee notes and a rich, mellow underpinning of vanilla-like oak. It’s a legend in a glass.

Junkyard Eighties Rock Label IPA

Junkyard Eighties Rock Label IPA. With HBC 586, Galaxy and Mosaic. 

6.9% ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

It's a Junkyard IPA that doesn't say New England or Hazy on the label, but that doesn't mean that it isn't. I've learned that lesson. So, why did I buy, I, the hater of the hazies? Because this one crowler got lost in the Big Cooler back stock long after it's counterparts in the Junkyard cooler on the floor sold out. Should I search desperately for a space to display this lone can, and then print a new shelf tag to replace the one I probably threw away? Or, just buy the thing, drink it up, shut up and enjoy a hazy for once. That's what I'll do. And that's what I did. 

By the way, I skipped the previous two in this series, if it is a series, probably because they did say NEIPA on them. No, actually only 70's did, but 60's Rock Label did not. That one just slipped past me. Now, here's my question: this can art is clearly an allusion to the warning label prompted by the PMRC, and the art for 60's Rock Label has a beetle on it, or, a Beatle. But I never figured out the moth on the 70's Rock Label art. Can anyone fill me in? Please, I'm not worried about spoilers. 

So, the beer: All hazy-like, bright yellow color, large, luminous ivory head. 

In the nose: Citrus blast with a pineapple twist. Lemon and orange are in charge. 

In the mouth: Just a little juicy in the start, citrusy splash on the palate. Minor bitterness (which I hate in an IPA), delicious malty flavor.  Smooth stuff, sugary and fuzzy, and an excellent hazy, but I hate hazies. 

Eighties Rock Label is amped to the max with a bodacious hop combination of HBC 586, Galaxy, and Mosaic. These show-stopping hops create a full, juicy flavor profile with notes of peach and stone fruit accompanied by an incredibly soft mouthfeel!

Bent Brewstillery Temporal Sunshine Hazy Fruited Sour

Bent Brewstillery Temporal Sunshine Hazy Fruited Sour. 

Pineapple - Meyer Lemon-Mexican Vanilla.

6.1 % ABV, 15 IBU. Bent Brewstilllery, Roseville, MN. 

Hazy Fruited Sour is not the type of beer I would normally drink. Especially with Vanilla, Mexican or other. But this was a sample that was given to me, so drink it, and review it, I must. Onward and upward. 

Hazy, all right, bright golden color, large and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Lemon wafts out of the glass first, vanilla pulls up right next to it, and pineapple has to be around here somewhere. I see it, hiding behind the lemon. 

In the mouth: Very tart, and then comes the sweet. Pineapple is mixed up with the lemon, and why is there vanilla? I don't think it really works together. Mellow out in the mouth a bit, before we go back for the next sip. Medium bodied, drinkable, but rather blasé. It's just not doing anything for me.  For a sour, it's too sweet. 

Hazy Fruited Sour. 

Pineapple. Meyer lemon. Mexican Vanilla. 

Made with 100% MN malt.

Finnegans' Dunkel

Finnegans' Dunkel. Dark lager brewed with Vienna & Munich malts. 

5.8 % ABV, 38 IBU. Finnegans Brewing, Minnepolis, MN. 

Dark brown, nearly black coloring, mostly opaque, slim off-white head. 

In the nose: Roasted malt. Hint of caramel. A little coffee. 

In the mouth: Starts out slightly sweet, notes of nuts, caramel malt, cocoa. Medium bodied and exceptionally smooth and balanced. A tasty one, and super sessional. 

A German style dark lager brewed with Vienna and Munich malts. Hopped with Saphir to boot. Smooth and very approachable for any lager fan.

Pipeworks Phantom Unicorn Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Pipeworks Phantom Unicorn Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

14.3 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

Well, I messed up with this one. I probably purchased this can, which sold for $5, a nice price these days, because I like barrel-aged imperial stouts. But, I didn't read the label, which tells us that it also includes lactose, vanilla, and cacao nibs. I tell you this, the lactose and vanilla trend has to die. Get it together, brewers, enough is enough. And get rid of marshmallow, too, while you're at it. 

Solid blackness, complete opacity, big brown head that dies off immediately. 

In the nose: Bigness and richness. Cocoa and char. Licorice and leather. Blackstrap molasses. All the bourbon barrel goodness. 

In the mouth: Starts out heavy on the sweet stuff. Minor if any hop bitterness. Slick and slightly syrupy. Big boned and boozy. Dark fruit aplenty. Light spice. Eternal chocolate. 

I don't really pick up on the lactose or vanilla. Were they necessary? Are brewers just becoming slave to habit, and adding that to everything? 

Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 

A curated blend pulled from bourbon barrels accented by cacao nibs, vanilla, and lactose 

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger V2K IPA

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger V2K IPA.

6.9% ABV, 19 IBU. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. 

Right at the start of the pour, this doesn't look great. Lots of floating particles. And then I remember that this 6-pack was given to me because it was being pulled from the shelves for being too old. And now I check the bottom and see that it's best by date was 8/29/21, 2 1/2 months ago. That's not so old. Well, I'm going to describe it anyway. 

Hazy, dull golden hue, small white head. 

In the nose: Soft, sweet, tropical. Pineapple and guava. 

In the mouth: Smooth, bright, and yum a dum dum. Soft with mild bitterness. Sweetness from tropical notes meets a splash of citrus. A hit of grapefruit to go with the pineapple. Tasty one, and drinkable, too. 

You know, it just occurred to me that I haven't had a New Belgium beer that wasn't an IPA in over two years. Except for that one Dave shared with me because I'm not buying a $50 bottle. Next time, I'll take a break from that. 

Say goodbye to your semi-charmed life, and wassap to a bittersweet symphony of grapefruit and guava, perfectly in sync in this hazy IPA

Odell Oktoberfest Märzen Style Lager

Odell Oktoberfest Märzen Style Lager. 

6.1 % ABV, 19 IBU. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Clear, amber-hued, slim white head. 

In the nose: Sweet, malty, herbal, nutty.

In the mouth: Crisp, clean, delicious. All the hallmarks of the traditional style are here. Smooth, sweet, malty, toasty, just the right tone for fall. I feel for a moment a bit bad that I'm drinking this in November, long after beers like this have left the shelves. It's my last can from the six-pack, the one that shows off my procrastination most. The party in Munich was in September. October is long gone. But this is perfect for now. 

There’s plenty to celebrate when fall arrives in Colorado. The warm days grow shorter, the cool shadows grow longer, and the aspens put on their golden, grand finale. Brewed with biscuity sweet Munich malts and spicy, herbal noble hops, our Oktoberfest is a reminder to stop and enjoy the show.

Foundry Distiling's Furious Whiskey: when beer becomes spirit

Furious IPA Whiskey, Foundry Distilling, West Des Moines, Iowa.

I did not take these notes with the whiskey on the rocks. This
pic is from my June tasting, and it turned out better than the
pic I took this time. So, I cheated, so sue me.

I've never written about whiskey before. Never even tried. I just drink the stuff. But, now I will make my first attempt. Now that there is Furious Whiskey.

Back in June, Foundry Distilling of West Des Moines released these bottles, made from the wort that would have been fermented into barrels of Furious, an ale with which I've had a long history. It only made sense for me to buy a bottle and try it out, maybe make a blog post. Procrastination got the best of me, and the bottle finished before I sat down to write. All these months later, with supplies dwindling, I felt it was time to drop another sixty bucks (normally my whiskey choices are more budgetary, shall we say) and take notes with a pint of Furious on the side. 

And I'll start without my customary ice. (I like my whiskey cool.)

Amber cast. Hot and peppery in the nose. Caramel and fruit blend for alcohol-charged bouquet of this yet-to-become IPA, made into another spirituous beverage. Complexities abound. 

Picking up the pint, our old standby Furious contains it's usual melange of hoppy flavors, but here less harsh, all is cool and friendly-like. 

To drink, citrus and malt comes across through the heat. Wash it down with sip of the brew. There we have it , the mix of malt and hops, the blend of bitter and sweet, the cool clash and the mellow meld in a cold, smooth format. Back to the dram, and it becomes clear, that, yeah, this is Furious distilled as whiskey, and that's a damned good thing. I wish this wasn't such a rarity, and I didn't have to treat it like dragon's gold.

Let's stop and read the label: "Wort produced to make Surly Brewing Company's iconic Furious IPA was brought south, and fermented and distilled at Foundry Distilling Co. after carefully again for thirty months in new 30-gallon charred American oak barrels. The Furious IPA distillate has matured into this world class Furious Whiskey. We hope you share a dram with friends and enjoy."

Furious Whiskey is an excellent beverage, and I would want to just leisurely drink it down, as I did that first bottle those months ago. But, as it's rare and might soon be gone, I'm going to put this bottle away and invest in another bottle of Knob Creek or something for my leisurely drinking ( I do prefer bourbon over straight American whiskey) and save the rest of this to do just what they urge, have a dram with friends.

BlackStack Standing Ovation TDH TIPA

BlackStack Standing Ovation TDH TIPA.

10.5 % ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Hazy as heck, dull golden, large and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: soft and citrusy. Light and...angel food cake?

In the mouth: Juicy. Slightly tart. Big citrus. Touch of tropical. Tasty. With growing alcohol presence. And a lot of fuzz. Medium bodied, "soft and pillowy"--sigh--

Again, it's nothing like the "TIPA"s that I like...or the DIPAs. I wish there was at least some hop bitterness here. Any. Why do they want to neuter IPAs these days? I have to keep remembering that people like this now. I'm in the minority. This is how they want IPAs. I guess. 

Enough of my griping. There's hoppy flavor here, and they kicked out the bitterness, so what. It's a bit too sugary for me. Sorry, guys. 

This is us seeing how much juice we can pull out of one of our favorite hop combos. Obnoxiously loud quantities of our hand selected strata, cashmere & cashmere cryo. Just be careful standing up…This one’s a doozie

Maine Beer Company Another One India Pale Ale

Maine Beer Company Another One India Pale Ale.

7% ABV. Maine Brewing Company, Freeport, ME. 

Two beers from this well-regarded brewery entered our market recently. I am going to first drink the one I haven't had. Certain collected data reveals that I have had two MBC beers before, King Titus and Lunch IPA (the second of those now available here), both of them served over at Dave's place. (Thanks again, Dave.) Now, to have one at my place and take the notes upon it. 

Slightly hazed, bright golden hue, large and lasting white head. 

In the nose: Hoppy flavors hitting it. Some citrus, but mostly tropical. Mango/guava, with a twist of grapefruit/orange. 

In the mouth: Judiciously hopped, minor bitterness, just a stroke of astringency, overall well-balanced. Stays juicy, and ekes into dry. Tropical/citrus hops flavors continue to ride over the palate. Medium bodied, and well-drinkable. Highly satisfying beverage. 

When we expanded our brewery in 2013, the stress was something, to say the least. I ran out of creative juice for a minute so I decided to have another one for inspiration.

flavor profile: pineapple, mango, and guava, with notes of orange and grapefruit. undertones of earthy, woody pine

Damn, I forgot about the earthy, woody pine!

Junkyard Junktoberfest

 Junkyard Junktoberfest.

5.8 % ABV. Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Clear, bold amber hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: sweet, malty, noble hops. Classic märzen aromatics. 

In the mouth: Crsip, clean, malty. Toasty. Caramel-y. Perfect Oktoberfest flavors. Festive, traditional. Again, I like to try the Junkyard beers that aren't the trend-followers, aren't hype machines, have no marshmallow. And there's nothing to fit that bill than a good old Oktoberfest. This one's extra tasty and super drinkable. Yum a dum dum. 

Samson Original Czech Bock Beer

Samson Original Czech Bock Beer.

6.1 % ABV, Budějovický měšťanský pivovar, Czech Republic (subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch/InBev)

Beers from the Czech Republic have only appeared here in the Nib twice before, both of them pilsners: the  iconic original, Pilsner Urquel and Praga. And now we have a bock, from a brewery I'd never heard of before, that has been around since 1795, apparently. This is come as no surprise, really, because there are so many breweries in the world. I can't know all of them, but it's not for lack of trying. 

Pours out a clear, golden hue, not the color I was expecting. Well, not all bocks are brown, after all. Slim, negligible head. 

In the nose: I want to say "floral" or "malty", but the aromatics coming from this beer that was resting in a transparent green bottle are best described as "skunk."

In the mouth: A bit on the sweet side, with a modicum of hop bitterness. And I'm not getting any flavors I'd associate with a bock. Maybe a Maibock, but it doesn't quite cut it, if that's the case. Light-bodied, drinkable-ish ...and lackluster. I will finish this bottle, because that's what I do, but not because I'm enjoying it. 

Wait, it won a World Beer Award for "World's Best Style Winner"? Maybe it suffered in the travel? Oh, well, it was only $3. 

Wabasha Green Avenger IPA

Wabasha Green Avenger IPA. 

6.8 % ABV, 75 IBU, Wabasha Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

And here we have the second appearance here in the Nib of the Wabasha Brewing Company, and yet again, it is a sample I got for free. I nearly bought an IPA called Space Monkey, because who can resist that name, but it sold too fast. For some reason, though, folks are not as attracted to female green aliens with space boobies. I don't know what's up with that, it works for me. 

Anyway, on to the beer...

Clear, amber hued, large, lush creamy-white head. Looking nice. 

In the nose: soft, floral, and...huh. A trickle of pine. Caramel malt? "Do I detect a note of juniper?"

In the mouth: Some citrus and spice starts it off. Lands with a dull thud. Doesn't sparkle on the palate in any way shape or form. Flavor lasts long, but doesn't engage. For 75 IBU, the bitterness makes little impact. Veeers too close into sweetness. This is the kind that would make certain people say, "they've crafted the perfect IPA--no bitterness!" 

One of the weakest IPAs I've had in recent memory. Glad I didn't pay for it. And I am no closer to wanting to buy anything from them again. 

"Blasting through time and space, to make contact with your smiling face"

And that is the information that the label wants to give us. 

Une Année Ambre Belgian Style Pale Ale

Une Année Ambre Belgian Style Pale Ale.

4.5 % ABV, Une Année Brewery, Niles, IL. 

Lightly hazy, deep amber color, slim white head. 

In the nose: Belgian yeast comes roaring out. Fruit and funk abound. Citrus and stone. Minor hops. 

In the mouth: Brief spark of hops, than comes the malt. Slightly sweet, surprisingly smooth. Light/medium bodied, easily drinkable. Tasty little Belgian amber ale, and guess what? I like it. 

Hammerheart Barrel Aged Sköll och Hat Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Stout

Hammerheart Barrel Aged Sköll och Hat Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Stout.

10.8 % ABV, Hammerheart Brewing, Lino Lakes, MN. 

Solid blackness, utterly impenetrable, huge, rich, tan head, holding down the fort, and staying in for the long haul. 

In the nose: Cocoa. Vanilla. Bourbon. Dark fruit. Whoa. All the goodies are here. 

In the mouth: Deep, dark, delicious. Ridiculously rich, tasty, delightful, with bourbon barrels looming above. Full bodied, massively malty, overdose of chocolate, with just enough barrel. Thick, rich, and huge. Now the ABV comes roaring in and pounds on the walls. Boom, boom, boom, boom. 

Bourbon barrel aged chocolate stout. This beer is a bourbon barrel aged version of mildly smoked chocolate stout, Sköll ohh Hati, rich in malt character, yet dry enough to warrant a second can. 

Ooops, I only had the one. That would be one heck of a night, though. 

Bent Paddle Pordij India Pale Ale Rotator Series #8: Robusto

Bent Paddle Pordij India Pale Ale Rotator Series #8: Robusto. Simcoe Cryo, Amarillo, Centennial, Sultana. 

6.6% ABV, 68 IBU. Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, MN. 

Clear, amber-hued, slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and spice. Grapefruit and tangerine. 

In the mouth: Popping with hops. Medium-bodied, easy-drinking, well-balanced. Malt  flavors outweigh the minor bitterness. Smooth stuff, with plenty of hoppy flavor. Citrus notes abound. Refreshing and likable IPA. 

Every Pôrdij leads to new adventure! Just as a portage takes you to a new body of water, our Pôrdij navigates the ever-changing currents of the IPA style. Robusto India Pale Ale piles on a massive hop load, enough to bear down on anyone's shoulders. Despite the added weight, the bitterness is kept at bay, with some "old school" hops bringing a robust nostalgia to the mix. Pôrdij Robusto IPA gives that freshly traveled paddler a nod of encouragement to get back in the water and paddle forth!

Wooden Ship The Farmacist Rye Saison/Tim Johnson Collab

Wooden Ship The Farmacist Rye Saison/Tim Johnson Collaboration

4.3 % ABV, Wooden Hill Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Clear, auburn hued, slim, off-white head. 

In the nose: spicy, malty, fruity, with a small dose of tart. Whiff of Belgian funk. 

In the mouth: More of the same arrives on the palate. Rosy complexion. Berries and apples. Rye malt and Brett going on in a saison. Have to call it and dig it. Interesting stuff going on here. Light bodied, clean and easy drinking, while full of character. 

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA.

9.4 % ABV, Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

I almost skipped this one. Another "hazy"? Sigh...So, I was late in picking it up. But I bought with a week to spare. Of course, I can have one a night, and get them all done in time. And I did drink the first five before the countdown clock struck. Yes, I enjoyed five of the six before that arbitrary holi-date of 10-31...and, well, it really doesn't matter? Here comes my notes on can #6, two days after I turned into a pumpkin. 

It's all hazed up, alright, but not too, just enough to stay cool. Bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Big hops, bold citrus, certifiably dank. Huge lupulin rush. Candied apricots and fresh squeezed orange rinds, grapefruit and lemon. 

In the mouth: Juicy, dank, citrusy stuff to be sure. Just enough bitter and then some. Sleek bodied, easily drunkable. (That's not a typo.) Bam, it's a hop explosion and I'm digging it. Dripping hoppy goodness all over the palate, over the lips, and off the chin. Absolutely lovely. 

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA is here to haunt your beer fridge with a hazy look and a heavy helping of Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo and Nelson Sauvin hops. But the refreshing dryness and huge tropical fruit flavors in this double IPA are nothing to be afraid of. The only thing that would truly be terrifying is missing out on this frighteningly fresh creation…

Baltika #6 Porter

Baltika #6 Porter.

7 % ABV.  16 IBU. Baltika Breweries, Russian Federation. 

Working in retail keeps one's head out of the beer geek bubble, the kind you can easily find yourself in if you only ever associate with the like-minded, in person, or especially online. Here's an example. The other day, someone asked what Russian beers we had, and I only had one, the beer I am about to drink. "Oh, only the numbair seex?" she said in my terrible imitation of her accent. "Not the whan or the nein?" "We had them before, I let her know, and they all sold through, except this porter, Baltika #6. Saddened, they left with no Russian beers to buy. Why on Earth didn't they want the far superior Baltic porter rather than those awful, awful lagers? 

You guys know how to read my sarcasm, right? Tell me you do.

This will be the first Russian beer to enter the Nib. But, over on BeerAdvocate.com, it seems that I reviewed 12 beers from the Russian Federation between 2003 and 2005. I should point out the selection of craft beers both national and local was abysmal during that time, in this place, and I bought everything I could find. I rated the Baltika #1 a 1.95, a whopping 37% below the average. I was not kind to European/Asian light lagers then. The #9 received a 1.74 from me, an astonishing 38.9% lower than the average score. And as for the Baltic Porter, #6, I granted it a grade of 4.35, an amazing 19.2 % higher than the norm. I just love those Baltic Porters. 

So, now I will revisit this Baltika #6 and later see what I thought of it when I reviewed it first back in February of 2003. 

Dark brown, fully opaque, large brownish head, soon to slip in size. 

In the nose: roasty, malty, slightly sweet, minor hops. Caramel notes, with a bit of cocoa. 

In the mouth: Smooth, rich, tasty. Medium-bodied, malt-forward, just the barest bitterness. A very passable porter, though it could use more body and depth. Perhaps it's only the 212th ranked Baltic Porter on BeerAdvocate for a reason. But for $3 a bottle, I find it easy-drinking and enjoyable. (Probably not worthy of a 4.35 rank, though.)

And here were my brief notes, from my early, less-wordy days: Color is dark as dark can be, beneath a big, bubbly, crackling tan head. Aroma is full of cocoa, nuts, and sweet candyish flavors. Medium body, light in texture, but really tasty, rich, satisfying. The ABV is 7%, but I didn't feel it in the least. Wait a minute...okay, now I do! Very tasty, and a welcome surprise, an excellent porter, an enjoyable beer!

Вкус «Балтики 6» — глубокий и гармоничный, с выраженной горечью, дополненный насыщенным тёмным цветом. Аромат «Балтики 6» — карамельный, с тонкой шоколадной ноткой. При производстве «Балтики 6» используются светлый, карамельный и жжёный солод, а также элитные сорта хмеля и специальные штаммы дрожжей.

This traditional dark beer is brewed according to old English recipes. The elite hops, special yeast, purest water and high skill of the brewers are a guarantee of the popularity of the Baltika Porter. Baltika Breweries makes this beer using the best kinds of dark and pale malt.

Oliphant Ennui'd Strata Single Hop India Pale Ale

 Oliphant Ennui'd Strata Single Hop India Pale Ale.

7.5 % ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Clear, with a slight chill haze, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head, looking great. 

In the nose: Strata hop attack delivers wave upon wave of citrus and tropical notes. Stone fruit, too. Peach among the pineapple and grapefruit. Tantalizing melange. 

In the mouth: Crisp and clean. More fruitiness assembles on the palate, with a brief blast of bitterness. Light in the body and easy in the drinkability. Cornucopia of flavors continues to unfold. A flash of the tropical, a dash of the citrus, a bit of the pitted. 

This is a tasty little number. Good ol' India Pale Ale and also Yum a Dum Dum. 

Single Hop IPA w/ Strata Hops!

Junkyard Hatchet Jack Baltic Porter

 Junkyard Hatchet Jack  Baltic Porter.

6.8 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

I've said it before and it bears repeating: If you brew a Baltic Porter, I will drink it. Especially if all that you mostly put out is NE IPAs and fruited sours. And that's why we are here doing this, drinking a Baltic Porter from Junkyard. 

Fairly black, thoroughly opaque, slim brown head. 

In the nose: Roasted malt, cocoa & coffee, bittersweet, intriguing. Offering all the hallmarks I'm looking for. 

In the mouth: Sweet dark malt hits first, rich and lovely, dark and delicious, ultimately turning dry. Coffee on top, bittersweet notes, then comes the cocoa. Some molasses. Never too sweet, never too anything. Full bodied, complex, dry. Wonderful beer that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

The color of this beer comes from the copious amounts of caramelized barley, not from the roasted malts. This gives it a less in your face body of a typical stout. The English yeast used for this beer imparts tones of chocolate covered red fruit. Enjoy!

Fulton IPA

Fulton IPA.

5.8% ABV, 60 IBU. Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN. 

Wait, doesn't Fulton already have an IPA, one of their first beers, the very popular Sweet Child of Vine? And, hey, don't they have another IPA called 300, also very popular? What's this one? Well, it's IPA No Nonsense, They Way It should be. With No Dairy, No Cereal, No Candy....I'm forgetting one. (This is from the 12-pack box, which I've long since recycled, though I see it every day at work.)

This came out a few months ago, only in 12-pack bottles, which is an odd way to release a new beer. I had to try it, because I'm firmly on the side of the no-nonsense IPA. The first eleven, as usual, were consumed in a laissez-faire kind of way, and I saved #12 for the note-taking. It's about time I did that. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, pure white head, looking fantastic. 

In the nose: beautiful aromatics, lightly floral, mostly citric, judicious side order of pine. Just what you want from your IPA. 

In the mouth: Hop bitterness kicks it off and hangs in for the long haul.  The way it should be. None of this soft and pillowy shit. Bold and bitter, grabs the tongue and won't let go. Citrus flavors abound, grapefruit and lemon galore, with piney goodness right along. Medium bodied, easy drinking and hoppy as heck. Needless to say, I love it. 

NO NONSENSE IPA

What if IPA was just IPA? 

 No, there is no definitive answer now or maybe ever, yet the question rings not through eternity but around a barroom and a garage and if the bell is ringing we will answer or more probably we just ring the damn bell back harder. From now until then we uphold IPA as it might have been, could now be and may never be again or maybe never was. Even if only for this moment, but for as long as we can until we can’t, we brew IPA as it should be.