Disgruntled Punch Drunk Gose

When you go to the Disgruntled Brewing website, the first words that pop on your computer screen are these: "the more disgruntled the brewer, the better the beer." What does that mean now? How disgruntled can your brewer be, and still brew? The disgruntled Disgruntled brewer, Brett Doebbelling, has left the brewery that he was part owner of, saying that he was "squeezed out" by his partners, and has stepped down. His talent, though, was what brought them acclaim and made them successful. Where do they do from here? More importantly, where does he go? We're waiting to see. Meanwhile, I'll keep reviewing the crowlers when I see them.

Disgruntled Punch Drunk. Fruited sour gose. 5% ABV. Disgruntled Brewing Co., Perham, MN.

Clear, bright and rosy coloration, with a pinkish head that starts big and slips down quickly.

In the nose: Very berry, with the accompanying tell-tale signs of a proper Gose, the sour, the wheat, the salt. It's all there. Nice.

In the mouth: Tart! Then fruity, and quickly comes the wheat, and the salt, and more tart. Light bodied, very drinkable, quite refreshing. I like it. Sour never quits, berry flavor is a delight. Tastes right, drink right...right on!

A Gose made with magical anti-aging aronia berries. Very refreshing!

Disgruntled Double Stuffed Milk Stout

Double Stuffed Milk Stout. Disgruntled Brewing, Perham, MN. 6% ABV. Canned on : 11-13.

To the eye: thoroughly blackened, utterly opaque, large tanned head, that slips down to a tight ring.

In the nose: Rich, sweet, creamy, chocolatey. Cookie crust. So far, it seems like we're stepping into an Oreo beer, if there is such a thing.

In the mouth: Dark malts with a chocolate edge, deep and delicious. I try not to repeat certain words or phrases, but I want to go back to rich and creamy and sweet. Full bodied, smooth, ending on a dry-ish note. Hop bitterness is here, too, and it serves to keep the sweet in check, rounding out the palate.

This is excellent. Go drink it.

I found a surprising number of Disgruntled crowlers at a certain local store recently, and had quite a job of choosing. Glad I skipped Lingerer, because that's the one I brought back in a growler from my visit to the brewery last year. (I wouldn't mind having another, of course. But with so many beers out there to try, I have to stretch my dollars.) I'll return to pick up the rest, before I contemplate the question of whether it's wise to support them after the departure of head brewer Brett Doebbelling.

With beers like this in his portfolio, there's no question that Brett will find another home for his incredible creations.

Disgruntled Bulletproof American Brown Ale

Disgruntled Bulletproof Dark and Hearty American Brown Ale. 5% ABV, Canned on 7/24. Disgruntled Brewing, Perham, MN. 750 ml crowler.
"Grumpy is Good."

In the eye: Rich brown color, clear(-ish), slim brown head atop.

In the nose: Malt-forward aromatics, nutty, slightly sweet, earthy, rich. Nice.

In the mouth: Smooth and substantial. Bold entry on the palate. Judicious bitterness meets malty sweetness well. Medium/full-ish body, consummate drinkability. A flat-out tasty-as-heck brown ale. I can drink this one all the way down and enjoy it.

This brewery is certainly getting it's due of late, mostly due to IPA's and big, barrel-aged stouts and such, as is often the case. They should be famous, as well, for making solid examples of standard styles.

Disgruntled Guvnor English Amber Ale

Disgruntled Brewing Guvnor, A malt forward English Amber Ale. 5.6% ABV. Canned on 7/17.

My first crowler from Disgruntled, purchased at South Lyndale Liquors last Thursday. I was alerted to their presence there earlier last week, and told that there were only a few left. The hot ones, the IPAs and such were, in fact, sold out, and only the "boring ones", the browns, the pales, the amber, were left. But, you know, even boring beer can be good beer, when it's good.

In the eye: Clear, rich copper-y/amber hue, off-white head. Looking nice.

In the nose: Clean, malty, nutty, earthy. Just enough hops, just enough sweet.

In the mouth: Easy going as they get. Clean and malty, excellent balance and utterly smooth. This is the beer that I was told was their top seller when I first visited the brewery back last year, which caused some consternation to the brewer. He hated making it, he said. Well, if your clientele is tossing this back, and not complaining because isn't Miller Lite, you're doing something right. That was last year, this year they've successfully conquered the beer geek crowd. I haven't been able to return and am sufficiently jealous of those who make it up there for the big beer releases. I can't imagine when I'll be in Perham next, so I'll have to keep hitting the store and hope luck is with me.

I'm still drinking this big ol' crowler and more flavors are developing in the mouth, hops are getting bolder, citrus is shining. Remains on the sweet side, but hops are keeping it from going overboard. This is an overall excellent amber ale, and I recommend it highly.

Minnesota Breweries One by One #60: Disgruntled Brewing, Perham

This way to Disgruntled Brewing!

It's Thursday, July 28, and the second stop of the day is a town I'd never heard of until the
announcement of this brewery. Perham, Minnesota, in Otter Tail County, population 2, 985, only 94.1% of them white folk. Incorporated in 1881. Gender breakdown: 45% women, 55% men. During our brief, confusing tour through the town, there seemed to be an equal number of thrift stores versus feed stores.

Tucked away in a little wooded area at 735 2nd St. NE, far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Perham, we at last entered Disgruntled Brewing, which has been open about six months now. We had beaten the
crowd and were able to take in the space without the noise and crush of the masses.
It's a very well-assembled, beautiful space. Above the windows showcasing the

brewery, the sketchy black & white logos of their regular beers are displayed. Across the room, a television for when the big game is on, I presume, looms over the comfy chairs, with board games, a taproom must, shelved below. The dark wood of the walls, tables, & chairs put me in mind of a comfortable cabin. A chalkboard with the current offerings hangs above the taps, and Jason decided to go with a flight, while I picked a half-pint of the Lingerer wheat IPA. Notes from the growler I brought home will appear below.

L to R: Sample of Imperial Stout, Jason's flight, Brett,
Jason's elbow.

Jason's flight included the lemony and lean Toasted Blonde, the spicy and smooth Stoopid Good oat IPA, a tart and fruity Cherry Berliner Weisse, their most popular beer, the Guvnor amber ale, the nutty, malty and dry Bulletproof Brown Ale, and the Menace Stout, dark and toasty, bittersweet and smooth.

Lingerer IPA.

nitro chocolate milk stout. mm, mm, good.

For my second beer, I went with the Nitro offering, Chocolate Milk Stout, and my notes on that one were very short and to the point: "just about perfect." Didn't feel like writing anything else, just really satisfied with it, as it hit all the right notes. Chocolate, roasted malt, creamy, smooth, espresso hints. Yum. (I overheard disgruntled Disgruntled brewer Brett say that he isn't exactly a fan of nitro, and serves it because that's what people want. I'm actually not a fan, either, but I can see the appeal.)

In case you're wondering, the sign on the ladies
room features a bottle pouring straight down.

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out what transpired when Jason and I took our seats, initially. Head brewer (/owner?) Brett Doebbeling (I knew it was him from his Disgruntled brewers shirt with "Brett" sewn on.) looked at the two of us and said "I recognize you." I thought to myself whether we'd met or not, and he cleared it up by inform us that he'd been reading the blog, and was anticipating my arrival. He'd seen a tweet I sent that morning, the first thing I'd done on Twitter in months, actually, where I told the Twitterers that we'd done Fargo/moorhead and were hitting three more breweries on the way back home. He'd correctly deduced that we'd be visiting his brewery on the return trip, and was concerned that the beers would pass scrutiny and be worthy of our exacting standards.

There is that concern, of course, with every new, untested taproom we enter. We'd not heard good nor bad about the place, and there was the possibility that we would immediately turn disgruntled upon first sip. Each time a new brewery's wares have been inspected by our tastebuds and have been deemed "legit", we thank our

various gods that we haven't had to enter another into the bottom tier.

We assured him that there was no threat of that happening. All the beers were good, within style, no off flavors, nothing odd, or weird, or half-baked about them. And he could rest assured that I would happily tell the world about it.

Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout, aka
Disgruntled Brunch Stout. We had this on July
28, but you can try it on August 6. 

It is odd, though, that an enterprise this ambitious should exist in such a rural area. He's a bit disgruntled that the amber ale is so popular, but it's a reality that most folks just want a beer you can drink, and aren't willing to fuss around with new styles and flavors. Some will come around, though, and I hope it's enough to keep him going.

Brett had a surprise treat for us, and poured a sample of a beer he wasn't going to release until this upcoming Saturday, a barrel-aged (6 months) 10% ABV Imperial Stout called Disgruntled Brunch Stout. It was right on the money, rich, full, deep, dark and decadent. Wish I could have taken a growler of that home with me, but I settled for the first beer I tried there, the Lingerer IPA, notes follow now....

Disgruntled Lingerer India Pale Ale, brewed with wheat. .6.8% ABV.

Hazy, orange/apricot, lovely white head, leaving lace.



Beautiful aromatics: low-key notes of pine and citrus. Orange, grapefruit, and lemon. Very nice.

In the mouth: Even better. Pungent citrus-y hop flavors, juicy malt body. Medium mouthfeel. Long lasting hop bitterness. Creamy, fruity, bitter, and lovely. Nice, easy drinking IPA.

On our way out the door, we noticed the patio, on the side of the building, with bean toss games decorated with the Disgruntled logo. Lights were hung high over the top. I bet it gets lively out there, when Perham gets it's beers on and lets loose. By the way, you can learn more and read some highfaluting gobbledygook on their website, but better yet, go check them out for yourself.