Drekker Flizzard Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

 Drekker Flizzard Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout With ice cream, Oreos, cacao nibs, and milk sugar. 

12.5 % ABV, Drekker Brewing, Fargo, North Dakota. 

Here he have a beer that I would never have purchased on my own. The price is usually prohibitive and the ingredients go against my principles. But my nephew brought it to Christmas and gave it to me, so I suppose that I had better drink it. 

Full on ebony, complete opacity, tight brown ring.

In the nose: cocoa and cookies, dark chocolate, fudge. Whispers of crème filling. Hints of nougat. So much richness.

In the mouth: more richness, more depth, more chocolate explosion on the palate. Not sure how ice cream contributes to anything, it’s a gimmicky additive, if nothing else. Why use it? 

Full body, full flavor, loads of deep delights. And cookies! Yay! Cookies…whee!

Oreo®️ Flizzard is the first of what will be a whole series of stupidly fun Flizzard stouts. This one was built on a blended base stout from some of our favorite barrels, and conditioned on ice cream, oreos, and milk sugar.

I will now shut up and….just drink…

Drekker Chonk Peaches and Cream Sundae Sour

 Drekker Chonk Peaches and Cream Sundae Sour. With peach, vanilla soft serve ice cream, lactose, vanilla beans.

6.7% ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

Why is this in my possession? My nephew gave it to me on Christmas Day, and it’s sat in the fridge for lo, these many months. Eight months of saying no, tonight I at last pledge to leap into the void. Here we go. 

Thick, orange, Andy look at this head! It resembles an insane experiment of some mad scientist. Good Lord! (Choke!)

In the nose: there’s the cream, the fruity sweetness, and just below the peach. Delivering so far on it’s bizarre promise.

In the mouth: creamy mouthful reveals fruit, vanilla, tartness. Insufferable sweet on second sip, with swiftly retreating sourness. Starting to congeal in the mouth. Sickeningly sweet. 

Some people adore this nonsense, but I am sticking with my gut here: it’s garbage. Keep ice cream out of beer and knock it off with the vanilla. Don’t call them sours when they are not. And I need to get to a real beer fast, so it’s going down the drain.

Sorry, Patrick. 

Our lovable hefty boi is back and he’s got his smol little paws in the dessert stash again! Peaches and Cream Chonk is completely stuffed with peach, vanilla ice cream, lactose, & vanilla beans. This absolute unit of a beer is exactly like a devilishly decadent bowl of peaches & cream.⠀

Lupulin/ Drekker Operation Cohoperation Double Dry Hopped Triple India Pale Ale

Lupulin/ Drekker Operation Cohoperation Double Dry Hopped Triple India Pale Ale.

10% ABV. 10 IBU. Lupuin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. Collaboration with Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND. 

Highly clouded, bright golden hued, large, long lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Outsized aromatics. Big citrus notes abound. Largely lemon, orange, a hint of grapefruit. 

In the mouth: Starts out slightly sweet and tropical, with some juicy business on the palate. Pineapple and passionfruit joins the citrus. Soft and slightly fuzzy. Got to be all hazy with these two at the helm. Once again I am reminded that the Double Dry Hopped Double IPA from the fashioners of the fuzz, any of them, is not for me. They deliver some kind of pleasure, but keep the bitterness that I crave completely at bay. There's alchohol, hoppy flavors, and big juiciness, but it's all a bore to me. 

Too thick, too yeasty, too chock full of unwanted, unneeded proteins, too, too not what I want in a double IPA. But, the kids seem to dig it. 

Think about it. 10 IBUs in a so-called "triple IPA"? No way. 

Is it wrong for me to wish for just a bit of bitterness from a double IPA? They are trying to rid my favorite style of beer of all of it's joy. Why do they do this? Why? 

Drekker The Nightman Cometh Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

Drekker The Nightman Cometh Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout.

9.5% ABV, Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

Full ebon, complete opacity, slim brown head. 

In the nose: Molasses, charcoal, dark fruit, deep malt, chocolate, coffee, vanilla and cherries, oak and whiskey. All the usual suspects are in full attendance. 

In the mouth: Sweetness, chocolate, espresso, all the deep, dark goodness. Decadence. Richness. Full bodied to the fullest extent. A whiff of smoke, a dip into molasses and treacle and all the dark fruits and a touch of anise, on the side. Woo. Boom. Boom, boom, boom, boom. 

Coming in at 9.5% ABV, this Russian Imperial Stout is intense and complex while staying amazingly smooth and approachable. Begins with the aromas of molasses and raisins and evolving flavors of toffee, chocolate and prune. Finishing slightly dry and acidic, with hints of star anise and the lingering notes of dark roasted malts.

Drekker Smooth or Die Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Drekker Smooth or Die Peanut Butter Milk Stout.

6.5 % ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

Let it go on the record that I like a good peanut butter milk stout. I don't get obsessed about them or anything, but I'll try one out from time to time. And now Drekker has one and it's not a Braaaaainss or a Slang or a smoothie sundae, a Chonk, or any of those things. No marshmallows, no fudge. Just a straight up pbms. Let's drink one. 

Solid blackness, complete opacity, vast brown head. Looking amazing. 

In the nose: Aromatics scream out peanuts and chocolate. Go in for a deeper sniff. Sweet, rich, dark, nutty, ...cocoa and peanut butter. Yes, go on...

In the mouth: smooth and creamy, sweet milk stout goodness, mixed with peanut butter and chocolate. Delightful and delicious. Full body. Moderate bitterness, major malt, extra yum a dum dum. Very well balanced. Never too anything and just enough of the right stuff. 

This is a damned tasty beer. I brought it home because we sold it as single cans, at only $3.49 each. I wouldn't have bought it as a $17 4-pack. Also, what's wrong with chunky? I say Chunky all the way! Smooth be damned! 

Malt: Pale 2 Row, Oats, Chocolate malt, black patent, carafoam, caramel malt, Munich

Hops: Magnum

Yeast: House all yeast.

Gimmicks: Peanut Butter, Cacao nibs, lactose. 

Time to draw a line in the sand. We need to put this out there and we hope this doesn’t mean we can’t be friends anymore, but it needs to be known. We only like creamy peanut butter. We think the only peanut butter on the planet should be creamy and that crunchy peanut butter is an abomination before the gods that should be stricken from the earth. There, we said it. We feel better, how about you?⠀

So to declare this love for the creamy overlord of peanuts in butter form we’re dropping a brand new Peanut Butter Milk Stout called Smooth Or Die. It’s packed with chocolatey, peanut buttery flavor and aroma and it’s rich and unapologetically smooth, so smooth, like the Gods intended.

At least they're upfront about the "gimmicks" business...

Drekker Chonk Peanut Butter & Jelly Sundae Sour

 Drekker Chonk Peanut Butter & Jelly Sundae Sour.

6 % ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

Sundae sour. Peanut Butter & Jelly. Chonk. I will drink this. And here we go...

Hazed. Opaque. Chunkies. Floaties. Deep raspberry coloring. Slim pinkish head. 

In the nose: Berry. Rasp. And just below, deep down below, p.b. The nut butter of the pea. I'm five years old and my mommy made me a Sammy...and now it's a beer! Yay!

In the mouth: Big fruit. Overwhelming berries. Just jam-errific. Fat berries. Jam-tastic. Where did peanut butter go? Creamy. Not sour. Sundae? What the fuck is going on with this thing? I am amazed and saddened that this is what we are calling beer these days. And I paid $5.50 for this single can and I feel like a fool. 

It's juicy, and tasty...it's barely sour and I don't know what makes it "sundae"...this is fucking bullshit, and I'm getting sick of it. 

I keep trying these things because they are popular and everyone is abuzz about them and I have to try to keep my finger on the pulse of the beer world, but...this ...is ...not ...beer. This is just another example of the infantilization of beer. It's an unnatural de-evolution. What the fuck is going on? 

Why are things being called sours when they aren't?  There is no sour here. And no "sundae" either. It's a children's sandwich replicated as an adult beverage, and it makes me sad. 

Every time I ring people up with this type of beers, I want to talk to them and figure out why. Some tell me they are in the trading game, and shipping these beers out to their partners in other regions. What, doesn't every community have their version of Drekker? I thought that that's how it works now. God help us all (and I'm an atheist.)

This is too thick. Too sweet. Too fruity. Too rich. Certainly not refreshing in the least. Whatever. It's not for me. If you want to sit in the stands and observe the freak show that is now beer, by all means, enjoy. Or maybe you're marching in the parade?

It just makes me profoundly sad. 

I may make more reports in the future, stating the same. Eventually, there will be nothing to report on, but things of this nature. And this is so fucking ridiculous, I don't know what to say. 

Sorry, you guys can flip out over it all you want, but it just makes me feel sad. 

And now, for some alternate opinions, courtesy of Untappd: 

Silmar M. says: "OMG!!!!!!" not sure if I got the number of exclamation points right, they tend to blend together...

Rachel S. says: "Tastes like a PB&J, so good!"

Hadley L says: "Taking me back to grade school lunch." Of course.

Larry L. has an axe to grind: Global avg is too low. Peanut Butter is incredible in this beer. Thickness also incredible. Only thing holding back a perfect 5 is not enough jelly flavor. So much PB. (4.90)

Wow, Larry, I couldn't disagree more. This is more jelly than PB, but let us not forget that the very argument is utterly laughable. Larry, what is...just, what is wrong, my brother?

Brew C. says: I like this but I want more peanut butter! Just make a peanut butter chonk. It could be liquid peanut butter with a splash of fruit beer and I'd be all over it like a fat kid on a twinkie.

Emily F. basically squees out: "tastes just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!" 

No, it doesn't. Nothing in this flavor replicates the bread. A lot of jelly. And a lot of bullshit. 

Dan M. and I think alike: "this shouldn't be beer." No, Dan, it shouldn't and it isn't. 

Let's get over this trend, people, and let's evolve beyond this nonsense.

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Drekker Doomsday Device Double IPA

Drekker Doomsday Device
Double IPA. 8.3 % ABV.
Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

I went looking for a double IPA, and this was all I could see. I haven't had a Drekker in a while, but I remember the sting I felt when I bought a 4-pack of a DIPA from these guys and it was hazy, of course, because that's all they ever do. At this point, some of you are reading this and thinking, "what's the matter with this guy? Drekker is the best, and they make the best hazies, who doesn't like them?He's nuts!" Well, I don't like hazy DIPAs as well as the regular kind. There, I said it. Count me out as some kind of kook, if you must.

Once again, I love the label art. Seems to be in honor of a pinball game, though the central figure looks a lot like the leader of Latveria. (Dr. Doom to those of you unversed in Marvel Comics lore.)

All hazed up, of course, pure orange, healthy, lasting layer of white foam on top.

In the nose: yeasty, chalky, hoppy, and sweet. Loads of the tropical, pineapple, mango, & such leading the charge. Citrus soon follows.

In the mouth: Smooth stuff and clean, light bodied. Just a little bit juicy. Tropical fruit notes take turn with the citrus. Moderate hop bitterness. Strength starts to show, in time, burning up the palate, just a bit. I'd like this better with more hop bitterness and less hazy, fuzzy stuff mucking it up. One guy's opinion.

Mr. Drekker welcomes a brand new 100% Mosaic Double IPA that's just exploding with flavor. Built on a base of Golden Promise, oats, & spelt, with huge bursts of mango, citrus & stone fruit, this one is locked and loaded with enough Mosaic to doom us all. So, uhh, sorry, but what a way to go!

Who the hell is Mr. Drekker? There is no one by that name. But that's cool, keep it up, kids.

Drekker Lizard People Double IPA

Drekker Lizard People Double IPA. 8.5 % ABV.
Drekker Brewing, Fargo, North Dakota.

I don't know who the artist is, but I have always loved the art on the Drekker can labels. So much so that I forget that when I read that it's a Double IPA, which I prefer, it usually turns out to be an NE, aka Hazy DIPA, which I do not. These days it's a surprise bonus when an IPA is not among the hazy variety. I end up having to applaud the rare breweries brave enough to make them. Because, you know, trends, they've got to be followed.

Anyway, on to the beer:

All hazed up, murky, dirty dull golden, sizable ivory foam caps it off. Hazy IPAs are not pretty, people.

In the nose: zesty, hoppy, citrusy, yeasty. Nice.

In the mouth: Big citrus, certain bitterness, blocked by the yeast. All the things that I want in a DIPA seem to be there, but that "hazy" is getting in the way. Huh. Yet, I still like it. I'm a pushover.

Bright fruit flavor, back up with hop bitterness, smoothed over. Lightish bodied, long hoppy finish. Juicy, tropical. Goes down nice and easy, gives me (most of) the treats I delight in with the style, hazy or no.

Lizard People Double IPA brewed with a super secret blend of some of our favorite juicy hops that was decided in a smoky back room under an oath of secrecy. This one will give you hints of ripe mango, berries, and interstellar lizards in people suits.

Drekker What Lies Beneath Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

Drekker What Lies Beneath Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout.
10 % ABV. 40 IBU. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, North Dakota.

Solid darkness. Utterly impenetrable. Slim cocoa ring of foam.

In the nose: All the feels are here. Rich and redolent. Caramel and cocoa, coffee and toffee. Certainly scrumptious. So nice.

In the mouth: Such sweetness. Much deliciousness. Mighty malt. Thick, rich, cocoa and coffee. Starting sweet, ending dry. All the usual suspects are in attendance, and it's all tasting great.

What Lies Beneath is a rich and smooth Imperial Stout that's been conditioned on cacao nibs, 20 Below Coffee, and vanilla beans.

Drekker King of the Thing Double IPA

Drekker King of the Thing Double IPA.
8.3 % ABV. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

So, I haven't had any Drekker in a while. And here's one with an attractive grotesque illustration of some Goblin King (or is it Augra from The Dark Crystal) on the label. And it's a double IPA, which is a style I crave from time to time. Let's try it out.

All hazy. Murky yellow. Large white, lace-leaving head.

In the nose: Soft, fruity, high citrus. Big lemon and orange. Pinch of pineapple.

In the mouth: Sweetness hits the palate first, way before the bitter. More soft, more smooth, and again, I'm coming up short on what I like in an IPA. Juicy Tasty. Ending dry. Medium-bodied, with increasing booze. Leaves the palate quickly.

Personally, I feel that a double IPA should have extra hop bitterness, not just extra booze. But, that's just me, I guess.

Quick question: Are hazy IPAs just the default style now? It didn't see "hazy" or "NE" preceding "DIPA" on the label. I feel kind of cheated when I open a DIPA and find that, alas, again, it's another haze bomb, bros. I just want the OG, dudes.

Designed to showcase to the beauty and splendor of Citra, this beer is built on a mountain of oats and spelt for a decadent and smooth mouthfeel. Bursts with notes of lychee, candied lemon, and peach Bellini. It's royally smooth like the juice of the highest order.⁣ ⁣

Malt: Pale Two Row, Carafoam, Oats, Spelt

Hops: Citra

Yeast: House IPA yeast.

Drekker Freak Parade Double IPA

Drekker Freak Parade Double IPA.
8.2 % ABV. 70 IBU. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND.

More trips/freaky cartoon graphics on the label. Groovy.

Intensely clouded, highly hazed, dull orange color, under lacey ivory head.

In the nose: Soft, floral, citric, tropical, sweetness and fruit. Quite a delight.

In the mouth: More soft, more smooth. Low bitterness, hangs hard on the palate. Juicy flavors dominate throughout. Citrus up tops, and tropical tones at the side. Big hoppy tastes, up and all the way down. Tasty stuff.

I'm still tired of every Double IPA being a hazy New England-style. It's getting really fucking boring. And I rarely swear. It's that frustrating that it compels me to curse.

I don't know how long this trend will last, but the ones who are doing it well seem to be in it for the long haul. I hope they've got something else up their sleeves when this all dries up.

Malt:pale two row, spelt, flaked oats, carafoam, malted oats.
Hops: Vic Secret, El Dorado, & Mosaic.
Yeast: House IPA yeast. 

Drekker Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Fargo, ND. Beer is our craft, but Drekker is about much more than the contents of a glass. It's about what happens when a few of those glasses get raised together. Beer is FUN, act accordingly.

Drekker Ectogasm India Pale Ale

Drekker Ectogasm India Pale Ale. Drekker Brewing, Fargo, North Dakota. 7% ABV, 65 IBU.

This is only the third Drekker beer I've written about here in the Nib. I visited the brewery back in 2016 with Jason, but never shared those notes. Impressive product coming out of there. A return visit is eagerly anticipated. Meanwhile, we get these cans once in a while. So, let's check out their entry in the New England IPA sweepstakes:

Highly clouded, bright golden hue, ample ivory froth atop.

In the nose: soft, fruity, tropical tones, a slice of citrus.

In the mouth: More soft, smooth, and plenty of juicy. Starts a bit bitter, ends on the dry. Medium bodied, good drinking. Bitterness hangs hard on the palate, holds on tight. Ends on a soft, dry note.
Not bad, not bad at all.

Ectogasm is a juicy, hazy, and soft NE IPA brewed with Citra & Mosaic hops.

Drekker Wheez the Juice India Pale Ale

Drekker Wheez the Juice India Pale Ale. Fargo, North Dakota. 5.5% ABV, 59 IBU.

Heavily hazy, bright golden color, under a voluminous helping of ivory fluff above. Looks great. 

In the nose: Notes of peach, pineapple, lemon and orange. Popping with citrus, tropical and pine. Nice. 

In the mouth: Fresh and lively, bumping with bitterness, that mellows in a minute. Lush, lovely mouthfeel. Juicy, dank, delicious. Good IPA and I can drink it. 

Some triply hippie artwork on the can. If someone can clue me in to ....wait, it's a drug reference, right? I'm so naive. Actually, now that I think of it, it looks a lot like an R. Crumb drawing known as "Stoned Again" that was a popular poster in head shops back in the day.

I am not proud of the fact that after three weeks I finally
made that connection. It took me longer to figure out that the Viking in the Drekker logo has a hop cone for a beard.

The New England-style IPA is a very new and uniquely American style of IPA. What sets these IPAs apart from the more established West Coast IPA and traditional English IPA is the shift from bitter, piney hop flavor to less bitter, juicy tropical fruit flavors and the use of oats, wheat, and other ingredients to give the beer a noticably soft mouthfeel and a very hazy appearance.

Wheez the Juice uses a whole bunch of flaked wheat and oats to give it a soft, creamy mouthfeel and more than 3 pounds per barrel of Mosaic and Mandarina Bavaria hops make it burst with juicy, tropical fruit flavors and aromas with very little bitterness. Go ahead, wheez a little juice.

Drekker Valhalla Series Cocout Killer IPA

Drekker Coconut Killer IPA, India Pale Ale with Coconut, Vanilla & Lactose. Drekker (not Trekker, damned autocorrect. "drekker" is a made up word, by the way) Brewery, Fargo, North Dakota.

My first canned beer from this Fargo brewery that I visited last summer. One day I'll get to that post. Just you wait and see.

Coconut killer IPA. There's a whole lot of writing on the label, but I can't read it. 5.6% ABV. 40 IBU.

Highly hazed, bright golden color, lush milky white head, leaving lace. 

In the nose: Getting the coconut right away, sweet and roasty. Citrus hop notes just below. Lemon and coconut, not bad. 

In the mouth: Sweet and bitter gets on board from the start. Hop bitterness blazes the palate, with coconut flavor keeping pace. Beautiful mouthfeel, more mix of bitter and sweet. Smooth oat malts keep it humming.

If you say "coconut IPA" to me, my mouth doesn't swing northward and my feet don't leave the ground. I can't really say the concept holds much appeal to me. Some flavor combinations belong with certain styles rather than others. Flavors that work great in a porter or stout don't necessarily lend themselves to be being blended into an India Pale Ale. But, this one? Not bad. I wouldn't reach for one on purpose (except when I just did), but it ain't bad. Go ahead and drink it.