Modist The Time Is Nigh Festbier

 Modist The Time Is Nigh Festbier. 

5.2 % ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

It’s time for my first Oktoberfest of the year. I’ve had this one in years past, but not one to drink at home and review. 

Clear, bright golden hue, full, lace-leaving ivory cap.

In the nose: fragrant and floral, absolute delight.

In the mouth: smooth and slightly sweet, delicious and malty. I don’t detect much from the oak-aging, but Modist seems to oak-age all of their lagers. This one is clean, crisp, and ultra downable. Quite tasty, too. 

Festbier brewed with German Barke Pilsner, Vienna and Munich malts. Kettle hopped with Bravo and Hallertau Mittelfruh. Then lagered and aged in our Oak Foeder for 4 weeks.

Modist Your Time Starts Now English IPA

 Modist Your Time Starts Now English IPA.

6% ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, copper colored, slim white head.

In the nose: malt forward, hops behind. Caramel-y sweet, fruity and earthy at once.

In the mouth: mostly malty, with an undercurrent of British hops. Moderately hopped, low bitterness, herbal on the palate. Smooth and easily drinkable. 

English IPA w/ Burton-on-Trent water profile, Golden Promise malt, Aromatic Munich malt, T50 malt, Hopped w/ East Kent Goldings & dry hopped w/ Idaho 7

Modist Double Ghost Vision DDH Citra New England Double IPA

 

Modist Double Ghost Vision DDH Citra New England Double IPA.

8.6% ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This is a beer I first had at the taproom four and 1/2 years ago. If I’d managed to bring home a crowler and reviewed it then, or had commenced the practice of phone posting earlier, I might have said nicer things, for I hadn’t yet placed the embargo on NE DIPAs (except when I get them for free).

When reading this review, keep in mind, that I review for my taste. If this is right in line with your style, you may think this is the bee’s ever-lovin’ knees. 

Let’s break down the style of this beer, shall we? DDH, I’m not crazy about. It’s an effect that enhances aroma, but not flavor. Citra is a hop that can’t be beat, used well. New England? Fine part of the country, but not my favorite style of IPA. Double IPA? I love them, except when you put New England in front.

Hazy. Thick and clouded. Pale, yellowish hue, slim white head.

In the nose: bold, bright, and citrusy, if slightly muzzled.  

In the mouth: bursting with hoppy flavors, popping with Citra, a lacking crucial bitterness. Soft, smooth, tasty. Lays limpidly on the palate. Doesn’t really grab me worth a darn. Too mellow and squishy for my palate. It’s got the goods, strength-wise, there’s a nice booze burn warming everything up. But, it doesn’t work for me. When it comes to Double IPAs, I need crisp and clear. 

New England Double IPA brewed with malted oats and malted wheat. Hopped and double dry hopped with our hand selected Citra & Citra Cryo.

Modist Knees In the Breeze West Coast IPA

Modist Knees In the Breeze West Coast IPA. W/ Pale Ale Malts, Wheat Malt, Hopped & Dry Hopped w/ Simcoe, Citra & Cryo El Dorado. 

Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Clear, amber/golden hue (not quite as bright as I'd like from the style), with  cap of creamy head. 

In the nose: Citrus notes, mixed with slightly sweet malt character. Delightfully hoppy, but missing the mark for style. 

In the mouth: Bitterness grabs the palate at first sip, then fades off for a spell. Juicy fruit sensations cavort among the senses, spill their goodness about, and leave a slight stain. Bitterness returns for a minute, but it is far short of what you'd want in a West Coast, and this certainly lacks the dryness you're looking for. 

Once again, a brewery that regularly traffics in the hazies puts out a new beer and calls it a West Coast IPA, but it is nothing of the sort. It's just an IPA, guys, a regular ol' American IPA. If you call it that, it's a good one.  Just being clear, though, and having some, but not much bitterness, does not a West Coast IPA make. 

Keep trying...