Pryes Drops of Time Whiskey Barrel Aged English Barleywine

 Pryes Drops of Time Whiskey Barrel Aged English Barleywine. 

11.1% ABV, 23 IBU, Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Cleanish, dark burgundy hue, beneath a slim ivory cap. 

In the nose: rich malt, caramel, dark fruit, cherry, leather…touch of vanilla…everything I like in a Barleywine.

In the mouth: big and boozy, rich and malty, more caramel and vanilla, whiskey cones forward and grabs the reins. It starts as little sparks and culminates in a lovely cacophony, merging into sweet harmony. Magnificent. 

The tradition of brewing English Barleywine has been a part of Pryes Brewing since our very beginning. Drops of Time marks the zero hour of our return to brewing and bottling this historic style, and it is well worth the wait. Rich toffee, sticky caramel, and vanilla barrel characteristics come by way of a long boil, an extended aging time in rye whiskey and bourbon barrel, and blending this concoction at the exact right moment. Time is of the essence, and Drops of Time is the reward for our patience.

Pryes Glamorama West Coast IPA

 Pryes Glamorama West Coast IPA.

6.5% ABV, 55 IBU, Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: big time citrus and pine. Popping with grapefruit and tangerine. Lively aromatics. 

In the mouth: starts out bitter and sharp, then in comes the juicy. Dry on the palate, like any good WCIPA should be. Not as fully dry brittle and bitter as I want, nay demand, but, eh, close enough. I’ll take it. 

Go on and be bold. Shine big. Step out. Sparkle? Hell yes. While you're at it, welcome in the citrusy blast and the bit of mighty hops that pop like paparazzi. This is Glamorama.

Pryes Peace Offering Cold Press Stout Brewed with Peace Coffee

Pryes Peace Offering Cold Press Stout Brewed with Peace Coffee.

5.8 % ABV, 28 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

A new Pryes beer that's not a "pastry" or "smoothie sour" or anything? Coffee stout? Right up my alley, let's drink it. 

Strictly ebony, fully opaque, under slim, brown head. 

In the nose: Rich, earthy, nutty, espresso all the way. Brings me back to my days of prepping cold press for Sebastian Joe's back in the summer of '98. Exact same aromatics. 

In the mouth: Smooth as silk. Full bodied. Deep and rich. Chocolate malts dominate, and maybe a touch of caramel in there, too. Mostly malty, low bitterness. Genuine flavors, on full display. This is terrifically tasty. Definitely one of the better coffee stouts I've had in many a day. 

This silky smooth cold press stout, infused with fresh roasted Peace Coffee beans, is perfect for brunch, bonfires and breaking bread.

Pryes El Camino Hazelnut Macaron Pasty Stout

Pryes El Camino Hazelnut Macaron Pasty Stout.

9% ABV, 28 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Maybe I said it, and maybe I didn't, but the facts are, folks, that the Bitter Nib is boycotting "pastry stout". Also, "pastry porters", "pastry ales", "pastry lagers"...everything "pastry." Did I mention why? Pretty sure I have, probably a hundred times. And, occasionally they slip in, though. Like when they don't call it a "pastry stout" on the front of the label and they do on the back. They tricked me! 

Also, if the beer falls into my possession somehow, through some other means than purchasing it by myself. And this one became mine when a co-worker could not drink another and gave her last can to me. I wanted to give her a beer, to make it a fair trade, but she refused, feeling it was unworthy of such retribution. How can I not be intrigued? I must try the thing that so turned her off. Perhaps she has become twice-shy after being bitten? Currently, she is exploring Belgian beers. I hope she finds the delight in them that I do and indeed becomes a convert. I think she has a good head on her shoulders and will come on into the good side. 

Enough palaver, let's crack it open and see what's inside...

Dark brown coloration, slim brown head, murky, to say it best. 

In the nose: Intense sweetness from the start, vanilla, coconut, caramel, chocolate. All the sweet, gooey-ness. "Rich hazelnut, cacao, and nougat" says the label. 

In the mouth: From sip one, nothing but sweet candy bar and cocoa. Hazelnut, sure, but all kinds of sticky-icky. Unbalanced malt out the wazoo. Saccharine sweet, treacly...I am truly finding no joy in this. Perhaps it's what you want, this out of control, sticky sugary mess. Not me. 

Look at this flavor wheel on the back. Not so strong with bitterness or roast, but lots or hazelnut, almond, fudge and cookie. Fudge and Cookie. 

It's a once in a while treat, a sometimes indulgence. Once a lifetime, maybe. This way lies diabetes. 

Damn, this could use some balance. A little, at least. These candy bar beers, and pie beers, and cake beers, and frosting beers, and cotton candy beers, and fucking French toast beers...it's way time people grew up and got over this shit. I've said it before, the infantilization of beer. This whole thing of holding ones toes, rolling on one's back and giggling, "whee! It's like drinking something I ate when I was three!!!" 

God, it's stupid. And now the high alcohol is starting to ring in. Good gravy, I'm going to get drunk on a "cookie beer". How low can I go? 

Pastry Stout | Hazelnut, Cocoa, Rich | 9.0% ABV | 28 IBU | El Camino is “The Way”. This beer is your path down the road to rich hazelnut, cacao and nougat. Prepare for a smooth ride. Away we go.

Pryes Blood Orange Miraculum Fruited IPA

 Pryes Blood Orange Miraculum Fruited IPA

6.4% ABV, 75 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazed, deep amber to crimson hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Blood orange is popping out. Hops hang far below.

In the mouth: fruit grips the palate at first, backed up by bitterness. Medium bodied, long bitter finish, unmistakable blood orange flavors, never quitting. Brisk, crisp, fruity and tasty.

I like a good blood orange IPA and this is one. 

Our Signature IPA with a bold infusion of Blood Oranges, creating a Fruity, Ripe and Citrus forward IPA.

Pryes Mutually Inclusive Mango

 Pryes Mutually Inclusive Mango. Cuvée-style Smoothie Sour. 

5.4 % ABV. 15 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Mpls., MN. 

So, here we have one half of a collaboration with Drekker Brewing of Fargo, ND. Instead of combining their skills and imagination to craft one beer that they would brew in tandem, two beers were produced and distributed by the disparate brewing entities, and the consumer is required to locate them and blend them together in one glass by themselves. Of course, this becomes a difficult endeavor, to find the two beers, especially since Drekker beers are so highly sought after, and tend to sell out quickly wherever they are sold. That is why I have the one (purchased for $3.99 for the one can), and not the both. I couldn't get to the store fast enough. Or, maybe I could, but I just didn't make that extra effort. Priorities. 

Something threw me off about the labeling of the beers and the use of the term "cuvée-style". What on earth does that mean? In all my years in beer, I have known that this term is utterly meaningless and merely refers to what the brewmasters wish to regard as "their finest." In wine, it is used to denote a particular tank, batch or blend. However, I will simply lift from Wikipedia here...The term can also apply to beer, or to chocolate to refer to a batch that is blended by the manufacturers to produce a certain taste. Many lambics and gueuzes—sour beers with wine-like characteristics—are marketed as cuvée. When referring to beer, ale, or chocolate the term has no defined meaning, but is meant to evoke images of higher quality—similar to the use of "reserve" for wine in areas where the term is not regulated by law.

I guess I can see where they're coming from, to take that meaning from wine and applying it to what they're doing...but it's the first time I've encountered this expression and it really threw me for a proverbial loop. "Huh, Cuvée isn't a style..." Maybe it became a style while I wasn't looking. I try to keep up, I surely do try...

So, enough of that. I got on the hype train and picked a can of a style I surely shy from, normally...the fruited smoothie sour. If the label says "smoothie" anywhere on it, I am very careful not to put it in the cart. 

All hazed-fied. Bright orange, Slim to no head. 

In the nose: funky, fruity, mango-y. 

In the mouth: Ooo! Tart from the start, followed by juicy, pulpy mango-y flavors. Sour and sweet at once. Medium bodied, easy-drinking, refreshing. Plenty of sour, loads of fruit. What makes it "smoothie", though. I'm not getting the mouthfeel I'd expect from that appellation. Let's see if we can find out. 

Designed to be combined with Drekker's cuvée counterpart. Experiment with mixing flavors or enjoy each on their own. Our brewers have come up with a way to create something together, from far apart.

Well, that didn't tell me anything. Is there lactose & such to make this a smoothie? I can't taste it. But, I can taste the mango and the sour, and they work together pretty well. Not bad at all. 

What would it be like when blended with blackberry? I can only dream.

Pryes Course Correct Citra Pale Ale

Pryes Course Correct Citra Pale Ale.
5.1 % ABV. 30 IBU.
Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

The final can from my sample pack. Three of the four beers were first-time tries, to the best of my knowledge. I like those odds.

Highly hazed, bright orange coloration, slim white head.

In the nose: Big citrus, grapefruit, lemon and lime.

In the mouth: Intense bitterness from the start. Lush,  juicy, and hoppy. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Quite refreshing. Simple, citrusy pleaser. I like it, go get you one.

Sometimes we veer askew of where we intend to go. A fresh, easy drinking Course Correct can point you back on track. Hit reset.

Pryes Main Squeeze Lemon-Lime Blonde Ale

Pryes Main Squeeze Lemon-Lime Blonde Ale.
4.6 % ABV, 22 IBU.
Pryes Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Light and slightly malty. Lemon and, later, lime chimes in.

In the mouth: Citrus fruit is charge from the start. Nice and lemony-limey, minor hops, medium malt. There's a genuine blonde ale below all the citrus fruit, and it works. Crisp, breezy, refreshing, easy-drinking, with a consistent lemony-limey flavor. I don't not like it.

Our refreshing, golden, citrus ale is the ideal sidekick for a day in the sun. Packed with real lemon & lime, this “juice” is worth the squeeze

Pryes Pragmatic Pils

Pryes Pragmatic Pils.
4.2 % ABV. 26 IBU.
Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Crystal clear, bright golden hue, soft white head. Looking fine.

In the nose: Nicely hopped. Lightly floral.

In the mouth: Slight sweetness, moderately malty. Crisp, clean, with a light body and an easy drinkability. Ending on a classic, dry note. Tempts the tongue to take another sip. Not bad, not bad at all.

Pragmatic is a clean, crisp, easy drinking classic Czech pilsner, that is a practical choice in almost any setting.

Pryes Above The Canopy Hazy Double IPA

Pryes Cartographer Series: Above The Canopy Hazy Double IPA.
8.3 % ABV. 32 IBU.
Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly hazed, bold golden/orange appearance, firm and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Spills out sweet and tropical, pineapple and papaya, with orange and grapefruit rushing in at the sides. Nifty.

In the mouth: Juicy, hoppy, and just bitter enough. Sweetness matches the bitter just barely, and booze  comes bubbling up. Bitterness catches up and keeps pace. Merest malt provides a simple stage for hops to shine. One very nice double IPA that doesn't let the haze hog the spotlight. Citrusy hop flavors and bitterness lay long on the palate. Loving it.

A double dry-hopped hazy IPA with smooth tropical fruit flavors ending with a touch of sweetness.
OR: Set course for a tour de force of double dry hopped nirvana. Packed with Mosaic, Samba, and Amarillo hops, you may want to savor this is total solitude. 

Pryes Bourbon Barrel-aged 2019 Lost Moon Russian Imperial Stout

Pryes Bourbon Barrel-aged 2019 Lost Moon Russian Imperial Stout.
14.2 % ABV. 46 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Solidly stygian, dark as the deepest depth, under a slim brown ring of foam.

In the nose: Whiskey is king here. Big bourbon, plus vanilla, char, chocolate, espresso, anise, and more.

In the mouth: All that and then some. Richness upon richness, vastness multiplied. Deepness and deliciousness. Earthy, dirty, dusty and rusty. Big time bourbon reigns over this.

This was a delight, through and through. My notes ended above. I stopped thinking of words to describe it further and slunk into supreme satisfaction. I'll go out looking for another bottle to sock away for another day.

And here's what they say: Our 2019 Lost Moon contains a constellation of rich chocolate flavors imparted by roasted malts and Belgian Candi sugars. A double fermentation with Champagne yeast brings this beer back to Earth with an ultra-smooth, dry finish. Finally, entombed in bourbon barrels, it ages for nine long months building flavors of espresso, oak, and toffee.

Pryes Mass Haze-teria

Pryes Mass Haze-teria Hazy IPA. 6.7 % ABV. 45 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

More Haze! It's the craze! For days! Etcetera!

High cloud-ification, dull orange color, full-on ivory head.

In the nose: Juicy, citrusy, sweet. Grapefruit, tangerine, mango.

In the mouth: Starts out bitter, then dry. Bitterness softens some, sweet tropical notes trade with citrus and pine. Juicy, sweet, dry, and bitter, all together. Medium bodied, refreshing and pretty damned tasty.

Hey, you know what? For one of those new-fangled "Hazy IPAs", this is a good beer, and you can drink it!

Our Juicy, double dry hopped IPA comes straight out of the Midwest. Cryo Mosaic, Amarillo and Centennial hops incite a massively hazy experience.

Pryes Miraculum Midwest IPA (can)

Pryes Miraculum Midwest IPA. 6.4 % ABV. 75 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This beer has been covered here before....we think. It was an unlabeled sample bottle given to me when the brewery first started operating out of their own facility. It wasn't the best way to appraise this India Pale Ale, which has only been available in cans in recent months. Looking back on that review, it's clear that the sample may have been flawed, for it didn't taste quite like it had when I'd had it on tap. Now that I finally have a can in hand, (thanks, Sample Man!--who in this case was the brewery's taproom manager), it's time to give it a re-review.

Clear, copper-y/crimson-ish coloring, fair layer of white foam above, leaving some lace behind.

In the nose: Bright, citrus-y hops start it off. Sweet malty notes keep time with bitter hops. A complex cornucopia of hoppy goodness.

In the mouth: Again, sweet and bitter take stage together, flooding the palate with their individual attributes. Well balanced, clean, and terrifically tasty. Citrus holds the spotlight, but other notes pop in, as well...apple, cherry, stone fruit. Splendid blend. Bitter and sweet take a bow, and the finish is dry. Medium bodied, expertly drinkable, and absolutely likable. In fact, it's downright delicious.

I definitely do like this IPA, and feel that it ranks among Minnesota's best. Go ahead and get some.


Dry hopped with over 50 lbs of hops, this hoppy, citrusy IPA finishes with light malt notes and sweet undertones, cutting the bitterness to round out the palate. This IPA finishes very clean, making it a great beer to pair with food.

Pryes Imperial India Pale Ale

Pryes Imperial India Pale Ale. 9.1% ABV. 114 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Murky burgundy hue, utterly opaque, dark crimson, with a lasting, stable, spotted creamy head.

In the nose: bigness. richness. Brash and ballsy. Huge fruit and alcohol presence.

In the mouth: huge malt impression on the palate, along with a blistering barrage of massive hops. Citrus and pine aplenty. Big alcohol burn. Incredible sweetness matched by big blast of bitter. Brutal and beautiful at once.

Citrus, Warm, Bitter 

This beer starts off with grape fruit / citrus which is what we expect to get out of a IPA. In the middle we get a sense of warmth from the 9% ABV. On the tail end is filled with orange and a little bit of pine flavors. 

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.

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.

Pryes Winter IPA

Pryes Winter I.P.A. 7.1% ABV. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

My patience works at separate speeds. I had little of it
to spare in waiting for the head to die down in taking
this pic, but I had to practice some before drinking.

Here we have a growler purchased at the brewery on January 13, and consumed on January 14. So, these notes and photos have been sitting on my laptop for about five weeks for reasons too tedious to mention. Let's waste no more time, before winter leaves and spring is in command of the land.

Clear, amber-tinted hue, voluminous creamy white head. Looking great.

In the nose: nicely spicy, dark fruity, floral, some malt in there, altogether beautiful.

In the mouth: More hops, more spice. Nice and fruity. Delicious malt, easy drinker, high quality. So many flavors. Spruce? Juniper? Various fruits and spices. So many nice hops. Nice meets nice plus nice. Good drinking IPA.

In Pryesian fashion, the beer is described with a trinity of words or phrases: Pine, Hoppy, Black Currant

Pryes Imperial Pumpkin

Pryes Imperial Pumpkin, a hand-crafted limited batch made with fresh pumpkins and natural spices. Bottle #129/250. 10% alc./vol. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

I'm done with pumpkin beers. Never choose them for myself, and the heat is so off that I've skipped ordering kegs for the bar. But I heard good things about this very limited bottle (the first for Pryes) and though I missed it at the taproom, somehow a bottle found it's way into my hands. (Thanks, Alex!)

Clear, bronze/amber color, lasting, if small, white head atop.

In the nose: sweet pumpkin-y flavor, and some spices, creamy, and inherently likable.

In the mouth: fruit and vegetable rich and plump in the mouth. No hops, much malt, and sweetness int the flavor. Read that as: delicious. Just the right taste, going on here.

Alcohol rears it's head: 10%? Really? I guess so. Warm, rich, and wonderful. Well done. I liked this all the way through.

Pryes Foreign Extra Stout

Pryes Foreign Extra Stout. 7% ABV, 38 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown body, near-impenetrable, though not quite black, under a toasted tanned head, lasts long, leaves lace.

In the nose: soft, creamy, semi-sweet, majorly malty, with not a whiff out of hops. Fits the style just fine.

In the mouth: More smooth, more creamy, more just-enough sweet. And, again, mostly malt, with the right chocolate notes and a dap of espresso. This one gets it done. Getting richer and maltier as we go in, and more alcohol-y, too. (Something was telling me this was 8% ABV, but further research finds the fact published as 7%.)

Incredibly smooth, and quite tasty. This one was killed with no problem. And I will be back for more.

Pryes Session IPA

Pryes Session IPA. 4.2% ABV. "Juicy, Tropical, Epic." Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, large, lush, lovely white head.

In the nose: mild hops, moderate bitterness, citrus and pine are popping out. Dank is settilng in. It's getting quite ripe, fresh, and ridiculously hoppy. Nice.

In the mouth: Green, grassy, fresh and zesty. Lean bodied, light malts, easy drinking as they get. Clean, sweet malt flavors. Tasty hop profile. I'm digging this quite a bit. If I may re-iterate: it's quite good.

As a matter of fact, I've got to get back there soon, and check out more of their beers.