Waldmann German Triple( Strong Golden German Ale)

Waldmann German Triple ( Strong Golden German Ale).
7.7 % ABV. Waldmann Brewery, St. Paul, MN.

Here's the second crowler I've reviewed from Waldmann Brewing in St. Paul. The first was a gift from Ed, last year. This one was purchased at the brewery on September 1, when Ed and I biked around St. Paul, visiting 5 breweries, 3 of them new to me. Yes, this was my first visit to the charming Waldmann, and it won't be the last. I cannot explain why I waited a month to open the growler, though. Sometimes it just has to be the right time. And the beer held up.

Clear, bright amber color, large and lasting ivory head, leaving some lace.

In the nose: lively blend of fruity esters at work, some apple, some citrus. Unexpectedly delightful.

In the mouth: starts off nice and hoppy, with low bitterness, then the smooth, sweet malt flavors kick in. Nice interplay, good balance, excellent drinking. Crisp, clean, and complex. Lots going on, lovely taste, outright enjoyable.

A gold German stark beer. A handful of different German and Czech Pilsner malts combine with U.S. Santiam hops gor a fruity and spicy strong German ale.

Date filled: 26-Aug-2019. Version 19A

BlackStack Thunder Lizard Double Dry Hopped IPA

BlackStack Thunder Lizard Double Dry Hopped IPA.
7.2 % ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

All hazed up, bright golden/orange hue, thick ivory head.

In the nose: The tell-tale aroma of the DDH DIPA NE-style. These guys nail it every time. Soft. Light bitterness. Some citrus and tropical tones. Very mellow. Nice hop attack, very likable.

In the mouth: Soft and smooth. Almost creamy. Hops persist throughout. A touch of astringency, long lasting bitterness, played mostly muted. Tasty stuff. Actually, really tasty. Maybe even delicious.

It's a gobsmacked hop attack, and I am digging it. Not a paleontology pun. Or, maybe it is.


Thunder Lizard is a resounding expression of gratitude. A reverberating token of appreciation. The Science Museum of Minnesota asked us at Blackstack to make a beer to honor the outpouring of support from thunder lizard fans. We used Zeus hops from Minnesota's own Mighty Axe hops and Azacca in the whirlpool. Dry-hopped with Falconer's Flight and Australian Vic Secret, or, as we call it, the thunder from down under. All the better to thank you with.

Summit Slugfest Juicy IPA

Summit Slugfest Juicy IPA. 4.7 % ABV. Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, with a slight, soft haze, pale orange appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: Fruity notes, first, grapefruit and orange, tangerine. Pinch of pine. Nicely hopped.

In the mouth: Juicy and just a little bit bitter. Here comes the citrus blast. Gets all juicy, then turns to dry. Lean bodied, easy drinking, clean finishing. The further down we get in the glass, the more I'm liking this one. Tasty stuff, to be sure.

I was told that some who'd tried it out it were disappointed by an unfiltered, juicy IPA that isn't "hazy." Well, these people don't really understand Summit. They've never chased after trends, and are loathe to tear down their core values. They're not releasing an orange juice-appearing haze bomb just to jump on a bandwagon. How's the beer taste, though, does it deliver in that department? Yes, yes, several times yes.

This is the hazy IPA I can get behind. Let's do unfiltered, but within reason, with some restraint. Don't haze bomb me, bro.

Some more words, not mine: "Unfiltered IPA. Hop punch. Low bitterness. Clean, smooth finish. Highly drinkable. Undeniably repeatable. 150 cals. 11 g carbs."

Summit Slugfest is an unfiltered IPA with an orange appearance, low in alcohol and bitterness but big in citrus hop flavors and aromas. Seeking to connect new Ameriacn IPA trends with our classical European approach to brewing, Slugfest offers aggressive and powerful citrus hop flavors and aromas of tangerine, melon and lemon, thanks to hop varieties Huell Melon, Azacca and Mandarina Bavaria. Malt notes of toast, English biscuits and breadcrust.

Other words that are mine: Why the name "Slugfest"? How does that relate to this beer? And what does it have to do with scuba divers punching sharks?

12welve Eyes Winter Warmer

12welve Eyes Winter Warmer. 7.1 % ABV. 12welve Eyes Brewing, Lowertown, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, dark crimson coloring, leaning toward bronze, with a slim whitish head.

In the nose: Mostly malt, with a touch of spice. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Slight dose of grassy/citrusy hops. Orange zest?

In the mouth: Malt and spice hit the palate together. Hot and toasty. Medium-bodied, easy drinking. Spice and fruit notes continue. Dominate. Delight. It's a bit thinner in body than I'd like, but it's tasty stuff, so I don't really care. Clove is coming through. Overall, it's got the flavor of a mulled ale. Raisins and orange mix with cinnamon and clove. Getting honey, too. Love it.

Getting my last tastes of winter flavors, as we welcome spring, at long last. Oh, it's gonna be great. Been a rough winter. Gonna real love this spring.

Birch's Lowertown Oud Bruin

Birch's Lowertown Oud Bruin. 5.5 % ABV. Birch's Lowertown, St. Paul, MN.

2016 says the cap. This brewery was not in operation at that time. Was it started at Birch's on the Lake, and finished, or at the very least, sold at the St. Paul brewery/taproom? Will we ever know?

Murky/hazy, deep Burgundy color, slim off-whitish head.

In the nose: Tart and fruity. Deep and oaky. Inviting, lively, funky.

In the mouth: sourness grips the palate from the start. Major puckeration. Fresh fruit. Figs, dates, raisins, sour cherries. More wood character. Deep and sour and delicious. Medium bodied, and definitely drinkable and refreshing. Tasty stuff.

This is not a perfect Oud Bruin, but it's pretty danged close. And there ain't enough of these even being attempted around these parts. Good job, guys.

And thanks to Ed for bringing it to me. I don't get out to St. Paul often enough, so it's great to have a friend helping me to keep on top of what they're brewing out there.

I've been to the downtown St. Paul location before, last fall, in the company of Ed. It was too late to take home a growler. It's high time I crossed the river again and tried out more of their wares.

Barrel soured traditional Flanders brown ale aged in used red wine barrels with tart cherries for over 2.5 years.

BlackStack Still Watching? Double India Pale Ale

BlackStack Still Watching? Double India Pale Ale. 8% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Thoroughly clouded, dull gold, two inch ivory head, lasting long and leaving lace. They don't bother calling them "hazy IPAs" anymore, they just naturally come that way.

In the nose: fresh and lively. Vibrant hoppy goodness. Pine, citrus and a trickle of the tropical.

In the mouth: Soft and smooth. Creamy, even. Little layer of bitterness starts it off, then subdues and slides back. Sweet malt cuts through the bitter. Tasty stuff. Just enough IPA to hold back the haze, bro. Dance goes on between the hops, malt and yeast. High ABV doesn't encroach entirely, until...yep, here it is.

I'm enjoying it, though it's still far from my favorite interpretation of the double IPA. I want to taste the hops, not the pillow.

Are you there beer nerds? Its me, Blackstack. This is a beer for binge...watching and falling asleep on the couch. A hop hug so loving you’ll think it might carry you up to bed. Citra, El Dorado, Ella, and Rakau in “9 seasons with 22 episodes each” amounts. Bottoms up to being down for one more episode of collapsed cakes and overcooked pastries.

Summit Dark Infusion Coffee Milk Stout

I have a confession to make. I received samples of this many weeks ago, but I gave one away to a friend, and I drank one without taking notes thinking that I'd written about it when it was an Unchained Series beer, so why do it again? Why? Why not? It's a new name, it's a new label, it's a new can, it's all new, even if it's the same beer. Seems like it is. Read my notes here.

So I asked my Summit man to get me more so that I can post about it again, and that's what I'm doing now, okay? Everyone cool with that?

Summit Dark Infusion Coffee Milk Stout. Our smoothest, boldest brew, back by popular demand. 8.5 % ABV, 40 IBU. Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Solid blackness, utter darkness, terrifically opaque, with a creamy brown head on top, leaving lace.

In the nose: Cream. Cola. Nuts aplenty. Toffee, coffee, malty goodness. A little toasty-toasty, and oh, my goodness, such a lot of nice-ness. Delightful.

In the mouth: Such sweetness, much malt, with abundant roast. Plentiful coffee, and massive malt, mixed with cream and such substantial smooth. Many layer of deliciousness. No fooling. Treats upon treats. Delish, upon delish. I would turn to this again and again.

A rich, full-bodied imperial milk stout with sweet, roasted notes from six different specialty malts, Dark Infusion features kettle additions of lactose for additional sweetness and body. Balanced by Pilgrim and Fuggle hops from the U.K., Dark Infusion is made even bolder and more complex with the infusion of smooth, cold-brewed coffee. Complemented by coffee rather than overpowered, traces of caramel, graham cracker and dark chocolate round out this highly anticipated and limited beer.

Barrel Theory Black Lotus Milk Stout w/ Coconut

Barrel Theory Black Lotus Milk Stout w/ Coconut. 6.9 % ABV. 15 IBU. Barrel Theory Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN.

Dark, black, impenetrable, with a rich brown ring of foam, leaving lace. Nice.

In the nose: Coconut spills out from the start. Sweet. Lush. Lovely. Malty all the way. Lovely stuff.

In the mouth: Pow! Coconut! Mmm. If you like that stuff. Sweet and creamy and smooth. Never quits. Nice all the way. Not much from hops or roast in this one. But it gives you what it set out to give. If that's what you're into, go for it. Not what I would want on a regular basis. A tasty treat from time to time, sure. A one and done for me. Quite nice. Even delicious. But, I don't need another.

You want another? You go for it. I recommend this highly to those inclined towards it.

Milk stout with toasted coconut

Summit Union Series #7: 120 Shilling Export Scotch Ale

Summit Union Series #7: 120 Shilling Export Scotch Ale. 9.5% ABV. 35 IBU. Summit Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN.

Deep Reddish brown color, slim brownn-ish head.

In the nose: Caramel and toffee, sweet and malty. Very nice. Quite delightful.

In the mouth: More of the same on the palate. A malt monster. Medium bodied, earthy, gritty, and quite tasty. High alcohol isn't apparent at first, but creeps on in and takes over, making everything pleasant for a time. This one has a bit going on, while remaining fairly easily drinkable. And then the booze climbs on, and a happy feeling comes over one and all.

I'm going to go out and get some more of this.

Brewed with Scottish base malt, roasted malts from England, and the pure Irish passion of Summit’s Head Brewer Damian McConn, our seventh Union Series brew is a 120 Shilling Export Scotch Ale — an homage to the malty, complex beers Damo enjoyed as a brewing student in Edinburgh, Scotland. Inspired by a 19th-century recipe and brewed with modern, experimental hop varieties, this powerful ale is deep ruby in color with aromas of toffee, Scotch whisky and baking spice, while rich flavors of dark fruit and caramel lead to a long, warming finish.

12welve Eyes Brewing Cataracts: Denali

12welve Eyes Brewing Cataracts: Denali. Hazy IPA. 5.5 % ABV. 50 IBU. 12welve Eyes Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Cataracts seems to be the name for the rotating Hazy IPA from Twelvewelve, each one featuring a different hop.

Thoroughly hazed, dull yellow hue, large and lasting pure white head.

In the nose: Vibrant floral hops, with underlying fruit. Delicate, delightful.

In the mouth: Big bitterness blasts the palate from the start. Alongs come the fruit. Tropical tones, as well as citric. Guava meets pineapple, dappled with grapefruit and orange. Light bodied. Easy drinking. Refreshing and likable. And pretty damned tasty.

I like these guys, and this brewery, that was named after 3 owners who all wore glasses so that they were 3 4-eyes, aka Twelve Eyes, although one left before the brewery opened, so they should really be 8eight Eyes....but the numeral 12 should not replace the letter T, no way, no how. It's not like replace an E with a 3, for they are at least nominal similar in shape. I'm gonna keep calling them Twelvewelve, and you can't stop me.

Tin Whiskers Nebula Hazy Citrus IPA

Tin Whiskers Spark Series Nebula Hazy Citrus IPA. 5.9 % ABV.  33 IBU. Tin Whiskers Brewing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thoroughly hazed, dull golden, amble ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Bright, vibrant citrus and pine notes aplenty.

In the mouth: More of that, nicely playing on the palate. Smooth, creamy, pillowy mouthfeel. Very much juicy. Quite pleasant. Practically no bitterness, which is what people are going for these days, it seems. If you ask me, (and if you're reading this, then you did) losing the bitter bite makes an IPA not an IPA. Call it something else if you must. It seems so many people have been incorrectly drinking IPAs for so long.

If that's the kind if "IPA" you want, this is the one for you.

A hazy, citrusy IPA, bursting with notes of tangerine and orange peel, brewed with Mandarina Bavaria, Citra, and Ekuanot hops.
We're pretty sure this beer's going to make a pretty Big Bang.
This aggressively hopped IPA, the latest in our limited-run Spark Series, starts with notes of tangerine and citrus zest before finishing with a clean, bright bitterness. In space, no one can hear you order another round. Good thing we brought this beer back to Earth.

Barrel Theory Fire Diss Track IPA w/ Mosaic

Kids these days. Always using that newfangled slang. I still like that old-fangled slang. 23 Skidoo, Cat's Meow, groovy, way-out, man, and all that. Let's see if I can figure out the name of this beer.

Fire, we know, is something hot, that has heat, or is ablaze.  "Diss" is to disrespect, of this I am aware. And track refers to a piece of recorded music, in this context. So, what we have here is a rap song, I think, where one musician calls out another with which he has a "beef" for being "wack", or some such, and does it so well that it is "fire." Why they need to do this, though, I'll never understand. Whatever happened to nice music, for the nice people? Why must the artists of today tear down others in order to build themselves up? Whatever happened to melody?

Okay, enough acting like an old fogey, let's drink one of those Barrel Theory IPAs that are all the rage these days...

Fire Diss Track. 7.3% ABV. Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Thoroughly hazed, bright orange hue, long-lasting ivory head.

In the nose: bold hop presence, big citrus, orange, lemon, a pinch of pineapple. Other flavors lurk below. Mosaic going wild here.

In the mouth: hop bitterness blasts the palate, followed by nothing but juicy. Intense and delicious. Beautiful blend of bitter buzz juicy, smooth mouthfeel. Goes down remarkably easy. Hop bite continues to tread across the palate, providing additional delights.

I like this one. Surprise: BT makes great IPAs.

Official description: An IPA with all Mosaic hops.

BlackStack Birds in a Trap Honey Double IPA

BlackStack Birds in the Trap Honey Double IPA. 8.5 % ABV. Collaboration with Wren House Brewery,

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, prodigious ivory fluff on top.

In the nose:sweet, fruit, citrus. And tropical .and altogether delightful. Honey really should es here.

In the mouth: more delights, sweet and fruity are matching with bitterness and ncroachi g alcohol. Pineapple pops up to match grapefruit and lemon. Just a little rough around the edge, but mostly smooth and largely delicious.

Now and then, I find myself decrying that this brewery puts out only slight variations on IPAs, double dry-hopped IPAs, double IPAs double dry-hopped, etc. Is there that much difference between them, I now and then wonder. This one, though.....

Wren house brewing company out of phoenix, az is one of our biggest brewery crushes. Somehow they found the time to flutter by the stack and help us brew this buzzworthy beer. We used St. Croix valley honey from wolf honey farms leaving it dry and crushable. 

Waldmann Weissbier

I try to keep up with the local breweries, but I'm a little behind. This one has been around for over a year now, and I still haven't made the trip to Waldmann, the German-style brewery and "wurstery" located in an old saloon  and former brewery on West 7th Street in St. Paul. Luckily, I have friends who help me out from time to time. Cheers to Ed for hanging on to this hefe weizen, and letting me get my first taste of Waldmann. I'll get on the bus again, someday soon, and check out the space for myself.

Waldmann Weissbier. 5.5% ABV. Waldmann Brewery, St' Paul, MN.


Lightly hazy, Amber-hued, large, lasting, cream-toned head.

In the nose: banana &.clove pop on board. Fruit ‘n’ spice, mighty nice. Bavarian yeast aplenty.

In the mouth: Light bodied, crisp, clean, tasty. Flavors found in the nose appear, however lightly, on the palate. Strictly smooth and consumable. Good beer and you can drink it.

A deep gold Bavarian style Weißbier. Floor malted wheat malt and central European pilsner malt fermented with a traditional Weißbier yeast strain.

The above is a truncated version of the verbiage from the label that I found on Untappd. There's even more gobbledygook on there, but I'm going to let you discover it for yourself, share it with you another day, another beer.

Barrel Theory Xtra Basic Imperial Stout

Barrel Theory Xtra Basic Imperial Stout w/ pumpkin, coconut, vanilla, and spices. 10.2 % ABV. 10/16/18. Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Utter blackness, rich, dark brown head, shadowy, dotted, fully opaque.

In the nose: starts out fruity, vegetal, sweetness and smooth, with vanilla revealing, plus cinnamon and more. Hey! There’s the coconut!

In the mouth: right out of the gate, yum. Flat out yum. Coconut takes command on the palate, with an overarching sweetness that’s never too much. Full-bodied, rich, delicious. Vanilla & spice are around, too, with a good deal of chocolate.

I feel compelled to use a phrase I despise and call it a “coconut bomb”, but it’s well-balanced and so very tasty. This is well worth whatever I paid for it ($16? I think?) and I want to go back and get another before it’s too late.

(P.S. I waited too long. It's long gone.)

Summit Cranky Woodsman Nut Brown Ale

Summit Cranky Woodsman Nut Brown Ale. 5.2% ABV, 30 IBU, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Here's a new one from Summit, set to be included in the upcoming fall sampler pack. Or on tap, perhaps. And I got this little ol' can to review, so here we go.

Clear, deep brown (nut brown?), caramel-y toned, off-white head.

In the nose: sweet, cocoa and caramel. Balancing bitterness.

In the mouth: Plenty of malt going on here, and, yeah, I detect a touch of smoke. Mostly caramel malt, hints of chocolate, and sure, a touch of maple syrup. Starting out a little sweet on the palate, but all in all, a dry finish. This is awfully nice and drinkable and I can picture having a few in a row and not get bored or nothing.

A Nut Brown Ale featuring rich, roasted flavors and aromas, Summit Cranky Woodsman is brewed with an incredible, complex malt bill including smoked oat malt and puffed wild rice, plus a light dash of maple syrup. Lacey barley from Alexandria, MN provides the foundation for a rich mahogany-colored beer with notes of toast, graham cracker and smoke, while Cascade hops from Mighty Axe Farms offer a hint of spice and citrus to complement a slight maple sweetness. Available on draft and inside the Summit Bonfire Box for a limited time only.

BlackStack Play Date IPA

BlackStack Play Date IPA. 6.2% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, small but lasting ivory head. Looking great.

In the nose: Muted hop flavors, shy fruit, slowly unfolding tropical tones. Pineapple peeks out. Pine trickles through. Softly, citrus sneaks in.

In the mouth: Nice burst of hop bitterness on the palate from the get-go, but none too harsh. Soft and smooth, in true BlackStack fashion, though isn't in the hazy style. And thank goodness for that. We need some change of pace from that ballyhoo. Little bit of berry, smack of pine. Smooth, sweet, and plenty of hoppiness.

This, I like. It's got the smooth and the bitter.

Dual Citizen University IPA

Dual Citizen University IPA. 5.5% ABV. 75 IBU. Dual Citizen Brewery, St. Paul, MN.

Clear-ish, copper-y colored, slimmed white head.

In the nose: Earthy, herbal-y, citrus. Flowery. Nice.

In the mouth: Hops pounce and play on the palate. Just enough bitterness, just enough sweet. Mixture of malt nears complexity, but doesn't quite make the grade. Feels a little unbalanced, but I can't say in which way. There's a lot of bitter, and a bunch of sweet, but they just don't mesh. Jarrylo, Galena, and Chinook are the hops in this one.

It's a good beer, but it's not much better than that. It is likable, but not lovable. So, I do like it. And I would drink another. But. And, there's always a but. ....

I'm going to keep an eye on this brewery, and hope that the next one I write about here is one I like just a little bit better.

Hop forward aroma with notes of melon, pear, and black pepper. Medium body with bitter hop astringency. Malty sweetness balances piney hops bitterness before giving way to an earthy, dry finish.

BlackStack Inc. Stout

BlackStack Inc. Stout. 6.5% ABV. IBU: Low. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Solid blackness, utterly opaque, slim brown head.

In the nose: rich malt, roast, cocoa, some sweetness. Very nice.

In the mouth: More of the same. Bittersweet, roasted, slightly toasted, medium-bodied, and fairly easy-drinking.

I like this one. Good stout and you can drink it.

Rich and roasty aromas of bakers chocolate giveway to a soft and rounded mouthfeel and flavors of medium roast coffee and burnt caramel. A firm but restrained bitterness layers with the roast for additional depth of flavor. Wonderfully balanced with all of the flavors perfectly... Incorporated.

BlackStack Thread Count Double Dry Hopped Double IPA

BlackStack Thread Count Double Dry Hopped Double IPA. 8.5% ABV.

Thoroughly, utterly hazed. Brush. Dullish golden hue. Big, gleaming ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Juicy from the jump. Pineapple first, guava, passionfruit, mango. All the tropical stuff. Nary a note of bitterness. Very nice.

In the mouth: Smooth, soft, fruity and fine. I just figured out the name. It's cause comforting as a blanket. At first I was going to connect it to that desired virtue of "pillowy", but pillows don't have thread counts, do they? No....

Back to the beer. Strong. Powerful. (in alcohol) Hoppy. Smooth, light, and dangerously consumable. A little citrus and a bit of the bitter peeks through the yeast and the tropical. I still haven't given myself over to the hazy style. I still drink a beer like this and wish it wasn't. But it's very good.

And as lovely and sweet and delectable as it is, I miss the bitterness I most enjoy in a double IPA. That's just me, though.

A double IPA double dry hopped with Cashmere and Mosaic hops.

We've all heard less is more, but the thread count we've found more is more. Higher thread count makes for softer sheets and more dry hopping makes for softer beer. Cashmere hops at a double dose are woven (HA!, get it?) with Mosaic creating a seamlessly (HA!, again!), silky synthesis, but dank. Who knew soft could go so hard?