Toppling Goliath Limited Edition Oktoberfest Lager

 Toppling Goliath Limited Edition Oktoberfest Lager.

5.2% ABV, Toppling Goliath Brewing, Deborah, Iowa.

It’s been over two years since the last time I bought a TG 4-pack. This one is not a hazy IPA, or painfully overpriced. It’s September already, so let’s drink some Oktoberfest bier!

Clear, amber-hued, small white head.

In the nose: sweet malty notes, lightly fruity, slightly vegetal, balanced with noble hops.

In the mouth: hearty, malt-forward, smooth, rich in flavor. A little caramel, a touch of toast. Excellent drinkability. Classic märzen style. Incredible balance. Just an easy drinking O-fest. Prost!

Raise a glass of Oktoberfest in celebration, and watch as the light dances off its rich amber color. Enjoy a beautiful bouquet of soft caramel and biscuit before the first sip blankets your palate with malty notes of fresh-baked bread.

Toppling Goliath Radiant Haze India Pale Ale

 

Toppling Goliath Radiant Haze India Pale Ale.

7% ABV, Toppling Goliath Brewing, Deborah, IA. 

I don’t do many Toppling Goliath beers here. They are all too expensive and they are almost always hazy IPAs. This one I got for free, so no buying anything $20 4-pack this time. And it says Haze right in the name, so no bamboozlement.

All hazy. Bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: so fuzzy. Under that stuff, loads of the usual citrusy stuff. Lemon, orange, grapefruit.

 In the mouth: cool, soft, shiny. Big hop expression, more citrusy suspects. Fresh and lively. In fact, quite tasty. Medium bodied, yeasty as they get, ...and I get why people like these, but I can only think of what I’m missing. Clarity means a lot, to the eye, and on the palate. 

Mellow out as you bask in the radiant haze of Amarillo, Citra, mosaic & Sabro hops. open your third eye & follow this hazy IPA on a tropical trip with notes of orange & mango.

Toppling Goliath Double Dry Hop Pseudo Sue Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Double Dry Hop Pseudo Sue Pale Ale.

5.8% ABV, 48 IBU. Toppling Goliath Brewing, Deborah, IA.

Hazy and golden, small white head. 

In the nose: Soft, sweet, citrusy. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon, with a bit of tropical in the mix. 

In the mouth: Bright, juicy, soft, smooth. Bold citrus flavors shine, but bitterness is dulled. This is why the coveted "double dry hop" does not agree with yours truly. It neuters what makes pale ales and IPAs great. Fine. Whatever. It's all the rage. I can't fight it. All smooth and shiney and chock full of hoppy goodness. 

This was antoher case of where I just had to give it a try, if only to once again confirm my belief that the double dry-hop fad is not for me. Zero dry-hops, I say! Or, maybe, just one. And let's keep it at that!

This double dry hopped pale ale showcases the Citra hop for a well balanced beer that is delicate in body with a mild bitterness in the finish. Ferocious aromas of citrus and mango give a refreshing taste that is bright with just enough bite!

Toppling Goliath Double Dry Hop King Sue Double IPA

 Toppling Goliath Double Dry Hop King Sue Double IPA.

7.8 % ABV, 50 IBU. Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, IA. 

Hazy as all get out, deep golden/orange, slimmish white head. 

In the nose: Citrus bomb, all lemon and grapefruit and orange. 

In the mouth: Bold, bright, juicy, and hoppy as all get-out. Citra spills out all the place. Shiny and slightly sharp, before the alcohol enters. Tropical touches make the scene, pineapple and passionfruit to add to the lemon zest and grapefruit peel. Dank and delicious. 

Yum a dum dum.

Citra hops give King Sue its bold flavors of mango, orange, and pineapple. This double dry-hopped version packs even more flavor into each bottle.

Toppling Goliath NugMo IPA

Toppling Goliath NugMo IPA.
6.68 %, 30 IBU.
Toppling Goliath, Decorah, Iowa.

So, I'm at the store picking out beers, and I'm need of a new-to-me IPA. Got to keep abreast of those. I see this one, and in the cart it goes. Let's take a chance on some Iowa beer, see if it's any good. But later, I realize that I never checked the price. Will this be a repeat of the last Toppling Goliath 4-pack that I bought, where I found out too late that I'd broken my latest commandment and picked up a beer that went over the $18/4-pack line? These days, that line is at $16 and over. I checked the receipt. $15.99. Whew, close one.

On to the beer:

Hazy, dull yellow, ivory layer of froth atop.

In the nose: Citrus and tropical fruit at play in the aroma, with a side order of pine. Orange and guava, and a slice of pineapple.

In the mouth: Fruit charges out of the gate, slightly sweet, with bitterness right behind. Grapefruit cuts in. Long lasting flavors. It's a hazy, citrusy IPA with all the bitterness I crave. medium bodied, soft, smooth, easy drinking, fresh, lively, and lovable. Nicely balanced, with a slightly bitter finish. I like this one. I'd drink it again.

Mosaic, Sabro, Simco, and Amarillo hops join forces to create a bouquet of tropical citrus and pineapple aromas. This bold, hop-forward IPA captivates the senses as you raise a glass in tribute to lord NugMo. May he bless your taste buds with a bounty of flavor.

With a name like "NugMo", I 'd have thought the recipe would comprise of Nugget and Mosaic hops. Well, there must be a better reason for the name, I guess.

Toppling Goliath Sun Reaper Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Sun Reaper Double India Pale Ale.
7.8% ABV. 50 IBU.
Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, Iowa

Here's a beer where I picked up the 4-pack, (everything's in 4-packs now), and didn't even check the price because I wanted a double IPA, and hadn't had a Toppling Goliath in a few months. I looked at the receipt later and cursed myself. $18.79. Not quite $20, but close enough. I'm trying to skip the $18-$20 4-packs lately. I don't care what people are saying about it, I'm staying away from them, out of principle. I don't care how good they are supposed to be, I just can't reward that.

Enough about price, let's open and drink:

Absolutely clouded (of course), bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory-toned head.

In the nose: Bold, fresh and citrusy, big lemon and grapefruit.

In the mouth: Brash bitterness kicks it off, slaying the palate. Citrus fruit flashes bombard the senses, bitterness keeping pace. Yeasty haze flavors swallow it up. Long bitter finish. Light bodied. Easy-drinking, despite alcohol and bitter astringency. Citrus flavors hold it down throughout.

Sun Reaper eclipses all others with its medium body and low bitterness. with notes of pineapple, orange and passion fruit flavors up front and a layer of soft pine in the finish.

Now, here's the thing. Pine? Yeah, I got that, but forgot to check it off. But, passionfruit? Maybe. Bitterness and citrus flavors eclipsed all else. (Damn, I just notice they used "eclipse" up above. I'm just too impressionable. That's why I don't read the brewery's notes before I write mine.)

Anyway, I enjoyed this, but while it's good, it's not $4.67 a can good. I'm going to continue looking for beers that aren't above $16 a 4-pack.

Toppling Goliath Scorpius Morchella Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Scorpius Morchella 
Double India Pale Ale.
8.2 % ABV. 100 IBU.
Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA.

Highly hazed, dull orange, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold, assertive citrus: lemon, orange, grapefruit, with a trace of pine on the side.

In the mouth: Just a little juicy, before the hops pop. Bitterness splashes on the palate, before ending on a dry note. Medium-bodied, flowering alcohol, overflowing hoppiness. Plenty of citric goodness.

I'm pleased that this is not an "NE/hazy" double IPA. Too many of those, not enough of these. Gimme a good old unfiltered non-NE DIPA. Hold the DDH. Once in a while, at least.


Brewed each spring to celebrate our brewery’s annual day off to go morel mushroom hunting, this excitingly hazy double IPA is a tribute to our love of great hops and morels. Created with a combination of Pacific Northwest and Southern Hemisphere hops, Scorpius Morchella is meant to be shared with friends on a warm spring afternoon.

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Latte Imperial Coffee Milk Stout

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Latte Imperial Coffee Milk Stout.
8.9 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA.

Deep black, full opacity, slim brownish head.

In the nose: Earthy, rich, espresso, sweet and creamy malt flavors. A little nutty, bit of cocoa. Quite a lot happening.

In the mouth: Large malt presence, bursting with flavor, Creamy and smooth, while also outsized and expressive. Yum, I am forced to say, a dum dum. Milk, chocolate, coffee, booze, and not necessarily in that order. Damned delicious. Great balance in this one, too, as there's never too much of any element.

Imperial Coffee Milk Stout brewed with lactose and a careful blend of cacao nibs giving it a dark chocolate, toasty and toasty sweet coffee taste

Toppling Goliath Twisted Galaxy Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Twisted Galaxy Double India Pale Ale.
8 % ABV. 100 IBU. Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA.

Thick and chunky. Impenetrable haze. Faded Orange. Big ivory head on top.

In the nose: Sweetness and hops. Tropical fruit notes. A trickle of citrus creeps in underneath. Very nice.

In the mouth: Murky morass. Soft ("pillowy"), slightly sweet, little to no bitterness. Getting more sweet. Light and easily consumed. Huh. Yeah.

Man, labeling this merely "double IPA" is such a cheat. It's not the kind of DIPA I want to drink. It's strictly for NE IPA fans, and no one else. When I'm looking forward to drinking a DIPA, it's the bitterness and the alcohol I'm looking forward to, and this does not deliver.

Very soft, very smooth, but utterly lacking in what makes a DIPA a DIPA. That's just me, though.

Oh, yeah "NE DIPA"...okay, sure...that's why I'm "meh."

That caveat aside, it works for what it is.

Showcasing the alluring tropical notes of the galaxy hop, twisted galaxy is a juicy double india pale ale that pushes the citrus and pineapple notes of the beloved galaxy hop to the foreground.

Toppling Goliath Hopsmack! India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Hopsmack! India Pale Ale. 7.7% ABV, 100 IBU. Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, IA.

Thoroughly clouded, highly hazed, dull golden/orange-ish hue, beneath a thick, lasting slab of ivory head.

In the nose: citrus and tropical tones. Mucky, murky, but fruity all the same. Mild bitterness. High hoppiness.

In the mouth: More big citrus, more tropical tones, big ol' bitterness on the tongue. Awfully hazy, yeasty...

And now, confession time. My notes trailed off there, at the ellipses, and I slowly enjoyed it on into the early morning. The bomber was finished, but I made no more notes than what you see above. Did I miss anything? Sure, but I got at the essence, and eventually decided against doing some sort of mental time traveling to when I was tasting the stuff to pull out more descriptors, and will let what I wrote stand.

I will add, though, that I would recommend it, but not to myself. Goes a bit too far in the yeast/haze department. I could have enjoyed it more if it was a bit cleaner.

Hopsmack is here to rescue your palate. Giant aromas of pineapple and tropical fruit jump from this enticingly complex double ipa. True to its name, this brew delivers a heavy smack of dry hops and a double dose of bitterness in the finish. 

Toppling Goliath Fire, Skulls, & Money India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Fire, Skulls & Money IPA. Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, Iowa. 7% ABV.

To the eye: Highly hazed, bright orange, tight ring of ivory foam atop. Glass of O.J. or "hazy IPA"?

In the nose: soft and citrus-y. Pineapple, orange, and lemon. Mango. A splash of grapefruit. A li'l splash. Big fruit, low bitterness.

In the mouth: All the above, dropped on the palate. Very smooth, but with greater bitterness than the nose ever knew. Long, lingering hoppy flavors. Very meek and mild malt. Big time citrus attack. Smooth and creamy.

You know, this is all right. It's not my favorite style of India Pale Ale, but I don't hate it.

Inspired by a trip to the west coast, designed to capture the wild spirit of adventure and brewed to be enjoyed with friends. This rich IPA is for those with wanderlust in their heart and fire in their eyes. Join our Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, and Nelson Hops on a journey to the bottom of your glass.

Well, maybe I just need more wanderlust in my heart and fire in my eyes to like this better. I guess.

Toppling Goliath X Hops Maroon

Toppling Goliath X Hops Maroon Pale Ale. Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, Iowa. 5.3% ABV.

Hazy, bright golden coloring, lighter and more transparent at the bottom, with a large, looming ivory head.

In the nose: Ah! Beautiful citrus and pine, plenty of grapefruit, orange, lemon/lime. Just right.

In the mouth: Juicy, fruity, bitter. Just enough bitter to keep tabs on the pithy citrus fruit. Lean bodied,  sweet malt, just enough balance to let the hops shine through. Just enough biscuity, cracker-y malt, with an abundance of blisteringly bitter, bright and juicy citrus flavors flowing. Tasty and satisfying, this.

Toppling Goliath Dragon Fandango

Toppling Goliath Dragon Fandango Mango/Passionfruit kettle sour. Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Decorah, Iowa.

On Sunday, the 3rd of September, I made my first ever trip to Decorah, Iowa and the Toppling Goliath brewery, at long last. Thanks to Jason for taking the wheel. On tap were many beers I've had before with two exceptions, Supa Sumo, which I've recently reviewed from the bottle brought back from here, and this one, Dragon Fandango, which I'm about to tell you about. One very hot commodity was on, the coffee stout known as Mornin' Delight. I'd love to review that one from a bottle, but I don't think I can afford one, if I'll ever see it on sale. I've had it and it's good, but not for the price that's being asked. We each enjoyed servings of 5 ounces for 10 dollars each. Let that sink in: $2 per ounce for a coffee / maple syrup stout. And the server marked our hands so that we could not order another. Only one per person, per day (or ever?). I've never seen or heard of a brewery doing that. I've never even conceived of any brewery treating any of it's beers as that precious. It's good, but it's not that good. Nothing is, really.

Jason's still on his MD, and I've moved on to one of
the IPAs (forgot which one).

Good for Toppling Goliath, I'm happy for their success. But I can't join in on these extreme prices. I'll keeping drinking their beers that I can afford (and this one, too, was expensive, but I paid the price in order to try it at home, no complaints). And that's about as far as it'll go.

So, let's talk about Dragon Fandango:

Thoroughly hazed, bright red, no head to speak of.

In the nose: Pulpy fruit, getting more dragon than passion and more of that than mango. Plenty of tart to play with the juicy.

In the mouth: Intense puckering to go with big, juicy fruit. A lot of sour, and a lot of fruit. Not too complicated. Sigh. Yep, pretty much. Fruit. Sour. Kettle. ....yawn.

It's tasty stuff, done well. But, I still feel like....I don't know, is this a boring beer (naw...), or am I just bored of these beers? What a sourpuss I would be to feel that way, but I think I can only take so much of it. This was probably the wrong beer to take home in a growler, in that case.

Also, if you read the copy below, I hate it when they tell you what to do. I ain't performing any damn dance, no thank you, sir.

Join the dragon in a dance to celebrate this unique kettle sour, blended with dragon fruit, mango and passion fruit puree. Raise a glass, dance the fandango and celebrate the magic of these tropical fruits. 

Toppling Goliath Supa' Sumo Double IPA

And here we have the first bottle of Toppling Goliath beer that I purchased from Toppling Goliath in Deborah, Iowa. Picked up at the on Sunday, September 3. I could have looked for one locally, but I was there, and so was the beer.

Supa' Sumo Double India Pale Ale. 8% ABV. 100 IBU.

Hazy, just the way the kids like 'em these days, and a dullish gold hue, with a slim white head.

In the nose: soft, lightly bitter, tropical fruit notes, slight citrus, touch of pine. I'm getting the feeling that this is yet another entrant in the NE IPA sweepstakes. Time to drink...

In the mouth: Here's the bitterness from the start, there's the fruit and the hops and the delicious malty flavors. Terrific smack of hops, wonderful dryness, dee-licious. yeah, I can drink it, and enjoy it all the way. Nice. Good and nice. Tons of tropical and citrus fruitiness, while sticking on the dry side. Loving it.

This double India Pale Ale is a hazy triumph made possible by the combination of Mosaic and Citra hops giving it pineapple and orange flavors that will smash into your tastebuds. 

Ah, Citra & Mosaic, the classic, unbeatable dup, they never fail.

Toppling Goliath Hopsmack Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Hopsack Double IPA. Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Deborah, IA.

Thoroughly hazed, bright orange color, slim, staying white head above.

In the nose: Pithy and pungent. Big citrus, intense bitterness. Nice 'n' dry.

In the mouth: Bursts with lemon, lime, grapefruit. Smacks, naturally, of bitter and citrus. Medium bodied, with a long, hoppy finish on it. Juicy stuff, just like they like them these days. Hazy and juicy and boozy. I like this one quite a bit. (I didn't like paying $12 for it, but that's how it goes.)

HOPSMACK!

Double India Pale Ale – 8.0% ABV, 100 IBUs 

First in the series, HOPSMACK! inspired us to launch the TG Hop Patrol Series “palate rescue mission”. Giant aromas of pineapple and tropical fruit jump from this enticingly complex double IPA. True to its name, this brew delivers a heavy smack of dry hops and a double dose of bitterness in the finish.

Toppling Goliath Tsunami Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Tsunami Pale Ale, Brewed by: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Deborah, IA. under special agreement with Lakeland FL.

Hazed, pale amber coloring, lush white head, lasting long and leaving lace.

In the nose: An explosion of citrus and pine. Beautiful bitterness. Lovely and lively.

In the mouth: Hoppy. Juicy. Citrus-y. Then, dry and even more bitter. Medium-bodied. Easy-drinking, and just as hoppy as you need in a pale ale.

"A tsunami, powerful and unwavering. And that's just the beer. Tsunami pale ale rolls onto the scene with waves of Mandarin orange aroma and a refreshing crash leaving your palate asking for more. Are you brave enough to surf it's delicious turf? Take the plunge and ride the wave."

Surf it's turf? Ugh. Gag me.

Toppling Goliath King Sue

Toppling Goliath King Sue  Double India Pale Ale. Toppling Goliath Brewing Compay, Decorah, Iowa. 8.5% ABV. 100 IBU.

Lightly clouded, bright golden, huge head. Gorgeous.

In the nose: a burst of citrus and tropical fruits, some stones, too, peach and nectarine. It's plump and aplomb with all the goodies.

In the mouth: oh, my. oh, me. oh, whoa. Big time hoppitude here. Huge hops. Sue is the master of the fields, stomping over the pineapples and peaches, the lemons and limes. Squashing them all and spraying the juices about. Damnably delicious.

Gobbledygook from the label: "Long live the king. King Sue that is. Her Ferocious bite will make sure all newcomers learn to toe the line and what better way to exude her influence than with this Citra hopped double IPA. Followers will cheer, enemies will crumble, but don;t take her lightly, when this double IPA is on a rampage nothing will stand in her way."

Toppling Goliath Sol Hunter Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Sol Hunter Pale Ale, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Deborah, Iowa.

Stats: ? unsure.

Hazy, bright golden hued, voluminous white head, looking great.

In the nose: bold, fresh, zesty, citrus-y, nice.

In the mouth: more fresh, more zest, more delicious. Here comes the bite, here comes the bitter, and it's utterly delicious. Big hops, big bitterness, lush malt, absolutely tasty. Good beer. I can drink it.

Gobbledygook: "Gone are the days of experimentation and test-flights as we voyage into the unknown. We rely on our skill and determination. Guiding us safely to the promised land. Our goal is clear: pursue the sun and harvest the power extracted from an equinox. The task is large, but hopes are high as we travel once more among the stars."

So, I guess that means you used Equinox hops? Just spitballin'......

Toppling Goliath Intergalactic Warrior

Music for this review: Sun Ra, The Heliocentric Worlds of.....Or, maybe a Star Wars soundtrack would be better? Or, just pop in my favorite bad movie, Star Crash, with Marjoe Gortner, David Hasselhoff, and Christopher Plummer? No, we'll stick to the former Herman "Sonny" Blount, aka the Man from Saturn. While we drink a Toppling Goliath Intergalactic Warrior IPA. Decorah, Iowa. ABV,...?

It's a hazy yellow color, with a vast cloud-white head, sticking to the sides and leaving lace. Looking great.

Aroma is all tangerines and litter box. Powerfully pungent. Popping with citrus and tropical fruits. And appropriate amounts of feline liquid waste.

In the mouth: Starts out slightly sour, quickly replaced by bitter, increasing bitterness, spreading to all corners of the palate, and the nooks and crannies of the mouth entire. Medium-bodied, never-ending beautiful bitterness, pretty danged tasty.

I'm going to tell you what the label says. "Meet the Intergalactic Warrior. A fighter for justice and the common man. His fists of fury are loaded with Galactic and Warrior hops. Ready to pound any evil-doing beer into submission, saving the day. And your tastebuds. Is All In a day's work for this hero from beyond the stars."

Pretty good IPA, there. Not the greatest, just...pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.

Toppling Goliath Sosus Double India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Sosus Double India Pale Ale.

There's a stained glass mosaic on the label. Of birds. What does that mean, I wonder?

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, enormous ivory head. Just gorgeous.

More loveliness in the nose. Huge fresh citrus flavors abounding in the aroma. All the lemon, all the lime, some of the grapefruit, and a touch of the tangerine. Fresh, zesty, and beautiful.

In the mouth: All that citrus-y flavor is bounding about in the mouth, pouncing on the palate. This tastes like 100% Mosaic, if the label art didn't already alert me to it. And it's straight up delicious. Lean bodied, light and easy drinking, despite the looming specter of the alcoholic content. I can't find that on the label, but it feels high. If it's a double IPA, it had better be. (A quick peek at the website tells me: 8% ABV, 100+ IBUs.)

Now here's the gobbledygook from the website: In his most notable mosaic work, Sosus of Pergamon depicts doves sunning atop a golden chalice. The image was said to be so enticing that real birds flew into it while trying to reach their stone companions. This single-hop showcase is inspired by the beauty and divinity of the Sosus mosaics. Just as the doves discovered their golden nectar, discover the irresistible nature of the Mosaic hop.

I like that. And I like this beer. No, I love this beer. So good. You can't miss with Mosaics, apparently. And this one hits, on all levels. Full-on hops, major strength, great drinkability. All across the board good stuff. And you can drink it. So, go, and do that.

Thanks for another winner, TGBC!