Off Color Beer for Fantasy Witbier with Blood Orange and Dragonfruit

 Off Color Beer for Fantasy Witbier with Blood Orange and Dragonfruit. 

5% ABV, Off Color Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Clear, pale crimson coloring, slim white head. 

In the nose:  citrus explosion. Dragonfruit and blood orange hold court, but the essence of a wit lies beneath. 

In the mouth: light bodied, with a touch of spice. Touch of tart. Essentially easy-drinking. Hits the spy on a day like today (high in the mid-90’s). 

Good fruited witbier and you can drink it. 

Dragon fruit lends hints of kiwi and bartlett pears while the blood orange puree casts a peach hue with subtle flavors of raspberry. Crack one open as you begin your next adventure and don't forget to pour one out for those lost along the way.

Badger Hill Blood Orange Traitor IPA

Badger Hill Blood Orange Traitor IPA.

7 % ABV, 70 IBU, Badger Hill Brewing, Shakopee, MN. 

Slightly clouded, bright orange/crimson coloring, slim white head. 

In the nose: fruity and hoppy, with a touch of tart. 

In the mouth: Orange flavor and hop bitterness blast the palate at the start. Juicy blood orange flavors keep time with the bitter hop flavors throughout. Medium-bodied, with a long, astringent finish. 

Crisp, clean and super drinkable. A tasty one. I like a good blood orange IPA, and this is one. 

Traitor IPA infused with blood orange

Pipeworks Karate Cats West Coast Style India Pale Ale with Blood Orange Juice

Pipeworks Karate Cats West Coast Style India Pale Ale with Blood Orange Juice.

7 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

Why did I buy a 4-pack of this beer? The price was right. ($12) I usually enjoy Pipeworks, and I like to sample as much of their wares as I can. (If they are the right style and the right price.) The name and illustration sold me. But...nunchucks and swords aren't karate, you guys, and, besides, how do the cats hold them in their little, non- opposable thumb kitty cat paws, anyway? Think about it!

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Nicely hopped. Citrus and pine. Sweet meets bitter.

In the mouth: Juicy mouthfeel at the start, accompanied quickly by brisk, sharp bitterness. Clean and smooth. Blood orange flavor starts to emerge, but remains a participant, not a player. Slightly tart, but hops are still in control. Citrus and pine at play on the palate, with a long, hoppy finish. Light-ish bodied, and effortlessly drinkable. 

Another yum-a-dum-dum Pipeworks beer. Go get some! 

Jack Pine Blood Orange Cream Ale

 

Jack Pine Blood Orange Cream Ale.w

4.6 % ABV, 20 IBU. Jack Pine Brewery, Baxter, MN. 

Clear, slightly orange/reddish tint, slim head that disappears quickly. 

In the nose: lightly tart and citric, blood orange is all over this. 

In the mouth: Splash of tart and bitter, then the fruit takes over. Juicy, tasty, expertly drinkable, light bodied. I'm used to blood orange in an IPA, and a few other styles, but never a cream ale. The smooth, malty, light character is just below, barely revealing itself, but it's mainly a delivery vehicle for the blood orange flavor. I'm typing as fast as I can to get the notes down before it's all drunk up. Smooth, with a faint finish. Tasty enough, though. I don't mind it. 

Our ever-popular Dead Branch Cream Ale gets a citrus infusion in this winter seasonal. Vibrant blood orange greets the nose with hints of citrus and raspberry. A rich blend of bitter and sweet meld together on the tongue in this deliciously drinkable brew. Reach for a Blood Orange Dead Branch when you need a reminder of summer in the depths of winter.

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.

Tin Whiskers The Pulps DDH Blood Orange IPA

Tin Whiskers The Pulps DDH Blood Orange IPA.
7 % ABV.
Tin Whiskers Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Hazed-out, pinkish, grapefruit-y coloration, slim white head.

In the nose: tart and fruity, blood orange and grapefruit, hardly any hops.

In the mouth: Bits of bitterness, mixed with the tart and the fruit, overwhelming blood orange flavor covering all else. Full-bodied, long lasting taste.

Some hops here, but overshadowed by the fruit. Tangy, and tasty, though.

Blood orange infused, double dry-hopped IPA brewed with Simcoe, Citra, Medusa, and Ella hops

Lakes and Legends BloodCat Belgian IPA (part five of Minneapolis Breweries 2020)

Stanchions are getting greater use at taprooms these
days. We stand apart from one another and we
keep our masks on. 

In my attempt to revisit the breweries of Minneapolis, I have compiled a list and arranged them in order of when I'd been there last. Fourth from the top is Lakes and Legends, which I haven't been to since November of 2017. Two and a half years! How did that happen? It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I kind of forget about them. If I'm in that area, I'm usually inclined to go to Sisyphus, or else I'm on way to downtown, or beyond. And there was, actually, a period where I wasn't especially sold on this brewery. Long about time to try them out again.

So, I went down to 1368 LaSalle Avenue, blocks from the lovely Loring Park,  saw the outside seating on the sidewalk was busy, parked my bike, turned to the door, and glanced the long, wordy sign about their COVID-19 plan. Reservations were necessary, no walk-ins. I walked up and asked the masked bartender, "can I take any table I like? " "Sure", came his reply.

And there we go. So, I occupied a couple of hours, tasting a few new-to-me brews in plastic cups, without taking notes. Two of the beers I took home in crowlers (which is something new since last I visited), and you'll see one of them below. The other was a pale ale called Wee Tiger, and it hit all the notes, but I'd love to try it in glass some day.

Half the taprooms think they have to
pour in plastic, half of them don't.
I've never seen it set down anywhere,
but I'm not going to argue. It's
a good move these days, just
don't argue.

The three beers I tried were actually a mixed bag. The one I was less of a fan of, I actually purchased a crowler of anyway, so you'll see that soon. (I take the good with the so-so.) The others were just fine, nothing too fancy. And one of those I liked better in the growler, and that review is below. Maybe it's a matter of the plastic? (Current count, after seeing eight breweries since the slow re-open: 4 glass/4 plastic).

Barncat IPA is a beer I'd never had before, and, actually, still haven't. It was among the beers available  in kegs, but the rep from the distributor never gave me a sample. He gave me a can of 5-weight, and that's a nice cream ale, and it sold well on tap. But, I just wasn't in the mood to try their IPA without sample first and didn't feel like paying for a 6-pack at the store. Maybe go in to the taproom and taste it there? says the little man on my shoulder. Nope not doing that. And I don't know why. They're making perfectly okay beer. I should peek in on them more often, and see how things go.

So, my first review of Lakes & Legends in over 2 1/2 years is the blood orange version of this IPA.
Notes ahoy!

Lakes and Legends BloodCat Belgian IPA. (Blood Orange Barn Cat.)
6.5% ABV, Lakes & Legends Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, large, brilliant white head. Looking very nice.

In the nose: Funky and fruity. Belgian yeast meets large dose of citrus.

In the mouth: Juicy at first, then comes the bitter, followed by the twist of Belgian funky yeast. I like Belgian IPAs, it's a trend that regrettably never quite caught on, and I miss them. In this instance, I feel like the deployment of the blood orange fruit is not as forward as I'd like. The blood orange IPAs I've enjoyed have been more heavy-handed in their use of the fruit.

Wait, though. Here it is, and matched by a high quotient of hop bitterness. Orange flavors are growing and growing. Malt is potent, too, and it's all a well-balanced affair. I'm really enjoying it now, actually. My kind of blood orange Belgian IPA.

Falling Knife Supermood Fruited Sour Ale

Falling Knife Supermood Fruited Sour Ale.
5.5 % ABV. Falling Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

And here we have the second Falling Knife crowler that I picked up at Hum's last week. I'll be busting out of quarantine for more beer shopping tomorrow, and am wondering whether I should look for more of these, or call them and order delivery. One thing I know for sure is that when all this is over, I am overdue for a visit to their taproom. Hell, everyone's taproom. The past month has felt like forever.

Lightly hazed, bright golden/orange hue, slim, white, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Tartness begins it, and then it comes the fruit. Peach, mango, guava, maybe? Apricot?

In the mouth: Intense sourness right off the bat, with a delectable blend of fruit washing in from behind. Juicy stuff. Medium bodied, long sour/fruity finish. Refreshing. Big citrus and tropical fruit flavors. I like it. Keep 'em coming.

Refreshingly Tart Sour with Peach, Mango and Blood Orange

Sociable Tandem Tap Blood Orange Cider

Sociable Tandem Tap Blood Orange Cider.
6.4 % ABV.
Sociable CiderWerks,
Minneapolis, MN.

Almost clear, bright golden hue, no head.

In the nose: assertive fruit, bold apple flavors, slight citrus.

In the mouth: Apple kicks it off, with citrus right behind. Here comes the orange, but not so bloody at first. Slightly tart and astringent. Tasty, though, and refreshing. It could have used a little more infusion, though. Just a tad.

Boom Island Blood Orange Witness Witbier

Boom Island Blood Orange Witness Witbier. 5 % ABV. 13 IBU.
Boom Island Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Looking very bloody. Bright crimson, clear, slim white/pinkish head.

In the nose: Tart, sweet, fruity. Bright orange notes in the nose. Sharp and vibrant.

In the mouth: Bold fruit, overpowering the subtleties of the witbier style. Smooth, light bodied, easy drinkability. Blood orange flavor shines high over the wheat and the orange and the coriander. Good ol' witbier, with a twist.
Tasty beer, and you can drink it.

With its light, hazy blond col­or and fluffy white head, this is a clas­sic Bel­gian-style wheat fruit­ed with blood oranges. Slight tart­ness opens into a refresh­ing smooth­ness, with faint flo­ral notes that linger on the back.

Fulton Solar Vortex Session ale with Blood Orange

Fulton Solar Vortex Session ale with Blood Orange.
3.8 % ABV. 10 IBU.
Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold, citrus-y aromatics. Ooozing blood orange and grapefruit. Beautiful.

In the mouth: Fresh and vibrant. Orange is all over this. Underneath all that, light and lean and thirst quenching. Mild malt, meager hops. Evaporates without effort, leaves the palate with no fuss.

This was certainly not made with me in mind, but I'm sure plenty will be pounded on many a patio.

It's raining. It's snowing. It's too hot. It's too cold. In the land of partly-cloudy we sure do enjoy our talk about the weather. And in that spirit we've crafted our newest beer-a Blood Orange Session Ale we're calling "Solar Vortex". Inspired by a yet-to-happen summer weather phenomenon (call it wishful thinking) it's dry, low in alcohol, and perfect for the summer ahead. Pick up your 4packs of tallboys beginning next week around the Metro.

Venn Blood Orange IPA

Venn Batch 117 Blood Orange IPA. 6.3 % ABV, 20 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Cloudy, light orange hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Orange and other citrus fruit notes. Minor hops, meager malt, but appealing enough.

In the mouth: Bright, fruity, bursting with citrus flavors. Light hop bitterness. Lean malt profile. Quite an easy drinker. Blood orange flavor gets bigger as we go, but I think it could be bigger, still. Let's call this one subtle. Even, delicate. But definitely delicious. Quite nice.

You know what else it is, though? It's a good beer and you can drink it.

A juicy, fruit-forward IPA infused with actual blood oranges.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Malted Oats, Caramel 10

Hops: Citra, Amarillo (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Blood Orange

Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy Session IPA

Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy, Session IPA with blood orange and honey. 4.6% ABV. Flavored ale.  Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Highly hazed, pale yellow appearance, slim white head.

In the nose: nice bitter and fruity notes. Getting as much grapefruit as blood orange, and honey peeks around the corner.

In the mouth: pop, pop, pop, from the hops. Good 'n' hoppy from the front. Starts with a slap, then leans back. Lightish body. Slides down nice and easy. Blood orange flavor isn't as strong as I'd like, but as it is, it's a fine drinking ale and there's nothing wrong with that. Takes turns between bitter and sweet. I like it, I'd drink one again.

Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale

Elysian SuperFuzz. Ale brewed with Blood Orange. 6.4% ABV.

Heavy clouds, deeply orange-ish, fluffy white head. Some particulates showing through when seen in the light. Old bottle? Can't find a date anywhere on the label.

In the nose: Bright and citrus-y, bold hops, good balance, not too bitter, not too sweet.

In the mouth: Citrus-spiked pale ale goodness kicks it off fruity and bitter from the start. Medium-bodied, lightish, bitterness compounding on the palate, all the while remaining smooth and mellow.
I like it. Good blood orange pale, and you can drink it.

....Is a mind-bending whirl of the aromas and flavors of blood orange and Northwest hops.

I present this as evidence that my glass was clean, and
there were floaties.

21st Amendment Brew Free or Die Blood Orange IPA

The Blood Orange IPA is all the rage these days, along with all the other rages. Let's check out this one from 21st Amendment Brewing, part of the Brew Free Or Die brand. Ale brewed with blood oranges. 7% ABV. 70 IBU. Centennial and Citra hops.
Brewed and canned by 21st Amendment Brewing, San Leandro, CA.

Clear, bright orange coloring, large and lasting, lace-leaving, pillowy white head. Looks great.

In the nose: Intense orange from the onset. Bold, brash, bursting with citrus. Beautifully bitter.

In the mouth: More of the same, and more, and more. Big bitterness coats the palate, and keeps it coming. Light body, all the better for the bitter. Blood orange flavor is all over it. Non-stop tasty. Good blood orange IPA and you can drink it.


"Four hop varieties and seven blood oranges ago, our founders brought forth in this brewery, a new beer, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that not all IPAs are created equal. Because sometimes, real fruit just makes things even more delicious.
Blood Orange Brew Free! is brewed like our original west coast style Brew Free! or Die IPA, but with an abundance of fresh blood orange puree and a twist of citrusy dry hops. Refreshingly different. As Abe would say, “Whatever you are, be a good one.”

Boulder Pulp Fusion Blood Orange IPA

Boulder Pulp Fusion Blood Orange IPA. 6.5% ABV. 52 IBU. Boulder Brewing, Boulder, CO.

Clear, bright gold coloring, big ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: citrus-y hop attack, Lemon, lime, grapefruit. Centennial, Cascade and Glacier hops doing their thing.

In the mouth: Starts out fresh and juicy, with moderate bitterness. Ends dry on the palate. Dry and refreshing. Medium bodied. Smooth and tasty, this one, and an easy drinker. Orange flavor continues to build it's presence on the tongue. The blood orange flavor, for me, though, doesn't go far enough. It's quite consumable, however, and it does taste quite good. Just wish it was a little more little more. As it is, it's but a whisper.