Wild Mind Punk Tacos Blueberry

Wild Mind Punk Tacos Blueberry. Fruited IPA.
6.7 % ABV.
Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, deep crimson, nearly purple color, slim-soon gone head.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, tart, that order.

In the mouth: Grassy, citrusy hop flavors board the palate first, accompanied by the fruit. Here comes the blueberry, but the hops take turn, too, and stay in front. The hop flavors, the fruit, and the malt clash. No true integration or balance. It's medium bodied, consumable, but a bit of a chore. Too much clash between the hopping and the fruit. Ends dry, but unsatisfying.


I would not return to this one, sorry. You can't win them all.

Fruited IPA hopped with Centennial, Cascade and Amarillo. Referemented with Blueberries

Oliphant Blueberry Anutart Sour Ale

Oliphant Blueberry Anutart Sour Ale. 5% ABV.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Another curious label. A morose emo tooth broods inside a mouth, greeted by a friendly manta ray and a moth. Sure. Okay. Whatever.

Bold crimson color, utterly opaque, slim pinkish head. Looking very lovely.

In the nose: Bright berries, nice and tart. Fruity and mellow. More tart than sour at first, until...whoa, there it is. Gets tarter and tarter as we go. Altogether, very enjoyable.

I didn't have too much more to say about this one, so I went looking for other opinions. I've done this before, also with an Oliphant beer, where I search certain corners of the internet for other opinions. And the thing of it is, Untappd is not a place where I do any writing. Only the slightest bit, actually, for it all happens here. People are always asking me "So? What do you think?" and I want to say, "I already told you, go read the Nib!"

So, what do the kind of people who do write comments in Untappd say?

Well, they're mostly positive, of the few reviewers who said anything. But, hats off to Michael J. who points out that the color of the foam matches that of the pink in the gums of Jeremy's label painting. Nice work, Mike, I never would have caught that! Another testament to the brilliance of Hughes.

(Eh? See what I did there?)

Sisyphus Blueberry Belgian Blonde

Sisyphus Blueberry Belgian Blonde.
5.1 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, berry-ish crimson hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet and fruity, with a whiff of Belgian funk.

In the mouth: More sweet, more fruity, with moderate hops and nothing but refreshment. Light, slightly malty, a treat to drink down. Good blueberry Belgian blonde and you can drink it.

Light and clean, slightly malty - with blueberries.

Grain Belt Blu Blueberry Lager

Grain Belt Blu Blueberry Lager.
4.7 % ABV. Made with real blueberry juice.
August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.
"Go ahead. Be the blu sheep of the family."

It's time for a blueberry lager. Why? Because it exists and is in my possession. That's the long and short of it.

Well, it ain't blue. It's deep red with a pinkish head, leaving some lace.

In the nose: Fruity. Sweet. Berry-ish, of course. Nice enough.

In the mouth: Sweet and juicy from the start. Malty, smooth, easily drinkable. Barest hint of tart. Stays fresh and berry-vicious without getting too sweet. I'm starting to like it. Can't imagine having more than one, but it's surprisingly tolerable.

A blueberry lager that is tart, balanced, and refreshing. A delightfully sweet twist on the classic American lager. 

Indeed Wooden Soul: Patch Work Sour Red Ale with Mixed Berries

Indeed Wooden Soul: Patch Work Sour Red Ale with Mixed Berries. Wood barrel aged Ale brewed with Blackberries, Raspberries, and Blueberries. Bottled by Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. 7.5 % ABV.

Deep, plummy/reddish-brown color, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Fruity and tart. Jammy. All the berries are up in the nose.

In the mouth: Intense puckering from the start. Blackberries are in the lead. Raspberries peek out. Blueberries, I see you, too. Bursting with fruit and sour. Oak barrel complexities fill it out. Sticks around for a stretch on the palate.

Tasty, tasty stuff. Another fine one in the Wooden Soul line. Keep 'em comin'.

Follow your nose! A melange of fruity perfumes wafts your way, intoxicating with the aromas of blackberry, raspberry leaf, and dusty lemon. Deep red and slightly hazy, with a purple hue, Patchwork plucks you up with perky tartness and handfuls of berry flavor. With this mixed berry sour red ale, the pickings easy. 

I get it. "Patch" is where you pick your berries. Good pun. Yeah....

Indeed Wooden Soul Blue Blood

Indeed Wooden Soul Blue Blood. Brett Saison with blueberry and blood orange. Wood barrel aged ale with blueberry and blood orange peel. (I'm merely copying the label, not repeating for the sake of repetition.) Bottled by Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. Bottle conditioned. 8.5% ABV.

Bright crimson color, throughly opaque, pinkish head on it. Very inviting.

In the nose: Fruit and tart, sweet and sour, plump and pithy. Devastatingly complex and arousing. Can't stop liking this.

In the mouth: Big sour followed by big sweet. Fierce fruit, intense pucker, citrus notes follow the blueberry. Tasty, tasty tart in this barrel-aged brett saison. Just enough funk in the trunk.

I'm not 100% down with this one. It's not a perfect blend. Are blueberries unsuited for the sour saison? It's good, but not quite perfect. I'm going to look at the label and see if that helps me understand it:
"A juiced up saison brewed with multiple Brett strains, Blue Blood is refermented on fresh blood oranges and blueberries. Pouring a hazy, translucent plum color, Blue Blood greets you with pronounced notes of blood orange, passion fruit, and a hint of clove. With a dry, tart and fruity finish, it's a bitter citrus sensation."

Wood-aged Brett Saison with blood orange & blueberry. Aged 5-6 months.

Okay, now I'm getting it. The bitter, the fruit, the sour....there's a lot going on. And I can dig it. Good sour fruit saison, and....you can drink it. Go do it!

Venn Batch #72 Blueberry Vanilla Stout

Venn Batch #72 Blueberry Vanilla Stout. 7% ABV, 30 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Full-on blackness, rich brown ring of foam up on top, totally opaque.

In the nose: sweetness and fruit at the first layer, cocoa and coffee just below. I can pick up the blueberry, if it's a little faint.

In the mouth: Fruit comes first, floating over the stacks of dark malt deliciousness. There's vanilla here, too, but it's a bit further down. Give it time, and it climbs right up. Blueberry and vanilla practically float above the dark malt flavors in this one. Sweet and lovely all the way. A modicum of roast, just enough for balance.

I'm increasingly liking this. It is quite tasty, indeed. I'm enjoying it, I can dig it, it's a good blueberry vanilla stout, and you can drink it.



Actual blueberry, actual vanilla, stout. A sweet stout infused with blueberry and vanilla.

Malts: Maris Otter, Munich, Roasted Barley, Light Crystal, Flaked Oats, Caramel 80, Chocolate.
Hops: Warrior.
Yeast: American Ale.
Other: Lactose (NOT VEGAN).

Minneapolis Town Hall Blueberry Alehorn

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Blueberry Alehorn. Belgian Blonde with blueberries. 6% ABV.

Thoroughly hazed, burgundy-hued, slim pinkish head atop.

In the nose: sweet and fruity. Plump blueberry/raspberry flavor. Nice.

In the mouth: Plenty of fruit from the start. Low bitterness, full malt. Just a little bit of tart. Can't really get the feel of a Belgian blonde, because the blueberries have taken over. But it does the trick. If you want a fruity ale, there's nothing wrong with this one, that's for sure.

Light bodied, easy drinker. Tasty. I like it.

Blueberry infused Belgian Blonde Ale.

Tallgrass Blueberry Jam

Tallgrass Blueberry Jam. Blueberry Berliner Weisse. German-style tart wheat ale brewed with blueberry. Brewed and canned by Tallgrass Brewery, Manhattan, Kansas. 4.3% Alc. by Vol.

Clear, golden/amber hue, smallish ivory head.

In the nose: tart, sweet, wheat, blueberry-ish.

In the mouth: More of the same: crisp, tart, fruity, delightful. Light bodied, easy drinking, smooth but slightly sour. Very nice. Go for it, if it's your, ahem, jam.

After a successful solo tour, we decided to put a band together with our Jam series. Jam out with this refreshingly tart, German-style wheat ale brewed with blueberries. 

Dangerous Man Blueberry Milkshake IPA

Dangerous Man Blueberry Milkshake IPA. 7.3% ABV. Canned on 6.20. Purchase 6.29. Notes taken 7.6. And published on 7.13, because.

If you read this post about Oliphant I'm A Righty Pooster, then you know about my first encounter with a "milkshake IPA." Well, the first I wrote about. I'd gotten a taste of Modist's version just before the final keg kicked. That Oliphant post was the first time I struggled with understanding this style.

A few weeks back, I stopped at Dangerous Man to get some crowlers for my birthday celebration the next day. I was hoping to get a taste of this beer, but it was off tap. In the crowler store, though, I was glad to see a few left in the cooler. I opened one and shared with  a gathering friends, but didn't think too hard about it. It wasn't that kind of birthday party. No notes, no swirling, no sniffing. Just drinking beers with good friends.

Almost a week later, I sat down at took notes, and that's when I put my thinking cap on. A week later, I finally share them with you:

Thoroughly hazed, oddly crimson coloring, nearly purple....blue-ish red? with a pinkish head above. Right from the gate, weird.

In the nose: Soft and sweet. Fruity. Yeah, blueberries. Creamy. Milky. Huh. Just as advertised. But...but....it's totally like a smoothie, or yogurt, for christ's sake. What?

In the mouth: Smooth and easy, creamy and fruity. Smoothy-y, yogurt-y, milkshake-y, but where's the IPA, and why???

Medium-bodied, long, fruity finish, low bitterness. How is it an IPA? Not sure. Label of the crowler reads: "Blue Milk IPA", and I think they're just trying to make a Star Wars reference. (Visit the crowler shop for nice view of Star Wars stuff.) It is tasty, but I just want to reject the concept outright, as being anti-beer. This is not what I signed up for when I joined the craft beer crusade. I want bitter, I want strong, I want roasty and deep and dark and impressive, and not a soft drink or a yogurt or a smoothie in a glass. My soul dies a little if I consider actually enjoying this. I can drink it, and it tastes good, but it doesn't feel like beer. Is anyone thinking: "We made beer better, by adding lactose and fruit!" I suddenly find myself in the shoes of those who rejected or questioned beers that I've enjoyed in the past, like lambics or barrel-aged brews, over-proof beers, crazy stuff like that. Through it all, bourbon barrel barley-wines, hot as hell Belgian crazies, thick as heck Imperial Stouts, I said, YES!, this is beer, what's your problem?!?!

This stuff, though? I'm thinking, Are you improving beer, or just, you know, warping it? There's not enough bitterness to call it an IPA, and the smoothie/creaminess is great, but very not beer. (What about cream ales, you demand of me, do you hate those, too? Well, yeah, I'm not that big of a fan, but they don't have milk in them, either.)

Am I a hater? Am I not on the bandwagon? Am I old and in the way? This is the second "milkshake IPA" from DMBC, after the boysenberry version, which I missed out on, and I remember a recent exchange on Facebook where one friend mentioned having this beer, and another friend who is very active in brewing asked "Do they still make beer there?" I got a good laugh out of it, but when the place has to keep up pace with the chocolate milk stout, the coconut milk stout, and the peanut butter porter, it seems pretty true.

Stop the gimmicks, before it gets way out of hand. Or is it too late?

 I'm a little worried that DMBC is pleasing the wrong people with beers like this. We shouldn't, they shouldn't be promoting and propagating weird not-quite-beers like this to a gullible, not-quite-craft-beer drinking public.  If this was all the rage at a brewpub populated by hard-core, heavily bearded beer geeks, and it got no further, that would be one thing. But DMBC draws a larger crowd and they have different demands. It echoes further, and I worry that people will soon think that all beers should have peanut butter and blueberries and milk and what have you. That you're nothing without your apricot and bacon beer. That you'd better have your year-round caramel apple kolsch or you're nothing.

These are the things that keep me up at night. It could be worse.

So, I sat on that for a week, and wondered if I should publish my late night ramblings as is, or edit them, or reconsider them. Answer: yes, no, no. I will not agonize over this stuff any longer. The next time I encounter a "milkshake IPA", I'll either skip it or keep my mouth shut.

Edit: I did edit it. A little. I'll add one thing: This is a well-made beer, it's just not for me.

Unibroue Ephemere Bluet (Blueberry)

Unibroue Ephemere Blueberry. (Or, as the French say, Bluet.) Belgian style fruit flavored wheat ale. 5.5% all. by vol.

Pale crimson coloring, towering, crystalline head. Looking lovely.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, blueberry-licious. Soft and wheat-y.

In the mouth: Light and breezy, still sweet and fruity, but with a side dose of tart. Easy-drinking, and flush with the blueberry. If a blueberry wheat is your thing, by all means, go for it. I won’t return to this one very often, though.

This one was debuted last year and I got a keg of it for Acadia. It lasted a weekend, where other Ephemere offering took much longer to leave our traplines. The crowds those nights were really into, coming back again and again for "the blueberry beer." I had too large of an inventory in the cooler to buy another one, and still wish I had.

Uncle John's Hard Cider Blueberry Apple

The Bitter Nib is a beer blog, this we all know, but sometimes a bit of cider comes my way. I could just drink and say "it's alright" and not chronicle it here. Or I could write about cider. So, here's the first of two that popped into my fridge recently, and I popped their cans open and notes away...

Uncle John's Hard Cider Blueberry Apple Seasonal. Produced and bottled by Uncle John's Fruit House Winery, St. John's, Michigan.

Clear, pinkish red color, active carbonation.

In the nose: apples first, hints of blueberries. A little sweet, a little tart.

In the mouth: there it is: blackberry flavor coming through, coming on top over the apples. Nice and tart, with sweet on the side. Light and drinkable, tasty. Nice.

Guys, you know me, I'm a beer man. Not a cider drinker. Unsure of how to write about cider, but I'll keep trying. All I can tell you is: here's a good one. I wouldn't pass one up, but I'd always wish I had an ale instead.

Town Hall Pursuit of Happiness Blueberry Amber Ale

See, what they did there? Red, white, and ...blueberry? Get it?

Now, on to #3. What's what it looked like when I had it last night:

And here's what I originally wrote about it in July of 2005:An American amber ale, with blueberry essence added, filling in for hops, they say... 

Clear, coppery amber color, good, thick, creamy-toned head, disappears nearly instantly. 

Big aroma, projecting the fruit far and wide, from the moment the cap is removed. Blueberries, blueberries, blueberries, yum, yum, yum...nothin' but. 

TAste: smooth, and sweet, malt-dominated, with the fruit mingled in every swallow. Medium-bodied, with a light, dry finish. Very easy to drink, and a friend to all who favor fruit beers. 

Finishes the revolutionary troika of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, "Red", "White" and "Blue" beers, celebrating American Beer Month in July. An interesting idea, well executed. 

...although, as I finished my second pint, I eyed my neighbor's Masala Mama with envy...