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.

Wild Mind La Femme Forte

Wild Mind La Femme Forte Saison.
5.9 % ABV. Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Funky yeast, fruity, (peach, mango?) intriguing and inviting.

In the mouth: A little spicy, and a lot fruity. Belgian yeast is in command, definitely an addition of fruits to this saison. Light bodied, easy drinking, and refreshing. A dash of pepper to match the fruit.

Tasty stuff, this, and I'm digging it.


Saison with our house culture yeast. Refermented on mango and peach. Brewed with the help of the women from The Forgotten Barrel Society on International Women's Day.

Surly Mango Supreme Tart Ale

Surly Mango Supreme Tart Ale.
Berliner Weisse. 4.5 % ABV.
Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

Clear, light golden hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, tart. Mango-y.

In the mouth: Big carbonation, very spritz. Along comes the mango, and the tart. Quite light, minimal malt flavors, precious little hop flavors, low bitterness. Clean and easy-drinking.

Patio crusher, ideal for hanging out in the sun. Get to it.



A perfect summer quencher, Mango Supreme is the tart, refreshing answer for that empty spot in your cooler. 

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

Oliphant Brewing's 2spacedout 2facedtrout

Oliphant Brewing's 2phasedout 2facedtrout.
Peach, mango & jalapeño sour w/ lactose, vanilla, & sea salt.
 5 % ABV.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Clear, yellowish, slim white head.

In the nose: Tart from the start, with spice and salt showing first, and fruit slowly unfolding. Sweetness of mango & peach softly billowing out.

In the mouth: Once again, the salt lands first on the palate, with the fruit flavors fast on the heels. Jalapeños, one of my most-hated legumes, isn't showing itself yet, which I'm perfectly fine with. No, wait, there's a trickle, just a touch. With each sip, the sweet, juicy flavors of the fruits comes first, and are dried out by the salt and the pepper. Lactose adds a creamy touch. I like it.

More and more, it seems that these guys have really got a handle on the fruited sour thing.

I suggest that when you drink this beer that you listen to this song:

Special bonus points if you can figure out why I picked this track.

Insight Mango Trollway IPA

Insight Mango Trollway IPA
Insight Mango Trollway IPA. 7 % ABV. 72 IBU.
Insight Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright orange/amber color, slimmish white head.

In the nose: Nicely hoppy, with the addition of plump, round fruit. You can feel the fuzz.

In the mouth: Great big bitterness greets the palate, bumping with mango. Light bodied, easy drinking, Just enough bitter, just enough sweet. Sweet, sweet mango, sitting on top of a nice IPA. At turns juicy and dry. Quite enjoyable. Tasty stuff. Good mango IPA and you can drink it.
It's got it going on.

A Mango bomb West Coast style IPA. Brilliant bouquet of mango and grapefruit on the nose with hints of peach and lemon zest.

This is what we listen to when we think of mangoes:

Modist Demons on the Weekend DDH IPA

Last Sunday, I stepped into the taproom at Modist, a long overdue visit. I hadn't been there since last December, for absolutely no reason. None whatsoever. (Best explanation: keeping up with the breweries of South Minneapolis keeps me busy enough, and sometimes I don't want to go downtown, or elsewhere.) And it ate me up inside, knowing that they keep putting out so many interesting beers that are worthy of review here in the Nib. It was a dizzying array on display, with a "triiiple dry-hopped triiiple IPA", a double-dry-hopped double IPA, a "Blue Hawaii cocktail" IPA, and a 12 % ABV Barrel-aged Old Fashioned Ale, in collaboration with a local cocktail bar. I purchased a glass of the last one, despite the fact that it was $12 for 4 ounces, being one of the most expensive beers I've ever bought. Well, I tried it, and it was good. But, that's the last time I'll do that.

Also, a wood-aged dark mild ale that I didn't try because there were too many double, triiiple IPAs and other weird beer, plus a West Coast Pale Ale that I've reviewed recently. And this beer. I did not buy a crowler of the Blue Hawaiian beer, because, well, you know. I tried my friend's, and that was good enough. Also, the doubled-upped version of False Pattern and Dreamyard, which I wished I'd visited the stores when they were released, but, poof, they're gone. But back to this one. I did buy a crowler, and these are the notes.

Modist Demons on the Weekend DDH DIPA. With Mango, Tangerine, Honey & Milk Sugar. (Does this make it a "milkshake"? There's no vanilla, nor any mention of haze.)
7.2 % ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Collaboration with 18th St. Brewery, Hammond, IN.

Despite the non-announcement of the haze, it's a cloudy one, because what would you do with a clear DDH IPA? I'd be befuddled, that's for sure. Cast in a soft orange hue, under thin ivory head.

In the nose: High citrus, big blooming grapefruit, mango, tangerine. Bold and brassy.

In the mouth: Slight burst of bitterness at the beginning calms down in a quickness. Plays it soft on the palate, then in comes the sweet. Honey and lactose. Not too sweet, but just enough. But barely. Medium bodied, easily consumed.

It's not bad, some surely love it. But once more I get the feeling of brewers, as well as consumers, thinking that they've solved the problem of the IPA, improving what doesn't need improving. Call it something else, please, for the not-bitter, sweet and smooth IPA is no India Pale Ale any longer.

A demonic DDH IPA we leisurely crafted w/ our friends at 18th Street Brewery. It's overloaded w/ mango, tangerine, honey, & milk sugar, then generously hopped with Strata & Citra Cryo.

Destihl Hawaii Five Ale

Destihl Hawaii Five Ale.
6.4 % ABV. 13 IBU.
Destihl Brewing, Normal, IL.

Clear, bright golden, ample ring of ivory foam atop.

In the nose: Hmmm. Coconut? Pineapple? Mango? I'm sniffing this without reading the label (and having forgotten what I'd read earlier). Minor hops, not much else.

In the mouth: Sweetness, fruit, tropics. Again, hop bitterness is low, malt is lush, smooth ranks high.

I'll peek at the can. "Blonde Ale with pineapple, coconut, mango, peach & guava. Fruity, juicy, tropical." Well, I got most of them right.

Light bodied, lower alcohol, and a ton of fun. Tasty as heck. It's not the sort of beer I'd normally go for, but I'm liking it.

Our fruity and juicy blonde ale will quickly transport your palate with a taste of paradise. Tropical flavors of pineapple, coconut, mango, peach and guava are balanced by smooth maltiness. One sip and you'll be singing the song of the islands. Aloha! 

Bent Paddle Wilderness Tuxedo American Sour Ale with Mango & Guava

Bent Paddle Wilderness Tuxedo American Sour Ale with Mango & Guava.
4.4 % ABV. 10 IBU.
Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Tart from the start, tropical fruit coming in from behind.

In the mouth: Sour and refreshing once on board the palate. Goes down mighty easy. Guava/mango flavor could be stronger in my humble opinion. Low hops, light malt, just sour, fruity, and extra-drinkable.

I like this one. I'd have another.

We love to dress to impress... Mother Nature - and a button up flannel is about as fancy as the wilderness needs us to be! We brewed an American kettle sour, in the Berliner Weisse style, to pair with the fresh tropical flavors of Mango and Guava. Low in alcohol with a refreshing yet buttoned-up tartness, our Mango/Guava American Sour will take you along on its own adventure!

Lift Bridge Mango Blonde

Lift Bridge Mango Blonde. 4.75 % ABV. 15 IBU. Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, MN.

It seems odd, but this is my first time with a can of this beer. Never got a sample before, never bought it in the store, and yet I've had it on tap at Acadia every year since it's release. I must've simply decided that it sounded good, and tried it out on that basis. At last, my chance to enter it here, and, as they say on the can, "Put your mango where your mouth is", whatever that means.

Clear, bright golden color, sizable, lace-leaving, lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Sweetness and malt. Mango's all over this. Nice and fruity.

In the mouth: More sweet and fruity, terribly tasty, with a judicious jolt of hops. Light bodied, clean, lean, and ever-so serene.

If you want an easy-drinker that tastes of mango, look no further.

This beer is a limited release experience of summer coming. The aroma of a tropical breeze from a fresh mango grove leads into a light bodied blonde ale, finishing with a subtle mango sweetness that does not overpower the golden malt.

I took the above from the entry on Untappd. Clearly, this was a hit from it's first release four years ago, and is no longer limited. The description on their website is exactly the same, though.

Inbound Mango IPA

Inbound Mango IPA. 4.6 % ABV. 45 IBU. Inbound BrewCo., Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, pale orange hue, slim white head above.

In the nose: Hoppy and fruity, at once. Mango's giving it's all, right from the start. Beautiful.

In the mouth: Brisk, fresh, crisp, and bitter. Hop flavors do a dance with the fruity notes. Medium bodied, long, hoppy/bitter finish. Digging the mango. Just enough IPA to match the fruit. This is quite tasty.

I'm enjoying the crowler all the way from top to bottom.

Fresh Mango notes with tropical greatness. 

Wild Mind Galgo Fruited Sour Ale

Wild Mind Galgo Fruited Sour Ale. 5.2 % ABV. 5 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Big sour from the start, followed by various fruits. Arresting, lively, funkay.

In the mouth: Intense sour pounces upon the palate. Super pucker! Tropical fruit flavors follow, Passionfruit, pink guava and mango in this folder-aged wild ale. Light bodied, and refreshing. Fruity. Oaky. Sour. Yum. Beautiful interplay between sour and sweet.

This is a nice one, to say the least. I'd love this as a regular, recurring beer. I'd like to be able to count on having this one on hand at any regular interval.

Brewed in collaboration with Galgos del Sol, a Spanish hound rescue sanctuary, this fruited sour was blended to celebrate Spanish sighthounds, and proceeds from each bottle will go to help save abandoned Spanish sighthounds through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, and education. Brewed with almost 1,000 total pounds of passionfruit, pink guava, and mango, this blended barrel aged and foeder-aged wild ale is vibrantly fruity and funky with a tart finish.

Oliphant Ultra Tang Milkshake India Pale Ale with Orange and Mango

Oliphant Ultra Tang Milkshake India Pale Ale with Orange and Mango.

It happens again. I'm going to drink a milkshake IPA despite my deep hatred of them. Because I have to try everything Oliphant brews, and they just happen to keep on brewing these detestable bastardizations. Same with other favorite breweries, like Forager, Junkyard, Modist, and more. Is it I who will have to change, or they? Shall I continue to be a contrarian, or fold into the way of the masses?

Clouded ("hazy"), bright orange color, pure white head atop.

In the nose: bold citrus/tropical fruit flavors. Sweet and lovely. Any trace of a typical IPA aromatic lies well below.

In the mouth: Sweet and fruity kicks it off. Low bitterness. Big, juicy fruit. Medium malt. Highly drinkable. Tasty enough stuff.

Once more, my quibbles emanate from this style being called an IPA, when much of what makes an IPA an IPA is stifled, smothered and suffocated. Maybe it started as an IPA, before the lactose and fruit goes in, or vanilla, sometimes, as it does....but in the end, it ain't that no more.

Is that my only objection, that it's not as hoppy as a true IPA, that it so lacks the bitterness that it shouldn't carry the name IPA. The chorus will cry out, "Shut up, old man! Get with the times or get out of the way!" Yeah, maybe I'll be the one to fold. Or not? The constant battle.

Fulton Mango 300 India Pale Ale with Mango

Fulton Mango 300 India Pale Ale with Mango. 6.9 % ABV. Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly clouded, bright golden color, large, lasting, and lace-leaving ivory head above.

In the nose: Sweet fruit notes start it off, citrus and tropical. Hops file in.

In the mouth: Mango kicks it off, with hop bitterness flooding the palate, matching citrus notes joining the ride. Long lasting hoppiness, long lasting finish. Lean bodied, and easy-drinking. Go ahead and get it.

For this variation of 300 we left everything alone in this award winning beer with the exception that we fermented it on ridiculous amounts of pureed mango. The result? A subtly different and completely complimentary spin on your favorite Mosaic IPA.

Oliphant The Mangus Tart Mango Milkshake India Pale Ale

Oliphant The Mangus Tart Mango Milkshake India Pale Ale. 5.6% ABV. Tart Milkshake IPA. Brewed by Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Hazed up, bright orange color, slim ring of ivory foam.

In the nose: traces of tart and fruit, unfolding and flowering. Quite promising.

In the mouth: Sour kick from the start, sour and salty. Tart uber alles in this one, so far. Waiting on the fruit. It's there, somewhere, underneath the sour. Where's the milkshake, though? And, while we're at it, the IPA?

Should I be expecting some happiness, or creamy/fruitiness? It's what they're advertising.

This gets more complex further in, the flavors widen and expand. But not enough that we ever get to taste the milkshake, or the mango, or the IPA. Just call it a tart mango ale. If the "milkshake" aspect doesn't actually come through, why call it such? And it certainly doesn't taste like an IPA.

I hate to knock a favorite brewery, but that's what's going to happen when you put out a "tart mango milkshake IPA." Is it me, not getting these new styles, am I the one who's wrong? Who out there is vigorously nodding?

Omnipollo Oaxaca Mango margarita slush IPA

Omnipollo Oaxaca Mango margarita slush IPA. 6.5% ABV. Brewed by 12 Percent, Stratford, CT.

I don't know if you've heard this by now, but I tend to steer away from the milkshake IPA. I just hate them. But, this was a sample, so I'm gonna drink it and give my honest opinion. Away we go.

Utterly hazed out, thick and impenetrable, deep golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrus notes. Some tropical. Minor hops. Touch of sweet and creamy.

In the mouth: I get the IPA here. I'm not picking up on the vanilla and lactose, so much. These beers should be fresher than this, I think. Come to think of it, what is this, anyway? "Mango margarita slush IPA?" "India Pale Ale brewed with lactose sugar, mango, lime, grapefruit, and vanilla added."
Yeah, it's "margarita"-ish, I guess. Limey. Mango-y. Grapefruit-y. Yeah. And milky. And vanilla-y. And a crazy, mixed-up mess.

The one thing this has going for it is that it's more IPA than milkshake, but it's got nothing else going for it. It's alright, but ...not very necessary. I'm pretty sure that I don't like it. I'll finish it, but it won't make me happy.

Mango margarita slush IPA brewed with lactose, mango, lime, grapefruit & vanilla.

Modist PMP (Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit) Foeder Sour #2

Modist PMP (Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit) Sour. AKA Foeder Sour #2. 4.8% ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This one's been sitting in the fridge a little too long. Not very long, but, yeah, I should have taken these notes right away, or at least a week after. But, I'd been overdoing it with the sours. I really only need one per session. I never want to have more than one at a time, at home, the bar, at a festival or tasting. I'm glad the sour game is going so strong, locally.
I am, really. Truly. It's great.
But....sigh...small doses for this guy.

And now I will drink another one. Here we go....

Clear, bright golden, slim head.

In the nose: yeah, that's sour, fruity, funky, oaky. Nice.

In the mouth: Yum, it's a sour brew, and it's got some fruit in it. Smooth malty body, easy drinker, for the sour-heads among us. Nice and sour and dry and pineapple, mango, and ....well, I wish I didn't have this disease, this mania, this compulsive urge to keep every new beer and write about it here. It would be great to share at a beer tasting party with like-minded pals. As it is, it's more than enough for me.

Confession time: My name is Al and I'm just not that into "sours" anymore.

The INFO: Sour ale brewed with 75% wheat malt and 25% Pilsner malt and fermented in one of our American oak foeders with pineapple, mango, and passion fruit.

Sisyphus Raspberry Mango Never-Lasting Gobstopper

Sisyphus Raspberry Mango Never-Lasting Gobstopper. 3% ABV. 20 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Canned 8/20/18. (I've been sitting on this a bit too long, but it shall be none the worse for wear.)

It's clouded, opaque, and all the colors of the raspberry, with a slim, forgotten head.

In the nose: Fruity, fruity, fruity. Big and berry-y.

In the mouth: Tart starts it off, flush with fruit. Delightful and delicious. Fresh 'n' zesty. Long tactile presence on the palate. Mango hangs just below the raspberry, doing a tidy tango. This is nice. Full flavors, long sour. Interminal tart. Long-lasting fruit. And just terrific. I'm enjoying this one all the way down.

From Brewer Sam:
Inspiration for beers and beer names can come from all sorts of places. In this case, our sour beer "Neverlasting Gobstopper", comes from one of my favorite movies from my childhood, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." 
Everyday I come to work and brew beer I feel like Willy Wonka, but just because of the messed up things we do to people on our tours. 
This mouth-puckering beer will be infused rotating mixtures of fruit, differing every batch. This round we used Raspberries. How long will this last on tap? We are...never...quite sure. And if anyone knows how to get their hands on some snozberries, we'd appreciate the help.

Blake's Hard Cider El Chavo

Blake's Hard Cider El Chavo, Infused with Habaneros and Mango. 6.5% Alc./Vol. Blake's Hard Cider, Armada, MI.

Clear, pale golden hue, slim head, soon gone.

In the nose: Lightly spicy, minor heat, then comes the fruit. Little bit of heat to match the sweet.

In the mouth: Fresh apples, very fruit-forward, and then come the chilis. Heat comes rushing in. Peppers dominate the mouthfeel from here on out. That's alright, but it's not for me. I tend to avoid beverages such as this. If it flips your switch, go for it.

At Blake’s Hard Cider Co., we like spicing things up. That’s why we put dimmers on the lights in our Cider House. And it’s why we created this sweet, heated blend of habanero pepper, mango and our famous Blake’s apples. Experience a hard cider that’s really, honestly, truly like no other.

Hop & Barrel Mango Me Happy Blonde Ale

Hop & Barrel Brewing opened in downtown Hudson, Wisconsin last December, and I've been aching to check them out ever since. I've already missed out on several beers over these few months.

One of the owners is my friend Brian Priefer, formerly a brewer at Inbound in Minneapolis, and before that American Sky, also of Hudson. I finally made it down there with my pal Jason last Sunday, and brought some crowlers home with me, after doing sample flights. Here's the first of the crowlers.

Mango Me Happy Blonde Ale. Blonde Ale infused with mango. 5% ABV, 24 IBU.

To the eye: clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: sweet, fruity, light bitterness at first. Nice. Delightful.

In the mouth: more sweetness, much malt, beautiful hoppiness. Utterly lovely. Mango reveals itself over the blonde ale and the malt base. It's tasty stuff and the drinkability is a non-issue. Crush-ability is off the charts.

Why did I pick this one, when I'm not that huge a lover of blonde ales? Well, I like all the beers, you know, I like to give them all a chance. There's more fun to come, as I check in on the others.

Jason and I sat at one of those barrel tables in the front room off of Main Street of Hudson, WI, and each had a flight of four. There was a larger room off to the side of the bar area, and it was full of people buying cactuses, because that's a thing, now. I didn't spend too much time in there. wWhen Brian arrived we got a tour of the brewing facilities. They're ready to go, these guys, set to unleash several styles of beers in cans at each side of the St. Croix, with illustrations by one of my faves, DWitt. Coming in a few weeks. Can't wait to get my mitts on those, but first, coming soon, those notes on the other crowlers.