Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale Double American IPA

 Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale Double American IPA.

11 % ABV. 91 IBU. Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. 

I made a last-minute switch-up when I saw this 6-pack. The store was closing in two minutes, I had loaded up my cart, but there it was, this Bell's DIPA I've heard of, but never seen, nor tried. Out you go, some other beer, this baby's coming home with me. 

Clear, burnt orange coloring, slim, but lasting white head. 

In the nose: Big malt, and big hops, too, but oncoming outsized alcohol. 11%? Whoa, Nellie! We're really treading into hoppy barleywine territory, this time. Ripe fruit aromatics, powerful and pungent. 

In the mouth: This one screams out hotness from the get-go. Deep, rich, bold and burnished. Highly hopped, bracingly bitter, with a fire around the edges. Popping pine and citrus in the flavor, and dripping out the booze in a dangerous degree, 

Drink slow, rest, relax, luxuriate. Outsized and unrepentant. This one goes to eleven. 

It's crazy from the heat, and, despite the audaciousness, it's irresponsibly delicious. Once I brought this one home, I cracked one open, and by evening's end, I'd downed two more. Not the smartest way to spend a quiet night. One, once in a while, responsibly, and with the comfort of the bedpost close at hand. 

I can only hope to make my immoral reports a tale of caution for the wayward ones out there to mend their winding ways. 

I did say delicious, though, and I meant it. 

Everything you love about our classic Two Hearted® Ale... now in a double IPA. With two and a half times the amount of Centennial hops, Double Two Hearted® has intense pine and citrus notes, a resinous hop aroma and rich malt character.

Starry Eyed Glasgow Kiss Wee Heavy Scotch Ale

 Starry Eyed Glasgow Kiss Wee Heavy Scotch Ale.

9 % ABV. 23 IBU. Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, MN. 

Clear, dark brown color, slim to no head. 

In the nose: Caramel-y sweet malty aromatics. Toffee-ish, too. 

In the mouth: Rich and sweet from the get-go. Nearly chewy in it's malty mouthfeel. Low to no bitterness. Medium bodied, long malty finish. Quite delicious. I could have a few of these, if it wasn't 9%. It's almost too sweet, but almost is almost. Caramel, cocoa, toffee, and dark fruits. As is, a tasty treat that can't be beat. 

Glasgow Kiss 

9% ABV                       23 IBU

Our Scottish Wee Heavy that is playfully named after a soccer term for a head butt.  This is a big malty sipper.  Super smooth, low on bitterness with notes of chocolate, toffee, caramel and plum/raisins.    Enjoyed by this sip, it will sneak up on you.  Too much too quickly and LIGHTS OUT.          

Surly Trip Hop Triple Dry-hopped IPA

Surly Trip Hop Triple Dry-hopped IPA. 

"Trippy Triple Dry-hopped.:
10.4 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Twin Cities, MN. 

So, today is a day, as have been other days, when a number of people have voiced their opinions about Surly Brewing. It was two days after the announcement that they're thinking about what to do about their Beer Hall employees announcing their intent to unionize that they've decided to close the Beer Hall, in two months. And they are immediately called Union Busters. And Omar's being called all kinds of names. And people are saying they'll never drink their crappy beer again.

What do I think? Closing the Beer Hall due to COVID and dealing with the union are two different things. Bad timing. Things could have gone a lot better over there in the past 4-5 years. But, I'm going to continue to try their new beers out, but not all of them. I don't play favorites, except when I do. And I haven't bought everything new they've put out in quite some time, for various reasons. 

Just for fun, here are a few Surly beers I have not had: 

* Bender w/ Fruity Pebbles.

* Carrot Cake Infusion

* Cornholio

* Creamsicle Kolsch

* Furious Old Fashioned

* Horchata Darkness

* Me and Billy Dee Malt Liquor

* Pancake Party

* Tiki Todd the AxeMan

and so on, and so forth. Most of those were festival-only, or tap room-only beers, though I have certainly passed-up many at the store. Still haven't tried the Oktoberfest this year, but I may, I just may. And this one I nearly passed up because of my rule against 4-packs that exceed the $16 mark. This one went for 19.99. I didn't like paying that, but I felt like I had to try it out.  Here come the notes: 

Lightly hazy and orange. Stable cap of ivory froth on top.

In the nose: Citrus and candy. High sweetness, looming alcohol.

In the mouth: Sticky und icky. Bitterness grabs at the palate. High hoppiness and dominant dank. Juicy, very ripe, getting into real candified territory. Big bad ABV isn't too scary yet, but it's getting there. Smoothish, despite the strength. Grabby mouthfeel. Yeah, I called it "grabby", and I mean it. 

This is a tasty treat. I do wish I'd held on the fourth can, but I didn't think my notes on can #3 were good enough, so I cracked #4 to come up with better words, then decided they were. Or, maybe I'll come up with more...we''ll see. 

It's hot, juicy, strong, intensely hoppy, a good nightcap, for sure. 

BREWED FOR UNFINISHED SYMPATHY

The beat drops and the bass throbs in this tricked-out take on the triple IPA. Dry-hopped three times with a massive attack of Lotus, Amarillo, and El Dorado hops for an intense, high-decibel blast of of hop flavor.

TRIPLE IPA

COLOR

Gold

HOPS

Amarillo

El Dorado

Lotus

MALT

2-Row

Acidulated

Carafoam

OG

YEAST

English Ale

IBU

High

ABV

10.4%

SURLY MN USA

Town Hall Double Barreled Xtra Milk Stout

Town Hall Double Barreled Xtra Milk Stout. 9.8 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN

Alas, the last of the Barrel-aged Week growlers from Town Hall. This one barely made it to two months in the fridge. Can't wait to crack it open.

Thoroughly black, ultimately opaque, slim brownish head, soon disappearing.

In the nose: dense, rich, chocolatey. Whiskey comes in, oak, vanilla, cocoa, coffee.

In the mouth: More rich, more dense, thick and viscous. Immense malt. Sweetness, with a touch of bitter. Whiskey comes barreling in, mixing up with the cocoa and cream. Great balance between sweet milk stout and the barrel-aging effects. Big powerful beer in all respects. Whiskey flavors grow and grow, as does the alcohol warmth.

A tasty beverage that's getting better and better the further in we go.

Double Milk Stout Aged Twice in Two Different Bourbon Barrels

Indeed Sarah Jane's Maple Sticks

Indeed Sarah Jane's Maple Sticks.
Dessert-style stout brewed with vanilla,
maple & almond flavors,
cinnamon & lactose.
10 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Fully ebony appearance, complete opacity, large, rich, cocoa brown head, lasting long and leaving lace.

In the nose: Pow! Sweetness is pouring out of this one, big, fat maple oozing out. Molasses. Slick and syrupy. Decadence.

In the mouth: Powerful rich and luxurious sweetness rolls out onto the palate.
Hop bitterness is swallowed up by sweet, luscious malty goodness, deep and delicious. Vanilla's popping up now, but no trace of cinnamon yet, ...no, wait, here it comes.
Full-bodied, long malty finish. Never-ending flavors.

Big, chocolate malt body, finished off with sweet flavoring, maple on top, cinnamon, vanilla & more rushing in from the sides.  A masterful creation. Perfect little nightcap.

A Northeast Minneapolis staple for the sweet tooth set, now with 100% more beer! We collaborated with a Northeast Minneapolis neighbor—Sarah Jane’s Bakery— to capture the essence of their classic Maple Stick in pastry stout form. A staff favorite!

I've stated in several previous posts my distaste for the "pasty stout" designation. One Indeed representative told me about this one, and I insisted we forego any talk of pastry stouts. I notice on the label it's called Dessert-style, but once I downed a can, I can only think that if anything is a pastry stout, it's this. I've never been to Sarah Jane's or had their Maple Sticks, but I'm certainly down to try one now. See if they're as good as this.

Town Hall Eye of the Storm Honey Ale

Town Hall Eye of the Storm Honey Ale. 9.2 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

It continues. I need to keep checking, rechecking, researching beers to see if they've appeared here over the past nine years, or have I reviewed them before and posted them elsewhere?
Today, I stopped into Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, and a plethora of great beers were available, including this one. Has it ever appeared here in the Nib? Amazingly, not in it's original form, no. On BeerAdvocate.com? Yes, over twelve years ago, when I used too much punctuation.

I will now share that original 2007 review, while I drink it fresh from a crowler bought tonight. If there's any deviation between tasting now and remembering then, I'll let you know.

Eye of the Storm, 10th Anniversary Beer, 2007

10% alcohol, 10 varieties of honey.

Slightly hazed orange coloring, slimmed white head.

Aroma is sweetness and citrus, honey and orange...which blossoms where harvested here? 10 of them, we know, but what kinds are a mystery. Flowery, almost, but not quite perfumey...with a solid malt base behind. Quite intriquing and utterly unique.

Taste: slick, and sweet, with a bold, big flavor. One of the fullest bodied of any honey ales I've ever had. There's a tidy hop buzz going on on top, and just the right malt ballast below, but this tasty honey base makes this ever-so delicious.
Supposedly 10% alcohol, for the 10 years of Town Hall, but I'm not feelin' it...yet...no, wait...it's starting to blaze!

Is it an ale? Or a mead? Or a honeywine? Or...???
Not that I care, it's just super-delicious in my book. Any time a brewer takes chances and comes up with some incredible new wrinkle in the folds of the beer style catalog, I'm on the cheering squad...but, only if it tastes as good as this!

Big carbonation in the mouthfeel with this one, bristling along the tongue, who knows what hops are at use, but the honey is larger in the profile of this guy. Full-bodied, with a big, thick, nearly viscous mouthfeel.

Dang, it's good! Wish their bottling lines were ready in time for this one, it's one to keep, and share, and have around for the good times and celebrations!

Damn! Wow! Cool! Other! One! Word! Exhultations!

Honestly, outside of Dogfish Head's Midas Touch, I don't think I've had any beer quite like this...and that one was far too thick and un-beer-like. This is so nice...it's good enough to salute 10 years of great beers and plenty of innovation, too! Hats off to Pete and Mike and the whole crew, long may they wave!

I have checked into this beer three times previously on Untappd, each time at the pub. It's never been released in a growler/crowler before? Never? Amazing. I have reviewed the red wine barrel-aged version, Eye Wine Red, and then there was Vine's Eye, which was somehow different, and while researching these, I noticed that I copied and pasted, just as now, the original Eye of the Storm review back then, in April of 2017.

Oh, well, too late, I already did it. Maybe I thought I'd never have that beer again. This week, Town Hall has been bringing out the original versions of the barrel-aged beers, and making them available in the to-go formats. I like this. I'll be back for more.

As for this beer, would I change anything from my original review? Maybe less exclamation points, and toss in a yum-A-Dum, Dum.

This crazy honey ale is made with local MN honey and German pilsner malt. The result is a strong beer that tastes like you just "licked the spoon" from the honey jar.

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

Trappistes Rochefort 10

Trappistes Rochefort 10. Belgian trappist quadrupel.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de St.-Remy. Rochefort, Belgium.
11.3 % ABV. 31 IBU.

A little while ago I was at a local store and saw some Belgian bottles on the shelves that I thought hadn't appeared here, in the Nib, just yet. My friend Paul was ringing me up and said "oh, I love the Rochefort." I ran back to the shelf to add the 8 to purchase, along with the 6. "No, it's the 10 that I like," he said. Yes, I love it, too, I told him, but I'll be back for it later. I was certain that the 10 had appeared here, after all these years, but not the 6 or the 8. And I took them home and went online and searched my own blog and discovered not only had they appeared here before, 4 years ago, but the exact same thing happened. I went out and bought the 6 and 8, and not the 10. Oh, well, I would use this opportunity to take a better picture. And now at last, I am making up for all this, and I am going to drink a Trappistes Rochefort 10 Belgian Quad, and I'll share my notes from.....sixteen and 1/2 years ago?!?

No, I'll write new notes, and put the old ones at the end.

Deep, dark Burgundy hued, slim beige head.

In the nose: Fruit, grapes, berries. Sweet malt. Oak. Fig, raisin. Dense and delightful.

In the mouth: More deep, more rich, more delicious. It's a complex web of flavors that gives and gives. Full-bodied, long lasting tastes, vastly rewarding. It tastes old, already, though I'm certain that it's fresh. Definitely one of the Belgian ales that would find benefits from aging. That's something I'm not entirely capable of doing, though I'm always thrilled when I can taste the efforts of someone else's aging.

So much malty goodness. Fruit meets caramel, toffee, cocoa. Belgian chocolate blends with berries and grapes. Good gracious, it's delicious, and strong. Powerfully tasty, a dream in a bottle, and a journey in a glass. Something to take back your breath, and slow down time for just a spell.

In December of 2002, I was very new to writing about beer, and posted this on BeerAdvocate.com:

Creamy, tan head; gorgeous violet color.
Aroma: dark, dark, dark, with spices, dark fruits, grapes, berries,strawberries
...distinctly port-like,plummy, raisinish.
 A tad flat, though...do I have an old, improperly cared-for bottle?
Terriffically strong, incredibly warming, the feel and the heat of a glass of cognac!
Absolutely perfect!

I'll add another note. This bottle marks the 4th time I've checked in this beer on Untappd since 2013. Not one other time did I not know it had never entered the Nib. What is wrong with me some times?

About the brewery: The Abbey of St-Remy, in the southern part of Belgium, was founded in 1230, and the monks began to brew beer sometime around 1595. The beautiful small brewery in the abbey, Rochefort Trappistes, is one of only eleven Trappist breweries in the world and makes full-bodied, deeply flavored dark ales. They are bottle-conditioned and among the world's most highly-respected beverages. Only beers made in a Trappist Monastery, under the supervision of the monks, can use the Authentic Trappist Product seal. There are only eleven Trappist breweries in the world.

About the beer: Dominant impressions of latte coffee with powerful chocolate aromas in the nose. The alcohol esters are enveloped with hints of autumn wood, citrus zest (orange, lemon) and freshly baked biscuits. The initial taste is sweetly sinful. Beer and chocolate trapped into one single glass, a liquid milky draught with a backbone of bitter malt. The alcohol warms the throat and, in the finish, you will pick up traces of cloves, citrus, orange and mocha.
The heaviest of the Rochefort beers, the 10 is a quadrupel style beer and can be recognized by its blue label.

Gulden Draak Ale

Last night, as we were closing down the bar, one of my customers declared that she hopes that I have the "best night ever!" Best ever? There's not much time left to make that happen. Unless? Unless I get lucky on the way home? Unless I find that someone broke into my apartment and left me a giant stack of cash? Unless? I think I'll just drink some Belgian beers I have in my fridge, some old favorites such as....

Gulden Draak. Brouwerij Van Steenberge. Belgian Strong Dark Ale. 10.5 % ABV. 31 IBU.

I'm disappointed in myself that in the 10 years of this blog, that it's taken me so long to enter this one into the Nib.

And here is the time when I look back on my old notes of over sixteen years ago, and decide that they are....satisfactory. And so, I will drink a 750 ml bottle of Gulden Draak, an old, old favorite, and share what I wrote in February of 2003:

A deep, dark, burgundy brown color, and a thick, full, rocky, tannish head.

Aroma sizzles over with all things good, a sensory overload of hop sensation: fruity notes, earthy notes, hints of leather and lavender, grapes, wines, figs, raisins. One of my all-time favorite aromatic brews.

A full pallet-load of hops on the palate (sorry, couldn't resist trying that one out just once!) A flood of brilliant bitterness on first sip, that just keeps giving and giving and giving. Solid malt here, too, holding everything together. Fierce and fiery, like the breath of the beast that graces the label and gives this ale it's name. Hot, substantial, and impressive, the dragon is formidable!

One drawback is the "drinkability" issue. My first time with the Dragon, I shared a750ml with a friend, and still woke up the next AM, moaning and groaning, able only to utter: "Guuuulden Drak...guuuuuulden draaaaak....."
Had a 11.2oz.er for the purpose of this review, and I felt it terribly the next day. How to rate the ease with which one drinks the Dragon, when the Dragon always slays you? "Yes, I'll have another"...some other day....

From the label: "Festive living ale, triple by style, brown-ruby color, balances a natural malt sweetness, the glow of the alcohol, with a hoppy gentle touch. Creamy head and full body. A real treasure! Refermented in the bottle. Read more about the brewery and the 900 year history of the Golden Dragon at www.globalbeer.com."

Also, this: Gulden Draak has been breathing fire at the Van Steenberge brewery since 1986. This characterful, fiery beer was originally commissioned by the Cruyl brewery in Assenede. At the time, it was a festive beer brewed just once a year for the Assenede fanfare.

Gulden Draak originated when Jozef Van Steenberge received one of his Italian customers back in 1986. The Italian visitor could feel the fire and insisted on buying the beer. At first, Jozef refused because he felt that the beer was too strong, but then he agreed on the condition that an order of 100 hectolitres was placed. At the time, it was a large amount that guaranteed an entire week of production. A beer with character also deserves a bottle with character, a unique white bottle, they decided together.


The name ‘Gulden Draak’ refers to the gilded dragon statue at the top of the Ghent Belfry. Legend has it that the dragon graced the bow of the ship used by Norwegian Sigurd Magnusson on his crusade in 1111. The statue still stands guard on top of the Ghent Belfry today as a symbol for the city's freedom and power. 

Town Hall Strawberry Stave

Town Hall Strawberry Stave. 8.3 % ABV. Strong dark wheat ale aged in bourbon barrels with strawberries. (What was the base beer? I seemed to have forgotten, and can't find the info at hand. Which bourbon barrel, too?)

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright crimson color. Ample offering of creamy toned foam, slims down with a quickness.

In the nose: Rosy, fruity. Strawberry meets bourbon. An intriguing combination, to be sure. So far, so good.

In the mouth: Whiskey whams the palate first, the deep vanilla tones, the char, oak, etcetera, and then comes the strawberry, rushing in. Full bodied, malty, and lip-smacking delicious. This seems so unlikely, but they pulled it off.

I tried this one on it's first release last year, for a quick one, and liked it, but didn't love. Had one during Barrel Week back about three weeks ago, a small serving in a sampler flight, and was pleased, but unmoved. Why is it giving me a bigger thrill from the growler?

Am I enjoying it more because it's in isolation, rather than being part of a larger sampling? That it's away from the the noise and chaos of the pub? Because I'm able to contemplate it's complexities in quietude?

Whatever the reason, this one is hitting the spot. Second of the four barrel-aged growlers I brought back from Town Hall.

Venn Brewing Oaked Imperial Brown Ale

Venn Brewing Oaked Imperial Brown Ale. What batch #, though? (56, a little research shows.)
9.4% aBV, 34 IBU. Venn Brewing,  Minneapolis, MN.

Some beers don't move as fast at the taproom. I was quite surprised to find this one still around when I bought this two weeks, since I first tried it back in July. Not everything's for everyone, but I'm surprised there aren't more Imperial Brown Ale fans in attendance. Guess I'd better hang out there a little more often, and be counted among fans of the style, such as it is. Let's drink it...

Clear, dark brown, with a lasting, slim tan head atop.

In the nose: caramel, toffee, cocoa...all kinds of richness and malt. And all that oak.

In the mouth: ah, now it all comes together. So smooth, semi-sweet, chocolatey, all those sweet notes, the caramel and toffee, rounded out by the oak. Ending nice and dry. Then along comes the booze. Quite nice.

Caramel/Bread Crust/French Oak. 

A bold, rich Imperial American-style Brown Ale aged on French oak.

Malts: Domestic Pale, Flaked Oats, CaraHell, Victory, Pale Chocolate, Caramel 60, Chocolate.
Hops: Warrior, Willamette.
Yeast:  American Ale.

Other: Medium Toast French Oak.

Bell's 30th Anniversary Cherry Stout Reserve

Bell's 30th Anniversary Cherry Stout Reserve. American Stout brewed with cherries. Brewed and bottled by Bell's Brewery, Inc., Comstock, MI. Alc. 9% By Vol.

Solid blackness, thin brown ring of foam.

In the nose: Rich and toasty, intense chocolate, with cherries just beneath.

In the mouth: Cherries and bigger and bolder on the palate, chocolate malt flavors hold down the fort. Massive malt mouthfeel. Fruity sweetness creeps on board. Might be 9%, but we don't feel it just yet.

I'm enjoying this. Happy Anniversary, Cherry Stout!

This version was brewed in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of our Cherry Stout, another specialty beer that was first brewed in 1988 as a nod to a local homebrew club in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It has grown to be one of the most anticipated beers we brew at the brewery every year.

We brewed a version of Cherry Stout in 2001 using oak chips and cherry pits. This time around, we decided to brew with whole cherries and oak chips. Coming in at 9.0% alcohol by volume, this commemorative batch is a celebration of what Cherry Stout means to us.

Alcohol By Volume: 
9.00%
Shelf Life: 
Unlimited

Eastlake 2017 Arcturan Mega-Saison

Eastlake 2017 Arcturan Mega-Saison. Aged on Peaches in a single red wine barrel for 12 months. 13% ABV. Eastlake Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear-ish, bright golden hue, slim-to-none head.

In the nose: bold, wine-like, showing alcohol. Fruity and sweet. And here come the peaches. Alcohol is coming on strong now. Ginger's running hot, keeping pace with the booze, grapefruit's got it going on. A little bit of sweet & fruity, trace of Belgian funk, and alcohol keeping it groovy.

This one's a once-in-a-while treat, but I like it nonetheless

Saison brewed with pink grapefruit & ginger

Venn Brewing Batch 32 Big Red Rye

Venn Brewing Batch 32 Big Red Rye, 8% ABV, 45 IBU, Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, dark crimson coloring, slim whitish head.

In the nose: sweetness first, rich, red, fruity, then along comes malt.

In the mouth: comes on bold the spicy rye malt, and the big hop attack. Rich malt, with a fair pounding from citrusy, piney hop bitterness. Medium-bodied, easy-drinking, toasty and tasty. Quite nice. Alcohol creeps in just a little bit. Altogether satisfactory.

Spicy rye, piney hops, toasty malt.
A big, balanced, Imperial Red Ale featuring Chinook hops from Community Hops in Longfellow and a hefty dose of rye malt.

Malts: Red-X, Rye, Oats.
Hops: Warrior, Chinook.
Yeast: American Ale.

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale. 11.8% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: bubblegum, fruit, sweetness. Slightly sharp, alcoholic.

In the mouth: A sweet, malty, fruity thing in the mouth. More bubblegum. Sweet, sharp and boozy. Mellow malt. Not as dry and spicy as I'd like from a triple, but not bad, not bad at all. Nothing too complex or complicated, easy-drinking, despite the strength. Pleasant stab at this Belgian style.

Belgian-style Tripel Ale brewed with candy sugar and honey.

Sisyphus WEE-liam Wallace

Sisyphus WEE-liam Wallace. 9% ABV. 15 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This is a Sisyphus beer I've enjoyed many times at the taproom, but never at home, to review, from a crowler. Then, once in a little while, someone does you a solid. So, here we go.

Clear, dark, caramel-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: rich and malty, sweet, molasses, caramel, toffee, delightful.

In the mouth: Sweet, malty, chocolate. Rich and delicious. Deep and delectable. Medium bodied, long, malt-forward finish. A little vanilla, a touch of treacle, and definitely delightful.

Scotch ale brewed with yeast from Dunnottar Castle. To Beer-Dom !

Inbound Golden Tea

Inbound Golden Tea Belgian Golden Strong brewed with Oolong & Pu'er Tea. 8,5% ABV. 30 IBUs. Bottle #466. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Slightly hazy, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: There's the Belgian whiff, the bubblegum, the sweet and the funk. Also herbal, a little spicy.

In the mouth: Right from the start, it's damned interesting, this. Light-ish bodied, lush, sweet malt from the start, matched with a modicum of bitter hops, then overwhelmed by the Belgian yeast and more. Along comes the tea, and the fruit, and it's nothing but delightful. Tasty, delicate, sweet and lovely. A tea Belgian Golden Strong? Huh? Really? Yeah.

Thanks to the folks at Running Tap for running this out to me.

A Belgian Gold Strong Ale brewed with Oolong and Pu'er Tea from our friends at Verdant Tea in Minneapolis. Its fruity esters bring out mild spicy notes and low peppery phenols. The tea enhances the pear, orange, and even apple-like flavors that are present throughout the experience of this liquid

Minneapolis Breweries Day by Day #4: Rock Bottom Wicked Elf

Day #4 of Minneapolis Breweries Day by Day. It's freezing out. It's below freezing. It's in the teens below zero! Arrrgggh! I want to spend as little time as I can outside. And so the plan today is to leave a little early, jump off the bus on Hennepin and 9th Street, have a beer here, just to say I did it, and get back on track to get to work. It's Friday, December 29, and I'm stepping into Rock Bottom Brewing at 800 Lasalle Avenue. That's the street address, I'm going in the Hennepin Entrance.

So, I'm looking over the wide range of beers and it's easy to decide what I'll order, the biggest, Belgian-est beer they got.

Rock Bottom Wicked Elf Belgian Strong Dark Ale. 8.1% ABV. 35 IBU.

Here are the notes I took: "Rich & malty, fruity, warming, slightly vinous, lightly tannin-y" (yes, that's a word." That was good enough. It was satisfactory, but not especially special. Not a bad beer, and I could drink it.

If you don't have time to make it over to Fulton, Inbound, or Modist, if you just happen to be there, if you're hanging out with people who aren't that picky. by all means have a beer here. They ain't bad. And they ain't great. It's up to you.

As for me, I'll probably pass this place by for the most part. And that's 5 down, 27 to go.

Brewed in the tradition of a Biere de Noel, our amber-colored, Belgian-inspired strong ale is smooth and warming for the holidays.

Lynlake The Bachelor Barley-wine

Lynlake The Bachelor Barley-wine-style Ale. 8.6% ABV. 100 IBU. LynLake Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

I've been sitting on this bottle for a couple of months, I think. Feels like as good enough of a night as any to crack it open and enjoy.

Clear, bright crimson color, solid, off-whitish head. Looks nice.

In the nose: rich and malty. Big hop flavors start the assault, Big fruit. Big everything. Plump and heavy. Powerfully complex. Some sweetness, much ripe fruitiness. Mmmm, lot of caramel malt flavors, a touch of toffee, altogether goodness.


In the mouth: Yum. It's got the barley-wine flavors right from the start, plump, richly malty, powerfully fruity, bitterness ably matched by malt, with alcohol revving up and ready to go. Tastes just like a barley-wine should and doesn't hold back. Mmmm, this hits it right where I want it to hit.

Northbound Block Heater Barley-wine

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub Block Heater Barley-wine. 11.1% ABV. 85 IBU. Minneapolis, MN.

Burgundy-hued, slim off-white head.

In the nose: rich and malty, sweet and slightly fruity, dark ones, stone ones, fig and raisin and ripe grapes and berries. Nice.

In the mouth: Tasty, tasty, tasty. Some bitterness boards the palate, then hangs out in the back while malt, fruit, and rich caramel tones take over. A very approachable barleywine. Clean, while rich and deeply rewarding. Good for a cold night like this one.

To make a good Barley Wine, you need to keep that malt sweetness with flavors of light coffee, citrus and pine. This full bodied beer drinks much easier than the 11.1% would lead you to believe. So is you need something to keep you warm this Minnesota winter, grab a Block Heater to take off that winter’s chill.