Tyranena Hop Whore Imperial IPA

Tyranena's Hop Whore Imperial IPA, from the Brewers Gone Wild Series, drinking now, looking at notes from October, 2006, when it was first released:

Glowing orange coloration, quite opaque, smallish creamy white head.

Aroma screams of hops, pungent pine, deep dark fruit, tropical fruit, pineapple, mango, banana, grapefruit, Delectable. Major malt is felt, as well, and it puts me in mind of a barleywine. Major alcohol smell.

Incredibly intense impression in the mouth. Huge hop blast, brilliant bitterness riding the tongue. Ripe fruit burst everywhere along the palate. Just delicious. And, although insanely bitter and hoptastic, it's remarkably easy to drink. Or maybe I'm just inured to the hops. That's probably it.

Full bodied, eternal finish. Bitterness persists and rings fresh with every swallow.

Really tasty. My kind of Double IPA. Yum, yum.

Tommyknocker Saison

Tommy knocker  Brewery Nice Saison Seasonal Ale, Colorado, 5.5% ABV/ IBU 15. Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub, Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Clouded golden hued, slim white head.

Aroma: some funk & some sour, citrus and spice, everything nice. Plenty of Belgian yeast in this thing, tantalizing the senses.

Taste: Big pucker up front, huge tartness and a double hit of citric sour and sweetness. Minor hops, mellow malt, it's the yeast giving it the far-out funky Belgian kick. Leans back a little, then roars back with each new sip and gulp.

One flaw: a bit too much of that flashy sour, funky flavor, a bit more than required and desired in a saison. Can you believe I'm saying this? Well, we have to draw the line somewhere.

Here's what they write on the label: "A bright golden effervescent brew that is slightly tart with a spicy aroma." Okay, sounds good, but it undersells it just a tad.

There's more on the label about the mischievous elves who give the beer it's name, but let's leave that for now.

Indeed Fresh Hop Ale

Indeed's Fresh Hop Ale, fourth release from our newest Minneapolis brewery, their second seasonal. Brewed the same way as Town Hall's Fresh Hop and Surly's Wet, tons of hops, just picked, flown straightaway and dumped into the kettles. In fact, I think this one was brewed the very same day as Surly Wet, if we can go by Facebook posts and such.

It's a clear, golden hue, under a gorgeous, crystal white head, lace-leaving, looking lovely.

Aroma: Ah! Fantastic! Hints of tropical fruits, citrus, pine, and something …well, just beautiful. I'm a devoted hophead, and this is my crank, right here. Ah, glorious humulus lupulus!

Taste: Mmm! Yu-um! There's a special malt, only one, at work here, and it's identified as an Irish Stout malt. Why is the beer so pale and clear, then. There's things I don't fully understand. Someone will inevitably school me, or I'll figure it out, nonetheless. In any case, this Irish malt with the Centennial hops really brings forth nothing less than deliciousness. And at 5% ABV, there's nothing stopping the quaffing. Except the cost. Shipping out tremendous amounts of hops isn't cheap. Nothing good ever is.

It drinks wonderfully, it's lean bodied, full of zest and verve, and spills out nothing but happiness. Nicely bitter, but without any punishment. Damned delicious. Mmmm, I'm in hop-head heaven.

Here's what the brewery says about it: "Our first annual Fresh Hop offering is a sessionable single-malt pale ale brewed with Irish Stout Malt and wet Centennial hops harvested in the Yakima Valley less-than 24-hours before being added to this brew. Join us in celebrating the hop harvest and the beginning of fall." 5% ABV.

Great River Roller Dam Red Ale

Great River Roller Dam Red Ale, Great River Brewery, Quad Cities, USA (Davenport, Iowa). 5.4% ABV, 30 IBU.

Appearance: clear, deep reddish hue, speckled, spotted off-white head, leaving lace.

Aroma: sweet and malty, bready, when a slightly sour twist.

Taste:   bright, shiny malt, just a bit of hops, good balance. Not too malty, medium bodied, good and earthy feel and texture. Stays just short of sweet, has a good edge on it. Just a little bitter, just a touch of sweet and malty.

I respect this one, but it's really not what I go for. Is tasty and drinkable, though. I'd take one any day, but wouldn't go out of my way for one.

Foothills Torch Pilsner

Foothills Torch Pilsner, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Clouded, golden-hued, slim white head.

Classic lager aroma, cereal grains, straw, noble hops, very clean, lightly malty. Classic and clean are the watch words.

Tasting it: hops up top, starts bright, then fades back. Goes down smooth, clean, and guess what? Classic. Some fruit filters up, met with bitterness from Saaz hops and all else. Big top hop bitterness, lays long and large on the tongue. Clean, lean, light, a tiny touch fruity, and plenty hoppy. Extra consumable. Sleek and smooth and easy to down.

What does Mr. Label say: "A balanced beer made with Czech Saaz hops. Torch presents a well-structured, highly drinkable Pilsner experience." 5.5% ABV, 35 IBU.

That sounds about right. Though, I do wish there was more to tell the story. Why "Torch"? Why the Viking on the label? Why ask why? Just because. I have to know.

Budweiser

Continuing with thoughts on the St. Louis giant, the Belgian-owned Anheuser-Busch brewery, I notice how few of their beers I've had, how little of their number I've taken notes on. I blame all my sales reps from the Bud distributors for not bringing me samples of Bud Light Lime and Lime Chelada and American Ale and Select and Select 55 and Michelob Ultra Tuscan Orange Grapefruit and Shock Top, and ...you know, what? Thank you, current and former Budweiser sales people for NOT bringing these beers to me. But, if they would have, you'd hear about it, that I guarantee you.

Here are notes from December, 2005, the day I decided to write about a bottle of Budweiser. You're welcome:


Born on October 19, 2005, Happy 2 month anniversary, bottle of Budweiser!

Paley-pale, palest of the pale yellow, and crystal clear, head starts thick, then slides down to a negligible ring, always bone white, until it's a shallow pool of bubbles.

Aroma: bright, sweet, then empty. Far-off echo of hops, but mostly vegetal, with a switch of straw. Corn and rice, you bet.

Taste: Wetness crowds the scene first in here, lots of water in this. Thin bodied, ...and I'm searching and scratching for any real kind of flavor. Water and corn, plus fizz...?

Harsh carbonation, very active on the palate, extraordinarily fizzy all over the tongue, and that's not a good thing. To me, anyway. I'm wincing as I drink, and I have witnessed plenty of people toss it back without trouble. Relax, relax...

Dull, dry finish. Nothing resonates in the memory, or the mind, but neither was anything supposed to...knock 'em back, set up all over again...why worry about taste?

There's nothing really wrong with The King of Beers, but neither is there anything good about it.

Crisp, yes. Refreshing...maybe. The carbonation bugs me too much, I'll take water instead. Smooth? Maybe, but at what cost? I could use a little flavor...hello, malt? Hops? Drinkability? Mmmm...not for this cat, I could drink it, but I'd be so bored, my soul would shudder and thoughts of self-ruination would rumble in my brain.

Good thing there are plenty of other choices.
But, if you dig it, hey, knock yourself out. Don't let me get in your way.

Bud Light

You know what's amazing? Looking at statistics, the king of page-views in the history of this blog is my review of Bud Light Platinum, which was nearing 500 "looks" since the last time I checked. (Who knows how many of them were "reads"?)Why did that many people read my review of that beer? Why don't half that many check out the reviews of beers I like, and highly recommend? And how did that many find it? I've checked and checked, and can't find a link, or anything. Well, word must go around.

So, to see if there's something out in the universe that leads internet perusers to glance at my words about Anheuser-Busch products, here is my review of Bud Light, from November of 2003. Here come the notes...

Bud Light, American Light Lager, 4.2% ABV, 27 IBU. Anheuser-Busch, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, St. Louis, Missouri and countless other locations.


What I am about to do now is true anomaly in the realm of this beer. I am going to open it, and pour it...into a glass. Really, this must happen once every 10,000,000 times this beer is consumed.

Color is a nothingness that yearns to be a thin, wan yellow shade, but can't quite do it. Well, I can see my hand on the other side of the glass, so that means it's a "real beer", right?

Aroma: too nice a word to use. "Stink" delivers more meaning. Ricey and sweet and sickly and sad, sharp and unpleasant.
Good head, though.

Taste? Again, that's not what they have in mind when they brew this, but I'll see what I can find...I can only wince, with every sip, so maybe I shouldn't be sipping. How about if I gulp it down? Hey, that didn't hurt at all! It went all the way down my throat, and soon it'll leave the opposite way. Didn't leave a trace through it's travels.

If one samples this, and attempts to examine it, it's nothing but repulsive. Throw them back by the caseful, the way they want you to, and it's another utterly meaningless exercise in mass consumption.
Water tastes a Hell of a lot better, and is cheaper, too!

Clearly, not brewed with the likes of me in mind, but hey, if you enjoy draining bottles and cans of nothingness down your gullet, be my guest.
--------------------

Nearly nine years ago, I thought this had a "good head". Not this time. And I rate it even lower now. It's not horribly tasting, it's just not...tasting.

Bud Light is brewed using a blend of premium aroma hop varieties, both American-grown and imported, and a combination of barley malts and rice. Its superior drinkability and refreshing flavor makes it the world’s favorite light beer.

Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp Belgian-style IPA

Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp Belgian-style IPA,

Appearance: amber color, nice white head, looks lovely, it does.

Aroma: Belgian yeast funk in effect, y'all, oh, yeah. And there's some American hops lurking below. Very flavorful, very wonderful.

Taste: More of that special flavorful funk, with the hops riding behind it. Plenty of fruit going on, apricot, peach, etcetera, some orange, some lemon. But mostly stone fruit varieties. And then comes the funk, and the malt, and the mmm, something' else.

Let's take a look at that bottle: "Like a stamp on a tramp, this brew is about not so sublet seduction. Soft but complex malt, Chambly yeast, Amarillo and Centennial hops have merged to create a bodacious Belgian-style IPA." 7% ABV. Ale brewed with natural flavor."

The short and the skinny for me: This fits the style, and it's irresistible. Delivers everything it should. We get the fruit, the funk,  a little bit of bitter, and a lot of yum. A nice mix of everything, but plenty of that special Belgian flavor. Mmm, mmm.

Harriet's Marzen German-style amber lager / Oktoberfest

Last year, around this time, Harriet Brewing Company debuted the RauchFest, a smoked version of a German Oktoberfest/marzen lager. This year, they also let out a small amount of it to on-premise accounts, and sold it at the taproom, as well as this last Saturday's RauchFest celebration. I'm taking notes at the tail-end of our one and only keg.


Harriet's Marzen/Oktoberfest.

Clear, crisp, autumnal amber appearance, slim, creamy white head.

Aroma: herbal, vegetal, malty, and just this side of sweet.

Taste: clean, smooth, malty, and delicious. Lots of rich amber lager flavor, very mellow, mild, and easy off the tongue. Medium bodied, exceptional consumability.
Drinks like a dream. No fuss, no muss. Is what it is. Sweet in the middle, dry in the end. Virtually no hops perceived, very minor bitterness, just enough to keep the sweetness at bay.

Classic marzen from Harriet. A pity they made so little. Next time, guys, next time go long and large with this one, long and large.

Steel Toe Dissent Dark Ale

Steel Toe Dissent Dark Ale, 7% ABV, Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Solid black color, short, cocoa-tinged head of foam.

Roasty-toasty aromatics, right from the start, nicely bittered. Bittersweet espresso, with hints of chocolate.

Taste: more of that roasted malt on the tongue, dark, rich, deep and tasty. Mmmm, all the pleasures of an oatmeal stout, all the smoothness and the depth, the richness and the satisfaction, all here. Full-bodied, long-lasting finish. Just right.

More can I say? It's nailed, like the others.

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Palm Buster Blonde Ale

Palmbuster Blonde Ale, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Palm buster"? What kind of name is that? Has something to do with the pakm sugar in the recipe, I'd guess. A lot of other Belgian-y ingredients, too. I forgot to take notes at the pub. Next time.

so, let's look at it. Clear, amber color, small head, gone quick.

Aroma: Sweetness at the start, not just from sugar, but Belgian yeast, as well. Some banana and bubblegum. Nice.

Taste: minor hops, creeping sweetness, crisp malt, lean body. Light, consumable, toasty malt character, with long lasting Belgian flavor. Hop bitterness rides on top, for an interesting interplay.

I liked this, it's an easy drinker, and has adequate flavor, but...adequate only goes so far. Bit lean to really go rah-rah over it. I'll finish my growler and move on.

Bell's Oarsman Ale

Bell's Oarsman Ale, Brewed and Bottled by Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. "Buoyant, tart and refreshing from using traditional sour mash methods. Great for you and your crew." 4.0% ABV.

What does this tell us? How it tastes, how it drinks, how they made it, and what activity it's use is best with. What if I'm not in a boat. And would I like it with a goat?

Clouded, golden, small head, lasts as a thin, white ring.

Aroma: light citrus, light hops, a touch of sourness, a smidgen of sweet. Bit of a funk effect, too. Pleasing enough.

Taste: Brisk, tart, and, yeah, refreshing. A little tingle on the palate, a bracing quick minute of sour, a squirt of citrus, the flash of wheat texture and mouthfeel, and nothing but smoothness and extra-easy drinking.

One thing very much missing in the information given to us by Bell's Brewery is the style of this brew, or even what general area it's shooting for. Not a hefe weizen, not quite a Berliner Weisse, either. Maybe a mix of the two?

I'm also puzzling over the meaning of the name. Why Oarsman? Is there a fondness for rowing at the brewery? Is it an alternative to a "lawnmower beer", a "rowing ale"? So many mysteries.

Another conundrum is how long it took me to take notes on this Bell's beer, having come out so many years ago. It was draft only for years, and I sampled it now and then, but it never quite grabbed me. It's a well-made beer, certainly quaffable, with enough of a tartness to keep it interesting. It's fun, and tasty, and the 6-pack will be done quickly enough. I probably won't return to it very often, though.

Although… although…I am liking it more, at the end of bottle #2. Maybe I'll be a rootin' tooting' booster before too long.

Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet Black India Pale Ale

Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet Black Ale, Ipswich, MA.

Hey, I've heard about this Clown Shoes business, and guess what? Now, we're getting it. Here's Hoppy Feet Black India Pale Ale (black and pale, eh?), Mercury Brewing Company, Ipswich, MA. 7% ABV.

Dark brown, just about black, beautiful creamy tan head, lace-leaving. Gorgeous brew.

Aroma: grassy hops, subsumed by rich, deep malt. Hints of cocoa, spots of coffee.

Taste: more of that on the tongue, the depth of the dark malt, with the high hops on top. Nicely roasted malt character, riddled with hop bitterness, up an down, and back of the throat. Flavor continues, never quite quits. Gets brighter and brighter, hoppier and hoppier. Stays long through the finish.

The battle continues, and a question arises. Did this style arise out of need or necessity, was it a desire to produce something great, new, & intriguing? Or did people tire of porters, and demand they get hopped up, or else? I'm still asking.

Smooth, rich and malty mashes up with leafy, green, and hoppy. Bitter much? Just enough.

Olde Hickory Death By Hops IPA

Old Hickory Brewery Death By Hops India Pale Ale, Brewed and Bottled by Olde Hickory Brewing, Hickory, North Carolina. 7% ABV.

Light haze. Golden hue, large white, lasting head.

Bracing bitterness hits the nose, waves of pine and citrus wash over, hit after hit of hoppy goodness. Nice.

Tastin' it: Bittersweet and resiny. Juicy, hoppy, and yum. Hopped up and ready to go. Medium body and mouthfeel, leaves plenty of room for hops to do their dance. Plenty of lemon, lime, spots of pepper. Stays just short of astringent. Well, it gets a little in their, in the back of the throat.

Easy drinker, for the hopheads among us (raises hand). Top notch IPA all the way. Hey, what does the label say?

"Death by Hops double IPA is the winner of Olde Hickory's first Pro-Am event. This beer was designed by Alex Buerekholtz, award winning homebrewer & proprietor of Hops and Vines, Asheville, NC. DbH is brewed with 3 row barley, hopped with 5 different West Coast ops, then twice dry hopped. The net results an amazing aroma of ripe juicy fruit mixed with a bouquet of spring flowers. Death by Hops makes an impact you won't forget! Cheers!"

That sounds about right. But I wouldn't have picked it as a double IPA. Most go above 7%, and with a name like this, you'd expect a bit of punishment. This one is mighty hoppy, but doesn't push it too far, doesn't take it over the edge. Nothing wrong with that.

Surly Fiery Hell

Surly Fiery Hell. Hell, the Helles lager, with a ton of peppers in it. I had this at All Pints North, avoided it at Autumn Brew Review. Now, I can finally get a full pour (didn't know they were releasing kegs of it. )…so, let's have one, though I know what I'm in for.

Hazy dark golden hue, small white head above.

Aroma: Peppery flavor (without the heat) resting over a basic pilsnery malt nose.

Taste: Ow! Ow! yew! The peppers are in full effect. Ooo, ooo, ooh! yeeeow! But, you know, ..ow! Yeow! It keeps biting!

What can I really say about this? It's my evil antithesis. Long ago I learned that a light lager plus hot chilis does not equal pleasure for me. I'd rather it were done with an ale, with more flavors to compete and contribute to this mess. But a light lager will only give the pepper so much more room to shine, and while that may be ideal for some, it is not for me. I skipped this at ABR, having had my fill at APN, but couldn't resist the chance to "tick it", in this sort of fashion.



from Acadia's flier: blah blah (about Hell)...and then..."Cask conditioned and aged on Hickory wood and Puya chiles for a slow burn on the back of the tongue. 4.5% aBV, 12 degrees Plato, 20 IBU.
Yes, I will suffer through these 12 ounces, and enjoy it for what it accomplishes, but  for the long haul? Not for me…at all. Yow, though, yeeeow! Add to that: boomshakalakka…but, as we said, not for me. ooh, wee, too hot!

Foothills People's Porter

Foothills People's Porter. Apt name, for porter was once named for the working group that drank it up in London pubs. Why not reclaim it as a beer style for the common class? Ain't no reason, that's why not.
Foothils Brewing, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 6.25 % ABV , 42 IBU.


This is the first of many North Carolina beers, from a recent beer trade, the first trade I've done in years. I noticed that there are many states unrepresented on this blog, that we can't get here in Minnesota, so trading time, it is.(Correction: It appears that I've listed one N.C. beer on here, from Duck Rabbit, but it's clear that I haven't had enough.) I intend to keep up with trading for various states and get back in the game, cover some ground, try more breweries I haven't had the pleasure to taste yet. Exactly the reason I went into it nearly 10 years ago.

But, let's get with the beer, alright?

Dark brown, with ruby highlights, lightly toasted tan head of foam above. Leaves some lace, looking great.

Aroma: Roasted, earthy dark malts, notes of cocoa, and a small hit of espresso.

Taste: Full-bodied, meaty mouthfeel, plenty of roast and toast. Moderate bitterness makes for excellent balance. Everything is exactly in order and in the right spot. Plenty of play on the palate, make for easy drinking, and rich rewards. Alternates between spots of mild sweetness and judicious bitter hoppy feel. End dryly on the palate, urging an elongation of this particular porter session. Good thing this one's in a bomber. I can go for this in the long haul, before becoming tired of it. In fact, I'm way down for it, this is tasty, tasty stuff.

What's the gobbledygook on this? "People's Porter is a robust, English-style brew, with a dark, ruby hue. Complex chocolate, coffee, and toffee notes give way to an herbal bitterness, finishing with a pleasant hint of espresso."

Fat Head's Head Hunter India Pale Ale

Fat Head's Had Hunter India Pale Ale, 7.5% ABV, 87 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Fat Head's Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Clear, golden-amber color, almost tangerine, with an enormous, thick and sturdy, creamy white head. Looking great.

Aroma: leaps on on first pour and slips into the nose. All our favorites are inside, we get the citrus and the pine, there's the bitter grapefruit, some pineapple, maybe a whiff of mango. Pleases the olfactory organ in all the best and most appropriate ways. Smelling great.

Taste: Bam! A fierce assault on the palate, delivering massive bitterness, a hefty spank on the tongue. A powerhouse blow, staying long and laying in hard. Full-bodied, immense presence on the palate, long finish.

I can go through every superlative in the thesaurus, and just keep going. This one really has it all, and it ends on a moderately mellow mood, with that high bitterness and incredible flavor level never really tapering off. There's a strain of astringent, aspirin-y character that hangs in at the back. But some of us love that and this is for us, clearly.

Unrestrained, unabashed, unhinged. But damned delicious. Incredible IPA, deserving of all kinds of praise.

"Uncivilized & Aggressive. No other ingredient stirs the passion of a master brewer like the hop. Inspired by this legendary flower we challenged ourselves to create a world class IPA. Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped uncivilized, West Coast-style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hop! Love the lupulin. Dig the dank. Respect the resin. Do not age, Hoppy beers are best consumed fresh."

Hoppin' Frog Barrel-aged B.O.R.I.S. Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S., Oatmeal Imperial Stout, stout aged in whiskey barrels. 1 pint 6 fl. ounces (22 fluid ounces) 9.4 % Alc/Vol.

Cast in the starkest style, ebon as the night, black as the raven, with a richly roasted  dark tan head, which slims down to nil in a quickness.

Aromatics: The bourbon barrel hits at once, boom! bam-a-lam! All the big boys come out swinging, all the molasses, and the cocoa, the coffee, the sweet ichor, the richness of life, it's all swimming in this. Just right.

Taste: Slick, smooth, rich, and delicious. All that wrapped up in a tidy, tasty bow. The plain and simple qualities of the luscious and lovely oatmeal stout, dipped in the everlasting wonderfulness of an imperial stout. Got To, Love. It. Deep and delicious. Did I say that already? Smooth and slick, substantive and sumptuous. And the bourbon wraps it all up, the oatmeal and imperial, swept up in the vanilla and the sweet and rich whiskey flavor. Love. It. Yum. Deelish!

He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. (rye malt double IPA)

Here's one I first sampled from a bottle, June, 2006. I'm drinking now from a freshly tapped keg. 10% ABV. Notice how this is, if you read the label, #1 in the series of Jewish Stars. One and only, so far. We've yet to sample Wood Allen witbier, Eddie Cantor eisbock, Mel Brooks barley-wine, and so on and so forth...



The ale named after the former Leonard Alfred Schneider departs the bottle and enters the glass a robust red, shadowy, clear, with a high head, creamy/tannish toned. Looking lovely.

Aroma: Fat malt, outsized yeast, liquid bread...is this a doppelbock? But there's so much hop!...sniff again... Wow! Loud hop, rich, burnished, barleywine-like. Grapes and other dark fruits are at hand, feeling like a burgundy wine, perhaps due to the high alcohol, or the huge maltiness.

Now, let's taste...Woo! Bam! Whap! Shamalam! Enormous malt floods the mouth and is assisted in it's it's efforts by the blazing sidecar of hops. Big, big, big on the palate, outsized all the way, spilling flavor all over the place. Delicious dark fruits, grapes, cherries, more...Reminds me very much of a Bigfoot or similar barleywine-style ales. This is where the line between "American Double IPA"s and barleywines really blurs, the malt is as big or bigger than the hops in this one, and the flavor is almost the match for a barleywine.

And the 10% doesn't hit...right away..oh, no, you'll feel it, though...

I didn't really taste the rye at all, but it works so damned well, it doesn't matter.
(Wait, ...now, I'm tasting it...yup, it's discernible...)

I love it. I think Lenny would love it. Rest his smutty soul. R.I.P. (A. true American hero.)

Autumn Brew Review 2012!

Autumn Brew Review, September 15, 2012. One the banks of the Mississippi river, in the parking lot and surrounding grounds of the historic Grain Belt Brewery in North East Minneapolis.
The biggest yet, getting bigger all the time.  My eleventh in a row. I long ago vowed I'd never miss it, and I also vow to visit every brewery, not to miss the special releases, stop and talk to the new breweries, brewers, staff, etc. And each time that is harder and harder to do. But, I try. And I try, try, try, try, try....
One note: This year they returned to one session, instead of last year's two, but also it seemed shorter. This year it ended at 5, instead of 6, and I could swear it used to be 7pm. Really, 4 hours is not enough for a festival like this. We need another to review the autumn brews!

Award for most inauspicious and un-ostentacious booth display goes to Olvalde Farms, who apparently has a completely blank banner. (I kid.) Here's where I finally got to meet the very talented Joe Pond, brewer and owner, and got to tell him how much I admire his beers and brewery. And pester him a little about someday releasing kegs into the market, and to my bar in particular, of course. You can't tell from this pic, but he's wearing traditional German lederhosen. 

Local Odell representative Todd Ewing is all smiles. I skipped many national breweries, because they didn't always bring anything I've never had, but I surely hadn't had anything like Haven and Hale Peach Ale from Odell. Sweet, and tart, and yum.

Borealis Fermentary debuted at this ABR, with the same great wooden booth, with the stained glass logo that they had at All Pints North, as well as some new, excellent beers. I made sure to re-connect with brewer/owner Ken and talk about getting some kegs some day.

Deb has decided that hops belong not only in beer, but also in her hair.

Michael Agnew lets his hands do the talking on the subjects of IPA s inside the education tent. I wish I'd caught the other presentations, but it was too much to keep track of, and have to travel over the span of this huge event, to make it there on time. At right, a cask of Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat with vanilla beans and ..some kind of fruit...?? Help me remember, Rob Shellman!

Happy to talk about their beers are BJ and Kristen of Pour Decisions, of Roseville, MN, who at last are selling beer after a grand introduction last April 1. Last, as in 2011. Some of my friends will not stop talking/joking about the long slough to production after a grandiose and blustery beginning, even on that day. "Did you ever think they'd ever get off the ground?" Yes, of course I did. And this was also a popular spot for members of the home-brewing community to hang, for that's where the owners and brewers originate. Always good to see one of your own make it on the commercial level. I particularly liked Infidelity, a Burton Ale, Acerbity, a Berliner Weisse, and La Catin, a dark farmhouse ale. Loved that last one.

Joe Falkowski, who may be the Illustrated Man of Minnesota beer, gives the day his personal thumb up.

Here's Cinnamon catching up with Gera, both suffused in sunlight. this was a problem with taking pictures, outside was too bright, inside the tents was too dark.

At left, Bob DuVernois, of Excelsior Brewing, formerly of Great Waters, and other breweries, over the years. I believe I tried the Bitteschlappe Brown Ale, but did not keep track for certain, and in fact lost the program where I was trying to make those notes. For reference, I'm checking the program online as I write these captions. In the middle, a tuba! This was the first years did away with bands performing on stage, and instead had roving musicians, some German style, some New Orleans. I applauded this move, since watching bands isn't really the point of these events, and none of the groups seemed to draw the crowd they deserved.

At left, Bryan Hoffman gives an lesson on beer to some Fulton fans.

In front of the Boom Island booth, Deb chats with her former boss, Julianna, of Acadia Cafe, while husband (of J) Ted talks to owner/brewer Kevin Welch. I got a Hoodoo, but didn't tell him it was me who called him up a couple of months ago about the possibility of carrying his beers sometime. Oh, well, next time I'll speak up.

It was a bright, sunny mid-September Saturday, so naturally Margarita is carrying an umbrella to shade her hubby Nate.  What, is he a rajah or something?

Brian lifts a glass in cheers, happy as can be. After all, nutrients are right around his neck, and in his glass. I never did find where they sold those pretzel necklaces, but then I didn't make it over every inch of the place. That was damned near impossible. I didn't even go near probably half of the brewery booths. There were 108 breweries represented this year1 Amazing! This was my 11th, haven't missed one since 2001. I think there were 25 that year. And the local scene grows and grows...

Here's Todd Haug, pouring away at the Surly booth. They've outgrown the whiteboard or the chalkboard, and have some fancy signage advertising the special releases. Note the sign over a departed beer, marking that it is: "Gone! Just like your favorite childhood pet!" Another read: "Gone! Go ahead with your diminished life." Surly being surly. Note that the 3rd Anniversary beer, 3, has a graphic for the first time in it's life, provided by artist Michael Berglund, the artist-in-residence for the past year, designer of the syx label, Darkness 2011, and Pentagram. His tenure has come to a close, but we talked about his efforts to continue to archive and promote the art of Surly, a subject near and dear to me. I still remind people that my design for Surly Two remains their only painted label art.

This is as close as I could get to Omar Ansari, who was way too busy running this thing to spare a moment for the likes of me.

See the guy in blue, at right? Deb commented on his headwear, wondering why you would wear that silly thing made of non-craft beer cans to a craft beer festival. Same goes for guys who go in PBR t-shirts. Really, come on. There are enough craft beer cans where you can make the same thing with those. And surely, some friends of mine were wearing Surly Furious hats in that style, made by one of their wives. 

Farmer Dave, pouring away the BrewFarm brews. Regular readers already know of my admiration for his brewing skill, imagination, and damned delicious beers. He brought 8 beers, though I can't remember them all, but won't forget the divine beauty of SOB OMG! I've already been a fan of that one, and called it my favorite of the day, to all who would hear my voice. 

Lanny Hoff, of Artisanal Imports, and Heather Christian, of Hohenteins, Inc., insisted that I snap the two of them together, as they took a break inside the Dave's BrewFarm booth. This was Farmer Dave's first time back at the ABR in several years, and his was a welcome presence.

My companion for this ABR was my friend Deb, looking lovely while holding a Brett Bandwagon,  a new twist on the IPA Surly makes for the Twins Target Field. How about Barnyard Bandwagon? One of the best beers of the day. We're hanging out in from of the row of foot trucks and vendors, which was the usual assortment from years gone by, Stanley's, Ngon's, Pizza Luce (our choice), Chef Shack (I eat from them every Wednesday at Harriet), Barrio, Foxy Falafel, and A Cupcake Social. Yes, a cupcake food truck at a beer festival. But, they had White Russian and Stout flavors, so it all made sense.

The time when I remembered to start taking photos coincided with a visit to Chisago Lakes Alley. That's what I called the string of tents all occupied by the products of one particular distributor. There was J.J. Taylor Alley, Hohensteins Alley, etcetera, although it seemed that MN Craft Brewers Guild Members were all together, no matter who their distributor. Here, my friend Jeff Halvorson volunteers for Chisago, pouring Jolly Pumpkin beers, and answering the question for the 500th time, no, it's not a pumpkin ale, no, it's not a pumpkin ale, it's a sour Belgian-style ale, do you like sour beers?....