LynLake Dougie Fresh

Dougie Fresh. Double India Pale Ale. 8.4% ABV. 77 IBU. Lynlake Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright amber/crimson coloring, enormous ivory froth atop.

In the nose: ah! yes! fresh, floral, lively, beautifully hoppy. Citrus  and tropical notes aplenty.

In the mouth: Big bigness, big bitterness, largely fruity, slightly floral, absolutely lovely. Medium bodied, long hoppy finish. An absolute delight.

This one ranks up there with my favorite beers put out by this brewery. Go get some before it's gone.


Brewed with Centennial, Mosaic, Ekuanot and Summit hops. Succulent hop little hop bomb.

Modist Deviation 09

Modist Deviation 09 Double IPA, 8.1% ABV. Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Bright golden, hazy, big ol' ivory-toned head. Looking good.

In the nose: nothing but nice. Beautiful hop flavors abound, tropical tones, citrus, pineapple meets grapefruit, orange....banana? Nah....or, maybe? Bit of Belgian funk, as well.

In the mouth: Yum. Hoppy goodness all over the palate. Remember my latest catchphrase? I haven't used it in a little bit, but it applies here: Yum-a-dum-dum! TM, C, R. Big hops, Fantastic Belgian yeast delivering the delicious oddness. Bright, bold citrus hop character carries through. Lean bodied, long, bitter finish, fruity, delightful, delicious.

Double IPA made entirely from wheat and oats, fermented with Belgian yeast, and hopped with Bravo, Amarillo, and Ekuanot hop powder.

Oliphant Mr. Samurai Karateguy India Pale Ale

Oliphant Mr. Samurai Karateguy India Pale Ale. 5.8% ABV. one pint can. Brewed by Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin (at Barley John's Brewing Company, New Richmond, WI.)

To the eye: Slightly hazy,  bright golden hue, large, lush cloud-white head. Looking fantastic.

In the nose: big citrus aromatics, orange, tangerine, lemon/lime. Lovely. Not too bitter, not yet. Some pine, too. Just about right on the money.

In the mouth: Mmm. Bitter, hoppy, fruity, yes, delicious. Fresh, zesty, arresting. Flat out tasty. Medium bodied, long-lasting flavor, eternal finish. I want to say yum. I want to say damn, this is nice. Maybe I will. So smooth, so hoppy, so nice.

he may seem like an ordinary fry cook or chef, i don't know which one he is, but look closer at those hands...gasp! those aren't hands, they are karate swords!!!

india pale ale with citra and centennial hops. 5.8% abc

And also: he's never known the pleasure of scratching his own back. sadly, mister double sword hands here lives a life of utility and he knows it. 

Sisyphus Sisy-fest

Sisyphus Sisy-fest, Oktoberfest-style beer. 6.3% ABV.  36 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, deep amber/bronze color, slim, short-lived ivory head.

In the nose: classic fest bier nose, German malt, sweet, but balanced. Nice.

In the mouth: Tidy little taste of hops up front, then malty and smooth. Clean, crisp, slightly sweet, but altogether balanced and beautiful. Smooth and delicious. Good ol' drinking oktoberfest, all done in style.

I like this one. Pretty good O-fest.

Sisy-Fest, n: 1) Our Oktoberfest bier 2) A large gathering of cowardly people 3) A party where everyone talks about death and the embrace of life's absurdity 4) All of the above
Flavors: Caramel malts, slight bitterness, dry finish

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. 

Cosmos Buzzed Aldrin

Cosmos Buzzed Aldrin. Coffee Ale. Alc. 7% by Vol. 20 IBU. Cosmos Brewing, Hugo, MN.

Golden toned, lightly hazed, nice ivory head that slims down in due time.

In the nose: Earthy, nutty coffee notes hit first, with juicy malt just below. Smells of fresh ground beans. Delightful.

In the mouth: Straightforward, simple, and tasty as heck. Juicy malt mingled with coffee flavor. Virtually no hop presence, just the proverbial kiss. Maybe a little too sweet, though, but I get what they're going for. I'm really not liking lactose in beers these days, though there's no denying the affect it has, and the taste it delivers.

I like this. It's a bit like a beer Frappucino, but that's not going to be something I'll want too many of. One and done for me. (And I come off as a hypocrite for railing against "milkshake IPAs" while enjoying a beer like this.)

"Is there alien life out there?" Golden cappuccino ale is the best way to describe Buzzed Aldrin. A large coffee addition imparts both aroma and flavor, lactose bring sweetness and flaked grains round out the body. Looks like a pale, drinks like a stout. SAVE SPACE FOR BEER! Made with Alaska Artisan Coffee." 

Omnipollo Shploing!!!

Omnipollo Shploing!! Mango S'mores India Pale Ale brewed with marshmallows, graham crackers, salt and lactose sugar with mango and vanilla added. 12 fl. oz. All. 7% by Vol. Brewed and canned for Omnipollo by Dorchester Brewing, Boston, MA. Product of the United States, store cool and dark.

Once again, it's the last can of a 4-pack that cost much more than I normally like to pay. The first three was consumed by gusto and alacrity, and not much contemplation. With the final can, I take a wider scope of consideration. I've liked all the Omnipollo's I've had before, and this one? Just had to try it.

Clear, bright golden, enormous ivory head.

In the nose: nothing but fresh, bright, bold citrus. Exactly what you want in an IPA.

In the mouth: more bold citrus hop flavor, smooth 'n' fruity. Nice bitterness, medium bodied, easy drinker. I can taste some of that mango, but all those other ingredients are a bit lost in the shuffle. Don't really get the "s'mores" aspect at all. I wouldn't call it a failure, but the parts are not greater than the whole, here.

LTD World Traveler Costa Rican Cold Press Coffee Stout

LTD World Traveler Costa Rican Cold Press Coffee Stout. Alc. 6% by Volume. Brewed and bottled by LTD Brewing Co., Hopkins, MN.

Solid blackness, nice lightly toasted tan head, looking very nice.

In the nose: A lot of coffee in here, rich, herbal, earthy. Very nice, with chocolate malts just behind.

In the mouth: A little bit of fruit, cherries and berries pop up to match the mighty malt. Mouthfeel is a little thin for the style, and could really use some richness and thickness. Flavor's good, but it doesn't feel right without the weight. I could say more, but I'd rather not depress myself further by dwelling on the inherent flaws.

Finishing out the bottle (yeah, I don't drain pour), I remain disappointed. Definitely not worth what I paid for it. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

(There's a whole lot of gobbledygook on the label, in tiny type, but I'm going to skip it.)

Town Hall Golden Cone IPA

Town Hall Golden Cone IPA. 6.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright amber color, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: a wide mix of flavors in the aromatics, a veritable bouquet. Citrus fruit, tropical, blueberry, pine. Sweet and fruity to match the bitter hops.

In the mouth: There's that fruit basket on the tongue, Low bitterness in this IPA. And deep swath of hoppy tastes on the palate. Quite different. And it's an easy-drinker, smooth, tasty.

Chinook, Denali, and Eureka in the kettle.
Chinook, Citra, Denali, Eureka, and Simcoe in the fermenter.

Pulpit Rock Malawi Pour-Over

It was on September 3 that Jason and I went to Decorah (not "Deborah", cut that out, auto-correct!), Iowa, visited their two breweries, and brought home beers. I didn't open up the final growler until the other night, and as I gazed on it sitting in wait in the fridge, I wondered. Why did I put it off for so long? Why did I leave it sit and choose other beers before it. There must be a reason, there must....but what?

Pulpit Rock Malawi Pour-Over. 6.8% ABV. 34 IBU. Pulpit Rock Brewery, Decorah, Iowa. Part of the series of coffee baltic porters done in collaboration with a local roaster.

Solid darkness, rich brown head of foam, perfectly impenetrable.

In the nose: earthy, rich, chocolate and coffee. Slightly on the sweet side. Quite nice.

In the mouth: Mmmm. Light fruit, cherries and berries. Creamy and full-bodied at once. Lush, dense, delicious. Smooth. Did I say "smooth"? Oh, so, very, good.

Epilogue: This was my second beer of the night, which I opened around midnight. The beer was so very tasty that I simply could not stop myself from emptying the contents of the growler into the glass, and all the way down the ol' gullet. I didn't get to bed until some time later, and woke up a mere four hours after, and was utterly unable to return to slumber. I had forgotten a lesson I learned many years ago when I finished off a Town Hall Coffee Stout late at night and neglected to consider the effects of so strong a dose of caffeine in my beverage. This, of course, is why I kept rejecting from inclusion in the nightly reviews. It's a lesson I forget at my own peril. Mornings, afternoon, early evenings, that's when you drink the coffee beers, Al, not after midnight, or
2, 3 am!

Sisyphus He Is California IPA

Sisyphus He Is California. India Pale Ale. 6.3% ABV. 80 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, ample ivory froth atop.

In the nose: bold citrus tones, plenty of grapefruit, orange, and pine. Lovely citrus and floral notes abound.

In the mouth: Full body, rich fruity malt mouthfeel. Hop-forward, delightfully delicious, mild in the malt, but extraordinarily drinkable. Plenty of ripe citrus hop flavors, grapefruit and orange, with a dose of pine, too.

I dig this one. I dig it lots.

This West Coast IPA was brewed for our friend John Craigie to celebrate his second concert at Sisyphus. 100% of proceeds from each pint will go to Hopewell Music Cooperative North. John is California, this beer is California, you are California? Nah, you're not California.

Flavors: Pine, spruce, fir, other coniferous trees

Oliphant Honees Honees

Oliphant Honees Honees. Peanut Butter Honey Ale. 5.6% alc./vol. "ale brewed with honey & lactose with peanut butter flavor and caramel color."

Clear, dark amber color, slim white head.

In the nose: Malty sweet, low hop bitterness, and, hey, there it is, that blend of peanut butter and honey. Huh. Very interesting.

In the mouth: Peanut butter is big in the flavor, but not overpowering. Medium-bodied, long, sweet finish. But never too, not so much. Just right. Very well-balanced. Tasty, smooth, likable. I can see this pleasing a certain sort. As for me, I've cracked the last can of the four, and I'm happy to move on. I'm glad it exists, I'm happy for those who like it, but it's not the sort of thing that trips this guy's trigger.

In all, good peanut butter/honey beer, and you can drink it.

I could give you a link, and have you go find this on your own, but, no, I'm not like that. Here you go, straight from the deranged mind of, I think, Matt?

while rising from the smoke, the snake-god burped forth a decorated warrior. 

this warrior was decorated with jiffy jars, with honees wrappers, and that particular sulphuric stench of rebellion. part devil, part gentleman, part legume, the warrior began to dance through the haze, stepping intricate circles on the ground with his feet and conjuring in the air with an open palm and a honey wand.

the snake-god was taken aback and was unsure of the next course of action. he knew this warrior to be trouble but he saw that the warrior was working on dimensions far from his own and with a puff he saw the warrior disappear, by either will or conjuring, away from his presence. 

the snake-god slithered on. 

-------------------------------

matt sitting at his kitchen counter, hummed softly. the kitchen was cluttered but the day was over and the candles lit so there was nothing to be done about the mess. the small flames flickered in the kitchen as he closed the shade in front of him and began to prepare his meal. 

there was whole wheat bread in front of him and he crinkled his nose at it but had to eat it anyway, there was chunky chunky peanut butter, and there was a dab bottle of honey. nothing fancy, nothing too special. matt felt a little different as he began to assemble the sandwich -- he realized that he was making it slower than usual, with more care, and somehow the tune he was humming seemed to fit in with it. as if he was constructing an idea more so than just a sandwich. 

for a second the candles blew themselves out and matt constructed the sandwich in the darkness as if he hadn't realized. the candles flickered themselves back on and standing just outside his formerly shaded window was a grand peanut butter & honey warrior. a happenstance light of moon shining directly on him as the warrior danced in infinite circles. 

matt ate the peanut butter & honey sandwich slowly as the warrior danced behind the glass, candles swaying in time. 

after that heartbeat of infinity, a loud crash seemed to emanate from somewhere and matt, in sudden realization, found he had devoured his sandwich and just five feet from his window was a truck -- it's axle split in half as it had jumped the concrete embankment into his yard. the driver circling the car frantically, looked at matt through the window and ran away. 

and it dawned on matt, then and there --

honees honees | peanut butter & honey ale | 5.5% abc

Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Extra! Ale

Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Extra! Ale. Petaluma, CA, and also Chicago, IL. 8.7% ABV. 72 IBU.

Clear, golden-toned, lasting ivory head above.

In the nose: citrus-y hop character.....yup, that's it.

In the mouth: Nice, juicy hop flavors slide on the palate. Smooth malt character.  Easy drinker. Further in, hops are getting more prominent, juicier, alcohol's getting kickier, shall we say.

It's alright.

The big sister of the Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale...Lots of wheat for a curious malt complexity and leaving it light in color, but huge in flavor and satisfaction.

I forgot, there's more, on the label, and you've always got to read the gobbledygook on a Lagunitas label: "These words are the voice of the beer you are about to drink. they are an attempt to be understood. The beer beneath is more than just words. It is a promise. You are the promise. Revel in your times."

Wow. Like, heavy, man.

Big Axe Splinter Cat IPA

These notes have been sitting in wait for far too many weeks, while I wondered if I should combine them with my MN Breweries report on the brewery. Jason and I visited Big Axe on Sunday, August 21, 2016, after Roadhouse, Jack Pine, and Gull Dam. What a day that was. And I've decided to wait and wonder no more, posting this, but plotting to get to that report as well, a little bit farther down the line. Here we have notes on Big Axe Splinter Cat IPA:


Big Axe Splinter Cat IPA. Big Axe Brewing, proudly brewed in Nisswa, MN. 6.3% ABV. 63 IBU.

To the eye: Slightly hazed, murky amber-ish coloring, off-white froth atop.

In the nose: Fruit and funk. Stone fruit, pitted fruit, much malt. A little bit odd, this one. A little herbal....not at all typical. huh.

In the mouth: Bitterness hits first, followed by fruit, then sweet turns to dry. Medium body, longish, bitter finish. Funky malt, but not in the usual meaning. There's something off about this one. Not unpleasant, but not pleasing, either. I so want to like it, for I had a good experience at the taproom last year. But I have to call it as I see it. This one needs to go back to the ol' drawing board. As it is, it's a very mediocre India Pale Ale.

 I'll keep trying the Big Axe canned efforts, hoping for better success.

I wonder what a "splinter cat" is? Must have a logging connection. I Googled. It does.  I didn't need to Google, though. The label tells us this: "The splinter cat will hurl itself from tree to tree, smashing the trunks to pieces, revealing the tasty morsels inside."

Fair State Pineapple Cromulence

Fair State Pineapple Cromulence. 4% ABV, 10 IBU.
Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, pale gold, heaping helping of ivory froth atop.

In the nose: Sour and sweet, together at last. Pineapple plentitude.

In the mouth: Not too complex, not too hard to understand. It's right there on the palate: pineapple Berliner Weisse. Fresh, wheat, sour, and fruity. Light bodied, easy drinking, refreshing, pretty damned tasty.


Now, the last time I had a fruity kettle sour, Toppling Goliath's Dragon Fandango, I sounded off a bit about the style. I haven't changed my mind. There ain't nothing wrong with them, and they will ever remain popular, but I think I'm through with them. Maybe I'll stop drinking them. Or, maybe I'll drink them, but I'll stop complaining about it. Or, should I give a greater exposure to traditional mixed-fermentation beers, when I see them? Of course, I should.

Goose Island Juicy Double IPA

Goose Island Juicy Double. "A crisp and citrusy double india pale ale brewed with orange juice." 8.3% ABV, 70 IBU. Goose Island Brewing Company,
Chicago, IL, and other places.

Clear, bright crimson/amber color, slim ivory head. Looking nice.

In the nose: Powerful citrus and pine aromatics, big time grapefruit and orange, pungent, bitter, bold.

In the mouth: Less than gentle, more than beastly. Plenty juice, and massive double. Big hops, big bitter, full of fruit. Just a little bit sweet, and a touch on the boozy side. What are we talking here? 8.3%?

You know, what?  I liked it, but I ain't going crazy over it. It's just fine.

Juicy Double is a crisp Double India Pale Ale brewed with Orange Juice for a refreshing citrus finish.  Brewed with 7 hop varieties, this Imperial India Pale Ale weighs in at 8.3% ABV with an IBU of 70.  The bold hop character is nicely balanced with the citrus from the orange juice.

Modist German Fat Cap

Modist German Fat Cap. 6.5 % ABV.  82 IBU. "German IPA". Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

To the eye: Clear, crisp, bright crimson coloring, moderately sized cap of whitish froth atop.

In the nose: Medium hop bitterness, some fruity esters, quite nicely balanced.

In the mouth: Big, beefy, malty. Bold, fruity, dry. Exceptionally clean and full-bodied. Hop bitterness is coming on strong now. Okay, I'm getting it. Marzen-Style malts, big ol' hoppitude. It's a drinkable beer that's just about to bust it's britches. I was confused, but now I like it.

Here's another Modist beer that doesn't fit any category. An ale Oktoberfest. This "German IPA" they're calling it doesn't work, sorry.

What do they say about it? Our answer to an Octoberfest beer. It's a crispy malty German festbier meets an aggressively hopped American IPA. We use a German water profile, malt, hops, and yeast, then use hopping rates and techniques similar to an American IPA.
Ingredients: Malts: Weyermann Pale, Vienna, Munich I,Carafoam,Caramunich II Melanoidin // Hops: Magnum, Polaris, Mandarina Bavaria // Yeast: German Ale,

Montgomery Hop Junkies Volume 1

Montgomery Hop Junkies Volume. 1 Double India Pale Ale. 9.1% ABV. 110 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN.

Lightly hazed, deep golden hue, with crimson edges, slim, but lasting ivory froth atop.

In the nose: Citric fruit notes, caramel malt tones, piney, earthy. Interesting.

In the mouth: More malt, more hops, moderate bitterness. But, wait, moderate? With 110 IBUs? Well, yeah. Malty, spicy, earthy, and hoppy, too. And here comes the booze.

It's pretty nice. But not quite what I like. Not bad, but not ....great. Not really what I look for in a double IPA.

This was a tough one for me to write. I like the brewery, but I don't like this beer. I have to go ahead and publish it, though, to lay out the evidence against those people who say that I like everything.

Just because we're small doesn't mean we don't brew big. Volume 1 comes on strong. A classic with notes of citrus, pine, and spice. It's the beginning of our series of small batch IPAs. 

Unmapped Quadruplication Quadruple

Unmapped Quadruplication Quadruplel. 10% ABV. Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Last Sunday, I stopped into Unmapped Brewing in Minnetonka for the first time, thanks, again, to Jason. I didn't have my notebook and my phone that I use for a camera had run out of power, so I couldn't document the visit for a Minnesota Breweries One by One. This would be, and will be, #120, by the way. I did a flight of four (Topo Wit, Saison Amelie, Mind the Map ESB, and Apricot Sour), and a pint (No Trace IPA), but I decided to take this one home, instead. It might have been a risk, but I have full faith in brewer Derek Allmendinger. I've known him for a few years, before his brewing career (Schell's, Surly, Excelsior) began, and I think he knows what he's doing.

Clear, deep, dark crimson coloring, slim whitish head.

In the nose: sweet, candy-ish Belgian esters are streaming out of the glass....let's go in deep. Ripe, rich dark fruits, a touch of tart, ....figs, dates, raisins, all the good ones. A little vanilla, a touch of clove, and, I'm reluctant to admit this, but a part of me wants to say marshmallow. Honest.

I'm dying to taste it. So, in the mouth: Mmmm. Mmmm! Yeah. A wonderfully balanced, yet outsized beer, this one. Sweetness and dry, not overly anything. More of that rich, delicious dark fruit, dark malt flavor, minimal hops, and increasing alcohol. A little cocoa, some more of that ephemeral "marshmallow" I was thinking about, and oh, so good.

Quadruple is a flexible style. So many variations. Only constant, really, is big malt and big strength, plus Belgian yeast, and that je ne sais qui. Many interpretations go heavy on the malt, heavy on the booze, usually in the wrong direction. This one gets it done in a whole other way.

This is one of those beers that keeps me thinking while I'm drinking. I keep thinking new thoughts about it, new revelations unfold, new sensations trip off the tongue. A little bit of bubblegum below the dark, chocolatey malt. It's altogether delicious.

This is the big one! Like its sister-beer Disorientation, Quadruplication is brewed to honor the age-old traditions of the Trappist monks. Darker malts and dark candi sugar are used to craft a full bodied ale with a deep chestnut color. As this beer warms up, it grows in flavor complexity- each sip offers a new experience. Hints of caramel, plum, grape, and licorice can be noted in different stages of its journey.

Toppling Goliath Dragon Fandango

Toppling Goliath Dragon Fandango Mango/Passionfruit kettle sour. Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Decorah, Iowa.

On Sunday, the 3rd of September, I made my first ever trip to Decorah, Iowa and the Toppling Goliath brewery, at long last. Thanks to Jason for taking the wheel. On tap were many beers I've had before with two exceptions, Supa Sumo, which I've recently reviewed from the bottle brought back from here, and this one, Dragon Fandango, which I'm about to tell you about. One very hot commodity was on, the coffee stout known as Mornin' Delight. I'd love to review that one from a bottle, but I don't think I can afford one, if I'll ever see it on sale. I've had it and it's good, but not for the price that's being asked. We each enjoyed servings of 5 ounces for 10 dollars each. Let that sink in: $2 per ounce for a coffee / maple syrup stout. And the server marked our hands so that we could not order another. Only one per person, per day (or ever?). I've never seen or heard of a brewery doing that. I've never even conceived of any brewery treating any of it's beers as that precious. It's good, but it's not that good. Nothing is, really.

Jason's still on his MD, and I've moved on to one of
the IPAs (forgot which one).

Good for Toppling Goliath, I'm happy for their success. But I can't join in on these extreme prices. I'll keeping drinking their beers that I can afford (and this one, too, was expensive, but I paid the price in order to try it at home, no complaints). And that's about as far as it'll go.

So, let's talk about Dragon Fandango:

Thoroughly hazed, bright red, no head to speak of.

In the nose: Pulpy fruit, getting more dragon than passion and more of that than mango. Plenty of tart to play with the juicy.

In the mouth: Intense puckering to go with big, juicy fruit. A lot of sour, and a lot of fruit. Not too complicated. Sigh. Yep, pretty much. Fruit. Sour. Kettle. ....yawn.

It's tasty stuff, done well. But, I still feel like....I don't know, is this a boring beer (naw...), or am I just bored of these beers? What a sourpuss I would be to feel that way, but I think I can only take so much of it. This was probably the wrong beer to take home in a growler, in that case.

Also, if you read the copy below, I hate it when they tell you what to do. I ain't performing any damn dance, no thank you, sir.

Join the dragon in a dance to celebrate this unique kettle sour, blended with dragon fruit, mango and passion fruit puree. Raise a glass, dance the fandango and celebrate the magic of these tropical fruits.