Utepils Receptional German style festbier

Utepils Receptional German style fester. 5.9% ABV, 28 IBU. Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright amber color, slim white head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet, grainy, malty. Mild hops. Nice.

In the mouth: Starts out sweet and goes from there. Crisp, clean, light and lovely. Smooth and highly drinkable. I could drink a few of these, and then some.


Seasonal; An Oktoberfest beer brewed to be highly drinkable with balanced, smooth flavors of malt and biscuit.

Indeed Flavorwave IPA

Indeed Flavorwave IPA. 6.2% ABV, 70 IBU. Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Ever-so slightly hazy, bright golden hued, lovely ivory head holding down the fort.

In the nose: Bold pine and brash citrus. A slice of tropical fruit notes, a splash of tangerine, grapefruit.

In the mouth: Bitterness breaks through from the start, crashing hard on the palate. Fruity flavors follow, citrus, tropical, pine. Bitter, fruity, a little juicy, then ending nice and dry. Moderate malt, not enough to get in the way of the hops, and that's the way that I like it. Lightish bodied and easy-drinking, for hop-heads like me.

The blend of hops in the flavor is what really makes this one for me. Indeed crafted a fine one, here, and I'll reach for it with something approaching regularity.

A juicy and tropical IPA exploding with notes of pineapple and dank citrus. A blend of Denali, Citra, Mosaic, Centennial, and El Dorado hops give this beer a whirlpool of flavors sure to send your taste buds on a ride while remaining approachable. Flavorwave pours a sunlit golden color with a respectable amount of natural haze.

Lupulin Two Nuts Brown Ale

Lupulin Two Nuts Brown Ale. 6% ABV, 30 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Rich brown coloration, opaque, but showing clear at the bottom, with a slim, short-lived brownish head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet (but balanced), malty, nutty. Along comes hazelnut, brown sugar, caramel.

In the mouth: Low bitterness, minor hops, major malt. Substantial body in this one, almost stepping into "full", but not quite. Sweetness never cloys. A well put together brown ale, just the way we like it. Tasty, and definitely downable, ending on a dry note. I might even say delicious. Do all the D's while we're at it.

If you see it, go ahead and drink it.

Venn Brewing Batch #97 12welve Eyes Collaboration IPA

Venn Brewing Batch #97  12welve Eyes Collaboration IPA. 5.7% ABV, 40 IBUs. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

It's a hazy one, murky, golden hued, slim to no head on it.

In the nose: Citrus and pineapple. Sweet, fruity, quite likable.

In the mouth: Starts out bitter, and slightly tart, then along comes the fruit. Citrus and tropical fruit notes pound the palate, slide off lightly, turning dry. Nice. More tropical notes pop off, more sweet, less bitter, and ever-so smooth. Hard not to like it.

The only complaint I have is that I've never seen this style as an end-all/be-all, and can't really get behind it's popularity. Oh, that's right, people want to like IPAs, but don't really like IPAs.


(Complaint Against NE IPAs #567. I know I'm repeating myself.)

But, go out and drink it, by all means, and I'll see you there soon, drinking a double IPA that as bitter as can be!

Tropical fruit, citrus zest, soft. A brainchild of Venn + 12welves Eyes Brewing in St Paul. A malt bill of over 80% wheat & oats meets a hefty dose of Denali & Chinook hops.

Malts: Unmalted Wheat, White Wheat, Flaked Oats, Domestic Pale

Hops: Denali, Chinook (United States)

Yeast: British Ale

Town Hall Centennial SMASH

Town Hall Centennial SMASH. 5.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazy, bright orange/golden hue, sizable, lasting layer of lace-leaving froth atop.

In the nose: soft, floral, slightly citrucy, beautiful. Little bit of lemon.

In the mouth: Big hop bitterness blasts the palate, with a side order of astringency. Just fine for this hophead. Bountiful citrus notes from the centennial hops. Lean malt body. What's the malt? No idea. Zero information on this beer on their website. Oh, well. (Actually, zero information on any of the seasonal beer. Get with it, guys!)

It's a fine pale ale, and damned if I can't drink it. It's exactly what I want in a pale ale, plenty of hops, easiest of drinkin.'

Single malt and single hopped pale Ale.

( I had to get the above off of Untappd, and I could have guessed that information! See what I mean, get it together, Town Hall! )

Oliphant Boodoir Barrel-aged Doppelbock

Oliphant Boodoir Barrel-aged Doppelbock. 9% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Dark, black, obsidian, beautiful brown head.

In the nose: Big ol' whiskey. Cocoa, molasses, vanilla. Charcoal. Deep. Wonderfully inviting.

In the mouth: Bourbon coats the scene, covers the palate, grips the senses. Strong. Slick. Suggestive. Super duper. Sweet and delicious. The doppelbock below is fairly covered over by all the bourbon barrel action, but I don't mind a bit. I can feel it's tracings, just a smudge.

It's a decadent treat that can't be beat, and it's just what I need right now.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dopplebock

Three Floyds Live A Rich Life Belgian Style Double India Pale Ale

Three Floyds Live A Rich Life Belgian Style Double India Pale Ale. 9.5% ABV. 100 IBU. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, Indiana.

Thoroughly hazed, rich orange / golden hue, full, long lasting off-white head.

In the nose: hops are big, bold, brash here, spilling out all sorts of intense fruity esters, powerful and pungent. Alcohol ain't shy, either.

In the mouth: I'm going to want to use intense here again. Because it is. Immensely flavorful, from both malt and hops. Massive bitterness, incredible flavors, and a hearty malt ballast. Can I use intense again? It's like a triple IPA meets a barleywine, with a Belgian twist. This is right up my alley. Love it.

Good nightcap, this. Nighty-night, everybody.

This intense Belgian-style double IPA has an amazing amount of hops. This beer was brewed in loving memory of a former employee, Rich Sheppard, who passed away on 4.11.11. Try this beer and enjoy a Rich life.

Wild Mind Element of Progress

Wild Mind Element of Progress. New England IPA. 5.8% ABV, 30 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright orange, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Tropical notes pop out of the glass, citrus strides behind. Plentifully flavorful, ultimately mellow. Smooth and pleasant.

In the mouth: Bitterness plods on board the palate with confidence, if not aplomb. Nice, medium level of hop attack. Fruity notes, citrus and tropical take command and ride on through the finish. Medium bodied, easy in the drinking.

I love the way this one comes together. Beautiful. Slightly sweet, mild bitterness hangs out on the palate, hop delivery does it all. Another in a great line of IPAs from Wild Mind. I will drink this anytime I see it.

Brewed with 2-row, malted white wheat, and flaked wheat, this hazy Northeast-style IPA is heavily hopped with Azacca, Amarillo, Motueka, and Citra for a slightly bitter and enticingly sweet finish. The Element of Progress has a soft, pillowy mouthfeel and is bursting with notes of fresh tropical fruit and citrus zest alongside a hint of fresh herbs.

Surly 3dh (Triple Dry-hopped Double IPA)

Surly 3dh Triple IPA. 10% ABV. BC Small Batch. Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center (& Minneapolis), MN.

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

In the nose: Fruity, citrus, tropical, but straying from sweet, ending on dry. Quite likable.

In the mouth: Whoa! Bold blast of bitter from the start, a jolt of hops to the palate, exiting swiftly and turning dry on a dime. Big citrus and pine, with alcohol rushing on in. Aburst with flavor. Stays quite far away from being overly sweet.

This has got just the right hop tastiness, the correct juicy, and all the booze without going over the top. It's giving me all the things I like, and it's getting juicy and boozy together at once.

This, I dig.

From the label: Cloaked amid the brewhouse shadows, rites and rituals conjure impossible hop flavor. Over the low rumble of equipment, whispers of a triple dry-hopped beer arise. New and unknowable, 3DH is your initiation. Join us and live.

And from the website: “The trouble with a lot of triple IPAs is that I’ve never really had one I liked.”

This, from Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith, was the hurdle to clear for making 3DH, the triple IPA that’s our latest BC Small Batch offering.

“Finding one I truly liked was difficult,” said Smith. “They’re under-attenuated, too boozy, and too sweet. It was a challenge for our brew team to solve. I think we succeeded. Maybe too well, because it’s real easy to drink for a 10% (ABV) beer.”

3DH is triple dry-hopped (hence the name) on Simcoe, Amarillo, and Citra. “We added glucose solids to make it super dry, we used a simple malt bill, and then we dry-hopped the hell out of it,” says Smith. Experimentation came into play with FLEX® by Haas, a kettle bittering addition that boosted the IBUs without losing the yield one would expect from an extensively hopped beer.

The result is a highly aromatic and flavorful triple IPA that goes right up to the edge without going over. But you can see it from there.

With that in mind, and with that many hops, the recommendation is to drink it fresh and drink it now. 45 days from the brew date is ideal. The turnover on our BC Small Batch beers is monthly, and most beer geeks don’t need to be told to chase fresh beer, but we really mean it this time. Cellar something else.

The particulars:

ABV: 10%
Hops: Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra
Aroma: Lemon, honey, biscuit
Visual: Light orange
Where: MN, ND, WI, Chicagoland
When: Now

Hop & Barrel Chad's Pale Ale

Hop & Barrel Chad's Pale Ale. 5% ABV, 42 IBU. Hop & Barrel Brewing, Hudson, Wisconsin.

Slightly hazed, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Big citrus, bold grapefruit, touches of lemon and orange. Pungent and lively.

In the mouth: Pops with hops. Dazzling citrus flavors. Lean bodied, smooth mouthfeel. Deliciously drinkable, definitely downable. Mosaic hops deliver all manner of fruity associations. Once the citrus mellows out, the berries drop in.

I saved the last of my 4-pack to take the notes, once again. Now, I wish I had more. Go get some for yourself and go ahead and drink it.

Chad's Pale Ale: pale ale with 100% mosaic. Named after our dear brewer, Chadbro.

"A wise man once told Chad he only needed to use a few pounds of hops for a calicoes pale ale. Chad chuckled, stroked his beard back into place, and simply said, "hold my beer." A craft beer of gargantuan flavor is the result of being wiser than the wise man. Dry hopped at rates that would make a hop farmer blush, Refreshing, citrusy, juicy. Don't be a wise ass, drink yourself a Chad's Pale Ale." 

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.

The Brewing Projekt Dare Mighty Things IPA-Cryo- Single Hop-Citra

Here we have the first beer from this brewery to appear in the Nib, aside from the collaboration with Oliphant that came out last year. I hope there are more to come.

The Brewing Project Dare Mighty Things IPA-Cryo- Single Hop-Citra (Is that what it's called?). New England IPA. 6.4% ABV. The Brewing Project, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Highly hazed, bright orange, thick perfect ivory head.

In the nose: Big blast of bitterness, at first, then along comes the citrus. Brash and bold orange, grapefruit, lemon, a little bit floral, too. Traces of tropical towards the end.

In the mouth: Hop bitterness jump in and mellows out. So smooth. Smooth, fruity, while strong and fierce. Quite a juicy one, too. Medium bodied, fully flavored. Tasty and delicious and all that. A nice iteration of this style, even if I remain nonplussed by the trend.

I can't find anything further on this one, anywhere, and I've looked. There's a quote from Teddy Roosevelt on the can, but it tells us nothing about the beer. Oh, well, 'tis what 'tis.

Oliphant She-Hunk Milkshake IPA with Coffee

Oliphant She-Hunk Milkshake India Pale Ale with Coffee. 5.6% ABV. Oliphant Brewing,

Somerset, WI.

Part one of the label depicts the She-Hunk, no relation
whatsoever to a certain cousin of the irradiated,
and angry one, also emerald hued. 

Dear readers, if dear readers ye be, ye...I mean, you have perhaps read one of the several blogposts where I professed my disdain for this "milkshake IPA" style that's all the rage these days. That all the kids are into. I have stated more than once that I really ought to avoid them, in order, if nothing else, to stop repeating myself. If I don't like it thus far, I'm probably not going start liking it. But, one never knows for sure, does one? One doesn't.

And yet, I still pick one up from time to time. In the case of this beer, it's because, doggonit, it's Oliphant and I like to try all of their beers, no matter what. Enough palaver, let's get on with it.

Lightly hazed, dark orange/bronze-ish coloring, slim off-white head.

Part two of the illustration brings us Dr. Josh, amid his
examination of Ms. Hunk. Do the milkshakes bring
the muscles? Or the caffeine? 

In the nose: Big coffee aromatics, with a malty base below. Creamy in the middle.

In the mouth: There it is: gritty and smooth at once. Huh? Yeah! Hop bitterness starts it off, coffee comes in quick, and then the lactose and vanilla. An unlikely melange that manages to hang together. Medium-bodied, moderately bitter, surprisingly smooth. Smooth, and creamy and coffee-tastic!

I wasn't crazy about this one the first time I tasted it (12/31/17), nor the second time, really (08/26/18). But, right now, out of this crowler, it's alright in my book.

shehunk
so it has come to this? today i woke up after a very restorative night of sleep and there was gum in my hair, again! like, what in the world? i do have chewing gum at night to help me sleep, but i always swallow it. i am perfect and there is no way it falls out of my mouth while i'm sleeping, thusly rolling in it. so it has come to this; i guess i can't sleep anymore. get ready for a crabby jeremy, world!

coffee milkshake india pale ale. 5.6% abv

56 Raspberry Berliner Weisse

56 Brewing Raspberry Berliner Weisse. 4.5% ABV. 13 IBU.

Bright crimson coloring, big pinkish head, opaque.

In the nose: Fruity and tart. Very raspberry.

In the mouth: More tart, more berry, very fresh and fruity. Lean bodied, smooth malt mouthfeel.
Quite clean. And it's got all that raspberry.

Not too terribly complex, but that's a quality that's not in large supply, nor in demand. I'll take some, but this will do in the meanwhile.


A refreshing and lightly tart sour ale infused with over 300 lbs of pure raspberries. 

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Wally's Wit

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Wally's Wit. 5.3% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrus and spice, boom and bam. Flavors float from the aroma and play gently in the senses. Coriander, citrus zest, bit of flowery and perfumery. Nice and nice.

In the mouth: A smooth, malty wheat ale strictly in the Belgian witbier tradition. Spice and citrus played just right. Light bitterness. Easy-drinking, refreshing, all the live-long day. Flavors drop at the top, then it's a clean ride all the way down.

I'm not 100% sure what set "Wally's Wit" apart from other White Ales made in Town Hall's past, but it's got to be something, hops, malt, what-have-you. And I can't say that I know who this Wally guy is, either. Any old way, I'm liking this one. Good old wit, and you can drink it.

Traditional Belgian-style Witbier brewed with malted and unmalted wheat, oats, Tahoma hops, coriander, bitter and sweet orange peel.

Lakefront Mosaic Blonde Ale

Lakefront Mosaic Single Hop Blonde Ale. 5% ABV. Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI.

Clear, pale golden, lasting white head on top.

In the nose: honey. grains. something I can't put my finger on. Smells more than anything like fresh wort. Grape Nuts! Is that it? A puzzler.

In the mouth: Fruity/grainy, minor hops, mostly malty. I've not experienced Mosaic hops in this way, yet. Not as clean as you'd expect from a blonde ale, but this is a bit experimental, after all. Easy-drinking stuff, as you'd expect. I'm not getting all I'd usually get from Mosaic, but I'm enjoying it, nonetheless.

Mosaic® hops owe their name to the assortment of flavors they can add to a beer. Just like an artist arranging a hodgepodge of colorful tiles to create a mosaic, brewers unlock the patchwork of blueberry, orange blossom, and bubble gum aromas with well-timed Mosaic® additions to the boil kettle. Our brewers thought the soft, malty sweetness of an easy-drinking Blonde Ale best delivers the berry medley and citrus flavors. Unlock a bottle for yourself and see.

New Belgium Sour Saison

New Belgium Belgian Reserve Sour Saison. Blended barrel-aged farmhouse ale. Bottle conditioned. 7% ABV. 18 IBU. Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Clouded, bright golden hue, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Spice notes hit first, with fruity esters (citrus aplenty), and horse blanket coming up from the rear. It's getting funky in here, someone open a window.

In the mouth: Sourness from the start, fresh and zesty. Little bit of hops comes through, with a clean malt body, and the sour never stops. Lemon-y flavors sustain through the tasting, but barnyard hangs in for the long haul.

This is the kind of beer that New Belgium should be known for, it's the kind they do right. Go ahead and drink it.

This intriguing Saison took years to perfect. Our Brewers worked tirelessly to brew an exquisite French-style Saison, while our industry leading Wood Cellar Team worked to mature the perfect Sour Golden Ale in large, French oak barrels called Foeders. The best of both worlds is brought-out with this Sour Saison – a traditional barrel-aged sour ale artfully blended with a rustic, champagne-like Farmhouse Ale. With over 20 years of barrel-aged sour experience and the largest Wood Cellar in the United States, we’re proud to offer Sour Saison as our first ever year-round, traditional sour ale that’s so uniquely New Belgium, it can’t be replicated. 

Surly Sleek IPA

Surly Sleek IPA. 6.5% ABV. IBU: "moderate." Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

Clear-ish, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Screaming citrus. Grapefruit, lemon, orange. Bold and bitter hoppiness here, just the way I like it. Bring it on, man!

In the mouth: Sharp bitterness hangs high in the roof of the mouth and all over the palate. All the citrusy/piney goodness glides along the mouth. Starts out acerbic, then melts into mellow. But a mellow with a bitter bite.

This one is my kind of IPA. It's great to get a taste of that again, away from the milkshakes and the NE's and the hazy and juicy's and such. Good old bitter and refreshing, intensely hoppy and tasty as it gets. Love it. Make some more, and I'll drink it more.
File this under: me like.

Brewed with oats for a rich mouthfeel without added sweetness. Sleek IPA features malted oats, flaked oats, and golden naked oats as a base for a hefty dry-hop dose of Simcoe hops. 

IPA
COLOR
Golden

HOPS
Warrior
Simcoe
MALT
2-Row
Acidulated Malt
Oat Malt
Carafoam
Flaked Oats
Simpson's Golden Naked Oats
OG
14.5° Plato
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Moderate
ABV
6.5%
SURLY MN USA
Fall
BREWED FOR: A SMOOTH, STREAMLINED HOP EXPERIENCE

Purring with aromatics from hefty Simcoe dry-hopping, Sleek’s grapefruit, pine, and melon flavors race across the tongue. Dynamic hop taste. Zero drag. Sleek.

Wild Mind Second Man on the Moon Brett Pale Ale

Wild Mind Second Man on the Moon Brett Pale Ale. 6.2% ABV, 30 IBU. Wild Mind Artisanal Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, sold slab of ivory foam on top.

In the nose: mild, lightly hoppy. And here comes the funk. Oh, yeah.

In the mouth: Starts with a sour pucker, then it's clean, lean and a touch of citrusy hops. Delicious and funky, wild and refreshing. Yum. Even Yum-dum-dum.

This one flips all my triggers. I can drink it all night long. I love a Brett ale, and this is a damned good one.

Fermented using Bootleg Biology’s “Funk Weapon #2” strain of Brettanomyces yeast, Second Man on the Moon has bright citrus aromas and flavors that were complemented with a heavy dose of Motueka and Pacifica hops. Buzz Buttons, an edible flower that causes a tingling sensation, were added to the pale ale to bring out the dry body of the beer while providing a faint tingle at the finish.

"Buzz Buttons:, huh? Well, who'da thunk it, eh?

Forager Twisted Zweig Raspberry Berliner Weisse

Forager Twisted Zweig Raspberry Berliner Weisse. 8% ABV, 4 IBU. Forager Brewery, Rochester, MN.

Clear, bright crimson coloring, slim pinkish head.

In the nose: tart, sweet, and all about the berries.

In the mouth: Big sour from the start, intense acidity. Berry flavors take over after the tart attack. Along comes the jam. Fresh and lively. Ends on a lightly hoppy,slightly bitter,  dry note. I'm enjoying this. Do drink it if you see it.

There's no brewery info for me to share with you, as I usually do. Let's put on the reading glasses and see what's on the label: Nope. Actually, the label reads "Framboise", not raspberry at all.
What's the website tell us? Nothing at all. Maybe more research will find more information, but I'm gonna shelve that for now, and leave it here. Good raspberry Berliner Weisse and you can drink it.