Lupulin Imperial Hazelnut Truffle Porter

Lupulin Imperial Hazelnut Truffle Porter. 9 % ABV. 30 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

Dark brown, opaque rich tan head on top.

In the nose: Sweet and malty. Nutty. Chocolatey. Mmmm. Ah, yes. Utterly lovely.

In the mouth: Bigness and richness. A mountain of malt. I'm getting the hazelnut, large, with additional doses of vanilla, cocoa, espresso. Smooth and delicious. This one went down in no time. I slurped it, nearly guzzled it. Mighty fine.




Deliciously decadent, this Imperial Porter is infused with the rich flavors of chocolate and hazelnut. A beer this smooth and silky ought to be a sin. Sometimes it feels good to be bad...

Eastlake Velvety Bandit Barrel Aged Brown Ale

Eastlake Velvety Bandit Whiskey Barrel Aged American Brown Ale. 6.5 % ABV. Eastlake Craft Brewery, Midtown Global Market, Lake Street is for Lovers, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly brown coloring, absolutely opaque, slim cream-toned head atop.

In the nose: Whiskey hits first, sweet and caramel-y. Touches of toasted dark malts just below the massive barrel effects. Hint of vanilla, whiff of cherry.

In the mouth: Once more, whiskey takes command of the palate. Sweet, supple, malty. Medium bodied. Whiskey flavors last long. And that's just what I like. I'm a sucker for it. And this one works for me. Hits all the right notes.

It's a good barrel-aged brown ale and you can drink it.

Pryes Miraculum Midwest IPA (can)

Pryes Miraculum Midwest IPA. 6.4 % ABV. 75 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

This beer has been covered here before....we think. It was an unlabeled sample bottle given to me when the brewery first started operating out of their own facility. It wasn't the best way to appraise this India Pale Ale, which has only been available in cans in recent months. Looking back on that review, it's clear that the sample may have been flawed, for it didn't taste quite like it had when I'd had it on tap. Now that I finally have a can in hand, (thanks, Sample Man!--who in this case was the brewery's taproom manager), it's time to give it a re-review.

Clear, copper-y/crimson-ish coloring, fair layer of white foam above, leaving some lace behind.

In the nose: Bright, citrus-y hops start it off. Sweet malty notes keep time with bitter hops. A complex cornucopia of hoppy goodness.

In the mouth: Again, sweet and bitter take stage together, flooding the palate with their individual attributes. Well balanced, clean, and terrifically tasty. Citrus holds the spotlight, but other notes pop in, as well...apple, cherry, stone fruit. Splendid blend. Bitter and sweet take a bow, and the finish is dry. Medium bodied, expertly drinkable, and absolutely likable. In fact, it's downright delicious.

I definitely do like this IPA, and feel that it ranks among Minnesota's best. Go ahead and get some.


Dry hopped with over 50 lbs of hops, this hoppy, citrusy IPA finishes with light malt notes and sweet undertones, cutting the bitterness to round out the palate. This IPA finishes very clean, making it a great beer to pair with food.

Oliphant Ultra Tang Milkshake India Pale Ale with Orange and Mango

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Destihl Moonjumper Milk Stout

Destihl Moonjumper Milk Stout. 6.1 % ABV, 30 IBU.
Destihl Brewery, Normal, Illinois.

Deep black, nearly opaque, creamy tan head.

In the nose: Light roasted malt offsets the sweetness. Cocoa reigns supreme, with the slightest hint of coffee. Little to no hop bitterness.

In the mouth: Creamy and smooth, from the start. Soft, mostly malty, sweet cocoa tones in command. Well-balanced and likable. Medium bodied, easy drinking, a sessional milk stout, for certain. I like it. If I find myself in a milk stout mood, I'll pack the fridge with more of this.

Fasten your space helmet because this stout will quickly have you orbiting the moon. Notes of roasted and chocolate malts round out our milk stout's sweet side, creating a well-balanced beer with a smooth mouthfeel and creamy tan head. One sip of this medium-bodied stout will have you jumping over the moon for another. Cheers!

O'so DePeche a la Mode Peach Milkshake IPA

O'so DePeche a la Mode. India Pale Ale with peaches added.
#peachmilkshakeipa. #personalpeachus. (Verbatim from label.)

6% ABV. 40 IBU.
O'so Brewing, Plover, WI.

Highly clouded, fuzzy orange color, slim white head.

In the nose: Big hoppy nose on the outset. Slightly tart, funky, fuzzy. Interesting.

In the mouth: Bitterness bursts on the tongue and lays on the palate. Peach shows up just behind, but plays a minor role. I'm not getting as much of it as you'd think, from it's starring status. Medium bodied, easy-ish drinking. But not particularly exciting. I am ever so weary of lactose and haze. Bored to death. I wish I liked this, but....eh.

There are words on the side of the label. They read: "Succulent. Luscious. Inviting. Redolent. Keen. Nectarous. Fuzzy." I'm not sure if all of these words apply to this beer.

A iteration on our Hazy Ipa's, made with peaches and lactose sugar. De Peches a la Mode is what you would expect from a peach milkshake. 

Get an editor, guys. "Ipa's"? Sheesh! Also, "a iteration." A before consonant, an before vowel. That's how it goes, guys. Try reading it out loud before publishing it.

Surly Barrel-aged Darkness 2016

Surly Barrel-aged Darkness 2016. 12 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

I've been watched the snowfall all day long. Even went out into it myself, for a while. Glad that I am not obliged to shovel any sidewalks, driveways, or wheel wells. It's as good a time as any to break out one of these.

Inky dark, completely opaque, rich tan head on top, lasting long.

In the nose: Oak. Vanilla. Char. Molasses. Smoke. Chocolate-covered cherries. So much more.

In the mouth: Wow. Rich and luxurious. Thick, slick, and delicious. Coats the palate with bourbon-y flavors. Alcohol comes roaming on in. Vast and glorious. Tremendously stupendous. Coated and covered with all the big, bourbon flavors, and all the gigantic imperial stout goodness. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

This is a bottle I managed to hang on to for about 2 years or so. Sort of wished I'd held on to it longer. No idea when or if I'll ever see another one.

Barrel-aged Darkness is indeed a wonderful thing of beauty.

This massive Russian Imperial Stout brings waves of flavors; chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee, and toffee. Barrel-Aged Darkness is a limited edition variant that spent over three months aging in Rye Whiskey barrels from High West, a distillery in Park City, Utah. The aging process provides a distinct aromatic whiskey character that is oaky and spicy on top of the core Darkness flavors.

BARREL-AGED RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
COLOR
Black

HOPS
Warrior
Amarillo
Simcoe
MALT
Pale
Golden Promise
Aromatic
Chocolate
Black
Special B
Medium Crystal; Roasted Barley
Flaked Oats
Belgian Candy Syrup
Brewers Crystals
OG
29° Plato
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Moderate
ABV
12%

SURLY MN USA

Seattle Cider Co. Dry Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. Dry Hard Cider. 6.5 % ABV. Seattle Cider Company, Seattle, WA.

Clear, bright yellow, no head.

In the nose: dry, apple-y.

In the mouth: exceptionally dry. Stripped of all sweetness. Drops right off the palate. Apple flavor remains. Light bodied, tasty, and highly drinkable. Quite nice.

If you're looking for a nice, dry hard cider, can't go wrong with this one.

One of the driest ciders on the market. The golden orange glow of this unique unfiltered cider lends way to notes of lilac, blood orange and green apple on the nose. Dry and pleasantly acidic, flavors of nectarine, under ripe peach and tart cherry hit the palate with no residual sweetness. 0 Brix

Third Street Brewhouse Minnesota Gold Lager

Third Street Brewhouse Minnesota Gold Lager. 3.9 % ABV. 12 IBU. ThirdStreet Brewhouse, Cold Spring, MN.

Clear, bright gold, large white head, softly settling.

In the nose: light, delicate, subtle...not much more to it. Soft malt character.

In the mouth: Light hops. Lightly toasted malt. Supremely drinkable. Crisp and clean. Nothing wrong with it. Actually, quite good.

This one's been around for years, but I'm tasting it for the first time because someone finally gave me a sample. I was never going to buy one on my own. Now that I've had it, hey it's a classic light lager. And you can drink it. Take that for what it's worth.

We are Minnesota, Land of 10,000 lakes. If we’ve got anything up here, it’s water. And we like our water. But more than that… we like to see our water put to good use. That’s why our brewers made Minnesota Gold, to see real Minnesota water brewed into a classic, premium quality lager. So please, go ahead and crack open a can. Here in your hands is a clean taste of Minnesota, from us to you.

ABV: 3.9 / IBU: 12
COLOR: Golden

MALTS: 2-Row, C60

HOPS: Hersbrucker, Willamette

BEST PAIRED WITH: 

Pairs well with many foods – suggestions include: herbed chicken, light seafood, salmon, burgers & hot dogs, mild cheeses, lemon based desserts.

Town Hall Near Gale 80 Shilling Ale

Town Hall Near Gale 80 Shilling Scottish Ale. 4.6 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear-ish, dark brown color, slim off-white head.

In the nose: Malty, but balanced. Cocoa tones, toffee, caramel. Sweet, but not too.

In the mouth: There it is again, the sweet malty flavors, all kept in balance. Cocoa, toffee, caramel, and a couple of dark fruits, here and there. Maybe a little molasses. Expertly drinkable. A tasty treat for when you need to step into the malty side of things.

Light bodied Scottish Ale balancing bready caramel pale and toasty English malt character.

Downeast Original Blend Cider

Downeast Original Blend Cider. 5.1 % ABV. Downeast Cider House, Boston, MA.

Bright yellow, no head, clouded. With particulates. I know this isn't the freshest sample, I have been sitting on it, but not that long. Huh, ...well, okay.

In the nose: tart & apple-y, smelling like a good cider should.

In the mouth: More of the same. Major tart, then fading off. Slightly sweet, but consistently apple-y. Smooth and refreshing. Nothing but good ol' cider. And you can drink it.

The original unfiltered. A hard cider that tastes like apple cider. Smooth and refreshing, perfectly balanced. Like the cider your grew up drinking. 

Fulton Mango 300 India Pale Ale with Mango

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

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

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

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

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

Wild Mind Lightness of Being Foeder Wild Ale

Wild Mind Lightness of Being Foeder Wild Ale. 5.4 % ABV. 5 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Aw, funky now! Powerful sour, judicious doses of fruit. A little sweet, and a lot of dry.

In the mouth: Massive puckeration. Fierce sour. Stone fruit and citrus come on in. Light bodied, long sour. Lemon pops up here and there, bright and spicy.This is a terrific sour for all you sourheads out there.

After aging in large, oak foeders with our native wild yeast and microflora, this American wild ale is packed with flavor, including notes of lemon curd, vanilla, wildflowers, and stone fruit.

Goose Island Next Coast IPA

Goose Island Next Coast IPA. 7 % ABV, 40 IBU. Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL, (and elsewhere).

Clear, bright golden color, large and lace-leaving ivory head on top. Looking good!

In the nose: Grapefruit comes screaming out of the glass, with other citrus flavors beside it. Getting some sweet, tropical notes, too, pineapple, guava, et al. Lovely stuff.

In the mouth: Big bitterness attacks the palate first, piney/citrusy flavors tumble out. Bitter notes last long through the finish. Medium bodied, and a drinkable delight for the hardcore hophead. This one's got the goods.

It’s 7%, but totally crushable — it’s not quite like any other IPA you’ve had. Big, bracing, piney hop flavors meet a tropical bouquet of Eureka, Nugget, Mosaic Citra, and 06277 hops. There’s a balanced bitterness that blends seamlessly into the light to medium body. Sip it or rip it. Whatever. We’re not your mom.

Utepils Quadriga Belgian-style Quad

Utepils Quadriga Belgian-style Quad. 10.1 % ABV. Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, beautiful reddish-brown/Burgundy hue, ample layer of creamy-toned head. Looking the very picture of a Quad.

In the nose: Belgian dark malts, Belgian yeast, fig, toffee. Caramel meets cotton candy.

In the mouth: Rich malty flavors, as described above, in excellent balance. All the hallmarks of a classic quadruple are here and it's all utterly lovely and comforting, with alcohol slowly showing it's stuff. Chocolate and banana meets spicy, toasted bread and candy-covered dark fruits. Delightful.

Yum. Yum a dum, dum. This is exactly what I look for in a Quad(Rupel). I've got to go back and get some more of this.




LIMITED RELEASE DEC 2018 - Brewery's 1st 750ml Bottle

Dangerously drinkable, don't get trampled... ;)

Quadriga is garnet red, with a tan head. Smooth mouthfeel - not prickly. Very low hop aroma and bitterness (all Styrian Golding hops from Slovenia) with lots of big toffee and caramel flavors - like a roast marshmallow with the subtlest hint of coffee.

Drawing our inspiration from The Quadriga, or four horse drawn chariot statues that adorn the MN Capital and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin Germany; we're paying homage to those powerful monuments with our rich and bold Belgian Style Quad.

Boom Island Bicycle Thief Belgian White IPA

Boom Island Bicycle Thief Belgian White IPA. 6 % ABV, 51 IBU. Boom Island Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly clouded, bright orange/golden hue. slim ivory head.

In the nose: Coriander bursts out of this one. Spices and wheat dominate.

In the mouth: Bright happiness boards the palate, taking over from wheat and spice. Those two are quick to come back on board and steer the ship from here on out. Citrus notes aplenty. Light bodied, smooth, and very refreshing. Wheat flavor stays long into the finish. Light sweetness, long bitterness. Good white IPA, and you can drink it.

Bicycle Thief is a delicious white IPA with hints of sweet orange peel and coriander with a locally sourced honey and Belgian farmhouse yeast strain. And yes, a bicycle was stolen.

Mikkeller SD Look IPA

Mikkeller SD Look IPA-Double Dry-hopped NE IPA. 7% ABV. Mikkeller, San Diego, CA.

Hundred-percent hazed, dull yellow coloring, vast, lace-leaving bright ivory head.

In the nose: Fresh, lively, floral, funky. Citrus notes dominate, multitude of other notes abound. Liking it.

In the mouth: Bitterness hits up the palate first, then creamy, smooth fruity notes ride it on the way down. Turns from citric to tropical, some pineapple, touch of guava. Big 'n' juicy hop bitterness, playing on the palate. Utterly delightful.

Thanks, Gabby!

Gray's Busted Knuckle Irish style Ale

Gray's Busted Knuckle Irish style Ale. 5.2 % aBV, 32 IBU. Gray's Brewing, Janesville, WI.

Clear, amber/bronze color, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Malty-sweet, lightly fruity. Apple & cherry.

In the mouth: Sweetness kicks it off, but never too much, kept just in check with some bitter hop notes. Good balance. But, not great. Not really together, here. Just short of satisfactory. Eventually, over-sweet maltiness takes over, and the result is unpleasant. I'm not liking it.

This Irish Style Ale is a special blend of four types of malted barley and three varieties of hops. It is a medium-bodied ale showing off a deep reddish amber color and thick, tan bubbly head. The aroma is sweet and light followed by moderate caramel-malt flavors with a light roasty finish. 

Vander Mill Totally Roasted Cider

Vander Mill Totally Roasted Cider. 6.5% ABV. Produced and canned by Vander Mill, Grand Rapids, MI.

Clear, bright gold, no head, yadda yadda....

In the nose: Vibrant, lively green apples, and a hint of nuts below. Full disclosure: I did little research before cracking it open. I thought that, bases on the name, I should be on the lookout for roasted
coffee beans. I had to peek, when I wasn't quite getting that. Now, I know: pecans. Huh. Well, alright.

In the mouth: Crisp, tart, apple-y, and the toasted/roasted nutty character giving it a warm, earthy twist. Hey, this is tasty. Hitting the spot. Tastes like I'm drinking a pie over here. Nothing wrong with that. And I would drink another one. Good old apple and candied pecan cider and you can drink it.

Beginning with our traditional hard apple cider we then steep candied pecans. We make our own cinnamon roasted pecans that bring vanilla, cinnamon, and a nuttiness to this product that makes it a truly unique cider. Totally Roasted is semi-.sweet with a tart finish.

Venn Batch #122 Ridiculous Anniversary Chocolate Cake Imperial Porter

Venn Batch #122 Ridiculous Anniversary Chocolate Cake Imperial Porter. 10.8 % ABV. 30 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Total darkness. Sizable layer of cocoa-toned foam on top. Looking good.

In the nose: Chocolate is in command, here, sweetness reigns supreme. Am I sniffing the frosting? Maybe, maybe. Big & rich are the keys in this. Alcohol potency contributes, too.

In the mouth: Even more so. More rich, more thick, more big. And quite a lot of sweet. But never too, this one, well balanced, matched with some bitterness. Tasty, tasty. Chocolate cake flavor never gets out of hand. I'm digging this all the way down.



A huge, ridiculous American-style Porter infused with a ridiculous amount of chocolate and a ridiculous chocolate birthday cake.

Malts: Maris Otter, Munich, Chocolate, Flaked Oats, Caramel 60, Extra Dark Crystal

Hops: Warrior (United States)

Yeast: American Ale

And: Lactose, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla, Chocolate Syrup