Fulton Coffee Doppelbock German Style Doppelbock

Fulton Coffee Doppelbock German Style Doppelbock. 7.75 % ABV. 28 IBU. Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Opaque. Reddish brown, large cream-toned head.

In the nose: Subtle coffee flavors, slowly growing. Slowly, but surely, unfolding. Earthy, nutty, roasty.

In the mouth: Rich, warm, and quite tasty. Malt flavors come to the fore, caramel and toffee and cocoa. Coffee keep rushing back. Lightly fruit, plummy, then earthy, medium-bodied, delightfully drinkable...if you're into coffee doppelbocks. And I am. Very good, this one. Very, very good.

From the coffee beer 4-pack sampler. Three more to go.



Fulton has teamed up with four Minnesota coffee roasters to create our first Coffee Beer.

Wait, what's War & Peace, then? Are you saying Imperial Stouts aren't beers?

Oliphant Sound of the Fart Side Citra Pale Ale

Oliphant Sound of the Fart Side. Pale Ale. 5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Man, I'm not into these "fart" puns, you guys. You can do better, I know it. The anthropomorphic assholes? Sheeesh.

Anyway, on with the beer.

Clouded, pale amber hue, thick white head, soon to settle.

In the nose:Fresh, full-on citrus notes going on. Nothin' but, and it's all that you need.

In the mouth: Light bodied, crisp, clean and refreshing. Nice bitter bite up front, then falling off. Citrus fruit flavor from the hops dances on the palate, keep the tongue happy. Straight up deliciousness. Just a good old pale ale with Citra hops, just the way I like it. Yum, a dum, dum.
I'm gonna drink this crowler down, and that will be that.

I am providing two videos below. One is of one of my favorite musicians performing a song he composed for an animated "Far Side" TV special and has since turned it into a beloved ballad. That is Bill Frisell. And "Egg Radio." (Look at Bill's guitar. Is this the one that Gary Larson made for him?, as the story goes.)
The other tells the tale of the "Far Side"'s time on television. Forgive the narrator for saying Bill's last name wrong, or even Larson's first (did he really call him "Larry"? once?) Isn't there anything better out there? No? Really? Come on.

Single hop Citra Pale Ale

Inbound BrewCo Petal Pounder Hibiscus Saison

Inbound BrewCo Petal Pounder Hibiscus Saison. 5.5 % ABV. 20 IBU. Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

Fairly hazy, bright crimson coloring, slim white head adorning the top.

In the nose: Floral, funky, lightly tart, plenty of fruit.

In the mouth: tart hits first. Hibiscus reigns supreme, with fresh fruity associations coming in second. Light bodied, lower alcohol, drinks like a dream. Delightful. I could pass the time away with a few of these.


A fresh and floral saison brewed with a pounder's worth of real hibiscus petals. It's as tart as a cranberry and as pink as a summer sunrise. Built for a season of pedals and petals.

Birch's Lowertown Oud Bruin

Birch's Lowertown Oud Bruin. 5.5 % ABV. Birch's Lowertown, St. Paul, MN.

2016 says the cap. This brewery was not in operation at that time. Was it started at Birch's on the Lake, and finished, or at the very least, sold at the St. Paul brewery/taproom? Will we ever know?

Murky/hazy, deep Burgundy color, slim off-whitish head.

In the nose: Tart and fruity. Deep and oaky. Inviting, lively, funky.

In the mouth: sourness grips the palate from the start. Major puckeration. Fresh fruit. Figs, dates, raisins, sour cherries. More wood character. Deep and sour and delicious. Medium bodied, and definitely drinkable and refreshing. Tasty stuff.

This is not a perfect Oud Bruin, but it's pretty danged close. And there ain't enough of these even being attempted around these parts. Good job, guys.

And thanks to Ed for bringing it to me. I don't get out to St. Paul often enough, so it's great to have a friend helping me to keep on top of what they're brewing out there.

I've been to the downtown St. Paul location before, last fall, in the company of Ed. It was too late to take home a growler. It's high time I crossed the river again and tried out more of their wares.

Barrel soured traditional Flanders brown ale aged in used red wine barrels with tart cherries for over 2.5 years.

Surly One Man Mosh Pit Hazy IPA

Surly One Man Mosh Pit Hazy IPA. 7.2 % ABV. IBU: low. Surly Brewing Company, Mpls/BC, MN.

Haze is the craze, and now Surly's gotten into the game. Now in the canned form, anyway. They've been piloting NEIPA variations since last summer at the Beer Hall and this final version, pieced together from the favorite parts of previous iterations, "thrashes into our entire distribution footprint this week. The Docs are laced up, the flannel is tied around our waist, and we're ready to rage against whatever machine you put in front of us." Okay, whatever.

All hazed up and cloudy, murky golden toned, slim white head perched above.

In the nose: Dank hops. Expressions of citrus and tropical fruit, with a trace of pine. Sweet stuff, floral, funky. I'm hooked, so far.

In the mouth: Juicy hop flavors flood the palate, hops and yeast character apparent. Bright, sweet, and soft in mouthfeel, malt and hop delivery. Medium bodied, and easy drinking. Tangy. Tasty.

I'm still not on board the Haze Craze. I'll drink them, but every time I do, I wish it were a regular IPA. I don't see the appeal, or more precisely, why one would prefer this style to the non-hazy IPA. Give me the bitter, please, not this stuff. People like it, though, so I'll remain the lone dissenting voice, fading far off into the distance.


Maybe I've said this before, but I will say it once more: I feel that the people who favor hazy/NE IPA, or milkshake IPAs, for that matter, are those that never liked real IPAs in the first place, and were drinking them because they thought they had no other choice. Well, by gum, some of us liked it that way!

I like it enough that this is can #6 for me. I bought a 4-pack before Surly sent me a couple. And they all went down well. Here's the last one, the one I take notes on, and I have to say that Surly got it all pegged. It's soft on the palate and in bitterness, it's fruity and inoffensive. But, dang, it's missing that bite I want. Again, I have to say, they should call it something else. They just don't feel like IPAs to me.

I guess I'll have to stay among the ranks of the curmudgeonly. Earlier this year, Surly announced the end of Bender and Cynic, two of their first beers. There was some public outcry among their fans, a group to which I belong, but in reality, how many of them really bought those beers all that much? I bought both sporadically, but not significantly. If the brewery's not making money on them, what are they supposed to do? Some bemoaned the loss of these beers from their portfolio and wondered what would replace them, more IPAs? Yes, exactly. This beer and Sleek IPA are now year-rounds. If only folks were reaching for brown ales and saisons a little more often.

I've got a theory that these altered versions of IPAs are warping some palates and keeping drinkers from finding the styles they should be liking, and those styles will go away, fewer and fewer being brewed. We'll have all the hazy IPAs and no one will get to try Scotch Ales, Witbiers, Ambers and the like. It'll be sad days, for sure.

BREWED FOR: THE ACE OF SPADES, LACING UP YOUR DOCS, AND STARTING YOUR OWN SCENE

An absurd dose of Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic dry-hopping hoists this IPA above the fray. Juicy and hazy, it’s the perfect soundtrack to the music in your head. Running in a circle and shoving yourself optional.

NEW ENGLAND IPA
COLOR
Hazy Gold

HOPS
Amarillo
Citra
Mosaic
MALT
Golden Promise
Carafoam
Unmalted Wheat
Flaked Oats
OG
16° Plato
YEAST
Burlington Ale
IBU
Low
ABV
7.2%

SURLY MN USA

Hop & Barrel Hudson Haze Hazy India Pale Ale

Hop & Barrel Hudson Haze Hazy India Pale Ale. 6.4 % ABV. 28 IBU. Hop & Barrel Brewing, Hudson, WI.

Clouded & hazed, dull orange appearance, large ivory head of foam on top.

In the nose: Highly hopped, bouncing with citrus and pine. Nice.

In the mouth: Hop bitterness smacks the palate from the start, tongue's getting spanked by bright, citrusy. Getting the yeasty flavor in there, too. Medium body, a touch of the juicy before turning good and dry.

Hey, this can't be a Hazy IPA, because I actually like it.

Haze Brah. Columbus, Galaxy, Vic Secret, Simcoe.
A beer made from the heart of Hudson, Wisconsin, for the palettes {sic} of trendsetters everywhere. Here's to you who know what's best for the rest of us. Centuries for trying to make the clearest beer possible and all of the sudden YOU people want to drink orange juice beer. Well...here you go. Drink up, Trendy McTrendFace.

I am so proud of them for putting that on their label.

Town Hall Strawberry Stave

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

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unmapped Mind the Map English Ale

Unmapped Mind the Map English Ale. 5.3 % ABV. 21 IBU. Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Clear, coppery colored, slim slab of off white foam above.

In the nose: Mostly malty, lightly spicy, low hops. A touch on the sweet side, with lingering fruit notes.

In the mouth: Light notes of cherry and apple greet the palate first, with a wave of malty flavors in tow. Medium bodied, well balanced, easy drinking. Toasty caramel malt tastes take over. Smooth stuff, certifiably quaffable. A downright tasty pub ale, with plenty of malty flavors to keep the tongue happy.

This delightfully malty English Ale will take you on a journey across the pond to the land of pastoral scenes, pubs, and the London Underground of course! At 5.3%, this beer is quaffable but never short on flavor. Please Mind the Map and enjoy!

Oliphant Anutart Raspberry

Oliphant Anutart Raspberry. 5 % Alc./Vol.
Tart Wheat Ale brewed with raspberries. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

All hazed up, cloudy as can be, a bright crimson, turning pink, with a slim pinkish white head.

In the nose: Tart, wheat-y, and raspberry-vicious. Plump fruit.

In the mouth: Bracing sour from the start. Fresh, fruit, and tart. Light bodied, refreshing. Delightful. Stays fruity and tart, ending on a dry note.

Like most tart wheat ales (aka fruited Berliner Weisses), it's not too terribly complex. But it does what it does, and delivers what you want.

Barrel Theory Cryptocurrency Double IPA w/ Citra and Strata

This is not a new beer. (Though there is a new version available now.)

I bought it at my last visit to the brewery in November. Drank it and took notes in December. And then I forgot about it.

No, that's not true. I thought about it every day. Just as it's always true when I tell Mom that I meant to call her every day. I just put it off. But, why?

Was I doing it again? Saving a beer review for when I write the brewery/taproom review, which takes much more time, so I put that off? Even though I promised not to do that anymore?

So, I'll post this review, and then I'll tackle the brewery & taproom. Or do I need to go back one more time? Why, I've been there four or five times already, that's plenty. But, I am overdue for another visit. And there's the new DDH version of this very beer that everyone's raving about. Got to give that a try. There's an angle for my brewery report.

And then, the thought occurs to me that there are people who visit Barrel Theory each and every day, who probably never once give any concern to how they will write about that visit in their beer blog. Huh.
I wonder what that's like?

Barrel Theory Cryptocurrency Double IPA w/ Citra and Strata. 8 % ABV. Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN.


Hazy (naturally), dull golden color, beautiful ivory head. Looks the part of the hazy  double IPA.

In the nose: Citrus/tropical notes. A little floral. Quite pretty. Instantly likable.

In the mouth: Nice drop of hops on the palate. Good amount of yeast in the mouthfeel. Smooth and tasty. Calm, cool mouthfeel. Good drinking double IPA, but could use more bitterness to really be in my wheelhouse. Big, bold citrus attack. I'm liking this.

Clockwerks Dark Helmet Coffee Schwarz

Clockwerks Dark Helmet Coffee Schwarz. Coffee Schwarzbier.  4.1 % ABV. 13 IBU.
Clockwerks Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown, nearly black, with a nice, toasted tan ring on top.

In the nose: Mostly malty, with a fine layer of coffee notes rising above. Cocoa lurks below.

In the mouth: Coffee hits the palate first, then the mostly malty clambers on board. Caramel and chocolate  on the side. Medium to light-ish bodied. Minor bitterness. Smooth and easy-drinking. I like a good schwarzbier, even coffee-infused ones, and this is one of them. A tasty treat.

A light bodied dark beer with boutique-roasted beans from the eastern slopes of the Aberdares mountain range in Kenya. Caramel and chocolate undertones.

Badger Hill Badger Snack Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Badger Hill Badger Snack Peanut Butter Milk Stout. 6.3 % ABV. 13 IBU. Badger Hill Brewing, Shakopee, MN.

Full ebony color, absolutely impenetrable, under a rich, thick cocoa, tan head. Looking good.

In the nose: Peanut butter notes explode. Other flavors seem fairly muted in it's wake. No complaints here, though. If PB's what you want, PB's what you get.

In the mouth: Full bodied, smooth, and just sweet enough, never too. Well balanced. Beautiful texture. Abundant peanut butter flavor, but again, never too much. Chocolate and dark malt flavors lie just below, with a small dose of espresso dipping on the palate. Stays on the semi-sweet side, ends on a dry note. Swift finish, not cloying in the least.

I like this peanut butter stout, and chances are you will, too. This one is available in a mixed pack, if I'm not mistaken. Go out there and get it.

It's a well-known fact that badgers love peanut butter... so we're sure you'll go nuts for this Badger Hill beer, too!

And yes - pun VERY intended.

A blend of roasted malts, flaked oats, flaked barley and milk sugar make for creamy chocolaty base to this peanut butter powered snack. A treat for badgers and beer drinkers alike.

AVAILABLE: Draft and 6-Packs

Mikkeller SD Mikkel Jackson NE IPA

Mikkeller SD Mikkel Jackson NE IPA. 7 % ABV. Mikkeller SD, San Diego, CA.

I was curious how many other brewers have done a beer in tribute to the late, great beer writer Michael Jackson, who passed on in 2007. If this isn't the first, it certainly has the funniest label. So, I searched on Untappd, and found that most of the beers that reference that name were alluding the more famous man(-child)(-molester), the self-described King of Pop. Perhaps breweries are unlikely to name a beer for the Englishman who pioneered beer writing back in the 70's because the masses would be confused and assume it was a nod to the gloved one. Every now and then the M.J. from Yorkshire's name will be evoked and someone, somewhere inevitably will say "wait, Michael Jackson wrote about beer? THAT  Michael Jackson?" Of course not! It's got to be as common a name as John Smith. Or James Brown.

I love Jackson's tomes, and there are at least five in my beer library. Unfortunately, they're not all likely to stay in print, as they have become dated, as breweries and styles come and go. They are a wealth of information, though, carefully and passionately researched, with deftly assembled sentences. His words flowed well and he never stooped to make jokes or cracks that didn't hold true to the content. I slammed one recent book shut when the author claimed that North Coast's Brother Thelonious was "as smooth as Monk's jazz." The beer may be smooth, but Monk's music was not. Or the scribe who wrote a brief bit about the kolsch style and could not resist making an awful comment concerning the consumption of after-shave. (Get it? Kolsch are from Cologne! Ha!) Put that one back on the shelf. The list goes on.

So, let's drink to one of the all-time greats. Maybe the G.O.A.T?

Highly hazed, golden toned, bright white head above.

In the nose: Soft and hoppy. Fuzzy. Citrus and tropical flavors pop out. Orange, lemon, and pineapple aplenty.

In the mouth: Jumps on the palate buzzing with hoppy delights, but steers clear of outright bitterness. Juicy stuff. Bright and lively. Medium bodied, and expertly drinkable. Gives the NE IPA drinker just what they want.

It's a good NE IPA, and you can drink it. Well, you can. I'm going to find a non-hazy IPA. Just for kicks. Got to be different.

Fulton Brut 300 India Pale Ale

Fulton Brut 300 India Pale Ale. 7 % ABV. 35 IBU. Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Another Brut IPA? A Brut-ized 300? Well, let's see what that's all about.

Clear, bright golden color, large white, pillowy head. Looking great.

In the nose: Hoppy stuff. Citrus and pine aplenty. And dry. Oh, so, dry.

In the mouth: Starts out wet and juicy, with a long line of bitterness on the palate. Medium bodied and quite tasty. Ends on a nice, dry note, leaves one yearning for one more taste. Perfect much a flat-out perfect IPA.

I'm wondering if this is really in the "Brut IPA" style, after all. It can't be, I like it too much.

Fair State The Duke of Bakesfordshire Pecan Pie Stout

Fair State The Duke of Bakesfordshire. Pecan-pie inspired pastry stout brewed with pecans, maple and vanilla. 12.0 % ABV. Fair State Brewing, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

Solid blackness, impenetrable appearance, cocoa-tinged head of foam, starts big and slims down.

In the nose: Malt forward, to say the least. Chocolate rings in first. I'm getting a touch of the maple, and maybe vanilla, but that's about it.

In the mouth: Massive malt, rich, bittersweet, intense, going from sweet to dry. A lot of flavors going on, but I'm not really picking up on the pecan. The alcohol, though, that's shining through, for sure. The pecan pie thing they're going for, it's just not happening. But it is a damned strong stout, nicely toasty, and very satisfying. Even if the pecans and vanilla, maple, etc., aren't coning through.

I hate being disappointed by a favorite brewery, but, well, it does happen. And it happened here.

By the way, who came up with "pastry stout", and how/why did it become popular? Dumb name.

Town Hall Double Eight DIPA

Town Hall Double Eight DIPA. 8 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, amber/bronze coloring, ample slab of ivory front atop.

In the nose: Bright, juicy, dank. Citrus notes, stone fruit, a flash of the tropical. Gorgeous. Utterly lovely. Ni-i-ice.

In the mouth: Big, bold, brash. Intense malt meets abrasive hop bitterness. I'm liking it thus far. Big hop bitterness, bold hop flavors, tons of citrus and tropical notes butt up against a full field of malt. And the booze comes ringing in. Big, booming, bitter, beautiful. POW!

Guess what, I like this one.



Smooth and juicy tropical fruit hop character, balanced clean bitterness and bready-honey malt background. A warming tropical double IPA for the last leg of winter.

Oliphant Hungee for Goomungee

Oliphant Hungee for Goomungee. Rum Barrel aged Imperial Brown Ale, with maple syrup. 10 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Beautiful brown color,  a bit murky, cocoa-tinged layer of foam.

In the nose: Sweet. Bourbon. Malty. Vanilla. Booze. Molasses. Maple. A whole lot going on around here.

In the mouth: Ah! I must have been very good to deserve this. Sweet, rich, succulent. Full bodied, full flavored. Brown ale meets bourbon, tasty meets delicious. This one has all the malty, molasses-y, maple-ish flavors I desire. Dee-frickin'-tasty, is what this is. But what is Goomungee? And why are we hungy for it? Dumb question.

there, now do you see?

rum barrel aged imperial brown sugar brown brown w/ maple syrup. 10% abv

Wild Mind Galgo Fruited Sour Ale

Wild Mind Galgo Fruited Sour Ale. 5.2 % ABV. 5 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Big sour from the start, followed by various fruits. Arresting, lively, funkay.

In the mouth: Intense sour pounces upon the palate. Super pucker! Tropical fruit flavors follow, Passionfruit, pink guava and mango in this folder-aged wild ale. Light bodied, and refreshing. Fruity. Oaky. Sour. Yum. Beautiful interplay between sour and sweet.

This is a nice one, to say the least. I'd love this as a regular, recurring beer. I'd like to be able to count on having this one on hand at any regular interval.

Brewed in collaboration with Galgos del Sol, a Spanish hound rescue sanctuary, this fruited sour was blended to celebrate Spanish sighthounds, and proceeds from each bottle will go to help save abandoned Spanish sighthounds through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, and education. Brewed with almost 1,000 total pounds of passionfruit, pink guava, and mango, this blended barrel aged and foeder-aged wild ale is vibrantly fruity and funky with a tart finish.

Dave's BrewFarm I Like Your Six

Dave's BrewFarm I Like Your Six. 5.1 % ABV. Bottled on February 15, 2019. Dave's BrewFarm, Wilson, WI. Style: your guess = mine.

Clear, dark red coloring, reddish-brown? nearly Burgundy? with an ample cream-toned head, swiftly drifting down.

In the nose: Sweet-ish, sugar-like, malty. Minor hops. Rye malt pops up. Molasses?

In the mouth: Starts sweet-like and malty-ish, but end on a very dry note. Fruity hop notes at play with spicy rye malt flavors. It's a beautiful congress. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Pumpernickel overtakes the taste in this one, a very rye bread-y affair, all in all, and I can't help liking it. Again, if I'd have to stick it into any style, I'd be forced to call it an APA, or maybe a rye pale ale, or something of a such. And I'm digging it big time.

I was lucky, this last visit to the BrewFarm, that not only were there several new BrewFarm beers that I hadn't tasted yet, but two new ones available in growlers form, that I can add to the Nib. And now they are done. I hope it is not another six months until I return to the farm. More goodness awaits!

A base of Pils, with a hefty dose of Rye and Extra Special malts, Norther Brewer and Azacca hops, fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. Very sixy!

Surly Tiramisu Funeral Bar Dessert Stout

Surly Tiramisu Funeral Bar Dessert Stout brewed with Coffee, Vanilla Bean, cocoa, lactose & molasses. 10.2 % Alc./Vol. 1 pint. Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center, MN-the original brewery, where it all started.

Straight up blackness, solid, lasting cream-tinged head. Utterly impenetrable.

In the nose: Soft and creamy. Incoming cocoa and espresso. And here comes more of the sweet stuff: molasses and vanilla are touching down. Nice stuff, so far.

In the mouth: It's all coming together, the cocoa and molasses leading the charge, coffee just behind, quickly caught up and left in the dust by vanilla and lactose. It's tasty stuff. Medium bodied, easy drinking despite the high ABV. Delicious and decadent. Alcohol comes shining through. Time for teddy-bye.


I've heard all kinds of criticism about this beer. That it's "too sweet" is one, but I think it's just sweet enough. If you didn't want a sweet strong stout, you should have left this on the shelf. Yeah, it's sweet, but it's supposed to be, and I'm liking it. It's got what it takes. I wouldn't have more than one in a row, but that's not the point of these beers, is it? One a night, after dinner, just before bed.

BREWED FOR THE AFTERLIFE. OR AFTER DINNER. WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.

Plying the grief-stricken with church basement sweets is a Midwestern constant. Our newest sweet stout brings this tradition into the light, using waves of vanilla, cocoa, and molasses to soothe the saddened soul.

DESSERT STOUT
COLOR
Dark Brown

HOPS
Warrior
Cascade
MALT
Two Row
Red Wheat
DRC Malt
Chit Malt
Chocolate Malt
Coffee Malt
Golden Naked Oats
Flaked Oats
Honey Malt
OG
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Low
ABV
10.2%

SURLY MN USA