Surly BAOW (Barrel Aged Oat Wine)

Surly BAOW (Barrel Aged Oat Wine), 9.6% ABV, Surly Brewing, Minneapolis / Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Oat wine ale aged in rye whiskey barrels.

After a slew of lighter offerings, it's nice to see a new Surly beer that's big, brash, bold and barrel-aged. "Roughly based on the recipe of Surly Eight, BAOW adds some tweaks and a hell of a lot of oats for a highly drinkable beer that still packs a punch."

Slightly clouded, bronzish-colored, with an ample serving of off-whitish, creamy-toned head.

In the nose: All kinds of complexities. Caramel. Oak. Toffee. Vanilla. Fruit. Whiskey-a-Go-go. Cherries. Richness and ridiculousness.

In the mouth: Mmmm. Sweet stuff. Big and bold stuff. Barrel aged goodness unleashed. Boom, boom, boom, boom. All that barrel-aged flavor comes spilling out.

Mmmm. Interesting. In previous years, this style of beer would be a collaboration with some metal band and the name would be a tribute to an ancient goat-headed behemoth. Now, the name is an acronym turned onomatopoeia, turned into an homage to the Batman TV Show of 1966. I don't not like that. The beer even came with a one-page comic strip origin of BAOW!

It's getting mellower and mellower as we go further, and the richness is less large and frightening, more smooth and silky. More caramel, tobacco, leather, lushness. Sweetness. Decadence. Mmm, mm, yeah. It's a delicious treat that can't be beat. So much slick and smooth, rich, toasty, malty, Delightful.

Barrel-aging lends this oat wine a flavorful punch. Expect sweet toffee malt flavor up front, oak and a hint of vanilla on the finish, and a silky mouthfeel throughout. BAOW will leave a mark.

HOPS
Warrior
MALT
2-Row
Oat Malt
Biscuit Malt
Acidulated Malt
Rolled Oats
Simpson's Golden Naked Oats
OG
29° Plato18
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Low
ABV
9.6%

SURLY MN USA

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Cup of Ambition (Cinnamon & Vanilla) Coffee Stout

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Cup of Ambition (Cinnamon & Vanilla). 6.5% ABV. 28 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

I've been having a hard time figuring this one out. Why does the label say "CVCS" when the beer is Cinnamon & Vanilla Cup of Ambition. Where does the S come from? Where did the A go? There has to be an answer. (Is it for "Coffee Stout"? Probably. I think I've got it.)

Black as night, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Sweet and spicy. Cinnamon sticks out first. Rich malt below. Here comes sweet vanilla.

Time to drink. In the mouth: Cinnamon strikes first again, and stays dominant. Smothers this barrel-aged coffee stout. You've got to wait it out 'til we get to the coffee. Full bodied and delightful.

Rich, roast-y, and very satisfying. Cinnamon blends with coffee, and vanilla's trying to come out and join the party.

One more in the win column for Wild Mind.

This is for the un-C/V version of Cup of Ambition: Heaven Hill barrel-aged coffee beans provide this sweet stout with notes of lightly bitter coffee, oak, and vanilla. Reminiscent of a refreshing iced coffee, Cup of Ambition is perfect for a hot summer day or a weekend (or weekday, no judgement) brunch. 

Forager Johnny C's Brown

Forager Johnny C's Brown. Belgian Dubbel. 8% ABV. 18 IBU. Oak fermented Belgian style Abbey Dubbel brewed with local Minnesota buckwheat honey. Brewed and packaged by Forager Brewery, Rochester, MN.

Thoroughly brown color, slim cocoa-tinged head, looking the part.

In the nose: dark malt sweetness hits first, followed by cocoa, caramel, toffee, too. Dark fruit notes, as well, dates and plums aplenty. Medium bodied, long malty finish. Persistent flavors, here. And all the classic dubbed flavors, too, Delicious.

Deep brown with off-white head. Spiced caramel malt sweetness layered with dried dark fruits, and Belgian bread aromas. Sweet malty flavors dominate with mellow Belgian spices. This Trappist style ale is rich and smooth with a warming alcohol buzz.

Indeed Mexican Honey Light

Indeed Mexican Honey Light. 5.2% ABV. 10 IBU. Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

A lighter version of Mexican Honey Imperial Lager. 5% vs. 8%.

Clear, bright golden hue, lasting, lacey ivory head.


In the nose: Sweet honey notes match up with cereal/grains. Minimal hop presence. Pleasant.

In the mouth: Sweet, malty, clean and smooth. Light and delightful. It's a good ol' drinkable honey lager. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

New creation being tested.

Town Hall Clipper Ship IPA

Town Hall Clipper Ship IPA. 7.9% ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, crimson coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: rich and malty, good and fruity. Earthy notes, dark fruits, apple, melon.

In the mouth: Big, fierce malt, lots of the earth and the grit. Bitterness, for sure, but never too much. Interesting. And drinkable. And likable. But, I'm not loving it. Not everything they brew works 100%.

It's a good British IPA, it's a sweet IPA, but not one I would go back to again, and again.

British style IPA with Australian dry hops.

Finnegans Cluster Truck India Pale Ale -can

Finnegans Cluster Truck India Pale Ale. 6.5% aBV, 65 IBU. Finnegans Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, large, lace-leaving ivory head.

In the nose: Aggressive aromatics: citrus, tropical, pine. Bold hop attack. Liking it.

In the mouth: Big hop bite from the start. More dry than juicy on the palate, but a balance of both. Slightly acerbic. A little astringent, then mostly smooth on the way out. Medium bodied, long bitter finish. Ever-lasting hoppiness.

Good IPA, and you can drink it.

An American IPA with a truckload of hops.

Postal Script: After posting this, I realized that I'd reviewed it before, from a growler, after my first visit to the taproom, about three months ago. Oops. Oh, well. Now you can drink it from a can, so we've got that going for us.

Eastlake 2017 Arcturan Mega-Saison

Eastlake 2017 Arcturan Mega-Saison. Aged on Peaches in a single red wine barrel for 12 months. 13% ABV. Eastlake Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear-ish, bright golden hue, slim-to-none head.

In the nose: bold, wine-like, showing alcohol. Fruity and sweet. And here come the peaches. Alcohol is coming on strong now. Ginger's running hot, keeping pace with the booze, grapefruit's got it going on. A little bit of sweet & fruity, trace of Belgian funk, and alcohol keeping it groovy.

This one's a once-in-a-while treat, but I like it nonetheless

Saison brewed with pink grapefruit & ginger

Toppling Goliath Hopsmack! India Pale Ale

Toppling Goliath Hopsmack! India Pale Ale. 7.7% ABV, 100 IBU. Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, IA.

Thoroughly clouded, highly hazed, dull golden/orange-ish hue, beneath a thick, lasting slab of ivory head.

In the nose: citrus and tropical tones. Mucky, murky, but fruity all the same. Mild bitterness. High hoppiness.

In the mouth: More big citrus, more tropical tones, big ol' bitterness on the tongue. Awfully hazy, yeasty...

And now, confession time. My notes trailed off there, at the ellipses, and I slowly enjoyed it on into the early morning. The bomber was finished, but I made no more notes than what you see above. Did I miss anything? Sure, but I got at the essence, and eventually decided against doing some sort of mental time traveling to when I was tasting the stuff to pull out more descriptors, and will let what I wrote stand.

I will add, though, that I would recommend it, but not to myself. Goes a bit too far in the yeast/haze department. I could have enjoyed it more if it was a bit cleaner.

Hopsmack is here to rescue your palate. Giant aromas of pineapple and tropical fruit jump from this enticingly complex double ipa. True to its name, this brew delivers a heavy smack of dry hops and a double dose of bitterness in the finish. 

Wild Mind Wind in the Willows American Wild Ale

Wild Mind Wind in the Willows American Wild Ale. 7% IBU, 5 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Opaque, apricottish-hued, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Sour and fruity from the start. Fruity, funky, not too hoppy. Yeah.

In the mouth: Ooo! Ooo! Big pucker! Wow, sour! Lots of citrus, tons of fruit. Medium bodied, long tart finish. Okay, I'm getting the apricots, but they're smothered in sour. Plump stone fruit, scant citrus, and puckering sourness covering it all.

Strap yourselves in for the sour, boys and girls, this one has it all.

Fermented in barrels with our wild yeast, Wind in the Willows brings together farmhouse funk with the tangy sweetness of apricots. This tart rye saison is bright and complex with notes of fresh apricot jam.

Forager Dad Bod Oak Fermented Imperial Scotch Ale

Dear friends and followers, I am going to unveil a little known and completely insignificant secret of the Bitter Nib. At some point in the not too distant past, I enacted a rule for this blog. That rule is that there shall be a distance put between posts about any brewery. If I write about two beers from Surly, for example, I must space them out, and put a certain number of other posts about other beers and breweries in between them. That number is six.

Why did I make this rule? Gee, I must have had a good reason. What was it? Maybe it was just for appearance sake, or I didn't want it to seem obvious if I were giving more attention to any one brewery at a time?

And I kept that up, until I almost broke the rule. Last Sunday, my pal Jason and I found ourselves in Rochester, MN, for the event of a free concert in Mayo Park by the Suburbs, and that meant, of course, that Forager was in the plans. And on this visit, an unprecedented number of beers were available in crowlers, and I nearly bought one of each. (I love Forager, but don't have the same collect-them-all mentality that I do with Oliphant.)


But, no, I  kept it to six, one that has appeared here before, but I couldn't pass it up, for I love it so, the Sherpa Survival Kit, and 5 new ones. I opened one Monday night and posted the review, as well as one of the four Wild Mind beers I bought last Saturday. That meant I'd need to post 5 more reviews from other breweries before I could get to another Forager crowler.

And so, that's what I did. On Thursday, July 19, I sat down to review 5 beers in order to get to another Forager. I almost convinced myself that there's no harm in breaking that rule so I can get to a Forager faster. Perhaps it won't be so easy next time. Maybe I won't have enough other beers to keep that distance. Or, perhaps it's best to pace it, hold back my passion. We don't know when I'll get another chance to visit them. (Looking back, 3 of the 8 beers I'd reviewed from them before this week were brought back by friends. I'm lucky to have such nice pals.)

So, without further ado, here we have Dad Bod, an Oak Fermented Imperial Scotch Ale, in collaboration with the owners of the soon-to-be Rochester brewery Little Thistle. 10.2% ABV. 25 IBU. Brewed and packaged by Forager Brewing, Rochester, MN.

Dark brown color, slim dark & swiftly depleted head.

In the nose: rich, dark malt, caramel and toffee, oaky. Sweet and lovely.

In the mouth: Boards the palate with sweetness, richness, but well-balanced, so far. Big malt, big flavors. Quite balanced. Hops are quiet in this, as they should be, but they're doing their job, keep everything orderly. Alcohol strength isn't especially apparent just yet. Terrifically smooth. Caramel, chocolate, and slight tinges of toffee are happily at play here. A little vanilla. And the sweetness ends on an even, dry note. Quite delicious.

Brewed in collaboration with Steve Finnie, our dear friend and head brewer of the forthcoming Little Thistle Brewery here in Rochester. Fermented entirely in used bourbon and rye whiskey barrels, Dad Bod is brewed for dads, by dads.

(P.S. All that stuff about my rule of six? I actually have broken it before, and in the service of the company I used as an example, Surly. What was I going to do, they sent me two samples in one week. )

Urban Growler MidWest IPA

Urban Growler MidWest IPA. 6.2% ABV, 60 IBU. Urban Growler Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bronze/copper color, sizable, amber-toned head.

In the nose: Earthy, fruity, moderately hopped, definitely in the English style. Stone fruit, melon, apple.

In the mouth: Starts out with a mild hop bitterness, swiftly subsumed by sweet. It's a malty affair, more than we typically like in our IPAs. (And when I saw we, I mean you and me. ) A bit more from caramel malt than is usually desired. Medium bodied, soft, surely consumable. S'a'right.

It may be called MidWest IPA, but it doesn't really stack up against other great MidWest IPAs, which are usually in the American/West Coast styles.

After finishing the last in the 4-pack, I'm just going to go right out and say it. It's not great. I'll probably skip this one when it's presents itself next.

The 2012 Minnesota State Fair Blue Ribbon winning IPA. This is an English Style IPA with a sturdy malt backbone that helps to balance the hop bitterness in this IPA. Minnesota nice? Sure, with attitude. This is a beer you wanna hang with all night - like the cool kid on the block - the inclusive, confident, well liked cool kid.

Prairie Artisan Ales Twist Dry-hopped Farmhouse Ale

Prairie Artisan Ales Twist Dry-hopped Farmhouse Ale. 5.8% ABV.  Prairie Artisan Ales, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Very hazy, bright golden/straw-colored, big white head that dwindles down in a quickness.

In the nose: Tart and fruity at first, with big citrus busting out. Grapefruit, lemon. orange. Zesty.

In the mouth: More puckering, more tartness and fruit. Maybe too much. Once the grip of the citrus leaves off, it's a light-bodied affair, terrifically easy to guzzle and gulp. Bright and refreshing.

If you want a "saison" that leans a little hard on the citrus, by all means. Knock yourself out.

Against the Grain The Brown Note

Against the Grain The Brown Note. American Brown Ale. 5% ABV.  20 IBU. Against the Grain Brewery & Smokehouse, Louisville, Kentucky.

This brewery has appeared once before in the Nib, and in that review, I mentioned this beer. It's the sort of beer that makes you want to try it, to see if the quality is enough to make up for the grotesque graphics. But, you know, I could never buy a can, let along a 4-pack. Just couldn't bring myself to take it up to the counter. So, thanks, Sample Man, for the sample, and now I'll drink the beer whose label makes us think of shit stains.

Brown, with ruby highlights, slim dark head.

In the nose: chocolate and caramel malt notes, rich and robust.

In the mouth: Tasty and malty. Medium bodied, if a bit light than I was expecting. Smooth. Drinkable. On the sweet side, but balanced by moderate hop bitterness. It's alright, but nothing more than an average brown ale, and certainly nothing special at all.

I don't recommend this one, unless potty humor floats your boat.

Caution: so good it WILL make you shit yourself!!!!
The brown ale to end all brown ales. Enjoy it, because there is no longer any reason to drink another. You’ve reached the pinnacle. A healthy blend of traditional British malts give this popular style a semi-sweet, biscuity, slightly roasted flavor. Oats thicken the mouthfeel, and a handful of specialty malts add complex chocolate, toffee, and caramel notes. The hops are mostly traditional, earthy British hops, but we cocked it up a bit with some Cascade late in the boil just to show those snooty Brits that we don’t approve of that Constitutional Monarchy crap. 

I guess I have to make another rebuttal. It is not that good that you would "shit yourself." The label copy ends with: "Drink this beer or shit yourself trying. PHFFRRTT! UH OH."

Childish. Immature. Idiotic. I'll pass.

Eastlake Electric Mayhem No: 2: Medusa

Eastlake Electric Mayhem IPA No: 2: Medusa. 6% ABV, ? IBU. Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, golden-hued, vast ivory head, looking nice.

In the nose: Deep citrus, with patches of pine. Floral matches the fruit. Grapefruit and lime.

In the mouth:Big smack of citrus on the palate, moderate bitterness. Balance of bitter and sweet, hops and malt, all kept in check. Medium bodied, long finish. Easy drinker.  Juicy, indeed, with touches of the tropical blending with the usual citrus notes. Tasty stuff, and very likable. GB&YCDI.

Golden beer and golden tones. Welcome to Electric Mayhem. Guava, melon, apricot, and Fresca? Absotively posilutely. The mythical multi-headed psych-hop called Medusa gets the Sun Dogs' Juicy Citra IPA treatment, and it's far out. Don't get lost, man.

Able Chrono Culture Series 003 Strawberry El Dorado Sour Ale

Able Chrono Culture Series 003 Strawberry El Dorado Sour Ale. 4.6% ABV, 8 IBU. Able Seedhouse & Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, golden-toned, with a slight pinkish tint, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Lightly fruity, lightly tart. Sweet meets sour.

In the mouth: Sour blasts the palate from the first, small dose of hops hangs below. Strawberry flavor hangs in for the ride. Light-bodied, long tartness in the finish. Some citrus hop goodness pops up amid the sour and the strawberry. Refreshing.

Not a bad little hoppy, fruity sour ale. Not bad at all.


The third kettle sour in our Chrono series is named for the rush of fresh strawberries that pair with the pineapple and mango notes of El Dorado hops. Finishing bright and tart, this beer is perfect for sipping lakeside.

Wild Mind No Expectations Pale Ale

Wild Mind No Expectations Pale Ale. 5.7% ABV, 30 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden, full, lace-leaving, long-lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Hoppy, spicy, fruity. Intriguing. Of it's own. Warm, bread-y, and beautiful.

In the mouth: Mild and mellow. Moderate hoppiness gently blazes the palate. An array of citrus-y sensations drops on the tongue. Your usual orange, lemon/ lime, grapefruit, with a pinch of pineapple/papaya. Starts fruity/bitter, ending on a dry note.

Good beer, and I can dig it. You can, too.


Our first beer brewed with a Norwegian farmhouse yeast (Kveik), this hoppy pale ale was fermented at high temperatures to produce a wide range of citrus and tropical notes, which we complemented with a heavy dose of Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe hops in the whirlpool and dry-hopping stages. Dry yet crushable, No Expectations has notes of ruby red grapefruit juice, tangerines, and orange zest.

Forager Saint Francis Witbier with dandelions

Forager Saint Francis Witbier with dandelions. 5.8% ABV, 13 IBU. Forager Brewing, Rochester, MN.

Hazy, golden-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: big citrus, Belgian yeast, some spice. Quite delightful.

In the mouth: Juicy stuff. Plump and flavor citrus flavor, orange zest, with a side of coriander. (But what's this about a "secret spice blend"?) Smooth and highly drinkable. And then there's dandelions, which are not prominent in the flavor, if they appear at all. But, they add to the mystery.
Beautiful interpretation of a wit. Divine.

When held to the light this ale shimmers whitish gold. Aromas of orange zest and coriander pop out of the Belgian ale. Gentle spices dance on a mild wheat based malt body. Our secret spice blend makes this classic Belgian white ale smooth and refreshing.

Pipeworks Glaucus Belgian-style India Pale Ale

Pipeworks Glaucus Belgian-style India Pale Ale. Hopped with Mandarina. 6.2% ABV. Pipeworks Brewing Co., Chicago, IL.

Highly hazed, bright golden hue, large and lacey ivory head.

In the nose: Belgian funk kicks it off, all bubblegum and this side of the barnyard. Hop-forward fruitiness lurks below. I can dig it.

In the mouth: Funky fresh. Bright and citrusy. Nicely hopped. Medium bodied, thirst quenching and utterly drinkable. Slightly spicy, and beautifully hoppy. Not my favorite of the style, but still a good Belgian IPA and you can drink it.



Glaucus is the mythological existence of a being, both man and fish, a deity amongst mere mortals. The only beer fitting of such a name marries bold and spicy Belgian yeasy with bright citric American hops in a way even the gods would adore. Savor this golden beverage that can calm even the harshest seas.

Sisyphus This Beer's For Jay IPA

Sisyphus This Beer's For Jay IPA. 7% ABV, 64 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden hued, lace-leaving ivory foam above.

In the nose: citrus and pine, pineapple and lime, with a little bit of tropical fruit on the side.

In the mouth: blast of bitterness starts it off, riding waves of fruit. Medium-bodied, clean, easy drinking. Traces of melon mixes with the citrus. Tasty little IPA. And you can drink it. Hats off to Jay.

If you are drinking at the Sisyphus bar, chances are you may have met our bar dad - Jay. Lover of IPA's, sarcasm, and peace & quiet, this Beer is for you, Jay. Cheers!

Rush River Double Bubble Imperial India Pale Ale

Rush River Double Bubble Imperial IPA. 9% ABV, 100 IBU. Rush River Brewing, River Falls, Wisconsin.

So, I'm at the store, looking for some drinking beers. All I have at home are reviewing beers, about 26 of them, in crowler, growler, can and bottle. I need something just to drink while I read or watch TV or movies. And I see this old favorite, only $10.50 a 6-pack.

And then something occurs to me. Wait, has this beer appeared in the Nib before? It has to have, right? So, I look and I look, and, no. Is it possible that I haven't had it in the last 7 1/2 years since I started this blog? I went to Untappd to see if there are in clues in my check-ins. I've checked in to Double Bubble four times since 2011, two bottles from spring of that year, possibly from a 6-pack, definitely enjoyed at home, and then August of '15, most assuredly from a sample dropped off for me at Acadia, consumed at home, and finally from a special cask poured at New Year's Eve of that year, at Acadia. Each of those times I neglected to use the opportunity to create a new post for the Nib. Asleep on the job, once more.




So, okay. I'm drinking some Double Bubble. And when did I first review it? Almost nine years ago, June 18, 2009, on BeerAdvocate. Here are those notes:

Mostly transparent, golden hue, big bone-white head.

Sweet meets bitter, in the nose...apricot, tangerine, pineapple, prickly pine.

On the tongue and in the mouth, it's a spank of hops, sliver of malt, and then the sweet honey trickles down and cuts the bitterness. Justa bit of linger bittersweet hops and honey riding the tongue, coating the throat, spreading tastiness.

Medium bodied, longish finish, not too daunting, no bruiser or tongue-ripper, definitely drinkable, but at 8.5%, not what you'd want for a few in a row.

Nicely done, guys.

And all those years later, have my thoughts changed much? Nope. Except...well, I'm on my third of the evening, so forget that noise.

(I also realized that I haven't done a post about Bubble Jack IPA, either. Slacker, slacker, slacker.)

P.S.  A little closer inspection shows that I did do a post here about Double Bubble in April of 2011. How'd I miss it? Anyway, I'll delete it and keep this one. The pic is better, anyway.

Originally our summer seasonal, demand has forced us to offer the Double Bubble all year long, and we don’t mind one bit. This hop-whopper is the bigger brother to our very popular Bubblejack India Pale Ale. Light in color, the hops do the talking in this full-bodied ale. For this version, we’ve doubled the hops, and added three pounds of local honey per keg. Extremely smooth and slightly sweeter than the original, a little bit goes a long way.