Madhouse Blue Dream Blueberry Sour Ale

Madhouse Blue Dream Blueberry Sour Ale. 6.7 % ABV.
Madhouse Brewing Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

One of the last of the bottles brought back from Des Moines a few months back, from this now-defunct brewery. 7 % ABV.

Thoroughly hazed, deep crimson, no head.

In the nose: Big time sour from the start. Intense, fruity, lovely and promising.

In the mouth: Blast of sour and fruit kicks it off, big pucker on the palate. Big, bold fruit, and exceptionally refreshing. Juicy stuff, very blueberry.

Good sour blueberry ale and you can drink it. Glad I got to, twice. (Once at the brewery, as part of a flight.)

Mikkeller Did you Mist ME? Collaboration with Fair State

Mikkeller Did you Mist ME? Collaboration with Fair State. Smoked lager brewed with hot rocks.
5.5 % ABV. Mikkeller SD, San Diego, CA.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweetness. Malt. Rye? Smoke. Hmmm. Highly likable.

In the mouth: Slightly sweet, mostly malty, lightly spicy. Light bodied, and tasty. Nothing beating that, it's flat-out enjoyable. Nice and delicately smoked.

Smoked Lager brewed with Hot Rocks. Collab with Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA.
7 % ABV. 57 IBU.
Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, large and lasting ivory head of froth.

In the nose: Bursting with citrus notes, and traces of the tropical. Prickly pine pokes in. Delightful.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness on the palate, loads of hoppy flavors. Tons of citrus and pine. Medium bodied, easy drinking, flat-out tasty. Just enough juicy. Sparked with citrus, charged with delicious. I'm enjoying this one all the way.

Getting all aggro can sometimes be a negative. Getting aggro with your hops however? Awesome. (Try singing that aloud in your best Stone Aggro heavy metal falsetto). Equally awesome: getting aggro with hop agronomy. It's often a tradition passed down through generations, as is the case with Perrault Farms in Toppenish, Washington. Since 1928, the Perrault family and friends have honed their craft to breed new hop varieties with ever more awesome (sing it again) flavors and aromas. This beer features the powerhouse hop Citra as well as two new varieties - Sabro and the as-of-yet unnamed HBC 692. These new beauties balance classic citrus notes with intriguing hints of coconut, herbs and stone fruit. We've gotten aggro many times with our beers since 1996. So a tip of the hat to aggro agronomists like the Perrault family who give us the tools to aggressively propel our craft forward.

Town Hall Brown's Double ESB

Town Hall Brown's Double ESB.
6.2 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.
Canned on 11/4/19. (The day I bought it.)

Clear, caramel-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: Malty, sweet, more caramel tones, this time in flavor rather than color. So far, so delightful.

In the mouth: Clean, well-balanced, crisp and delectable. Lots of malty flavors here, all kept in check. A bit bigger than the average ESB, surely, but doesn't go overboard. I wouldn't really call it double, more like one and a half, but it definitely is tasty, and I'm enjoying every sip.

Surreal Brewing 17 Mile Porter (N/A)

Surreal Brewing 17 Mile Porter.
o.35 % ABV. Crafted and distributed by Surreal Brewing, Campbell, CA.

A while back, I received four samples from this non-alcoholic brewery. They were terrible. Two more to go. Because I have to. This is my promise, this is my quest.

And, who know, maybe this is the one that doesn't suck?

Dark brown, caramel-y colored, tight cocoa-tinted ring of foam above.

In the nose: dusted baker's chocolate...malty...eh...

In the mouth: here we go...and, thud. Just nothing. Joyless. Merest flavor. But, yet, not terrible. Not yet. I could drink this if I were forced to....and yet, I am not, so down the drain it goes. I can't waste time and bladder space on "beers" I just don't enjoy. And, still, I can't really recommend it. Although, why not? It's not awful, but it doesn't supply the pleasures a good porter should. Maybe this is as good as an N/A porter can be? Who can say, I've never had another.

Here are some words from the brewery about it:

17 Mile Porter is complex and delicious. Notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee are well balanced by earthy hops. It delights the senses with it's deep aroma and pours black with a tan head. 

Pairings: It pairs well with hearty stews, grilled meats, and desserts. Perfect for outdoor adventure during Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer;) 

The artwork on our 17 Mile Porter features the famous Lone Cypress tree which can be found along the California Pacific Coast Highway near Monterey. 

It goes especially well anytime you need a refreshing adult beverage without strings attached.

Surly Yummi Bear West Coast IPA

Surly Yummi Bear West Coast IPA.
6.9 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN.

So, it's like a Gummi Bear, but Yummy? I guess? Let's find out...

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: Powerfully pungent. Intense citrus and pine aromatics. This is exactly what I want in an IPA aroma. Just about perfect.

In the mouth: Slight sweetness meets bracing bitterness. Medium bodied, smooth, easy-going. Loads of citrus and pine on the palate. Judicioius juiciness, ultimately dry and delightful.

Thanks, Surly, not not merely trotting out another NE Hazy IPA over and over again, like some breweries I could name. Thanks, for making IPA bitter again.

This west coast-inspired IPA is dry, bold, and hop-heavy–but with a twist. Yummi Bear swaps out the dank, resinous SoCal vibe for a bright, citrusy hop flavor and a hint of tropical fruit character. In other words, it’s Yummi.

Dogfish Head American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA

Dogfish Head American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA.
7% ABV. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE.

Another Grateful Dead beer. This one is no longer a granola pale ale, but ties in with the only beer anyone wants anymore, the hazy IPA. Even Deadheads are into them, now. So, let's drink one.

Hazy (naturally), bright golden tone, slim white head.

In the nose: Citrusy hop notes hit first, fresh and lively. Tangerine and orange, with a splash of lemon. Just lovely.

In the mouth: Juicy, juicy stuff. Splash of fruity hop flavors on the palate, ending on a dry note. Medium bodied, refreshing and delightfully drinkable.

It's a good hazy ripple IPA, and you can drink it. Here's some more about it:

It’s been a long strange trip, and we’re not about to stop now. After six years and four releases of American Beauty, we’re back with an encore … only this time you haven’t heard the melody.

Together with the Grateful Dead, we’re proud to introduce our latest collaborative iteration – American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA.

Inspired by the Grateful Dead’s beloved “American Beauty” album, American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA is an unfiltered India Pale Ale brewed with spelt – an ancient heirloom grain that contributes earthy notes and a natural haze – that’s then dosed with a special yeast variety to accentuate hop aromatics.

The result is a psychedelic 7.0% ABV ale that’s bursting with notes of tropical fruit and juicy citrus, while the style callout lovingly references the fan-favorite track “Ripple.”

Excelsior Rip Rap Peanut Butter Cup Stout

Excelsior Rip Rap Peanut Butter Cup Stout.
5.6 % ABV, 18 IBU. Excelsior Brewing, Excelsior, MN.

Thoroughly black, slim brown head on top. Looking good.

In the nose: Peanut butter is big here. Boom! It's a bomb. Quite nice. Rich malt below. Sweetness and lovely.

In the mouth: Mmm. Tasty stuff. Peanut butter flavor stays on top, stout body keeps it afloat. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Peanut butter isn't too anything in this, nicely balanced. Just enough flavor, never too much. Good drinkin' stout. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Riprap Peanut Butter Cup Stout is made with enough peanut butter cups to protect any shoreline. Each batch begins with our traditional stout recipe, then infused with milk chocolate peanut butter cups. The result is a familiar aroma and a touch of sweetness on the front end, finishing with the smoothness of a perfectly roasted stout

Oliphant Flex Morehard Bock Lager

Oliphant Flex Morehard Bock Lager.
6 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Dark brown color, large cocoa-tinged head.

In the nose: Malt dominates the aromatics, rich and chocolatey. Caramel abounds.

In the mouth: Once more, malt is in charge, flooding the palate with dark deliciousness. Minor hops. Medium bodied. Easy drinking. Waves upon waves of chocolatey malt goodness crashing the senses. I like a good bock beer, and this is one.

flex is a muscly lady. how does she get so strong? she simply flexes with all her might, and bam! stronger. another flex, bam! more strong! it keeps going.

bock lager. 6% abv

Sisyphus Straight out of Chester (CT)

Sisyphus Straight out of Chester (CT) New England IPA.
6.8 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Hazy, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Citric, slightly tropical, a touch of pine. Nice. Lovingly pleasant.

In the mouth: Sweetness, hoppiness, and utterly smooth and beautiful. A delightful ale. My favorite kind. touch of sweet, pinch of hops, drizzle of bitter. Altogether smooth, light bodied, delicious.

Good IPA and you can drink it.

Our Head Brewer took a trip out to Connecticut to visit an old friend/regular that started Little House Brewing in the town of Chester. This beer is straight out of Chester, as they shared their yeast blend and Hazy IPA Secrets with us to create this Connecticut IPA.

Venn Double Pilsner

Venn Double Pilsner.
9.2 % ABV. 55 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim, white, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Slightly sweet, mostly malty, a little grainy. Clean. Little bit of hops.

In the mouth: Jumps on the palate crisp, clean, light, and looming. Greater potency awaits, I'm sure. Flies off the palate with ease. Light bodied. Easy drinking, but for the booze a'coming. Just a touch of bitterness on the palate, followed swiftly by grainy malt.

Halfway in, the boozy bits are flaring up. I liked it, I could drink it. "nuff said.

Lemon pepper, crisp, clean. A scaled-up version of Venn's house Pilsner.

Malts: Pilsner

Hops: Tettnanger (Germany); Loral (United States)

Yeast: American Lager

And: Dextrose

Indeed Taiga IPA

Indeed Taiga IPA with fresh hops.
7 % ABV. 60 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, dark amber/ nearly crimson-colored, ample ivory froth atop.

In the nose: fresh, vibrant, dank. Most dank. Scattered seeds on the forest floor. Citrus and pine, backed with malty aromatics. Caramel malt, behind the pine.

In the mouth: Big splash of bitterness at the start, lush, spicy malt mingles in. Medium bodied, easy drinking. touch of sweet, slice of fruit, all malt on the way out. Citrus and pine all the way, simply delicious.

There's not a lot of extra information on this one, not on the can label, or anywhere on their website. No matter. It's a good IPA and you can drink it.

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber.
4.5 % ABV. 11 IBU. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO.

Clear, brilliant golden hue, large ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Cucumber kicks it off, sweet from the start, followed quickly by tart, nothing but cool.

In the mouth: Sour hits first, lots of pucker, then comes the sweet from the cuke. Light-bodied, easy drinking, refreshing. Like the label says: Cool, crisp, fresh. Even if the can has been in my fridge for a while. This is probably past it's season, reviewing it late because I'm lazy. Even so, it's thoroughly diggable. Utterly delightful. Go drink it.

Aromas of freshly picked cucumbers and a subtle, grassy sweetness cool everything down in this slightly tart, pale golden ale. Lively carbonation leads to a crisp, dry finish that inspires primo relaxation.

Modist Bite Size Chocolate & Vanilla Stout

Modist Bite Size Chocolate & Vanilla Stout. 6.7 % ABV.
Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Thoroughly black, impenetrable, creamy tan head on top. Looking good.

In the nose: Cocoa hits first, nice and chocolatey. Bittersweet, dry, decadent. Enticing.

In the mouth: Both dusty and lusty. Tasty chocolate notes, massive malt, hints of vanilla, medium to full bodied, nicely textured. This one has it all, while never having it too much. Rich and delicious.

I'm glad that this one is referred to on the label as a chocolate stout, but saddened that it's called a "pastry stout" on the side. This stupid, stupid name has to die. Oh, how it must die. That, along with "pastry ale" and "pastry lager"....beers aren't pastries, people! Duh! How do people get hooked on utterly idiotic designations like "pastry stout"? How does an entire industry (almost)?
And how do we kill it?

I also like that they kept it simple, didn't throw in graham crackers, lactose, cinnamon, chili peppers, and Butterfingers candy bars. And that it's under 7 % ABV. And that it's tasty and smooth. Go drink some.

A Pastry Stout you don't have to share! Brewed w/ pale, wheat, crystal, roasted chocolate malts, Ghana cacao nibs & Madagascar vanilla beans.

Town Hall Juice Clarity IPA

Town Hall Juice Clarity IPA.
7.2 % ABV.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

IPAs, IPAs, IPAs! Is that all you drink, Al? Seems like that's all you ever write about, am I right? Hoppy, hoppy, bitter, blah, blah, blah.

That's what they're saying, right? That's what someone's saying, anyway. But it's not true. I drink plenty of different styles of beers. IPA is where I naturally go, though. They're my "reach-for." (Think that'll catch on, and take over from "go-to"? I don't either, but I'm going to try.)

So, I'm going to drink this new IPA from Town Hall, but not before pointing out something else new from Town Hall: crowlers. At last, at long last! They started selling them last week, so I had to pop in tonight and get some. Finally, I don't have to plan ahead and carry my glass growlers with me if I'd like to bring a beer home. Well, I always could, but that would mean more in the collection back at home. And now that they're doing cans instead of mini-growlers, I have four that I don't need anymore. Thanks a lot, Town Hall! Grrr!

On to the beer:

Perfectly clear, bright golden color, lasting, creamy white head on top.

In the nose: Popping with pine and citrus. Fresh, leafy, green. Just lovely.

In the mouth: Sweet for a second, swiftly balanced by bitter. Juicy indeed. Citrus and pine aplenty. Lightish bodied, lower malt content. Low bitterness. Super smooth.
Pleasant and drinkable to a high degree. Yum. Nay, yum-a-dum, dum.
And the juicy never stops.
This can will be done in no time flat.

 The IPA the haze bros would craze fo' if they'd just open their damned eyes.

Clear IPA with all the juicy hop and haze craze flavors packed in.

Barrel Theory Not On My Worst Day West Coast IPA

Barrel Theory Not On My Worst Day West Coast IPA.
7.5 % ABV. ? IBU. Barrel Theory Beer Company, St. Paul, MN.

Barrel Theory Beer Company of St. Paul opened up in the summer of 2017 and their beers have appeared here in the Nib a total of nine times prior to this post, all of those occasions being reviews from growlers that I've taken home from visits to the taproom. I've been there maybe six times, most of them in company of my good friend Ed. This is the first beer I'll review from them that I did not transport back from St. Paul, and that's because Ed brought it to me in Minneapolis. That's what a good friend Ed is.

There's an important reason that Ed bought a crowler and crossed the river to give it to me. This beer seems to be the first non-hazy IPA ever produced by BT. I'm taking Ed's word for it, for he goes there much more than I. (None of their IPAs reviewed here in the Nib have any clarity.) And both Ed and I are very bored of the ubiquitous hazy IPA. Come on, already, people! Get off the haze train!

Well, they did, and Ed liked it so much, that he made sure that I could review it here, before it goes away. And notes begin....now.

Crystal clear, light amber/bronze coloration, sim white head on top.

In the nose: Citrus and pine, grapefruit, lime, tangerine, lemon rind. Classic West Coast IPA aroma. If a bit subdued.

In the mouth: Big blast of hop bitterness and juicy citrus fruit flavors right from the start. Bitterness lays long on the palate, but slide off in time. Medium bodied, lush malt, easy drinker. Pops with all the classic citrus and pine flavors, with just a little bit of extra juiciness. This one is giving me all the hop flavors I demand, without this cushion that seems to be demanded these days. An old school IPA. The kind that old school beer fans that Ed and I love.

I'm feeling good now. It's making me think of all my favorite IPAs. This doesn't happen with the haze craze for daze IPAze. This one is not only yum, it is yum-a-dum-dum.

This is pretty much absolutely perfect. Make more, BT, make more. Evade the haze! Phooey on the fuzzy!

West Coast IPA with Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo, & Cascade hops

Steel Toe Floriane Blanc Dry Hopped Tart Ale

Steel Toe Floriane Blanc Dry Hopped Tart Ale.
6.2 % ABV. IBU: low. Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Floral, funky, fruity, tart. Delicate and intriguing.

In the mouth: Starts out with the tart, nearly sour, and continues with the smack of citrus. Fairly effervescent. Definitely delightful. Lip-smackingly fruity flavors abound in this, lime and peach and melon, with the kiss of hops planted upon it. Light bodied, and refreshing.

This is one of the most unique beers yet in the Steel Toe repertoire and a step forward for their beers. I think I need to return to the brewery for some more bottles to share with friends.

FLORIANE BLANC “WHITE FLOWER” (DRY HOPPED TART ALE)

SEPT. 2019

The newest release in our Brewers Evolution Series, Floriane Blanc “White Flower” a wine-like spritzy lightly tart ale. Unlike anything we’ve done before, this beer pushes the limits of what beer can be. Refreshing, fruity, tart, dry hopped. The aromas are of white peach, melon, kiwi and lime, with a ripe berry undertone. The aromas carry through on flavor, bright citrus fruit, wine like, with a bright refreshing acidity finishing. Tantalizing the taste buds at every sip, this beer is sure to please the palate!

Color: Bright pale straw, clear
Alcohol content by volume: 6.2%
International Bitterness Units: Low

Anchor San Franpsycho Juicy IPA

Anchor San Franpsycho Juicy IPA. Ale brewed with peach and apricot.
6.3 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Anchor Brewing, San Francisco, CA.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim ivory ring of foam stands above.

In the nose: A little bit of funky stone fruit at the start, powerful peach and apricot. Hop flavors lurk below.

In the mouth: Juicy, indeed. Pungent, lightly tart, increasingly bitter. Medium bodied, and fairly easy drinking. Lively and refreshing at once. Just a touch of sweet, with enough hop bitterness to match it. This is quite tasty. I certainly wouldn't turn one down.

Brewed with 2-row pale, red wheat and acidulated malt, San Franpsycho® IPA pours a hazy golden straw color with a white fluffy head. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth yet mildly effervescent with a hint of back-end tartness. San Franpsycho® IPA is fermented with a mixed culture of yeast to create a unique and fruity estery nose, unlike any other IPA from Anchor. Anchor brewers add peach and apricot fruit puree during the secondary fermentation, giving the beer a pleasant hint of sweetness and abundantly fruity aromas of peach, apricot, and pineapple with a bit of funky dank.

Venn Norwegian Northodox IPA

Venn Norwegian Northodox IPA.
6.5 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Norwegian Kweik yeast seems to be a thing that's going around. I've barely heard of it, but it seems to be making the rounds here and there, for some reason. Am I so behind the times? Got to catch up and figure this stuff out.

Highly hazed, bright golden hue, tight white ring on top.

In the nose: Soft, lightly fruity, dry. Slightly citric.

In the mouth: Clean, crisp, fruity, slightly sweet, but ending on a dry note. Cool and refreshing. Lush malt and low, almost non-existent bitterness. Light bodied, smooth. Citrus notes, and traces of tropical. This is a calmer version of the regular Northodox, more restrained, less effusive in it's hop expression. I'm not sure if that was the aim of this particular project, but that's what's coming through to me.

It's tasty, though, and it's a good beer and you can drink it. Who could ask for anything more?

Most of the American experimentation with this resurgent Norwegian yeast strain seems to be in the arena of farmhouse ales and saisons, not necessarily hazy IPAs. There's a can in my fridge from Bauhaus and it's a Kviek IPA. We'll get to that one soon, see what's going on there.

Our house IPA, Northodox, fermented at 95°F with Norwegian Kveik Hornindal yeast.

Malts: Domestic Pale, White Wheat, Flaked Oats.
Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic.
Yeast: Norwegian Farmhouse.

New Belgium Nitro Cold Brew Cream Ale

New Belgium Up Next Series Nitro Cold Brew Cream Ale.
Crafted with High Brew Cold Brew Coffee.  5 % ABV.  13 IBU.
New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO.

Very dark, pretty near black, with a thin, roasted tan head, setting up above.

In the nose: Coffee notes from the start, earthy, nutty, semi-sweet, turning creamy. Nice.

In the mouth: Mostly malty, minor hops. Begins cool and refreshing, chocolatey malt catching up with the coffee. Smooth, lightish bodied. But, overall, ...yawn.

I'm not thrilled about this one in the least. Fairly blasé'. It's inoffensive, it can be drunk, but essentially it's a misfire. Someone might like it, though. Definitely not for me.

A smooth, creamy, and refreshing coffee beer? Thanks to our friends at High Brew Coffee, that's exactly what this beer is. We infused a cream ale with oats and High Brew's cold brew for a velvety mouthfeel and refreshing finish that will have you wanting more! Infused with nitrogen, so pour hard! 

I didn't read the above first, and therefore didn't "pour hard!" Maybe that's why it made no impact on me. Or, maybe it sucks.