Pipeworks Speed of Sound IPA

 Pipeworks Speed of Sound IPA.

Did I break my rule against the $16 4-pack? I can’t find my receipt, but I think this was $15.50. Maybe I was drawn in by the Charles Burnsesque blue skinned redhead art on the label. Or perhaps I was intrigued by the that it’s a Double Dry Hopped Oat India Pale with Mosaic and Cryo Mosaic Hops. That sounds good, so let’s drink it.

7.5% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Clouded, bright golden hue, large ivory, lace-leaving head. 

In the nose: tropical notes hit first, passion fruit, pineapple, with citrus on the side. Absolute delight.

In the mouth: juicy from the start, with a sweetness that lends to bitter, ends as dry. Super smooth mouthfeel. Murky yeast effects on the palate. Moderate bitterness. Tropical notes notes top citrus, with a splash of berries. Pretty much delicious. Am digging it. 

Double dry hopped oat IPA with mosaic and cryo mosaic hops

Abtsolution Dark Belgian Ale Brewmasters Collaboration Brouwerij de Proef & New Glarus

Abtsolution Dark Belgian Ale Brewmasters Collaboration Brouwerij de Proef & New Glarus.

9% ABV, 18 IBU. DeProef Brouwerij, Lochristi, Belgium.

Burgundy toned, small head, opaque.

In the nose: raisins, dates, port wine, cherries. Sweet, fruity, balanced. Rich, malty, promising. 

In the mouth: big, rich, vinous, viscous. Tanniny. Dark fruits, grapes, etc. Very much in the vein of the Belgian Quad. Sweetness matched by dark, rich fruit, modicum of hop bitterness. Terrifically tasty. Tons of raisin in this one...a raisin bomb!

We are thrilled to welcome Daniel Carey of New Glarus Brewing Company as our 11th annual partner in this series.  In the true spirit of the project, we have created a beer based on the classic Belgian Abt style, with unique Wisconson contributions including Santiam and Chinook hops.  To further highlight the Dairy State we've added lactos for extra mouthfeel and richness.  The result is a dark ale from our use of French and American oak along with spicy hop notes.  This ale is designed to drink now, but we believe will evolve beautifully over the next 1-2 years.  Enjoy Abtsolution with roasted meats, rich cheese and of course, friends.  Cheers!

Unfortunately, I think this bottle may be more than 2 years old, and it seems to have fallen off a bit. But it’s still a raisin bomb.

Crooked Stave Hop Savant Brettanomyces IPA

 Crooked Stave Hop Savant Brettanomyces IPA .

6.7 % ABV, Crooked Stave Artisan Btewing Project, Denver, CO.

And here we have the first ever appearance of Crooked Stave here in the Nib. Why? No reason. Sometimes, things happen that way. It certainly won’t be the last.

Opaque, bright amber color, slim white head.

In the nose: big funk, wild sour, Intense Brett effects. I’m a fan from the start.

In the mouth: more funkier, juicier, just a little bit bittierer.....I’m digging it. Stone fruit, s9me citrus, big bitter, , oak, crazy fermentation, medium bodied, long  bitter/sour/funky flavor. 

I may be in the minority, but I love Brett IPASs. I eat em up with a ladle. Slurp em up. Love. Them. And this is a good one. 

India Pale ale brewed with brettanomyces. Dry-Hopped w/ Centennial & Simcoe

Modist No Save Point Double Dry Hopped New England IPA

 Modist No Save Point Double Dry Hopped New England IPA.

6.9 % ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Even while I strive to avoid the $16 + 4-packs and these DDH IPAs that all taste the same, I succumbed to this one. Why? Because, for some reason it’s all the rage. We couldn’t restock it fast enough. People tore it from my hands as I tried. What’s the big deal, just because they collaborated with some well-known rapping combo? Let’s find out what the fuss is all about.

Note before we start: I still don’t know what the band’s name means, what the name of this beer is all about, or what the hell is going on in the label illustration. No matter, we’re here for the beer.

All hazy like, bright golden hue, slim white head, leaving lace.

In the nose: citrusy hop notes, yeasty fuzz.

In the mouth: explosion of bold citrus hop flavors on the palate. Well-rounded, smooth, easy drinking.slight sweetness, but ultimately ending dry. Leaves the palate ably acquitted. And there’s that yeasty, hazy fuzz that I really don’t care for at all, nor do I get why it’s so necessary these.

All in all, it’s a tasty one for sure, but there’s not much separating it from all the others. “Another one of those? Sure, if I have to...”

Modist x Run the Jewels

Double Dry Hopped New England IPA brewed with Maris Otter, malted oats, wheat malt and flaked oats. Hopped with Cryo Sabro then double dry hopped with our selected Strata, Citra, Mosaic, Cryo Citra & Cryo Mosaic.

Junkyard Clearly Obscure New England Style Double IPA

 Junkyard Clearly Obscure  New England Style Double IPA.

8.1% ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.

Clouded, bright orange, lace-leaving layer of ivory froth.

In the nose: citrus notes and yeast. Lovely.

In the mouth: juicy from the start. Light bitterness.Full citrus and tropical hop flavors. A glass of hoppy pineapple/orange juice, with a kick. Delightful & delicious, with the warmth of the higher ABV unfolding on the palate and unspooling on the brain. 

I will stop complaining about NE IPAs. At least, this one is properly labeled. And it’s good for what it is. If I hanker for the filtered stuff, I try to keep some representation in the fridge. Sticker Fight, here I come!

This New England Style DIPA was bittered with Centennial & Mosaic hops and dry hopped with a blend of Galaxy & more Mosaic for juicy flavors of passionfruit, berries and citrus complemented by a golden, hazy body and the cleanest, dankest bitterness!⁣

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale

 

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale. With cranberry, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6.3% alc. by vol. Brewed and canned by Kreb’s Brewing, McAlester, OK.

Thoroughly clouded, bright pinkish color, small white head.

In the nose: cinnamon hits first, ginger coming up behind. Fruit is silent.

In the mouth: Kicking it off hot and spicy. Quite tart and with that, the cranberry takes center stage, spice is at the side. With each new sip, that’s what we get: tart cranberry, puckering, spices. Light bodied, refreshing, unique. Tasty little sour ale, I like it.

Ommegang/Alesmith Philosophy and Velocity: East Coast Edition

 Ommegang/Alesmith Philosophy and Velocity: East Coast Edition.

10.8 % ABV, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY.

Round Two.

Utter darkness. Lush brown head. Opaque. Looking fine.

In the nose: Fruit, fruit, then Belgian yeast. Dark malts. Touch of sweet.

In the mouth: A little sweet, a little tart, with a good dose of fruit. Coffee rises up, with attendant dark,  chocolate malts.  It’s definitely a unique and intriguing combination. Full body, smooth, and overflowing with flavors. High ABV starts to show. I’m basking in the overglow. Ever so nice. It’s an effortless marriage of the parts. Tasty stuff.

Philosophy and Velocity combine two iconic imperial beers from East and West: Brewery Ommegang’s Three Philosophers, and Alesmith Brewing’s Speedway Stout.  For this project, each brewery crafted a singular blend to release through their own channels.  From the East Coast, Ommegang brewed a Belgian-inspired version of Speedway Stout to blend with their Three Philosophers Quadruple Ale.  From the West, Alesmith brewed an American ale variant on Three Philosophers to blend with their robust, coffee-infused Speedway Stout.  Philosophy, meet Velocity

Pryes Black is Beautiful Chocolate Stout

Pryes Black is Beautiful Chocolate Stout.

6 % ABV, Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis,MN.

Solid black hue, opaque, slim brown head. 

In the nose: chocolate hits first, sweet, sweet cocoa, dark malts below.

In the mouth: rich chocolate flavors kick it off, with little competition. Medium bodied, smooth, and tasty. 

Moderate bitterness, expertly consumable. My only complaint is that I could stand to see it heavier, stronger, a wee bit more complexity, perhaps  Other than that, a commendable effort.

Unibroue À Tout le Monde Saison

 Unibroue À Tout le Monde Saison.

4.5 % ABV, 22 IBU,   Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec.

I have put off sampling this beer for too long. I like saisons. I love  Unibroue. Was it just because I don’t care for heavy metal and know nothing about Megadeth? Can you enjoy this beer without knowing or caring a bit about the band they collaborated with? I think so. Hey, it’s only $10 a 6-pack, let’s drink  some.

Clouded, amber hued, slim ivory head. In the nose: citrus, spice and Belgian yeast comes spilling out of the glaass. Farmhouse funk. Smooth and rustic at once.

In the mouth:Crisp, brisk, slightly tart, and delightful. Bright fruit, flight bitterness, lush malt. Stone fruit, apricot, peach, play with citrus. Light spice. Light bodied, excellent consumability. A tasty treat. I’m liking this more and more as the glass empties. Goes great with my thanksgiving meal of Thai takeout.  Damn you, Covid-19!

Bent Paddle Snow Maker Pale Ale

Bent Paddle Snowmaker Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV, 40 IBU.

Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, MN.

Lightly clouded, dark amber cclor, slim white head.

In the nose: moderate happiness appears in the aroma, citrus and pine, mixed with malt notes.

In the mouth: Crisp and bitter, with an ample frame of malty flavors below. Orange, grapefruit, lime, pine.match well with the slight sweetnesss from malt. Medium body, easy drinking. Just a touch of spice on the palate. Delicious, satisfying.

This is my idea of a winter pale ale. I could finish off a keg of this stuff.

Sometimes lake effect snow isn’t enough to blanket our thirst-enter Snowmaker. Our version of  a Robust Pale Ale piles on Centennial and Simcoe hops for a wonderfully groomed bitterness that carves through the malt backbone. Whether you are  celebrating apres skior simply kicking back, Snowmaker is the perfect accompaniment to your seasonal adventure.

Town Hall Tropical Parachute IPA

 Town Hall Tropical Parachute IPA.

 

7% ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN. 

Confession time: When I picked up this crowler at Town Hall last week, it was my first time at the brewery since June, for my birthday. I haven't strayed so long since probably that time years ago that they were closed for remodeling. I haven't done much traveling and visiting breweries recently. There's something about not being able to sit at the bar that I'm uncomfortable with. And now, bars are closed again, for the COVID. Sad. But, we've got to get it right, finally, at last. Whatever it takes to end this thing. 

Clear, bright golden color, sizable slab of ivory froth, lasting long. 

In the nose: slight sweetness, more tropical tones than citrus here. 

In the mouth: Moderate bitterness boards the palate. Hops are plentifully employed, and deliver some citrus, but more sweet-ish tropical notes. A touch of mango, with a side of lime. Medium bodied, easy drinking, and smooth. 

This is tasty stuff, but not for me. I need more of a bitter bite in my IPA. 

Hoppy tropical fruit IPA with notes of mango, pineapple, and papaya.

Junkyard Australian Cheat Codes New England Style Triple IPA

junkyard Australian Cheat Codes New England Style Triple IPA.

10.4 % ABV. 

Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Keep Cold-Drink Fresh. save the crocs, please recycle! unfiltered, may contain sediment. 

Hazy as your favorite expletive. murky goldish hue. Large, lush creamy head. 

In the nose: Fresh and fuzzy. All kinds of hoppiness. Citrus and tropical and fuzz. Bright and beautiful. 

In the mouth: Juicy, thick, huge. Bombastic. Fantastic. Boolah, boolahs. Wow! Turgid. Blistering citrus flavor, tropical topicals , too. Mushy malts. Fuzz everywhere on the palate. Thickness, richness, and all the hops. Murky, yeah. 

This is where the notes conclude. The author could not be reached for further comment. Perhaps this post was published posthumously? 

"Crikey, mate, we've got a live one!!" We brewed this Imperial IPA with three of our favorite Australian "cheater hops", Vic Secret, Galaxy, and Enigma. Prepare for an aromatic attack of stonefruit, with vicious hop flavors of pineapple, pine, and passionfruit. But be warned, if this croc were any bigga, he'd eat ya fa' lunch! 

Lupulin Sophistry #8 India Pale Ale

Lupulin Sophistry #8 India Pale Ale. 

7.5 % ABV, 50 IBU, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. 

All kinds of hazy. Bright golden hue. Large, lush ivory head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Bold, brash, bright citrus notes abound. Ridiculously lively and hoppy. Beautiful. 

In the mouth: Fresh, vibrant, delicious. Bursting with hoppy goodness. Never too bitter, never not enough. Grapefruit, orange, guava, and pineapple. Medium bodied, light, long, slightly bitter finish. Easy drinking. Nice, nice, nice. 

Just bitter enough, and plenty juicy, but ending on a dry note. This is a delight to drink down, all the way. Flat-out yummy. I mean, a dum dum-y. 

TL;DR: Go drink it. 

Welcome to Sophistry. An ever changing series of beers that explores the possibilities of what hop flavor can be.

Malts: 2- Row, Pilsner, Crystal Birch, Flaked Rye

Hops: Sultana, Sabro Cryo, Columbus, Falconers Flight

Tasting Notes: Creamy smooth body with Killer Pineapple notes with accents of Coconut and Mandarin Orange.

I'm sorry, everyone, I really should have referred to those pineapple notes as "killer." I don't know what I was thinking. 

Addendum: The phrase "killer" is one of my greater pet peeves that I shall never vanquish. It has been around since, I don't know, at least the 1930's, and yet everyone who uses it acts as if they are cool by employing this hackneyed phrase. What does "killer" even mean? That you're so cool that you're good at murder? Do you feel edgy by employing it, when saying that something is "killer" it makes you "killer"?It's one of those phrases, like "badass", that you can't critically contemplate without proving yourself some kind of a loser by the fact that you oppose it. 

It evokes a lack of imagination, ....

Alesmith / Ommegang Philosophy and Velocity: West Coast Edition

 Alesmith / Ommegang Philosophy and Velocity: West Coast Edition.

11.5 % ABV, Alesmith Brewing, San Diego, CA. (Collaboration with Brewery Ommegang)

And here we have the first part of a collaboration between Cooperstown, NY's Brewery Ommegang and San Diego, CA's Alesmith. They've mixed together two of their famous beers: Alesmith's coffee imperial stout Speedway (that's the velocity), and Ommegang's Three Philosopher's Quad/Kriek. Let's get to drinking.

Dark brown coloration, complete opacity, staple ring of cocoa-tan froth. 

In the nose: fruit first, then Belgian malt and yeast, followed swiftly by coffee. Malt is in command, and coffee soon dominates. 

In the mouth: Rich, smooth coffee flavors takes center stage right from the start, but there's no mistaking the Belgian quad just below. Coffee melds beautifully with the kreik and the quad. Big boned imperial malt flavors share the spotlight as well. Cocoa climbs it's way into the footlights, to take a bow. A successful marriage. All the actors are here, and playing their roles beautifully. Yum. A dum. Dum. 

Amazing stuff. Next up: the Ommegang version. 

West Coast Edition - Blend of Imperial Coffee Stout (Speedway Stout) and an American Ale variant of Ommegang's Belgian Style Quad (Three Philosophers).

Oliphant Humans with Animal Lips Tropical Sour Ale with Passionfruit, Orange, & Guava

Oliphant Humans with Animal Lips Tropical Sour Ale with Passionfruit, Orange, & Guava.

5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Clear, bright golden hue, lacey white head, looking good. 

In the nose: Tart and slightly salty at first (though no salt is mentioned), fruit follows suit. Utter lack of sweet, so far. 

In the mouth: Sour from the get-go, great, big puckeration. Intensely dry, not overly sweet or sour, at all. Light bodied, easily drinkable. One might expect larger, juicier, pulpier tropical fruit presence, but this is fairly restrained, as dry as it is sour. And I like that. 

Tasty sour, this. Good tropical sour, and you can drink it. 

Ballast Point Passing Haze IPA Session India Pale Ale

Ballast Point Passing Haze IPA Session India Pale Ale.

4.2 % ABV, 30 IBU. Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, CA. 

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Mild citrus notes, with a twist of the tropical, slight sweetness. 

In the mouth: Light on the palate, mild hoppiness, light-bodied, easy drinking. Session IPA, no doubt, with the extra element of the hazy style. Citrus flavors, with the touch of pineapple & guava, swim in the senses, alongside a modicum of hop bitterness. Plays it nice and cool until the very end. 

Not a bad beer, but far too meek and mellow for me. It's no great shock that I mainly bought it because it was a $9 6-pack. 

Passing Haze IPA is an off-the-charts exploration of the India Pale Ale. We’ve loaded the hop cannons and fired a late addition blast bursting this incredibly sessionable IPA with juicy, tropical citrus hops. The result is an easy drinking treasure trove of hop gold.

Warpigs Chaos Monger Double India Pale Ale

Warpigs Chaos Monger Double India Pale Ale.

9.2 % ABV. 90 IBU. WarPigs Brewpub, ...Denmark? Indiana? This from the can: "Brewed and packaged under the supervision of Warpigs USA Brewing, Munster, IN, LLC at Summit Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN." 

Clear, dark amber hue, thin layer of cream-toned foam atop. 

In the nose: A. cornucopia of fruity expressions commands the olfactory. Berries and stone fruit, maybe a pinch of apple, dominate citrus and pine. Hoppiness abounds, malt matches mightily. 

In the mouth: Bitter kicks it off, juicy and bitter. Bitter hop display lays long on the palate, with a side of sweet. Citrus notes, a little pine, berries, and more. Juicy, with unrelenting bitterness. This is a tasty one. Alcohol pops up about a quarter of the way in, and the warm feelings commence. A very likable DIPA. Thoroughly yum a dum dum. 

The arduous road to hop enlightenment is wrought with chaos. Let the sentinel chaosmonger be your beacon to finding beer of character.

Schell's Snowstorm Oat Stout Limited Edition 2020/2021

Schell's Snowstorm Oat Stout Limited Edition 2020/2021.

6.5 % ABV, August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm, MN. 

Black as night, fully opaque, with a toasted brown head that quits too quick. 

In the nose: nutty, earthy, toasty, and toasty. Bittersweet. Notes of cocoa and coffee. 

In the mouth: Starts out with bitter notes, moving into creamy and smooth. Medium bodied, malt forward. A hearty, sturdy stout that glides easily down the gullet. Easy-drinking to the max. Maybe too much so. I don't mind a challenge once a year. But, that's just me. Or, is it? 

Anyway, it is a good oatmeal stout, and you can certainly drink it. 

A black stout brewed with Triticale Oats, this beer has notes of coffee and chocolate. 

Junkyard Flip Flops and Wheelies New England Style Pale Ale with Mosaic hops

Junkyard Flip Flops and Wheelies New England Style Pale Ale with Mosaic hops.

All cloudy (because of course), bright yellow coloring, slim white head. 

In the nose: Bold and bright citrus notes. blueberry on the side. 

In the mouth: Simply delicious. Big brightness, super shininess, total tastiness. Easy drinking, moderate bitterness. Juicy, juicy. And super delicious. Wait, did I say that already? No, I said simply delicious. Can it be both super delicious and simply delicious? Maybe, maybe...it is actually scrumptious. 

I guess I liked another Junkyard beer. What do you about that? 

100% Mosaic hops lend juicy, tropical aromas that will have you thinking it’s sandal season again. Next, the flavor kicks it into high gear with big, bold notes of pine and citrus, followed by a crisp, clean finish. We just ask that you enjoy this crusher after you’re done stunt doubling for the day.

Lupulin Sexy Hops: Talus Double India Pale Ale

Lupulin Sexy Hops: Talus Double India Pale Ale.

8.5 % ABV, 45 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. 

All clouded-up (of course), bright golden color, fine cap of ivory foam. Looking good. 

In the nose: Bold citrus notes. Grapefruit, lemon, tangerine. Slight twist of tropical. 

In the mouth: Pungent. Poignant. A bit juicy, matching the bitterness. A trifle piney. Mostly citric. Lean-bodied, crisp and clean...-ish. A touch of sweetness. Altogether tasty, delightful, even delicious...maybe, dare I say, ...yum...a dum dum? 

Thoroughly delectable. Super sexy. The higher alcohol shows itself and comforts, warms, sets all straight that had been asunder. Right on. 

Our single-hop IPA series returns as a DIPA, featuring Talus!

From the creators of Sabro, Mosaic and Citra, and previously know as Experimental hop HBC 692, Talus delivers big aromas of pink grapefruit, citrus rind, dried roses, pine resin, tropical fruits and sage