Ayinger Bavarian Pils

 Ayinger Bavarian Pils.

5.3 % ABV, 32 IBU. Ayinger Privatbrauwerei, Ayinger, Bavaria, Germany.

It’s taken me a long time to get to this one, has it not. Let’s waste no more time and drink one up.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: crisp, clea, lightly floral, mildly hoppy. 

In the mouth: more crisp, more clean, with an extra dose of smooth. Just enough hops to keep me happy. Light bodied, easy drinking, plumb full of Bavarian character. Delicious Pilsner, and I don’t often say that. Malt flavors, hop flavors are all in harmony. Yum a dum dum. 

The Bavarian brewers have been masters in their trade for centuries and therefore also brew excellent pils beers. Indeed it was a Bavarian master brewer that brewed the first beer according to the pilsner method in the town of Pilsen! The glimmering, light-yellow Ayinger Bairisch Pils has the fragrance of aromatic hops from the “Hallertau” region of Bavaria (only these are used in the Ayinger beer specialties!). The beer is highly fermented and therefore smooth on the initial taste sensation, but also mild and sparkling in body. Our pils is accentuated by the floweriness of the hops aroma and has a more pronounced bitterness on swallowing, which quickly fades from the taste buds.

BlackStack Spaghetti Western West Coast IPA

 BlackStack Spaghetti Western West Coast IPA. West Coast IPA with Italian Pilsner malt  + Mosaic & Strata.

7% ABV. Brewed and packaged by BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: bright & shiny & citrusy. Lemon and orange with a twist of tangerine.

In the mouth: just a little juicy, with a decent brace of bitterness. Melange of citrusy flavors with a bit o’ berries, ending dry on the palate. Lot of hop bitterness and none of the haze. What kind of BlackStack beer is this? 

Does the Italian Pilsner malt make for a better West Coast IPA? Maybe for you, me, I don’t think so. But I like it better than their hazies. 

Usually, the back labels of BlackStack’s beers contain all manner of too-clever descriptive verbiage about their buds and their hand-selected this and cryo that. This one does not.

Boulevard Space Camper Delta Ray IPA

 Boulevard Space Camper Delta Ray India Pale Ale. Hazy Intergalactic IPA. 

4.4 % ABV. 40 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City,MO.

Lightly hazed, bright yellow color, slim white head.

In the nose: soft and citrusy, with a slice of sweetness. 

In the mouth: dry, crisp, clean. Not tasting like a hazy, thought it looks like one. Some hop bitterness. Not as fruity as...vegetal. Sounds strange, I know. 

Is this supposed to be a session IPA? Is that why the body and flavor is so lacking? 

It’s the final can from a variety pack. I didn’t like the first two, and put off making a judgment on can 3. I don’t enjoy writing about beers I don’t enjoy. 

As days get longer and weeks get warmer, a hazy, intergalactic IPA burst onto the scene to combat the implacable forces of thirst. Accompany our heroine on an epicurean journey across the solstice. Experience the exceptional flavors and vivid aromas of some of the finest hops in the known universe, including Ekuanot, Cascade, Strata, Citra, and Citra Cryo, plus dry-hopping with Strata, Sabro, Talus, Mosaic, and a touch of orange peel.

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Starship IPA

 New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Starship IPA.

7.7% ABV. 50 IBU. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Co & Asheville, Nc.

It’s a hazy one. Doesn’t say it on the label, but that doesn’t stop them. Bright golden hue, large ivory head.In the nose: full of citrus and fuzz. Lots of yeasty proteins at play.

In the mouth: orange and grapefruit, lemon and lime, just enough bitterness, with a slight tropical twist. Actually, it’s quite tasty. No wonder I tossed back the other two from the variety pack with wild abandon. Still has the chalky, fuzziness of the hazies, but not enough to ruin it for me. 

Brewed with out-of-this-world galaxy hops, Starship IPA will blast your taste buds with notes of fresh grapefruit and citrus.

Venn Southside Dip Hop Project Triple IPA

 Venn Southside Dip Hop Project Triple IPA. A Collab with MPLS Southside Breweries. 

10.8 % ABV. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Why is this glass not full? Good question.
When I first poured, it gushed. I ran to clean the mess
with paper towels, then began to take notes...
forgetting that I hadn’t taken a pic until much
later...so, sometimes you get what you get.

J

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lush ivory head. 

In the nose: bold hoppy notes at play, some citrus and pine, a little floral, very nice. 

In the mouth: fierce flavors kick it off, brass bitterness, rich malt. Citrus meets candy, orange jolly rancher meets candied peach and apricot, blended with brandy. Yum meets a dum dum. 

I don’t but too many growlers these days, for various reasons. This one was $11. I must have thought it was worth it. I’m thinking it was. I would have loved to share it with friends, but, sorry, next time, pals. 

Montgomery Wai So Serious? NEIPA Featured Hop: Wai-iti

 Montgomery Wai So Serious? NEIPA Featured Hop: Wai-iti.

6.9% ABV.  16 IBU. Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, Mn.

I’ve said it before, I no long spend my own money on the hazies and NEIPA, with few exceptions. They keep showing up here because the6 keep winding up in my fridge somehow.

All clouded up, bright yellow color, slim white head.

In the nose: bold citrus, largely lemon, with some pineapple on the side.

In the mouth: slightly sour at first, some minor bitterness, fairly dry. Hops come in with fuller force on next sip. Lighter body, smooth, with a blend of citrus and tropical flavors dominating. Fruity Andy soft. Soft and bland.  As it goes on, this beverage delivers less and less of what I like to find in a beer. Alas, I just can’t dig it. 

Oliphant Cheep IPA

 Oliphant Cheep IPA.

7.5 % ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: citrus pops out, lemon, orange, grapefruit. Vibrant floral, fruity bouquet.

In the mouth: juicy stuff at the start. Citrus flavors on th3 palate, with a trace of the tropical. Bitterness lingers, and there’s just enough to make this my kind of IPA. Easily consumed, medium bodied, fully flavored. Eminently diggable. 

Hazy IPA with Hops! 

Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation Imperial Vanilla Stout

 Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation Imperial Vanilla Stout. Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with Madagascar vanilla beans. 2021 release. 

14% ABV. Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim, CA.

Thorough and explicit blackness, complete opacity, rich brown ring of foam.

In the nose: ash, char, chocolate, vanilla. Fudge. Deep sweet. Rich decadence. 

In the mouth: big sweet. Rich and ridiculously malty. Vanilla, fudge, coconut, cookies and cream. Vast and viscous. Motor oil meets brownie pan. Profoundly delicious. 

This beer cries out for a pairing with fudge, brownie, or at the very least, chocolate chip cookies. And all I got is potato chips.

As Fundamental Observation enters its seventh year, we're proud to push this legendary beer forward with a 75% to 25% ratio of double-mash to single-mash liquid for a rich, creamy mouthfeel and lingering velvety finish.

This "liquid brownie batter" was aged in a blend of Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig, and Willett bourbon barrels and finishes out at a mighty 14% ABV. Each barrel saw multiple additions of Madagascar vanilla beans, ultimately aging the finished batch of beer with hundreds of pounds of vanilla over the course of a year.

Madagascar's premier crop benefitted beautifully from extended vine-ripening time over the last year and the vanilla character in Fundamental Observation 2021 is unmistakably bold. Familiar flavors of cookie dough and baking chocolate envelope the palate with hints at brûléed sugar, all balanced with beautiful barrel tones and present-but-pleasant alcohol heat.

Surly Lucuna Cold IPA

 Surly Lucuna Cold IPA. Cold India Pale Ale. Crisp/ Hoppy/ Cold.

7.2% ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, Mn. 

The Cold IPAs keep on coming. Here’s one from Surly. 

Clear, pale yellow color, small white head.

In the nose: soft and citric. Lemon and lime. 

In the mouth: minor bitterness. Brisk citrus flavors. Light bodied. Easily consumed. Refreshing and hoppy...I guess. I remain unmoved by this new style. It’s not an improvement on IPA, not where I stand. They use adjuncts to create the color, and lighten the body, but I don’t think that makes for a better IPA. 

I have yet to find one that I really like. I just might not be the right audience for this. 

Bridging the divide between a lager’s crispness and an IPA’s hop kick, Lacuna Cold IPA delivers the best of both worlds. Mind the gap.

Sonderklasse Leipzig Dunkel

 Sonderklasse Leipzig Dunkel. A Premium German Beer. Brewed in the best traditions of brewing. 

4.2 % ABV, Brewed and bottled by Privatbrauerei Eibau, Eibau, Germany. 

Dark brown color, nearly opaque, slim cocoa toned head.

In the nose: cocoa and cola, dark fruits, nuts, a little raisins and dates.

In the mouth: malty and smooth. Flavors from nose land deftly upon the palate. Well rounded and delicious. Cocoa and caramel. Classic German dunkel. And that I can dig. 

BlackStack Real Estate West Coast IPA

 BlackStack Real Estate West Coast IPA. With Crosby Estate Comet hops.

7% ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Clear (imagine that), pale yellow color, slim white head.

In the nose: ripe fruit, bright lemon and lime. Melon, maybe.

In the mouth: bright, brisk and bitter. Light bodied. Long, hoppy finish. Citrus flavors and moderate bitterness linger long in the back. 

Not too shabby there. Wouldn’t call it West Coast, unless we’re going to keep on muddying the term. 

Reminiscent of musky melon & citrusy sunshine, this crispy lil' number was dreamt up with our buds at Crosby to celebrate the magic that is their Estate Grown Comet Hops. Real fruity. Real delicious. Real Homegrown. Real Estate.

Niško Lager Beer

Niško Lager Beer. Brewed in Niska Pivara D.O.O. Brewed and bottled in Serbia. 

4.7 % ABV. 

And now for my first Serbian beer. Because, why not? At first I thought the beer was called Huuiko. Then I realized that it’s actually Huwko. Of, course, it’s really Niško, and I don’t know why or how. What a strange way to make an N. In It’s from 1884, and I will now drink it. (Although the website says they were founded in 2015.)

Clear, bright golden hue, large white head.

In the nose: fresh and clean. Nothing wrong with it.

In the mouth: light bodied, malty, hops for balance. Soft and smooth. Exceptionally likable. Light and clean, with a distinctive flavor. Tasty stuff. I would have another. 

From their website: 

One of the secrets of exceptional taste of Niško is found in the famous Niš water, which is one of the waters of the best quality in Serbia. Water with a characteristic mineral composition gives our beer a specific regional character, which is remembered, which we keep and which we do not give to anyone.

By combining the best varieties of hops (among which are domestic varieties), our beer has a pleasant bitterness. That is why everyone remembers our beer and everyone gladly returns to it.

With a new recipe and respect for traditional production principles, we combine the past and the future and make ideas a reality.

Niško beer, a recognizable brand of beer from the south of Serbia, is the primary product of Niška pivara d.o.o. Niš, which started operating in 2015. Niška pivara is located in the Niš settlement of Apelovac, on the site where Jovan Appel built the first Niš industrial company in 1884 – Steam Brewery.

Fulton Night Swim DDH Hazy IPA

 Fulton Night Swim DDH Hazy IPA.

7.2% ABV. Fulton Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And here we have the sort of beer that I would not normally purchase, for I avoid them. But it was given to me and any beer in my possession must be reviewed and entered into the Nib. (With certain exceptions.) Another unusual circumstance is that I am reviewing it the day after receiving it. Why? Perhaps I want to get it out there before it’s in stores? Yeah, that’s it. And I hope that other people who gave me beer aren’t too upset that I haven’t gotten around to theirs yet. Soon, I keep saying, and hope I’m not a liar.

Light haze, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: bold lemon and pineapple, citrus and tropical notes spilling out. Highly aromatic.

In the mouth: fruit forward from the start. Juicy blasts on the palate. Big hoppy flavors with low bitterness. Medium bodied, pleasantly drinkable. Nice and smooth. I’ve put aside my prejudices against the hazies long enough to say, if that’s your bag, man, go ahead and dig it. (Why I’m talking like a 1960s era hippie I don’t know. It’s just where my heads at, man.) (is it because Fulton makes me think about the Dude? That must be it.)

I want to add that this was given to me by Fulton rep Nate P., inside of a blaze orange koozie with some crude scribbles and the words Shore-Lunch.com. Nate told me it was his YouTube video channel and I have since watched several of them. I will see them all shortly. There is nothing quite like the sight of a man holding a fish he caught, be it carp, sucker, or lake sturgeon, and giving it a kiss and telling it “I love you” before letting it slip back into the stream. 

Falling Knife Terminally Chill West Coast IPA

 Falling Knife Terminally Chill West Coast IPA. With Idaho 7, Centennial, Citra, and Columbus Cryo hops.

6.5% ABV, Falling Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, Mn. 

At last, Falling Knife has released a non-hazy IPA. I consumed the first three cans with lusty abandon. Now to take notes with number four.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim, but lasting ivory head.

In the nose: citrus and pine apparent, lemon, grapefruit, orange. Partially prickly.

In the mouth: juicy, but with a brace of bitterness, that fades off after a spell. Light bodied, easily consumed, while possessing a healthy bitter bite required of any West Coast style IPA. Citrus and pine in charge of the palate. This one gets it, but good. Do it again, FK, do it more. This is the kind of IPA that I want to drink. Make more, and I’ll keep coming back. 

A Classic West Coast IPA with a firm bitterness backbone.

Sisyphus Schrodinger’s Lager

 Sisyphus Schrodinger’s Lager. Vienna Lager.

4.7% ABV, 15 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

I went to Sisyphus and took home a new beer to add to the blog, something I haven’t done in a while. Of all the untried and untested, the yet to be reviewed here, I went with a Vienna lager. And why the heck not, I like ‘em. I don’t only drink IPAs....just about 90% of the time, that’s all.

Clear, bronze/ amber color, small, negligible head.

In the nose: slightly sweet and malty, but well balanced. Caramel-y, nutty.

In the mouth: more malty sweetness, next to no hop bitterness, very pleasant flavors. Mild, tasty, easy drinking. Classic and clean. A hallmark of German (or Austrian) engineering. Munich & Vienna malts, noble hops. All is balanced and good. Yum a dum dum. 

Wabasha Transcendent IPA

 Wabasha Transcendent IPA.

6.5 % ABV, 59 IBU. Wabasha Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Quickly told tale: Wabasha Brewing has a new owner. He came into the store last week to personally drop off samples of four beers, and I ended up with two of them. Let’s get to the first.

Murkt, Hazed, and oddly colored. Dirty orange? Off-off-off yellow? Not pleasant to see. Under a slim, milky ring. Does not suggest transcendence.

In the nose: some citrus notes, but not clean, ...cluttered. Malt is mucking it up. Or something else? It’s a mess. 

In the mouth: flat and uninspired. A glimpse of fruit now and then, a splash of bitterness, and something misplaced and undefinable. Almost chocolate, caramel. Muddy, murky, messy, incoherent. Lacks spark, integrity. Serious misfire. I can’t point at what the fatal flaw was ruined this beer, but it should not have been released to market. 

Montgomery The Chief Amber Ale

Montgomery The Chief Amber Ale.

5% ABV, 26 IBU. Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, MN. 

Clear, amber hued, brief white head.

In the nose: malty sweet, but balanced. 

In the mouth: crisp, clean, supremely drinkable. Malt forward, minor hops, bitterness only for balance. Exceptionally smooth. Long, malty finish. Very likable.

You know, people still do drink amber ales. So, I’m glad someone is still brewing them.

Classically brewed with “choice ingredients”, our Amber Ale is a nod to the original Chief Beer that was produced here in the late 1800’s. Although the recipe has changed, the pride and heritage in this small town has not. 

Three Floyds Rites of Ramm India Pale Ale

Three Floyds Rites of Ramm India Pale Ale.

5% ABV. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN. It’s Not Normal. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: highly Hopped, mostly citrusy. Lemon, grapefruit, tangerine.

In the mouth: crisp, clea, bitter. Lean in the body. Light on alcohol. Lots of hoppy goodness, grassy, piney, plenty of citrus spark. Fairly faint in the finish. This is fine for a session IPA, but that’s not what I want from Three Floyds.

 Curse me and my determination to drink all of their beers. Of all their IPAs and pale ales, this one has to go to the bottom of the list. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s not giving me what I want.

A battle-tested, low-ABV IPA built for the long, arduous road ahead.

Arbeiter x Brewing Change Collective Cool Jazz Cold IPA

 Arbeiter x Brewing Change Collective Cool Jazz Cold IPA. Made with jasmine rice.

7.3% ABV, 67 IBU. Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: rather shy, showing some slight citrus. A little floral.

In the mouth: starts off fruity, citrusy,lemon and lime on top. Brief, benign bitterness coats the palate and slides on down. Light bodied and exceptionally smooth. And quite tasty. Does the rice make it tasty? Or the hops? This goes down so nice, like a Coltrane solo, or a blast from Miles. 

I’d definitely drink one again, but I also want the Cold IPA trend to die down some. Unless it takes over from hazies, then I don’t care if it’s just IPL with a new, marketable name.

Another question about Cold IPA. Are adjuncts required in the recipe? A new one from Surly that I have not yet tried uses corn, and here we have rice. Is this why they are so light? Is it also why I am not excited about them?

Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 Sans Filtre

 Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 Sans Filtre. Unfiltered Double.

8.5 % ABV, 100 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

The final bottle from the Stone variety pack I bought not too long ago. A new version of one of my all time favorites, an unfiltered version. Does that make it a hazy? Let’s find out.

Mostly clear, lightly hazed (unfiltered doesn’t have to mean hazy), bright golden hue, small white head. 

In the nose: big citrus, grapefruit, orange, and tangerine. Dankness on the hoof. Candied apricots, potent peach.

In the mouth: great big bitterness assaults the palate and slams the senses. Dank and viscous. Rich and powerful. Alarmingly bitter in the best way. Clings fast to the palate, sticks hard, plays hard. Long, hoppy finish. Medium bodied. A ruinous champion of a double IPA. 

Stone Ruination IPA was the first full-time brewed and bottled West Coast Double IPA on the planet. As craft beer has evolved over the years, so too have techniques for maximizing hop flavors and aromas. When we updated this incarnation in 2015, we employed dry hopping and hop bursting to squeeze every last drop of piney, citrusy, tropical, punk, metal & hard rock essence from the hops that give this beer its hugely assertive character. Now we’ve arrived at its newest evolutionary form by shoving it into the bottle unfiltered (aka sans filtre) and bringing it to you in its most excellently raw form. This beer has always been unbridled. Now it’s unfiltered.