Sunday, April 27, 2014

Odell Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA

This 10.1% ABV India Pale Ale was made with 3,000 pounds of pureed Colorado peaches (no, not all in my bottle, not sure how big their batch was). It is from the Odell Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colorado. 

The beer pours a gleaming light copper, or dark honey golden with orange tint, you pick. There is a tall, thick, foamy head that is white to off-white. The aroma is tangy, soft peach, both sweet and tart, like a peach sweet baked good. There is also some earthy yeastiness and peach skin. The taste is big, yet subtle, lots of citrus and melon, and then a nice hit of soft peach, fruity, then tangy, then earthy, then bitter. The finish is quite bitter, dry, with a yeasty tang. The beer has a fine and intense carbonation, typical of its bottle-conditioned style. It drinks soft and smooth. This is not one of those peach beers that hits you over the head with its peaches, more like a tangy peach pastry, but not a super sweet one. The peach taste grows as you drink it.


Excelsior Bridge Jumper India Pale Ale

This 7.5% ABV India Pale Ale has 96 IBU's and is from the Excelsior Brewing Company of Excelsior, Minnesota. Excelsior is on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, and you'll see a lake activity theme on the bottles of their beer.

The beer pours amber and copper in color. There is nearly an inch of thick and foamy off-white head. The aroma is mostly tart and tangy, a touch soapy.  I am getting nervous here, the bottle says it is a malty IPA brewed with a ship load of raw hops.  I am fearing infection due to this overly tart aroma. Here goes. A bit malty, lots of soapy, with a tang that enters into sour. Bummer!  This is a drain pour. 


Point Spruce Tip IPA

This India Pale Ale is from Stevens Point Brewery of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is part of their new sampler pack of various IPA styles. It includes a White IPA, a Peach Mango IPA, a Spruce Tip IPA, and the One Shot IPA, that will be brewed with a rotating single hop. They are all 5.5% ABV with the exception of the first One Shot, which is 6.0% ABV and features Calypso hops.

This beer uses Colorado blue spruce tips along with Cascade hops. It has 45 IBU's. The beer pours a clear copper in color. There is nearly an inch of white head. The aroma is piney, a touch dank, with a bit of passion fruit. The taste follows the aromas, with a dark tangy caramel coming in over the pine. The finish is quite bitter, with a grapefruit quench in the aftertaste. It is medium bodied with a refreshing carbonation. 

So, all four of these beers are quite similar with mostly subtle differences, with the exception of the Peach Mango, which is in a peach world all to itself.

Point Peach Mango IPA

This India Pale Ale is from Stevens Point Brewery of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is part of their new sampler pack of various IPA styles. It includes a White IPA, a Peach Mango IPA, a Spruce Tip IPA, and the One Shot IPA, that will be brewed with a rotating single hop. They are all 5.5% ABV with the exception of the first One Shot, which is 6.0% ABV and features Calypso hops.

This beer has 40 IBU's and is brewed with mango and natural flavors. It uses Cascade and Cluster hops. The beer pours a gleaming copper in color. There is three-quarter inches of off-white head. The aroma is a blast of peach, a bit of mango, and a caramel malt base just poking through. The taste is a dueling battle of peaches, darkened caramel, touches of mango, citrus and grass. The peaches are sweet, but the finish is dry and quite bitter. Medium bodied, with a subtle and tingling carbonation.




Point One Shot IPA

This India Pale Ale is from Stevens Point Brewery of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is part of their new sampler pack of various IPA styles. It includes a White IPA, a Peach Mango IPA, a Spruce Tip IPA, and the One Shot IPA, that will be brewed with a rotating single hop. They are all 5.5% ABV with the exception of the first One Shot, which is 6.0% ABV and features Calypso hops.


The beer pours a deep and shiny gold in color. There is nearly an inch of white foam. The aroma is blueberries and passion fruit, light, tangy, citrusy. The taste follows the aromas directly, with a grassy finish that is quite bitter. This is also easy drinking and refreshingly carbonated. 


Point White IPA

This India Pale Ale is from Stevens Point Brewery of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is part of their new sampler pack of various IPA styles. It includes a White IPA, a Peach Mango IPA, a Spruce Tip IPA, and the One Shot IPA, that will be brewed with a rotating single hop. They are all 5.5% ABV with the exception of the first One Shot, which is 6.0% ABV and features Calypso hops.


The White IPA features Sorachi Ace hops from Japan, along with Palisade.  This beer has 40 IBU's. The beer pours golden in color, clear, yet deep and shiny. There is about an inch of pure white head. The aroma is light and airy, citrusy and floral, with a bit of passion fruit. The taste follows the aromas, hitting all the same notes, just more intensely, ending in a quite bitter and dry finish. It is easy drinking and refreshingly carbonated. 






Pay the Ferryman Porter

This 5.0% ABV Cerveza de los Muertos is part of the Day of the Dead Beers (Dia de los Muertos) from Cerveceria Mexicana of Tecate, Mexico.

The beer pours deep black in color, just the slightest bit of dark brown on the top edge when held to the light. There is a short head of light tan foam. The aroma is dark roasted malt, light char, with a mineral, metallic tang like an English porter. The taste is dark roasted malt, char, some dark fruits, a bit of cold coffee, a bit of dark cocoa, all with the mineral tang. Nice flavors, but a tad watery in the mouth. An easy drinking porter.


Southampton Imperial Porter

This is a 7.2% ABV Imperial Porter. It is from Southampton Publick House, whose original location is in Long Island, New York, but whose bottled beers are brewed by Pabst (who has all their portfolio contract brewed, they don't own any breweries themselves anymore).  This one was brewed and bottled in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The beer pours black in color, a dark, dark ruby when held to the light. There is a half-inch head of nearly creamy light tan head. The aroma is light dark roasted malt, a bit milky. The taste is tangy dark roasted malt, a bit of char, a mineral, metallic note that is pleasant, with a bit of dark cocoa. The finish is fairly bitter. The beer drinks medium bodied and a bit smooth. Nice, not transcendent.


Excelsior XLCR American Pale Ale

This 5.8% ABV pale ale with 50 IBU's is from the Excelsior Brewing Company of Excelsior, Minnesota. Excelsior is on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, and you'll see a lake activity theme on the bottles of their beer.

The beer pours perfectly clear, yet a fairly dark color copper and amber. There is over an inch of off-white head. Looks so good, can't wait to taste it. The aroma is lightly floral, plums and berries, sweet caramel malt. The taste is richly malty, just a bit of nuttiness, with a nice fruity note throughout. The finish is moderately dry and bitter. It has a nice soft, medium body. If you are expecting an American pale ale in the style of Zombie Dust, look elsewhere.  If you want a richly malty pale ale with fruit notes and a crisply bitter finish, look no further. This is quite well done.


Schell's 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series - Mandarina

This beer is part of the 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and I believe they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling (this is the 30th anniversary of the pilsner recipe, not of the brewery itself). This sampler pack contained the 1984 Recipe, the 2014 Recipe, a Roggen (Rye) Recipe and a Mandarina (hop) Recipe. This features a new hop variety from Germany, the Mandarina Bavaria.


The beer pours golden yellow in color, a hair darker than the other varieties. There is again, a tall head of white foam. The aroma is golden grain, with a touch of semi-sweetness to it, lightly grassy, with a citrus tang. The taste follows the aromas directly, hitting all the same notes, the citrus a bit more pronounced in the flavor than in the aroma. The finish is fairly bitter. This one just doesn’t hang together as well as the others for me, its citrus is a bit incongruous with the other flavors, and clashes with the grassy bitterness. This is the only beer of the four that I would not repeat over and over (but I will try it one more time and report back if it strikes me differently the second time). 

Okay, I came back to this a few days later on its own and it was perfectly fine. When tried in succession after the other three, it didn't hold up, but it was fine on its own.




Schell's 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series - Roggen Recipe

This beer is part of the 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and I believe they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling (this is the 30th anniversary of the pilsner recipe, not of the brewery itself). This sampler pack contained the 1984 Recipe, the 2014 Recipe, a Roggen (Rye) Recipe and a Mandarina (hop) Recipe. "Roggen" is the German word for rye. This uses rye malt, and also German Tettnang and Smaragd hops.

The beer pours a pure golden yellow in color. There is a tall head of pristine white foam. The aroma is golden grain, a touch of sweetness, a touch of spiciness from the rye, with light floral, grass and straw. The taste is straightforward smooth American pilsner, grain and grass, with a fairly bitter finish, somewhere between the 1984 (most bitter) and 2014  in bitterness.  This is the easiest drinking of the bunch, but so far, I am digging the 1984 the most.


Schell's 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series - 2014 Recipe

This beer is part of the 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and I believe they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling (this is the 30th anniversary of the pilsner recipe, not of the brewery itself). This sampler pack contained the 1984 Recipe, the 2014 Recipe, a Roggen (Rye) Recipe and a Mandarina (hop) Recipe.


The beer pours the same yellow golden in color as the 1984 recipe. It also has a tall, foamy head, this of the utmost white. The aroma is similar, but more rounded, bready, still grassy, but less intensely bitter. The taste is a touch sweeter, again, still grassy, but the bitterness, while pronounced, is more subtle, less earthy and funky. This drinks easier overall, what with its rounded edges, although the mouth is a little less smooth, a little more carbonated. This version uses Sterling hops. If I was drinking the pils all night, I would want to start with the 1984 and then switch to this after a few, the 1984 is more intense.


Schell's 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series - 1984 Recipe

This beer is part of the 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and I believe they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling (this is the 30th anniversary of the pilsner recipe, not of the brewery itself). This sampler pack contained the 1984 Recipe, the 2014 Recipe, a Roggen (Rye) Recipe and a Mandarina (hop) Recipe.


The beer pours a yellow golden in color. There is over an inch of pure white foamy head. The aroma is like a macro-lager, but indicating more flavor and nuance. Semi-sweet grain is followed by light floral notes, and a fairly intense earthy bitterness. The taste follows the aromas directly, dry cracked corn, grassy, some barn straw with a fairly bitter and dry finish. It is smooth, yet refreshingly carbonated. Nice, can’t wait to try the next one. Michael Jackson (no, not that one, the beer and whiskey guy) called this "One of the best American examples of the Pilsner style." I agree Mr. Jackson.

This beer had that classic beer "bite" that reminded me of sneaking a taste of Old Milwaukee or Schlitz from older relative's cans when I was a kid in the 1970's.  Back then, those beers seemed to have such a crisp bitterness to them (they don't now, but I've since tried a few more beers), and this beer seemed like a nostalgia trip back to that taste.



Saturday, April 26, 2014

Mankato Saffron Kilt

The Mankato Brewery is in North Mankato, Minnesota.  It is the first production brewery to be in that city since 1967. You'll also see this beer called their IPBA beer, for Irish Pipe Band Ale. One of the brewers is in Minnesota's Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. They often open beer festivals in Minnesota.

This beer uses the same type of malt used in many Irish whiskeys. The beer pours a light copper and amber in color, or, as the name implies, saffron, which is an orange/yellow color. There is a relatively short off-white head. The aroma is malted barley, you can tell it is the same stuff used to make Irish whiskey, with light fruit behind it. The taste is pleasantly malty, toasted, a bit nutty, again whiskey precursor evident, with a congruent lemon tang, and a moderate floral bitterness. I love Mankato Brewery, their beers are tasty, highly quaffable, yet exquisitely finely crafted in a subtle way.


Santa Fe Brewing Saison 88

This 5.5% ABV saison is from the Santa Fe Brewing Company of beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico. It celebrates that they launched in 1988, celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2013.

The beer pours a hazy lemon meringue yellow. There is a tall, foamy, white head, thick and ragged. The aroma is very floral, lemony, with some earthiness and woodiness, and a bit of dusty old leather. The taste follows the aromas, but they are nice and airy, not heavy or overwhelming. It drinks very carbonated, refreshing, dry with a moderate floral bitterness on the finish. This is one very well done American saison, a must try!


Pour Decisions Maroon & Bold

This 9.0% ABV beer is a DIPA, or Double Infuriatingly Passive Aggressive Ale. It is from the Pour Decisions Brewing Company of Roseville, Minnesota. Pour Decisions has now merged with anther recent Twin Cities area brewery, Bent Brewstillery, and they will henceforth be Bent Brewstillery. This beer uses Minnesota grown hops and barley. So what was so infuriating? The 2013 version of the beer almost didn't happen due to wind storms, drought, and grasshoppers. The bottle suggests serving in a Solo cup, I guess as part of a Gopher's tailgate?

The beer pours a dark brown, deep amber, very burnt orange in color. There is a tall, thick, ragged, sea foam type head that is very light tan in color. The aroma is blueberries, flowers, fresh cut hay, tangy, yeasty, over honey sweet dark caramel. The taste follows the notes of the aromas and has a massively bitter finish. It has a fine and intense bottle-conditioned type of carbonation. Interesting and worth trying; I like trying beers with locally grown ingredients, you really can tell a "terroir" difference in them.




Lift Bridge Hop Dish IPA

This 7.5% ABV India Pale Ale is from The Lift Bridge Brewing Company of Stillwater, Minnesota. It uses seven varieties of hops. The bottle says "a pot-luck of seven hop varieties."  I am guessing that is how it gets it name; in Minnesota, if you went to a pot-luck supper, you might bring your "hot dish" casserole with several ingredients in it.

The beer pours copper and amber in color. There is a short and thin head of off-white foam. The aroma is tangy, citrus, overripe melons, oranges, and berries over caramelly malt. The taste is fruity, grassy, following the aromas, big, round and lush. The finish is quite bitter. The beer is medium bodied and smooth. I’d put this in the DIPA category, it drinks like one.


Indeed Let It Ride IPA

This 6.8% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Indeed Brewing Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like several other recent and brand new brewers in the Twin Cities, they are located in Northeast Minneapolis. They are a member of 1% for the planet, a global alliance of businesses that donate one percent of their gross revenue to organizations that help preserve and restore the natural environment. 

The beer is brewed with Mosaic, Calypso, and El Dorado hops, and uses American and English Crystal Malts, along with German Dark Munich Malt. 

The beer pours a very dark copper and amber, dark chestnut brown. This is as dark as an IPA as I have ever seen (with the exception of Cascadian style). There is an inch of thick, foamy off-white to light tan head. The aroma is piney, dank, earthy, citrus and grapefruit over caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas, hitting deep, rich notes of pine and earthy dankness, sweet dark caramel and some fruitiness. The finish is quite bitter. The beer is medium bodied, smooth, tingling, yet subtle carbonation, overall easy drinking. This is a spectacular IPA.


Sunday, April 20, 2014

Bent Paddle Bent Hop Golden IPA

This is a 6.2% ABV golden IPA from the Bent Paddle Brewing Company of Duluth, Minnesota. According to their can, 10% of the world's fresh water is in Lake Superior, and 100% of the water in this beer is from that source. I sampled a few of their beers at the 2013 St. Paul Summer Beerfest, and they were a standout with a really quality product.

The beer pours dark honey golden in color. There is a tall, thick, foamy head of white to off-white. The aroma is fruity, citrus, tangy, zesty, grassy, over crackery malt. The taste follows the notes of the aromas, hitting orange, grapefruit, lime. The finish is quite dry and bitter. It is crisply carbonated and refreshing. Very enjoyable.


Lake Monster Empty Rowboat IPA

Lake Monster Brewing is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their beers are currently contract brewed (with hands on involvement by their own brewer) at the Sand Creek Brewing Company in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. They hope to open a brewery at some future point in the Twin Cities.

The beer pours copper colored and clear. There is a relatively short head of white to off-white foam. The aroma is orange, pine, a touch of dankness over caramelly malt. The taste follows the aromas, sweet and fruity, bit of pine, with a bitter grassy and grapefruit finish. It is medium bodied, smooth, moderately carbonated. This is a really solid IPA, I would repeat.


Surly Blakkr

I recently took a trip to Minnesota. Like many places, there has been an explosion of new breweries there and you will see quite a number of Minnesota beers on here in the near future, some from brewers of long standing and some quite new. 

This double black IPA is from the Surly Brewing Company of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. They have finalized plans for a huge new brewery and taproom in Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota campus and have begun construction. They were until recently only distributed in the greater Twin Cities area, but have now expanded and are available recently in Chicago and now starting into Iowa.

This beer was brewed at the same time by Surly, along with Three Floyds out of Indiana and Real Ale out of Texas. 

The beer pours deep black in color, with mahogany brown and ruby on the edges when held to the light. There is a short head of thick, light brown foam. The aroma is hop forward, citrus, melons, light tropical fruit, some pine, over dark roasted malt with some char. The taste is fruity, tangy and sweet, almost a fruit liqueur note at times, dancing in and out of the dark roasted malt, char, some coffee, touch of bitter dark chocolate, a light musky note. The finish is fairly bitter and also tangy. It is quite dry. It is medium to full bodied, a light syrupy note here and there, but also amply carbonated and smooth. This is one big beer, but in pretty good balance between its hop and dark malt notes. 


Saturday, April 19, 2014

Sun King Fistful of Hops - First Quarter Blue Can

The Sun King Brewery is in Indianapolis, Indiana. This IPA is part of their Fistful of Hops series of four, one for each season, I believe it is the "Winter" version, or the "first quarter" of the year. It is 6.4% ABV and 75 IBU's.

The beer pours a clear, yet deep, copper and amber in color. There is an inch or so of off-white head. The aroma is bright, hoppy, fruity, piney, grassy, tangy, citrus, light berry, and light passion fruit. The taste follows the aromas, hitting the same notes, and drinking crisp and refreshing. It is bitter like tonic water, with all the hop notes lying on a bed of toasted malt with a hint of caramel sweet. It is nicely carbonated and easy to drink. 



Goose Island Endless IPA

This 5.0% ABV beer is a limited release from the Goose Island Beer Company of Chicago, Illinois. It is a session IPA. Now that they are owned by Anheuser-Busch In-Bev, this is brewed in Baldwinsville, New York and Fort Collins, Colorado. 

The beers a gleaming light copper in color. There is a relatively short head of pure white foam. The aroma is earthy and musky hops, mango skin, toasted wheat and grain. The taste follows directly along the aroma notes. The finish is fairly bitter and dry, particularly for it only listing as 35 IBU’s. It is crisply carbonated and drinks very refreshing. A true session ale.