Catching Up on MN Craft Beer

I was back home in Minneapolis for a wedding last weekend and had my work cut out for me. I'd once grumbled over the slow growth of the Minnesota craft beer scene, though there was no lack of good beer, as I watched the east and west coasts bubble with new breweries. No more.

Over my four nights I only scratched the surface of new brews, mostly catching up on the recent, but not brand new, breweries. While I had my fill of Surly, Lift Bridge, and Steel Toe, I couldn't get my hands on a pint of Badger Hill or Boom Island. Alas. Next time.

Anyways, here are the highlights from my trip. Damn there was a lot of good beer.

Irish Coffee Stout
Lift Bridge Brewery
Milk / Sweet Stout | 8.00% ABV

4.1/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Split a bottle with a friend, though I wouldn't have minded having it all to myself. So it's a decent strong milk stout by itself, but the coffee and whisky add delicously mild complements to the smooth, roasty stout. Most coffee stout don't show so much restraint, often taking over the beer. Likewise with the whisky barrel character, I didn't even taste it until the beer started to warm up. Once obvious, I was tasting a smooth, spicy vanilla. Not on the thick side for the strength, though a great sipper. Glad I got to try this beer.


SYX
Surly Brewing Company
American Strong Ale | 14.50% ABV

4.1/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Yup, that's a strong beer. Oddly, there was a clear sour funk when the beer was fresh off the tap and faded as it warmed. It tasted like a younger sourness, and, I suspect, could make this beer really interesting in a couple years.

This is a thick, fruity beer with a dry funky edge. I get apricot, marmalade, and tangerine up front and then a more toasty fresh oak barrel kick and wood astringency (not too much, just a touch). It's understandably thick for the strength, and well-balanced by the hops. It's a very good beer as is, but I think in a 12-24 months it could be great.


Sommer Vice
Steel Toe Brewing
Hefeweizen | 5.00% ABV

4/5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a pint at Republic on 7 Corners. Huh, reminds me of the old Summit Hefe (which I really enjoyed), as it's a crisp, spicy wheat beer with no fruity character. The clove almost tastes singed, and the dry toasty wheat and barley provide a great balance to the phenol spices. It's eas-drinking and quite refreshing on a hot day.


Lost Trout
Third Street Brewhouse
American Brown Ale | 4.90% ABV

3.95/5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I don't often take notice of brown ale, but this has big cocoa and roasted barley flavors without too thick a body, like so many American browns. It's not sweet and fruity like an English, but also not as bitter as many craft browns. It's just a smooth, clean mix of dark grains that's appropriate in any weather. Check it out. Another fine beer from Third Street. It's great to see the folks in Cold Springs making solid beer.

Drinking Minnesota Again

As summer rolls on, it's getting harder to keep track of all the great beer we're surrounded by - or at least write at length about it. So to keep things concise, here's what's up: I'm back in MN for a couple weeks enjoying the fine weather, bike lanes, new Twins stadium, and lovely local beers. Here's a bit of what I've been sipping lately.


Saaz Pilsner
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Czech Pilsener | 5.70% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Had a pint at the brewpub. I'm a fan of pilsners and single-hop beers, so this was exciting to find on the seasonals menu. This has the look and body of a classic Czech pils, but the hops dominated the beer. Aside from a hint of grainy, biscuit malt, richly floral and spicy hops that are a touch fruity without being sweet. The bitter finish is a bit soft, but still sizeable. This is tasty, but fairly drinkable beer. Check is out if you can.

Lonely Blonde
Fulton Beer
American Blonde Ale | 4.80% ABV

C+ / 3.15
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

On-tap at Acadia Cafe. I'd enjoyed Fulton's Child of Vine and hoped this would prove tasty as well. But frankly I was let down with Lonely Blonde. It's just another clean, grainy blonde ale. I already know what 2-row barley tastes like and there's nothing new here. Plenty of other breweries have made this same beer for years, there isn't much reason to single this one out.


MN Tan
Lift Bridge Brewery
Tripel | 8.50% ABV

B / 3.7
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I heard this was supposed to be more red or pinkish, but it was just a clear amber. The lingonberries impart a pleasant tart tang, but overall, this beer could use a little more Belgian character - it's a bit too clean. I'd say the same of Lift Bridge's Farm Girl (not enough yeast character), but this is still a respectable Belgian with a earthy and lightly fruity character. Worth checking out for something different.

Drinking Minnesota

Yes, family and friends are the best part of coming home for the holidays, but diving into the local beer scene also ranks pretty highly. With nearly a dozen local breweries or brewpubs and countless good beer bars, a new local pint is never hard to find.

Here are a few highlights of my visit and beers to watch out for if you ever find yourself in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Festivus 2009
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
American Stout | 5.80% ABV

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

I ordered a pint at the bar and it appeared pitch black with a short tan head. This beer seems simple, but it's damn good. Upfront, there's a big and tasty coffee character followed by an amazing milk chocolate taste. These make for the best mocha beer I think I've ever had. The chocolate comes off creamy, like a milk stout. Drinkable and delicious, this is a great beer to celebrate the holidays and Festivus.

Summit Extra Pale Ale
Summit Brewing Company
English Pale Ale | 5.30% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

I see this beer around Minnesota so much, its easy to forget that its a quality brew. It's got a fairly unique (and its hard to find something unique these days) blend of malt sweetness with rich, roasted caramel that's complimented by a balanced bitterness of grassy hops. It's a great session beer and readily available around town. Thank you Summit.


Snowstorm 2009
August Schell Brewing Co., Inc.
Baltic Porter | 5.80% ABV

B / 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Three Squares in Maple Grove. I'm impressed that Schell's took on the style and didn't just try to make a strong porter like some other American-brewed Baltic's I've tried. This has the sweet light candy, or wine-like, chocolate note under the roasted malts. My only complaint is that the middle sweetness turns to more of an old-shoe note (like oxidation) that builds as the beer warms, but it's very light. Otherwise, this is tasty and to-style take on the Baltic porter.

Bender
Surly Brewing Company
American Brown Ale | 5.10% ABV

A / 4.3
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

A brown ale with balls. So much so, I dont even know if its really a brown ale. Dark brown, the color of a porter, with great tan lacing. Slightly roasted and sweet malty aroma. Taste is complex with roasted and chocolate malts, american hops, and maybe even oatmeal. I think I tasted oatmeal. Very smooth beer, kind of thick, but very smooth. Give me another.