Newest Beers

First off, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big Enlgish beer guy (Yet?). The Bass's, Newcastles Samuel Smith's and Old Peculier just don't do it for me.  And While Left Hand is known for making (and making well) everything but English style Ale, they hit the nail ( in my book anyway) on the head with their 400 Pound Monkey English Style IPA.


I only bought one of these as (as I said above) I've never really fallen for the English (It must be their teeth).  But the label and the fact that it was brewed by Left Hand Brewing spurred my interest.  Before I get to the beer, I must credit Nathan Strong of Strong liquor in Minnetonka, MN for the recommendation.  Ironically, Nathan attended my high school back in IOWA, something I did not know upon entering the store, a store I would recommend if you like mix and match 6-packs.  Strong Liquor has a wide array of single bottles anything from Light Lagers to Barley-wines and the best part is they charge a flat fee regardless of what Six you pick ($9.99).  

So how about this Beer?  Honestly After my first sip I was like What The F%^&!!!  Maybe it was just my ingrained disfavor of English beers, maybe it was the cheese curds or maybe it was just disbelief, regardless it caught me off guard.  The second drink was much different than the first and again surprising.  Smooth malty taste with a very green, pine coney hop taste to it.  The 3rd and rest were exceedingly better and I have to admit that this 12oz. had me wishing I would have picked up a few more. The hop character is for the most part upfront, it does have a slight Citrusy taste but it fades quickly to the aforementioned pine cone/spicy hop aroma.  This is by no means a Hop Heavy IPA.

With a really light amber color to it and 6.8% Abv this is a beer that most but not all will enjoy.  If you like Face punching IPAs or Malty Blah English Ales, you will be saying WTF!!  This beer on Tap would be really interesting and I look forward to getting into one again very soon.

Rating: 7/10

Slainte`

Been Awhile.....

since I last posted. 2 weeks, 1200miles, two moves and a plethora of new beers to be exact.  Wow where do I start?

The transition to a new life up here in MN has been alittle nerve racking (cough, cough, finding a house sucks, cough).  Factor into the equation that I now get to experience actual "Traffic"  (we all now how much road rage I had in IA), and Man I need a Beer!

For the last few weeks, that's exactly what I've been doing, sampling the local brews, boy have I found some good ones.  Granted I do miss my homebrews and not paying retail price for beers ($$$ OUCH!), there are some damn good beers up here.  Here are a few really good ones I've had and recommend (in no particular order):

1.  Lagunitas a brewery based out of Petaluma, CA, is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries.  It started awhile back on a trip to San Fran where I had their IPA (which I also found on tap in Las Vegas, Good Job Magnet!!).  Up here though I found the jackpot of Lagunita's and to be honest I haven't had one I dislike.  Below is a quick list/description/rating of those I've had:

• Hop Stoopid Ale - one of my favs from Lagunitas, very hoppy and smooth and well priced ($5 for a 22oz. bottle)  High IBU's and good aroma.  Rating: 8/10.
• Cappuccino Stout - Seasonal brew (December) and a Great stout with subtle coffee tones to it. exceptionally smooth and as usual fairly priced.  Rating: 7/10
• Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF!) - Another seasonal (decent Imperial brown (not a huge brown ale guy), very rich and malty with surprising chocolate notes to it, no Imperial alcohol taste (though only 7.8%).  Rating: 6/10.
• Little Sumpin Extra - Yet another seasonal (September), good hop character to it and mildly wheaty to the tongue.  (Man does Lagunitas love to use hops or what?).  Again, nice price for a 22oz. bottle.  To me would be a nice summer beer, but what do I know?  Rating: 7/10.

2. Bell's Hopslam!  WOW, what can you say about this beer?  Found a sixer of it at MGM liquor and man was it well worth the  the $9.99 price tag.  Crazy alcohol content (10%, but you won't notice it till the next day)  for a a beer that is a few shades darker than Miller light and Crazy, I mean CRAZY Hoppiness both in taste and aroma.  This beer over took Bells Two Hearted as my favorite Bells Beer, in fact it blew it out of the water.  Rating: 9.5/10.

3.  Surly Brewing Company, so far soooo Good.  Got to love a local brewery that puts their Craft beer in 16oz. cans ( these beers would make Cousin Eddie classy).

• Furious - Crazy hoppy, almost spicy hoppy at times.  Rating: 7/10 
• Bender - Decent brown ale, nice dark color to with a nice roasty taste to it.  Rating: 6/10 
• Coffee Bender - Makes regular Bender look like a bitch.  Infused with cold extracted coffee this beer makes a great road coke (wink, wink).  Rating: 7/10 
• Cynical ale- not bad for a light Belgian style ale in a can (definitely a first).  But nothing I would really buy on a regular basis (have yet to really fall in love with the Belgians, I'm a Hop Guy!). Rating: 5/10

Beers compliments of MGM liquor, Eden Prairie liquors and The Four Firkins.

More to come, Stick around.