A Colorado State of Mind

Clear blue skies on a warm summer day in the mountains. Does that put you in the mood for a Citra IPA? My good friend Gerard was recently in Buena Vista, Colorado, and made it to the Eddyline Brewery. He brought back some of their brews and shared the Colorado State of Mind IPA with me.

For me, the nose on this one is earthy and a bit dank. The body is very light, letting the citrus and subtle hint of stone fruit come through. The finish is slight dankness from the hops, which I find welcoming in this refreshing 6.75% IPA! The hop profile is Citra, Mosaic, and Motueka.

Eddyline Brewery is definitely a brewery that I would like to visit!

Cheers!

Skip the Tango and go for Mango and Cash

I have never been a person that likes to dance, let alone tango, but if you find a beer by the name of Mango & Cash, you have to try it!

This 8.1% ABV and 84 IBU imperial IPA from Stone Hollow Brewing Company is made with 150 pounds of mango and five different hops. The front has nice, tart mango notes that blend in with caramel before finishing with mild hop bitterness. The body is on the light side and makes this IPA very enjoyable!

Make your way to Beatrice, Nebraska, to visit Stone Hollow Brewing Company, and if you haven’t been there, you will want to do a flight to take in their excellent craft beer and ciders.

Cheers!

It's a Bit Thick

When I first think of strong ales, I think about Belgian strong ales since that is what I am most familiar with. On a recent visit to Five.0.Five Brewing Company in Fremont, Nebraska, they had their American strong ale available in six-packs, so I was excited to bring one home and have more time to get to know this style!

Bit Thick does a great job representing the style, starting with the copper color. The first thing in my mind was that this would be a sweet, malty beer, but that is not the case. True to style, this beer is more hop-forward (50 IBUs) than malt-forward, even to the finish, which is more on the dry side. A slight warmth in this 8.2% ABV ale makes it an enjoyable way to wind down at night!

I enjoy all the classic types of craft beer that Five.0.Five creates! If you are up for an adventure, try their black and tan made with a Bit Thick and their Rugger Bugger stout.

Cheers!

Not Your Typical Pilsner

This past weekend, I was at Heaving Brewing in Gretna, Nebraska. They had their Pils Popper pilsner recently put on tap, and I was thrown back a bit with the first taste. This pilsner had a breadiness to it that lasted from front to back. I am unsure if the malts or a combination with a perfect water profile makes this one unique. The hop finish is very subtle.

The body is light and very smooth in this 5.5% beer. I happened to be with a friend whose German mom commented that this was the best beer she had had in a very long time! There were lots of people enjoying a pint.

I hope Heavy Brewing keeps making this beer this summer. It is a perfect sessionable beer to have in the rotation of the many different styles they provide.

I will also need to do some more research as to which pizzas go best with this beer.

Cheers!

An Award Winning Dortmunder

A new mug to enjoy a great German Lager

For those who enjoy German-style lagers, you will find a Dortmunder quite enjoyable! This lager originated out of the western Germain city of Dortmund. The style is a bit more malty when compared to other German lagers like a Helles but still as crisp.

Lupulin Brewing Company. created its version, which won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. That is a tremendous honor! I am a big fan of those bready notes in a lager, which are present until the finish. A light touch of Hallertau hops at the end perfectly balances this magnificent lager!

On the technical notes, this Dortmunder is 5.5% ABV and 25 IBUs. This is just one of many incredible brews from Lupulin Brewing Company.

Cheers!

Papa Bier is Just Right!

In today’s story, Joe will be playing the role of Goldilocks, and instead of the Three Bears, it will be the Three Biers.

Joe clears his throat. “This Baby Bier is too little; honestly, I think it is just golden water.”

“This Mama Bier is good but, like most mothers, just too sweet!”

“Oh, this Papa Bier is just right!”

This Lager from Pint Nine Brewing Company was somewhat puzzling to me after the first glass, so I got a crowler to take home for due diligence. Upfront, I enjoyed the immense bready notes in this smooth 5.0% ABV Lager. This subtle note worked its way in, and after a bit, I realized it had to be caramel. All I know is this is one fine bier!

I hope you enjoyed this modern-day version of a classic story. I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Cheers!

My Idea of Cheeseburger in Paradise!

Hopsy, the frog, was excited to be outside, knowing spring was coming soon! I asked Hopsy if he would like a gas station cheeseburger. His response was a bit snarky: “And you want me to hold it with what hands? Also, you know I am lactose intolerant!”

I told him no, I have Kros Strain Brewing’s hazy DIPA called Gas Station Cheeseburger, and Hopsy was excited to dive in!

Kros Strain Brewing’s hazy IPAs have this fantastic body. I took my first sip and was immediately drawn to the smooth darkness of this DIPA. The citrus and stonefruit notes are subtle, but the earthiness shines in this one! A hop profile consisting of Citra, Strata, Simcoe, and El Dorado hops come together in this delectable 8.0% ABV hazy double IPA.

I agree with Hopsy; skip the dried-out gas station cheeseburger and go for Kros Strain Brewing’s Gas Station Cheeseburger!

Cheers!

This Dinosaur Knows How to Boogie!

Nothing is better than having Toppling Goliath beers on their patio at the brewery, but it’s over 70 degrees, and I had to settle for my own today!

Electric Dino Boogie is a DIPA brewed in collaboration with Pinthouse Brewing out of Austin, Texas. I cracked this one open in a 40 mph wind so I couldn’t grab much of the aroma. The fruit notes for me were definitely orange and tangerine. There is a decent about of pine and earthiness to this one. The body is on the lighter, softer side, which holds that darkness in.

A hop profile of Simcoe, Citra, and Galaxy hops to create this juicy 7.8% double IPA!

Now if I could only boogie like this Electric Dino!

Cheers to great IPA collaborations!

Beans in My Satchel

I never could imagine that a Cream Ale could taste like Beans in My Satchel from Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales! The Cream Ale style was born in the United States in the 1800s. The desire was to have an Ale that drank like a smooth Lager but was a bit lighter and not as long to ferment. Corn was added to the grain bill to lighten the body. Being from Nebraska, I can see why that would be a popular addition! Oh, and most importantly, there is no cream in a Cream Ale.

Cream Ales are very approachable for most craft beer drinkers. Take that base Cream Ale and add Vanilla Butter Cream Coffee, peanut butter, and marshmallow flavor. I know I have grabbed your attention! I will give you a minute to think about this flavor combo. Being a lighter beer style, you want the coffee notes to be present without overpowering. This is the case with Beans in My Satchel!

The peanut butter and vanilla notes work well with the coffee. I think the vanilla notes come from both the coffee and marshmallow. With just a bit of sweetness, I enjoy it at home as an after-dinner beer and prefer it any day over dessert!

If you are looking for unique creative brews, make your way to Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales in Omaha, Nebraska.

Cheers!

Time to Crack Deez Nutz

The squirrels have been busy this winter hiding their nuts. Today as the snow melted, I found one before they reached it. Now I get to enjoy it!

Deez Nutz is a peanut butter stout from Heaving Brewing in Gretna, Nebraska. A nice blend of roasted peanut and chocolate notes in a medium body. The finish is dry, and the roastiness lingers in this 6.9% ABV stout. I tend to like the drier peanut butter stouts than the sweeter ones.

I am happy to see Heaving Brewing already has some to-go beers. It made my day today!

Cheers!

I'll Take My Sticky Toffee Pudding in a Glass!

Decadent creamy head

I have to come clean and say that I have never had Sticky Toffee Pudding, though seeing the dessert has me wondering why! When I got a can of Unchecked Hedonism - sticky toffee pudding Belgian Quad from Lupulin Brewing, I wanted to make sure I enjoyed every sip!

I am all about that initial perception, then letting a big beer warm to really get all of the different notes. The first sip from was definitely dates from a colder temperature. Note to self: check my beer fridge to see what it is set at. The aroma was toffee, and as this Belgian Quad warmed, toffee notes mixed with the dark fruit. The body is deceiving at first. It seems thinner, but as it spends a bit of time in your mouth, it feels full. The warming finish is very nice in this 11% ABV beer.

This might be more indulgence than you are prepared for. I recommend taking your time and truly enjoying this wonderful beer.

Cheers!

Existential Bliss

Can you ever say you have experienced true bliss? Oh, the moment when the world stops, and there is nothing that can interrupt the way you feel. The first sip of Existential Bliss is that moment!

A collaboration between Humble Forager Brewery and Forager Brewery from Minnesota. This is one midnight dark, thick imperial stout! Chocolate and fudge notes like a brownie greets your tastebuds. The thick mouthfeel kicks in and has those whiskey notes I enjoy very much in a barrel-aged stout. The vanilla notes are less distinct to me, but I catch a glimmer in the finish.

Now to the crazy extremes, these breweries went to create this stout! The beer was aged for 19 months in Buffalo Trace, Bairdstown, Heaven Hill, Willet Rye, and Templeton Rye barrels. They then took vanilla beans from around the world, including Vanuatu, India, Uganda, Madagascar, and Ecuador. Match that up with cocoa nibs from Bolivia, Peru, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Fiji. Who goes to those extremes?

The result is an unforgettable 12.5% imperial stout! I have to shout out to my friends, the Buckleys, who allowed me to experience Existential Bliss.

Cheers!

Ruby - You Truly Are My Favorite Gem

I am a lucky guy that my sister and brother-in-law moved to North Carolina. This Christmas, my brother-in-law brought back some beer, and I was immediately intrigued with the Olde Hickory Ruby Lager!

This is the first beer I have had from a North Carolina brewery and my first amber lager. I have had many amber ales, so I was excited to see the difference in a lager.

Right away, the body grabs you with how smooth this beer is. It is light yet packs a lot of malt flavor without being sweet. It is rich and finishes just with a hint of bitterness from the German hops used. The insane thing about this beer is that it is only 4.0% ABV!

I can’t wait to visit Hickory, North Carolina, to try some of the other beers from Olde Hickory and explore other breweries. Oh, and of course, visit my sister and her husband.

Cheers!

Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy the Killa Ride!

When two of the best imperial beer breweries, Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales and Boiler Brewing Company, come together to collaborate on an Imperial Pastry Stout, you know it will be phenomenal!

This year’s must-have Black Friday beer was called The Killa Ride. If you like a thick, silky body to your stout, you are in for a treat! Immense chocolate notes upfront greet then tease you - wait; there’s more! A coconut-infused sweetness rushes in and completely has you mesmerized. The finish on this decadent 11.5% ABV stout is warming and melts you into the leather chair as you embrace the cold winter’s night.

Wintertime is a great time for big stouts! Make sure to find your way to Boiler Brewing Company in Lincoln and Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales in Omaha, Nebraska, to discover more of the great beers they offer.

Cheers!

Just Call Me Dort (for short)

You probably already guessed that this post isn’t about a lady named Dorothy - Dort for short. This Dortmunder Export Lager from Marto Brewing Company in Sioux City, Iowa, is one fine German Lager!

This Lager greets you with nice bready notes with a slight sweetness that fades into a mild bitterness that balances out this 6.4% beer. The body is crisp and dances across your tastebuds, allowing all of the flavors to be explored thoroughly. This is truly a fantastic lager!

This is my first beer from Marto Brewing Company, and I can’t wait to try others!

Let me know what some of your favorite brews are from Marto.

Cheers!

This Monster is as Dark as Midnight

A coloration between Weldwerks and Cerebral Brewing

Halloween is quickly approaching with thoughts of ghosts, goblins, and scary monsters. For those old enough to remember the Thriller video by Michael Jackson, the lyrics of “It's close to midnight … Something evil's lurking in the dark” popped into my head. Fast forward to now, and this beast of an imperial stout is upon you. The dire screams of Monstrous De Medianoche - Monsters of Midnight ring throughout the room. I know there is only one way to sleigh the beast; we must drink it now!

I can’t imagine planning a collaboration where you are planning on barrel-aging the beer for 26 months! Weldwerks Brewing and Cerebral Brewing, both from Colorado, came up with the ultimate plan! Weldwerks’ Medianoche and Cerebral’s Here Be Monsters would be blended and stored in the same batch of 19-year Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. To finish this impressive recipe, each would pick their own adjunct.

The flavor of this beer is incredible! My first thoughts are of a marshmallow, vanilla liquid brownie. The bourbon notes are perfect coming in towards the backend with some oakiness and warmth. The mouthfeel is thick and soft, bringing great enjoyment to all of the flavors of this stout!

The ABV is not listed on the label, but my good friend Carole, who got me this incredible beer, asked Weldwerks, and they said it should be 12 - 14%.

So glad to get the opportunity to try this one!

Cheers!

My Heart Longs for Maui Brewing's Coconut Hiwa

Background is a photo from a visit to Maui 3 years ago

It was 3 years ago when I made my first trip to the Hawaiian islands and specifically Maui. A family vacation that I will never forget!

We drove around the island and stopped in the morning to see this amazing heart windowed rock formation. A bit further down from it was a blowhole that we took in. As the day progressed, we found are way to Maui Brewing Co.

My flight at Maui Brewing Co

At the brewery, I got to try the coveted Coconut Hiwa Porter. It was a great memory, and recently Maui Brewing Co started distributing to Nebraska. I picked up a four-pack a couple of days ago and couldn’t wait to crack one open tonight!

Chocolate and light coffee aroma greet you. The chocolate and coconut notes are pronounced in the beginning, transitioning to that roasty finish. The body has a nice amount of carbonation that accentuates the sweetness of this magnificent 6.0% ABV Porter body.

A gem that you have to experience! For more about my experience in Maui, check out this blog – The Heart of Maui.

Cheers!

Night Witch - 2022

The transition to fall and winter means fireplaces and warming Imperial Stouts! Lupulin Brewing from Big Lake, Minnesota, has crafted the temptress known as Night Witch. It is not even Halloween yet, but I will be thinking about this witch for a long time!

This 12% barrel-aged Imperial Stout is a rush of chocolate notes upfront. The middle is roasty molasses wrapped with a splash of bourbon. The body is very silky and has incredible legs.

There are a couple of insanely cool details about this stout. The first is that it was boiled all night. Now I am envisioning witches circling about the boil kettle. The second is this stout was aged in Heaven Hill and Buffalo Trace barrels for 19 months. Now that is a long time to wait, but well worth it!

What another great beer from Lupulin Brewing!

Cheers!

Guaranteed Da Coldest Ever!

The beautiful color of Da Coldest!

Many of you know that this year for me, has been all about finding the Cold IPAs. It is an exciting style, and at first, you might think it is an IPL, but it is not. Cold IPAs are fermented colder than average IPAs, so you get a light, crisp, yet smooth drinking IPA.

Da Coldest from Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales in Omaha, Nebraska, may catch some people off guard as they experience the fruit notes that quickly fade into an incredibly dank IPA! The other crazy part I typically don’t find in IPAs is that the darkness fades late in the finish, and you get those citrus and stone fruit notes again.

The hop profile is crazy, starting with Apollo, Warrior, CTZ, and Citra hops in the boil. Experimental USDA Variety 008, Citra Lupomax, and Amarillo Lupomax hops were used for the dry hopping. Very mind-blowing for this upper 7 to 8.0% ABV IPA.

As always, it is tough to keep up with all of the great brews from Bearder Brewer Artisan Ales, so best to make frequent visits!

Cheers!

Mornin' Delight

The experience of Mornin’ Delight weekend is like no other!

My first sip of Mornin’ Delight from Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. brought back memories of Saturday morning growing up with mom making French toast and the noise of the percolator brewing coffee. Those two things were like heaven, and so is the imperial stout!

The nose of this stout is a rush of maple syrup aroma in this 2021 bottle of Mornin’ Delight. With this stout being a little chilled, the first taste reminds me of having French toast. As the stout warms, the coffee, vanilla, and chocolate note come through this silky body 12% ABV elixir!

Last year, I got to experience the release of Morin’ Delight. It was a great time meeting so many people from Toppling Goliath! Also, the atmosphere was so much fun! There were craft beer enthusiasts from all over the United States that came to participate in this great tradition!

It was a VIP experience that I will never forget!

Make your way to Decorah, Iowa to visit this amazing brewery.

Cheers!