Beerploma's Interview with Summit's Eric Harper, Brewer of Hop Silo Double IPA

Summit Brewing Company's 18th Unchained Series, Hop Silo, has been available a little over a week now.  It has met with a myriad of positive reviews.  Hop Silo is a Double IPA that has the hop punch to satisfy even the biggest hop-head while remaining incredibly drinkable and smooth.  I sat down with the man behind  Hop Silo, Eric Harper, who had the responsibility of brewing up this fantastic brew.  The atmosphere of the Summit beer hall complete with open windows and delicious beer acted as the perfect backdrop for this interview.  Our chat was both informative and enjoyable as Eric is a very knowledgeable and down to earth brewer who likes to talk beer.

Eric has been with Summit for 6 years and New Glarus before that, so he has a great pedigree when it comes to brewing.  Hop Silo is Eric's third Unchained beer; the previous Unchained brews were Series #4 a Belgian Style Golden Ale and Series #11 Old 152, a Kentucky Common Ale.  The seven brewers at Summit rotate who gets to brew the Unchained beers.  Eric said that being able to have 100% control over the development of a beer that Summit makes is incredibly cool.  He loves the fact that he gets the trust of the Brewmaster and Head Brewer to do something that he feels incredibly passionate about.  Summit has never brewed a Double IPA before, but when Eric was out in the Yakima Hop valley, he discovered some hops that he felt he absolutely had to use and that was what put the wheels in motion.  

Eric used Azacca, Zeus, Lemondrop and Cascade hops as well as a Beta Aroma Hop Extract.  All these things work together to give Hop Silo a decent hop presence, but not to the point where it will overwhelm the palate.  He wanted to maintain a balance between aroma and bitterness and I think that he does that because there is enough malt in this beer.  When you drink Hop Silo, it doesn't taste like it is 8.3% ABV, and that is why it is so drinkable.  One reason why I am always a little wary of a Double IPA is that it can be so strong and so astringent, that it is hard to enjoy more than one without totally destroying my palate.  Hop Silo did not destroy my palate and I even enjoyed another!  The only negative about this beer is that it is a somewhat limited quantity.  It released about 10 days ago and people are responding positively to Hop Silo.  Summit brewed roughly 900 barrels of this beer (a barrel is 31.5 gallons) and is available in 16 oz. cans as well as on tap at many of the places in the Twin Cities.  

As a local craft beer fan, I am so happy that Summit puts such trust in the capable hands of their brewers.  Eric is incredibly passionate about beer and in talking to him, the pride that he has in this beer comes across genuinely and unabashed.  His ear to ear grin about how happy he is that Hop Silo turned out so well speak volumes about what this opportunity means to him.  Not many other breweries in this market do a series like this where they give over total control to every brewer to create something unique that may or may not be in their regular portfolio.  Get out and try this wonderful beer while you can.  

12 Beers of Christmas: Craft Beers to Celebrate the Holiday Season

When the weather dips down and the dulcet tones of Michael Buble assault my ear drums, it is time for two things: taking my bath and the colossal selection of holiday-themed craft beers.  We are not only lucky in this market to have local breweries concocting delicious holiday and seasonal offerings, but we also get many of the best national selections to fill our tulip glasses and pair with our holiday feasts.  I contend that if the Grinch had been able to savor the deliciousness of Indeed Stir Crazy, his holiday disposition would have been much different.  It is indeed a wonderful time of year and below you will find my list of 12 Beers of Christmas!  These beers go well, but are not limited to the following occasions: holiday work parties, family gatherings, helping one get through the wall to wall holiday music on Kool 108, happy hours with friends, family holiday fun, Bikram Yoga class, dealing with holiday shopping, waiting up for St. Nick to arrive, celebrating making it through your Festivus Airing of Grievances, and the wall to wall holiday music on Kool 108.  Whether you are with others in a crowd, or just at home relaxing by yourself, these yummy yuletide libations will take the chill out of the air and dazzle your palate with a variety of holiday flavor sensations.  While this is a list, there is no order.  This is a list of beers, of which each one offers something special that you will enjoy in your holiday season.  So, without further ado, I present my 12 beers of Christmas.




Indeed Stir Crazy-This Winter Ale is 6.5% ABV and 22 IBUs.  Stir Crazy is available in the taproom and most liquor stores starting in November and lasts usually until February.    It has a dark brown, and slightly dark reddish color with a slight to medium head.  This beer has a very nice roasted malt aroma, with a subtle hint of coffee.  The flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel and raisin intensify as it warms, so make sure you are not drinking it too cold.  There is just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg spice in this beer which is nice because many people find overdoing of spices in a beer off-putting.  The mouthfeel is medium and the dark color of this beer makes it seem like the beer is heavier than it is.  It is not overly sweet and almost has a dry finish.  At 6.5% ABV, this is a very drinkable beer that will still take the chill out of your bones.



Bau Haus Brew Labs Jingle Fever-This Baltic Porter is 8% ABV and 20 IBUs.  This is a beer style that I am not all that familiar with and was very eager to try.  As most porters are very roasty in their aroma, the roasted malt character in this beer is more subtle.  However, that is not to say that it is lacking in flavor and depth.  It drinks smooth and velvety with the bittersweet chocolate and caramel notes and a nice black licorice flavor.  If you are dealing with a few humbugs at the work mixer, knock a few of these back and suddenly you will be riding the one-horse sleigh to fun town!




Summit Winter Ale-This beer is 6.5% ABV and 40 IBUs.  Summit Winter Ale has become synonymous with my holiday imbibing over the years.  Trust me on this, you will not regret getting a sixer of this to bring to the in-laws for some holiday cheer.   I know that there are people out there who often bypass Summit to have something trendier.  However, this is a great representation of the Winter Warmer style and has flirted with my palate for years with its nice nutty, roasty and malty flavor.  It drinks really smooth and goes well with many holiday foods like ham or a nice roasted prime rib.  For me, this is the beer I always drink when I am out at my favorite wing joint with my buddies.  So, to say that this beer is representative of the embodiment of holiday cheer is an understatement.  




Schell's Snowstorm Grand Cru-This beer is 6.5% ABV and 20 IBUs.  This is a bit of a departure from the dark and velvety Winter Warmers that are readily available during this time.  This is part of a series from Schell's that is a little different every year in regards to the style.  This year's rendition is an incredibly refreshing Grand Cru.  The aromas of citrus, esters and slight coriander are really bright.  It drinks very clean with a nice carbonation effervescence.  There is a slight chocolate hint that is an homage to the wonderful marriage of orange and chocolate.  This beer drinks lighter than the 6.5 ABV would suggest and because of that, is one of the more approachable beers on this list.



Bad Weather Ominious Midwest Warmer-This beer is 7.5% ABV and 40 IBUs.   The first thing I notice before I even take a sip is how amazing this beer smells.  The roasted malt character is so enticing and then you add in the hints of chocolate and coffee and I am ready for the snowdrifts to force me to stay home and read Garfield's 5th Treasury by the fire.  The beer is medium bodied and is very smooth.  Barry White would have absolutely loved this beer.  It is remarkably effervescent for having as much body as it does.  This is probably not the first thing that you think of when you think winter beers, but if you give this a try, you will be rewarded with a very solid drinking experience.



Lift Bridge Commander Barley Wine-This beer is 12.5% ABV and 75 IBUs.  This is a special beer.  The aroma has notes of bourbon barrel, vanilla and some slight cardamom spice.  There is no head on the beer and it is amber in appearance.  This beer is complex and is perfect for the season.  It is very balanced and there is very little hop bitterness.  The malty sweetness is the main act in this flavor show and as it warms, the flavors intensify.  The cardamom is used sparingly, and yet, it has a definite presence in the beer.  What a perfect beer for a nice cold night when all you have to worry about is which really good cheese are you going to pair with your snifter of Commander.





Great Lakes Christmas Ale-This beer is 7.5% ABV and 30 IBUs.  This beer is so easy drinking and delicious.  The spice is done with a deft hand and the hints of honey and cinnamon come through in a very pleasing way.  This beer is a mainstay for me and I have been lucky enough to have this in my kegerator during the holidays for the last couple of years.  Most of the people who come over and try this beer wind up enjoying it and by the end of the night are big fans of its drinkability and approachable flavor.  This is the beer that I want to be drinking when I am sharing a laugh at a holiday party with my family and friends.  This beer is as harmonious as the sound of the laughter that fills your home when you have people over to celebrate the holidays.




Odell Isolation Ale-This beer is 6.1% ABV and 29 IBUs.  This beer is a straight-forward ale with a very subtle aroma of cookie-like malt.  The flavor is balanced with caramel malt flavor and a subtle dry hoppiness.  This is the least spicy of all the beers on this list and would be a nice alternative for someone who doesn't enjoy too much spice in their beer.  It drinks smooth, like most of Odell's beers, it is very approachable and you will definitely want to have more than one of these!







Deschutes Jubelale-This beer is 6.7% ABV and 60 IBUs.  The smell of roasted malt along with some slight spice is very inviting.  This beer has a definite hop presence that is noticeable in the finish.  The flavor is roasty, somewhat sweet and toffee-like.  This beer is smooth and balanced.  As it warms up, the flavor of raisins and dates is more obvious.  This beer is very smooth for having as much of a hop presence as it does.  Deschutes is always a great choice, no matter what time of year it is.  However, you would be wise to add this to your holiday beer list and just pray that Santa saw you being nice this year. . .



Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale-This beer is 7%ABV in the style of an Old Ale.  This has a nice aroma of earthy hops along with a boozy aroma with a hint of smokiness.  The color is a beautiful reddish brown and looks magnificent in a snifter.  Old Man Winter is robust and has a good body.  One can definitely tell they are drinking a 7% ABV beer.  I still have yet to try a Southern Tier offering that I don't like.  This beer is definitely a nice sipper and almost tastes boozier than it is.  It has a very good hop flavor that cuts through the booziness of the beer.





Rogue Santa's Private Reserve-This beer is 6% ABV and 65 IBUs.  This beer has a very floral hop aroma.  The head is rocky with nice retention.  The flavor is very earthy and clean at the start.  That transitions to a piney and resiny hop flavor that stays on the tongue for a bit until it finishes very dry.  Based on this beer, I am thinking that Santa is definitely a hop lover.  It makes perfect sense, after spending all night long drinking milk and eating cookies he needs something hoppy to balance out all those sweets.








Great Divide Hibernation Ale-This beer is 8.7% ABV.  This is an English Style Old Ale.  It is has a rich and malty aroma with hints of roasted malt and coffee.  It drinks smooth and medium bodied without feeling heavy.  The malt and booze in the beer balance really well with the hoppy notes.  The color of this beer is a really beautiful hue of reddish brown.  This is the essence of a Winter Warmer as it really does take the chill out of the air.  I enjoyed this in my living room as we put up the holiday decorations and it was the perfect compliment to the nostalgia that comes along with this time of year.





As always, our mission at Beerploma is to educate and promote craft beer, locally and nationally.  Since this is the season for sharing and good cheer, head on down to your local craft beer store and maybe make yourself up a holiday six pack to bring to the next gathering on your calendar.  I am sure that you will find something on this list that you would want to have on your wish list.  My hope is that you find yourself enjoying this great season for merriment and laughter with the people that you find most important.  Beerploma wishes you all a very happy holiday season and please let me know if there are any of your favorites that I should go out and try.  As the season progresses, I will be enjoying many of these beers myself, as well as a Swiss Colony Beef Log or two.  Prost!

Recap of the 2014 Autumn Brew Review

Photo courtesy of Allegra Smisek

The 2014 Autumn Brew Review took place on Saturday at the historic Grain Belt Brewery complex in Minneapolis.  The weather was warm, the craft beer drinkers were out in force and the breweries all brought their A-games.  I had lofty goals of getting out and trying all the beers that I highlighted in the program.  I even made a spreadsheet.  I know that some of you office monkeys who are reading this are thinking that you make spreadsheets every day, but I don't even make my bed, so a spreadsheet is definitely next-level stuff.

My plan was to focus on the MN breweries and then maybe hit some of the other ones if they had something really intriguing or special on tap.  As with all plans, sometimes one veers off-script and changes some things up.  I didn't make it even two-thirds of the way through my spreadsheet, but it was not for lack of trying.  I was not side-tracked by what typically plagues fest-goers; getting separated from the group then spending way too much time trying to find them or waiting in a line for that incredibly rare beer that everyone and their brother has been talking about.  Instead, I found myself spending more time talking to the people pouring the beers and really inquiring about what they had.  As a result, the time absolutely flew by and I have less beers to talk about for this review.  However, I came away understanding a lot more about what festivals should be about.  I immersed myself in the camaraderie and symbiotic relationship between those that market and create beer and those who talk and imbibe this wonderful creation we call craft beer.  

The first beer that really wowed me was something that I had not had before.  I don't know if it was the higher than fall-like temperature or the fact that I was wearing a prototype of a Nicaraguan designed Spankx for men, but I was in the mood for an IPA.  The Brau Brothers Smash Simcoe IPA was just what the doctor ordered.  I feel that sometimes, a brewer can really show their mettle when they use fewer types of hops or malt in a beer.  That way, the particular hop is front and center and the flavor is deftly on display.  Of course, that gives very little room for error and anyone with a decent palate will be able to tell if the brewer missed their mark.  This fine beer accomplished everything one would want in an IPA.  It had citrus notes and was incredibly refreshing, while at the some time, showcasing the Simcoe hop.  The program indicated that it is a taproom exclusive so maybe the next time you feel like a beer trip, maybe set your coordinates for Brau Brothers and try this along with many of their other great beers.

The next new beer I had set my sights on hailed from up north at Bemidji Brewing Company.  They had several good selections, but the one the piqued my interest was their special release of an Espresso Porter.  This beer was very much coffee forward, but where some might worry about the coffee taking over, I felt that it was just right.  Dark like the soul of someone who goes around literally taking candy from babies, this beer looked and smelled like every porter I have ever written about in my diary.  I would tell you to head up to Bemidji based on this beer alone, but they had several other offerings that made me excited to make the trip up there sometime in the not too distant future.  

I spent a lot of time in this corridor of MN breweries

Not every brewery was new for me.  There is always the excitement about the tried and true breweries that never disappoint.  I will be the first to admit that there was a time when I would see Summit on a menu and think, "Summit EPA is good, but I want something different."  Those days are long-gone.  Summit has upped their game in the last couple years and they are now releasing so many beers that make you think critically about what you are putting into your proper glassware.  Last year, Summit brewed their Rebellion Stout, and it was on the shelves for about as long as one can stand listening to Kim Kardashian speak.  This beer was on tap at some of the fine beer bars in the cities and I remember really wishing that I had been able to get my hands on more than just a six-pack of it.  The complexity and depth of flavor when the beer was fresh put it into a class by itself.  I remember listening to Damian McConn tell our BBSU class that this beer would be even better if one had the self-discipline to let it cellar for a while.  Well, I drank all of mine and I am glad that Summit has folks who understand how to stave off the siren call of a great stout because they released this beer midway through the fest and it made me very happy to be there.  Time has rounded out some of the flavors of this beer and while I didn't feel like the dryness was as sharp in this beer after being aged, some of the the other flavors were allowed to come to the forefront making it a very special drinking experience.  

Some other notable beers I tried came from Bent Paddle(Best of the Fest Award winner for their Double Shot Double Black), Surly(Winner of the best brewery and best display award), Bent Brewstillery, Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., Fargo Brewing Company, August Schell Brewing Co., BauHaus Brew Labs, Lakefront Brewery, Inc., Blacklist Artisan Ales, and Hammerheart Brewing Co.



I am curious what your favorite beers were from the Autumn Brew Review.  Tweet us @beerploma and let us know what you thought of the festival and the myriad of beer offerings.  What were your favorites?  ABR being one of the better festivals that happens in MN, I know that there were many people enjoying what our beer scene has to showcase.  Now, the bittersweet reality is setting in that I have to wait a whole year to do this again and, perhaps more depressing, I have to find a way to get out of these Nicaraguan Spanx.  

Brews and Reviews: Drinking the In-Laws

It's that time of year again.  My father in law is in town!  The good news is that we didn't have to buy one case of Bud, it's all Schell's from here an out!  That being said he has undertaken redoing our entire deck.  This of course has led me to drink more then a fare share of new beers.  So to kill two beers with one gulp I decided to post about my sanity saving friends....

I don't know if this is the first year that Summit has made this beer, but I hope it is not the last [Summit contacted me after posting this and say that it was first introduced in 2012].  In a world filled with Summer Lagers this beer is a great edition to anyone's lawn mower beer line up.  This hazy straw gold beer gives off a clean white grape aroma.  It has a nice gentle biscuity malt taste, with mild hop bittering.  Almost like a lingering pilsner.  It has a very thin mouthfeel, it actually feels lighter then water.  I really enjoyed this beer and good easily take down a few of these after a hard day's work in the yard.  Rating:  "Good"

This is not the first year Third Street brought out Hunny Do, but last year it sold out so fast I am not even sure if it made it to the cities.  But luckily they made it a second year!  this hazy pale gold pours with a tight foamy head.  It has an ample floral bouquet in the aroma.  Soft mouthfeel, ample Saaz like bitterness.  It has a dry finish.  Another beer to enjoy after the yard work is done!  Just make sure your Hunny Do list is done as well before cracking into this summer delight.  Rating:  "Good".

 I am a sucker for a good pilsner, so when the make of one of my favorite stouts had a pilsner offering on the shelf of my local liquor establishment, I had to partake.  Left Handed Polestar pilsner is a great offering, again pair well with the muggy days of the Minnesota Craft Beer drinking season.  This pale straw yellow poured with a short white head.  It had a soft hops presence, and gave of hints of cinnamon in the aroma.  The pilsner was softer then they strong German pilsners I am used to, but I think that might make it easier for your average American drinker, so I am overlooking that for this rating.  It has a harp bitter aftertaste reminding me of the noble hops.  It has a very mellow biscuity malt taste with a nuttiness to it, which was my favorite part.  Rating:  "Good"

So there you have three solid beers to try for this summer season.  What are your favorite "lawnmower beers".  Leave us a comment!

Take Me Out to the Beer Game

 

 

 

I will just come out and admit it… I am not a baseball guy. It just isn’t my sport. I need a sport that has violent collisions on a regular basis, like football, hockey, heck even NASCAR. I probably catch a combined total of one inning of baseball a year.

 

That said, recently I had a chance to go to Target Field to see the MN Twins try to play baseball for a work outing… Let’s see; sit at my office all afternoon or go drink some beer on a sunny afternoon at the ol’ ball park…. Easy decision!

 

Baseball aside, I was actually really excited to go. I had heard great things about the ballpark; the beer, the food, the views, and it didn’t disappoint.

 

Target Field itself is a beautiful ball park! It’s new, clean, and easily accessible. Even though we had the cheap seats the view of the field was great, and we didn’t need a Sherpa to get to them!

 

 

 

 

Blah, blah, baseball, ballpark… Whatever, lets get to the beer side of things! This place is a beer drinker’s paradise. It was great to finally go to a stadium and have options other than beers that start with the word Miller or end with the word Light.

 

My first stop was right inside the gate I entered, Twin’s Pub. Just a normal average looking hot dog, nachos, and beer type stand that is at every stadium I have ever been to except this one had tasty beers! I went for a bomber of Summit Extra Pale Ale. Nothing too adventurous obviously, but I have always liked this beer and never have ordered a bomber of it, so why not?

 

 

 

 

I walked through the concourses searching out other fun beer stuff and found Hrbek’s. Hrbek’s is a full service sports bar inside the ballpark named after former Twin’s first baseman Kent Hrbek… He played back when the Twins were good. Anybody remember that? I didn’t get a drink there because I was still working on my Summit, but the place looked nice and at least had leinie’s on tap.
 

 

After watching a couple innings of baseball with my coworkers I headed back out for another beer. I came across a small beer counter the size of a large walk in closet built into the wall called Twin’s Brews, Beers of Twin’s Territory. This little place was awesome! They had countless local craft beers. It was a cool touch to see the hometown team promoting hometown beers. We need more of that type of stuff if you ask me. I had a Lost Trout by Third Street Brewhouse. It was a little on the chilly side that day, so a good brown ale went down great!
 

 

The Twins lost, but I was really impressed with the wide selection of craft beer available at Target Field. The beer combined with some great food stands, like Foods of the State Fair and a variety of sausage vendors among other things, makes for a great fan experience, even if you are not a fan in the first place.
 

On a quick side note, Beerploma was nominated for Best Beer Blog in the Growler’s Kind-of-a-Big-Deal awards. Thanks to those who nominated us! If you like what you read here, please take a second to go to www.growlermag.com/vote and vote for beerploma.blogspot.com for best beer blog (category number 18).