The Pint Report: Surly Abrasive VS. Bell's Hopslam

Craft beer drinkers look forward to the release of Bell's Hopslam every year with a vigor matched only by someone who consumed 8 Fiber One bars on a road trip and is looking for a rest stop.  This beer is iconic and believed by many to be the standard to which all others should be measured.  Luckily, for Minnesotans, and more recently people in Chicago, Surly has a beer called Abrasive Ale, which is also a very uniquely uber-hopped Double IPA.

Surly Abrasive and Bell's Hopslam are now both available in our market.  These are probably two of the best representations of Double IPAs in this market and craft beer drinkers will naturally be having the debate about which of these beers is better.  Is it even fair to compare these two beers?  Maybe not, but I like to live on the edge and a comparison of these two fabulous beers cannot possibly be worse than my Fiber One Bar debacle on my way to Wichita. . .

Let's start with the local beer, Surly Abrasive Ale.  As of 2/15/15, it is ranked 51st on Beer Advocate's list of the top 250 beers.  It was released a little after mid-January and is widely available in the metro at bars, liquor stores and at the brewery.  It is an American Double IPA/Imperial IPA with an ABV of 9% and 120 IBUs.  It is brewed with Warrior and Citra hops and balanced out with malted oats and 2-row malt according to the Surly Brewing Company website.

Bell's Hopslam started showing up in MN around the 9th of February and is also an American Double IPA.  It ranks 66th out of 250 on Beer Advocate's list of the top 250 beers.  Hopslam has an ABV of 10% and 70 IBUs.  The Bell's website states only that is uses hop varietals from the Pacific Northwest and that it is dry-hopped with Simcoe hops.  According to their website, Bell's uses a "generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey" to balance out the hops.

Let's start with the things that these great beers have in common.  The rich hue of vibrant marmalade orange makes this a breathtaking sight in a nice goblet.  The ABV of the beers are also in the 9-10% range, so more of a sipper as opposed to something you would invite the frat boys down the street over to play beer pong with.  These beers are also incredibly sought after.  There might still be some available in your local craft beer liquor stores, but it might be easier to find these beers on tap.

Head of Bell's Hopslam

The differences that set these beers apart are also what makes them similarly great.  When I tasted them side by side, it was a very pleasant way to spend my time.  I will start with aroma and tell you that they are both extremely aromatic, but in two separately distinct ways.  The Hopslam has a very citrusy and sweet aroma.  Whereas the Abrasive is more piney and almost woody.  Both hop aromas are inviting to the nose and really stimulate the olfactory senses.

Hopslam has a little head retention where the Abrasive has almost none.  The mouthfeel of the Hopslam was slightly more effervescent and eventually smoothed out.  The resiny nature of the Abrasive lingers on the tongue and transitions to a pretty bitter bite in the aftertaste.  Hopslam is a lot more balanced because of the honey as opposed to the Abrasive that is pretty hoppy the whole way through.

Head of Surly Abrasive

Flavor-wise, these beers are both tremendous.  In the abrasive, amongst the piney and grapefruity intensity, there is also almost the bitterness of citrus pith.  Obviously, diehard hop-heads love Abrasive for this quality.  Hopslam is citrusy at first and then melds into a more grapefruit hop bite which is balanced out by the malt and honey, resulting in a much more balanced taste.

To say which one is better is tough.  Is it possible to say which animal print pattern of Zubaz go better with a fanny pack?  Can we possibly say that there is one distinct Kim Kardashian quote that proves her to be the queen of stupidity?  Can we truly look at the label of a Fiber One bar and think to ourselves that 35% of your daily fiber is more of an estimation than a scientific certainty?  I believe that it is not fair to say one is better than the other.  They are each superb representations of a style while being drastically different in hop character.  That is why they are sought after and rated highly.  There is not one person who considers themselves a fan of hoppy beer who would say that either of these beers are bad.

Craft Beers That Make You Go Hmm: My Evolution As A Craft Beer Drinker

Throughout one's life, there are many memorable journeys.  Whether it is a job, a relationship, or in this case, the evolution of a beer palate, the destination is immaterial.  However, there is an enormity of importance in the steps along the way of that journey that stick in one's memory.  As people look back at how their tastes in beer have changed over the years, it can be pleasant and nostalgic to take stock of where they started and how far they have come.

Everyone starts somewhere when it comes to beer.  I remember, with a moderate level of fondness, my first encounter with the sudsy siren Busch Light.  It was in a dingy basement of a college house over by the University of St. Thomas.  It was Halloween and some friends and I were intrepidly going to see if we could get into a house party that we had caught wind of.  Dressed to the nines as a woman of the night, complete with hollowed-coconuts to add to my hourglass figure, I was skeptical about getting into this party.  I don't know if it was my plunging neckline or their pity for my appearance, but we were let in, paid our five dollars for a cup, and headed downstairs to the keg.  The warm and foamy liquid erupted boisterously from the tap thanks to the stooge who was vigorously over-pumping the keg.  As soon as the beer hit my lips, I began thinking that I didn't understand what all the fuss was about.  I guess that back in those days, the main reason to drink a light domestic beer wasn't to measure it pointedly for taste and aroma, but a necessary first step in a beer journey that has lead me to where I am today.  I pondered why so many people raved about beer, and as I choked down the skunky, room-temperature libation, I realized that beer was meant to make one think.  As many of the other Halloween revelers that evening, I drank my fair share of Busch Light and there were even some Zimas thrown in at the end of the night for good measure.  What I wanted to know after that was where was the good beer?  Why did I just pay five dollars for a cup of slightly flavored watery disappointment?

Fast forward to several years later.  I was done with college and had a stable job and wanted to get more into beer.  Since the Busch Light debacle, I had tried several other beers, mostly domestic, but had really not found a beer that I liked.  They say that everything happens for a reason and that good things come to those who wait.  I was out in South Dakota for a surprise birthday party for my in-laws and we were hanging around drinking.  Someone brought out a 12-pack of beer from a brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I had never even heard of this brewery before and was immediately curious.  This beer was only available in Colorado and its bordering states: New Belgium Fat Tire.  Now, up until this point, the only craft beers I had tried were from Schell's and Summit.  I had also tried other beers and found that I tended to prefer malty over hoppy as a flavor profile.  I was offered a bottle of this special beer and I immediately took a swig.  Remember that scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Phoebe Cates emerges slowly from the swimming pool in an aura of scintillation and desire while poured perfectly into a red bikini?  Well, that was exactly the energy that had captivated my taste buds, olfactory senses and overall mainframe.  This beer had flavor, depth, and had aroused my palate.  I mentally teleported back to that house party in college and the Busch Light and thought that the flavor present in this bottle of Fat Tire is the reason people drink beer!  This amazing example of how beer can be something that can totally blow the doors off your senses ignited a passion for finding more beer like this.  I was feverish, my eyes were bugging out of my head, and then a sobering reality hit me, like a bocce ball to the crotch in an America's Funniest Home Videos first prize submission; this beer was not available anywhere close to where I lived.  I only got to try one bottle and I did my best to savor it, desperately trying to commit every taste, smell, sight and feeling to memory.  Fat Tire was a revelation and was my gateway beer.  It opened a floodgate of yearning to try more craft beers with unique flavors that represented different styles.  I felt like Navin R. Johnson in The Jerk, if this is out there, think of how much other great beer was out there.  And just like that, I was hooked.

In the summer of 2006, I visited by sister and her boyfriend in Cleveland, Ohio.  My first night there we were heading out to get some dinner and my sister's better half suggested that we try a great local brewery called Great Lakes Brewing Company.  I was excited because I had never before been to a brewery.  I had consumed a fair amount of beer, but still considered myself a craft beer novice.  My beers of choice at that time were Blue Moon, Schell's, Summit and any random thing that a friend brought over.  I thought that it was pretty interesting that a brewery would also have its own restaurant.  What I noticed immediately was that there were many things on the menu that paired well with beer.  I thought this curious because up until that point, I thought beer was only used to boil brats before throwing them on the grill.  Then I began looking at the menu and I became intrigued; there were eight different beers on tap all brewed on site!  I felt like I had to try them all so I ordered the entire list that came in the form of five ounce samples of each beer.  It ran the gamut from things I was familiar with, to styles I had never even heard of before.  If the New Belgium Fat Tire was my gateway beer, this was my craft beer enlightenment!  As I worked my way down the list, it was like sensory whack-a-mole, hoppy, earthy, malty, citrusy, and many more flavors and textures.  However, there was one that stood out to me above all the rest and cemented itself as one of my forever favorites; the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.  This beer had everything I had been looking for in a malt-forward beer.  It was dark, smooth, roasty and malty.  I felt like I had died and gone to palate heaven.  I remember thinking that it was the perfect level of heaviness for me.  As we walked out of the brewpub, I remember thinking to myself that it would be so incredible if they could ever get something like this in MN.  It was maybe 2 years later when I was strolling down the aisle at Big Top Liquors on University and Snelling that I saw an endcap display with that recognizable ship in the fog, the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter had finally made its way to MN along with several other of the Great Lakes flagship beers.  I grabbed two six packs of Edmund Fitzgerald and one sixer of Elliot Ness and headed home with a smile on my face and drool running down the side of my face,

We have all had a situation where we happen to be at the right place at the right time.  I was browsing the local liquor store on a Friday night in the fall and it was shortly after I had tried, Harvest Moon, a pumpkin ale from Blue Moon Brewing Company.  I was looking for another pumpkin beer to try and asked the gentleman who was working if he had anything similar to or better than the Harvest Moon.  His face suddenly transformed from jovial and relaxed to paranoid and tense. He leaned in very suspiciously and asked, "Would you pay 8 dollars for the best pumpkin beer in the world?"  I told him that would be great and he disappeared into the back room.  At this point, I was thinking that perhaps that beer that he was about to bring out was either stolen from the same Libyans that sold Doc Brown Plutonium in Back to the Future, or the bottle came with a complementary human head and that is why the salesman was being so weird.  To my relief, he brought out a 22 ounce bomber of a beer called Pumking from Southern Tier Brewing Company.  I had never heard of the brewery of the beer.  The next part of the transaction got very strange and he gave me some very explicit instructions for drinking the beer.  He told me that I need to let the beer warm up a bit first or I might as well have flushed my money down the toilet.  I should drink it out of a goblet and not just a pint glass.  As he kept rambling on in a manner that bordered on hysterical, I started to wonder if this bottle would turn into a Gremlin if I didn't take proper care of it.  I paid for my beer, drove home and began the ritual of preparing to imbibe the Pumking.  I found a wine glass in the cupboard that I felt would suffice for a true goblet and set it out on the counter while I watched television for a while.  After about a half hour, I came back and felt like it was time.  I dimmed the lights, put on some Barry White and wrote my safe-word on the back of my hand just in case I forgot it in the heat of passion.  The first thing that I remember about this beer was how absolutely strong the aroma of graham cracker was as I brought it up to my nose.  It was like I was about to drink a pie crust or a gingerbread man cookie.  Then I took my first sip; my mind began doing somersaults and my palate sang as a myriad of flavors paraded on my tongue.  I could not understand how a beer could so effectively mimic the sensation of eating pumpkin pie.  This beer was so complex and unlike anything I had ever before consumed.  Had I known how hard to find this beer would be, I would have bought more than one.  I did not encounter this beer again for another three  years.  However, that flavor and memory of how much my palate was challenged by Pumking was another highlight in my journey as a beer drinker.

Every year around the holidays, one of my favorite liquor stores does an event called "Beer Geek Christmas," which is an amazing all-day event and beer sale.  They have amazing products that get released for that day and incredible beers to sample in the store.  Because of my day job, I wasn't able to get there until the tail end of things and I got there and headed downstairs to where they had a keg of Surly Five, an anniversary beer that was a wine barrel-aged sour beer.  I thought that sour really didn't seem to be an appealing flavor profile in a beer.  I had never had a sour beer before and thought that I would try it and see how it went.  Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo stick, was it ever good!  I really liked the tartness and funky flavors that were having a party in my mouth.  The more I kept sipping it, the more I liked it.  I mentioned earlier in the article that a good beer should really make you think about what you are drinking.  A good beer should have your dendrites working overtime as your brain processes what you are drinking.  Good beer should not just be something you drink to get drunk because far too much effort and thought went into brewing it to make it just a way to make reruns of Cagney and Lacey more tolerable.  The first time I had a sour beer, I didn't have the beer knowledge to process what I was drinking and yet I enjoyed it because it was a knee to my flavor circuit board.  Now, anytime I get a chance to drink a sour beer, I jump at the opportunity and I am almost mentally transported back to my first Beer Geek Christmas, when I hopped aboard the sour beer train.

At Beerploma, we do our best to bring you the news and reviews of what is happening on the local Minnesota beer scene.  However, whenever I get the chance, I like to take a beercation to a place with a thriving craft beer scene.  Last spring, I spent 10 days tasting my way through 26 different breweries in Colorado.  I drank stellar examples of every beer style under the sun out there and was able to check many craft beers off of my bucket list.  When most people think Fort Collins, Colorado, they think of the bigger breweries there like Odell and New Belgium, but there was are many up and comers that are etching out their own territory out in the land of craft beer immortality.  Funkwerks Inc., is a smaller brewery in Fort Collins, CO that brews mainly Saisons and Belgian-style beers.  The beer I had at Funkwerks Inc. that forever changed how I thought about beer was their Belgian Stout.  It was a drinking experience that I will never forget because, in one beer, they were able to include everything I love from two completely different beer styles.  It smelled like peanut brittle and had a tremendous roasted malt character.  Then, in the next split second I was enjoying the distinct yeast properties that are associated with Belgian beers.  Maybe you are thinking, "Wait, I have never heard of that style!" and you are hitting on why I love craft beer in this country.  There are style guidelines, and in a lot of other places in the world like Germany or Belgium, these style guidelines are ironclad and never deviated from for fear of violating hundreds of years of tradi
tion.  Funkwerks Inc. is a great brewery because they brew mostly one style that has been around for hundreds of years and their representations of that style or spot-on.  However, it is also their ability to play in the beer recipe sandbox and use creativity to create things that are not commonplace.  The Funkwerks Belgian Stout rounds out my list of five beers that have helped me evolve as a beer drinker.


In the US, brewers are not just brewing, they are innovating and trailblazing.  They are constantly forging new paths and stepping outside of the style guide boundaries to see what amazing mouth-feels and flavors they can wow our palates with.  We are seeing the golden age of craft beer evolve before our very eyes.  What will the national craft beer scene be like in five years?  What new styles will be created and what old styles will be brought back?  Only time will tell.  One thing is certain, craft beer will continue to make us think and push the boundaries of taste and style.

Craft Beers to Enjoy on Halloween

When I was a young buck, my favorite holiday, by far, was Halloween.  I remember one particular year, when I was 8, I began making Halloween decorations in July.  Yes, you read that right; when other kids were out riding their bikes, skinning their knees and playing kickball, I was busy cutting construction paper into bats, Jack-O-lanterns and ghosts.  Wearing paper cuts as badges of courage, I turned my bedroom into an arts and crafts display that would have given Martha Stewart DTs.  As Halloween got closer, my anticipation worked itself into a rabid fervor, and by the time October rolled around and by October 31st, I was a full-on spazz.

As an adult, my enthusiasm for this spooky holiday has not waned.  Through therapy and the necessity of paying the mortgage, I no longer am making Halloween decorations in July, however, I have found a grown-up way to embrace my child-like love for All Hallows Eve: Halloween appropriate beers!  Obviously, there is no defined category of Halloween beers, but with cool artwork on the bottles and creative names, many of these beers jump out at me as I am walking through the aisle of my local craft beer store.  What I have come to discover over the years is that these beers are not only visually appealing, but also incredibly delicious and unique.

So, here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite craft beers that scream Halloween.

1.  Great Lakes Brewing Company Nosferatu.  I mentioned earlier being obsessed with Halloween, but what I didn't mention was the for 6 out of the 9 years I went trick or treating, I went dressed as a rubber chicken-toting vampire.  A unique take on Count Dracula, for sure.  This beer also has a unique connection to vampire lore.  The label art and name of this beer is an homage to the 1922 vampire movie.  This beer is a remarkably balanced Imperial Red Ale that you will be sure to want to sink your teeth into.

2.  New Holland Ichabod.  This beer is named for the unlikely hero, Ichabod Crane, from Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  The label has an awesome depiction of the Headless Horseman riding a horse, getting ready to terrorize your thirst.  This pumpkin ale is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and is very drinkable at 5.2%.  At that reasonable ABV, it is the perfect beer to drink while you spend Friday evening handing out candy.  Better yet, if you play the drinking game that necessitates you taking a drink every time you see someone dressed as Elsa from Disney's Frozen, you will still be able to function the next day

3.  Surly Pentagram.  I believe it was Adam Sandler's 1996 comedy album, What The Hell Happened To Me? track about joining the cult that said, "The night time is the right time."  This beer begs to be consumed on a ghoulish evening filled with goblins and ghosts.  This sour beer that is brewed right here in MN has awesomely demonic bottle art and is topped with wax.  The flavors are complex and funky and the ABV is 6.66% which is apropos for this dark and magical sour beer.

4.  Southern Tier Warlock.  You don't have to have a collection of 20-sided dice and a dingy basement to enjoy this deliciously arcane ale.  This beer has only been on the market for two years, but is already considered by many to be in a class by itself.  Warlock is a stout brewed with pumpkin spices.  I first consumed this beer while giving out Halloween candy last year and was also mixing and matching candy pairings.  It didn't take long before I was under the Warlock's spell.  Available in 22 oz. bombers, this limited offering is sought after by many, so if you see it, grab it.

This list is just the tip of the tombstone, but you get the idea.  I don't go trick or treating anymore and I retired the rubber chicken.  However, I still am giddy when I start to see these beers on the shelves in the liquor stores, or on tap at my favorite haunts around town.  I would love to hear which Halloween selections put a scare in your snifter, so feel free to list your favorites in the comments section below.  Cheers!

A Rare Evening After All - The Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest in Review

 

Many people have a desire for rarity, an affinity for anything that is unusual or hard to find. No matter your interests or hobbies I can assure you that among them exists something rare, an item or experience that is desirable to those who love their passion. Even within our shared passion of beer, rarity exists and is worthy of pursuit. Luckily it was within reach of Minnesotans on March 29^th at the Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest.

The 2014 Rare Beer Fest, presented by Chop Liver Craft Beer Festivals, was held at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. At $100 a ticket ($20 for a sober cab) the event may seem pricey, but believe me it’s worth every penny for a true beer lover who is seeking out unusual and hard to find beers. In order to showcase their product at the event brewers must make sure that their beer fits the conditions of a ‘rare offering’. This includes beers that were brewed specifically for the event, limited in their availability, or at least a 2012 vintage. For 3 hours ticket holders had access to some of the rarest beers from across the country available to them for unlimited sampling. Thirty breweries (10 of which were from Minnesota!) presented at least 2 beers, with many breweries showcasing 4-5 brews. Included in the ticket price was food provided by Bon Appetit, and excellent food at that. We were also treated to live music during the event by The Zacc Harris Trio, which only lent to the indulgent feeling of the night.

I was also interested to learn that a portion of ticket sales went to Pints for Prostates. Started in 2008 by Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor, the campaign seeks to raise awareness among men of the dangers of prostate cancer and how screenings and early detection can save lives. I do love beer, but when my beer is partnered with a charity event or cause, my love of said beer and event does increase exponentially. Pints for Prostates had staff on hand to discuss their cause, as well as a silent auction with all proceeds going to the group. I invite you to check out this great cause yourself at http://pintsforprostates.org.

I know you’re wondering about the stars of the evening though, the beers themselves. Admittedly, I sampled many, and was quite grateful to my own sober cab for driving me home in the evening. (Thanks again Mark!)  Andy and I were lucky enough to volunteer pouring beer with Brau Brothers for the night, and we owe them a huge thank you for letting us see what happens on the other side of the keg for the evening. We were able to see how hard each brewery works, not only making the beers we’d be sampling, but setting up a great experience. So much work goes into staffing and setting up a booth for these events, and while an incredibly fun experience, it is hard work! I truly loved getting to meet so many people and explain each offering to them, chatting about their evening, and the love of beer that we all share. And while you might not realize it, pouring the perfect glass from a tap is a talent all in its own. As a former bartender, Andy had experience in this, and didn’t laugh at me too much when my first couple pours were a little larger and foamier than they should have been.

Andy pours an excellent beer, especially compared to me.

Since we started the night behind the Brau booth I’m going to start the beer reviews with the Brau booth. And while it might seem biased, I can honestly tell you that the beers they brought were excellent and among my favorites for the evening. Admittedly, they were offering two of my favorite styles of beer, a porter and a sour. Their Rubus Black, a strong porter coming in at 9% ABV, left a malty chocolate taste on my palette, but it was the added blackberry that hit the forefront and really made me take notice of the complexities of this beer. The chocolate notes and blackberry played off each other proving that there is a reason why chocolate and berries work so well together. Using the blackberry though was a nice touch, as it’s an often over looked berry (in my opinion) in the beer world. I’d love to see this on the shelves someday. (Hint!)

The second offering from Brau Brothers was their Bancreagie Sour 26, with the addition of raspberries. With an ABV at 11.5 this sour packed a delicious punch. I love sour beers, and while I understand they are not for everyone, I hope that everyone in attendance had the chance and openness to try this sour. Expertly executed, this sour was not only sour of course, but it also had a tartness that it owed to the raspberries. The tasting booklet mentions that this was brewed smokier and heavier, and aged 8 months. All of these aspects definitely came across in the tasting. I could drink this all evening long, a feat for any sour beer lover like myself. Well done Brau Brothers, well done. (braubeer.com)

Since we didn’t have all night, we had to be choosy with our beer decisions. Likewise, without filling pages covering every tasting, I have to be choosy with what beers I review. And if we’re really being honest, with an event like the Rare Beer Fest there really isn’t any that really miss their mark. Yes, they might not be in a style that serves everyone, but for their target audience they work. There were certain beers though that were not only amazing, but memorable. It’s those beers, the ones I’m still thinking of months later as I write this (hey…it’s been busy at the day job) that I’m choosing to review.

The evening view from the Minnesota History Center

I’m going to start with a familiar name in Minnesota, a name that is lauded in some circles and viewed in others as over hyped. Every circle though will agree that Surly Brewing Company has been an important brewery in recent history of craft beer in the state. I am among those that like Surly, but I’m not always on friendly terms with their price point. All the more reason to indulge myself when at the Rare Beer Fest! Even more reason when I saw their offerings for the evening. I knew what I wanted when I saw it, Barrel Aged Sÿx, 2012 vintage. Gold in color, fruity on the tongue, it tasted like fall.  There was a woodsy warm feeling to the beer, the kind of feel and flavor that’s perfect to sip on a cool night around a bonfire. With 15% ABV, it’s definitely a slow, sipping beer, but one you’d be happy sipping on for the night. (surlybrewing.com)

I’m picking another Minnesota brewery for my next beer, going with one from my home county. As a Washington County farm girl, Lift Bridge Brewing is a beer after my own heart. Every time I’m anywhere near Stillwater I stop in for a Silhouette, so of course I stopped by the Lift Bridge table for a 2014 Barrel Aged Silhouette. I love this Russian Imperial style stout beer and wanted to see how barrel aging it would change its flavor and feel. Barrel aging the beer not only seemed to me to make it a darker, deeper hued beer, but fuller as well. Flavors of roasted coffee beans brought an indulgent richness to the beer that great stouts aim to have. The Barrel Aged Silhouette was a rare beer indeed. (liftbridgebrewery.com)

I decided to head out of state and hit up San Diego, CA brewers Green Flash Brewing Company. I enjoy their Le Freak and wanted to give the Super Freak a chance. We get Super Freak when Le Freak is aged in red wine barrels for 12-16 months.  The freaky result is a slightly tart, oaky vanilla flavor, with red wine tannins biting at the edge of your palette. Super Freak is super good, and I wanted to drink it straight from the red wine barrels it was aged in. Now that would truly be super freaky. (greenflashbrew.com)

Finally I can’t finish without mentioning the Jalapeño Cream Ale from Wasatch Brewing Company from Park City, UT. I was intrigued by the idea of a beer brewed with 130 pounds of fresh jalapeños, and I was not disappointed. The spice from the peppers did bring heat to my palette, but not a burning or overwhelming heat. It was the perfect type of heat – smooth and mellow – the kind of heat that leaves you wanting more of the beer, not a glass of milk. The best part though was the fresh feel and flavor of the pepper that carried into the beer. This cream ale tasted green, fresh off the vine from a summer garden. I do wish I had a six pack of this in my fridge as it would be the perfect with any dinner with a little heat to it. (wasatchbeers.com)

Fellow MN rare beer lovers at the Brau Brothers booth

We headed back to the Brau Brothers booth for a shift serving our fellow beer lovers at the end of the night, and I can honestly say it was as much fun for me to pour beer as it was to drink it! So, would I go again and spend the money on this event? My answer is a solid yes. The Rare Beer Fest isn’t just a festival of beer. It’s a festival that focuses on the chances brewers take experimenting with new ingredients, the science of how aging a beer changes its flavor and feel, and most importantly an event that connects beer lovers and brewers over what we consider rare. If you truly like hunting for a rare beer to drink, this is the event to find what you’re searching for. I encourage you to go – you won’t regret it. (rarebeerfest.com)