The Pint Report: Say What?!? Craft Beer From Kalona Brewing, IA

A lifetime a go my friends and I were road tripping on our way home from Missouri through East Iowa.  We stumbled through a small Amish community called Kalona, IA.  They had a fantastic cheese shop.  Fast forward to  2014 and my friend and I once again found ourselves road tripping through Kalona, but this time for a fantastic brewery.

 

Now I have been in a brewery our two, so when I saw the small town of Kalona, and immediate picture came into my head.  A small brewery in a space equivalent of my garage.  Not that there is anything wrong with that!  Great beers can be brewed anywhere, this is just my mental image strolling into town.  Imagine my surprise when I walked into one of the most modern, most state of the art, and one of the cleanest breweries I have EVER walked into.  We were warmly greeted by Head Brewer and Co-Owner Lew, and Marketing Director Nic. 

After a great podcast, our excited, and gracious, hosts left us with a few presents.  Among them were a couple of Mini-Growlers, one of Say What Saison, and You Be You Imperial Stout.  Here are my Mini-Reviews of these two GREAT Iowan Craft Beer Offerings:

Say What Saison:  This golden reddish beer maintained its carbonation well in the Mini-Growler.  This beer has that great hay/straw like flavors followed by a light peppery taste.  There were noticeable fruity notes.  It had a very thick mouthfeel compared to other Saisons I have had, but not by much.  It left lingering sharp bitter, banana, and clove notes in the aftertaste.  These final flavors intensify as the beer warms up.  Rating:  ** (Very Good).  Recommendation:  If you love Saisons you need to try this beer.  It rivals all but a few Saisons brewed in Minnesota.

You Be You Imperial Stout:  Another beer that held up in the Mini-Growler.  This beer poured inky black, I mean “LET NO LIGHT ESCAPE” inky.  This beer had plenty of carbonation for its high ABV and imperial status.  It poured a thick foamy nut brown head.  Your nose is immediately inundated with a milky chocolate aroma.  This beer had a very thick mouthfeel and warms your senses with a heavy coating of dark chocolate notes.  Very bitter/sweet.  No lingering aftertaste, and finished very clean.  The best part is that the lack of alcohol taste you get with high ABV stouts like this one.  Rating:  ****(Superb).  Recommendation:  This is THE PERFECT beer to sip in winter in front of the fireplace.  It’s warm, inviting, comforting, so forth and on forth.  This is a perfect example of an Imperial Stout!

If you want to learn more about Kalona be sure to check out our Podcasts show:

That’s all for now!  Prost!

Gull Dam, what a great time!

On Saturday, October 11th, a new era for craft beer began in Nisswa, MN.  The weather was perfectly crisp and the sun was shining bright in the northern Minnesota sky.  Outside of Gull Dam Brewing Inc., the waterwheel stood still as the slight breeze whispered through the air and the sun radiated off of the water in the pond.  That serene image was the first thing I saw as I pulled up to the brewery.  I remember thinking that this scenic perfection is probably why people come up here.  How ironic, that just feet from this image of solace and serenity, a polka band was kicking out wonderful music and the taps were opening for the first time at Gull Dam, keeping patrons smiling after each sip of wonderful beer.

Barb and Mark Anderson were all smiles as they greeted the steady stream of thirsty and enthusiastic craft beer fans entering the big tent out back of their newly opened brewery.  As folks bellied up to the bar to partake in the selections that included a Honey Wheat Ale, a Scotch Ale, Amber Ale and Abita Root Beer, the energy in the taproom grew.  At 1:00 pm, the The Jolly Zuk Brothers kicked up the polka music with "In Heaven There Is No Beer."  Like clockwork, a couple sitting at a big table in the tent got up to kick up their heels with an array of polka steps that would have made Deney Terrio change careers.   Just like that, we were all aboard the party train to Funville, USA.

Inside the taproom, Jr's No. 19 BBQ was serving up some amazing ribs and brisket.  Their great recipe for slow roasting the meat paired with their signature sauces made it a great accompaniment to the Scotch Ale that I ordered.  I had a hunch the flavor of toasted malt in the beer might play nicely with the ribs and brisket.  Well, I don't want to say that I transcended to a different plane of existence, but I did speak in tongues for about 3 minutes.  The BBQ went brilliantly with the Scotch Ale and as I wiped the sauce from my face and tears of joy from my eyes, I thought that this is what it is all about.  If the food wasn't enough, Gull Dam Brewing Inc. has a great selection of merchandise.  From beer cozies to sweatshirts, there is something for every season to keep you equipped to enjoy the outdoors while representing Gull Dam Brewing Inc.

Looking around the brewery I saw so many people talking beer and having a good time.  There was a time, not too long ago, that all one could find to drink up in these parts was domestic mainstream beer.  The energy and fervor that was on display centered around the opening of a new craft brewery made me happy for the people of Nisswa and the surrounding area.  For Barb and Mark Anderson, this vision has been years in the making.  According to Gull Dam's Facebook page, there were nearly 4,000 people who attended this event.  Lining up live music like the Jolly Zuk Brothers and The Lamont Cranston Blues Band is a good way to get people in the door, but in order to keep them coming back, a brewery
need to have something special in the kegs.

The architect behind crafting these delicious and zymurgically deft beers is Luke Steadman, perhaps better known as "Brew Man Luke."  Luke is 26 years old and the head brewmaster of Gull Dam Brewing Inc.  What were you doing when you were 26 years old?  I can only speak for myself when I say I wasn't that good at anything at age 26.  Luke understands that beer isn't just something you drink; it is an art form.  Luke's passion for beer is evident in chatting with him about what he likes to brew, the way he brews and the ingredients that he uses to brew.  Luke does not use typical ingredients and always wants to find the new thing to make his beers better.  One of Luke's greatest assets is his effervescent personality.  When I told him that his Scotch Ale was one of the best representations of that style I have ever tasted, his smile lit up the room.  He cares immensely about the quality of the beer they serve at Gull Dam.  I got to smell some of the Empire hops from Michigan that he uses in his beer.  He seeks out ingredients that are not yet mainstream and uses them to make his beers stand out from the crowd.  With about 8 million things to do on this day, he chatted with me and was even kind enough to show me around the place.  This is not just the way he believes that people should be treated, it is also a culture at this place.  They want people to feel comfortable coming in for a pint of beer and having a Gull Dam good time doing it.

So, next time you are headed due north to go slay your limit of Walleyes on Gull Lake, make it a point to add in some time to stop in at Gull Dam Brewing Inc.   Everyone on staff at Gull Dam will greet you with a warm smile and a beer to quench your thirst and amaze your palate.  If the grand opening was any indication, this place will be the gathering place for a lot of happy beer drinkers for years to come.

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.  

Adventures of a Beginning Homebrewer: Drink It, Don't Dump It!

It’s been a busy summer for this guy! I can’t complain as I have been busy with ALL fun stuff! Traveling Wisconsin with my band, Marked 4 Deletion, heading to far away beer establishments, hitting up beer festivals, and occasionally just relaxing at my cabin. It’s been great, but with being busy comes sacrifice. The schedule has to give somewhere! Sadly, I accidentally sacrificed beer....

I had brewed a couple beers this spring. I kind of lost track at how long they were in my little brewery and didn’t bottle them when I should have. That should be no problem right? As I learned with the raspberry wheat (click here) I know that I can sit on these for a bit and everything will be A-ok..... That is unless you fail to notice that the fluid in the airlock dries up, rendering the air lock useless!


That’s right, I exposed ten gallons of beer to the outside contaminated world! TEN GALLONS!!! And yep, it got infected. So time to dump it down the drain, right? Whoa, whoa, whoa... Wait just a minute here. That is a lot of beer. There has to be a way to save it.

(Infected Beer)

The good news for a slacker like me is that there IS a way to save it! Campden tablets. I discovered these little lifesavers when I had a batch of nut brown contaminated (not due to slacking). Basically these little guys kill everything and give your beer a final fighting chance.

Here’s how you save your beer. You will need to use one tablet per gallon of beer. Just crush em up and add them to your beer (make sure to re-sanitize an airlock). Now you will need to wait a week or two for the Campden to do its work.

Keep in mind that Campden will also kill your yeast. So you need to go to the store and get another yeast packet if you are going to bottle condition/carbonate. I know this is a few more bucks out of pocket, but isn’t 5 gallons of beer worth a couple more dollars? Pitch the yeast, wait another couple weeks and bottle the beer (don’t wait a couple weeks and you will have exploding bottles I am willing to bet!)

(Campden Tablets & Sanitizer)



A couple things about saving your beer with Campden tablets. Although your beer is totally save to drink, you may have some very subtle off flavors. These off flavors increase in time, so you need to drink your saved beer sooner rather than later. Aging a beer saved with Campden is an exercise in futility.... Unless you like drinking gross things.

The one time I have used this before in the above mentioned Nut Brown (I called it Slutty Nut.... because it had an infection, but luckily it cleared up with a bit of medicine!) the results were great. Weirdly it was one of the best beers I have made. I have even had requests for me to make it again! Hopefully these two turn out the same way.

If you ever have an infection in your beer, don’t just automatically dump it. Instead let your beer at least try with Campden Tablets!

Brews and Reviews: Schells Brewing Company's Arminius

Arminius, known to many of the citizens of New Ulm as Hermann the German, was a Germanic chieftain who united many other tribes to hold back Roman forces in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.  While eventually defeated by the Romans, his legacy and symbolism lead to the unification of many Germanic tribes, and his enduring spirit would go on to become a symbol of Germanic nationality.

His name and likeness, as depicted on the statue that lies in the hometown of the Schells Brewery, also adorn the cans of Shell's latest beer, Arminius.  This beer uses a unique blend of American hops, as well as French and German, assumably from regions near where Hermann the German carved his name into history.

This beer also symbolizes a rather unique shift in the mindset of Shells Brewery.  The New Ulm staple, until recently, has not been known for hoppy beers.  Rather, they've been more likely to stick with the typical German inspired beers, such as Pilsners, Goses, Bocks, Hefes and others.  However, a recent change in marketing, most likely influenced by the surge of hoppy beers in Minnesota, coupled with the national popularity of more experimental beers, has Schells living up to its slogan of "We are German Craft Beer". Arminius now being their hoppiest staple beer, will be brewed year round according to its website.

The can says right on it "Hoppy Pale Lager", which immediately scares off some consumers. Minnesotan Craft Beer fanatics will instantly think of beers in the Surly line, for example, which usually scream of hops, becoming something that is vastly popular, but only among select crowds. With Arminius, Schell's has found a way to create a hoppy beer, without it ransacking your mouth with that overwhelming "perfume" taste.

Arminius has a little bit of everything -  hints of floral and citrus flavors, a level amount of carbonation translating into a mouthfeel suitable for most beer drinkers,  and a crisp and clean flavor that still contains just the right amount of hops that even consumers on the fence could enjoy.  Truly, Arminius is a remarkable beer made for everyone.

Photo courtesy of Schell's Brewing Company

The fact that Arminius has a high 70 IBUs and bears  the inscription of "Hoppy Pale Lager" it would be easy to cast this beer off as just another over-the-top overly-hoppy brew. However, though Schell's is a traditional German craft beer maker, with Arminius, they've proven they can think outside of the box. In fact, they may have beaten the hop head breweries at their own game.  Hoppy Pale Lager is probably a terrible way to describe this beer -- it has a clean and crisp taste, without the intense off-putting sensation that comes with many hoppy brews. Call it what you will, but this brew should become a staple in any self respecting beer fan’s rotation.

Bent Brewsillery's Awesome New Digs

It’s finally here! Bent Brewstillery opened their new taproom Thursday, and the place is fabulous! I have been able to see the transformation from the beginning and was excited to see the finished product. So, Vicky and I went out on opening day for a couple beers to check out the new digs. Here are some of the things that make this taproom awesome.

(Cheers from Beerploma at Bent!)

First off, the taps. Bent hasn’t gone with taps on the wall or side of a cooler or even on the bar. At Bent the taps come from heaven... That’s right, they are suspended from the ceiling! How cool is that?!?! Inventive and unique, just like Bent’s beer!

(Curved bar and floating taps!) 

Another unique thing is the curved (or is it Bent.... he-he!) bar. This thing is pretty huge! It was made by owner Bartley’s son-in-law, and he did a damn fine job. The bar has plenty of places to sit as well as plenty of places to squeeze in to buy a beer quick without having to throw elbows.

The views of the actually brewery and distillery are pretty cool. From most seats in the house you can see the shiny tanks of the brewery. From the front of the bar you can see the big still right behind the beertenders. This really gives you an “awesome, I am in the middle of a brewery!” feel, which other than top notch fresh beer is kind of the draw to taprooms.

(Taps and the still in the background)

The bathrooms are beautiful! I might be biased a bit because my buddy Mark tiled them, but they are really nice with awesome fixtures. Maybe a seemingly small thing, but decent bathrooms are a pretty nice attribute to a taproom.

(Nice tile job, D-Boy!)

Seats are plentiful. That is a big deal to me. I have been to a lot of taprooms/tasting rooms where there are a few seats and then it’s pretty much standing room only (yep, looking at you Flat Earth! Great room, but get some chairs.). Bent has tons of tables of all different sizes, plenty of bar stools, and a really nice patio for the nice days. You can sit back, relax with friends, and have a cold one in comfort!

(Seating and a bit of the patio outside)

The best part of the taproom is the beers! They have a lot of taps, around 7 or 8 I think I remember counting, plus a cold pressed coffee on nitro! We had Acclivity (you can read about it here), a fruity summery version of Nordic Blonde called Lakeside Blonde, and an Australian Sparkling Ale called Rage On Wombat. All were great! I’ve come to realize that Bent Brewstillery just doesn’t make beers I don’t like.

(A few taps and the still)

Being unique is what, to me at least, sets Bent Brewstillery apart in their beers, and they definitely followed suit with the taproom. The place is customer focused with plenty of space, plenty of parking, plenty of seating, and plenty of top notch beer! Head over to Roseville and GET BENT!

(Soooooo good!)

www.bentbrewstillery.com

P.S. If you enjoy our blog, please take a minute to click on the link at the top of the page and nominate Beerploma for best MN Beer Blog.... And of course Moe Pug wants you to name him the best MN Beer Writer, he just has a hard time typing with no thumbs....

Radlers and Shandies Made with Minnesota Craft Beers!

Here are the recipes we used in Episode 6 of 3 Growlers  to make some great summer time Shandies and Radlers:

The first one is a Texas Grapefruit Radler:  http://youngaustinian.com/2014/05/09/texas-grapefruit-rattler/

Texas Grapefruit Rattler

bitters
1 chilled beer (we used Summit Pilsner and Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison)
1/4 cup pink grapefruit juice
grapefruit slices for garnish

1. Chill a pint glass or Mason jar.
2. To the glass, add the ice and a dash or two of bitters. Slowly pour the Lonestar and top with grapefruit juice. Garnish with grapefruit slices and serve immediately.

The second was a Blackberry Mint Lemon Shandy inspired by this recipe:  http://camillestyles.com/drinks/bottoms-up-super-bowl-shandies/


Blackberry Mint Lemon Shandy

12 oz. pale ale beer (again we used Summit Pilsner and Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison)
handful blackberries
1/4 cup lemonade
mint for garnish

1. Muddle blackberries in bottom of glass. Squeeze lemonade over blackberries.
2. Pour beer into glass and garnish with a generous sprig of mint.

At first I was a little skeptical of both of them.  But I loved them so I went on to make them for a family get-together.  There we tried them with Grain Belt and it worked great as well!

Enjoy the summer!

Brews and Reviews: Indeed's L.S.D (Lavendar, Sunflowers, and Dates) Honey Ale Craft Beer Review

There is a time when you first hold on to a bottle of beer that you realize you had something special in your hands.  That happened to me when I saw my Father-in-law crack open a gift containing a bottle of Indeed's L.S.D Honey Ale.  The wax dipped neck and the extravagant art work teased the greatness that was held within.  Unfortunately this bottle was out of my control.  For all I knew it was flying back to Germany today to be drank overseas, far from discerning tastes...

Luckily he must have saw the hint of jealousy in my eyes as I translated the description to him, in German, because he decided it was best to enjoy it with someone who would rejoice in such a beer!

 

With a little difficulty we finally chipped through the wax and flipped off the cap.  The earthy/raisiny aroma of dates hit us before we could even get our nose into the bottle.  A floral bouquet added a layer to the atmosphere as we poured it into our glasses.  It formed a thick tan head as it continued to waft flavors to our noses.  On closer inspection I was also picking up a slight fresh pine smell too, hiding behind the other aromas.  The first thing I noticed about the taste was a doughy-bready-smooth taste followed a heavy sweet, yet earthy, taste of dates backed with honey.  As the beer warmed up, the flavors came out even more.  The sweetness mellowed a bit, and more earth like flavors came out.  The beer became more mellow if that was even possible.  It had a slight bitterness in the after taste, but it didn't linger long.  This beer had a medium to heavy mouthfeel, and ample, if not subdued, levels of carbonation.

Overall this beer is a great beer to sit on your deck and sip. When I think of this beer it reminds me of the beer recipes I have seen coming from Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.   If you are looking for something really different, unique, and well crafted you need to look no further.  While the German Pilsner drinkers might not find this crisp or cold enough, it certainly warmed up to me.  This was easily one of the best beers I have drank this year!  Rating:  Excellent!

Oh and Andy!  Thank you for this "Golden Opportunity" to write about this beer!

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!

Dealing With Beer Fatigue

 
Beer fatigue!  In one form or another all craft beer drinkers will experience beer fatigue, it's inevitable, it will happen.  Whether you are at a beer fest on your second trip through the tables or you are at your local liquor establishment and are starring and a wall of IPAs thinking that cascade hops is just not what you are looking for today, we are here to help!

First off lets define beer fatigue.  I define it (and have experienced) in two terms:

Beer Fatigue #1:  When you are at a beer tasting event and all the beers start taste the same, or you are not picking up the details of the flavor you were when you first started the session.

Beer Fatigue #2:  When you simply can't decide what beer to choose because "they all sound the same".

Today we will be tackling the first type of beer fatigue

1. Eat Something to Cleanse the Pallet:  Do you know those little necklaces of pretzels everyone is wearing at a beer fest?  These are great to cleanse the pallet.  They are light so as not to fill you up (i.e. room for more beer) and the salt help to reset your senses.  Lately I have been seeing beef sticks and cheese on necklaces too, but I don't recommend these as the oily processed cheese and the grease laden beef snack can linger on the pallet masking the more delicate flavors of complex beers.  Personally when available I prefer grapes over pretzels, but this is probably more for your home experience, and not for the beer fest!
2. Drink plenty of water:  I can stress this enough.  Water is the "universal solvent" for a reason.  Not only that but the majority of your body AND beer are made of water, so guess what?  They make a natural fit!  Take it as a queue from nature and clean out your pallet with some good ole H2O
3. Take a break:  I know, with beer fests this can be tough.  You want to get to all the tables before those rare one off casks are gone.  But eventually you need to slow it down.  At private tasting events this is a lot easier to do!  Make some conversation, it doesn't have to all be about the beer.
4. Take small portions:  Want to taste more beers before fatigue sets in?  Take smaller sips.  This is why I like to host beer parties with around 6 to 8 people.  You can take one 12oz bottle, give everyone a little over 1oz of beer and your whole table can get though twelve bottle easily.  Just remember spitting is wine drinkers, suck it up and swallow!
5. Don't Smoke:  Who doesn't love a good cigar with their beer?  Well lots of people, but me I do enjoy a good stogy from time to time, and yes I have broken this rule on a number of occasions.  Save it for the end of the night.  Smoking will ruin your pallet!
6. Drink from Light to Dark:  Whenever possible drink from light to dark.  The fresh citrusy hops that are more abundant with lighter beers will actually help keep your pallet fresh.  Meanwhile the more earthy, thick stouts and porters will coat your mouth masking the flavors of the next beer.
7. It's okay to switch from analyzing to fun:  My last bit of advice is something I learned while trying to marathon through a bunch of beers for my journal.  Eventually even drinking 1oz pours gets to you.  Your head starts getting fuzzy, and soon all the pilsners start tasting the same.  It happens.  It's okay to say "Okay, now I am drinking for fun".  At this point if I am hosting I like to have something local on hand like Grainbelt of Summit EPA.  Relatively well liked by most of my circle of beer drinking friends, and less expensive because at this point you don't want to be drinking that $40 bottle of Fulton's War and Peace you have been aging for a year.

So what are your tips and tricks for dealing with beer fatigue?  Leave us a comment!

Oh what was I saying...well it seems like I am hitting some writers fatigue.  But that is a story for another blog.  Until next time!  PROST!