New Blog/New Site

Hello Beerploma Nation! Thank you for visiting our blog regularly! We are currently in the process of moving to our new blog which you can find here at Beerploma.com.  We hope you will join us at our new home!

Prost!

Confessions of a Sober Cab - The Parental Version

Cousin Mark was getting married! Clearly that meant two things; his wonderful girlfriend would now be an official member of the family, and we were going to party! The hubby and I were in a pickle though, seeing as we both wanted to get a little pickled ourselves that evening. I knew that Andy would want to drink and celebrate with his cousin and I certainly didn’t want to ruin his fun by asking him to sober cab. Besides, I knew the only way I’d manage to get at least one dance out of the guy was to get him drunk enough to not notice he was dancing. I wanted to cut loose as well and enjoy my night drinking with my siblings in law. It’s not very often that we’re all in town together, much less for a party, and a wedding at that. Plus, craft beer loving Mark would be supplying the party with kegs galore of Schell’s Oktoberfest. I really enjoy their Oktoberfest and wanted to take full advantage of the bride and groom’s hospitality. We did have an option for a ride though… Ma and Pa Strom.

Our sober cabs for the evening. (Studio Veil photo booth)

 

Really, it was perfect. They were going the same place we were, at the same time! Those are of course, the most basic rules of carpooling. And since they planned on driving home we knew at least one of them would be sober. Which is the first rule of taking a sober cab – making sure your driver is actually sober. Besides, if your parents were like the majority of parents I knew growing up, they always stressed the same rule – don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking. Andy’s parents were no different. And just because we were now adults and could legally drink didn’t mean that they had stopped worrying. Sometimes I think they worry more especially because we can legally drink. So of course they weren’t going to tell us that they couldn’t give us a ride. Go back on what they’ve been preaching since we were sixteen? That’s something no parent ever really wants to do. Besides, Andy still mows their lawn and they really didn’t want to mess that up.

As a bonus, brother Bob and sis-in-law Nichole were rolling in from out of town and needed a ride too. It was a regular family reunion. As we piled six deep into the old minivan I got the distinct impression that Ma and Pa Strom were actually enjoying themselves. Ok, maybe not so much when we were hinting (and not so subtly) that we wanted to pregame the wedding at the bar near the church. The idea was shot down and instead we arrived early and found our seats with the rest of the Strom clan in the church. We were witness to a beautiful and touching wedding, complete with a family photo at the end. And then it was on to dinner, dancing, and a night of debauchery!

 

Photographic evidence of debauchery. (Studio Veil photo booth)

 It was the best of both worlds – a lovely family wedding and a night of beer drinking with the buds.  The beer was wonderful, as the Oktoberfest from Schell's always proves to be, and it was free and free flowing. The beer flowed so freely in fact that Mark’s loving cousins got together and rewrote the announcement on the marquee sign at the venue with a touching message for the loving couple. I did successfully get Andy drunk enough to dance with me for the last song of the evening and my mood got as ripped as my fishnets stockings did after a night of breaking it down on the dance floor.  The ‘rents drove us safely home and I could tell that they were touched by our drunken bonding in the back seats of their van. They had most of their clan safely in their care, giggling over a night of drunken escapades and fun. We took them at their word, to always let them know when we needed a safe ride home, and they in turn held up their end of the bargain. Who knew mom and dad would provide one of the best sober rides we’ve had in a while. Besides, they got to spend some time with the kids, even if we were a little extra bubbly, and what parent doesn’t like that?

This is what happens when you provide such good beer. (via Mark and Jess Strom)

 

So while you think your parents are the last people you'd like to get a sober ride from, remember that they really do want to see you just as safe now as they did when you were younger. And if you're going the same place already, why not take them up on a ride and carpool? Besides, you're a legal, drinking adult and they can't yell at you for drinking all the free beer you can hold! Consider your parents the next time you need a sober cab, and hey, if they need a ride, return the favor!

Playin' With Your Beer: An Exclusive Interview With Adam, Creator of Brewin' USA

Our team got an opportunity to sit down with Adam Rehberg, the maker of Brewin' USA board game.  Before we get into the interview be sure to check out his Kickstarter effort and help get this game published.  Also be sure to check out his website here!

Q:   Hey Adam, thanks for sitting down with us.  So before we begin talking about your game, tell me about the last memorable beer you drank?

A:  Every home brew really tends to be a memorable beer experience for me and the last one I brewed and drank was pumpkin ale brewed this fall.  This particular home brew didn't turn out as well as I had hoped but there is something about putting the time into the brewing process that always makes it memorable.  This pumpkin ale was brewed together with my wife and it was one of the first times we brewed together.  Of course the beer choice was hers.  This pumpkin ale mysteriously made it to the Christmas season and ended up in a White Elephant party where somebody was actually very enthusiastic to get a home brew as a gift.

Q.  Do you have any favorite Minnesota Beers that come to mind?

A:  My favorite Minnesota beer has to go to Surly Furious.  It's pretty widely distributed in the area but is a very balanced IPA in my opinion perfect for the dining or drinking experience in almost any occasion.

Q.  So you decided to come up with a Craft Beer Board Game?  Can you tell us a little bit about it?

A:  Brewin' USA is a game that is all about craft beer in the USA where the player goal is to become the best brewery in the nation.  The player will need to compete over obtaining ingredients so they can brew and launch their beer and then again compete over market demand in the US.  The game uses thematic beer bottle caps and "Beer coaster" inspired game tiles as components which is very unique in the board game space.  I am also partnering with local and national craft breweries to be part of the game with their logo and beer names as artwork.  Brewin' USA is game designed for the hobby game space, but has theme and components that are more approachable than most hobby games.

Q.  What was the inspiration behind the game?

A:  The inspiration behind the game actually came with the thought of hanging out with friends and drinking a craft beer and then adding the bottle cap as part of the playing pieces.  The bottle caps as game components stuck as a worthy idea but the concept of drinking to play quickly departed from the hobby gaming design space I intended to target.

Q.  What was the most challenging part of designing a game?

A:  The most challenging part of designing a game is literally when to know a game is complete.  Through the Kickstarter community and working with Breweries, I have been challenged to stretch and mold the game design to fit new ideas and be true to the theme as possible.  This has been a huge benefit as well as a challenge though because people show great appreciation when you listen to feedback and strive to make the best game possible as the number one goal.  Starting out designing games there is obviously a learning curve that people will go through but knowing when to stop adding or subtracting features and when the product is finished is the largest challenge in my opinion.

Q:  What is the premise of the game?

A:  [Taken from an official release document]:  You are an Entrepreneur at the inception of the Craft Beer revolution. Your goal is to become the best Microbrewery in the USA but competition is fierce. You will need to win Key Ingredients to brew your product line of Craft Beer. To become the best Microbrewery in the nation, your beer will need to control Local and Regional markets fending off any competition with the infamaous Brewfest.

Q.  Any memorable stories from the play testing groups?

A:  The most memorable stories from play testing groups are always when something broken is uncovered or the game play emerges to a new idea or play style.  I remember one specific game where there was a Brewfest with 23 Market Demand Bottle Caps (Victory points) at stake in the final play and somebody swooped in with a special additive on a beer and swapped 23 Market Demand Bottle Caps with a stack of 2 resulting in a massive catch-up play.  As the designer of a game, having the potential for this play is fun and exciting to the winner and cruel or unfair to the losers so setting up systems that put a maximum on unfairness become critical to the balance perceived by others.

Q.  How do you think your game will impact the craft beer industry?

A:  I would be thrilled if the craft beer industry sets Brewin' USA in their taprooms for both craft beer enthusiasts and gamers to enjoy.  I also think that the international Kickstarter platform gives some really unique marketing potential for Craft Breweries to get some exposure in new territory.  It won't be massive, but the better the game is the more lasting it will be.

Q.  So what are the next steps for you, and when can we expect to see your game on shelves?

A:  The next steps from me are to be [laser] focused with designing a quality product to Kickstarter backers for Brewin' USA.  The project is funded, but there is still a lot of work to do throughout the entire process.  I will also look for new opportunity to expand on the Brewin' USA property if the demand exists as well as pursue new and exciting board game projects in the future.  Game design is still a hobby and a passion but is quickly turning into something more than that with great support from the Craft Beer industry and Kickstarter backers.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Adam!  We look forward to seeing your project get published, and good luck with the Kickstarter!  PROST!

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.  

A Beerploma Taproom Tour: Fair State Brewing Cooperative

There are plenty of places in the city to and get a beer.  However, in the last five years, the focus has turned from places to get a beer to places where you really want to go to get a beer.  The drinking options in the midst of the Twin Cities taproom explosion have increased in a staggering way.  As places continue to open, it becomes more and more about providing drinkers with great beer to drink, but also an atmosphere that is conducive to enjoying the company of others as they drink craft beer.

Fair State Brewing Cooperative has been open for just about six months and provides craft beer drinkers with unique and delicious beers.  Fair State also fosters a wonderful craft beer drinking community with a co-op membership that is over 600 strong and growing.

Lets start with the look of the taproom.  The exposed brick and long, beautiful bar give the taproom a very comfortable feel.  The bar was made of the reclaimed wood from the original building.  The uniqueness and high quality of the bar allow for plenty of seating, as it stretches far down at least half the length of the taproom.  The layout is perfect for meeting people and having great conversation.  There are windows that allow you to see into the brewhouse.  The bathroom is down a hallway and on the wall of that corridor the words, "Drink like you own the place" are painted.  That statement speaks volumes about the experience that the founders of the brewery want their patrons to have.

Fair State Brewing Cooperative was founded by three college friends, Evan Sallee, Niko Tonks and Matthew Hauck, who all have shared an interest in beer dating back to 2002 when they met in college.  The cooperative nature of the business stems from a desire to connect good people with good beer.  The state of MN has a very high number of cooperative businesses ranging from farm shares to places to shop for groceries, so a cooperative brewery seemed like something that would work well.  As of 2-19-15, Fair State had over 600 members, a number that has far exceeded what they initially projected.  The membership benefits include, but are not limited to voting on different beer styles every couple of months.  Members also enjoy Happy Hour prices ($1.00 off pints and $.50 off half-pints) all day on Monday and Wednesday-Friday from 4-7pm.  Recently, a Fair State Brewing Cooperative-themed Members Only jacket became a perk for signing up!

Fair State's beers are the deft and nuanced concoctions of Head Brewer, Nico Tonks.  Nico started at Jester King Brewing and Live Oak Brewing in Austin, TX, where he learned the art of brewing continental lagers and wheat beers.  The availability of local ingredients often dictates what is brewed.  Although, Pilsner is the favorite style of the taproom and their version is on-point.  In addition to lagers, they also brew ales and will usually have a nice selection of each on tap.  One of the things I was especially impressed with was their sour beer, Lactobac 1.  Their barrel aging program is expanding and in the future, there will be more and more delicious barrel aged selections to enjoy.

Groucho Marx once said, "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member."  Fair State Brewing Cooperative's passion for beer combined with the amazing community being fostered there might cause him to rethink his prolific statement.  The options for drinking good beer in the Twin Cities and beyond are great, but finding a place with this type of inviting atmosphere is not as easy.  Fair State has hit all the marks, so get there and try the amazing drinking experience for yourself.  Prost!

How to Talk Like a Beer Geek: We Aren't in India Anymore!

Did you know ‘India’ Pale Ales aren’t even from INDIA?! Uhhhh... What?!?! Yep, they were actually made for British Soldiers. The astringent nature of the extra hops made it possible for the beer to survive travel to faraway places... Like India!

Nowadays it is getting increasingly hard to find just an IPA without a word or two before ‘IPA’ on the label. A style of a style if you will. Confusing, yes. But, I got your back! This isn’t necessarily meant to be an actual style guide per se, but more of guide to help you understand and decode those qualifier words.


First English IPAs. These are the first. The original. The real deal! English IPAs were basically Pale Ales that were hopped up, a bit maltier, and a bit bigger on the ABV percentage. Again, made so that they would survive the long voyage to the British troops in India.

Next up, American IPAs! USA! USA! USA! American IPAs are a bit more robust in the ol’ flavor area than an English IPA. Typically more hopped up and usually with hops from this side of the pond. Now, this is where things get interesting! Much like the rappers of the rap battles of the 90s, American IPAs are often either West Coast or East Coast.

West Coast IPAs are the hoptastic flavor blasts that are pretty popular. Hopped usually with exclusively west coast hops, these beers don’t try to hide the floral citrusy hoppiness. Balance? Screw balance!

East Coast IPAs on the other hand tries to save your palate a bit from the hop overload. East Coast IPAs are still hoppy, but they tend to be balanced out better with a bit more of a malt profile. East Coast IPAs are basically West Coast IPAs’ more conservative brother.

For the last one, let’s hop back over to the other side of the pond; Belgian IPAs. Belgian IPAs are IPAs that have been made using Belgian yeast strains. Think of crossing a Belgian beer with an American IPA. You get the hoppiness of an IPA and you get the flavors from the Belgian yeast like you would in a dubbel or tripel. To me, this one is the most complex of the IPAs.

There we go! IPAs are not just IPAs anymore. Next time you want to pound a couple of these hoppy tasty beers you will be able to better decide what style of this... ummm... style you wish to get in your beer hole!

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.

How to Talk Like a Beer Geek: Decoding Acronyms!

Acronyms are something that really get my goat on a daily basis at the ol’ day job. Someone calls looking for information pertaining to the A.C.H.R.G.P.C.... Uhhhh, what the hell does that mean!?! And why does this person think everyone they talk to would know what that means? I am an admin assistant answering a phone, not an A.C.H.R.G.P.C. specialist... if that even exists...

In beer geek speak there are several acronyms. But fear not, I am going to decode a few of them for you so the next time they come up at your favorite watering hole you will know what the beer acronyms mean instead of wondering if it is a medical condition, or a type of accountant, or part of your car’s emission system.

The first one is A.B.V. I am sure many of you already know what A.B.V. is, but I have been pretty surprised by how many beer drinkers have no clue about this one. A.B.V. is Alcohol By Volume. Basically, it’s how strong alcohol wise the beer is. This is one of the most important things to pay attention to for your own safety and for your party’s longevity. Think about if you didn’t know what this meant and you were slammin’ down Bent Brewstillery’s Dark Fatha (11.7% A.B.V.) like it was Lucid Air (4.5% A.B.V). Every one Dark Fatha is like drinking two and a half Airs! If you don’t pace yourself with the higher A.B.V. beers, you could be in for a rough night and an even rougher morning!

Next Up; IBUs. Some mornings after having too much fun at a taproom the night before, "Ibu..." is all I can manage to mumble to my wife as I am holding my head praying for the sweet relief from a few ibuprofens. That is NOT what we are talkin about here.

IBU(s) stands for International Bittering Unit(s). This is the measure of bitterness of a beer from the alpha acids released by the hops in your beer. This can be used a bit as a rule of thumb for you to estimate how hoppy a beer is going to be, but remember there are other factors that can counteract this estimation. Like, how balanced the beer is with maltiness or other sugars like honey, etc. Theoretically you could have two beers with the exact same IBUs, but one could be SUPER HOPPY and one could be very well balanced and not too crazy hoppy. But, generally a higher number of IBUs = hoppier while a lower number would be less hoppy.  

The final one is SRM. This stands for Standard Reference Method. SRM determines color of a beer by measuring the amount of a specific wavelength of light that passes through the beer. I’ve always thought this one was a little silly. It’s kind of like a weather guy telling you it’s raining while you are outside wearing your goulashes in a steady downpour. I can see this stout is black... I can see this nut brown is brown... But then again, if you are just reading a beer review you would be able to understand a bit better the color of this beer if you understand this measurement. As well, you can’t see through cans at the beer store!

Low SRM = lighter colored beer; Higher SRM = Darker colored beer. For instance, a Pilsner may clock in at about 3 SRM, an English Brown Ale may clock in at about 15 SRM, and an Imperial Stout may clock in at about 40+.

Well, there you go. A few acronyms so you can keep up with those beer geeks that are living life way too fast to use whole words! Hit the taprooms and show em what you got!

Valentine's Day Lovin' - Get a Taproom!

Once again February has come around, and with it Valentine’s Day. And unfortunately, for some, this can cause a bit of distress. What should we do, where should we go to celebrate? Should we celebrate? What if I buy someone a gift and they don’t like it? What if my gift is totally inappropriate for what we have going on? Oh God, what do we have going on? Do we classify it, quantify it, or just have a little fun? Should I have gotten reservations? I can’t make reservations because everyone booked a table last year! How was I supposed to know I’d meet someone and actually have a dinner companion? I can’t predict that! I’m used to eating alone damn it! And what would we do after dinner? Oh God, if there’s an after. I’ve probably already blown it and won’t even be able to get a date for coffee! Slow down lover pants, and let me help you out for 2015. I did a little bit of research again this year and I’ve got a few suggestions for a great day or night out for you and a special friend (or friends, I don’t judge). It doesn’t involve reservations, messy foods, or rude overworked waiters. Take it easy, take some notes, and let me show you how you can impress your love with some local chocolates and a trip out to some great twin cities tap rooms.

If beer pairings aren’t new to you, you already know how well chocolates and beers can go together. If you are new to beer pairings, you probably think I’ve lost it. Yes, everyone knows that you can make a chocolate stout cake, and that’s great. But chocolate, like beer, comes in such great variety that you really should take a chance and explore pairing your sweets with your beers, especially chocolate. Play around with the flavors and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, do some experimenting. Surprise yourselves a little and step outside your box. The worst that can happen is you find something you won’t want to try again. The best thing that could happen? You’ll enjoy something new with your partner. Besides, experimenting is fun, isn’t it?

If you’re looking for a taproom with a little more of a romantic feel, I suggest hitting up Steel Toe Brewing. You’ll find that their tap room can be pretty romantic! Its lighting is on the low side, perfect for setting a close and personal mood. I like to sit at the bar on the back wall, and with my back to the rest of the room, create my own privacy to enjoy my company.  On your way stop off at The Drooling Moose and grab some of their Malted Milk Boulders. The Drooling Moose makes their version of malted milk balls in super-sized form. These are huge, roughly the size of a quarter, and covered in ¼ inch of sweet milk chocolate. Order yourselves a couple pints of Steel Toe’s Dissent and enjoy how the malty sweetness of the beer melts the malted center of the chocolates in your mouth. The milk chocolate in turn enhances the smooth, creamy mouth feel you’ll get from the beer. If there’s a downside to these chocolates it’s only that they’ll ruin whoppers for you forever. If you really enjoy yourselves, make sure to grab some growlers to go, and continue your party in an even more intimate setting.

I next headed over to Big Wood Brewery for a glass of the tried and true Morning Wood Coffee Stout. This stout has an incredible kick of coffee flavor with sweet chocolaty notes. My pick for a great compliment chocolate is one of my favorites, milk chocolate toffee. I stopped off in Arden Hills at a place new to me, Sweet Chocolat. You will absolutely love how their toffee breaks apart into crunchy, buttery chunks in your mouth. It pairs perfectly with the Morning Wood, the other enhancing the best parts of its companion. Isn’t that what is perfect about so many great relationships throughout time? We should all be so lucky to fine someone who bring out the best in us, yet still showcases just how awesome they are in their own right. The tap room at Big Wood works great for new and more established couples as well. There’s plenty of intimate seating off the sides of the room if you’re looking to spend some quieter time together. Not sure if you can handle that level of closeness? Enjoy your treats at the larger tables in the middle of the room, or at the centralized bar area. And if toffee isn’t your bag, check out the incredible selection of molded chocolate shapes Sweet Chocolat has to offer. Their Valentine’s Day selection blew me away, with everything from traditional hearts to anatomically correct hearts. One of my favorite offerings was the anatomical lungs packaged with the following – ‘You take my breath away’. How can you not love that sense of loving humor? Or for the more adventurous, try the chocolate hand cuffs on for size. See how much fun you can have with your Morning Wood and chocolate this Valentine’s Day.

But what if you’re feeling really adventurous? Then I suggest you and your date go get ‘funked up’ at Bent Brewstillery. Bent is quickly making a name for themselves with their funked up series of sour beers, each a little different, each an incredible way to try a new beer profile that you might not be familiar with. I myself love sour beers and I’m always curious to see what Bent has been up to with this series. Right now they have their Belgian Berlin Ur-Bock on tap and I highly recommend it. This is a beer reminiscent of a Berliner Weisse so if you like a slightly more wine like beer, give it a try. You might think that finding a chocolate pairing for this would be hard, but if you’ve had this style beer before you’ll know that it pairs quite well with fruity flavors. I actually found a great one for you to try at the nearby Roseville Mall in the Godiva store. Pick yourselves up a tin (or bag) of their Strawberry Cheesecake Truffles and prepare to have your mind blown away. The strawberry will help to pull the fruitiness out of the beer while the cheesecake layer tempers it with a slightly creaminess to counteract the sour in just the slightest way. Yes darling, opposites can and do attract and will make for some of the best experiences of your life. You’ll have a blast in their gorgeous tap room with plenty of seating to hide away in a corner. Or make sure to head over on a night when they have a local band playing and do some dancing! Their knowledgeable and friendly beertenders will make sure you have everything you need so you can concentrate on making sure your date has everything they need. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Also, they will be releasing a new beer on Valentine's Day at the taproom. Uber Lupin Shwarz IPA. You could experience something brand new with your date!

So when you’re making plans for Valentine’s Day remember to think outside the standard chocolate boxes and wine that every store is offering. Hit up your local tap rooms and chocolate shops for some new and fun ideas to show your date. Experiment a little bit and try some new things this year. Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be stressful, especially when you have so many great options to choose from! Your date with love it, and if you’re lucky and buy enough chocolate they’ll probably love you before the night is over. Send them home with their own growler, you just might get a proposal out of the deal.


www.steeltoebrewing.com
www.droolinmoose.com
www.bigwoodbrewery.com
www.mysweetchocolat.com
www.bentbrewstillery.com
www.godiva.com

The Pint Report: Northgate's Red Headed Piper

In a day in age when beer collaborations are all the rage, a collaboration between a craft brewery and a bar is something that is pretty unique.  However, Northgate's Irish Red Ale, Red Headed Piper, is something special and delicious that can only be found at Northgate Brewing's taproom in Northeast Minneapolis and Merlins Rest in South Minneapolis.

The story of how Red Headed Piper came to be is a testament to both the quality of Northgate's beer and Merlins Rest's passion for showcasing great British style ales made locally.  As the story goes, Lee and Tracie of Merlins Rest were Northgate's first account when they put Wall's End on tap.  Wall's End, a sessionable English Style Brown Ale, sold incredibly well and Merlins approached Northgate about the possibility of Northgate brewing a special beer for them to have on tap.  Merlins got to choose the style and the name of the beer and Tuck Carruthers, the head brewer at Northgate, began to formulate a recipe.  What Tuck came up with is the perfect marriage between flavor and sessionability.  

I first tried Red Headed Piper one night at Merlins when I was there for trivia on a Sunday night.  I will say, without too much shame, that back in the day, I drank enough Killian's Irish Red to turn me into a Leprechaun.  Killian's was one of my gateway beers.  Since then, my palate has evolved and I have been looking for better and more flavorful Irish Red Ales to enjoy.  If you have been to trivia at Merlins before, you know that the questions are tough and you need to have your wits about you.  That being the case, I saw that the Red Headed Piper was 4.5% ABV and so I made that my selection.  When the beer arrived, my first sip was akin to running into an old friend that you haven't seen for a long time.  Since the Killian's days, I have had a tough time finding an Irish Red Ale that I really liked.  Well, I guess my search is over because the flavors present in this beer are everything that I love about Irish Red Ales and I am hooked.  Several of my friends were also enjoying pints of Red Headed Piper and could not believe how much flavor was in a beer that was so light in ABV.  The server explained that Red Headed Piper is brewed exclusively for Merlins, but is also available in the taproom at Northgate.  I walked out of Merlins that night with my sides aching from laughter, my brain hurting from trivia and my palate intrigued by this amazing new beer I discovered.  

Not even a week later, I was at the Northgate taproom imbibing the Red Headed Piper and really trying my best to savor and dissect the flavors and aromas of the beer.  The Red Headed Piper is 4.5% ABV and has 25 IBUs.  The color of the beer is a rich, dark copper color.  The aroma has hints of roasted malt and is incredibly enticing.  The flavor of this beer is what impresses me greatly.  The richness of the malt character is complex.  There are caramel, biscuit and toasted malt flavors that compliment each other.  The malt flavor is balanced nicely by a perfect amount of bitterness from the roasted malt and while keeping the biscuity nature of Maris Otter malt.  This beer's harmonious flavor profile really is a testament to Tuck, who clearly understands the necessary nuances of brewing a great beer.  This sessionable beer is smooth and perfect for sitting down with some friends to share some laughs.  

While this beer is only available at two locations at present, they are both great locations to relax and have a pint.  I strongly urge that you round up a few folks and head out to Merlins Rest for a pint, I am partial to Sunday night trivia because I am a glutton for intellectual punishment.  If you want to experience a great taproom with a pub vibe, then get over to Northgate for some pints.  Either way, by trying the Red Headed Piper you will honestly be impressed how Northgate can pack so much flavor and depth into a sessionable ale.  Prost!

The Pint Report: Tin Whiskers Barrel Shifter Review

In the grips of a Minnesota winter, many of us crave a nice big beer to warm our bones and dazzle our palates.  Tin Whiskers has put forth a tremendous and unique offering in their Barrel Shifter Porter, an oak-aged porter with plenty of flavor and warmth to get you through these chilly nights.

The Barrel Shifter is a bigger beer at 8% ABV and is very balanced at 48 IBUs.  I tried this beer at the taproom and it is served in a 10 oz. glass.  The beer has a little bit of a head on it and the its obsidian color is incredibly appealing to the eye.  The aroma consists of roasted malt and a slight barrel-aged aroma that is not too overpowering.  My one fear with this beer was that the barrel aging would muddle out some of the other flavors and aromas, but the brewer made sure that all of the flavors and aromas were able to be present in this beer.

As I continued to drink, the head dissipated and clung to the sides of the glass.  This beer drinks very easy and smooth.  The bite from the roasted malt are balanced out by the nice chocolate notes and slight hint of cherry from the wood.  The vanilla, another flavor that can sometimes overshadow other things going on in the beer, is also just the right amount and not too over-the-top.  There is also a slight dark chocolate aftertaste that left me feeling very satisfied with this beer.  All the flavors intensify as the porter warms up.  Beers like this are best enjoyed when you have ample time to do so.  With each delicious sip of the Barrel Shifter, the dread of Monday seemed to dissipate.  I was enjoying a great beer and watching the NFL playoff game along with the rest of the patrons.  What a great way end a weekend!

The beertender said that this beer has been popular with the Tin Whiskers patrons and I totally agree.  This beer is an ideal winter seasonal.  It has a great combination of sweetness from the chocolate malt and vanilla.  When you factor in the balancing component of roasted malt and the slight cherry flavor from the cherry wood that was used in the aging, the beer comes together in a harmonious way.  If you are lucky enough to see it on tap around town, I urge you to try a pint.  However, it will be on at the taproom for a limited time, so head down to Tin Whiskers and try some.  Not only will you be able to stick it to Old Man Winter, but you will be able to enjoy doing so in what is becoming a great place to hang out in Saint Paul and chat with other like-minded craft beer drinkers.  Prost!

How To Talk Like A Beer Geek: Tiny Bubbles!

Today let’s talk tiny bubbles! There are several different means of carbonating beer. Knowing the difference is pretty important as the different ways of carbonating beer can affect your beer drinking experience a TON.


First up, NITRO! We’ve all seen on tap lists a beer we have drank before, but it is listed as “on nitro”. What this means is that the beer is carbonated with a mixture of around 70% nitrogen and 30% carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of just straight CO2. The result is a cascading look to the beer as it is settling and a much creamier beer with a thicker mouthfeel as opposed to the usual sharper carbonation found in most beers. Nitro was typically used just on stouts, but now is also used on IPAs and some Scotch Ales. Give it a try, especially with a good stout!

Next up let’s do a two-fer! BOTTLE CONDITIONED and FORCED CARBONATION. These are two ways that brewers carbonate beer. Forced carbonation is exactly like it sounds. CO2 is artificially forced into a beer vessel which causes the CO2 to be absorbed into the beer. Bottle conditioned on the other hand is more of a natural process. The beer is bottled often with a sugar to feed the viable yeast still in the beer. The yeast eats the sugar and gives off CO2 as a byproduct. Since the bottle is capped, the CO2 can’t escape. As pressure builds up, the only place for the CO2 to go is back into the beer. BOOM! Carbonation!

The final bubbly term is actually not so bubbly, HAND PUMP. A hand pump is a manual means of getting beer into your glass. These are fairly rare as it is a pretty old school way of doing things. Normally it will be some sort of specialty beer that is on a hand pump. The result is a pretty much flat beer, and often not very cold. I have had two beers from two different places from a hand pump. Honestly, not my thing and I probably won’t be giving this a third try. It is a neat novelty, but I like my beer good and carbed up!

There you go, all you need to know about bubbles and the ways they get into beer. Time to go take those fancy tap lists by storm!

Brew Year's Resolutions: 5 Things To Broaden Your Craft Beer Horizons In 2015

In my opinion, New Year's Resolutions work about as well as two story outhouses.  Get to the gym more.  Eat fewer non-complex carbohydrates.  Eat more riboflavin.  This is what has been bombarding my Twitter Feed and Facebook Page over the past few days and I am sick of it.  Very few of the resolutions that I have seen over the last couple of days have looked appealing or achievable, much less appealing and achievable.  Perhaps even more egregious, very few of the resolutions I saw mentioned anything about craft beer.  So, let me present you with a couple of things to add into the mix in 2015 that up the gravity on your beer geek goals.  Whether you are a Certified Cicerone or just dipping you toe in the craft beer pool, you will hopefully find something to ponder as we move forward and into the new year.



Brew Year's Resolution #1-Try a new beer style.  We all have our favorites.  We are partial to certain qualities of those brews, but why not try breaking into a new direction?  You would be surprised (I know I was) about exactly how many different beer styles and sub-categories are out there.  My own foray into this resolution will be the ESB category.  ESB stands for Extra Special Bitters.  When I first heard of this style, I thought that it meant that it would be very hoppy and bitter.  That is actually not the case and, in fact, this beer style is remarkably balanced and drinkable.  If you are curious about where to find information about different beer styles, start with Beer Advocate or BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) as some great resources.  Not only will you see that there are a myriad of styles out there, there is usually a list of style representations that you can pick up at the local liquor store.  Read up on your favorite beer style and then try something that is similar to it.  You will be broadening your horizons while still staying in a palate and flavor profile that you are comfortable with.

Brew Year's Resolution #2-Order a new beer every time you are out at a bar or restaurant.  This is much easier than biking with a blindfold on and will allow for the same level of excitement.  As more and more bars and restaurants are catering to the needs of craft beer drinkers, they are providing us with more options for enjoying a pint.  Gone are the days where all you see are mainstream domestics on tap.  Both in the Twin Cities Metro area as well as in greater Minnesota, the tap lines are becoming more interesting and diverse.  Some of my favorite places in the Twin Cities are Republic and Muddy Pig.  These places have a great selection of local and regional craft beers as well as staffs that are intelligent and willing to help you pick the right beer for you.

Brew Year's Resolution #3-Try a new taproom.  With taprooms popping up like prairie dogs in a South Dakota summer, this is extremely doable.  The other night I went to Northgate's taproom for the first time and I absolutely loved it.  I got a chance to try their Parapet ESB and that helped me work on my first resolution.  The vibe is great there and with each different taproom, you are introduced to a collection of new and exciting beers.  We have some hidden gems in this state and each one has a vibe and feel that is unique.  There are no cookie-cutter taprooms that I have seen and I have been to my fair share.




Brew Year's Resolution #4-Hit the books.  While there is much beer geek knowledge that can be gleaned from going out and trying new beers in taprooms and bars, if you really want to up the gravity of your beer knowledge, you need to check out some of the great titles that have been written about craft beer.  One of my personal favorites is Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide To The World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher.  This is one of the most accessible books about everything one needs to know about tasting, understanding and evaluating beer.  If you are looking for something more of the narrative variety, Microbrewed Adventures by Charlie Papazian has you covered.  Papazian's writing style is engaging and humorous and you read wonderful tales about his beer travels all over the world.



Brew Year's Resolution #5-Build Your Own 6-Pack.  One of the most common obstacles in trying new beer is the intimidation factor.  I have heard people become hesitant to spend anywhere from 8-12 dollars on a 6-pack of beer they are not sure they will like.  Well, most liquor stores have began to cater to the new craft beer enthusiast and they will usually have a section of single bottles that you can use to build your own 6-pack.  This is a wonderful way to expand your beer geek horizons.  Most liquor stores that have a build your own 6-pack will also be more than willing to help you fill it up with great beer that you will really like.

While the new year can bring a lot of pressure to set goals that may or may not be realistic or achievable, these 5 Brew Year's Resolutions are definitely something that you will have fun attempting to achieve.  Craft beer is not just something you drink, it is a means to social interaction and discovery.  So, get some friends together and try to work on these together.  I will be right out there with you trying to mark these off my list, all the while, having a great time meeting new people and drinking delicious craft beer.  Prost!