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.

The Pint Report: Big Wood Brewery's Wicked Ex IPA

We've all been through a tumultuous relationship at some point in our lives; one that seems like a great idea, full of some fun times, but ultimately leaves you feeling as though you are missing something, bored, or just feeling downtrodden.  For seasoned beer geeks, this describes their relationship with IPAs. Oh, they were that beer that got you started down this dark path of beer nerdery, but now you can't stand the site of them after either discovering more unique styles or having so many of them, the mere smell of one makes you cringe in horror.

But sometimes, beers like Wicked Ex from Big Wood Brewery out of White Bear Lake, MN make you remember why you fell in love with this rather popular style in the first place.  In the right kind of glass and the right temperature to show off its figure and taste, Wicked Ex rushes back all those early memories of you falling in love with IPAs and makes you forget, even for just a moment, whatever fancy style it is you are consuming/brewing now.

This brew has just enough of a bite to it that tickles the taste buds, but not too much that it repulses away the adventurous spirit.  That small hint of bitterness comes from the blend of Ahtanum hops, mixed with Cluster hops and a special blend from Northern Brewer.  The Anthanum hops give this brew that familiar citris and pine aroma and flavor that excite both the tongue and nostrils.

Oh, you may have found yourself steering away from beers of this variety, given your time and experiences with every other IPA that you've found nowadays, but the Wicked Ex is a Siren of this style.  It lures you in with an initial sweet flavor, then slams you up against the wall with that fresh bitter hop that will linger just long enough so that you don't forget it, but not too long so that you can't enjoy that burger and fries later on.

For beer purists, Wicked Ex tends to point in the direction of being a West Coast IPA, similar to other local Minnesota brewers who brag a similar style.  While this beer doesn't outright advertise itself as such, the fact the main hops hail from the Pacific NorthWest, coupled with the strong hoppy aroma of this brew, would suggest that is the style the brewer was going for.

Calm yourselves everyone, I'm married

It's ok to say you still love hoppy beers. It's even more ok to say that Wicked Ex IPA from Big Wood Brewery is one of those subtly unique beers that makes you think of those early days. Boasting an 80 IBU, the hoppiest of beers from the suburban brewery, this beer packs a nice little love bite that will keep you coming back for more.  Try not to daydream too much about this foxy beer; sure you may have moved beyond this type, but you still gave it your heart at one point in your life for a reason.

How to Talk Like a Beer Geek!

(Yep, I guess I’m a beer geek...)

How to Talk Like a Beer Geek is a new blog series here on Beerploma. Reading beer reviews and talking to a beer geek can sometimes seem like a separate language. When I started getting into craft beer there were times I would read a blog or a review of a beer and walk away knowing even less about the beer the reviewer was telling me about!

My idea of a great beer review was “dang this beer is tasty!”, or, “I wouldn’t drink that with your mouth!” Over the years I have learned what these weird and sometimes unnecessary terms mean. And, I am going to share them with you so you can cut through the jargon us beer geeks use and get the actual info you need!

Our first beer term today is QUAFF/QUAFFABLE. I know, quaff kind of sounds like it should be some sort of unpleasant bodily function. What it really means is to drink heartily. Like you can get er down. Nice full gulps. I see this a lot with session beers. Here is an example: “This low A.B.V. session beer is highly quaffable.” or "Mmmm... I'd quaff that!"

Speaking of SESSION BEER, let’s just get that one out of the way as well! The meaning of this one had eluded me for quite a while into my craft beer beginnings. At first I thought that it was a big robust beer that you could only drink a little bit of during a tasting session... I don’t know, just made sense to me. I was wrong. It is actually the opposite. A session beer is a very easy drinking low alcohol beer. Basically you can sit down for a good long beer drinking session and have plenty of session beers without getting just completely obliterated or burnt out on any intense robust flavors. I was close right?!?!

The last beer geek term for today is LACING. Nope, this doesn’t have anything to do with your shoes, nor does it have anything to do with the ruffles on your fancy underpants! Lacing is the way the foamy head clings to your beer clean glass as you drink it. A beer with a good head served in a properly cleaned glass will leave some of the head clinging to the glass. It almost has a lace-like pattern, hence lacing!

 

(Some lacing on a Bent Brewstillery Acclivity at Ward 6)

Well, there you have it! Your first three terms to help people talk like a beer geek. One thing to always remember though; if beer tastes good it tastes good, and if it doesn’t it doesn’t. There is really only one way to actually find out... Drink it!

Beerploma Presents: Tin Whiskers Craft Brewery!

Check out one of St. Paul newest Craft Breweries:  Tin Whiskers!

Brewing Goes Mobile: Fiz - The Brewery Management Game

Perhaps a couple of you knew me from before my time at Beerploma, when I was an aspiring video game reviewer and journalist. In the 6-7 years I spent writing about games, ranging from AAA titles on the console, to mobile indie titles so obscure, I don't even remember the titles, I came across a lot of unique stuff. But nothing quite as unique as the game Fiz: The Brewery Management Game. I actually reviewed for the last site I worked for, but wanted to revisit this title again, to expose it to my new beer drinking audience. You can read that review here.

Fiz, as the subtitle of the name suggests, is a brewery simulation game. While this may conjure images of some big complex game, it is actually a pretty simplistic and entertaining experience which works perfectly with mobile devices.  This seemingly simple concept, managing a brewery, actually is chock full of challenges and lots of different twists and turns.

While you probably won't become the next Surly or Boom Island Brewery, there is a lot of elements used in this game that any beer nerd, especially those versed in the art of crafting beer, will be able to appreciate.  Ingredients used in the making of the various brews are mostly real world ingredients; there are some fictional elements added in, but mostly for stat boosting or to improve the batch of beer.  The beer styles featured in this game will be familiar to all beer geeks, and does feature a great selection of styles. From Dunkles to IPAs, Irish Red Ales to Barleywines, Fiz offers so many choices to brew.

Another interesting thing this game does is put a focus on not only what you brew, but where you sell your tasty products.  Some bars cater to more German styles for example, while others are pretty sold on IPAs.  Some places even prefer your adjunct lagers to anything else.  Adding this in, gives this game a challenge, rather than just having players brew beers all willy nilly.

If you're looking for a mobile game that won't nickle and dime you every 10 seconds (Candy Crush anyone?) and still keeps you entertained and wanting to come back for more, consider grabbing Fiz today.  This was one of my favorite mobile games I've ever played, and I've even gotten a couple of the other staff here at Beerploma hooked on it well.

Get Fiz on Google Play for Android

Get Fiz on the iTunes App Store for Apple 

Setting Sights on a Taproom: Insight Brewing Company's Open House

A week ago on Friday, September 26, Insight Brewing Company had an open house to show off the brewery space and their beers.  Judging by the huge turnout and immense flavor and variety of what they were pouring, the night was hugely successful.  The event ran from 5-9 and when I got there at 5:25, the place was already packed.  The volunteers were running around feverishly to keep up with the lines for samples of their beer.

There was also a lot of activity at the booth where they were taking memberships for their Passport Club, a program where you get up to 4X credit in their taproom along with perks such as one-off bottle reservations and t-shirts.  The information for the Passport Club is on the brewery's website.  Personally, I think that the Passport Club is a tremendous deal and am planning on enrolling.  There were a lot of happy drinkers there and as I was talking to people about the beer, I did not hear any complaints, but rather a lot of enthusiastic comments about how good the beer was, both in taste and style.

The aesthetics of the place are very pleasing.  As you come in the front doors, you ascend the stairs into the taproom.  The high ceilings and ample tables are inviting and a place where I definitely would feel comfortable hanging out.  The wall separating the taproom from the brewery does not restrict one's view from the brewing kettles and equipment.

I got a chance to talk with Eric Schmidt, one of the co-owners of the brewery about the event and he came across as incredibly passionate about beer.  We chatted about the beers they had on tap and when they would be opening.  Despite being incredibly busy, he valued the opportunity to talk with me about what I thought about the beer and I think that shows a lot about where Insight's values are.  They place a lot of importance on making patrons feel valued and comfortable.  

So, look for them to be opening in about a month and give their beers a try.  The space is located in a prime location and is easily accessible via bus (61 route has a stop right in front of their brewery) and is not away from the heart of Northeast Minneapolis.

A Night Out at Urban Growler

Last week I finally had some free time to check out someplace on my brewery list, someplace I’ve been eagerly waiting to have a beer at. A free night from chores and work, out at the newest brewery in St. Paul? Add in the historical aspect of this being the first women owned and brewed microbrewery in Minnesota and my interest is peaked.  After work I headed right over to Urban Growler without delay to get a look at this highly talked about brewery for myself.

First impressions are one of the most important pieces of any first meeting, even when that meeting is between you and a new brewery. I like a taproom where I feel comfortable, where I can sit and have beer with a friend or on my own while working. I want to be treated like I’m welcome and walking into Urban Growler felt like I was being welcomed into a friends home. Not only was Urban Growler clean and comfortably lit, but its exposed brick walls and local photography gave the taproom a cozy feel. I found a seat and settled in when something caught my eye. On a chalkboard, near the center of the room, boasted a message. ‘Kill the keg’ it begged of me. If I could kill the keg of Rhubarb Wit I could be the proud winner of a pint glass.  I knew then what my first beer would be.

It was only moments before my server came by to take my order and I almost fell off my chair when he handed me a food menu. Dear Gods of beer, thank you for the tap rooms with food. As someone who regularly suffers from the dreaded drunken munchies (there was that time the hubby had to step in and abort my after festival Dominoes order before it reached the triple digits), I am grateful for even a frozen pizza. But a full, fresh, hot menu of options? For not the first time in my life I regretted that snack before leaving work. Believe me though when I tell you, that I caught myself staring at my fellow patrons, perhaps somewhat creepily, as they devoured delicious looking food. Next time food menu, I will come for you.

But I did have the beer (poor review this would be if I didn’t). I did start with the Rhubarb Wit and if they have any left (spoiler alert: I did not kill the keg. I tried.) you should make it a priority to try before we are fully in the grasp of fall. Summery and fresh, the rhubarb was not overpowering, more of a sweet tangy after taste. I was pleasantly surprised to taste that the coriander in the beer wasn’t overdone, but just right. I don’t mind spices in my beer but often times I find that they are overpowering to the other flavors and my palate. The balance in this was perfect. I had two.

Rhubarb Wit (left) and Blueberry Wheat (right)

Next up was the Blueberry Wheat, the menu boasting that this was the second in their Plow to Pint™ series. Plow to Pint™…my farm girl roots were intrigued. What Urban Growler is doing is partnering with local farms for some of their ingredients, literally from the farm plow to the pint in your hand. As I continued reading I found that the Rhubarb Wit was the first beer in this series. I love the fact that the brewery is sourcing local ingredients and supporting their farm community. The concept isn’t new to the restaurant world but this is the first time I’ve noticed a brewery taking up the model. Genius. And it shows in the beer. The Blueberry Wheat, also fresh and fruity, yet not overly sweet. I find most wheat beers to be very drinkable and this beer was right on in that aspect.  Hopefully this one stays around a little into the fall so I can give it a second go around.

For my next beer (don’t worry, I wasn’t driving) I went for the Cowbell Cream Ale. For my ‘quantity’ drinking I like a good cream ale and this is a good cream ale. Trust me, you’ll like it if you’re a fan of cream ales. Light and fresh, it’ll quench your thirst a couple times over without knocking you on your butt. I wish I’d gotten a growler.

I probably should have left after that one, but since I wasn’t driving, I decided to have one more…a little one though! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, at Urban Growler you can get a half pint! I love it! Sometimes, I want a little less beer. Usually because in the long run I’d like to drink a little more beer, but different beers. There’s nothing worse than staring at a lovely beer menu, knowing that with that slightly full feeling, you’ll have to cut your sampling short.  But the half pint gave me room to explore! Which I did with the Amber Skyline, a gorgeous amber ale. This was perhaps my favorite of the night, which surprised me. While I like ambers, they aren’t usually my first selection. I will be going back for this one though. It was a smooth, caramel beer with that wonderful sweet maltiness to it. This one will have its place in my fall beer rotation.

With work coming early in the morning I had to bring the night to a close. I thanked my servers, who were beyond friendly and fun. On the way out I checked out the beer garden and was a little sad that it had been too blustery out, and I too summerly dressed, to have enjoyed a beer outdoors. It was beautiful though and as soon as the weather permits, I plan going back to enjoy it with my pup. It’s always a plus to sit enjoy a great beer with your best friend. Even if next time I’ll have to drive because, well, he’s a dog. There will be a next time though, and a time after that. So check out Urban Growler if you haven’t already. I for one can’t wait to see what they have in store for St. Paul.

http://www.urbangrowlerbrewing.com/