Category Archives: Review

Sometimes amateur, sometimes professional, reviews of local, national, and international beer.

Review

Elevated Review: Chimay White (Cinq Cents)

We are pleased to welcome Elevated * Beer * Wine * Spirits * to our little corner of the internet. Every few weeks the staff at Elevated will grab something off the shelves and give you their take on the selection.
-Andrew

ChimayConsidering this is the first review I’m doing for Elevated Beer Wine and Spirits, I figured I should start with a classic, with a beer that started it all for me. If my memory serves me correct, ten years ago, Chimay White was my first foray into micro and import brews. Chimay has been brewing beer for 150 years and brewing Chimay White for 47 years.

chimay-logo3Chimay White is a Tripel brewed by one of only eight Trappist breweries in the world. It pours a gorgeous light copper blond color with a creamy thick head. The aroma is subtle and reassures you that you aren’t about to get hit in the face with a fruit bomb that is sometimes present in the style. It is drier than your average Belgian and not overly spiced, which allows the hops to come through wonderfully. There is a substantial amount of carbonation, that doesn’t fade and allows the beer to dance across your tongue until the last sip.

My tastes have changed over the years, but I owe a lot to this classic that has led to my further enjoyment of both beer and career. I look forward to relying on such a consistent beer for many years to come. I may be guilty of overlooking Chimay at times, but its deliciousness always welcomes me back with open arms. It may not be as flashy as some of the other tripels out there, but it is definitely one of the best.

Newsfeed, Review

Antici-pation – Winterfest 2013

rhps-lips

I had my ticket for Winterfest printed and in hand about 48 seconds after they went on sale.  It’s an understatement that I was excited for last Friday (Feb. 1st) waiting on the first floor of The MN History Center with all the other rabid beer fans.  This would be my first one.  I’ve known that Winterfest was the premiere Minnesota beer tasting event for the past two years but could never get a ticket.  Now I had one and second 49 started the wait.

There was much chagrin over the price of the Winterfest tickets this year; a little over $80 with internet fees.  With the notion that the ticket was a Christmas present to myself I bought one; one of 750 sold.  It was a brilliant marketing idea to offer the “6 Pack” of tickets (2 tix to each of the 3 MN Craft Brewer’s Guild events; Winterfest, All Pint’s North, Autumn Brew Review).  It was a really good deal (a little over $50 a ticket, $290 plus fees for the six pack).  Last summers All Pints North had a less than stellar attendance (but a really great line up!) and the 6 pack really help the Duluth beer scene.  After Winterfest I’m a huge fan of what is going on in Duluth.  One idea: is it such a bad thing to have all the major beer fests in one place?  Maybe my idea of comparing the Minnesota Twins to the MN Craft Brews Guild is too far.  The idea of a destination brewing town is appealing to me but I live here and can see the other side of the argument wanting craft beer to be inclusive.  I’m torn but not like Natalie Imbruglia I still have faith.

It was Wednesday of the week of Winterfest when the program for was available.  As far as event planning goes I’m sure this was right on time, I’d been looking for it for two weeks before, however.  I was a little excited.  I know you couldn’t tell.  I poured over the program, made a list, checked it twice.  Even went so far as to make sure I could drink everything that I wanted to.  Let’s face it, not only is it a beer fest but most of my must haves were barrel aged (a Winterfest specialty) that can lead to waking up in the US-Dakota War exhibit, or jail if you’re belligerent.

To celebrate my first Winterfest I went on a quest to support the local beer community every night leading up to the Fest starting on Monday.  This took me to Grumpy’s NE, Butcher and Boar, Nomad, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, of all places.  It was an absolutely fantastic week and Winterfest was a brilliant end to it.  All I had to hold on as 7 o’clock rolled around.  My excitement was match by the 200 or so other people I was crowded into the 1st floor hallway of the Minnesota History Center.  As the bag pipes started to play there was a collective sigh, not only because Winterfest was now here but we could begin to move without bumping into four other people by breathing.  It was a happy squeeze.

It was the first hundred or so of us that were able to make out the toast the guild president gave; a hard to hear address to the few that were listening.  Before this we were gathered in a tent just off the History Center.  A stage in there would have been a great area to provide a little more pomp and circumstance to the event and let’s face it, everybody loves a show.

So, I was off to the third floor first, beating the crowd.  I wanted to make sure I had Barley John’s Dark Knight Returns.  Not only did I have it, I think I was the first, but it won the Snowshoe for best of fest (Congrats to Barley John’s by the way).  I’m glad to say of all the things that I wanted to try I did.  All told I had 30 beers on the night.  That number’s a little inflated due to poor record keeping.  I tried to mark off as I went, that didn’t happen.   Then, I tried to remember and failed.  Chalk it up to what you will (it was the booze).

Of all the breweries I had the most consistent, and new to me, was Fitger’s.  I don’t know if that makes me ignorant or inspired; regardless I’m better for it.  Here are my top five beers of Winterfest.  Besides number one there is in no particular order.

5.  Dawn Juan – Steel Toe – I beg you not to bottle this.  You have enough of my money already.

4.  Silhouette – Lift Bridge – Can’t wait for this to be bottled.  It’s been too long since my last Stillwater trip.

3.  Gaelic – Castle Danger – Not only do you have a bad ass name but a good showing of all the beers I tasted.

2.  Manhattan Barrel – Townhall – Although I did love the Twisted Trace, this brew was unlike any beer I’ve ever tasted.

1.  Mango Trial IPA – Fitger’s – I’ve never had fruit sing through and yet compliment the hops in beer in quiet the same way.  A mouth revelation.  Town Hall’s Mango Momma can’t hold a candle to it.

Of all the things I tried at the fest I was most impressed by the Mango IPA from Fitger’s.  From second hand internet posts and bathroom walls I’ve heard disparaging words against this brewery, mainly in connection with Town Hall.  I was thinking this through; if a brewery (or brewer) would be compared to Town Hall and thought of as good but not as good I’d like to think that would be huge compliment with all the great things I’ve had from Town Hall and all the national love, not to mention awards, it has received.  Safe to say I’ll be road tripping to Duluth this summer and the only reason is for Fitger’s.  Not only did they impress me with the best new beer, but the range of the other brews I enjoyed from them was of a brewery that has everything under control and wants to show off.

Winterfest was unlike any other fest I’ve been to.  The limited tickets made for a smaller crowd. The atmosphere was great, and no wait longer than 30 seconds for any beer; the ultimate American experience.  In fact the only thing I waited for was the food they had.  It was solid and a welcomed interruption to the huge beers I was downing.  The small lines and limited amounts of people that I was surrounded by provided an atmosphere of pure beer love that I haven’t experienced at other fests I’ve gone to.  A combination of just enough people and easy access to beers I would normally wait in line for created a world of bliss for the beer lover that wants to try it all.

Despite all this I don’t know if I’ll go again.  Don’t get me wrong I had a blast.  Winterfest is Wonka’s chocolate factory.  You can meet the candy makers (if they’re not slinging beer too fast), try all their best confections, and all with an exclusive crowd.   Although no one grew purple from too much drink (not that I saw but I’m sure it happened).  What I discovered was I missed the lines.  In line is where all the real magic has happened for me at fests.  Where I’ve met people and connected with others that have the same passion I do.  Maybe this is an unfair bias.  I like to meet new people at these events.  Go in with nothing but excitement and come out richer for the experience.  I’m glad to have gone.  I’m also glad to know how I operate at beer fests little more.  I love the wait.  I love the people I meet and the experience that the line brings.  Maybe ABR will be more my speed…

Newsfeed, Review

Reviewbicle: Surly Smoke

Introducing Reviewbicle, a regular monthly feature by the guys at www.brewbicle.com. Every month Dan Belfry and Jon Buck will feature something from their very own Brewbicle cellar and tell you all about it.
-Andrew Schmitt

Being the designers and creators of Brewbicle, we have a special interest in the aging of beer. It is what
drove us to begin creating the Brewbicle almost 2 years ago and what drove us to start our company
in March of 2012. Aging beer is a wonderful hobby; it is equal parts patience, experimentation and
experience, and can provide the most enriching beer moments when those three things align. And while
this hobby floats on the fringes of the craft beer world, it is quickly growing and gaining interest. With a little self-control you can build a cellar of your own hand-selected gems to enjoy with friends and family.

This article isn’t going to dig into the how’s and why’s of beer aging or cellaring. We will, however, point you to some good resources and information we’ve found to answer your questions. If you want to read
more, go to: http://www.brewbicle.com/beer-cellaring-101.html

For our inaugural Beer Reviewbicle, we’ve selected a Minnesota beer and one that is readily available on
local store shelves at the time of this writing. We’re taking a closer look at Surly Smoke, a smoked Baltic Porter aged in oak, with a comparison of 2010 and 2012 vintage. The 2010, kept in a Brewbicle in Jon’s basement, and the 2012 procured from Jon’s local store shelves have two years between them, which
should provide a nice amount of contrast and highlight development for our taste buds. We started
from the ’12 and drank back to the ’10, which is typically how you would address a vertical tasting from
newest to oldest. Below are our tasting notes:

SURLY SMOKE

photo(3)

Appearance (’12): Mostly black and when held to light, reveals crimson edges. The head is a light cream
color and developed into a substantial head when poured. Redder than the ’10.

Appearance (’10): Mostly black with brownish edges, very minimal head appears even after a vigorous
pour, the head that does appear is darker and disappears quickly. Pretty clearly the less carbonated of
the two.

Aroma (’12): Campfire/smoke dominates the smell; beyond that, there’s a whiff of cherry or raisin,
some sweet vanilla and some traces of alcohol. Smoke, however, is by far the prominent aroma as one
would assume.

Aroma (’10): Again, smoke is present, but more easily gives way to those cherries and dark fruit and a
hit of the vanilla. There is an over-arching presence of a musty odor, not overpowering or offensive, but
present here where undetectable in the ’12.

Taste/Mouthfeel (’12): There is an upfront bitterness, although quickly fleeting and swept away by the
namesake flavor, which permeates and lingers through the rest of the tasting. As the finish begins, a
dryness comes forward. This could be from the oak tannins or from the roasted malt; between this and
the higher level of carbonation, the ’12 finishes distinctly cleaner than the ‘10

Taste/Mouthfeel (’10): Don’t be mistaken, there is smoke in this one too, but by comparison it is more
subtle and not as dominant. The fruit flavors that were only glimpsed before now have a bigger role,
starting almost right away and not leaving until the end when a sweet vanilla finish compliments the
smoke flavor. The smoke and vanilla linger and finish slowly, with less carbonation to cleanse, the flavors remain alive longer than in the ’12.

Overall Comparison (’12 and ‘10): We thought Surly Smoke was great with some age. The things that
appeared were really amazing and the beer that was revealed two years later was delightful. No longer
enslaved and overpowered by smoke flavor, the other elements of the beer got some time in the sun.
We both highly favored the ’10 for flavor reasons, but this does come with a caveat. The ’10 had some
signs of oxidation starting to show and significantly less carbonation. Our guess is that one or two
years more is probably all the further this should go. Additionally, if the Smoke is what draws you to
this beer to begin with, you may very well like this one fresh, but you’d missing what lies beneath and
complements the Smoke so well.

We hope you found our take on Surly Smoke informative and possibly inspirational to squirrel away a
bottle or two to try come the 20teens.

We’d like to thank MN Beer Activists for the opportunity to share our passion with those
who share it along with us.

Cheers!

Newsfeed, Review

Republic: Episode 2 – A New Hope

RepublicI’ve lived in Uptown for five years now. Moved four times and managed to stay in the same zip code (which has been a bitch to figure out where to vote). I love Uptown, what it used to be. I remember a time, the first time I had a Surly, at Old Chicago. I would go for their fantastic happy hour and a shot at something I’d never had in a beer before all with great friends by my side and a place where I could have a conversation. At that time my favorite beer was Moose Drool, so when Bender came around you can guess my mouth’s excitement. The beer was great the atmosphere was people like me, 20-somethings within a few years of college graduation who were out to live in a city with a night life. The legends grow from there.

Then there’s Williams. I loved it because it reminded me of Iowa, where I’m from. These were the people who I went to high school with, the ones I wanted to get drunk with. I would have two beers there (and by two I mean six because they continue not to screw around there with head sized glasses) and go over to the Uptown to catch the a midnight classic I had yet to see on the big screen. I was Donny in his element.

And the Independent, I never loved it, but it passed. Always filled with guys faking style and even manners to hook up or keep the women who were interested in them and ladies that were ready for a night where the town and they would end up covered in red paint. My friends and I came for the happy hour apps and stayed because a $4 Two Hearted was the best deal on Saturday at 10 at night. The best deal also in an atmosphere that allowed a desire to communicate without being shoulder to shoulder with your fellow humans.

The times they have changed for the Kingdom of Prince in the heart of Uptown. I’ll credit Parasole for a great idea with Chino Latino that has brought business to the area. Their gain is our loss. A business model has brought rise to the Kitchy bar/restaurant that has falling down drunken people flocking and falling out of most nights of the week for a chance at overpriced food and the idea exclusivity. It’s Downtown in Uptown with a dash of chic (try driving down 1st ave at 11pm on a Saturday and you’ll see what I mean). This gave birth to Drink (God dance on its dead soul), Cafeteria, Bar Abilene (although it was here before them all as adapted), even Williams has been overrun with the stand in line/tub girl/get smashed mentality. Even Cowboy Slims, the bar without the pretention of Uptown (which earned it a little of my respect) is now tore down for condos, don’t get me started on that trend…

Folks, I’m here to tell you something is happening in Uptown. There is an eye in the hurricane that is Uptown and it’s the Republic. There are no Macro beers on tap. Let me repeat that. THERE ARE NO MACRO BEERS ON TAP. No taps of Miller, no cans of PBR. The closest thing you can get is Goose Island and the jury is still out on that …situation. What is on tap is 50+ beers of craft goodness including, 12 local, four nitro, four that aren’t on the tap list, another four that rotate, and ten international. In short a great selection and that’s just the beer.

Here’s what greets you as you walk in; unfinished floors, the smell of paint, someone who greets you and nothing electric but lights and POS terminals (no TV’s what so ever). The first thing encountered, once you enter, is the bar. It’s in the same place as the Independent but not surrounded by the distraction and happen stance of yore. This is a bar and its main attraction is craft beer, abandon all hope ye who enter looking for something else. Gone are all of the walls that separated the old place into their trendy sections. In its place conversations are heard, overheard and real interaction is left to reside where distractions and artificiality reigned. I was able to meet Steve, a veteran of the beer community before there was one and before he knew there was a community. He was drawn to the potential of what this new Republic could be. Drawn to the chance to try and form a better union with input from the people that make it up (he insisted on crafting a black and tan from the drafts on top to compliment the dessert to at least ten people). He came to be part of the something I want to be a part of, a community; a community on the verge of not having a face that I could recognize. But also a community that wanted to take back what it had lost.

I’ve been here for three hours at this point; enjoyed three beers I’ve never had before, had a great burger, and made a friend I never had or would have had because of this place. It’s Monday and although it’s the “official” opening of the Uptown Republic this place isn’t open as we will know it. It’s open for dialogue, for what it will be. Already it’s a refuge for what I used to know Uptown as (and this is better than it was) and what it can be. In the entire time I’ve been here it’s stayed above 50% capacity. Vita.MN and Twitter were the only places the publicized the opening. The people are speaking. This bar is needed and greeted with open arms.

Great beer, good food, and a place to talk; that’s what the Republic is known for in Seven Corners and brings to Uptown (now about that live music…). It brings that same atmosphere in Uptown knowing exactly what it is and exactly who it will attract with no apologies. All in all is all it is and I can only wait to see what it becomes. Regardless of what it becomes, I’m pledging my fealty as a loyal member of the new Republic.

Republic * Uptown
Calhoun Square
3001 Hennepin Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Newsfeed, Review

Four Senses Working Overtime: Omission Lager and Pale Ale

I’m nervous writing this article because although I love beer and trying new beers, I’ve never written about beer for public eyes. I babble about it occasionally on my own blog, but this is my first “formal” “review.” I’m nervous because when I describe beer to others, I say things like “this stout has that yeasty flavor I don’t like” or “this IPA definitely has that Americany taste to it.” I know there are better terms for these things. Yeast to a beer geek means the ingredient in the brew. “Yeasty” to me means a flavor like the bread riser. I should probably just say “bready.” I’ve heard beer smarties say that. They probably mean what I mean.

This is a longwinded way of letting you know that I am not a professional and that you should go easy on me. I don’t know what Andy was thinking when he thrust these two bottles at me and said, “Write about this beer!” You’ve been warned.

Omission Lager

Omission Lager

I cracked the lager first not only because I was engaging in the traditional light-to-dark progression, but also because I like pale ales better than I like lagers, so I figured I’d save my preferred for second.

I am civilized, so I poured the Omission Lager into a glass and it was, as you’d expect, yellow. The thin head fizzed up energetically and dissipated just as quickly. It left a clingy ring of remnant bubbles around the girth of the glass and a circle of suds on the surface.

I raised the glass to my nose and had a whiff. As an IPA gal, I was pleased to perceive some hoppiness which gave me hop—I mean hope—for the taste (I told you, lager’s not my style) (nor are good jokes). That was countered by the usual malty, lagery sweetness.

The usual malty, lagery sweetness was present in the taste, as well, but as with the bouquet—oh wait, beer folks refer to that as nose, right?—there was a balance from the other side, so it didn’t have that sort of heavy, thick mouthfeel that to me lagers tend to have. And that lively carbonation tickled my tongue. However, once I got to the aftertaste, it was just a little syrupy and coaty in my mouth.

I suppose I should give the Omission Lager some sort of grade to help guide you further, but because it’s a style of beer I don’t typically seek out, I shall refrain from judging it. But for a low (4.6%) ABV beer it was pretty big on flavor.

Omission Pale Ale

Omission Pale Ale

Pale ales are more in my wheelhouse so I was happy to try this one. Oh geez, now I’ve gone and raised expectations for this part of the article with my poorly-timed use of a cliché. Keep calm and drink on.

Not to worry, I poured the Omission Pal Ale into a different, clean glass. My glassware at home probably isn’t “beer clean” because I only use grocery store dish soap, but I do appreciate the glassware itself. I just read an article which posits the notion that the straight-sided shaker pint glass is actually the worst thing for beer. This is personally devastating because I get an unnatural kick out of drinking beer from a glass that is emblazoned with the same branding as the bottle (or tap) from which it was poured, and most of the ones I have are shakers. But I digress.

I poured the pale ale into a clean glass and was optimistic. The color was a solid amber (perhaps just slightly more so than you’d expect from a pale ale), and a pleasantly creamy, medium-frothy head rose up to the rim of the glass.

I accidentally dipped my nose in the foam, and I smelled medium, pale aley-hoppiness as well as a little bit of sweetness which I might call caramelly. Then I grabbed a napkin and blotted myself.

The beer tasted gently hoppy, as a pale ale should, with some maltiness that wasn’t too sweet or roasty but which did make me think “Americany.” That’s probably due to some particular hop which I can’t even come close to naming. Like the lager, the mouthfeel was pleasantly lively but not too much so. The aftertaste was just a bit bitter but also on the dry side and reasonably clean.

Conclusion

I told you I’d use fancy beer terms in this write-up. Oh, and these beers are gluten-free in all but name and labeling. You’d never know that when you drink them. Well done, Widmer.