A Micro Summer

Another Minnesota summer, another Minnesota winter. They come, they go. But, why in the sequence sweat pants do our summers pass so fast?

This summer was good to us though, especially when measured by our knowledge gained in the beer department. It all started with a sip of the Backyard Maple Sap Porter at the Lake Alice cabin. It was one of those encounters with liquid that made your toes curl and your face squirm. The Porter had the ability to work more muscles in your face than a sour warhead and a shot of scotch. Whether the beer was just green, or John didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing – that uncanny taste of dire beer ignited a certain nosiness among us. And hence, a brother’s brew began.

Don’t get us wrong, we all drink beer. We have been drinking beer for years. But this summer was different. We grew a little closer to beer. It wasn’t the typical summer of pounding Coors light on the speed boat at the cabin. Wait, drinking 13 beers in one summer day isn’t normal? This summer was about appreciation. Drinking less quantity, but more quality…..Much more quality. The sixers were more expensive, but man did they rock your palette. The liquor store stops didn’t revolve around sale prices and big yellow stickers, but conversations with the clerks. It might seem weird to know every single employees name at your local liquor store – but I assure you, it is not. “Hey, Mike – Time for another IPA, whatcha’ got?”. Oh man, have you tried the Full Sail, Grandson of Spot? “No, I have Not.” I just ordered their last palette, you got to try it. “Yes, please”. The conversations got longer, and the beers we hadn’t tried got shorter. Let’s just say it was a good summer of sampling. While improving our admittedly (that's a word, right?) mediocre home brews, we had the pleasure of drinking some pretty damn good micros. And that’s what this post is: a thanks to the micro breweries around the nation.

Here is a list of the micro brews we tried this summer, and our personal favs:

Surley: Furious, Bender. Tyranena: Bitter Woman in the Rye, Hop Whore, Chief Black Hawk Porter, Dirty Old Man Imperial Rye Porter, Cherry Blessed Porter. Rogue: Mocha Porter, Chocolate Stout, Dead Guy Ales. Old Rasputin: Imperial Stout. Rush River: Bubble Jack IPA. Full Sail: IPA, Grandson of Spot. Founders: Porter, Old Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale. New Belgium: Abby, 1554, Sunshine Wheat, Trippel, Skinny Dip. Bells: Porter, Kalamazoo Stout. Left Hand Brewery: Milk Stout, Rye Bock, sawtooth ale, JuJu Ginger, Imperial Stout. Boulder Hazed and Infused, Mojo India Pale Ale., Flashback Anniversary Brown Ale. Boulevard: Pale Ale. St Ambroise: Oatmeal Stout. Samuel Smith: Nut Brown Ale, Taddy Porter, Black Ale. Sprecher; Black Bavarian. Furthermore: Knot Stock. Big Sky: IPA. Magic Hat: Roxy Rolles Autumn Seasonal (Hoppy Amber Ale). Oskar Blues Brewery: Old Chub, Gordon, Dale's Pale Ale. Lagunitas: Maximus IPA, Red. Great Divide: Titan IPA, Hercules Double IPA.

Derek’s Favs: Hop Whore (Tyranena), Grandson of Spot (Full Sail), Kalamazoo Stout (Bell’s), Imperial Sout (Old Rasputin), anything from Founders, and anything from “The Brother’s Brew”.

John’s Favs: Dirty Old Man Imperial Rye Porter (Tyranena), Masala Mama IPA (from cask), Flashback Anniversary Ale (hoppy brown ale), Octane IPA (4 dudes brewing), Grainbelt Premium (no joke, keppin it real)
Ben’s Favs:

Jim (are you still with us?):