Beer reviews

[Craigums]

Anchor Brewing Company - Our Special Ale 2014 (Anchor Christmas Ale)

5.5% ABV

San Francisco, CA

Appearance: Deep auburn, thin tan head.

Odor: I might be crazy but I thought I smelled peppermint in this one, also notes of dried fruit.

Taste: Toasted barley and malts.

Overall: 8.5/10; Easy drinking, flavorful although not overly complex.

[Deitz Dittrich]

2nd Vote for Picnic Ants.. great stuff.

[OnAFly]

Anywhere just across the river that a Minnesotan could be the seemingly Wisconsin only beer?

[Walleye Guy]

OnAFly: If you cross the border at Taylor's Falls and run up the hill into St. Croix Falls, there is a SA on the southside of the road that has an expansive beer cooler and all the New Glarus products you want. They even have the build your own six-pack..

If I had $1 for every time I have 'muled" Spotted Cow back from WI to MN for my friends I would be a rich man...

[Deitz Dittrich]

The Grocery store in St.Croix falls also has a huge craft beer selection.

[OnAFly]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna have to stop up that way. There are a few New Glarus brews I've wanted to try.

[Fowlmouth]

Busch light brings back memories of the old days at Mankato State.. Ya'll should try the new Snowstorm from Schells. It's really good this year.

[OnAFly]

@Craigums

Tried the Bells White. It's a well done Hefeweisen. The best way to drink it is to first roll the bottle in your hands for a few minutes to break up the sediment at the bottom. Then pour 3/4 into a glass and swirl the remainder to pick up the rest of the bits and pour that in. You'll have a nicely clouded Hefe which is kind of a cross between a Belgian Wit(lighter and bit sweeter) and a Bavarian Weiss (even more yeasty!).

Great recommendation

[Craigums]

Thanks for the tip!

[Jim Almquist]

@Craigums

Tried the Bells White. It's a well done Hefeweisen. The best way to drink it is to first roll the bottle in your hands for a few minutes to break up the sediment at the bottom. Then pour 3/4 into a glass and swirl the remainder to pick up the rest of the bits and pour that in. You'll have a nicely clouded Hefe which is kind of a cross between a Belgian Wit(lighter and bit sweeter) and a Bavarian Weiss (even more yeasty!).

Great recommendation

Then drop in a half slice of lemon and you will have a true Bavarian pour. I was there for 3 years in the service and I had to learn how to ask for a slice of lemon because in the northern parts of Germany they don't bring it that way unless you ask. Then they make some snide remark about being a pig farmer True story !

[Craigums]

Tried this last night. I don't have the words to make a review. Mind blown, eyes open, I see the world through a different light this morning. Giving it a 10/10 sells it short.

[delcecchi]

14.4%, the one beer to have when you are only having one....

[OnAFly]

...and you don't need to drive anywhere

[delcecchi]

But Honey I only had one beer with the guys...

[JP Z]

And that could be why he didn't have words and his mind was blown...

[OnAFly]

I had a Surly Darkness that was like that. Bourbon barrel aged, high ABV (not 14% high, but still) stout. It's a very different beer. Honestly, I don't know why they bottle it in such large bottles. To me it's more like a sipping beer. I would want more like 6-7oz at a time.

[Dave S]

Not a beer drinker but there's a new brewery in Shakopee that's having an open house this afternoon.

Badger Hill is the name.

[OnAFly]

I've had a few of their brews. Traitor IPA is a very good one from those guys. I actually met the head brewer of Badger Hill when I did the Lucid tour as they shared the building with Lucid at the time. He was a pretty good guy...as I remember. I did just get done with a brewery tour and tasting when I met him