Bent Paddle 14° ESB Review

Name; Bent Paddle 14° ESB
Style: Extra Special Bitter 
ABV: 5.6%
IBUs: 32

Before getting started, I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the positive support over my article regarding my thoughts on the proposed PolyMet mining site. It really means a lot to me that all of you care about this issue and how it has sparked discussion over how we need to be better stewards about the environment. After all, we can't have good beer if we don't have good water, which is the most important ingredient in beer.

Now after writing this article, I realized something: I've been behind the curve as far as reviewing beer from Bent Paddle, despite having them numerous times on tap. So I figured I might as well start getting them out of the way. Today I have their 14° ESB, which has been part of their regular lineup for a while now.

Appearance - Dark brown that turns into a clear amber when held up to a light. The head is pretty thin but with a good amount of foamy and the amount of lacing left behind is quite abundant.

Aroma - Yeasts and floral hops with some toffee sweetness and chocolate notes. Also getting some light Vienna maltiness in here as well but it's secondary to everything else.

Taste - Floral hops & roasted barley upfront, followed by some Vienna malts and dark chocolate sweetness. I'm getting some bitter piney hops and more Vienna/Munich malts towards the middle & back while the aftertaste consists of light yeasts and moderate toffee sweetness with a hint of marmalade.

As mentioned earlier, I've had Bent Paddle's offerings on tap numerous times before and this beer is amongst those I've had before. Needless to say, I had kind of an idea what this beer was going to be like as I had it yet again, and it's not surprising to me that this is quite good, despite not having it for almost a year if my Untappd checkins are correct. If it's available where you're at, check it out!

Bent Paddle 14° ESB - 8.5/10

Surly Brett Mikkel's IPA Review

Name: Surly Brett Mikkel's IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7,5%
IBUs: 80 (per RateBeer)

It's been a busy past couple days for myself, so it's time to play catch up on a couple of beers. What better way to start than with some Surly? Today I've got their Brett Mikkel's IPA, which is a collaboration with Mikkeller Brewing based out of Denmark. As you may have guessed from the name, it's an IPA made with Brettanomyces yeast.

I recall having this at the Surly Taproom a couple months back but I wasn't taking notes, so imagine my shock when I discovered this stilling on the store shelves last week. I've only had one beer from Mikkeller and that was their 1000 IBU beer, which I think is a beer only for the truly curious. Let's see how this one turned out.

Appearance - Mildly hazy orange color with a moderate amount of visible carbonation. The head is rather thin in appearance but not much in terms of lacing.

Aroma - Citrus hops & grapefruit notes with some caramel maltiness. I'm picking up on some sour cherry funk/tartness and a hint of lemongrass

Taste - Tart raspberry and citrus hops on the front of the palate followed by caramel malts and grapefruit sweetness. The middle of the flavor is mainly just more caramel malts while the back end of the flavor is where that tartness and citrus hoppiness starts to reemerge

There's some funk & tartness in here, but they're secondary to the rest of the overall flavor and not what I would consider to be strong. With that said, if you're looking for a great introduction to sour beers, this would definitely be one of my first recommendations. As an IPA, it's a great beer and I could get used to drinking this, permitting it's not a one-off offering.

Surly Brett Mikkel's IPA - 8.5/10

Mining Trouble: Why I stand with Bent Paddle Brewing

A couple weeks ago, it was announced that business owners on the Iron Range were boycotting Bent Paddle Brewing on account of Bent Paddle's opposition to the PolyMet mining site in Hoyt Lakes, MN located next to the St. Louis River, which flows right into the Twin Ports (Duluth-Superior) area. In addition to Bent Paddle, they are calling for a boycott of all business affiliated with a group called the Downstream Business Coalition, a group of area businesses that are opposed to the PolyMet mine amidst concerns that it will harm the environment and the greater St. Louis County area as a whole.

The concerns are that the mine will pollute the water and turn every major drinking source in Northeastern Minnesota into, quite literally, undrinkable swill. The decision on whether or not the mining will happen is expected to be decided on next month.

I write this article knowing that a significant amount of my viewership comes from the Iron Range and frankly, I'm willing (and ready) to deal with any flak that comes my way.

So here it goes: I think the PolyMet mine is a terrible idea.

To start things off, at the center of all of this is Bent Paddle, who is the biggest production brewery in the Twin Ports area. They have been credited with bringing Duluth back into the spotlight with their phenomenal beers. In fact, the reason why Bent Paddle joined the Downstream Business Coalition is, understandably so, because they get their water from the St. Louis River and it's pretty much the reason why they make beer in the first place

You see Bent Paddle isn't the only business that's against mining, but there are quite a few members on that list and these aren't just some small no-name businesses but ones that are fairly recognizable:

• Amity Coffee
• Anahata Herbals
• Andi’s
• At Sara’s Table/Chester Creek Cafe
• Bella Terra Landscaping
• Bent Paddle Brewing Co. 
• Carmody’s
• Day Tripper of Duluth 
• Deer Tail Press
• Dirt Candy Designs
• Duluth Coffee Company
• Duluth Grill
• Duluth Running Company
• Duluth Technology Co.
• Evolve
• Gilbert Law Office
• Heck of the North Productions
• Intectural
• Just Take Action (Fitger’s Brewhouse Restaurant Group)
• Lake Avenue Café
• Lake Superior Art Glass
• Loll Designs
• Luke Chiropractic and Wellness
• Med Search Network
• Nordic Firewood
• Northern Waters Smokehaus
• Old Saw Media
• Pure Clean
• Red Herring Lounge 
• Sawbill Canoe Outfitters 
• Sawtooth Outfitters 
• Sled Dogs to St. Paul 
• Superior Paddle
• Taiga Design Built
• The Thirsty Pagan
• Up North Fungi
• Vikre Distillery
• Yker Acres

You'll also notice too that Bent Paddle isn't the only brewery on the list. in fact, there are three other breweries on the list, plus a distillery. This leads me to believe the reason for Bent Paddle being targeted in particular is because they're not only the largest brewery but also have the widest reach; With availability across Minnesota (mostly) and parts of Wisconsin.

Now I understand the Iron Range has had a pretty terrible year, from ore prices dropping, the mines shutting down to the numerous layoffs. I can understand PolyMet providing jobs for miners but for how long will those jobs last before you're back at where you first started? There has to be another way to revitalize the Iron Range economy without causing more harm to the environment. Plus when you factor in the hundreds of years of supposed mitigation & cleanup and the proposed effects that the mine could have on both the environment and the economy of St. Louis County, Duluth and Minnesota as a whole are too great to risk and support.

Duluth has been on an economic upswing for a while now, a far cry from where they were back in the 1980's. When mining took a nose dive, it forced Duluth to diversify their economy, to which they have been successful in accomplishing. I see the PolyMet mine wiping away any progress the area has made in the long run. To make my case more relevant, those breweries (and distilleries) that rely on clean water to make our beers would be in serious trouble, not to mention the people who need access to a clean source of water.

In regards to this whole boycott, I feel it isn't just detrimental to the economy, it also pits small businesses against other one another for what I consider to be all the wrong reasons. For example in this article, the owner of a Vi's Pizza in Biwabik went from ordering around $2,000 worth of Bent Paddle a month (which is a pretty large amount) to ordering none. Not offering a product your customers have a very high demand for not only hurts your business when you stop offering it, but it also hurts the company that makes the product.

Even though I no longer live in Duluth, I still feel an immense connection not just to the town itself, but Northeastern Minnesota as a whole. It's a beautiful area and it would be heartbreaking to see all of it go to waste on account of what I would consider to be a temporary solution . As such, I stand behind Bent Paddle & the Downstream Business Coalition. You can love me or hate me about what I think about this whole issue but I stand by my belief that there is a better & more sustainable way to strengthen the Iron Range economy without putting the rest of the area at risk.

- Nick

Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale Review

Name: Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.5%
IBUs: 35

It's time to look at another beer from Ballast Point, and this time around it's their Grunion Pale Ale. Unlike another beer, which I'll talk about in a moment, this is a honest-to-goodness APA made with Mosaic & Calypso hops. I was told by an employee at the store I was at that it was not only better than beers like PseudoSue or Zombie Dust, but that it was the be-all, end-all of pale ales out there. Sounds ambitious to say the least.

On a side note, a couple winters ago, I reviewed their beer named Pale Ale. However, a pale ale, it was not but rather it was a Kolsch instead. Two years later, the labeling remains the same with the disclaimer that it's a Kolsch still being in tiny letters at the very bottom. Whatever, I'll let bygones be bygones, let's check the beer out.

Appearance - Hazy dark yellow with a moderate amount of visible carbonation. The head has a good amount of foam to it and the lacing retention is very good as well

Aroma - Marmalade & citrus sweetness upfront, followed by some orange peel notes. I'm getting a good amount of both pale & caramel malts, plus a light hint of yeastiness. It may sound bizarre, but I feel this smells like an IPA

Taste - Marmalade & grapefruit sweetness dominate the front of the palate, while the middle opens up to that toffee & pale maltiness. Towards the back is where that grapefruit sweetness shifts into more of a sweet orange flavor, albeit, with a significant amount of bitterness, along with some light yeasts. Aftertaste is quite dry, save for a lingering bitter hop resin flavor which fades after a few moments.

This is no doubt a good pale ale and has everything one is looking for in a good APA. The only problem? Much like Calm Before The Storm, it's very overpriced and that alone makes it harder to recommend this. I had to once again buy a single bottle of this as opposed to a 6-pack just so I can try it out. I can understand paying $15 for a six-pack of Dorado, but I can't understand why you would line price 80% of your beers at a cost that is higher than your competitors. I can see why if it were a superior product but.............

As for being the best pale ale on the market, I don't think it deserves a spot among beers like PsuedoSue or Alpha King, If you're willing to spend the money on a six-pack of this, then by all means, do so. As for me, there are better quality APA style beers out there available in my area that are priced a lot more reasonably

Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale - 8/10

Bent Paddle Harness IPA Review

Name: Bent Paddle Harness IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.2%
IBUs: 87

It's been about 6 months since I've moved from Duluth, and I don't think I've done a terribly good job with covering beers from that region since my departure, so let's change that up because you know I've got to show some love to the Zenith City. For this review, I've got Bent Paddle Brewing's Harness IPA, which is their winter seasonal IPA.

Harness IPA actually went by the name Harness The Winter IPA when it was first released last winter, but I'm guessing they decided the name needed a bit tweaking....or something like that. Anyways, Harness is a Rye IPA and I think the timing of this review is perfect because this is the first time this winter that we've experienced sub-zero temperatures and it looks like it'll stay that way for quite a while

Appearance - Dark amber color with a mild amount of visible carbonation and a slight bit of haze. The head is off white in color and quite foamy and appearance, with a very high amount of lacing left behind along the sides of the glass

Aroma - Citrus & Piney hops with some pronounced rye notes. I'm also getting some caramel maltiness with some light yeastiness.

Taste - Strong grapefruit and rye notes upfront, followed by some piney hops towards the middle. The back end of the flavor opens up to that caramel maltiness, with more rye flavor and some citrus hops. Aftertaste is a mix of rye spiciness and light bitter notes.

If there's one word I'd use to desrcibe this beer, it would be Hearty. It's got a nice full body, a good rye bill and an even better hop profile to back it up and it's perfect for those cold winter days that want nothing more than to make your life a living hell. So if you see this beer, be sure to check it out and use it to warm your soul.

Bent Paddle Harness IPA - 9/10

Sixpoint The Crisp Review

Name: Sixpoint The Crisp
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 5.4%
IBUs: 44

Time for another beer from Sixpoint Brewing, who just became available in our area just a couple months ago. This time around, I have The Crisp, and yes, there is a "The" in the name. I dunno, seems a bit tacky to have a "The" in a name that would otherwise only have one word. Though I can see it being utilized in conversation, like this: Hey Mitch, have you had The Crisp from Sixpoint Brewing yet?

As for the beer itself, the can refers to it as a lager but when I looked it up on BeerAdvocate and the brewery website, it was lovely referred to as a Pilsner. Though BA specifically referred to it as a German Pilsner, I will be referring to it as a Pilsner for convenience.

Appearance - Bright yellow with a mild amount of visible carbonation and just a slight bit of haze. The head is pretty foamy, more-so than it is full of volume and there's a very high amount of lacing left behind along the sides of the glass

Aroma - Pilsner malts and yeasts upfront. Getting some mild floral hops in the middle along with some light biscuit notes

Taste - Floral hops and Pilsner malts start things off, before a sweet lemongrass flavor takes over the middle of the palate. Towards the back, I'm starting to get more floral hops again but this time, it's that biscuit/yeast flavor that I'm getting instead of that maltiness. Aftertaste is pretty dry, save for some light yeasts and pale malts.

If there's one thing this beer proves, it shows that they can make a very good Pilsner and the addition of some more prominent floral hoppiness really adds some dimension to this beer. Even if there weren't any noticeable hop flavors in here, I'd still say this a very good Pilsner. It goes without saying that this is one of the best pilsners I've had in a long time and it's one that's worth your attention.

Oh, in case you're wondering, it does in fact, feel crisp on the palate.

Sixpoint The Crisp - 9/10

21st Amendment Toaster Pastry Review

Name: 21st Amendment Toaster Pastry
Style: Amber Ale
ABV: 7.6%
IBUs: 74

It's been a long while since I've had anything from 21st Amendment Brewing, but when I heard about this beer while watching Beer Geek Nation a few weeks back, I knew I had to get my hands on this just to try it out. Thankfully, I didn't have to resort to a beer mail to find this as it's readily available in our area.

Which brings us to Toaster Pastry, a beer brewed by 21st Amendment to celebrate the opening of their new production brewery in San Francisco, which was once used as a production facility for Pop Tarts, hence the name. Prior to opening, they were contract brewing & canning their beer at various facilities around the United States, with one of the main locations being in Cold Spring, Minnesota at the Cold Spring Brewing/Third Street Brewhouse facility.

As for the beer itself, it's supposed to remind the drinker of having a Pop Tart, but in liquid form, at least according to what I've read up about this beer. Let's see if this holds true.

Appearance - Very hazy amber color with a mild amount of visible carbonation. The head is thin but there's a good amount of lacing here.

Aroma - Moderate Vienna malts & citrus hop sweetness, followed by some bitter piney hops towards the end. I'm also getting some light toffee sweetness in here as well.

Taste - Bitter and citrus hops upfront with some Vienna & toffee malts towards the middle with some mild yeastiness. I'm also getting some mango/tangerine sweetness in the back along with some bitter hops along with some more Vienna malts.

I can't say that reminds me of a Pop Tart too much save for the yeast & tangerine sweetness, but it's a pretty good beer all around and I think it's a pretty clever way to inaugurate their brand new brewery. If you see this, I say it's worth giving a shot.

21st Amendment Toaster Pastry - 8.5/10