Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes: Cuvee Alex La Rouge Jurassian Imperial Stout

This is a very interesting brew out of Switzerland that will wow your palate with a diverse range of flavors. Right out of the gate you will notice heavy hints of cocoa, caramel, dark fruits, a hint of sherry like sweetness, as well as some a pretty heavy raisiny sweet malt. The palate is medium bodied, but screams of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, some green tea and a very good dose of a tannic fruit like sweetness. The finish on this beer is what makes it jump out, as some of the black pepper comes out to pair with a medium level of floral hops to dry out this otherwise sweet stout. Be careful with this brew as the drinkability is very high for a 10% plus beer. Enjoy it with a nice cigar as an after dinner treat or try pairing it up with some venison off the grill.

www.bunitedint.com/portfolios/producers/bfm/alex_la_rouge/overview.php

Brassererie Ellezeloise

This very neat small scale brewery in Belgium was started in 1993, and have been kicking out some amazing brews ever since. Ellezeloise (pronounced EL-ZEL-WOZ) had been absent from the Minnesota market for quite some time, before its return about a year ago. They only produce five beers, two saisons, a blond, an amber ale, and a hardy Belgian stout. The Amber and Blond carry the preface Quintine, referring to a local legendary witch. The stout is named Hercule after detective Hercule Poirot, one of Agatha Christie’s most well known characters in her writings. The saisons are simply called Saisis and Saison 2000, but their names are the only thing simple about these beers. All of these brews come in 33cl swing-top bottles, and are certainly worth a try.

www.brasserie-ellezelloise.be

Furthermore Brewery

This is not even technically a brewery, as it is simply two dudes making and selling beer, but they definitely deserve some mention. Aran Madden and Chris Staples brew down at the Sand Creek Brewery in Black River Falls Wisconsin, and have been in the Minnesota market for about a year now. They produce three year-round brews, and three seasonals that fulfill any session drinkers fancy. Their first beer is Knot Stock Pale Ale, and it is simply an American Pale Ale with a little cracked black pepper added to spice things up a little. Their second beer is Proper, which is simply an easy drinking English style pub ale that will quench anyones thirst one a hot day far better than a fizzy pale yellow lager. The third year round beer is Three Feet Deep, a Guinness like Irish Dry Stout that would sit alongside a nice steak off the grill any day. Their three seasonal are worth mention as well, they have an apple beer for the fall named Fallen Apple, a Belgian Wit on crack called Fatty Boombalattty, and a Belgian styled IPA called Make Weight.

Now bear in mind this is not your over the top DIPA and Imperial stout style brewery, but if you like a well made beer that you can drink more than 3 ounces of at a time, then these guys are for you.

www.furthermorebeer.com

Surly's New Can - Bitter Brewer

Surly has announced that Bitter Brewer will be their next canned beer. Bitter Brewer is Todd’s pet project beer and is a thirst quenching, palate pleasing, beautifully balanced brew, even for Surly.

www.surlybrewing.com