![]() ![]() Kevin Welch, owner and head brewer at Boom Island, has had a relationship with Thijs Maenhout of Brouwerij Maenhout for years but avoided releasing a collaboration for fear that it would appear gimmicky. Strong bitter coffee and cocoa notes coat the palate with a striking degree of bitterness. However, this example bucks the trend with a moderate body and little residual sweetness. The typical imperial stout, with its heavy, slick character and overwhelming heft may not be ideal for this transitional time of year. Fear not - reach for one of these recent releases that masterfully bridge the gap between late winter and early mud season.įirst is the imperial stout collaboration Kollusion, crafted by Boom Island Brewing Company out of North Minneapolis and Brouwerij Maenhout of Pittem, Belgium. And with more snow in the forecast, it’s a confusing time when it comes to seasonal food and drink. It’s a bit awkward to reach for a bright glass of maibock right now, regardless of how hearty a Minnesotan you proclaim yourself to be. Two Beers for the Extended Winter: Boom Island and Schell’s Substituting L’Eau Grand for bourbon or rye in an Old Fashioned - one suggestion from the Crooked Spirits website - led to an anemic version of the classic, and the character of the vodka was lost. Simple mixes, such as natural fruit juice or orange bitters, were more successful than complex applications with greater dilution. Though the vodka doesn’t possess the depth of a bourbon or scotch, it makes for a nice sipper. After warming slightly, the vanilla and tannic flavors increase. The flavor evolves nicely over time and at different temperatures. There is an initial heat plus a plastic element on the nose that dissipates quickly. The aging brings a caramel aroma, while dried stone fruit and molasses hit the palate promptly on tasting. Its L’Eau Grand vodka is made with 100 percent winter wheat and is finished on French oak. After launching in late 2014, Crooked Water expanded its product line to include gin, vodka, bourbon, and apple brandy. Owned by Heather Manley, the growing brand doesn’t have a facility of its own but contracts with the distiller Lars Forde of Yahara Bay Distillers in Madison, Wis. ![]() Similarly, a new distillery in Minneapolis, Crooked Water Spirits, is delivering barrel-aged vodka to bars and liquor stores.Ĭrooked Water focuses on high-proof spirits for sipping and mixing. Carver Distillery, and others soon followed, blurring the lines between white and brown spirits. The first example in the Twin Cities was J. Paige Latham Didora / Heavy TableĪ few years ago, a welcome twist on botanical gin hit the local market: barrel-aging, which creates a backdrop of tannins and warm depth of flavor that balances the bright profile of gin. In this Toast, we visit Blue Wolf Brewing Company in Brooklyn Park, sample two seasonal bottles of local beer, and taste Crooked Water Spirits, a new woman-owned distillery in Minneapolis. ![]()
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