2025 Winter Beer Dabbler Superlatives
Winter Beer Festivals? Yeah, We Dabble.
On our 3rd year attending the Winter Beer Dabbler, the Aleluminati High Council had our best time yet. The weather was a balmy 32 degrees, we got to try all sorts of new beers from new breweries, and saw some old favorites as well.
If you read our preview article, you would know some of the parts we were looking forward to, but how did things actually shake out? What were some of the highlights?
Let’s get into it.
What was the most unique beer of the day?
Jack:
The most unique for me was “Good Eyesight” from Wooden Ship Brewing Company. It checked off a few firsts for me. This was a carrot beer with lactose, and cream cheese powder. When I say it has carrots in it, I mean it. It was the same color as carrot juice, and after sipping on it a bit, I was surprised to find that there was GLITTER swirling around in it. How fun is that? It was particularly sweet, so it was a good beer to just sample, but I appreciate the ingenuity and creativity that Wooden Ship always brings to the table!
Cody:
Just when I thought I'd seen it all, along came a beer that doubles as a spicy snack. Wandering Leaf Brewing's “Walkie Takis” is a Mexican lager brewed with cayenne, paprika, and dark chili powder, and it absolutely does not play around. It starts off innocently enough, crisp, light, refreshing. Then BOOM!! The heat rounds it. I was simultaneously breathing fire and going back for another sip. It was quite bizarre, and it left me wondering…. "What just happened?"
Lucas:
The beer that I thought was the most Unique was “Fruited Roll-Ups” from Hackamore Brewing. When this beer first came across my timeline on Instagram I instantly wanted to try it. It was a delicious jammy sour that definitely hit on that fruit roll-up lunchroom-trade nostalgia. Every time I was by the tent I kept going back for more and more until it was gone.
What was the best brewery of the day?
Jack:
There is a new brewery out of Saint Louis Park that made their Dabbler debut last weekend, and they made some noise. That brewery was Haggard Barrel. They brought some delicious stuff across the board including IPAs, a vanilla stout, fruited sours, lagers, and even some dusty cellared spontaneous sours. On top of that, they had the vibes going, blasting Creed, and just having a great time, it was infectious. You could say I was always “Six Feet From the Edge” of their table, and they were always there with “Arms Wide Open”. I was in their line over and over, and it made me that much more excited to check out their taproom that is coming soon!
Cody:
Haggard Barrel Brewing without a doubt! Their table was a masterclass in variety. IPAs, lagers, fruited sours, and even some spontaneous wild ale from Pen Name Fermentation Project, but their West Coast IPA, “A Decade Under the Influence”, was what stood out the most for me. Crisp on the palate with the old-school “C” hops working effortlessly in perfect harmony, layering waves of sticky pine, pithy bitter grapefruit, and weedy dankness that is layered sip upon sip. While the bitterness is assertive, it is never overwhelming, and is balanced by just enough malt bill to hold it all together.
Lucas:
I would have to say Steel Toe Brewing. This is a tent that I am sure to hit every year. The guys over there are great and are always down to hop in a video and just talk about beer. The beer over there is pretty great as well. This year I had a few samples, and maybe a few too many, of the Size 11. Size 11 is their 11% Triple IPA, and it was a great higher ABV beer with no “hop burn” that is usually associated with triple IPAs.
What was the best “Non-Beer” beverage of the day?
Jack:
The Grape Ape from Lift Bridge, easy. I have had it before, many times, but it is just so good every time. Not to mention that classic grape soda flavor was a nice toss up from the constant IPAs and stouts of the day. Love having that option available year round now!
Cody:
A cider at a beer festival? Trust me, I'm as shocked as you are (especially as someone who would generally does not enjoy cider!). But after a steady diet of IPAs, stouts, and…….. more IPAs, Downeast’s “Overboard Tropical” was the reset my palate begged for. Bursting with juicy tropical flavors (Aloha, Hawaii!) and a rounded dry finish that I couldn’t get enough of! Think beach vacation in 32 degree weather.
Lucas:
I would have to say the Butterbeer Hard Soda from Alloy Brewing. It has been a long time since I had a hard soda. I was a big fan of the “Henry’s Hard Soda” brand when they came to market. The hard soda from Alloy was amazing. It was full of flavor, but it wasn’t over-the-top, candy sweet.
What was the best beer of the day?
Jack:
The million dollar question, eh? Well, I actually have two, but I say it should still count because they were from the same brewery, Nouvelle Kitchen and Brewery. The first of the two was a beer called “Stirred”, a Negroni Barrel Aged Imperial Witbier. I never thought I would see my love for both Negronis and beer could be combined into one lovely bottle. I spoke with the Head Brewer, Andy Goettcsh about his approach to making it. He mentioned he added gentian root to get that same super dry bitterness you would get from Campari, and he nailed it. The character of a Witbier compliments the bitter, citrusy, herbal, botanical character of a Negroni so well. Such a unique, and well done beer.
The second was more of a decadent one. “Peanut Butter Balls” is a Rum barrel aged Imperial Stout full of peanut butter cups, vanilla, cacao nibs, and toasted coconut. So rich, sweet, thick, and peanut buttery! Like a literal liquid candy bar. If you are a peanut butter lover, this one can’t be missed.
Cody:
Jack wasn’t kidding, “Peanut Butter Balls” from Nouvelle absolutely crushed. It was everything you could want in a dessert stout and then some. Thick? Oh yeah. Sweet? Cloyingly! . Loaded with peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla? You already know. But what really separated it from the pack was the rum barrel aging. It added this deep, boozy warmth that made the festival all the more bearable. It was indulgent without being over-the-top. I would revisit this 100 times over!
Lucas:
I knew this question was going to be on this and I am still not ready to answer. There were so many great beers at this festival and that is why I love going to Winter Beer Dabbler. If I had to pick one I would have to say “Elbow Bender Kolsch” from Dual Citizen. I know my choice is not as flashy as what Jack and Cody have said but I am a big fan of Kolsch beers and this one scratched that itch for me. It was light and easy drinking and it is always good to mix one into the rotation to break up all of the high ABV beers.
There you have it. Another Winter Beer Dabbler in the books. This event continues to be a favorite for so many people, and each year is better than the last. Did you attend this year? What were some of your favorites? Let us know on any of our socials, we would love to hear from you!
Now we go back into hibernation, and patiently wait for next year!
Fricken’ Cheers!