Brigid's Cross Irish Pub & Restaurant (Bemidji, MN)

Brigid's Irish Pub

In 2005, I spent a week at the university in Bemidji for the Northwoods Writers Conference and spent a night at Brigid's having a few pints. When we found ourselves in Bemidji for a wedding and time to chat with friends before the reception, so I pulled Brigid's from my foggy recollection and we happily went down the street.

Oddly, I don't seem to have added a new beer to the database on that first trip, which may explain the three forays to the now defunct 1st City Brewery & Grill.  Based on this absence, Brigid's seems to have expanded its list and I had a chance to try my first drafts of Leech Lake.

Leech Lake 3 Sheet Imperial IPA

I ordered the 3 Sheets Imperial IPA on tap, which didn't live up to the bottle.  My suspicions point to two theories: it wasn't served as well or that the hoppy beer had languished a bit in the keg.  However, my wife's pint of the porter Driven Snow, also by Leech Lake, exceeded my expectations, so going to rule out the beer handling. Either the 3 Sheets changes a lot on draft or hoppy doesn't move that well up north.

Food awaited us a the reception, so we only tested the pints and the atmosphere at Brigid's this trip. A family friendly place, Brigid's Cross is clearly aiming to fulfill the traditional role of an Irish pub as the heart of the whole community. Named after St. Brigid, who is rumored to have turned milk into ale, the pub honors their patron by offering a free pint to customers on St. Brigid's Day (Feb 1st).   It was a pleasant experience and I would definitely give the food and some more pints a chance in the future.

Leech Lake Brewing beer philosophy

On a recent trip to Grand Forks, I picked up an array of Leech Lake beers and had good time drinking their portfolio--which surprised me slightly.  It was surprising only because my first samples at the Autumn Brew Review in 2010 and 2011 didn't match up to the bottles.  With the vagaries of festival tasting, getting a less than accurate impression of a brewery can happen. 

In reading reviews, I saw a statement that Leech Lake Brewing only used Fuggles hops.  In an email response from the brewer, Greg confirms that he only uses Fuggles hops for his beers and likes them for their versatility for bittering, taste and aroma, but also for their ability to balance the malty English beers brewed at LLB.  Because of brewing capacity, personal choice and the hop friendly hard water of the Leech Lake area, Greg plans to continue his focus on styles from the United Kingdom. 

From the website list, I'm only missing a bottle of the Loch Leech Monster, a Scottish ale, and hope to rectify that later this year with a visit to the taproom.  Even if I don't like the beer, the leech monster on the label is worth the price of admission. 

Previous reviews of Leech Lake beers:
3 Sheets
47º North IPA
Blindside Pale Ale
Driven Snow
Minobii ESB

3 Sheets (Leech Lake Brewing, Walker, MN)

3 Sheets by Leech Lake Brewing

Last bottle of the Leech Lake beers, and I saved the 100 IBU Imperial IPA for the finale.  Corked and caged, this is clearly their top of the line beer--though it resisted and the cork was devilishly hard to get out.

An ultra light brown head is rocky and creamy and unevenly rests on top of a dark mahogany ale that's shimmering copper at the edges.  The first sniff after the pour was a strong and clear earthy fuggles hop spice, but it dissipates to a light and pleasant aroma on top a caramel malt. Hop bite is assertive on the tongue; again, earthy with a bit of pepper.  Solid malt base that warms from the 10.5% alcohol.  Bitterness plus a malt sweetness off the back of the tongue finishes well.

I think I expected a bit of this taste from the IPA, but I think the fuggles hops don't build because the low alpha acid content (3.5-5.5% according to John Palmer's hop variety chart).  While 100 IBU, its perceived bitterness is more like an above average IPA.   This strong beer is fun to drink, and I look forward to tasting it on tap when I get a chance to visit Leech Lake Brewing Co to follow up on this set of bottles.

Driven Snow (Leech Lake Brewing, Walker, MN)

Next beer in the Leech Lake horizontal flight is Driven Snow, a robust porter according to the label.  Fluffy dark tan head lingers for a bit.  My wife was interested in it briefly, but the head looked too dark for her.  She tell can from the color of the head for stouts and porters if it will have too much coffee, roast or astringent flavors for her.  She was right, as usual, and this beer's flavor has significant roast, full bodied malt and a black strap molasses twang.  From the bottle description, This beer is a porter brewed with molasses, so that makes sense.  Also lists the IBUs at 60 from the house Fuggles, which appears a bit high for style (according to the BJCP guidelines).  Pretty tasty and the earthy hoppiness blends well with the roast flavors of the porter.  As it warms, the hops move forward in the taste.  My only critique is the body seems a bit light for a stronger beer, but not a flaw--just makes it overly easy to drink.  A very good beer that may not win any awards because it's out of style, but my favorite IPA (Town Hall Masala Mama) hasn't won an awards for the same reason and I don't care.

47º North IPA (Leech Lake Brewing, Walker, MN)

After the first two bottles of tasty Leech Lake brews, I'm looking forward to getting to the big dog IPAs that are left in the beer fridge.  Next is 47º North IPA that's 93 IBUs of pure hoppy Fuggles fun. The name refers to Leech Lake's GPS latitude and, according to the label, you won't find nothing like it anywhere below the 47th parallel.

Similar look to the Blindside Pale Ale, but definitely a bit darker--more of a copper with only the thinnest of old gold highlights. Off white head bubbles up for a bit before falling to a thin, lingering film.  Nose is earthy with a very subtle spice that can be easy to miss.  Taste has a malty caramel base with an assertive but not overwhelming hop bite. Flavor is a bit muddled, and the body of the beer is thin.

I was imagining the Blindside on steroids, but it didn't live up to my expectations.  Had I drank Blindside and 47º North side by side and blind, I would have reversed them except that the bitterness of the IPA is little more in spite of the 93 IBUs.  However, the nose of Blindside is much bigger and enjoyable.  A decent IPA, but clearly not my favorite so far.  

Blindside Pale Ale (Leech Lake Brewing, Walker, MN)

Blindside by Leech Lake

On to bottle two from Leech Lake Brewing--Blindside Pale Ale.  Needed to youtube a 360 blindside to get the wakeboard reference of "Just like a wakeboarder--tasty trick, smooth landing."  As an English teacher beer drinker, I like the clearly revised and well worded description on the label.

Very lovely in the glass.  Hazy burnt orange with golden highlights, this ale sports an off white head that falls with a nice lace.  All fuggles hops in the beer, which I read (someplace--don't remember where) that Leech Lake only uses fuggles.  The website doesn't confirm this clearly but every description only lists fuggles.  Musty, earthy nose with a fruity smell like an overripe orange plus a sharp peppery or spice note.  Spice is up front on the tongue with a sharp hop twang that lingers along the side.  Supported by a much fuller body than expected for a pale ale.  Carbonation sparkles on the second pour to swell the head.  I'm impressed with this beer and starting to think a trip to Leech Lake is in order.

Minobii ESB (Leech Lake Brewing, Walker, MN)

On a road trip to Grand Forks to see my nephew, we picked up some beer at Happy Harry's.  Among the northern samplings, I picked up the full array of Leech Lake bombers since I've only been able to get samples at Autumn Brew Review the last two years.  Minobii was the highest rated sample of my two opportunities, so hopefully it's a good place to start the Leech Lake reviews.

Big fluffy off white head piles up high on the second pour.  The beer is a hazy copper ale with golden highlights around the edges.  Big, spicy nose that radiates yummy notes that are almost Belgian-like inside of a creamy lace.  Peppery spice, lemon, mineral and light malt underneath.  Spice and carbonic bite gives the taste a strong bite, and the light caramel and biscuit malt plays underneath.  While a light looking beer, the mouthfeel is full and delicious.

Checking the BJCP guidelines, it seems to be a bit out of style.  Hops and spice are too high, but I don't think I care--I like this beer.  Reading the label, the Fuggle hops are to style, and I can taste the flaked maize and brown sugar.  7.5% alcohol is also above the style guidelines, but that's where the brown sugar went.

From to the label, Minobii is Objibwe for "drink and be merry".  An appropriate name for this very tasty beer.  Might not be an ESB by the numbers, but--oh well.