Rhombus Guys (Grand Forks, MN)

Tall New Belgium Hoptoberfest and my
brother-in-laws Bud Lite with the pizza menu

10/20/12

We headed to NoDak to see our nephew Ben and watch UND versus Montana: amazing game.  UND won in the closing seconds 40-34 with a touchdown.  Very fun and my nephew chose to take us to Rhombus Guys.

The place was packed after the game, so we ended up walking around downtown Grand Forks (just as fun as it sounds) until a table opened about 45 min later.  The Blue Moose had an hour and a half wait, so this was the good deal.

Rhombus Guys downstairs

From the dozen or so taps, I tried the Hoptoberfest from New Belgium, but the draft was a little warm.  My nephew's Deschutes Inversion IPA was off, though I'm not sure if it was the draft line, the age of the keg or something else: just not 100%.

But, the pizza--spectacular.  We had the roasted garlic and nibbled on the remainder during the drive on the way home today.  Great hot and cold.  The crust is somewhere between pita and flatbread--delicious.  I'd go back from the pizza in a heartbeat, but the beer isn't up to par, unfortunately.

Rhombus Guys is a great name with a story on the botton of the menu online.  The focus on pizza and lack of beer knowledge can be read between the lines.  I love the story of Matt and Aaron, and lust after the great pizza.  Hopefully, some day, they will learn to serve beer as well as they make pizza.

Note: Adam of Rhombus Guys contacted me after a repost to TripAdvisor.  He says that they take great pride in their beer selection (which is very good) and that they are installing an upgraded cooler in the near future to address beer issues.  I was very impressed with the response and look forward to returning to Rhombus Guys again for some great beer to go with their fabulous pizza.

The Boulder Tap House (St. Cloud, MN)

9/15/12

Recently, the last day of CTAM has conflicted with Autumn Brew Review.  Last year, I went to the morning meetings in Bloomington and quickly headed down to the fest.  With CTAM in St. Cloud this year, I finally capitulated and missed my first ABR since it started.  In reality, it's a relief to break the string and I'll go again when I'm motivated in the future.  For a re-cap of this year's festival, read my friend Al who continued his string.

However, this left me with the urge for a beer score and The Boulder Tap was going to be it.  Across the street from the hotel, the Boulder Tap taunted me through the weekend and I headed over under the guise of checking it out for next year's conference to replace the disappointing beer of our stop at Granite City.  I announced my intention and nearly a dozen folks joined me for some convention afterglow before heading our separate ways.

I took point, got a table set up for the gang and perused the 41 taps for something new. Hard to pass up a beer named Super IPA, so ordered the New Belgium, which arrived in a small goblet and had a great nose and pleasing bite.  A very "super" start.

With very little in the way of vegetarian offerings on the menu, I settled what turned out to be tasty fish tacos.  Being distracted by good conversation, I hastily ordered the next unfamiliar beer when asked by an attentive waitress: Lucette Brewing's Shining Dawn. Very light pale yellow Belgian ale. With a mouthfeel slightly more full than it appears, it's a solid Belgian that has some assertive spice but won't scare the neophyte.  Wrong beer to go with fish tacos, but that's my fault.  Favorable reports on the food from the gang, so I'm guessing we'll return during CTAM next year for one of the evening meals. We ordered two desserts to share for the dozen of us, but a bite of each was enough.

With most of a pint left when everyone left for home, I drifted over to the bar to watch the rest of the Purdue football game on a big screen TV to finish my Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA.  I love the name of this beer, but I wasn't crazy about it: stark white head that falls with a film over a hazy amber hued yellow ale. A little watery but bright hops blended with fruity yeast esters redeems the beer a bit.

Two things I love in a bar: comfortable bars stools that aren't too tall and under bar hooks for my bag, both of which contributed to nearly two hours of reading while sipping at the beautiful U shaped granite bar.  One of our group noted that this building used to be a Timber Lodge. A bartender confirmed this and added that it was abandoned for a couple of years before being reborn on Jan 16th of this year as The Boulder Tap House.

Final draft of the trip: Dark Horse Plead the Fifth

Sitting at the bar, I noticed a lot of macro brew and hard drinks besides the craft brew. The bar conveniently puts the tap date on every beer; for example, the Hop Session had been on since 6/23 and it's mid September now. Looking over the other dates, this was an anomaly.  I admire the honesty--a lot--but it seems that they may be ahead of the curve for the clientele.  However, as counterpoint, the Tallgrass 8 Bit with it's assertive to harsh hop bite had already blown the keg.  So, maybe the locals are breaking the hop curve.

Overall, The Boulder Tap House is an excellent stop that was a suitable salve for missing ABR and a bar that I'm looking forward to revisiting again, especially since CTAM is planned for the same location for the next two years.  Cheers to us!

Cooper Irish Pub (St. Louis Park, MN)

After the One Voice concert Brave Souls & Dreamers, a few of the gang headed over to Cooper Irish Pub for a post concert party.  The picture below testifies to the beauty of the pub, but it was too dark for me to get my own picture.  Basic Irish beer taps: Guinness, Harp's, Smithwick's, etc.  For craft brew, Summit EPA, Brooklyn Brown Ale and New Belgium Ranger IPA, my choice, well served in a footed New Belgium glass.  Evidently, the place is known for serving 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, which is served in eleven different drink permutations.  Since I only have time for one obsession, I didn't try the 2 Gingers.

Friends ordered some food. Artichoke dip with flat bread was creamy, as advertised, and very fresh and rich tasting.  The Wild Mushroom Pub Pizza with white cheddar and parmesan cheese was full flavored on a crispy flat bread.  Not looking for dinner this night, but the Minnesota Wild Rice Burger with mash potatoes looks like a good bet for the next trip.  High end pub grub worth the effort.  

Picture from reprisedesign.com.  

Cozy bar with lots of well dressed, young customers on a Saturday night.  Seems like a great place for a chat or happy hour.  According to the website, Cooper is affiliated under Cara Irish Pubs with Kierans, The Liffey and The Local.  Not a place to push the boundaries of beer, but Cooper doesn't disappoint as a fine Irish pub.  

Lips of Faith BELGO (New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO)

Glimmering straw gold beer with a nice lace down the glass. Nose is fruit and spice, apples, pears, unripe grapefruit, pepper and pine, and bread with a hint of earthiness underneath. Carbonation and hop bite is strong and tingles the tongue. Love it. Spice spreads out and lingers on the tongue, and it seems to be a combination of hop and yeast creating the tangy spice. Looks light in the glass but has a solid mouthfeel. Very nice beer and, to me, seems to be a much better beer than the initial rating from BAs. Glad I got a six pack of this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011

Clutch-Lips of Faith series (New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO)

Being a fan of sours, New Belgium is always a good bet and this one doesn't disappoint. Dark brown to black beer with a tan head that falls with a nice lace. Sour note on top of chocolate malt and some dark fruits. Subtle but interesting. Light sourness in the mouth that lingers nicely with taste of dark chocolate and cherries. Sweetness and malt underneath the sour in a fine balance. Well worth the effort to get a bottle.