Last summer, I wrote a six-pack of stories on breweries in the Brainerd lakes area for the Brainerd Dispatch Progress edition, which comes out each Labor Day.
I enjoy drinking craft beer, so my editors didn't have to twist my arm too hard to get me to write the stories. It was a treat to speak with area brewers about the beer they're so passionate about and to learn more about the local craft brewing community.
You could say I'm the unofficial Brainerd lakes area beer correspondent. Surly Brewing Company must have noticed, because they recently sent me a 750ml bomber bottle of a new beer of theirs, totally unprompted.
Sometimes being a journalist involves writing about things you get in the mail, so I decided to crack it open and see what Inherent Weiss is all about.
A news release sent with the bottle provides some background about Inherent Weiss. The beer is the third of three batches Surly brewed this year from the same hefeweizen ale yeast strain. The aim with these beers is to try things beyond traditional banana-and-clove hefeweizens.
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Inherent Weiss is a nod to American author Thomas Pynchon, whose novel Inherent Vice was turned into a 2014 film starring Joaquin Phoenix. The novel is set in 1970s Los Angeles, with prominent themes of counterculture and drug culture. The beer's name on the label mimics the title font for the novel and film and features a funky, psychedelic design.
As for the beer, it's an imperial hefeweizen, which means it's brewed to twice the normal strength through extensive dry-hopping, according to a news release. Twice the normal strength means it clocks in at 9 percent alcohol by volume, yet it's still a smooth beer to drink. At 9 percent ABV, it's definitely not a beer to drink all day at the lake, but it would be a great beer to have with a meal.
"I love hoppy hefeweizens," head brewer Ben Smith said in a release. "We wanted to push the envelope on the style with a huge classic American dry hop character worthy of a double (India pale ale) in a strong hefeweizen for the summer."
The beer has a great glowing yellow-orange tone, banana and clove notes that aren't overpowering and a dank hop aroma. If you like hefeweizens, you'll like this beer. If you don't know what hefeweizens are, but you like banana, give this beer a shot. Inherent Weiss is available in 750ml bottles as well as kegs.
If you're looking for a new local beer to try, Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter recently debuted a milkshake IPA. According to a Facebook post from the brewery, it was brewed by taking an IPA, adding lactose-an unfermentable sugar-and a dose of strawberry. The ingredients form to create a combination of bitter and sweet. The beer is available on tap in the taproom, in growlers or crowlers.
