My time this afternoon tippling a few at Stub & Herb’s, just a stone’s throw from the gleaming new Gopher football stadium on the U of M campus, greatly reinforced my perception that the place is one of the best craft beer bars in the Twin Cities.
The saloon was nearly empty when we arrived around noon, save for a few souls in a quiet booth in the back that, unlike most of the state’s populous, didn’t have the Fair on their minds.
Amazing that a college bar — stereotypically filled with macro swill, plastic cups and crates of Red Bull — has such a fantastic draught list, including nearly every Surly offering (Hell and 16 Grit just recently ran out before I got there!), a number of other locals like Lift Bridge, Flat Earth, Summit and Schells, and a dozen other notables from across the country. And it’s not just the stuff on tap…the staff are actually friendly and, get this, knowledgeable about what they’re pouring, a seemingly tall order in most bars around the city. Our bartender Benji offered some nice recommendations, including our lunch fare which included a Surly Bender French Dip, a great sandwich made with beef roasted in the oatmeal brown ale.
I tried a number of beers while we were there, most really hitting the mark.
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Probably not a great idea to start my afternoon off with a 9% ABV double IPA, but what the heck, it’s Sunday. A very aromatic IPA, but more on the dank side of the hop spectrum than protoypical, bright West Coast-style DIPA’s like, say, Pliny the Elder. Very bitter taste even for the style, almost a little too much for me. But fairly smooth throughout considering how boozey it is.
Rating: B+
Lift Bridge Minnesota Tan
I’ve enjoyed nearly everything I’ve tried from Stillwater-based Lift Bridge, including their flagship Farm Girl Saison (I’m actually sipping a snifter as I write this), and their Minnesota Tan, a Belgian triple, was no different. Kind of nice to see a local brewery leading with a couple Belgian styles, but this one has certainly veered from the “traditional” path with an interesting pinkish coloring thanks to the lingonberries they brew with. A bit yeasty in the nose, a bit tart in the taste, leading to a nice sweet finish. Very enjoyable. And at 8.5% ABV, another one that’ll sneak up on you if you allow it.
Rating A-
Flat Earth Sunburst Apricot Belgian Pale Ale
This is another pretty solid local offering. A light and refreshing aroma of apricot up front, fairly unique (although I think Town Hall has done an apricot wheat before). Taste is relatively similar to their regular Belgian Pale Ale, which is what I’m assuming is the base beer…more of the light tartness from the apricot coupled by some malty sweetness, leading to a dryness in the finish.
Rating: B
Lagunitas Lil’ Sumpin Sumpin
Wow…this is everything I’ve heard about this beer and then some. It’s classified as an American pale wheat ale, but it screams IPA to me. Actually, very reminiscent in the aroma to Surly Furious, likely some combination of Warrior, Amarillo and Simcoe hops. Also got a little bit of citrus in there, grapefruit or lemon. Taste was not really what I’d expect for a wheat beer…far too much of a sweet and malty backbone, which did help balance the bitterness. You also get some of the honey they apparently use while brewing. Our bartender informed us that when this ran out, they were tapping Lagunitas’ Lil’ Sumpin Extra, a double IPA, which I can only assume builds on the success of this beer.
Rating: A
Sierra Nevada Tripel
Never had this one before, and was frankly a bit surprised to learn Sierra Nevada has delved into the Belgian brewing tradition (to my knowledge, they’ve done a saison before, but that’s about it). Certainly reminiscent of a nice tripel like Chimay Cinq Cents, but kind of a Chimay “light” quality to it. Some American hops in the nose as well as yeast and clove, but overall a much lighter, more airy characteristic to the aroma (sort of how New Belgium is to Belgian beers). Taste is sweet and alcoholic, a bit dry in the finish. I guess I understand why they haven’t done more Belgians in the past.
Rating: C+
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Ah, Dark Horse…one of my favorite breweries out of the Midwest. This is the last of their holiday stout series that I’ve tried, which also includes One Oatmeal Stout, Tres Blueberry Stout, Fore Smoked Stout and Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout. Loads of deep roasted malt notes in the aroma, along with milk chocolate. Tons of distinctive dark bitterness in the taste, presumably from the black patent malt I’m assuming they use in the grain bill, but expertly balanced by lactose to give it a silky smooth mouthfeel and wonderful overall impression. Probably the best beer I tried all day.
Rating: A
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Surly mural on the Stub's patio
Soon-to-be-filled TCF Bank Stadium
August 31, 2009 at 7:52 am
You can’t underestimate the college bars. Where I went to school, East Lansing, Crunchy’s very much fit that college bar stereotype: dingy, names carved into walls, five dollar 25 oz long islands, karaoke, and buckets of beer. But they also had a constantly changing draft beer list with lots of interesting craft and microbrews.
August 31, 2009 at 7:59 am
My college bars at Drake University served Old Style (for all the Chicago kids), maybe Bud Light, and only one of them could serve liquor so if you wanted a poorly mixed Jack and Coke you had to traipse a couple miles across campus to get there. Wish I had a Stubs around at that time!
August 31, 2009 at 8:30 am
I have yet to go here, I really need to make it.
And yes Lil Sumpin is sooooooo good.
August 31, 2009 at 9:02 am
They do good work at Sterbs, plus you can’t beat their happy hour. They have better than average bar food too.
I totally agree on the SN Tripel, it was pretty disappointing. It’s pretty rare for American breweries/brewpubs to be able to brew great American/English styles and also execute Belgian styles well. After reading “Brew Like a Monk,” you realize how different their ingredients, process, and mindset are from more industrial brewers.
Did you have the Lil Sumpin Sumpin or the Lil Sumpin Extra? I know they were getting ready to tap it on Saturday, we were trying to kill the keg of Lucky 13 to get to it.
August 31, 2009 at 9:22 am
FD – I need to pick up that book, I’ve heard it’s a good read. We had Lil Sumpin Sumpin…Sumpin Extra was on deck. Given there were a total of six people in the entire bar, including the bartender and waitress, the odds of us getting to it were low!
August 31, 2009 at 10:12 am
Thanks for the nice write up!!!
If you were there on Sunday you did get to try Lil Sumpin’ Extra. We tapped it on Saturday night.
I hope next time you swing in I get a chance to say Hi!
August 31, 2009 at 10:17 am
Thanks Jon, too bad I missed it! Will definitely be making it back soon.
August 31, 2009 at 10:35 am
You didn’t have a sandwich with their pretzel bun? Duuuuude. Flipping awesome. I love Sterbs. I wish I would make it there more often being that I work about 2 blocks away, Town Hall is much closer to my route but I still make it there about once a month.
August 31, 2009 at 10:38 am
Stu – I saw their Cubano on the menu which looked fantastic, but the Bender sandwich ultimately got my attention.
August 31, 2009 at 10:52 am
Jon is doing a nice job at Sterbs. It’s more work than you think to come up with an impressive tap list. I talked to him at Great Taste in Madison and know from experience that there’s alot of research and working with salesman involved. It might not sound like “work”, but you have to try alot of samples and make educated guesses so you don’t get stuck with crappy beers no one buys on tap for 6 months. Looking forward to next year’s Indulge.
August 31, 2009 at 11:00 am
Frank, I agree. It’s very obvious Jon puts alot of thought into what they carry, very well done. I can’t even begin to imagine what a madhouse the place will be come football season…which aside from the inevitable (and much needed) boost in spirit for the Gopher squad, means that more people will be exposed to great craft beer. Love it.
August 31, 2009 at 11:16 am
I was just across the street from Sturb’s yesterday afternoon and had my plans allowed the time I would have loved to stop over to see what was on tap. They’ve always got more on than I have time to try. Don’t know if they still have ‘em, but during the MNBeer Anniversary party they had 3 mini burgers on those pretzel buns and they were great. Tachos are also yummy, but word to the wise, make sure you have someone to share them with. Eating the whole order yourself is something you will regret.
September 10, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Stubs unquestionably has one of the best tap selections in the city, much love. Looks like you took full advantage of said taps and consumed a number of wonderful brews. All good beers that I would recommend as well, though I haven’t had the Sierra Nevada. In particular that Minnesota Tan is really solid, quite fruity but tasty as hell, and plenty strong. I first tasted it at Indulge and was blown away by how well balanced they made such a sweet brew. The lil Sumpin Sumpin is quite impressive with some very unique flavors present. If you enjoyed it and enjoy beers with even larger grain bills you will dig the Extra as well. Though I would say each beer is impressive in their own way. On the Dark Horse Stout Series, if you dug the Too I would suggest their Tres a blueberry Stout. Though I expected to enjoy their Plead the 5th Imperial Stout the most the Tres was my favorite by far. Cheers!
October 30, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I hear ya, I didn’t really like the Sierra Nevada Tripel, either!