Twin Cities Beer Geek

I chose to celebrate my matriculation into the my 30s with my family at Cafe Twenty Eight this weekend. It’s a place Ms. Beergeek and I hadn’t been in a while but remembered fondly. We weren’t disappointed, as the food was excellent. Further, we agreed on our way home that the place was a great value. None of the entrees was over $20. While $20 for an entree isn’t cheap; for the quality of the food (local, homemade, fresh, high-quality), it’s a bargain.

But, I blog about beer.

So, mom and dad Beergeek were a little late. I decide to take a chance on Surly’s “One,” their first anniversary beer. This was over the caveat of the our server, who said “it’s sweet.” I said, “like a bock?” He said “Sweeter. Like a dessert beer.” He wasn’t kidding. The beer was definitely what I would classify as a doppelbock: high in alcohol, rich in malt character, full-bodied, and possessing some complex alcoholic fruitiness.

It was delicious and a real departure from Surly’s general modus operandi as a producer of uber-hopped ales (which is not to suggest the latter aren’t delicious).

The menu suggested plenty of chocolate flavors; those were definitely present. I thought, however, the beer’s best attributes were the dried-fruit flavors that evidenced its age and alcoholic strength. They danced and intermingled with the brown sugar and dark chocolate of the malt in an impressive way. As I think about it, Surly may be defining the American Doppelbock.

It took me better than half the glass to identify what I thought the beer tasted like. When I finally did, I burst out mid-conversation: chocolate-covered dried cherries.

I’m not sure where else they’re pouring Surly “One” (in special custom glassware I might add), but I’d run out and get some. I bet there not putting it in cans, either. But, if they are, buy all you can find, lay ‘em down and invite me over in a year. I’d love to taste those cherries when they turn “two.”