Poor little blog going by the wayside…

Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about you, Season It Already! 

Sometimes I have all of these ideas in my head and a backlog of things to say that I suffer from Analysis Paralysis. Or, I am just plain and simply Living Life.

Sometimes I forget that a post doesn’t have to have all of my thoughts and ideas in it. Besides, many people these days would prefer something short and sweet.

So here goes, on this Thirsty Thursday, our trip to Wabasha Brewing in St. Paul:

We had a Groupon for this brewery that was to expire at the end of the month. And you know how December goes with events, parties and holiday plans… So the moment my husband arrived back in town from his golf vacay to Sedona, I drug him right out to Wabasha.

Our GPS took us an odd direction, winding through back streets of West St. Paul until we finally arrived at a little warehouse in St. Paul. It didn’t even look open.

But once we pulled around back and found the door, it was quite the quaint, cozy little taproom! There wasn’t any more room at the 5-seat bar, so we just informed the beertender of our Groupon and she promptly filled us up. We took our flights to a corner of the room with a couch, coffee beer table and games.

Imperial Cave Stout, Lawnmower Porter, West Side Popper Jalapeño Cream Ale, Implosion IPA

She told us that she’d recommending drinking them sweetest to hoppiest, which is the opposite of what I would have done! Since my wine days, I always like to go lightest to fullest, driest to sweetest. But what do I know?! I’m sure she’s much more of a beer expert than I am.

Luckily, they just ran out of a keg of another beer, so we got to try the Imperial Stout as part of our flight, which would normally not be eligible with the Groupon.

Here are our thoughts on the beers:

• Imperial Cave Stout – This was, no doubt, my fave. But where were the caves? I expected this brewery to be near the Wabasha Caves, but we ended up in a part of St. Paul I’d never been. However, when we left for dinner, our GPS guided us in a different direction, passing the Wabasha Caves not far from the brewery. I just was confused why we were taken the way we were on the way in!
• Jalapeño Cream Ale – I’m not a huge fan of cream ales, but this was my second fave of this bunch. I hadn’t had a Jalapeño beer since we were in North Carolina. I love the subtle spice to this one!
• Lawnmower Porter – After the stout, this was Rob’s second favorite. I was surprised that the cream ale surpassed the porter for me, since I adore porters. It just seemed a bit watered down. Rob said that was the point. It was more of a session beer, which you find more common among IPAs and other lighter ales. Thus, Lawnmower – you could drink it all day while mowing the lawn…
• Implosion IPA – Still good, but our least favorite. Rob’s favorite style of beer is IPA and I like them just fine. This one just seemed… light. But maybe that was due to the order we tried them?

Did I mention how I love the cozy atmostphere of Wabasha Brewing?! I can see it being more of a local hangout than a destination brewery. I can’t imagine fitting even 50 people in there!

However, we overheard our beertender saying “Once they move into the new warehouse…” So I inquired. Right now, they are in a little room in the back of the building, but they will be expanding all the way to the front.

Get thee to Wabasha Brewing. We liked it and, if you like beer, think you will, too!

What order do you like to drink a flight of beers?

Cheers~
Carrie