Ep 136 - Tasting Through Al Ringling Brewing’s Circus-Rooted Lineup

Ever balanced a flight so big it looks like a train car? We headed to Al Ringling Brewing in Baraboo, Wisconsin, home of circus lore and a taproom built with reclaimed bowling-lane wood, to sample all sixteen taps and rank them from easy sippers to bold experiments. Between the historic pipe organ and the clink of glassware, we dug into what makes each pour work: clean lagers, nuanced ales, and a few curveballs that sparked friendly debate.

We start with approachable classics like Ringling Original, the malty-smooth Hannaford Red, and a pine-forward West Coast IPA that proves IBUs don’t always match perceived bitterness. Cocoa Caliente, an American porter with chocolate and a hint of cinnamon warmth, emerges as an early favorite. From there, we explore a crisp Czech pilsner, a banana-and-wheat hefeweizen, and an English porter that leans roasty and dry. The blonde ale adds a touch of tang, showing how small deviations can make a familiar style feel new.

Curiosity ramps up with a juicy New England IPA, a chai tea–infused blonde that delivers real spice aroma without heaviness, and a tropical hazy loaded with passionfruit, orange, and guava. Then comes the wildcard stretch: a trio of hard seltzers where fruit punch steals the show, a salty-tart pineapple lime gose that divides the table, and Gherkin, a cucumber pilsner that’s surprisingly refreshing when cold. Along the way we talk scoring, palate fatigue, and why sequence matters when tasting across sixteen different profiles.

If you’re planning a visit to Baraboo, consider this your guide to what to order first and what to save for last. Hit play for our honest ratings, favorite picks, and the stories behind a brewery that blends circus history with modern craft. If you enjoy the ride, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Hey ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Northwest Very Guy Podcast. This is Mike, the Northwest Very Guy. And this week I'm still joined with my brother, the man scientist. Hey Brian, how's it going? Pretty good. That's good. My dad, Dave, he's still here. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Hanging in there.

Epic 16-Glass Train-Car Flight Arrives

SPEAKER_00 0:44

Larry, you're still here? Well, of course. And today we are in the Baraboo, Wisconsin area. And if you if you don't know what a lot of people probably heard of Baraboo because it was the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. And so today we are actually in the Al Ringling Brewing Company. And uh we have one of the more impressive flights that I've seen. Now I do remember in was it uh down in Iowa there were uh yeah Dimensional. Dimensional Brewing. They had a flight, I think it was 22, and but that was like one great big long board, or well, long board and a shorter one. But this one uh we'll post a picture of it, but it looks like a train car, a flatbed train car, and we have 16 beers of there, all of their beers I have on tap. We are gonna give them a whirl. So I don't know if if Brian will be able to handle that or not. He actually got the normal flight, so I know he's got flight envy going. But uh he can help us with these. So this was a nerve-wracking flight just carrying it to the table. Yes, we we we bought it and uh carrying it. Uh we were actually gonna be farther back, but my uh when Larry goes, yeah, let's go to the first table because it was so nerve-wracking. We just waiting to hear the glasses falling, but we made it. So okay. Alright. So, well, first off, that what do you think of the building? That's pretty cool. Very cool. They got an old, like a pipe organ from the circus over here, and they've got now I was telling Larry that all the tables, if you look at them, they were made out of the lanes of a bowling alley. That there was a bowling alley in the basement of this building, and it was so expensive to try and get it going again that they made the bar and tables out of the lanes. Bar top, I should say. But uh, there's some seating up, like a second uh kind of story, like kind of a loft you can sit up there, and uh of course then on the other side they've got their brewing, some of their brewing tanks and such. Alright, enough talking, let's start drinking.

unknown 2:45

Alright, all right.

SPEAKER_00 2:46

So the first one that we have is the Ringlin Original, and this is it, it says it's a historical beer, it's 3.8% ABV for IBUs. And if you're curious, it's 114 calories. Oh my god. And this one it says this provid Prohibition style ale has a hint of fruit and spice and spice notes and bread and yeast flavors. The original has been let's see, the original beer that started it all, ringling original, is our lightest beer. So color wise, I mean it's pretty pretty light in color. Oh, yeah, that it does have a yeast kind of a flavor, you know what I mean. I have that one. He has that one on his little flight, so so what uh you want to keep the scores again, Brian? Yes. So this is the ringling original. And uh, what did you think of it like? I I thought it was decent. Yeah, it was alright. I mean, uh, I personally I would like a little more flavor in it, but I mean it's a light beer. And they say right off the bat it's their lightest beer. So uh yeah, I thought it was it was good. What uh what do you think, Brian? Yeah, it's not bad. It's uh like you said, there's not a lot going on, but uh um it's definitely not offensive at all. So score-wise, what uh what are you thinking? I would go 2-5. 2-5 pretty pretty average, I think, to me. Yeah, I think 2.5. Yeah, I say I think that's uh a good place to start with that one. Like I said, it that would be a lawnmower beer. Oh, for sure. You know, cool. So the second beer that we have is their Hannaford Red. This is a red ale, Irish red ale, 5.6% ABV, 17 IVUs, 168 calories. There goes my diet. This one says this smooth and easy to drink beer is named after a circus family. It leans towards maltiness and has notes of caramel and hints of dark malt with just enough. Oh, yeah. For sure. Yeah, that's not bad. No, I mean, it's uh it definitely tastes like that, especially like the iris. Well, it's an irish red, but it tastes just like that, you know what you would expect it to taste like. So that's that's pretty good. It's definitely, you know, it's that little darker color. I mean, you know, more reddish color. Um yeah, that's pretty good. What uh what are your thoughts, Brian? Yeah, it's nice and smooth. That's uh it's got a little more flavor than the first one, it's not overpowering. Um I would I would probably do a two-stix on that one.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Okay, that's what I would think of two is a two-six. Two six? What is what did you think of it? I mean, it I liked it. It was smooth and had that little more flavor than on beer did. Yep. Yeah, I'd I'd say two six, two seven.

West Coast IPA And Cocoa Caliente Porter

SPEAKER_00 5:50

It was I thought it was about a piece of beer. Right. Yeah, I'll I'll stick with you on that one. I'll go with two six. Like I said, I liked it. I thought it it it wasn't over the top multi where you're kind of like, ugh, you know, but it was it was really good. Yeah. Boys, we're we're two beers in on it now. Oh, look at the calories, dude. The calories are pounded, uh. All right. So the third beer that we have is the Berabouyan. And this is a an American IPA, 6.4% ABB, 60 IBUs, 192 calories. 192 calories. Yeah, I think we can stop counting calories. We've already ruined those diets. Those are long gone. So this one it says this is our flagship West Coast IPA with caramel sweetness and hoppy bitterness. This beer has tons of cascade hops grown by local hoppy swan, hoppy swan's that delivers a piney and that's all it says. So it's not overly hop, you know. No, I I for 60 IBUs, I kind of expect a little more of a hop bite than what it is. I think it's very, very good beer, I think. Yeah, yeah, that's definitely uh a crisp. Yeah, you know, and it's it's not it's not like the the hops are like really warm, you know, like you get really dry. It's not that at all. Yeah, that's pretty decent. So score-wise, I'd go probably uh two eight. Oh, okay, Brian?

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Yeah, I can do a 2-8. Um, I was thinking a 2-7 or 2-8. Okay.

Crisp Lagers And Hefeweizen Notes

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Myself, I I yeah, I'd probably stick with the other 2-7. I'll go. Because it was it was pretty good. I mean, for an IPA, it definitely was uh had good flavor to the drinking. Yeah, in fact, I did. You did, yeah. And luckily we still have some left, so when we get done, we can go back and revisit some of these. Of course. Dad, what did you what did you think of? Oh, you almost got almost derailed the train. You would have been in so much trouble. I would have. I could have burned off those calories running out of here. So the the next beer that we have is their cocoa caliente. And this is an American porter five 5.4% ABB and 18 IBUs. Uh snuggle up with some spiced chocolate and a dash of cinnamon in your beer. Coco caliente will warm your soul in the midst of winter. I get the cocoa right out front, and there is not a lot of heat, but you you can feel a little something in the top of your throat there. And I do get that hint of cinnamon. Like what peppers are in there or something. No, it just said uh there's that uh some spice chocolate and a dash of cinnamon. But I definitely do get like a little bit of kind of that's that's pretty good. I like that one. Yeah, like I said, the the chocolate or whatever, you can definitely get that. I do, like I said, I do get that cinnamon on there too. And then right at the end, you get that little bit of heat. Yeah, that's good. It hangs on a little bit, but I just it's good. I think that's hard. And Brian just left. So score-wise, I'd this one I'd go like a I'm thinking three, one, three, two. I like this one. I was gonna say a three. Yeah, I think it's good.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Yeah, I was gonna say a three.

SPEAKER_00 9:44

That's a little less than a two-eight. Okay, yeah, that's a good one. So that's our first four. First four. Dang. We're not even in mid mid-way. We have a train car. That's right. Alright. So the next one we have is their Palm Pombiro P-O-M-B-E-R-O. This is a Czech Pilsner, 5.4% and 18 IBUs. Light, refreshing, significant, don't speak its name, especially at night. The the ranch lands of Paraguay shiver with fright. His whistle grows quiet, meaning he's over. Are you that he blah? His whistle his whistle his whistle grows quiet, meaning he's near. Offer him Pombero, Pilsner, and he, and then so they hopefully you can still talk by the time we get to the end of the rail car. So well, the hard part of the writing is somewhat small, and my my glasses are kind of yeah. Well, whatever you gotta tell yourself. Don't start now, mister. We got a long way to go yet. So what do you think of the check pill? Oh, you didn't even taste it right there. I only heard four, remember?

SPEAKER_01 11:08

Actually, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

That one there kind of goes in with the very first one I tried where I'm not getting a lot of flavor. You can tell. Well, so you can tell it's a check pills in there. It's got that kind of another lawnmower beer. Oh yeah, yeah. For being uh like on a hot day and that was ice cold out, it'd be a good one. And I said it's got that little bit of a different flavor for being on the check pills first. So uh score wise.

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Yeah, I'll I'll say two four, but I'll be generous and go two five.

SPEAKER_00 11:46

Okay. I'll do it. It wouldn't be my first choice. Yeah, it's not bad. You know, definitely you can drink it. Well, it's like Brian said after having the Calliante one, it got uh punished a little bit for being after that one. All right, so now we're on to the next one, and that is the Savin Rock. It's a Hefewizen. Or Savin Rock, possibly. Uh 5.2% ABV, 10 IBUs. With the delicate flavors of bubble gum, banana, and wheat. Savin rock hefewizen finds perfect harmony. Smells like a Hefewizen for sure. Even tastes like a Hefewizen. Yeah. I think it's a good beer. I like Hefewizen. Yeah. So this will be interesting since Brian's brew isn't bringing a Hefewizen now is what he thinks.

SPEAKER_02 12:50

Hefeweizen.

English Porter And Blonde Wrap First Half

New England IPA Mix-Up And Scoring

Seltzer Run: Lime, Fruit Punch, Pink Lemonade

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Oh, you got that? Yeah, it's good. That's not bad. It's uh I was hoping for a little bit more of uh banana back up later. Yeah, you get something like right up front. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I mean I'm pretty mild, yeah. Maybe it was a bubblegum, but I would drink it. Yeah, I don't know if I got a bubblegum flavor at all, but no, but yeah, it was good. So score-wise, what are you thinking? I I'll go with two six, two six Brian? Two six. Two five and two five. Yeah, I'll I'll go with the two five as well. It was good. I mean, it's a very good representation of Applewizen. But I mean, we've had a lot of Appleizens in there, some really good ones. So they they're doing a good job. Alright, so we got is there two more on this? Yeah, two more on this side. Yeah, so this is the Roustabout, and this is an English porter, 5.5% ABV and 20 IBUs. Smoky, multi, robust, very flavorful, but easy to drink. So this is the second dark. They really only have two dark beers in this. You know, maybe very flavorful. Yes, very festive on this end for colors. That's got a little different flavor to it. Yeah, this is an English porter, yep. No, between the two, I would pick the first one, the first porter in my orders. Yeah. Uh this one it definitely has more of a uh little stronger, smoother, yeah, smooth taste. But I mean this one it tastes more, you get more of that kind of uh English bitterness kind of thing, or yeah, it's different. Someone that like really likes coffee would probably like that beer. Oh, sure. You definitely get kind of a coffee note out of it. Um the initial, the initial when I first tasted it, it had kind of a little different beginning to it. Yeah, I don't know how to describe it, but it was just kind of hmm. Brian is sitting across the table with a very confused look on his face. Yeah, it uh it just like dried my tongue out, yeah, you know, and it just has kind of a different taste. So I'm uh I'm not sure what that is. Yeah, I'm not sure either. So what do you think on uh I probably have to go on 2-4 okay? I don't know. I'll roll on with that. 2-3. Yeah, I was saying that two three as well. I mean, again, it's if that was the only quarter they had, I'd probably drink one, but it really did come kind of uh pale compared to the other. So oh boy, all right. So we are now on our last beer of the first half. Yeah, and this is their motorcycle girl, and this is a blonde 5.5 percent and 13 IBUs. This beer is an easy-drinking blonde ale with a hint of honey malt, so it's a little darker than like the Bilsner's in color. Yeah, a little bit, you know, a little bit. I don't know, to me it you kind of get like a really light, sour taste to it almost. Kind of on the end this will sound bad, but I burped a little and it definitely had kind of that little sour tint to it. It's different. I mean, for for a blonde ale it's definitely a different flavor, right? I mean, normally the blonde ales don't have a whole lot of flavor a lot of times, but if that's how they intended it to be or not, or right. Yeah, it doesn't really say uh in the description, so I'm not 100% sure on that. But yeah. So well, okay, what were your thoughts on the first half? Pretty mild for a lot of them. I think the cocoa one was really good. Yeah, I think that would be my number one choice. I think that half that was by far the number one, yeah, I would say. So, yeah, okay. So now did we rate the blonde? I don't think we have, did we? No. We drank it all, but we didn't rate it. Alright, so what'd you think of it? The motorcycle girl blonde. 2-5. 2-5 it's pretty average today. I would do uh I was gonna do like a 2-4. Yeah, I was gonna do the same because I think for a blonde ale, it's a little it's kind of a different flavor. Yeah. And usually I I always think blonde ales are a little lighter in color than this one. And again, not ripping on that at all. But it was uh it was solid, you know. So alright. We got eight more beers looking at us. Oh, we can do it. Okay, we can power through. So now we'll start on this end and work our way in. So the first one is their humbug. It's a New England IPA, 6.5% ABV and 10 IBUs. Humbug, our New England style IPA, is brewed with a combination of Galaxy and Simcoe. Definitely a lighter color. I don't know if that's the right one. This looks like a V over here. Yeah, because that tastes like that tastes like uh yep, that's not it. Way to go, Mike. She told us the wrong way, I think. Yeah. Because that is this cucumber. I was like, that tastes like cucumber. That smells like an IPA. Okay. All right, so let's take over. We're back on track. We're back on track. Yeah, that other one I thought it was an IPA. I thought this doesn't, that's not an IPA. So this one, that one was an IPA. Did you say that one was only 10 IBUs? This one? Uh 10, yeah. Wow, it's surprising because some of the other ones that had uh higher IBUs you couldn't taste the hot, but this one here you can you can really taste the hot. Well that's what we've discussed that on the podcast a lot where I've asked Brian about it. Well, how do they come up with the IBU rating? And and it's always just kind of a guess, kind of a thing, really. Uh but yeah, you're right. I mean, this one for 10 IDUs, it's like, okay, you know. What do you think of this one? I like that one. Yeah, hot plate and add to it, so uh I would probably do uh I'd probably do a 2-9. A 2-9 or a three? Oh, I'd do a three. Okay. I'll do a three. I thought it wasn't good for IPA. Okay. Yeah, I was gonna do like a two eight. I mean it's good, but I'm still confused when I thought it was a cucumber thing. So yeah. Oh yeah. We were just following what we were told. Anyway, so I guess we'll go to this one. That should be a lime now. It should be. It should be their midway seltzer lime, hard seltzer, 6.5%, and 10 IBUs as well. And it just says what does that say? Oh, now with lime. I was like, what I uh I gotta get my glasses changed. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Your ears.

SPEAKER_00 21:02

Definitely line there. Yes. Oh.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

And yes, see how those ears are working because I can really enjoy this music. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

Yeah, they got some decent music plans. So you get a line with that lime. We were like, I mean, it's lime. I'm not a big seltzer person really, but boy, that one that didn't lie. There's lime though. There is lime in that one, so I don't know if uh personally I think they've toned that down just a hint. It might be out, but again, like I said, I'm not really the right person for a line, but what uh what are your thoughts? Uh I'm not much for seltzers myself. Yeah, you know, so it uh I I would have to, I would probably do a two a two point oh okay. Very yeah, I'm gonna do the same thing. I'm not I don't know if I could be able to drink a full-minded. I I wonder if that would be heartburn. Yeah, you know what I mean? I don't know I discussed that before, but on on the podcast, but that one I think I might get heartburned from because it's very strong line flavor. So uh what did we do for scores? Brian and I went 2.2 and Daddy went. 2.2 kind of like it's like sure. I was gonna say if if if somebody's into well buying for sure, but if they're into seltzers, I think they'd like it. I'm not the biggest fan, so I'm gonna I'm gonna go with a 2.2 as well, uh, just because I'm I'm not really their target market for seltzers, but it's it was good. Alright, so now we're gonna go to this one. This is oh my god, it's red. Yeah. The next one is pink. Yeah, but this one is their oh yeah, it's a fruit punch hard seltzer. Six and a half percent can I be used. Fruit punch and cherry Kool-Aid makes this seltzer sweet and flavorful. Try it as a slushie on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So we don't have the slushie, we have just the liquid slushies. Yeah, they're making a big slushy now. That one's better. That one is definitely better, I think. I could hear it. Yeah. Hey, is my tongue red? There's too many people in here to answer that.

unknown 23:47

Oh, dude!

SPEAKER_00 23:50

It's funny when you you were reading that it had Kool-Aid in it. I was gonna say it. Look at that. That one will do, it'll make a good solution. Yeah, that would be a very solution. Oh yeah. Yeah, that one, I like that one a lot better than the line one. Yeah, that's for sure. Um score-wise, I think I'm going. I'm not gonna do like a two nine on that one. I I like the green two nine. Yeah, I'll go two nine. What? Yeah. Focus. 2-8. Okay. Squirrel's on it. Squirrel. Yeah, that one was definitely sweeter than the lime one. That would be probably what they did. Well, that's what they were they were making, but they weren't ready yet. So interesting, yeah. That was no. The next one we have is pink, and they don't have an they didn't have a description on the menu yet for it, but she said it was a pink lemonade. Uh sorry, is that that disco lemonine? It could be. It was their new one, she said. That's yeah, it has it definitely has a pink lemonade flavor to it. Oh yeah. Yeah, it's definitely a pink lemonade. So that one, yeah, it's definitely you can get that lemon kind of you know, the citrus type thing on it. Uh score-wise, I'm trying to think of what I would do on this. I'll go and I'll do so. I did a two nine on the last one. I'm gonna do a two seven, two six on this one.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

Uh I don't like this one as much as I like the the Boy A, but it's solid, and I can see where people would like it. You know, out of the the three uh solid seltzers, the lime one was not, I didn't like that. The other two are pretty decent. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

Yep, I don't know.

Chai Tea Blonde And Tropical Hazy

Salty Pineapple Lime Gose And Cucumber Pilsner

SPEAKER_00 26:00

So score-wise, what would you say for the pink lemonade? I'd say a two six. Okay, so yeah, interesting. That uh different change of pace there, but it was good. Now our pallets are cleansed from the last four. Yeah, even though I know what the last one is. Okay, so the next one we have this one, yeah. Right? Yes, yep. Where is it uh, yeah, okay. This train car is too confusing. It is. So this is their Curiosity T E A at the end, and this is a tea beer, 5.5% and 13 IBUs. Chai infused blonde ale. Enjoy. So this should be interesting. Got a few different chai tea ones and I'll see what you can smell the tea at the time. Yeah, we like chai tea. Wait, is that what's that? Well, yeah, I definitely get the flavor of that. Yeah, right, like right away too. Yeah. I was gonna say if if you like tea for sure, you're gonna like that. Because I mean you definitely get that tea flavor. Yeah, that's kind of impressive too. Yeah, that's not uh that's not bad at all. Well surprisingly good. Yeah, you and like you said, you get that tea flavor right up front, and uh the aroma was there, and it's good. What are you thinking for score? I'd probably do a 2-8. 2-8. 2-8. Yeah, go along with that. Yeah, I'd be right in there with you guys on that one. I do think if somebody that really likes chai tea, that'd be the beer for you, and it's it was really easy drinking. I think anybody honestly could try it. You know, there wasn't a bite or anything, and it was it was pretty good. So that was another one that was uh that was good. Alright. Oh boy, we're getting towards the end there, boys. We got this one and two more. So this is their Fruitville Road, New England IPA, 7%, and it does not say what the IBUs on this one is. It says tropical and fruity are Passion Orange Wava Hazy IPA Fruitville Road combines the Sunshine States tropical flavor uh fruits with citrus and citrus forward hops and a peach like yeast. What is a peach like yeast? Well, we'll see. Oh, we can smell the tropical fruit from that. Yeah, you can taste the fruit right over here. Oh yeah. Boy, that almost had a mango in it. It did kind of stuff ashamed orange guava. Must be the guava that I'm tasting. Yeah, I think that's what it is. But yeah, that's not too bad either. At least it's not Korean. Yeah, yeah. I don't get the hop, hop bite or anything. I don't know. But I'm still trying to figure out if you know what peach-like yeast is. I've never heard of yeast described as a peach like yeah, that's what I was thinking, but it works, it's pretty good. Maybe it's one of the new strains that came up with. It could be, could be. Alright, so we got two left. So the next one is their 1906 pineapple wine. And this one is a fruited goza. Or however. What did we do for a score on the LP? I don't think we did. Oh, we never even scored it. Alright, well let's back a track here. Uh what do you think on the uh two two three I'm sorry? I didn't care for that one. So it wasn't really my cup of tea. Listen, I was gonna go like a two six. I think it's a little better than average. I d I don't mind the kind of the tropical flavor. It's kind of a nice change of pace. But like I said, I I wouldn't have guessed that it was an IPA, honestly, because it really didn't have you know those kind of flavors I thought. But I would agree with the two six. Alright. Now we'll get into the second to last one. That's their 1906 pineapple lime. Uh fruited ghosts, 3.8%, nine IBUs. Salty tart fruity, pineapple and lime. This salty series sets sets itself apart with strikingly vivid flavors as bold as red, as bold bold as red sandstone walls and green trim that Al and Lou and they they try to put too much on here, and they we never finished the story. Yeah. So what a bummer. Al and Lou did something with some sandstone.

unknown 31:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

To me, I I think the lime just overpowers it. Well, I mean I do get the pineapple, but it's almost a salty. Yeah. I get the salty. But I mean that lime just hammers you get right up front, you know. Yeah. First thing I know is assault. It just like suck my my mouth gets like stuck together. Like, oh just yeah. And like I said, the aftertaste is where I get the pineapple. You get, you know, lime all day up front, and then you get that kind of pineapple at the end. Sour just kills it. I mean yeah, and being a a ghost, that's kinda kind of an interesting take on uh it definitely has flavors. I didn't lie about the flavors. Yeah, but too much. Yeah, it could be a little too much. Yeah. So score-wise, Brian, what are you thinking? Probably a two-four. Two four? Not bad, but it's I mean there's too much salt or something. That'll make you thirstier. You gotta drink more.

SPEAKER_02 32:13

Yeah, that is true. Maybe that's what I was bought for. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:17

It's all scratched drink. I was gonna reduce a two, uh flying. Okay, Larry.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

I'd say I'll do a two also because I I wouldn't drink that one. Right. I'm gonna go with 2.3, but I don't that one too, I think I might get heartburn from possibly, because it was, and I agree with you, Brian, there was a lot of salt, I think. Yeah. Um I just never figured out why beer companies do that from time to time, with that they have a beer that they put so much salt in it that you're thirstier. I well, I answered my own question before, it's like buy more, but but you know what I mean? It's just kind of like it it gets to the point where it's too much salt, and then you're just kind of like now, you know, we've all seen the people that will buy the big beer rands and then they're shaking salt into it. Right, yeah. But you wouldn't have to do that with this, but but boy, it was uh a lot of people left foot olive in your beer. Oh, yeah, you wouldn't have to do that. Yeah, no, that's for sure. Alright, now we're gonna go to the cucumber one. I wonder what that one tastes like, Mike. Exactly. And this is called Gherkin, and it's a cucumber pilsner, 5.4% ABV and 18 IBUs, and it says cucumber pilsner. That is cucumber. Yes, very much it smells like cucumber, it tastes like cucumber. Yeah, that is uh that's interesting. Yeah. Like I said, it definitely, you know, the second I smelled it, I was like, that's uh that's not what I thought it was. I've seen cucumber beers like in the liquor stores and stuff, and never tasted them up until now. You know, I guess I didn't miss out. Yeah, it's uh it's not bad. I've had a few other ones. Well, I had the one pickle beer that tasted like cucumber. Yep, you know, and it was kind of surprising. I was like, really? But I I could see where if that was ice cold on a hot day, it would be pretty refreshing. You know, so score-wise, what the what do you first off before you go to your store, Brian? Do you suppose that they are they're putting cucumbers in? Uh you think they're putting cucumbers in when they're making it, or is it more of a flavoring, do you think? Or I'm surprised they could be actual cucumber because it's very you know, it's kind of subtle. It's not if it was really in your face cucumber, then I'd say it was probably an extract. Sure. Okay. Well, yeah, it's what what do you think of it? I I'm gonna go with two six. Okay. I think it's a little better than average, just uh uh I don't think it can go higher than that. Okay. What did you think of it?

Building History, Favorites, And Closing Toast

SPEAKER_01 34:51

It was definitely a cucumber. I'm not a big cucumber eater myself. All right, two four. I think I'd give it. Okay. I'd go two five. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:06

Nothing wild in me. Sure. I'm gonna go two six on that one. I I think it was decent. Uh definitely had the cucumber aroma, cucumber taste. Uh yeah, I didn't mind that too much at all. Well, boys, we made it through the the train car. We did. Of course, we got something else. We got to finish it. We can refinish these now. So that is what a bummer we have to drink some more here. But terrible. So, overall, what were your uh thoughts on Al Ringland? They were all DC gears. Um, I'd say a little above average, you know. And um really wasn't an offensive one, right? Well that's not the lime. The lime one that was but that's more a personal preference. Right. Just the building alone is worth coming here for. It's really a little building. Oh, yeah, for sure. Say it was an old uh elks building. It used to be an elks club that was in here years ago. Yep, and they had a bowling alley in the basement, and when the the brewery took over, they said it was too expensive to get the bowling alley going again, so they actually used the lanes and made their tables and bartop and all that kind of stuff off of it. So cool. Well, hey, ladies and gentlemen, that is uh Al Ringlin Brewing out of Bear Blue, Wisconsin. So if you're ever in the area, make sure to stop by. You'll be glad you did. So, anyway, guys, thanks for uh hanging out here. I know you really kind of didn't want to have to drink beer today, but dirty job that somebody has to do. Exactly. Well, hey, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for listening. And like we always say, we hope your campfire is always warm. See ya. Thank you for listening to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast. If you have a question, a comment, or a beer you'd like us to review, please feel free to send us a message at Northwoodsbeerguy at gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.