I have been behaving myself here in Williston, ND this week. My consulting work keeps me indoors but when it 18 degrees below ZERO and that’s without windchill, just scraping the windows after starting the vehicle is a challenge for this Houston boy! As you breath through your nose you can feel the hairs inside freeze!

Let’s talk beer now. The day I arrived I had lunch at the Williston Brewing Company, no, they don’t make beer, but they do sell it. I enjoyed Summit Brewing’s Saga IPA with my lunch. It is a very good IPA, nice bitterness and really good aroma. Centennial, Amarillo, Citra and Rakau hops are used to bring out the flavors. I may try to clone this very pleasant beer.

On a subsequent visit I indulged my taste buds with an offering from Fargo Brewing Company, their Wood Chipper India Pale Ale. Oh my, it was a surprisingly good beer. They use Horizon hops for the bittering and then hopback and dry hop with Chinook, Cascade, Simcoe and Centennial hops for a great aroma. I guess North Dakota can make some very good beer!

I went back for a third visit. You may be wondering if this is the only establishment in Williston. It’s not, but they have a great selection and I like the atmosphere. On this visit I tried the Goose Island 10 Hills pale ale. My opinion, just an ordinary beer. It didn’t do anything to capture my attention.

You know what, I’ll probably go back tomorrow and see if I can select something new and different. I am scheduled to be in Williston for two weekly trips per month until May. I won’t drink every beer on their list. Why? They have Bud, Bud Light, Bud Select, Coors, Coors Light and, well, you get the picture. I’ll stick with the craft beer side of the list.

Stay tuned for more from the Frozen North!

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop