Forager Brewery | 9th Anniversary Showcase
It’s been about two and a half months since Forager Brewing’s 9th Anniversary Foragerfest celebration, and people are still buzzing about the bottles released for the occasion. Free to attend and open to all ages, Foragerfest has become hugely popular over the years, and people have traveled from near and far to Rochester, Minnesota to get a taste of the one-off barrel-aged offerings, live music, and artisan markets that have become so popular at the event. Austin Jevne and the team were generous enough to send us the full lineup from this year to review and share on PorchDrinking, and we can’t thank them enough for allowing us the chance to share the experience with our readers.
The Brewery
Forager has become a Minnesota staple, opening in Rochester in 2015. A fusion of innovative brewing techniques and tried-and-true traditions, co-founder and Head Brewer Austin Jevne has always placed the utmost focus on ensuring their beers are brewed with love and passion. Jevne opened Forager with his wife Annie Henderson, and the two quickly found success through their high quality, innovative beers. They also became very well-known for their food offerings, combining the locally foraged ingredients, regionally native grains, and wild hop varieties they used for their beer with their unique and rustic-style dishes.
Forager expanded in 2020 with the creation of Humble Forager. Originally formed as a workaround to the antiquated Minnesota beer laws that prevented beer distribution by a brewpub, Humble Forager became a way to meet the growing demand for their products in neighboring states. This separate entity operates as a distribution company, allowing them to contract brew their popular recipes at facilities outside Minnesota, such as Octopi Brewing in Wisconsin. By doing so, they can legally distribute their beers to a broader market while adhering to Minnesota’s restrictive regulations.
Long story short, Jevne and Henderson have fought every step of the way over the last 9 years to make sure they can continue not only doing what they love, but also make sure that their committed consumers can continue to enjoy their award-winning beers, even outside of Minnesota. Their small operation is creative, sustainable, and community-driven, and they’ve crafted countless unforgettable experiences and beers on the road to cementing their place as one of the best Midwestern breweries in the country. They also notably conducted a very special release for Alex Kidd last year that we featured on the site: Ancient Otter Treats. Just another testament to their emphasis on community support and togetherness.
Foragerfest
Foragerfest is an all-day music, art, beer, and food festival held every year at Forager Brewery. As mentioned, there is no fee for admission and it is always designed to be a kid and dog-friendly event.
This annual birthday celebration is also known to feature highly sought-after, exclusive releases, and the 2024 festivities from this past September were no different. In addition to live music all day long as well as an artisan market featuring hand-made local goods, there were three barrel-aged bottles released to honor their year 9 celebration.
The Releases
On August 20, Forager announced the agenda for Foragerfest 2024, with the names of the three event-exclusive barrel-aged beers for the occasion: Nutzzzzz, Tetrachromacy, and Romp. In the three weeks before the festival the team staggered more teasers and info about the three massive beers, ensuring everyone reached maximum excitement prior to their September 14th release. Austin and the team in Rochester were incredibly generous in agreeing to send the trio to PorchDrinking so we could do a deep dive for the site. Foragerfest may have passed a couple of months ago, but these beers are all perfect options to track down for this chilly fall weather.
Romp – 14.8% ABV
This unique blend consists of five different Forager Barleywine recipes, each aged in different barrels. The breakdown includes a 28-month Eagle Rare barrel, a 26-month Blanton’s barrel, a 23-month 14-year George Dickel barrel, a 33-month Rock Filter barrel, and a 27-month Black Hammer Rock Filter barrel. The base blend features a double mash Barleywine, mixed grain Barleywine, honey Barleywine, maple Barleywine, and Vienna malt Barleywine, which make up the threads of this English style.
The Review
Romp has a thick and viscous pour, with a deep, opaque brown hue. Notably, there is zero carbonation buildup, with a still, contemplative surface.
The nose is rich and caramelly, with prominent notes of stewed fruit and candied dates. Despite the sweeter elements, the aroma remains balanced and not overly saccharine.
On the palate, this massive Barleywine delivers an abundance of caramel and honey flavors, complemented by subtle hints of chestnut and baking spices. Dark fruit undertones add depth, while the barrel aging imparts whispers of char and leather, enhancing the overall complexity.
The beer’s thick, viscous nature coats the palate, providing a mouthfeel not necessarily indicative of the style. The low level of carbonation contributes to a smooth, almost silky texture, allowing the intricate flavors to linger alongside great heat on the finish.
Overall, Romp is a testament to the art of blending and barrel aging, offering a rich, multi-layered experience that showcases the depth and complexity achievable in a Barleywine. Its harmonious balance of sweetness, spice, and barrel character makes it a standout offering. We also collectively determined this to be our favorite of the Foragerfest lineup.
Tetrachromacy – 14.3% ABV
For this barrel-aged Double Stout, the Forager team combined five barrels: two large format barrels – one 28-month Buffalo Trace barrel of maple oat milk porter and one 19-month Heaven Hill double stout. They also included three small format 21-month Rock Filter double mash Syzurpa barrels.
The Review
Tetrachromacy pours like motor oil, with an inky blackness that hints at its depth and intensity. The surface is still and opaque, inviting a dive into its bold character.
The aroma is a smoky, toasty embrace, layered with rich notes of blistered oak and baking cocoa. The balanced smoke adds complexity without overpowering the senses. A subtle barrel heat lingers in the background, warming each sip.
On the palate, this non-adjunct monster delivers a luxurious blend of burnt caramel and honeyed sweetness; initially a decadent, indulgent profile. However, notes of smoke and toasted oak carry through from the nose, grounding the sweetness and adding a distinctly savory element. Hints of dark chocolate and a touch of roasted malt round out the flavors, while the barrel-aging contributes depth without harshness.
Tetra is decadently smooth, with a full-bodied, silky texture that coats the palate. The low bitterness allows the sweet and smoky elements to shine, and the gentle barrel heat provides warmth without overpowering the balance.
This beer is a masterclass in contrast and harmony, marrying smoky, toasty notes with rich, honeyed sweetness and dark, cocoa-like depth. Its bold, barrel-forward profile makes it a beer to savor slowly, appreciating its intricate layers and smooth finish. A standout offering for lovers of smoky, barrel-aged stouts.
Nutzzzzz – 14.5% ABV
This beer is a blend of Double Stouts from large and small format barrels, ranging in age from 19 to 28 months. It was then conditioned on heaps of toasted coconut, piles of roasted pecans and almonds, and five regions of vanilla bean caviar from Colombia, Taiwan, Mexico, Zanzibar, and the Cook Islands.
The Review
The pour has the indicative Forager motor oil viscosity, its jet-black body creating an imposing and indulgent first impression. The pour settles thick and opaque.
Out of the bottle, it radiates the rich sweetness of pecan pie, but once in the glass, the aroma becomes more expansive, bringing a balancing bitterness to its initially dessert-like profile. Subtle hints of marzipan integrate that almond component really nicely on the nose.
The palate harmoniously blends carefully integrated adjuncts. Oily coconut and pecan dominate, creating a nutty, creamy richness. Scorched vanilla adds a smoky-sweet undertone, weaving through the profile without overwhelming it. The restrained sweetness provides depth without veering into cloying territory.
Nutzzzz is incredibly smooth and thick, coating the palate with a velvety texture. It has a low but present astringency that balances the finish and simultaneously allows its rich flavors to linger without overwhelming. It’s dangerously drinkable for such a robust offering.
This luxurious exploration of balance and indulgence hits all the right notes. Its nutty, coconut-forward character, paired with hints of vanilla and restrained sweetness, creates a beer that feels both decadent and expertly controlled. Perfect for fans of dessert-inspired stouts that deliver richness without over-saturating the palate.
Cheers to 9 Years!
If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s for Forager to continue producing beers at a high level. Whether you’re able to lock down their smaller-scale Forager beers or just the more widely-distributed Humble Forager releases, you won’t be disappointed.
While these most recent anniversary releases could only be obtained in-person at Foragerfest, regional beer groups from platforms like Facebook have become one of the best ways to get a hold of beers that didn’t have an option for shipping or proxies. Do a quick search and make some new Midwestern friends! This lineup – and almost certainly those coming down the pipe as well – will make the efforts well worth your while. Congratulations to Forager Brewery on 9 years, and we can’t wait to see what’s coming next year when they hit the big 1-0!
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