The brewing portion of the Gun Flint Tavern is small and unique. It’s comprised of three fermenters and a four-and-a-half-barrel system set against a white-tiled wall with skeleton ceramic tiles lining the top—making the number of styles offered all the more impressive. Of the five Tavern brews usually on tap, I almost always go with the Kölsch. However, I decided to give the Mahnomen 80 Shilling a try; both because it sounded like a fitting beer for a late-winter evening and because Paul Gecas, head brewer at the Gun Flint Tavern, recommended it.
I wasn’t disappointed.
A Scottish ale brewed with a hefty amount of wild rice, the Mahnomen is an earthy beer that is balanced well with a honey-like sweetness brought out by the malt. The Mahnomen is smooth for a Scottish ale, with a distinctive wild rice flavor, making it a North Shore brew that’s well worth trying.