Beer On Sunday… Why Not?
It’s nothing new – the old “blue laws” are up for debate again this legislative session.
The repeal on the prohibition of Sunday Liquor Sales will be discussed this Wednesday at 2:30 at a hearing in the House Commerce Committee – which is open to the public. This outdated law has Minnesota on an Island – surrounded by bastions of Sunday liquor-buying states. Minnesota, considered to be quite progressive, is one of 12 states in the nation that is being left behind with no access to Sunday liquor sales, save across the river in Wisconsin – but it may be for a reason other than you might think.
(Courtesy of http://sundaysalesmn.org)
Polls over the past half-decade have shown a majority of Minnesotans are in favor of legalizing Sunday Liquor sales. One county recently polled showed an astonishing 84% in support of the repeal of the ban on Sunday sales. With the public firmly behind the repeal, you may predict that the leading politicians in the state must be at odds; after all we have seen the repeal legislation come and go numerous times over the past few years without successfully passing. However, with bipartisan support beginning with Governor Dayton (D), House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R), and an astounding 91% of the legislature (of those who responded to a Fall 2014 survey) in support of the repeal of the ban, circumstances beg the question – who doesn’t support the repeal of this “blue law” and legalization of Sunday Liquor Sales? In short, special interest lobbying groups on behalf of liquor retailer associations who claim the added expense of being open another day during the week would hurt their bottom line.
(Courtesy of http://sundaysalesmn.org)
However, case studies from the legalization of Sunday sales in other states (Washington and Colorado) have not only shown an increase in tax revenue but that the extra day, and incurred cost of having the stores open, does not result in a net loss for the stores, or at a loss of Saturday or Monday sales. Meaning, sales have shown to increase overall when liquor stores open a 7th day of the week. Furthermore, mandates requiring liquor stores to be open a 7th day are not apart of the proposal and such a enforcement would not exist.
According to a local advocacy group (sundaysalesmn.org), “Minnesota would generate a projected $10.8 to $15.1 million in new tax revenues from Sunday sale of beverage alcohol.”
Finally, to have a government regulate competition on behalf of an industry seems to be an overreach in the least. Not to mention to have that unpopular regulation propped up at the behest of special interest lobbyists that are in the minority of both public and political opinion.
(Courtesy of http://mnbeeractivists.com/)
So what practical action can you take to let your voice be heard and make the repeal on the ban of Sunday Sales a reality?
3 simple ways you can let your voice be heard by the Minnesota legislature:
- Attend the hearing at the House Commerce Committee April 8th at 2:30pm to be held in Room 10 in the Minnesota State Office Building (100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103.)
- Email or phone your representative: http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/
- Sign the petition supporting the repeal on the ban of Sunday Liquor Sales: http://sundaysalesmn.org/
Be a bringer of joy this day. As always, cheers to you for reading me – check out more TallPour beer geekery at:
Sláinte,
Special thanks to Meghan Lewis for the last minute editorial assistance.
Ni Neart Go Cur Le Cheile – Hayes Public House
Unlike most taprooms in Minnesota, Hayes’ Public House is hosted by Buffalo, MN – a town about an hour west of the Twin Cities. Growing up around his grandmother’s restaurant in nearby Monticello, the bristly bearded Pugs Hayes was born to be apart of this industry and found the lake side location in Buffalo to be a perfect fit for his public house. Pugs’ dream of opening an Irish pub and restaurant has yet to come true, instead, five years after his idea’s inception – the dream has evolved and come to fruition by means of public house via taproom.
Pugs and yours truly
A “public house” or pub traces its roots to the British Isles during the Early Middle Ages and has continued to be an essential part of village and community life throughout England, Ireland and even America – having transitioned to the New World along with many of our European forebearers. Pugs pays homage to this and his own Irish heritage with Hayes’ Public House.
Hayes’ Public House – courtesy of Hayes’ Facebook
As a certified welder, Pugs honed his craft on a homebrew system he built and he now brews on a 3 barrel system in the brewhouse at the back of the building – one of the smallest of any brewery in Minnesota (also making them a nanobrewery – a system under 4 barrels). Allowing for versatility and the ability to venture into uncharted beer waters, the only downside to this small of a system is it can be hard to keep up with demand.
Hayes brewhouse
Although Pugs is both owner and brewer, the journey has not been a lonely one. “There’s no strength without unity”, the mantra of Hayes’ Public House as emblazoned in Celtic (“Ni Neart Go Cur Le Cheile”) on their bar, which was crafted by Pugs’ father Brian and emblazoned by KR Customs LLC. His friend and first employee Kevin Rogers of KR Customs LLC also created the beautiful Celtic stonework that can be seen throughout the bar area. Pugs also found a mentor in local legendary Irish entrepreneur businessman Kieran Folliard who along with Jason Davis of Enki Brewing in Victoria, MN helped navigate along his hop ridden path.
Hayes’ motto: “Ni Neart Go Cur Le Cheile” – courtesy of Hayes’ Facebook page
As Pugs put it to me while I sampled his first bourbon barrel aged beer – aged in Elijah Craig 12 year bourbon barrel, “Every ship has to have a captain but without a crew – I never would’ve gotten to this point”. Hayes Public House has now been open for nearly 6 months and already has a following that call this pub their ‘local’; he regularly sees demand for past beers to come around again.
Elijah Craig 12 year Bourbon barrel – courtesy of Hayes’ Facebook page
Pugs beer line up changes often (as you can imagine with such a small system) but focuses on British inspired ales that include: Hayes’ Irish Stout, O’Ruaidhir Irish Red, Bare Knuckle Bitter, Wee Heavy, Green Kilt IPA, Fountain Jacks Old Mild as well as not so traditional British ales: Sgt. Stella’s American Pale, Hillbilly Peach Picker and Imperial versions of a Russian Stout and IPA with more to come (Nitro versions are also available in limited quantities in certain styles for that authentic pub beer feel).
With summer just around the corner, there is no better time than now to go see Pugs. Hayes’ Public House sits just across the street from Buffalo Lake and will have a patio area which, rumor has – will be hosting a pipe night this summer!
Where and when to go?
photo courtesy of Hayes’ Facebook page
Monday – Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Contact: HayesPublicHouse@gmail.com
http://www.hayespublichouse.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hayes-Public-House/125904500812367
As always – cheers to you for reading me – check out more TallPour beer geekery at:
Sláinte,
TallPour
Bridging the Gap
On a winter day’s dusting, I found myself venturing to the city that lays claim to being the birthplace of Minnesota – to take in the historic sites, beautiful downtown, antique shops and of course Stillwater’s own Lift Bridge Brewery and taproom. Lift Bridge has the honor of being Stillwater’s first post prohibition era (Prohibition ended December 5th 1933) brewery and Minnesota’s first brewery to take advantage of 2011’s so-called Surly Bill – allowing them to have a taproom.
As the name suggests Lift Bridge is engrained in the storied city and their goal of being the premiere regional brewery has certainly come to fruition and offered the city of Stillwater and St. Croix Valley something they can be proud to call their own. Lift Bridge began as many breweries do, with five friends sharing a passion for home brewing – so, of course the only course of action one (or five) could take was to open a brewery and share their passion with the masses.
Now five and a half years into their existence, they are one of the old dogs on the block of the Minnesota craft beer scene. Lift Bridge was preceded only by a handful of breweries in the current craft brewery boom that began with Brau Bros. & Surly in 2006. With the beginnings of Lift Bridge coming in the form of contract brewing with Flat Earth Brewing Co. out of St. Paul, they then focused on building a reputation and following with their flagship beer, Farm Girl – an approachable Belgian Saison. CEO Dan Schwarz explained that many domestic drinkers found Lift Bridge’s beers to be quite approachable and they saw a lot of cross-over drinkers. Moving beyond Farm Girl – a great beer in her own right – Lift Bridge has kept the craft beer community intrigued with offerings like the year round Hop Dish, an American IPA with 7 variety of hops; and with limited edition beers like Commander, an English Barleywine; and two of my favorites: Silhouette a Russian Imperial Stout with complex coffee, toffee and licorice notes (a bourbon barrel aged Silhouette was available at the taproom at the time of my visit – GO NOW); and the 3rd annual release (coming soon – March 8th release party) of their appropriate seasonal offering Irish Coffee Stout, a Russian imperial milk stout, whiskey barrel aged and cold press coffee – there is a variety for every palate. Dan attributes the variety of beers Lift Bridge offers to the distinct tastes and personalities of himself and his co-founding members.
Upon entering Lift Bridge’s brewery you note immediately the comfortable and welcoming ambience in the taproom – wide open windows allow for an invasion of natural light and a wooded cabin feel with bench seating, you will get to know your neighbor and be happy about it. Three tours run on Saturdays at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm – but pre-registration is required. The drive and pre-registration is well worth the effort and trip to Lift Bridge – and with cask and specialty brews like the Batch 500 Double IPA only available at the taproom, it pays to be early.
(Image from City Pages)
I recommend attending the tour given by Bryon Wheaton (@BryonWheaton); he is knowledgeable, engaging and ensures an entertaining diatribe on the origins of beer while you sip on a flight of Lift Bridge’s current selection. Look for Pathway Pilsner (light lager) and Irish Coffee Stout on your next tour.
(Dan Schwarz, yours truly, Jennie & Bryon)
Lift Bridge beers can be found in most Twin Cities liquor stores. And for the much anticipated summer beach season, Farm Girl is available in cans.
March 8th Irish Coffee Stout release event: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-coffee-stout-release-event-tickets-10299248329?aff=es2&rank=3&sid=77ef62029fda11e3a9aa123138106897
See Lift Bridge at the 8th Annual Brewers Bazaar: Saturday, May 17, 2014.
Don’t miss out on Lift Bridge’s Mini Donut beer at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair.
Lift Bridge Brewing Company, 1900 Tower Drive West, Stillwater, MN 55082
Taproom hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday 5-10PM
- Friday-Saturday 12-10PM
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
For a current list of taproom beers: http://liftbridgebrewery.com/#brewery/tap-room
Cheers to you for reading me.
For more beer geekery:
Twitters: @TallPour
https://www.facebook.com/TallPourMN
Instagram: tallpour – http://instagram.com/tallpour/
Sláinte,
TallPour
612Brew – Happy 1 Year Anniversary
The first thing you notice when you enter 612Brew (other than the fact it is one of the largest taprooms in the Twin Cities) is the vivaciously colorful Adam Turman mural. It leaps out at you and lets you know, without question, what this brewery is about. The mural features a woman in a checkered diamond skirt holding a 612Brew labeled pint (presumably the Six American Pale Ale – brewer Robert Kasak’s favorite beer) standing in front of a back drop of the Minneapolis skyline and Stone Arch Bridge in the foreground. She stands across from a bike which hosts a 612Brew growler in its basket.
As should be obvious by the name, 612Brew is all about Minneapolis. The 612 crew view their brewery as apart of the Minneapolis community and they are a Minneapolis brewery through and through, with the genesis of all of Robert Kasak’s recipes continually being brewed in Minneapolis. As anyone who is familiar with the Twin Cities and Minneapolis in particular knows, there is a huge bicycle community. Not so coincidentally, a very large portion of this community is ever so much supportive and engrained in the local craft scene.
Robert began home brewing back in 2005. After a while with kits, he began to develop his own recipes. With friends Ryan Libby and Adit Kalra they moved to the former’s garage and with Kasak’s recipes they knew they had something special. Opening just a year ago to the day (Feb. 13), 612Brew has been in the works for quite a number of years. Through a couple of early line-up changes, t-shirt sales (and questions about what the hell 612Brew actually was) and a whole lot of hype dating back to mid 2010, the co-founders’ patience has paid off. Robert Kasak (brewer), Ryan Libby (marketing), Adit Kalra (President – business) and Jamey Rossbach (taproom manager) make up the unique personalities that make this very brewery work.
(Ryan, Robert, Jamey & Adit – image from 612Brew.com)
612Brew resides as the anchor tenant at the historic Broadway building located at the Northeast corner of Central and Broadway. As the physical gateway to the Northeast Arts District, they also act as the gateway to their compatriot breweries in the Northeast Brewers District located nearby: Dangerous Man Brewing, Indeed Brewing, and newly opened Sociable Cider works (who all host taprooms) and Northgate Brewing (growlers only – but taproom Spring 2014), as well as soon-to-open Fair State Brewing Cooperative (Spring 2014)*.
The Broadway building formerly housed a paper supply and mattress company; it now also features Spyhouse Coffee where you can drink an altogether different brew of artisanal coffee before trying 612’s craft offering on Saturday tours. The structure of the building gives 612’s taproom a unique if not exuberantly overwhelming (in a good way) feel. With 18ft. ceilings, numerous timber columns and polished concrete floors 612 creates a vibrant and open feel with viewing access to the entire brewing process. The taproom also offers unique features, from bowling alley lane table tops (from a bowling alley in Iowa) to woodwork lining on the bar from a 19th century pub in Chicago to the unbelievable spacious patio area – where in the summer, you can hear local musical acts as well as feast on local cuisine from Twin Cities food trucks. 612 Brew offers a truly unique experience.
(The Broadway building – image from 612Brew.com)
With a recent expansion, 612Brew will be able to add new beers to their line-up and already have their next year round brew in mind. Gateway Park a pre-prohibition lager will require additional time to cold ferment (as lagers do) and one of the new tanks will be dedicated to this year round offering. Gateway Park will be added to other mainstays at the taproom: SIX (American Pale), Rated-R (Rye IPA) as well as the exclusive taproom only Zero Hour (aggressively hopped Black Ale). They will also be tapping Payback – an Oatmeal Porter on Feb. 13th (1 year anniversary) that is a whopping 7.5% ABV. They also sell growlers at their taproom. Full list of taproom and hibernating beers: http://www.612brew.com/beer
(new fermenters – image from 612Brew.com)
Make your way to the taproom today Feb. 13th: http://www.612brew.com/news
Feb. 13th, 4-5pm – FREE BEER; special give aways; Special edition 1 Yr Anniversary shirts designed by Adam Turman, printed by CHUX Printing. Exclusive release of Payback – Oatmeal Porter 7.5% ABV.
Taproom Hours:
- Wednesday: 4 – 10 pm
- Thursday: 4 – 10 pm
- Friday: 2:30 – Midnight
- Saturday: Noon – Midnight
- Address:
- 945 Broadway St NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
Wishing 612Brew a very happy 1st birthday!
Thanks to all of you for reading me. More beer geekery?…really? @TallPour or https://www.facebook.com/TallPourMN
Sláinte,
TallPour
*Editors’ note – Holy crap, that’s a lot of new breweries.
Entering the Gate
On a frigid winter afternoon I found myself driving northward to the North side of Northeast Minneapolis in search of the somewhat elusive Northgate Brewing. Tucked away in the corner of a fenced-in industrial park I arrived without incident to the small but emerging brewery on my first try – and judging by the button I received upon arrival which read, “I FOUND IT!”, this was quite a feat.
Walking into what is little more than a garage, it is amazing to see that Northgate has occupied this space just over a year and already have plans for an expansion. Somewhat bucking the trend of their Nordeast counterparts (612Brew, Indeed & Dangerous Man) they started as a production brewery choosing to focus on kegs in near-by restaurants and on-site growler sales instead of opening a taproom. That however, is also changing – head brewer Tuck Carruthers informed me that they will be moving to a new space (783 Harding Street NE in Minneapolis) that will be nearly 10 times larger than their current location. This will allow for increased production (20 Barrel brew house) and host a 1500 sq. ft. taproom. They are targeting a summer open.
(Adam, Todd & Tuck – image from Nortgatebrew.com)
Co-founders Adam Sjogren and Todd Slininger opened Northgate a little over a year ago, debuting at Grumpy’s NE and differentiated themselves by focusing on British Style session ales. A session beer has a lower ABV (alcohol by volume) and needs to be fresher and thus closer to the source. Northgate’s offerings include: Wall’s End (Year round – English Brown), Maggie’s Leap (seasonal – English Sweet Stout), Parapet ESB as well as a spring and summer seasonal, but even their lineup is growing. Their one year anniversary beer is a Wee Heavy (Scotch Ale) aptly named, Fiddle Smasher – as it comes in a 7% ABV (higher than any other Northgate brew) and is their first bottled beer. Now available in 22oz. bombers. Retail locations found: http://northgatebrew.com/blog/2014/01/27/happy-birthday-to-us/
(image from Ale Jail Twitter – @alejail)
Northgate will also be featured in the most recent Tuned brew. Tuned teams together local breweries and artists. Buy local beer and get a free downloadable song of a local artist. Northgate is currently bottling their Tuned brew, a Chocolate Cherry Porter. Rogue Valley is the featured artist: http://www.tunedbeer.com/home.html https://www.facebook.com/roguevalleyband
(image from Northgatebrew.com/blog)
Northgate growler sales Saturdays 1-5pm.
@NorthgateBrew | info@northgatebrew.com | 612-234-1056 | 3134 California St NE Mpls, MN 55418
Stay tuned – when the Gate opens on their new taproom this summer, another entry will follow.
Here’s to you for reading me. Your support and encouragement is sincerely appreciated – join me on my next visit. Follow me on my new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TallPourMN and on the twitters @TallPour for more preposterous beer geekery.
Sláinte,
-TallPour
Destination Brau
On a recent trip to the ‘great plains’ of southwestern Minnesota – one which was taken with the intention of running a 5K and turned into a weekend of paninos, burgers and – to my great surprise and elation – a trip down craft beer memory lane. In a college town (SMSU) known for it’s entrepreneurial ice cream business (Schwan’s) as much as the stench that can sometime emanate from the corn processing plant, the town will now be known as the home of one of Minnesota’s veteran breweries, the expanding but small at heart Brau Brothers Brewing Co. As it happened, a college buddy knows Trevor Brau (one of the brothers – obviously) and we were able to take a personal tour.
Walking into the former Runnings building, I had no idea what to expect. My eyes were drawn directly to a large deep red antique fire engine, Old #56 from Lucan – which will now serve the brothers as their bar and tap area. The 37,000 square foot facility will house more fermenters and will allow the brewery to brew specialty beers for the taproom. The space will also feature soda and will have a restaurant to boot (thanks to the so-called ‘Surly Bill’) – with a menu created by head brewer Dustin Brau. As we walked the brewery grounds – with construction ongoing – I realized how innovative this family was. The Braus still utilize land in Lucan to grow hops to be used in their fresh-hopped 100 Yard Dash – which they process on a conveyer system they created using kegs and other pullies. Later on the tour, while sipping on Brau’s White Cap (Crystal Wit beer) and enjoying the hop aroma filled cooler, I found out the previous brewery was barely the size of the room I now found myself freezing in. With seven times the space, the brewery also has a section for all sorts of swag below a glowing neon Brau Brothers sign.
Trevor Brau and I (Tall)
Brau Brothers Brewing has come a long way since they started in nearby Lucan (pop. 220) in 1998 as a brewpub (BrauHaus) and expanded to a production brewery in 2006. Beyond having great beer, the Braus hold a special place in my heart. My journey into craft beer, as with many beer geeks, started with Sam Adams – the readily available, extremely successful Jim Koch-led brewery out of Boston, Mass. But my introduction into the Minnesota craft scene some 8+ years ago began with Brau Brothers Scotch Ale and Cream Stout (now retired and refashioned under Bancreagie & MooJoos, respectively) – these beers were a revelation of high quality beer, made locally and drank locally by the students at SMSU – including me.
The Brau Brothers new restaurant-brewery-taproom opened October 4th(soft opening). Until I am able to emote in person the thanks they deserve – CHEERS – wishing Brau Brothers Brewing Company a great opening and for making a great product right in southwestern Minnesota!
1101 East Main Street Marshall, MN 56258
Follow Brau: @BrauBeer
Follow Me: @TallPour
Prost
-TallPour
The Land o’ 10,000 Mini Donuts just upped it’s game…
In a Land o’ 10,000 mini donuts…I was able to find mine.
It was a hot morning of about 90 degrees when I showed up to the fair. It was 11am on a week day and I was there to see a nationally syndicated radio host do his program live at the “Great Minnesota Get Together.” I knew I would be attending the fair later in the week with a beer geek friend, so getting the much-hyped Mini Donut beer from Lift Bridge was not my priority on this trip. However, the heat and an urge to have a frothy brew while I enjoyed the show changed my mind.
I headed to the food building where I thought (foolishly) that I would casually ask one of the vendors, “where do I get the mini donut beer?” I never thought to check the tapping times, and when the vendor smiled and said – “through that door at the Ball Park…and bring me one …when you get it” I knew I was in trouble.
I got out to the patio area of the Ball Park Café and saw the line was already curved down to the street and glanced a sign that told me the tapping was at noon. I maneuvered my way out and settled in line at about quarter after eleven. As I looked around it became clear by the bemused cynical stares and occasional inquires that we who were waiting in line were “in the know.” Both they (the passer-bys) and we (the beer geeks waiting in line for an hour for a beer we had never tried) were ok with that.
As the hour inched closer to noon, I began to grow nervous, especially when I read the “While Supplies Last” sign. Despite having waited in line for nearly 45 minutes for this new instant State Fair classic, I began to wonder if I would still be left on the outside looking in.
I chatted with some folks in line and heard that the beer usually lasted for a couple of hours and my fears began to subside. As I listened via phone to the broadcast I’d come to see (across the fairgrounds from where I now stood), I knew this experience would really be the sugar on my mini donut as the announcement came, 10 minutes…
The line finally began to move. When I came to the bar I was intrigued as I saw the rim of the glasses were being wetted and glazed with cinnamon & sugar. I watched the pour; a pleasant amber brown hue plunged into my glass. I accepted my beers (yes, I got two) and walked to the street, finding an alcove where I could take my first smell and taste. The aroma was a pleasant one, with a nice full malted character; then I sipped. The sweetness of the sugar interacted with the malty beer. Truly I had found the only mini donut I needed when visiting the fair.
For those of you that missed Lift Bridge’s Mini Donut beer, mark you calendar for the 2014 Minnesota State Fair, tweets at me @TallPour and we can share this brew at a higher altitude.
Cheers!
-TallPour
A World of Wheat in Minnesota
There seems to be no better time to write this entry about the misunderstood style of beer that is wheat beer than while I am drinking Town Hall Brewery’s Apricot Wheat. The wheat beer has all too often been labeled a “chick beer” by some naïve few. Not only is the intent of this label to diminish the style but it is insulting to the many stout and craft beer drinkers of the female persuasion I know, who would likely threaten me with bodily harm should they ever hear me utter that phrase.
The wheat beer has garnered a reputation over the years as, “a weaker style”, “a sweet light beer”, “a beer for newbs”, “a beer for non-beer drinkers” and with the oft added slice of lemon (or orange) who can blame some for their misconception of this refreshingly complex and diverse style. In the event you have no interest in the history or the characteristics of this style, please skip two paragraphs and get to, “The point”.
History: The modern wheat style traces its roots back to the late Middle Ages in Bavaria, where by Royal privilege wheat was allowed to be used in weizen styles in violation of Reinheitsgebot (German Beer purity law: Water+Barley+Hops+Yeast=Beer). The majority of wheat beers use between 40-60% of wheat malt (remaining is usually barley malt) and have a hazy white/pale complexion (unless filtered) although any beer that contains wheat and yields wheat characteristics can be considered a wheat beer…hence the variety: Weis, Weiss, Weisse (all meaning white-eluding to the hazy appearance), Weizen (wheat), Hefeweizen (yeast-wheat), Dunkel(dark)weiss/weizen, Wit, White, (and that’s just the beginning). Additive spices are often used in the Belgian style Wits/Wheats such as coriander, orange peel and anise which separate them from their German brethren in the wheat family. Wheat beers commonly only use a touch of hops.
Character: With all the varieties within the wheat family, yielding such subtle (and not so subtle) flavors as: clove, banana, bubble-gum, vanilla, spice and fruity tones, what these beers lack in hop character they make up in complexity (wheat yeast strains often create vanilla and spicy notes). With a flexibility that lends itself to being spiked with different fruits or even hops these wheat’s create and offer even more of a variety of flavors to the beer drinker. What follows can be a fruit beer such that I am drinking now; a hopped up wheat with tangerine citrus character; or all the way to an India wheat ale with more of a hop kick.
The point?… Should be obvious! Wheats are not bound by definitive style and there is such a variety that any beer drinker – amateur, enthusiast or Cicerone – can discover one for themselves…but where to look locally?
Looking for?…
Traditional?
-Canal Park Neoprenanzug Malfunction http://canalparkbrewery.com/
-Harriet Wodan Weizen http://www.harrietbrewing.com/
-Schell’s Hefeweizen http://www.schellsbrewery.com/
-Steel Toe Sommer Vice http://www.steeltoebrewing.com/
-The Herkimer Tooler’s Weiss http://www.theherkimer.com
Wit/White?
-Boom Island Witness http://boomislandbrewing.com
-Borealis White Throated Wit http://borealisfermentery.com/
-Harriet Luv Jus http://www.harrietbrewing.com/
-Herkimer Gose Speziell Weizen http://www.theherkimer.com
Fruit?
-Fitger’s Apricot Wheat http://brewhouse.net/
-Minneapolis Town Hall Apricot Wheat http://www.townhallbrewery.com/
Saison?
-Canal Park 40 Acre http://canalparkbrewery.com/
-Harriet Nourrice http://www.harrietbrewing.com/
-Lift Bridge Farm Girl http://www.liftbridgebrewery.com/
-Lucid Silo http://www.lucidbrewing.com/
Blonde/American/Summer/Session/?
-Dangerous Man Belgian Table http://www.dangerousmanbrewing.com/
-Excelsior Big Island Blond http://excelsiorbrew.com/
-Finnegans Blonde Ale http://finnegans.org/
-Fulton Lonely Blonde http://fultonbeer.com
-Great Waters St. Jude American Wheat Ale http://www.greatwatersbc.com/
-Indeed Shenanigans Summer Ale http://www.indeedbrewing.com/
-Northbound Honey Wheat Ale http://www.northboundbrewpub.com/
-Summit Summer Ale http://www.summitbrewing.com/
In no way is this an exhaustive list of local fare, but it should give you a good start and help you to find your way back to the summer we’ve missed in July.
Tweet me @TallPour, on your journeys in wheat and the person who tweets/facebook documents (on my personal page) the most Minnesota wheats consumed by the end of August will receive a growler of their choice on me, TallPour.
Here’s to bringing you the summer brews from a higher altitude.
Prost!
TallPour
A sign of the season
When the rains shift to grueling humidity and give leave to swarms of mosquitoes you know it is summer in Minnesota; when the Twins are teetering on irrelevance and fan apathy and everyone is waiting for the second half surge, you know it is summer in Minnesota; when no one is paying attention to the NBA finals because the T-Pups have never been close to getting there, you know it is summer in Minnesota. When nearly everyone is looking forward to Cordarrelle Patterson in purple and salivating over getting the number 1 draft pick in their fantasy league (Adrian Peterson), you know it is summer in Minnesota. But, the past few years have cemented another tall tell sign of summer’s arrival in Minnesota… and that is the BEERFEST.
We have already seen Brau Brother’s BrauFest happen in Lucan and now the Twin Cities are collectively looking forward to kicking off the summer beer season with St. Paul’s Summer Beer Fest. This annual event (5th year) takes place at the International Bazaar on the Minnesota State Fair grounds (TODAY from 2-6pm) and with weather that promises to be in the 80s by mid afternoon, 100+ breweries, live music, excesses of food, symposiums by professionals (and amateurs too, no doubt!) and a silent auction benefiting the St. Paul YMCA, you can not only enjoy the brews, fare and activities but feel good about yourself while doing it!
On deck, we have the Beer Dabbler at Pride in late June; All Pints North in scenic, brewery abundant Duluth; The Beer Dabbler at Highland Fest returning the beer festival fun to St. Paul on July 20th all leading up to the Autumn Brew Review ushering us into the fall season.
Be sure to follow me on twitter @TallPour for further updates on these events and more beer fun! And as always, please offer any feedback, criticism, witticisms, beer stuff or asinine antics you have had, are having or plan to have surrounding beer!
Here’s to you for reading me bringing you Minnesota beer news from a higher altitude.
Prosit!
TallPour
