Month: March 2008

Acadia Cafe Grand Re-Opening

By on March 31, 2008in bars/restaurants, breweries

Acadia Cafe Grand Re-Opening, originally uploaded by MNBeer.

Above: Eric and his Darkness martini

I stopped out at Acadia Cafe’s grand re-opening on Friday. Don walked in the door two seconds after I arrived and we attempted to navigate up to the bar in order to order a beer. Yikes. Good times. BUSY times. It was elbow to elbow and utter chaos due to all of the thirsty beer geeks. The staff at Acadia was flying… many kudos to them for putting up with the whole ordeal as well as the handful idiots who were being rude.

By the time we got to the bar, the Darkness fans had swallowed up much of Acadia’s glassware. Eric and Don sipped the beer from martini glasses. I did a keg-stand… or not…

Best question of the night (directed at “the yelling woman” toward Jeff and myself) “Are you guys the brewers?”

Minnesota Beer or Not?

By on March 30, 2008in bars/restaurants

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to visit either the Minneapolis or St. Paul Chatterbox lately (I just happen to have hit both within 24 hours…yeah, get a life), they’ve made some changes to their beer menu.  Several months ago they expanded their branded craft beer menu from just a couple of beers to six.  Point Brewery, in Steven’s Point, WI, contract brews for them, but I think we can say this qualifies for MNBeer attention.  Currently, Chatterbox is offering their Chatterbox Speakeasy Lager, Chit Chat Belgian White Ale, Philosopher’s Stone Belgian Style Dubbel, Zicke Zacke German Maibock, Empyreal Pale Ale, and Magnanimous Brown Ale.  My favorite is the Empyreal Pale, but I also enjoyed the Maibock and Brown.  If you can find a better way to spend a Sunday other than playing Super Mario Bros. and drinking beer, then you’d better speak up.

Bikes & Beer: Category 6 Racing Squad fundraiser

By on March 28, 2008in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries

Category 6 Racing Squad is putting on a fund raiser for an amateur bicycle racing series on the State Fairgrounds this Summer. They’ve put together a Belgian Beer Tasting in conjunction with TV coverage of the Tour of Flanders one day Spring cycling classic race?

The event takes place on Sunday, April 6th at the Bulldog NE. A bike ride starts at Noon at Boom Island Park. Tasting is from 3:00-6:00. Coverage of the Tour of Flanders starts at 4:00.

Beers have been donated by Artisanal Imports, Hohensteins, Inc., Duvel Moorgat USA, and Flat Earth Brewing Co.

Details…

What’s brewing in St. Paul

By on March 27, 2008in beer events, history

Please join Historic Saint Paul at Summit Brewery (910 Montreal Circle)on April 10th, 2008 for a toast to our proud brewing past. Doug Hoverson, the author of Land of Amber Waters: The History of Brewing in Minnesota, will tell the story of the Saint Paul beer industry: from the small breweries that gave way to large companies with regional and national prominence to the vibrant beer culture of today.Following Hoverson’s remarks, we will look to the future of two of Saint Paul most prominent neighborhood landmarks: the Hamm and Schmidt breweries. These vacant structures are poised for rebirth as community assets. Representatives from the Asian Pacific Cultural Center and Brewtown, LLC will share their visions for the redevelopment of Hamm and Schmidt, respectively.

 

Stub & Herb’s beer tasting no. 2 – Schell’s

By on March 27, 2008in bars/restaurants, breweries

Ted Marti

I went to Stub & Herb’s second beer tasting last night with my co-worker Scott and a couple of his friends that were eager to taste some great beers. The game room was once-again filled with 20-30 (?) people. We had a special guest that evening – Ted Marti from Schell’s. I had assumed that a brewery rep. or perhaps our buddy Dave would be talking, and that would have been just fine, but I thought it was very cool that the CEO of the second-oldest family-run brewery joined us. Lots of good beer (Original, Dark, Pilsner, Firebrick, Stout, Maibock and Einbecker Doppelbock), lots of good questions (I’ll get to that in just a minute), some good food (German sausage, sauerkraut and soft pretzels) and of course some great information for the beer geeks.

The questions… in case you’re curious – if forced to choose, Ted would pick the Pilsner as his favorite Schell’s beer. AND… drum roll here… the next anniversary beer is a dunkel. Details to come.

To finish out the night, Stub & Herb’s served two bonus beers. In order to win some prizes, we had to identify the beers from Stub & Herb’s selection. I knew one – I’d enjoyed it the night before, Avery’s Collaboration Not Litigation – but I couldn’t place the other. I knew it was pale, somewhat fruity, hoppy, biscuity… Left Hand Sawtooth Ale. Four people (myself included) took some nice prizes home from Schell’s and Stub and Herb’s.

Thanks to Jon and Stub & Herb’s, Ted and Schell’s and everyone who showed up. I see great potential in this series! Look for Bell’s and Ommegang at future events.