The new Northern Brewer Minneapolis store (6021 Lyndale Ave. S.) has a classroom area that will be used for brew sessions, classes, workshops and guest speakers. Over the next two weekends, the place will be packed with visitors from the realm of sports, homebrew and craft beer.

MN Stars Team — 12/3/2011 (1:00pm-3:00pm)
Northern Brewer proudly sponsors the champion Minnesota Stars soccer team. Players will be hanging out with their 2011 NASL Championship Trophy and raffling off season tickets.

Jerrod Johnson from Surly Brewing Co. — 12/3/2011 (3:00pm-4:00pm)
Surly brewer Jerrod Johnson will be on hand to talk all things Surly.

Kristin England from Pour Decisions Brewing Company — 12/4/2011 (2pm-3pm)
Pour Decisions co-owner and brewer Kris England will be on hand to talk about his experiences as a homebrewer going pro. Kris is also an award-winning homebrewer with tons of experience.

Minneapolis Homebrew Day — 10/2011 (1pm)
Minneapolis Council Member John H. Quincy will be on hand to say a few words about Minneapolis Homebrew day, an official proclamation by Mayor R.T. Rybak and the city of Minneapolis! We’re inviting pro-brewers and homebrewers alike to join us in this symbolic event!

Thanks for the head’s up, Matt! The West Bank Brewing Association is having another night of beer and policy conversation tonight at 7:30 at Republic, featuring some guy named Omar from Surly and Jim from Fulton. Read on friends.

Greetings! The West Bank Brewing Association would like to invite you to join us for an evening of good beer and conversation with two all stars from the Twin Cities brewing community. Special guests Omar Ansari, Founder of Surly Brewing Company and Jim Diley, General Counsel and Co-Founder of Fulton Brewing Company, will headline an evening at RePUBlic to discuss the Taproom Bill, their views on the state of the beer economy in the Twin Cities, and other other topics relevant to beer enthusiasts and law/policy wonks alike. When: Wednesday, Nov 16 2011, 7:30pm Where: RePUBlic, West Bank- 221 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN We will also have some time built in for audience interaction, so feel free to bring questions. If you have any questions, contact Brandon Helm (helm0213@umn.edu) or Nick Stuber (stub0061@umn.edu) from WBBA.

If you’re not already familiar, Rob Miller wants to open Dangerous Man Brewing Co. in Northeast Minneapolis next summer. He’s run into a snag in that the spot he’d like to use is within 300 feet of a religious institution, a no-no according to the lawbooks at this point. The goal, of course, is to change the law. So… if you’re available Monday afternoon, please lend your support.

What: Public Hearing
Where: City Hall room 317 (350 South 5th St.)
When: Monday, November 7th
Time: 1:30pm

Minnesota Beer Activists is holding a fundraiser…er foamraiser Saturday at Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis from 4-8. Proceeds & donations will go to funding the groups’ initiatives and operations. The event will include beer from Lift Bridge, Steel Toe, Harriet, Odell and Lucid as well as food from Natedogs, Mustachios as well as music from Peter Lang, West of Aldine, guest speaker Doug Hoverson and a silent auction.

A good cause, good beer, good food, good music? Count us in.

Celebrate with a local beer! Nice work local craft beer fans, brewers and breweries! Next round, let’s get that brewpub legislation passed! T-shirts too!

Commence enjoying local beer in 4, 3, 2….

Dumping these all into the calendar would be an exercise in futility (though we might do it if we don’t sit and enjoy these Alaskan samples, instead), but here’s the list of events that the Original Gravity folks have planned. Here’s what we have thus far… things may change:

Launch Week Events mapped out
http://bit.ly/AlaskanMeetsMN

Alaskan will be awarding some lucky individuals at various events throughout the week with:
-A bottle each: 2010 Smoked Porter, 2010 Barley Wine and Imperial IPA
-Seats to the Smoked Porter Vertical on Saturday, May 14th with Alaskan Brewing founder, Geoff Larson
-Tickets to 2011 City Pages Beer Fest
-A case of 2010 Smoked Porter and one case of 2010 Barley Wine

In addition to these great events, Geoff and Marcy Larson (The founders of Alaskan) will be in town for events around MN Craft Beer Week. Read on for complete details of Alaskan’s launch week in Minnesota.

Monday, May 2nd

4-6pm
1st Grand Avenue Liquors: 918 Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

5-7pm
Heritage Liquor: 1347 Frost Avenue, St. Paul
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer
*Heritage also plans a special tasting with co-founder Geoff Larson on Saturday May 14th featuring a vertical of Alaskan’s Smoked Porter (2002, 04, 06, 08, 10). The only way into the tasting on the 14th is through a drawing with tickets being given out as follows: Everyone who comes in Monday will get one ticket for just showing up, but also will get 3 additional tickets for every 6 pack of Alaskan purchased. Come in any other day from 5/3-5/7 and receive one ticket plus get an additional ticket for every 6 pack of Alaskan purchased. Drawing will be held Saturday May 7th with winners being notified via-email that same day.

7-9pm
Mackenzie: 918 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
Featuring Amber, White and 2009 Smoked Porter on Draft

Tuesday, May 3rd

4-6pm
Blue Max Liquors, 14640 10th Ave. South, Burnsville
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

Mac’s Industrial, 312 Central Ave. SE, Minneapolis
Featuring Amber, White, IPA, Summer and 2010 Barley Wine on Tap

Wednesday, May 4th
4-6pm
Princeton’s Liquors, 12790 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

5-7pm
Ale Jail, 1787 St. Claire Ave, St. Paul
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

5-7pm
Bacchus Wine and Spirits, 1077 Highway 96 W, Shoreview
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

6-9pm
Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W Lake Street, Minneapolis
Featuring Summer and 2009 Smoked Porter on Draft

Thursday, May 5th

4-7pm
France 44 Wine and Spirits, 4351 France Ave. South, Minneapolis
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

5:30-7:30pm
Dennis Brothers Liquors, 7155 Jorgensen Lane South, Cottage Grove
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

4-6pm
South Lyndale Liquors, 5300 Lyndale Ave. South, Minneapolis
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

8-10pm
Groveland Tap, 1834 St. Claire Ave., St. Paul
Featuring Amber and 2010 Barley Wine on Draft

Friday, May 6th

6:30-9:30pm
Top 10 Wine and Spirits, 9887 Norma Lane, Woodbury
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

4-7pm
Thomas Liquors, 1941 Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

4-6pm
Alaskan Campfire Cookout at Grumpy’s NE, Minneapolis
Pat will be cooking up some Alaskan seafood on the grill outside and pouring Amber and 2009 Smoked Porter.

Saturday, May 7th

12-4pm
Saint Anthony Village Wine and Spirits, 2700 Hwy 88, St. Anthony
Craft Beer Sampling Event: Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer

5-7pm
Zipps Liquors, 2618 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis
Sampling Amber, White, IPA and Summer
Alaskan will be awarding some lucky individuals at various events throughout the week with:
-A bottle each: 2010 Smoked Porter, 2010 Barley Wine and Imperial IPA
-Seats to the Smoked Porter Vertical on Saturday, May 14th with Alaskan Brewing founder, Geoff Larson
-Tickets to 2011 City Pages Beer Fest
-A case of 2010 Smoked Porter and one case of 2010 Barley Wine

***Other events may be added so please check back so you don’t miss anything!

In addition to these great events, Geoff and Marcy Larson
(The founders of Alaskan) will be in town for events around MN Craft Beer Week.

Thought I couldn’t make it tonight, it sounds like there was a great crowd that showed up tonight in support of the law change. I’m told (with bias, of course… hell, we are beer dorks after all…) that our friends such as Omar from Surly and Jason Alvey from The Four Firkins presented themselves well. Though this certainly doesn’t guarantee a slam dunk on the floor, it’s a good start.

If you showed up in support tonight we all thank you!