Thursday promises to be a fun night of beer at Stanley’s NE. The crew from Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring will be on hand to sample their first three beers (a black IPA, a cream ale and a brown ale), which should hit shelves and draft lines in July. With a team that includes Horace Cunningham (formerly of Summit Brewing and Terrapin) as well as Bob McKenzie (Sherlock’s Home, Granite City) and Chris Laumb (O’Hara’s, McCann’s). St. Paul Summer Beer Fest “luminaries” will also be on hand and giving away tickets every half hour. Good times. 5-7pm.

Michael Dawson from Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply & Brewing TV gets some one-on-one time with Summit Brewing Company’s Mark Stutrud to discuss Summit’s new year-round American IPA release “Saga IPA.”

Good times ensue.

Boom Island’s fourth beer, Brimstone makes its way to market this week with a release party at Eli’s East on Tuesday starting at 4:30 followed by a bottle release at the brewery on Wednesday from 5-8.

At  Eli’s East from 4:30-6:30pm, there will be special pricing on Brimstone and a Boom Island Tap Takeover featuring all four Boom Island beers on tap as well as special beer recipes, pairings and more.

On Wednesday, you can head over to the brewery (2207 North 2nd Street, Minneapolis) from 5-8pm for the first crack at bottles of Brimstone.  Brimstone is priced at $10 per 750ml bottle (tax included) with a limit of two per person. Kevin and the rest of the staff will be on hand to answer questions, and you’re welcome to take a peek at the brewery.

The Beer: Color: Light Blond Flavor: Slight Sweetness layered over subtle yet complex spiciness Strength: 9.5% ABV (The important part) -A true example of the Belgian Abbey tradition of brewing, one of which I personally am very, very proud.

The first firkin of Summit’s Saga IPA rolls out to Old Chicago in Minnetonka on Tuesday at 6pm. This one has been dry-hopped with Citra hop  Samples and giveaways as well!

They also rustled up artwork for Sÿx, which translates roughly into “six” for those of you who don’t speak metal. Surly Sÿx is a wood-aged American Strong Ale that’ll weigh in around 15%. Please don’t fuck it up and it Styx. Again, click to see a bigger version.

May 15 at 6pm
Uptown Cafeteria, Minneapolis
Sága IPA Release Party & Beer Dinner: Join us for the release of our newest beer, Sága IPA! There will be 6 different taps available, including Summer Ale and Sága IPA. Want to taste the difference from a cask-conditioned ale? We’ll also have 2 firkins available of the Summer Ale and Sága IPA!

Come for the beer, stay for the beer dinner! Each delicious course will be paired with a different Summit beer. Summit representatives and restaurant staff will be on hand to elaborate on the special pairings. Reservations required. Call 612-877-7263 to reserve your spot.

May 16 at 6pm
Sea Salt, Minneapolis
Summer Ale & Sága IPA Release Party: Join us at Sea Salt for the release of our newest beers, Summer Ale and Sága IPA! Enjoy a Summer Ale in front of Minnehaha Falls-the image on the packaging!

May 18 at 4pm
Grumpy’s NE, Minneapolis
Summer Ale Firkin Friday: Stop by Grumpy’s NE and enjoy pints of our cask-conditioned Summer Ale! The firkin will be tapped at 4pm and available until it runs dry. There will also be a special pig roast stuffed with sauerkraut to pair with your Summer Ale!

May 23 at 7pm
Grumpy’s Downtown, Minneapolis
Drink Sága, Play Sega vs. Summit: Enjoy a few pints of Sága IPA while you take on Summit employees on Sega! Join us for the video games and beer, stay for the open mic comedy!

May 24 at 4pm
Valley Tap House, Apple Valley
Sága IPA Release Party: Head over to the Valley Tap House in Apple Valley and try our newest beer, Sága IPA!

May 25 at noon
Grumpy’s Downtown, Minneapolis
Summer Ale Firkin Friday: Swing by Grumpy’s downtown for a special pint of cask- conditioned Summer Ale! The firkin will be tapped at noon.

May 31 at 5pm
Whistle Binkies on the Lake, Rochester
Sága IPA Release Party: Enjoy $2 pints of our newest release, Sága IPA, at Whistle Binkies Old World Pub! Meet Brewers Damian and Nate from 5-6:30pm!

May 31 at 7pm
Whistle Binkies Old World Pub, Rochester
Sága IPA Release Party: Enjoy $2 pints of our newest release, Sága IPA, at Whistle Binkies Old World Pub! Meet Brewers Damian and Nate from 7-9pm!

June 3 – Shepherd Song Farm – Boom Island Brewing
June 10 – Garden Farme – Harriet Brewing
June 17 – Living The Dream Farm – TBA
July 22 – Common Harvest – TBA
August 5 – Dave’s BrewFarm
August 12 – Hidden Stream Farm – Fulton
August 19 – Big River Farms – TBA
August 26 – Laughing Loon Farm – TBA
September 9 – Castle Rock Creamery
September 23 – Riverbend Farm – TBA

American Craft Beer Week is just around the corner and I bet you’d all like to know where to find all the awesome Founders Beer that is going to be poured during the week!

Starting on Tuesday, May 15th at 5:00pm Buster’s on 28th will be pouring FIVE tasty Founders brews inluding: KBS, Curmudgeon, Curmudgeon’s Better Half, Dirty Bastard and Centennial IPA.

Then on Wednesday, May 16th head down to the West Bank and check out The Nomad World Pub at 5:00pm. They will be tapping a KBS keg and running a special: $10.00 for a KBS, bacon and a chocolate truffle. Yum!

But, you’re not done there yet… At 6:00pm Acadia Cafe will be tapping a keg of Curmudgeon so you can mosey on down and have one.

And finally on Friday, May 18th Blackbird Cafe will be tapping a keg of Curmudgeon at 3:30pm to end the week with a bang!

So much Founders, so little time!

Foodies On Foot and  Lift Bridge doing a progressive craft beer on May 16th, starting at 6:30pm. The event starts at Lift Bridge for a tour and meet and greet with the brewers. That will be followed by a shuttled visit to three restaurants. Each will feature a course paired with Lift Bridge beers. The dinner will end at the brewery for dessert from Rustic Pies of Stillwater and paired with Lift Bridge Milk Stout. Sounds fun!

Tickets available at FoodiesOnFootMN.com Reservations required.

Join Blackbird Cafe Monday and Tuesday, May 14th &15th, during Happy Hour (2-5pm) and enter the Boulder Mojo Nitro Mustache contest! All you have to do is show up, order a Mojo Nitro, give yourself a wicked “Beer-Stache” & have your polaroid taken by one of the highly trained polaroid photographers to enter. Voting will take place through Friday at Blackbird and the winner will take home a pretty sweet Boulder Beer Gift Basket.