Author: Eric

Eric was one of a few contributors who jumped on board when the site was in its infancy.

Craft Beer Week @ Pracna: GI Sours

By on April 28, 2011in bars/restaurants, beer events

Pracna on Main loves their sour beers, and we’re told they also love Goose Island. So…to tie these two things together, they’re welcoming Goose Island to the shop as they kick-off Minnesota Craft Beer Week with a night of very rare sour beer.

The Lineup:

On draft:
Indira: Lemongrass Saison
Lolita: Raspberry Wild Ale
Scully: White Pepper Strawberry Saison
Dominique: Barrel-Aged Sour
Wilder: Brett-Aged Wheat

In bottles: Madame Rose: Sour Brown Ale w/ Cherries

Flights will be available and some friends from Goose Island will be around to chat with. Potential food specials and other fun stuff may pop up. We’ll keep you updated!

Beer School In Session

By on April 27, 2011in bars/restaurants, beer events, beer stores, free beer

Beer School starts next week, and the professors have announced May class dates for your information. All classes will be held at the Happy Gnome from 5:30pm – 6:30pm and are free!

Classes start May 4th, with Goose Island to kick things off. More details can be found on their Facebook page here, including info about your chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to the St. Paul Summer Beer Fest!

Other May dates include (details posted as we get em):

May 11th, Artisanal Imports

May 18th, Summit

May 25th, Great Lakes

Classes haven’t even started and they’re already doling out the homework: Bring in receipts for the beer from the previous week to win more free beer.

Also, upon graduation, if you have a stellar attendance record (attend at least 10/12 classes), you’ll receive a card which gets you $1 off every beer at Happy Gnome and 10% off large format bottles at the Ale Jail for the next semester and $1 off beer school beers in the week following a class.

Belg-a-Rama #6

By on April 27, 2011in bars/restaurants, beer events

The Blue Nile is pleased to announce the start of Belg-a-Rama #6 TODAY through, well, until the beers run out. Once more, six great Belgian beers ( well, five, and one great Dutch Belgian-style ale) take over half the taps for one great week! Get a sample set of 3 4-ounce pours for $9. (Al is sorry to say that as they get rarer and rarer brews, the price goes up!) Choose from:

Quadrupel: St. Bernardus Abt. 12 and La Trappe Quad.
Double witbier: Jan de Lichte from Glazen Toren
Saison: Dupont!
Belgian strong pale ale: Collaboration between St. Feuillien and Ventura, Califorina’s Green Flash Brewery, Biere de l’Amitie.
Tripel: Dulle Teve, “the Mad Bitch”, from De Dolle Brouwers, “the Mad Brewers” of Esen, Belgium!

Firkin Friday @ Grumpy’s Downtown

By on April 27, 2011in bars/restaurants, beer events, cask beer

Chisago Lakes [sorry guys, not Hohenstein’s] is sending a special firkin to Grumpy’s Downtown this Friday for their regular Firkin Friday.

As summer approaches (albeit not quickly enough for most), that means a hold on some firkins until the snow rolls in. (They just don’t travel well in the warmer months I guess). So this is one of the last English firkins coming into town for awhile.

And just what is it? A perfect cask beer, the tasty Bitter and Twisted IPA from Harviestoun Brewery. It will tapped Friday at NOON, and Grumpy’s usually some free munchies while they last.