Author: Mag

Brau Bros. & The Amazing Story of Improved Fixed Cost Absorption

By on January 20, 2009in breweries

braubrothers.jpgHere’s a Brau Bros. update from the most recent Brau Bros. newsletter.  I made selective edits to the content for space reasons.  Enjoy!

The newest Single Batch Series Beer is just about done.  We will announce it via this newsletter first, probably later this week.  This beer will be very different than anything we’ve brewed so far.  We hope to have it on store shelves and on tap late Feb.

I haven’t updated the website very often lately and I apologize for that.  We are in the process of a total renovation of the website, with many more bells and whistles.  When the new website launches, we will begin taking reservations for organized and regular tours.  Which reminds me, the gift shop is also being renovated with much more swag, glassware, and cool Brau stuff.  I think it’s the first gift shop in Lucan. 

We hope to begin digging the brewery’s own pond within the next month.  We need help naming it.  Any ideas would be appreciated.  This pond will be used for irrigation of our hopyard and general overall beautification purposes.  If you haven’t been out to visit, I hope you will.

Early plans are being made for a festival in Lucan – including events at the brewery – for June 6.  Consider this your “Save the Date” thingy.  Details will follow.

I’m going to be in Iowa this week meeting beer drinkers and collecting feedback.  I’ll be riding along with reps from Glazers of Iowa and hope to visit as many retailers as possible.  Wednesday night I’ll be at Old Chicago in Ames to talk and share some pints.  I’ll talk about the beers and of course answer any questions. 

Finally – and this is big news – we are happy to announce that we will actually be LOWERING our prices this year!  We can do this for two reasons:  First, lower energy costs in combination with our increasing scale have reduced our packaging costs.  Second, we’ve been successful in leveraging our hop costs with the establishment of the hopyard.  What this means is lower prices passed on to beer lovers!

Microbrew Mania

By on December 9, 2008in beer events

The good folks athttp://www.liftbridgebrewery.com/home.aspx have posted this information about Microbrew Mania:

The Water Street Inn is hosting it’s first Microbrew Mania event in the ballroom.  Come and taste seven different tap beers including microbrewed, craft and imported brews.  With admission you can sample to your heart’s content and listen to live Irish music.  Band will be Paul and Lorraine.  Charlie’s Irish Pub will have it’s full line up of Irish whiskeys, tap beers and other spirits available for separate purchase in the foyer outside of the ballroom.

We will be on hand with a specialty cask.  Local beer distributors will be there to talk about their offerings.  The Water Street Inn’s full line up of Appetizers will be available for purchase as well that evening.

When: Friday, December 12th, 2008.  7:00-11:30 PM.
Where: Water Street Inn, 101 Water Street S., Stillwater, MN
Tickets: $10 with advanced reservation by phone (651) 439-6000 or by confirming through this event page.  Can’t commit?  Stop by anyway and pay just $12 at the door.

Microbrew Mania

By on December 9, 2008in bars/restaurants, breweries

The good folks at  have posted on an event on their site, Microbrew Mania.  Here is some info:liftbridgebrewery.jpg

The Water Street Inn is hosting it’s first Microbrew Mania event in the ballroom. Come and taste seven different tap beers including microbrewed, craft and imported brews. With admission you can sample to your heart’s content and listen to live Irish music. Band will be Paul and Lorraine. Charlie’s Irish Pub will have it’s full line up of Irish whiskeys, tap beers and other spirits available for separate purchase in the foyer outside of the ballroom.

We will be on hand with a specialty cask. Local beer distributors will be there to talk about their offerings. The Water Street Inn’s full line up of Appetizers will be available for purchase as well that evening.

* Beer lineup: Lift Bridge Brewery, Double-hopped Pale Ale – On Cask
* Lift Bridge Brewery, Farm Girl Saison™
* Two Brothers, French Country Ale; Illinois
* Big Sky, Moose Drool Brown Ale; Montana
* Murphy’s, Irish Red; Ireland
* Weihenstephan, Lager; Germany
* Red Hook, Late Harvest Autumn Ale; New Hampshire

When: Friday, December 12th, 2008. 7:00-11:30 PM.
Where: Water Street Inn, 101 Water Street S., Stillwater, MN
Tickets: $10 with advanced reservation by phone (651) 439-6000 or by confirming through this event page. Can’t commit? Stop by anyway and pay just $12 at the door.

Hold the Date – Arborfest

By on December 7, 2008in general beer

Sounds like the 2009 date for Arborfest is tentatively set at May 1.  There isn’t any information out there yet regarding confirmation of this, ticket prices, etc., but you may want to hold the date.  Here is a link to the 2008 Arborfest event.  The event is a fund raiser for Family Tree Clinic.  There’s nothing quite like drinking craft beer underneath a condom tree, if you ask me!  Great event…keep your eyes and ears open for ticket info.  We’ll try to stay on top of this.

2009 Gitchee Gumee Brewfest!

By on December 7, 2008in general beer

On Saturday, April 4th, 2009, the Superior Jaycees will be hosting the 12th annual Gitchee Gumee Brewfest.  Now now, keep down the yelling.  I know this isn’t a MN craft beer event in the strictest sense.  But c’mon.  It’s a stone’s throw from Duluth.  Plus many MN breweries attend the event.  In 2008 Schell’s, Flat Earth, Gluek, Lake Superior, Mantorville/St. Croix, Rock Bottom, Summit, and Surly…at least according to the site.  My actually memory of the 2008 event is, understandably, a bit fuzzy.  I seem to recall that not all of these folks were actually there.  Whatever.  It’s a beer event.  What more do you need to know?  Tickets can be purchased from several outlets in the Duluth/Superior area, otherwise you need to mail in your request.  My wife, I and our friends have not had a problem getting tickets in the past.