Here’s a story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (found on the Pioneer Press website) about a beer-friendly hoody designed by Beer City Promotions. I think Ryan outta get these damn things in MNBeer’s store ASAP, don’t you? These’d be perfect for use at sporting events, funerals, your kids’ play, exercising, you name it.
Author: Mag
These Folks Put Your Collection to Shame!
Check out a story in today’s Strib about a couple of beer-memorabilia collectors in Bloomington. I’d love to see their basement. Maybe if I brought a cooler of beer over…
Finally, Something to Get Bitter About!
Finally certain Tweets from certain brewers about their “gimmicky” beers makes sense!!! The June 2010 issue of Twin Cities Business (hard copy only for now, Dan Haugen authored it) has a brief but interesting write-up on Minnesota’s bitterest beers (yeah, yeah, I’m sure YOU’VE made a more bitter beer, but you ain’t selling it in stores, is ya?). You’ll have to track down a hard copy of the rag to read the article, but let me play spoiler for you. Wondering what, per this article, Minnesota’s top five bitter beers (by IBU, of course) are?
5) New-comer Fulton’s Sweet Child of Vine grabbed the 5th spot at 70 IBUs, just edging out Summit’s IPA and Horizon Red at 65 IBUs.
4) Dem dere Brau Bros. oudda Lucan hold de 4th spot wit dere Sheep Head Ale at 88 IBUs.
3) Wondering why you can’t taste your lutefisk after drinking Surly’s Furious? Well, it’s position in the 3rd spot at 99 IBUs should answer that question.
2) Living in the Limelight with the 2nd most bitter beer in Minnesota (after recently holding the first spot until #1 was brought back to the market as a retail-available beer) is Flat Earth’s Northwest Passage IPA at 115 IBUs. Yup, it curls toes.
1) And sitting firmly atop the bitter pig-pile is Surly’s Abrasive at 120 IBUs.
Anywho, find a copy of the June issue to see the who holds the 8th-12th spots.
Summit Asks an Intriguing Question
So there I was, cruising down Hwy. 13 near the Rahr Malting facility when I drove by a Summit billboard ad. It was a simple ad asking the question (and I paraphrase), “If Minnesota can have a state flower, why not a state beer?” That got me to thinking. Would I want to see a state beer? More importantly, what criteria would one use to determine the state beer? Would you base it on consumption levels? Could it be produced out of state? Would longevity of the brand matter? Should other factors such as state employment by the brewery producing the beer be considered? What about hard to measure factors like the story of the beer and its history? Could it be focused on the brewery instead of the beer? Could you have the state beer change periodically versus sticking with the same one all the time?
Now, ignoring the fact that I’m opposed to pigeonholing Minnesota into ascribing its identity to things like a state beer, state flower, state motto, state bird, etc., it does make for an interesting discussion. I think Summit EPA would have a good case to make. I also think Schell’s and one of its products would fit the bill as well.
What beer reflects/represents/typifies Minnesota?
Food for Thought on a Wednesday Morning
Here’s a link to a brief craft beer article in The Atlantic that you might enjoy. There’s nothing earth-shattering in the article, but it is a conversation starter. In fact, your homework assignment is to use this article to engage a suspected non-craft beer drinker in a discussion about the virtues of craft beer. Sitting in a bathroom stall next to a toe-tapping, finger wiggling co-worker? Change subjects! Annoyed that your husband’s great aunt is over for dinner, yet again? Run her off with a long discourse on craft beer! Looking to divert attention away from your inverted colon while visiting the proctologist? Fire this chat up! Gotta tell your son’s grade school class about your job for career day? Feel free to lie to the little buggers and get an early start on their indoctrination!