Author: ryan

Ryan Anderson (that's me!) is the editor & founder of MNBeer. Much has changed since the fall of 2005 and I'm proud to have been a part of it all. Sometime I'll tell you about my grand theory that links craft brewing to punk rock. Just ask.

Darkness 2015 Artwork by Brandon Holt

By on August 15, 2015in breweries, Surly Brewing Co.
surly-darkness-brandon-holt-mnbeerSQ

Surly Brewing Co. 2015 Darkness Art by Brandon Holt. Click on the image for the full version of the artwork.

Go figure that we stumble across the artwork for Surly Brewing Company’s 2015 Darkness on a hot and sticky day in which a Russian Imperial Stout is about the last thing I’d consider drinking. Truth be told, I’m nursing some iced tea and craving a saison. But I digress… For 2015 Surly brought tattoo artist and illustrator Brandon Holt on board. If you’re curious to check out some of his other work, click here for a some samples and here for his Instagram feed. Brandon follows Nic Skrade as second Darkness artist affiliated with Uptown Tattoo.

From the back:

Our 2015 vintage bottling of Darkness features a screeching bat-nightmare by local artist Brandon Holt.

No creature is more adept at navigating in the Darkness than a bat. Emerging from a deep and ancient cave, this year’s twisted nocturnal creature has evolved a set of adaptations well suited to detecting and devouring uncommon nourishment.

Notes of chocolate, coffee, dried tart cherries, and raisins emanate from his lair. If you can evade the talons and teeth, the thick body of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piney resinous hop character.

Surly Darkness Day 2015 is slated for Saturday, October 24th at their Brooklyn Center brewery. Watch this space for more info as it becomes available.

 

Summit Unchained #20, Sticke Alt

By on August 13, 2015in Summit Brewing Co.

sticke-altOld timers still lament the loss of Summit Altbier. I remember seeing it around, but quite frankly, I don’t actually remember much about it. I’ll defer to the old timers, who seemed to be quite fond of the beer.

Iold-altbiern October, brewer Mike Lundell brings another Alt to the Summit line-up in the form of Summit Unchained #20, Sticke Alt. Perhaps I’m just a beer nerd, but there’s something special about an Altbier. Alts are brewed at relatively moderate temperatures using top-fermenting ale yeast and are matured at cooler temperatures. The resulting beer ends up with a crisp flavor, not unlike a lager.

Summit describes Unchained #20 as a beer with a light noble hop nose with a good malt backbone that is slightly sweet, with a crisp, clean finish.

For this beer they’re using Pilsener, Vienna, Light and Dark Munich, Caramel and Black malts along with Hallertau and Mittelfruh hops. IBUs rack up at 55 and an abv of 6.3%.

Cool, eh?

Now keep in mind, this info is about Unchained #20. The 19th Unchained beer is still in stores. “Make it So,” is an ESB brewed with Earl Grey Tea. If you haven’t checked it out, you really should. I enjoyed it.

makeitso

 

Minnesota Made: August Schell Brewing Co.

By on August 3, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co., breweries

Here’s the latest episode of Minnesota Made with August Schell Brewing Co. Thanks for sharing Chris!

August Schell – Episode 8 from Chris Jones on Vimeo.

August Schell Brewery was established in 1860 in New Ulm, MN and is the 2nd oldest family owned brewery in the United States. They have succeeded despite dramatic historical events and now are thriving with the craft beer boom. This is a short documentary on their story.

See more at mnmade.tv

Director, Director of Photography, Editor: Chris Jones

Music Composed By Ben Frizzell

 

Minnesota Made Teaser – August Schell Brewery

By on July 31, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co.

A friend and former coworker started Minnesota Made some time ago. Several months ago we were talking about topics and (obviously) breweries came up. Episode 8 of MNMade will feature August Schell Brewing Company. Check out the first teaser video. Full video to come.

Nice work Chris!

Episode 8 Preview – Cypress Blanc from Chris Jones on Vimeo.

Listen to Jace Marti (5th generation & Assistant Brew Master) talk about August Schell’s Noble Star Collection.

See more at mnmade.tv

Director, Director of Photography, Editor: Chris Jones

Music Composed By Ben Frizzell

Autumn Brew Review Tickets

By on July 27, 2015in beer events, breweries, brewpubs
It's okay to tell a brewer that you don't care for his Oktoberfest, but please don't be a jerk (or hit people with growlers).

“I don’t like your Oktoberfest…” “Oh yeah?!”

…go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon. Now in its 15th year, Autumn Brew Review is one of Minnesota’s oldest and largest craft beer festivals. Tickets are $45 and with any luck, you can purchase them online here: http://www.tempotickets.com/abr.

The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild-sponsored festival is one of my very favorite festivals and if past history is any indicator, you’ll want to be on your computer right at noon for a chance to grab tickets as everyone else seems to like it as well.

ABR runs from 1-5pm Saturday, September 19th at the Historic Grain Belt Brewery in Northeast Minneapolis and will feature more beer than you can possibly drink from more than 120 participating breweries. If that’s not enough for you, there will be live music, food vendors, beer education and more.