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.

Tin Whiskers to Expand

By on June 4, 2015in Tin Whiskers

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Very cool. Our friends at Tin Whiskers are celebrating their One Year Anniversary on Saturday, June 6th from 1-6pm.

1-2pm — Brewery Tour w/ Co-Founder Jeff Moriarty
2pm — Watts Wheat Wine Release! Receive a special edition glass w/ purchase while supplies last!
2-3:30pm — Hands-on Lego Robot Mural Build-off
3:30-4:30pm — Brewery Tour w/ Co-founder Jeff Moriarty
3:30-5:30pm — Meet & Greet w/ The Family Place *Donations accepted and $1 of all pints sold will be donated to them, all day!
4-6pm — Complimentary food from Rival House and beer truffles from Legacy Chocolates

Tin Whiskers has also announced that they’ll expand their capacity by over 50% in July. They’ve seen steady growth in their first year. President Jeff Moriarty notes, “We’ve exceeded all of our expectations for our first year.  We plan to replace three 15bbl fermenters with 30bbl tanks in July, increasing our overall production capacity by 60%.” They also plan to replace a set of bay window with glass garage doors and add a larger pilot brewing system to allow for more experimentation.

It’s always fun to watch breweries grow from the ground up. Jeff, Jake and George invited me out to their basement brewery a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed that night and the samples and wished them well. It’s nice to see that in less than two years, they’re up and running and surpassing their expectations. Nice job guys!

 

First Sunday Growler Sales… Sunday… at Montgomery Brewing

By on May 19, 2015in beer laws, Montgomery Brewing

montgomerybrewingGreat news from Montgomery, MN. Last night the City of Montgomery passed a provision to allow for Sunday growler sales. The city worked quickly and Montgomery Brewing Co. will be open for the state’s first Sunday growler sales this Sunday, May 24th. Don’t hesitate, though… they have a 3 bbl brewing system and the beer just won’t last.

Congrats to Montgomery Brewing!

Town Hall Growler Spring Cleaning Program Continues

By on May 13, 2015in brewpubs, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

Town-Hall-growlers

How many empty growlers are squirreled away in your basement, in the back of your cupboard or in your garage? And of those growlers, how many do you actually use?

If you’re up to your neck in old growlers, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery can help. Through Sunday, May 17th, you can bring your growlers to Town Hall’s flagship 7 Corners location and exchange those growlers for either a $4 gift card or a $4 discount on a fresh growler of beer from Town Hall.

Earlier this week we were told that Town Hall had accepted more than 1700 growlers. Most of the returns have come from Minnesota breweries and brewpubs, but returns have also come from places such as Wisconsin and California.

After Sunday, through the rest of the month, Town Hall Brewery will continue to accept empty growlers from other breweries. Fans that return growlers will receive a $4 discount on refills.

Sunday Beer Baby Steps: Sunday Growler Sales

By on May 2, 2015in beer laws, breweries, brewpubs

DangerousMan---GrowlerExciting news for craft beer in Minnesota – on Friday, Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill that allows Sunday growler sales at breweries and brewpubs. While it’s not a full-on repeal of bans on Sunday sales, it’s a positive step toward changes to old laws that have been on the books for years – laws that we would never pass today if they didn’t already exist.

Sunday sales of growlers at breweries, brewpubs and taprooms evens out an oddity in Minnesota’s liquor regulations. For quite some time, farm wineries have been able to sell bottles to go on Sundays in Minnesota. I’ve had the pleasure of buying wine at small wineries on Sundays for several years – I think it’s great, but I’ve always thought beer should have been part of that. Now it is! Breweries will still have to obtain municipal licensing, but this is definitely a move in the right direction.

Big Brew Day at Lucid Saturday

By on April 28, 2015in homebrew, Lucid Brewing

bfdFriends, Romans, homebrewers! Lend me your ears… er eyes. On Saturday, our friends at Lucid Brewing Co. will host a Big Brew Day celebration from 8am-5pm. Big Brew Day takes place around the country on the first Saturday in May as a celebration of National Homebrew Day.

Saturday is your chance to celebrate the holiday at Lucid. Whether you’re a seasoned brewer or new to the hobby, you’re invited to the brewery to learn more about brewing, connect with local homebrew clubs, drink Lucid beers and more.

That’s not enough for you? How about a chance to catch Dave Okar and his film, “Crafted to Last?” Gear and prizes from Midwest Supplies? A food truck? Lots of beer nerds?

Lucid’s BFD (Brewer for a Day) will also be announced Saturday. The BFD will join the Lucid brewing team for a day and have their beer on tap at Lucid. The beer will also be entered into the Pro-Am contest at the Great American Beer Festival.

Good times! Don’t miss it!