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.

Wabasha Brewing Co. is Open

wabasha-brewing-brett-chris-joshWabasha Brewing Company momentarily took the seat designated as “Minnesota’s newest brewery” yesterday, pouring pints for thirsty craft beer fans in St. Paul. Starting as an idea “eight beers in” (or thereabouts), the guys from Wabasha are offering up four beers (cream ale, porter, IPA, IIPA) in pints and growlers for your imbibing pleasures.

Wabasha brewing company has a 15 barrel brewhouse and 7 barrel fermenters packed into a space of about 1200 square feet. Needless to say it’ll be cozy. Nothing wrong with that! Future plans include an expanded taproom, more fermenters and patio seating.

If you go…

They’re open Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 9pm. Closed Sunday – Wednesday.

429 Wabasha Street South, St. Paul MN 55107

Surly Doomtree Cans Debut Today

doomtreecanFans of Surly and/or Doomtree take note: Surly Doomtree cans will be available for the first time in Minnesota later today at The Depot Tavern as part of Doomtree’s First Avenue pre-party event. If you were fortunate enough to get your hands on tickets to tonight’s sold-out show, you’ll also be able to drack open a can of Doomtree at the show.

What’s that? You didn’t get tickets for the show? You may be in luck, friend – there will also be ticket giveaways for the sold out show at 6pm.

Look for cans around the state starting next week.

Here’s the description of the beer, courtesy of Dessa:

Surly started with some homebrewing in a garage. Doomtree started with some noisemaking in a basement. Careful what you do in your spare time in your spare rooms, man. That stuff just might take over your whole life.

A decade later, Doomtree meets Surly. Instant crush. We’re both indie and strong-willed. We love Minnesota and we’re allergic to focus groups. We don’t have a formal professional outfit between us.

We convene at the brewery to scheme. Working in extreme secrecy, we decided to make a beer team Surly suggests, a “bastardized style” that will build on a classic, but buck convention. Doomtree cannot nod vigorously enough. We know this style. Guided by instinct, we came up with this dark gold, toasty, aromatic, subtly spicy, bitter enough, dry-hopped brew. Best enjoyed cold, in a spare room, with new friends.

WHAT: Surly Brewing debuts Surly Doomtree cans
WHERE: The Depot, 17 N. 7th Street, Minneapolis
WHEN: Wednesday, February 25, 4pm – close

News from St. Cloud – Beaver Island Brewing Co. and Granite City

beaverlogoThe Good:

New St. Cloud brewery, Beaver Island Brewing Co. is opening their taproom to the public this Saturday at 2pm. Beaver Island Brewing Co. was founded by a couple of St. Cloud homebrewers, Nick Barth and Matt Studer. Though the two certainly were not strangers to the industry, the made a wise choice in hiring Chris Laumb as brewmaster. Chris has been a longtime friend of MNBeer and we’ve watched him transition from O’Hara’s to McCann’s to Third Street Brewhouse. He makes a mean dubbel, too.

I spent a short stint of my life in St. Cloud. After leaving the Fargo/Moorhead area, I followed a girl to St. Cloud State University in 1997. During my time in the Granite City I sampled far too many single bottles of beer from Westside, dabbled in wine nerdery and discovered the house-made beers at O’Hara’s. It was something special… not necessarily a craft beer epiphany (that had already happened), but still something special. I could go on, but I won’t. Suffice to say that I’m excited for Chris and the folks from Beaver Island Brewing.

Bonus, they occupy the former Bo Diddley’s sandwich shop location in downtown St. Cloud. Cant wait to check them out.

Road trip to St. Cloud anyone?

The Bad:

granitecity12Bring Me the News reports that Granite City is up for sale or merger. Granite City is a place that is often panned by craft beer newbies. Short of former brewery operations wizard Bob MacKenzie’s Batch 1000, you won’t fine a ton of hops in any of their beers or offbeat seasonal offerings. Regardless, it’s sad to see an early craft beer operation falter. I still remember rolling out to their first location in St. Cloud in 1999 and being wowed by great food, huge portions and a rotating variety of beers. St. Cloud had (has?) its own small scale brewery and at the time, it felt pretty special. We wish them the best. We also wish they’d bring back their Belgian strong golden ale recipe from a few years ago.

 

Town Hall Barrel Aged Week

Mike Hoops

Mike Hoops, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery’s Barrel-Aged Week begins today with the release of one of my personal favorites, Manhattan Reserve. Last year brewer Mike Hoops described this beer as an homage to a homemade dirty Manhattan. The beer is a Belgian Grand Cru aged on cherries in a Woodford reserve barrel… a little bourbon, a little extra cherry… you get the picture. That being said, I’ll take a Town Hall Grand Cru over sweet vermouth any day.

This year’s offerings include perennial favorites like Czar Jack and Twisted Trace as well as new offerings ranging from an Imperial Wie aged in French oak red wine barrels, to a Belgian Bruin with maple syrup aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. Town Hall will be releasing a beers each day at 5pm – be sure to be prompt as these will go fast! See below for a full schedule.

Mon, Feb 16 at 5pm: Manhattan Reserve
Belgian Grand Cru aged on tart cherries in a Woodford Reserve barrel.Tue, Feb 17 at 5pm: Foolish Angel (New this year!)
Belgian Quad in an Angel’s Envy barrel.

Wed, Feb 18 at 5pm: Buffalo Bock (GABF Bronze 2014)
Weizenbock in a Buffalo Trace barrel.

Thu, Feb 19 at 5pm: Twisted Trace
Twisted Reality Barleywine in a Buffalo Trace barrel.

Fri, Feb 20 at 5pm: Project 3106
Double American Brown Ale with kumquats and chocolate in a Buffalo Trace barrel.

Sat, Feb 21 at 11am: Czar Jack (GABF Gold 2001)
Ol’ Jack Frost Imperial Stout in a Jack Daniels barrel.Sat, Feb 21 at 3pm: THREE NEW BEERS!
Brown Label — A Belgian Bruin with maple syrup in a Woodford Reserve barrel.
The Duke of Wallonia — An Imperial Belgian Wit in a French oak red wine barrel.
Le Baltique — A Baltic Porter in a French oak red wine barrel.