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.

Arminius and Goosetown Cans from Schell’s

By on February 26, 2014in breweries

arminius

More fun news from our friends at August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm. Last week you heard about new cans of their summer seasonal, Zommerfest, co-branded with 89.3 the current. This week, we’re excited to share a couple of other new canned releases from Schell’s.

Jace Marti tells us that there’s a lot of construction going on at the brewery, and one of their big projects includes building a new filling room and replacing their old can filler, which they hope to have in production by April. One of the first new canned beers you’ll see is a 16 oz. can of Schell’s extended summer seasonal, Goosetown.
The next beer will be their newest release, Schell’s Arminius. Arminius is the legendary Germanic chieftain better known around these parts as “Herman the German.” Jace says that the beer will be a hoppy pale lager that combines the hop profile of a west-coast IPA with traditional lager brewing techniques. Malts will included Pilsner and Munich which should help to showcase a blend of German, French and American hops. Marti says that the hop varieties were chosen for their fruit and citrus flavor and aroma. You’ll also notice a delicate floral, noble hop characteristic that we’ve come to expect with lagers. Jace says that they’ll be adding massive amounds of hops late in the boil and whirlpool for smooth hop flavor and aroma. And in case that isn’t enough hops for you, they’ll double dry hop the beer for even more aroma. Look for this one year round on draft and in 4 packs of 16 oz. cans.
Schell’s Arminius
Style: Hoppy Pale Lager
Malts: Pilsner, Munich, Carapils
Kettle Hops: Saphir, Strisselspalt, Cascade, Emerald
Dry Hops: Mandarina Bavaria, Saphir, Cascade
Stats: 16.4˚ Plato, 6.5% ABV, 70 IBU

Indeed Let it Ride IPA Release Tuesday

By on February 19, 2014in bars/restaurants, breweries

indeedLIRMarch is almost here, and despite the waist-high snow in my front yard, I have hope for spring as spring seasonal beer releases start to take place. Indeed Brewing Company is helping to bring at least a small smile to my face with the release of their Let it Ride I.P.A. at Blue Door Longfellow on Tuesday, February 25.

In addition to draft availability, this year Let it Ride will be available for your imbibing pleasures in 12 oz. cans over the next couple of weeks as well.

At 90 IBUs and 6.8% ABV, Let it Ride packs a nice hop punch that’s offset by a malt presence that includes both American and English Crystal malts as well as German dark Munich malt. The beer features some newer aroma hop varieties in the form of Mosaic, El Dorado and Calypso. Brewer Josh Bischoff says “There’s a bunch of aroma in these new varieties of hops that we weren’t getting from hops, even a few years ago. Expect big fruity aromas containing, but not limited to, dank citrus, pineapple, blueberry and tropical fruits.”

Let it Ride Details:
American I.P.A.
ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 90
Hops: Mosaic, Calypso, El Dorado
Malt: Pale, Medium Crystal, Munich, Carapils, Caramel 80

Release Event:
Tuesday, February 25th, 5pm
Blue Door Pub Longfellow, Minneapolis

None More BLAKKR

By on February 19, 2014in bars/restaurants, breweries
Blakkr Brewers
Blakkr Brewers

BLAKKR. New album out in February. Michael Berglund – Surly artist-in-residence, Erik Ogershok – Head Brewer at Real Ale Brewing Co., Todd Haug – Head Brewer of Surly Brewing and  Barnaby Struve – VP of Three Floyds.

What do you get when you throw three brewers known for their affinity for metal into a brewery, crank the stereo to eleven and let them do their thing? According to Surly Brewing Co.’s Todd Haug, the group was compelled to create “The most metal beer ever.” describing BLAKKR as being “Black as the sky on a moonless night,” with “flavors of black licorice and bitter sweet hops with strong hop aromas of pineapple.” And so begins the tale of BLAKKR, an imperial black ale brewed collaboratively by Surly, Real Ale and Three Floyds.

BLAKKR’s North American tour hit all three breweries and the end product is set to launch in each brewery’s respective markets soon. Real Ale will offer up BLAKKR in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, Three Floyds will be packaging the beer in bombers and Surly will be releasing BLAKKR in 16oz cans.

Minnesota gets BLAKKR Monday:
Surly Brewing will be hosting a BLAKKR release party at Grumpy’s Downtown in Minneapolis on Monday, February 24 at 6pm. Look for BLAKKR on tap, as well as various other Surly specials on tap and live music.

BLAKKR Details:
Imperial Black Ale
Malts: Pale Malt, Carafa Special, Oats
Sugar: Brewers Crystals
Hops: Bittering – Warrior, Aroma- Simcoe, Centennial
Yeast: English Ale
OG: 22 P
FG: 4.5 P
ABV: 9.99 %
IBU: 85

nonemoreblakkr

The Art:
BLAKKR’s album cover artwork was created by Surly’s Michael Berglund and was inspired by Medieval engravings of monsters and chimeras. He said: “The idea came from having to please three metal brewers—a three headed beast.” He said the symbols are from Medieval alchemy, and are, in order from left to right: water, alcohol, eternal darkness, fermentation, fire, flavor, pint, grain, trinity, boil, union (collab), carbon dioxide, metal, and wizard. Berglund added: “It’s up to the viewer to decide if the souls in the fire are burning, worshiping, partying, or just asking for a beer.”

Schell’s “The Current” Beer

By on February 18, 2014in breweries

currentbeer

Today the fine folks at The Current have announced that the station is hooking up with our friends at Schell’s to introduce a co-labeled Schell’s The Current beer, available in May. The beer will be a limited edition run of Schell’s Seasonal Zommerfest, a Kölsch-style ale. Look for it in 16 ounce cans at bars and liquors.

Surprised? Perhaps a little, though with the station’s attention to craft beer in recent years, this seems like a fun fit. And to be perfectly honest, aside from the “Frozen” cd that my four-year-old requests daily, The Current is a staple in my car. I’d suspect that many of our craft beer loving friends are also fans of The Current.

“We know that many of our fans love craft beer, and we look at any partnership or promotion through the lens of our audience,” said Jim McGuinn, program director for The Current. “We know our listeners and this is a natural fit.”

In addition to increasing brand awareness of The Current, the station also hopes to introduce listeners to local bands, whose songs will be available in May at thecurrent.org/beer. A list of participating bands and songs will be announced closer to the launch of the beer.

“Local bands and local beer are a great match,” McGuinn said. “We love that we can bring the two together. Through the downloads available at thecurrent.org and upcoming shows featuring these artists, we hope to continue to support our local music scene.”

“Beer drinkers are looking to quench their thirst with a brew that has a good story behind it,” said Ted Marti, President of Schell’s, and a fifth generation member of the brewing family. “We’ve got that covered with 154 years of German heritage, and The Current has that covered with the fantastic local music it supports. It’s a win-win.”

Any revenue generated from the sales of Schell’s The Current beer will go back to The Current and the work it does to support local music.

Hey Art Nerds, How ‘Bout a Beer Gig?

By on February 14, 2014in breweries, general beer

call-for-artists-02

Our friends at Surly Brewing Company are looking for their next featured artist. Said artist will create art for Surly’s next anniversary beer (∞ight?), SurlyFest & Darkness. You’ll no doubt see the artwork on bottles posters, shirts and other fun things.  Surly has worked with a variety of artists over the past number of years (tattoo artists, graphic designers, illustrators, painting elephants) , so the medium & style is wide open with the caveat that the work needs to be unique and “Surly.”

And while recognition and free beer is nice, this is a paid gig as well. “The chosen one” will be working from concept to design to finished piece with the merry men and women of Surly on a timeline.

Care to join the likes of artists such as  Josh “Jawsh” Lemke, Brent Schoonover, Michael Berglund, Aesthetic Apparatus, DWITT, Nic Skrade, and Adam Turman?  Send some info about yourself, your connection with Surly and examples of your previous work (links to your portfolio, etc.) to michael@surlybrewing.com by Friday, March 7.

Good luck!