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.

Barrel Aged Darkness Cometh

By on February 3, 2017in Surly Brewing Co.

A 12% ABV Russian Imperial Stout wasn’t enough for you, was it? Nope. You wanted a barrel-aged monster, ripe with oaky rye whiskey notes and a big of bling on the bottle, right? We know you. We do. Hang on to your cowboy hats for a few more days ready yourself for the release of Surly Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Darkness. You’ll find it in bottles and on draft in Minnesota and beyond (7 states, to be exact). Should you find yourself in Minneapolis, this beer will drop at the brewery on the 8th.

I probably don’t need to tell you barrel-aged beer nerds any specifics, but here goes: for this release, 2016 Darkness spent over three months in High West rye whiskey barrels before bottling. Mmm. Rye. Spice. Wood. Play Doh (kidding).

Barrel nerdery begins February 6th

Insight is Going Solar!

By on January 31, 2017in Insight Brewing Co.

Great news from our friends at Insight Brewing Company: in 2017, Insight will become Minnesota’s first brewery to offset 120% of its energy usage with solar power.

The brewery is partnering with Innovative Power Systems to build a community solar garden in Carver County this summer. Insight will make use of nearly half of the energy output of the solar garden, offsetting 120% of the brewery’s energy needs for 2017.

Why is this cool? The process of brewing beer is energy intensive. Breweries use a lot of energy, be it boiling water, running coolers, forklifts, etc. Insight’s efforts to offset their energy use should be commended.

We at Insight feel an obligation to be stewards of the environment and continually find ways to reduce both water and energy usage as well as finding ways to become a greener company, overall. At a time when it seems our new government will soon be taking a step back in energy and environmental policies, it feels like there is no better time to move forward with this initiative so that we as a community, state, country, and world, don’t lose the positive momentum we currently have towards curbing global warming and creating a greener, more sustainable future.

Fair State Big Bottle Drop Saturday

By on January 27, 2017in Fair State Brewing, new beer

Photo courtesy of Fair State Brewing Cooperative

If you are a fan of sour beer, you may want to sit up and pay attention. It’s Friday. Perhaps you’ve just returned from a long lunch and plan to sit your ass down and argue the finer points of presidential politics in the comment section of your favorite news source. Stop it.

Put down the keyboard TRVMPLVR52 and NOTMYPRZ69. I have something you can agree upon.

On Saturday, January 28th (i.e. “this” Saturday), our friends at Fair State Brewing Cooperative are making three great sour beer available in bottles, including a personal favorite from last year’s Winterfest, Raspberry Roselle. Fair State has been making some amazing sour beer since their inception and these three will no doubt continue in this fine tradition.

The beers:

 

U-Pick – available on draft now

We went berry pickin’ with co-op owners, workers, and friends in August, and 280 pounds of raspberries later, this beer is the result. We added the fresh berries to mature barrel-fermented sour beer and allowed it to re-ferment.

IBU: 23, ABV: 5.5

Bricoleur #4 – available on draft 1.19

The fourth in the popular series, Bric 4 is an 80% stainless fermented mixed culture Saison, 20% barrel-fermented mixed culture sour blend, dry-hopped with Hallertau Blanc. We’ve been working on blending young Brett. beer with mature barrel sour beer. The result is a tart, funky original with a hoppy nose.

IBU: 18. ABV: 4.9

Raspberry Roselle – available on draft 1.26 (Taproom), first off-site tap 1.27 (Republic)

The return of the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild 2016 Winterfest (Friday session) Best Beer-winner. We re-fermented Roselle, our canned hibiscus sour saison, with a whole bunch of raspberries. The result is a fruit-forward, rose-hued beer that’s distinctly juicy and dry.

IBU: 10, ABV: 5.8

Beer Smarts with Paige Didora at Modist

By on November 16, 2016in education, Modist Brewing

modist-lalaModist Brewing is all about changing the way people think about beer, and it starts with education. Their plan is coming to fruition with a six part series taught by Paige Didora. After years of working in the industry and her writing experience, Paige is the perfect person to teach such a class. Beginning on Monday, November 21st when she will be discussing malts and how they are used in the brewing process.

Head brewer Keigan Knee is excited about the program. “Craft beer nationally – even globally – is evolving at a rapid pace and it’s no longer just one-tone, macro light lager. It’s an incredibly nuanced thing that benefits greatly from a passion for flavor and quality. At Modist, we feel that an informed consumer that knows more, can appreciate more, can enjoy more. That’s why we’re doing this.”

Some of the other topics being discussed over the duration of the course will be water, the process of making beer, yeast, off flavors and pairing beer with food. Tickets will be $50 and will cover all sessions including a possible bonus session. Seats are limited to 50. Check the schedule below:

CURRICULUM:

Session 1 – Monday 11/21: A Malty History

  • A focus on malts

Session 2 – Monday 11/28: Just Add Water

  • A focus on water and water quality

Session 3 – Monday 12/5: Boil it, Hop it, Spin it, Cool it

  • From mash to boil to whirlpool
  • A conversation about hops and other additives

Session 4 – Monday 12/12: Magic!

  • Yeast – the impact on beer flavors, aromas

Session 5 – Monday 12/19: Good Beer Gone Bad

  • Off-flavors: their sources and causes
  • The importance of proper packaging and storage

Session 6 – Monday 1/2/2017: Evaluating Beer and Pairing it with Food (the basics)

  • How to evaluate beer and the basics of food and beer pairing

Harriet Brewing to Close in Early 2017

By on November 1, 2016in Harriet Brewing
Harriet Brewing

harriet logoSad news from Harriet Brewing – they’ll be closing after January 31st, 2017. From their Facebook page:

Fellow Harriet Brewing Supporters,

Harriet Brewing will close after Jan 31, 2017. After 6 crazy years, it’s time to move on. Development plans for our property do not align with Harriet; thus, we’ve been forced to relocate. After much contemplation, it has become apparent that Harriet can only exist in it’s current location. Attempting to relocate and repeat would be lame. Relocating would require a new brand and business plan, and, frankly, starting another brewery now seems unoriginal and risky in this saturated market. Please join us in supporting the final chapter of Harriet Brewing during these next 3 moths! Let’s celebrate the short life of this fantastic MN craft brewery! The music will rock and the beer will flow till the end!

Yours in the love of beer!

Launched in 2011, Harriet Brewing was one of the new guard of craft breweries in Minnesota. 2011 was the first “boom” year for breweries in Minnesota in recent times with the launch of seven breweries and brewpubs Steel Toe Brewing, Olvalde, Castle Danger, Boom Island, North Loop (Lucid), Dubh Linn Brew Pub and Harriet.