Category: bars/restaurants

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.”

Fulton War & Peace Release Saturday

By on January 30, 2014in bars/restaurants, breweries

WarandPeaceI caught a little flack for dissing W. Axl Rose & the song “Patience” with Fulton’s last bottle release. I’ve yet to apologize (I’m more of a “Nighttrain” kind of guy.), but I’ll be much nicer with their latest release, War and Peace. A little secret? I’ve never read Russian author Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” I realize it doesn’t redeem me, but I do really like Peace Coffee. Not enough? An unlabeled bottle of Fulton’s Russian Imperial Stout was the first of their offerings to pass my lips before the brewery began producing beer for the public. Good enough?

In any case, the latest Garage Series beer from Fulton, War & Peace will be released this Saturday at their taproom. They’ll be offering 10 oz. pours for $6 and  750ml bottles for $15 each with a limit of two per person. And if you don’t get enough coffee in you from the beer, the fine folks from  Peace Coffee will be there sampling their brews as well.

Look for War & Peace around the Twin Cities on draft and in bottles in the following weeks. You’ll also want to mark February 6th on your calendar as Butcher & the Boar will be tapping one of the first War & Peace kegs, the aforementioned Patience (don’t whistle), and one of a few keds of Libertine aged in special Butcher & the Boar Knob Creek bourbon barrels.

 

Town Hall Lanes Chili Cook-Off Sunday

By on January 30, 2014in bars/restaurants, brewpubs

thlaneschiliWhile Town Hall Brewery is getting a a little nip and tuck this season, their baby sister, Town Hall Lanes, will serve as host for the brewery’s annual Super Bowl Sunday Chili Cook-Off this year. $10 gets you a pint of Town Hall beer and access to a variety of homemade chili to sample and ultimately judge.Attendees will pick the People’s Choice award (a $50 gift card). Judges at the brewery will award to prizes for their favorites, a $300 prize pack for the winner and a $200 prize pack for second place.

Think you have what it takes to win? Call or enter in person until February 1st. One entry per person!

Details:
Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 2:30 PM.
Town Hall Lanes, 5019 34th Ave S, Minneapolis
$10 at the door
http://www.townhallbrewery.com/#news-and-events

Black Friday Throwdown in Duluth

By on November 29, 2013in bars/restaurants, brewpubs

tycoonslogoOur friends in Duluth have a black beer throwdown going on right now. Starting at noon today, the fine folks at Tycoon’s will be pouring sixteen different black beers today. From the sound of it, it’s not only the largest collection of black beers ever assembled in Duluth, but also larger than a couple of respectable black beer events in the Twin Cities.

In any case, if you’re in Duluth check it out. They’re releasing their super-duper-awesome Edmund Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a beer which has won gold, silver, and bronze in various years at the Barrel Aged Beer Festival in Chicago.

Tap list below.

BH Edmund Imperial Stout
Lift Bridge BBL aged Commander
Indeed Rum Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Bent Paddle Cold Press Black w/ Madagascar Vanilla Bean on Nitro
Surly Darkness 2012/2013
Sierra Nevada Belgian Black IPA
Sierra Nevada Narwhal
Deschutes Abyss
Deschutes- Great Lakes Smoked Porter
Deschutes XXV Black Butte
Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Alaskan Smoked Porter
New Belgium 1554
Cider  – Aspall Black Label Imperial Cyder

StoutFest VI at The Blue Nile Saturday

By on October 29, 2013in bars/restaurants

Al from the Blue Nile. Photo: Star Tribune

For the sixth year running, The Blue Nile turns their taps over the dark side for one day, celebrating porters and stouts. Look for sample sets –  3 4-ounce pours for $7.
Here’s the line-up this year:

Surly Darkness Russian Imperial Stout
Surly Cacao Bender (Coffee chocolate vanilla brown porter)
Left Coast Voodoo American Stout
Great Lakes/Deschutes Imperial Smoked Porter
Moylan’s Dragoon Irish Dry Stout
Southern Tier Plum Noir Imperial Porter with Italian Plums
Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Russian Imperial Stout
Bell’s Java Stout
Bell’s Expedition Stout
Weyerbacher Heresy Russian Imperial Stout
Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout