Category: Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

GRRRL Beer Rep Party at The Happy Gnome

By on September 12, 2016in beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co., The Happy Gnome

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The local beer scene is loaded with talented ladies. Whether they’re brewing beer, selling it, or serving it—they are a big part of this exploding beer scene. Local beer reps Gabby Rudisill from Ballast Point, Tara Alcure from Surly, and Sarah Meyer from Bent Paddle came up with the idea to celebrate women in the industry by bringing people together at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul just ahead of Autumn Brew Review. They are calling this event GRRRL Party, but guys are encouraged to attend as well.

They’ve also invited some reps from Family Tree Clinic, an organization that supports women’s health by providing care and resources for all. Come down to The Gnome and try out some special beers from all of these breweries and bring some cash to donate. On tap will be Hopmosa, Ballast Point Pumpkin Down on oak, Surly Four, Urban Growler Rhubarb Wit, Indeed Whiskey Queen, Bad Weather Tippin’ it Down and more.

See you there!

9.14.16

The Happy Gnome

498 Selby Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55102

Beers to seek out at the Minnesota State Fair

By on August 22, 2016in August Schell Brewing Co., Bad Weather Brewing Co., beer education, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, education, general beer, Lift Bridge, misc. mn beer, MN, mnbeer.com, new beer

The Minnesota State Fair is the place for gimmicky food, and beer of course is no different. This year there will be a couple of new beers that fit this category including a cider and another beer based on a deep fried sugar bomb staple of the fair. We’re not gonna waste any time, so here are some beers that you may want to seek out at The Great Minnesota Get Together.

Mini Donut Beer from Lift Bridge – Yep, this is a huge hit every year at the fair and it’s not going away anytime soon. This malt monster is a real treat, one that I only want once a year. The cinnamon sugar rimmed glass gives a much needed touch to base of this beer. You can find this at Ball Park Café.

Hopmosa from Bent Paddle Brewing – No, this doesn’t taste exactly like a mimosa—but the folks at Bent Paddle know a thing or two about infusing beers. The beer being infused is Bent Hop IPA and the addition of orange zest will only make this more appealing on a hot summer day. Find this over at Ball Park Café.

Sociable Caramel Apple Cider from Sociable Cider Werks – Jim Watkins over at Sociable Cider Werks is known for carefully sourcing the apples that he uses in his products over at the taproom in Northeast Minneapolis. This one is a blend of a few different varieties along with a simple syrup he concocted with a little help from a childhood friend. Expect this to be topped off with an apple slice drizzled with caramel. You’ll only find this at Giggles Campfire Grille.

Red Sangria Lager from Schell’s – Radlers are known for being a tad sweet, yet make for a refreshing summer treat. This one promises to be less sweet but should deliver in terms of drinkability on an 85-degree day in Minnesota. The beer is said to feature flavors of elderberries, pear, citrus, and apples. It’s only 4.8% ABV and will be topped with a Red Citrus Sangria Beer Foam. The Schell’s Stage Stand might be my first stop. It’s also available at LuLu’s Public House.

Funnel Cloud from Bad Weather Brewing – This would seem at first glance to be a sugar bomb. Joe at Bad Weather tells me otherwise stating that this won’t be overly sweet like some of the others. I’m skeptical, but head brewer Andy Ruhland knows what he’s doing over there, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Expect this to have undertones of vanilla and cinnamon/sugar. This beer is exclusive to Mancini’s Alfresco so it will only be available there.

Your best bet though is to visit the Land of 10,000 Beers Exhibit near the food building where you can purchase a flight of beer to wash down those cheese curds. This is where you will get a real taste of the beer being made here in Minnesota.

Cheers!

Places and Events to Check out Over All Pints North Weekend

By on July 21, 2016in 612 Brew, August Schell Brewing Co., Bauhaus Brewlabs, beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Fair State Brewing, Fitger's Brewhouse, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, Indeed Brewing Co., misc. mn beer, MN, mnbeer.com, Surly Brewing Co., Tycoons

All Pints North is one of the best beer fests held here in Minnesota for a few reasons. The first reason is that Duluth is one of the most picturesque cities in all of Minnesota, and there isn’t a better city to host such an event. The second reason is that Duluth is home to my favorite bar scene, partially due to all of the music that takes place on stages big and small across town. The third reason is that the beers that breweries bring to this event are some of the best being made here locally.

While the main event is always going to be the beer festival, you owe it to yourself to make a weekend out of it and check out the town on Friday. If you see me around, be sure to say hello. I’ve highlighted some of the events going on the night before the big event.
All Pints Eve Hootenanny at Bent Paddle – This event starts at 2 pm on Friday and will feature some rare beers which will of course include Double Shot Double Black. There will be a happy hour (3-5 pm) with 90.9 The Current which will be followed by bands from 7-11 pm.

Fulton Beer Presents This is a Cool Party at Pizza Lucé Duluth – Admission to this event (9:30 pm until midnight) is free and it will feature the bands Reflectivore and Dem Atlas. Grab a few beers and some pizza and prepare to party.

All Pints Eve at Sir Ben’s Tavern on the Lake – Live music, a restaurant pop up, and special tapping highlight this event on Friday from 4 – 9 pm. Beers from NorthGate, Bauhaus, Surly, Indeed, Castle Danger, Schell’s, Fair State, Dangerous Man, 612Brew, Beaver Island, and Bent Paddle will all be available for purchase. There will also be games and a kombucha station.

The Rathskeller at Tycoon’s – It’s no secret that this basement hangout is the place to be over the weekend. The Rathskeller is where people in the beer community hang and with good reason. The beer selection is top notch, and the whiskey is some of the best you’ll find around town. One thing to note is that the fire code dictates that only a certain number of people can be down there (it’s in the basement of Tycoon’s) so you may have to wait in a line to get in.

Places to eat over the weekend include Duluth Grill (fantastic breakfast), Northern Waters Smokehaus, Fitger’s Brewhouse, New Scenic Café, Tycoon’s, and Taste of Saigon.

And finally some pro advice: Don’t overdo it on Friday night or Saturday might be daunting. I’ve done this a few times. Perhaps I’ll never learn…

Cheers!

News and Notes Early June 2016

By on June 7, 2016in beer dinners, beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, charity, Fair State Brewing, general beer, Lift Bridge, misc. mn beer, MN, mnbeer.com, new beer, Summit Brewing Co.

On June 15th Fair State Brewing will release their sour Saison Roselle in cans. This beer is brewed with Hibiscus and is a perfect beer for warm summer days. Speaking of Fair State, they will be hosting a sour beer festival on June 25 called Mixed Culture. At this event they will be tapping 7 new barrel-aged mixed culture beers and bringing out some oldies from the cellar. Oakhold will also be previewing some of their beers at the event. As you may know, Caleb Levar (Co-owner of Oakhold) has been helping Niko and the Fair State crew around the brewery with their sour program.

The Lift Bridge folks made a trip out to Fort Collins earlier this spring to collaborate on a Belgian Ale with Odell Brewing called Peaks and Prairies. This recipe utilizes Colorado Palisade peaches and Cardamom and was aged on oak. This release is a part of Taps & Tables which is a celebration of craft beer and restaurants in June. For $30 you and a guest will be able to enjoy food and the beer at participating restaurants with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. Click here for the schedule.

This is the 5th year for Pride Dabbler which will take place on June 24th from 5:30 – 9:30 pm. More than 50 breweries will be on-site pouring beers while food trucks such as Natedogs, The Anchor Fish and Chips, Hot Indian Foods and more will be selling food. Grab your tickets here.

Summit will be releasing the 22nd variety in their Unchained Series called Zingiber Cream Ale with ginger. Expect this to hit shelves and tap lines in the next couple of weeks.

Bent Paddle’s Lollygagger Pale Ale hits store shelves this week. 5% of all sales of this beer will go to helping Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores build a 100 mile mountain biking trail system called The Duluth Traverse. This copper colored beauty is sure to please those that appreciate a well-balanced Pale Ale.

That’s it for now.

Cheers!

Beers to Seek Out for Memorial Day

By on May 27, 2016in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, general beer, Indeed Brewing Co., misc. mn beer, MN, mnbeer.com, new beer, Steel Toe Brewing

Here are some local beers to procure for the long weekend ahead. Whether you’re fishing, hiking, hanging out on the patio, or out by the fire pit—these selections are sure to be a hit.

Summer Crush by Castle Danger Brewery – Sorachi Ace hops give this crisp beer a nice touch of lemon, which is perfect on a hot day or for a trip up to the lake.

pHresh by Modist Brewing – Swing into the brewery and grab a few crowlers of this refreshingly tart patio sipper. Enjoy this one out in the sun amongst friends and you’ll never want the day to end.

Lucy by Indeed Brewing – Indeed’s flagship beers are very popular in local liquor stores, but if you limit yourself to those you’re doing it wrong. Drop in to the taproom and fill a growler with their kettle soured Pale Ale called Lucy. Lemongrass lends a nice touch to this already tasty Pale Ale. Plus it’s only 4.2% ABV so you won’t fall into the fire at the end of the night.

Venture Pils by Bent Paddle Brewing – This is quickly becoming my favorite Pilsner made here in Minnesota, and it’s the ultimate fishing beer. Like an old crush, this will remind you of the first time you fell in love with beer. *Be sure to pick this one up here in the cities as it’s becoming harder and harder to find up in northern Minnesota. See this for further details.

Sommer Vice by Steel Toe Brewing – Whether you choose to pick this Hefeweizen up in bomber bottles at the liquor store or via growler at the taproom, just be sure you don’t forget this crowd pleaser. Sommer Vice is hazy and is packed with banana/clove flavor from the yeast, perfect for a day outside playing lawn games and listening to music. Grab it now though as it’s never around very long, much like a Minnesota summer.

Cheers!