Category: breweries

Summit Unchained 25, Vienna Lager

By on June 21, 2017in Summit Brewing Co.

Summit brewer Tom Mondor.

Summit has announce the release of another Unchained Series beer today. The 25th beer in the series will be a Vienna-Style lager, conceived by brewer Tom Mondor who also devised the 17th beer in the series, Fresh Harvest IPA. Three years later, Mondor is up to bat again with a beer said to be inspired by his travels through Germany. When is the last time you had a Vienna Lager? Aside from Schell’s Firebrick and Fair State’s Vienna Lager, I’m having a difficult time thinking of many other local offerings aside from an occasional appearance at The Herkimer back in the day.

Anyway, we haven’t yet tried this beer, but if the words from our friends at Summit are on par, this beer will feature herbal notes thanks to Hallertau Mittlefruh and German Perle hops and no doubt some fine toasty/biscuity/caramely notes thanks to Weyermann’s expertly crafted Barke Vienna and CaraFoam malts. German malts and hops, Austrian beer. Okay.

Mondor explains that he simply wanted to have a great Vienna-Style Lager to enjoy, noting that “the Vienna-Style Lagers still brewed in Mexico today aren’t terribly representative of the original, as many are made with adjuncts like corn or rice. My goal was to use good ingredients, good processes, and good quality assurance to make a good beer.” Fair enough.

If you want first pour on this beer, be sure to hit up the Summit Beer Hall next Thursday, June 29th. The release will feature Nails and Ales presented by the Germanic-American Institute, concertina music from Josh Eidsor and German food from the Black Forest Inn.

Look for the beer on draft and in 6-packs in early July.

Nerdy Details:

ABV: 5.1%
IBU: 23
Color: Copper (12 L)
Malts: Weyermann Barke Vienna, CaraFoam
Hops: German Perle and Hallertau Mittlefruh
Yeast: Munich lager yeast

A (Short) Tale of Two Taprooms – Pryes and Unmapped

By on June 15, 2017in Bad Weather Brewing Co., Badger Hill Brewing, general beer, Pryes Brewing Co., Unmapped Brewing Co.

Two new taprooms Saturday?

Pryes Brewing Co. made their debut in the Twin Cities nearly three years ago. Brewer/owner Jeremy Pryes started with just one beer, Miraculum, which he first brewed professionally at the old Lucid (North Loop BrewCo) facility in Minnetonka under an alternating proprietorship model. You nerds playing along at home may recall that both Badger Hill and Bad Weather Brewing got their start there as well. This Saturday, you’ll be able to enjoy Pryes Brewing beers at their Near-North neighborhood brewery at 1401 West. River Road in Minneapolis. As others have espoused, they have “plenty of parking,” but if you ask this bike dork, it just seems right to bike to the brewery. Bonus (big bonus, really), there should be some excellent food coming out of the kitchen at Pryes Brewing as well… according to our friend Dara, they’ve built a full-on commercial kitchen with Red Wagon at the helm for the first three months. Things are looking good. Congrats Pryes!

Pryes Brewing Taproom Grand Opening
Saturday, June 17th, 11am – midnight
Regular taproom hours: Thursdays 4-11pm,  Fridays 3-midnight, Saturdays 11-midnight
1401 West River Road N, Minneapolis, MN 55411

 

 

Unmapped Brewing Company will also have a soft opening on Saturday. Unmapped has quietly been building out a brewery in place of the century-old Kraemer’s TrueValue Hardware in Minnetonka. Minnetonka’s first taproom is located near the intersection of Excelsior Blvd. and Eden Prairie Road, not far from Gold Nugget. Husband and wife team JD and Megan Park are Minnetonka natives and aim to offer a “year-round lineup of flagship ‘Belgian & Stateside Ales'” as well as a variety of other special and limited-release beers.

At the helm of the brewery is our old friend Derek Allmendinger (@lutherhaus) who was an old-school Minnesota beer blogger and homebrewer.  Derek went to brewing school and then jumped into professional brewing, cutting his teeth at Summit Brewing, Schell’s, Surly and Excelsior Brewing. Derek brings a wealth of experience to this new brewery and we’re excited to see what he cranks out at Unmapped!

Unmapped Brewing Company
Opens Saturday, June 17th, noon-11pm, Sunday noon-8pm.
Regular taproom hours starting June 20th: 3-10pm Monday-Thursday, noon-11pm Friday and Saturday, noon-8pm Sunday
14625 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka 55345

Brew Day at Surly: $pice Boyz Lager Beer Camp Collaboration with Sierra Nevada

By on May 5, 2017in Beer Ingredients, breweries, general beer, new beer, Surly Brewing Co., tap rooms

Last Friday I had a rare opportunity to spend the day at Surly for a brew day with Michael Palmer from Sierra Nevada for their Beer Camp collaboration. The beer is called $pice Boyz, a lager infused with ginger and cayenne—aged on oak, and appearing on tap at the Surly Beer Hall. The Sierra Nevada version was brewed a couple months ago and will be released in the Beer Camp 12 pack. Their version was simply named Ginger Lager.

“All three of us came up with the idea for this beer” says Surly co-head brewer Jerrod Johnson. “We wanted to make a beer that would age well. We figured all the other folks would be making bigger beers, and we wanted to make something more sessionable.”

Ben Smith is the other co-head brewer at Surly and he was excited to work with Sierra Nevada on this project. “Their [Sierra Nevada] hospitality is second to none. Everyone there is a professional, and it was cool to see” says Smith. We wanna be stewards of the industry and it was a great experience.” He reiterated what Jerrod said about wanting to make something that was easy to drink. “We made some assumptions about what the others were going to do. They were doing sippers. Let’s make something simple but unique.” Jerrod and I have always wanted to do a ginger beer.”

How did this all come together? Well, it started when I ran into Michael, Jerrod, Ben, and Josh Lemke (brewer at Surly) at Grumpy’s in Northeast last Thursday evening. They suggested that I come in for a brew day at the Brooklyn Center Brewery. You don’t pass up an opportunity to brew with two of the best breweries out there.

The brew day began with a Red Bull courtesy of Josh. He mashed in while Ben and Jerrod held a meeting in back. Mike joined Josh and I on the brew deck and performed the ceremonial adding of the hops.

Ben and Jerrod joined in while we chatted about brewing and all the fun new beers that Surly has coming. Ben, Michael, and I sampled some of those beers to see how they were coming along.

Then it was back to the brew deck where we checked in on the boil. Josh was busy monitoring the progress of the batch. I chatted with Jerrod before he had to skip over to Surly MSP for a meeting.

Ben and I then bellied up in the old taproom and talked about Sierra Nevada, the collaboration beer, and life in general. He tells me that the Surly version of the beer will be a taproom only release starting in June and that the SN version will be included in the Beer Camp 12 pack, also in June.

Back out in the brewery Josh was manning the kettle and also took some time to change up the music in the brewery. Heavy metal would be the music of choice. Ben joined him on the deck to perform another hop addition while I was “busy” SnapChatting the process.

The crew then broke for lunch and that’s where my day there ended. The experience was fantastic, and the Surly brewing team is group of true professionals that know exactly what they’re doing. It almost seemed too easy. I guess that’s what you’d expect from one of the most respected breweries here in the country.

One thing is certain, you’re gonna want to stop in at the Surly Beer Hall in June for the $pice Boyz release. Just make sure you don’t break out in full Spice Girl mode….That would just be awkward.

Cheers!

Bent Paddle Celebrating 4 Years

By on May 4, 2017in Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

One of Minnesota’s best breweries is celebrating 4 years and they’re hosting Festiversary on Saturday, May 13th at their taproom in Duluth. The brewery has been through a lot in those 4 years. They revitalized a neighborhood, redefined what a coffee beer can be, took a stance in favor of the environment—and have since managed to increase their footprint into the Dakotas and Wisconsin.

Colin and Laura Mullen teamed up with Bryon and Karen Tonnis with the hopes of showcasing what the water of Lake Superior can contribute to beer. The beer now speaks for itself. Brewing everything from an IPA to a Black Coffee Ale—Bent Paddle is now the premiere brewery up on the North Shore.

The Festiversary event runs from 2-8 pm and will feature bands, rare beers, food trucks, and more. Tickets will cost you $15.

Cheers to the folks at Bent Paddle and those who enjoy their fantastic beers!

Here are the full details on the event:

Saturday, May 13, 2017 | 2 – 8 pm
Avoid the lines! Tix available in the Taproom 4/19 – $15

Bent Paddle is turning 4! Join us at the brewery on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 2 – 8 pm to help us celebrate! We will be taking over our West Michigan Street block + neighborhood parking lots and throwing a “Festiversary” party – an outdoor brewery festival celebrating Bent Paddle Brewing Co.‘s anniversary & you – the Partners & Paddlers that have helped us make it this far! There will be 3 stages of live music, curated food trucks, games & family friendly activities, community connections galore, and of course a whole lot of Bent Paddle beer!
—
FEATURING
Live Music & Entertainment with the Take It With You Crew, The Big Wu, Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, Jillian Rae, Black River Revue, Noble Sound System, Ben Weaver & more

Flagship & Specialty Beer on Draft + Multiple Types of Nitro, Infusion & Cask Beers + INTRODUCING A BRAND NEW FLAGSHIP!

BEER BRANDED HUTS

Venture Pils Hut
Venture Pils on Draft & in a Can
Blueberry Venure Pils Infusion

Bent Hop Hut
Bent Hop on Draft & in a Can
Citra Mango Bent Hop Infusion
Idaho 7 Bumped Bent Hop Firkin

14º ESB Hut
14º ESB on Draft & in a Can
Cherry 14º ESB Infusion
Cedar 14º ESB Firkin

Black Hut
Black on Draft & in a Can
Chai Black Infusion
Hot Hot Heat Black Firkin

Cold Press Black Hut
Cold Press Black on Draft & in a Can
Mocha Cold Press Black Infusion
Vanilla Cold Press Black Firkin

Paddle Break Blonde Hut
Paddle Break Blonde on Draft & in a Can
Botanical Paddle Break Blonde Infusion
Lemon Drop Bumped Paddle Break Blonde Firkin

Kanū Hut – indroducing a NEW year-round flagship beer @ Festiversary!
Kanū on Draft & in a Can
Citrus Party Kanū Infusion
Double Dry Hopped Kanū Firkin

BOATS & BLUEGRASS CAN TENT
Venture Pils
Bent Hop
14º ESB
Black
Cold Press Black
Paddle Break Blonde
Kanū

HOP OUTSIDE
+ NITRO POURS in the TAPROOM
Hop Outside Infusion – The Sharpest End – Ventue Pils infused with Juniper & Sage
Nitro Bent Hop
Nitro 14º ESB
Nitro Black
Nitro Cold Press Black
Nitro Kanū
Regular Draft Flagship Pours
Lake Superior Brewing Co. Root Beer

Food Trucks + Treats from OMC Smokehouse, The Duluth Grill, Lake Superior Bakehouse, Chow Haul Mobile Restaurant, All American Club, Log Home Wood Fired Pizza, Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar & more!

Family Activities Area presented by Frost River Trading Co. & The Duluth Art Institute

Community Partnership Booths

Festival Merch for Sale & On-Site T-Shirt Printing with Duluth Screen Printing – Think “Festimals”…
General Revelry!
—
COST + INFORMATION
Tickets Available at the Gate + Pre-Sale Tickets Available from the Bent Paddle taproom starting April 19th

$15 Day-of admission gets you a 16oz Festiversary pint glass (while supplies last) & your first beer is free!

$5 Under 21 / $10 Designated Driver (no pint glass) / Kids 12 & under are free

Beer Tokens are $2 (1 for a 5oz sample, 2 for a can (& certain specialty pours), 3 for a full 16oz pint)

21+ to Enjoy Beer / Valid ID Required

Children with Accompanying Adults Allowed

We Love Fido & Socks but No Pets Allowed at Festiversary

Cash Only Festival | ATMs available onsite and at nearby bank/gas stations

Rain or Shine (or Snow!) – Outdoor Event – Please Dress / Layer Accordingly
—
LOCATION
Bent Paddle Brewing Co. | 1912 West Michigan Street | Duluth, MN 55806

View full directions to the brewery on the Contact page of our website

Free nearby vehicle parking lots (including the TBI lot located on the corner of West Michigan & 20th Avenue West and the gravel lot located on the corner West Michigan & 18th Avenue West) and street parking available throughout Lincoln Park. Please plan ahead for a sober ride home – paddlers paddling responsibly
Complimentary bicycle parking provided by Continental Ski & Bike

Cheers!

Dangerous Man and Electric Fetus Collaborate on Single Hop IPA Record Store Day Beer

By on April 20, 2017in Dangerous Man Brewing Co., general beer, new beer, tap rooms

A few years ago, Electric Fetus owner Aaron Meyerring was trying to bring in some more stuff to sell for Record Store Day—a day that kicks off the spring/summer festivities here and around the country. He decided that he wanted to work with a local brewery and Dangerous Man stepped right up. “They’re great people over there and it’s been a great partnership” he says. The record store sells some Dangerous man merchandise and the brewery makes an exclusive beer for this day. Unfortunately, they can’t serve it at the south Minneapolis retailer, but if you bring your Electric Fetus receipt in to the brewery you’ll get a dollar off a pint of the beer.

Meyerring wishes they could serve the beer but notes that they don’t want to take away from what Record Store Day is about. “We didn’t want to make Record Store Day a beer fest or anything like that” he says. The beer itself is Single Hop IPA brewed with Eureka hops. Vinyl collector and Dangerous Man Operations Manager Hilari Bandow describes the flavor of the beer. “Black Currants, pine, dark fruits, slight citrus and herbal notes from the hops blanket the aroma and flavors of this ale. Crisp, clean simple malts round out the backbone to keep the balance all in check.”

New merch at the store will include some official Prince (a known supporter of Electric Fetus) merchandise not available anywhere else in the world. A year ago Aaron had the opportunity to attend Prince’s last show in Atlanta. “We got call saying Prince would like you to come to his show in Atlanta. It was an opportunity you can’t pass up.”

An opportunity he’s sure to remember for the rest of his days.

Here’s the schedule for Saturday:

Music schedule:
10:00 a.m. – DJ Jake Rudh of Transmission
Noon – Marah in the Mainsail
1:30 p.m. – Sims
3:00 p.m. – Flipp
4:30 p.m. – Monica LaPlante

Peace Coffee will be on hand outside the store before we open.
Heggies Pizza will have breakfast pizza for those in line, starting at 7 a.m.
Glam Doll Donuts will have tasty treats inside at 9 a.m.
Natedogs and Chef Shack Ranch Minneapolis food trucks will be on site behind the store starting at 10 a.m.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Relax in the Red Bull Sound Select lounge behind the store and check out the rockin’ kids’ craft area in the lounge…
DJ FunSize spins tunes
Cool activities for kids including projects recycling old vinyl, design your own album cover and more!
Warner Music Group will be here with posters and other free goodies behind the store.

Pick up your coupon for the special Electric Fetus Record Store Day beer at Dangerous Man Brewing Co all day Saturday.

Thanks to these additional sponsors:
Twin Town Guitars, Audioengine

Check out the list of Record Store Day exclusives here in PDF or web form:
https://electricfetus.tuneportals.com/NewsItem/4134
We can’t guarantee what we’ll have, but we’ve tried to get in as many as possible.

Cheers!