Category: brewpubs

Town Hall Lanes Opens Friday

By on July 18, 2013in bars/restaurants, brewpubs

At the stroke of 6pm Friday, the fine folks who brought you Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery an Town Hall Tap open a new venue to the public, Town Hall Lanes. Town Hall Lanes occupies the space that was once occupied by Skylane Bowling in Minneapolis’ Nokomis neighborhood. The space has been renovated and in addition to bowling and the requisite beer, a full restaurant has been added to the space. And of course it wouldn’t be Town Hall without an antique bar… for this venue, the gang traveled to Washington to pick up a 100+ year old bar.

bar at town hall lanes

The vintage bar at Town Hall Lanes (Photo: Town Hall)

Needless to say, with the Town Hall team at the helm, this should be a great place. I really like their beer, I like the food at both Town Hall venues and though I’m a marginal bowler at best, I like throwing a ball down the lane every once in a while.

So, check it out Friday evening if you dare… otherwise let the dust settle and enjoy the place soon. Best of luck to Pete & the entire Town Hall crew!

Town Hall Lanes
5019 34th Avenue South, Minneapolis MN

The Old Skylane Bowl

The Old Skylane Bowl

Minnesota Brewpub Distribution

By on July 11, 2013in beer laws, brewpubs
Mike Hoops

Thanks to Elliot Ginsburg & Erin Conway for their contribution. Elliot and Erin are associates at the law firm W. Michael Garner, P.A. (www.franchisedealerlaw.com). W. Michael Garner, P.A. specializes in franchise, dealer, and distribution law, and the firm has also done legal work for breweries. As we see a proliferation of taprooms in Minnesota, I think one of our next steps needs to involve addressing how brewpubs in the state have grown and evolved. Read on for a legal perspective on brewpub distribution. Cheers!

By Elliot Ginsburg[1] and Erin Conway[2]

Introduction

Mike HoopsGenerally, states divide the alcohol industry into three tiers: manufacturing, distribution, and retail.  Historically, this was done to prevent large manufacturers from vertically and horizontally integrating, thereby reducing competition and choice, and increasing price.[3]  If brewers could own wholesalers, for example, they could push out competing brewers and increase prices artificially.  The three-tier system was also embraced by many states to encourage moderate consumption and an orderly collection of tax revenue.[4]  The key to the three-tier system is that no business operating in any one tier can have an interest in a business in any other tier.[5]

While some argue that the three-tier system is antiquated and no longer serves a purpose,[6] presumably, the three-tier system is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Brewpubs, however, do not fit neatly into any one tier.  Brewpubs operate as manufacturers in the sense that they brew beer for off-site consumption, and they also operate as retailers in the sense that they sell beer directly to consumers.[7]  In some states, brewpubs can distribute their brews through wholesalers to other retail facilities[8] but many states allow brewpubs to sell beer only on-site for on-premises or off-premises consumption.  Minnesota, for example, allows brewpubs to sell beer only on-site for either on-site consumption, or off-site consumption in growlers or large bottles.[9]  Thus, Minnesota brewpubs are more like retailers than traditional “production brewers.”  Production brewers produce beer and self-distribute or sell their brews to wholesalers who then sell to liquor stores and bars to sell to consumers.

Minnesota brewpubs, including Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery and Fitger’s Brewhouse, tried to pass a law in 2011 to allow brewpubs to distribute their beers through wholesalers.  The Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association (the “MBWA”) opposed this legislation for reasons discussed below and the bill did not make it out of committee.

The question that this article addresses is whether brewpubs in Minnesota can find a way to distribute their brews through wholesalers, while maintaining the integrity of the three-tier system and allaying the MBWA’s concerns.

Duluth Beer Week & Bent Paddle Launch

By on May 13, 2013in breweries, brewpubs
bent paddle brewery

Photo: Bent Paddle Brewing Company

This week, Bent Paddle Brewing Company is releasing their beer to the public for the first time ever. Fifteen breweries from around the state (including several in or near Duluth) are teaming up to bring an all-Minnesota tap lineup to the Rathskeller in Tycoons. And of course, Fitger’s master brewer Dave Hoops is serving up his own contribution to the party. May 13–19 is American Craft Beer Week—and Duluth is rising to the occasion.

“It’s the nation-wide celebration of American craft beer,” Hoops says. “We wanted to really take the opportunitiy to really highlight local craft breweries.”

Ground zero for the week’s activities is the Rathskeller, the speakeasy-style bar in the sub-basement of Tycoons Alehouse (132 E Superior St, Duluth). They’ve turned all 14 of their taps over to Minnesota breweries (and one cidery) to celebrate local beers, and are serving bottles from two further breweries as well. And some of those breweries are from Duluth.

Beer at the Rathskeller. Photo: Maxwell McGruder.

Beer at the Rathskeller. Photo: Maxwell McGruder.

For Bent Paddle’s first-ever release, they’re offering up two flagship brews: the Bent Hop and the Black. The Bent Hop is a smooth, chocolaty, semi-roasted ale somewhere between a porter and a stout, and the Bent Hop is a non-traditional IPA with a big floral/citrus hop flavor. Both will be on tap at the Rathskeller in the starting tonight at 5pm.

Duluth beer fans will also want to try Blacklist, a “nomadic” brewery based out of Duluth and with limited distribution. Their contribution is the Or De Belgique, which honors traditional Belgian processes and boasts tropical fruit flavors and rich aromas. Dubrue is participating too (Brown), along with Knife River’s Borealis Fermentery and the Castle Danger Brewery.

“It’s always been us alone,” Hoops says. “We now have quite a few breweries in Duluth.”

But the brewers aren’t just sending along beer. Several are coming in person to celebrate this Wednesday night from 7–9pm. Brewers who have confirmed that they are coming come from Blacklist, Borealis, Castle Danger, Bent Paddle, Big Wood, and the Brewhouse. They’ll be available to answer questions about their process and otherwise talk good beer.

With new breweries popping up seemingly overnight, Hoops says that it’s a good time for craft beer in Minnesota. He thinks that this week’s celebration shows a deep field both locally and statewide, and that the movement’s only getting started.

“I feel like we’re on the trajectory to get to maybe double where we’re at as far as brewery numbers,” Hoops says. “The sky’s the limit on selling craft beer.”

Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild American Craft Beer Week Events

By on May 9, 2013in b.o.p., bars/restaurants, beer dinners, beer education, beer events, beer stores, breweries, brewpubs, cask beer

So much beer, so little time. Our good friends at The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild have compiled a week’s worth of events (or 10,000 Minutes, if you prefer) at http://www.mncraftbrew.org/10000minutes in celebration of American Craft Beer Week! Consider it your civic duty to get out there and enjoy some of these events!

MNCBG-10000-Minutes-of-Minnesota-Craft-Beer-20131

Northbound Growlers

By on May 5, 2013in brewpubs

northboundGrowler sales at Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub begin this Monday, May 6th.  In February, they doubled their fermentation space and are now able to produce enough beer to have growlers. They will start by offering their four year-round beers: Big Jim IPA, Light Rail Pale Ale, Smokehouse Porter and  Honey Wheat. Look for seasonal offerings later this summer.