Category: free beer

Winter Solstice and Other Unworldly Happenings

By on December 21, 2010in bars/restaurants, beer events, beer stores, brewpubs, free beer

Man, there’s a lot going on today in the world of beer here in Minnesota. Releases, tastings and of course, celebration of the Winter Solstice, as Earth begins heading back towards the sun. I need a beer!

Who’s celebrating the Solstice? Haute Dish Fades to Black, Brasa enters the Darkest Day of the Year, and we just learned that the Blue Door Pub taps their keg of Darkness at 11 a.m. today.

How about releases? Surly gets things going at Pyscho Suzi’s with the Abrasive Release, Town Hall celebrates Festivus for the rest of us, and Rock Bottom kicks off the the Week Before Christmas.

Holiday Shopping? Hit the the Ale Jail, and while you’re at it, sample some Cucapah.

There’s lots of other stuff happening in the next couple weeks, so be sure to check out our events calendar too.

Cheers from mnbeer.com!

December Ale Jail Tastings

By on December 6, 2010in beer stores, free beer

In addition to their regular Tuesday Tastings, the Ale Jail is lining up some other special events this month. Unless otherwise noted, all tastings take place from 5pm – 7pm.

This month is bloated full of Wisconsinites!  What can we say, they make good beer therefore they earn their right-full place at the Jail.  Rush River and Furthermore kick off a month of tasty treats with back-to-back tastings on the 7th and 8th.  On the 14th we go to Mexico.  Yeah yeah I’ve heard it before, many have the stereotypical view point that Mexican beer is adjunct heavy horse pee.  Well, for the most part it’s true, EXCEPT for Cucapah.  One of Mexico’s only CRAFT brewers.  They make a very credible Pale Ale and an interesting and conversation inducing brown ale.  Why not give it a go?

Do you stroll through the Ale Jail and ever wonder about all those scary big bottles?  Or maybe that brewery that you can’t quit pronounce?  No need to be intimidated!  These beers are some of the best in the world and they deserve your attention.  Stop in the store on Saturday, December 18th for a truly epic beer tasting.  Many rare and obscure beers will be open for your enjoyment.

Ever wanted to try a wind brewed beer?  Stop in on the 21st and say hello to Dave Anderson from Dave’s Brewfarm.  He brews damn good beer and it’s earth friendly.  Maybe he’ll bring one of his pilot brews straight from the tasting room.  Dandelion Saison maybe?  Better stop by and check it out.  Matacabras and Select will be open for sure.

Lift Bridge brewery rounds out the month with there tasty line-up of locally brewed beer.  Steve from the brewery will be in the shop helping all of you rediscover your forgotten summer love of Farm Girl Saison.  Don’t miss it!

Tuesday, December 7th–Rush River Brewing Company.

Wednesday, December 8th–Furthermore Brewing Company.

Tuesday, December 14th–Dave’s Brew Farm.

Saturday, December 18th–Rare, Obscure, Spendy, DELICIOUS.  A no holds barred tour of the world of beer that you may not be willing to pony up for.  2-6 P.M.

Tuesday, December 21st–Cucapah Mexican Craft Ales.

Tuesday, December 28th–Lift Bridge Brewing Company.

The Stache Bash @ the Nile

By on December 3, 2010in bars/restaurants, beer events, free beer

Hm, I’m not sure what all this means….Stache? Foam Combing? Hell, it’s at the Blue Nile, it must be good! Depending on when you get there, the qualifying beers are New Belgium Ranger IPA, Surly Furious, and Summit Winter or EPA.

It’s that time of year again! The Foam Combers will be hosting the second annual “The Stache Bash”.
Come on down the The Blue Nile restaurant and lounge for fun, friends, craft beer, a live band, a silent auction, and of course our Stache Contest!

The deal-
$10 gets you in for all you can handle craft beer ($7 with a genuine Mo’). All proceeds will go to the Movember Foundation to help “Change the face of men’s health”

So save the date and come join Th e Foam Combers for craft beer and fund-raising shenanigans!

Fitty’s First Friday

By on November 29, 2010in beer events, beer stores, free beer

Head on over to Thomas Liquors this Friday for this month’s installment of Fitty’s First Friday, Bell’s Big-ass Beers. (So FFF=BBB, right?)

Fitty welcomes Jason Gillum from Bell’s to the store as they delve into, well, some of Bell’s big-ass beers. Confirmed so far: Expedition Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, Double Cream Stout & more.