Instead of simply celebrating Belgian Independence Day on July 21st, why not celebrate the whole week? There will be multiple events going on all over the cities from July 14th to July 24th. Duvel is releasing their brand new draft product, Duvel Single, Brewery Ommegang will have a special Spiced Saison available in various locations and many bars will be running specials on Belgian & Belgian Style ales during the week. Oh, and not to forget St. Arnoldus Day on July 18th!
Category: history
Beer Class: Understanding Hops
Instead of just knocking off those weak brain cells, how ’bout educating some of the hearty that have stuck around? You can do so at the University of Minnesota’s Campus Club this Wednesday.
The Campus Club regularly produces beer themed events for members, including our annual Oktorberfest and our spring Beer Testing. This is our first ‘class’ focused on a specific beer theme. Our presenter is Michael Agnew, Certified Cicerone (the beer equivalent of a Sommelier). His beer column appears each month in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
You will learn a lot about hops: History, Botanical Description, Production, Types, Varieties, Brewing Process, and Vocabulary. You will sample a spectrum of beers to gain a deeper understanding of this essential ingredient in beer.
You must reserve your place(s). $30 which includes light appetizers.
Call 612-626-7788. Non-members are welcome, but you must reserve your place.
Brewing TV #36: Gone Firkin
Latest episode from Brewing TV gets hands-on with firkins at Summit Brewing Company. Cask ale is a segment of craft beer that is becoming more and more popular with beer-lovers in the United States. But many of us have no idea how it works. Hosts Jake Keeler and Michael Dawson are put to work by Summit’s Chief Firkin Hooligan Damian McConn. The guys help Damian finish, fine, dry-hop and fill firkins of his Unchained Series beer, Golden Sovereign. Come along with us for a behind-the-scenes look at how the pros get their cask on!
Belgian Beer Fest at the Pig
So much is happening on the Minnesota beer scene, sometimes things slip through the cracks. The Belgian Beer Fest at the Muddy Pig is one of them, surprisingly since its one of my favorite fests of the year. Even though it started yesterday (Tuesday), it runs through the weekend, so you haven’t missed much. Plus, the seminars don’t gear up until tomorrow, so we’ll all good, right?
The Pig will have on tap 85 different belgian and belgian-style beers served in flights of three 5oz pours. Check out the program, including the beer list, here.
While the tap list is certainly impressive, the seminars are what make this event stand out. Seminars are $20 each or all three for just $50. Sign up at the bar.
- Thursday, October 21 @ 6:30pm: “Attack of the Gopher: Beer Hidden in Holes”. Learn about, and sample, Belgian brown ales.
- Saturday, October 23 @ Noon: “Blending Sour Beers”. We will be mixing “New” beer that has not been soured with “Old” beer that is aged for a minimum of 18 months in oak barrels. Much as lambic or Flemish sour ales are made.
- Sunday, October 24 @ Noon “The Little: The Smallest Big Beers You Have Never Had”. Belgian beers from the smallest, wierdest, most obscure, non robot driven breweries. Little production, rare, hard to find or 100% new to Minnesota.
ABR Tours, Seminars and Music
While beer is center stage this weekend at ABR, organizers offer great music, beer seminars and tours to compliment your drinking experience, all included in the price of your ticket
Seminars
Moderated by Michael Agnew, Minnesota’s first Certified Cicerone and man behind A Perfect Pint. More info about the seminars and tour can be found here.
1:15p New Brews on the Block
2p Wood Aged Beer
2:45p Homebrewing 101
3:30p Wild Beer
4:15p Ask a Brewer
Historic Grain Belt Brewery Tours
Join Doug Hoverson, Minnesota brewery historian and author of the popular book Land of Amber Waters, for a tour of the grounds of the Grain Belt brewery. Tours at 1:30, 2:15, 3:45
Music (more info about the bands here.)
1:00 pm Traditional Bagpipe Opener – Dennis Skrade & Thom Nolan
1:30 pm Southside Aces
2:45 pm Lynhurst
4:00 pm A Night In The Box
Acoustic Side Stage
2:15 pm Tony Magee
3:30 pm The Kin Folk Choir