Category: homebrew

Local hop growing efforts highlighted in Strib.

By on July 31, 2008in general beer, homebrew

Great story in today’s Strib about local hop growing efforts, with tons of insight by Minnesota homebrewers. Thanks to Don for bringing this to my attention.

Brewers hop to it.

The grow-your-own movement now extends to hops, as a worldwide shortage has prompted home brewers to add a new crop to their gardens.

By Bill Ward 

The Willamette vine made it; the other two croaked. His fiancée ran over the Nugget with the lawn mower, and “the Centennial, I found out, had been planted on top of an ant mound,” said David Toews of Minneapolis. Such are the pitfalls of a new gardening project.

So, are we talking heirloom tomatoes? Exotic melons? Actually, this is another type of vine providing something that won’t be found at any farmers’ market.

Hops.

Click here for the full story.

News from Vine Park

By on July 18, 2008in b.o.p., homebrew

If you’re a K-12 teacher and have thought about giving brewing a try get on over to Vine Park. During the month of August Vine Park is offering a 20% discount for all beers and wines brewed. Remember to play nice and don’t abuse this offer by asking them to apply this to an entire group.

For the Belgian beer lovers out there Vine Park is offering the opportunity to brew some famous Belgian beer styles for a limited time. In addition to bringing back some favorites there are also some new recipes. Check out their website for all the details.

Finally, check out the home brewing competition Sunday, July 27th at the Glockenspiel. In addition to the contest there will be beer sampling, a strolling accordion player, outdoor grilling and Vine Park beers featured on tap.

Northern Brewer Homebrew Class

By on July 5, 2008in beer events, homebrew

I ran into this on the Northern Brewer forum and thought it might be fun for some of you thinking about getting into homebrewing:

The masses have clamored, and we’ve answered the call. Northern Brewer has partnered with St. Paul’s Cooks of Crocus Hill to offer a full demonstration of brewing basics. We’ll discuss the differences between roasted, toasted and caramel grains as they pertain to the brewer. We’ll make a yeast starter. We’ll address using Continental or American yeast strains, and what to expect when brewing with them. Ever wonder how to identify a ‘Noble’ hop? We’ll talk about the differences between high alpha acid hops – grown for bittering properties – and varieties chosen for their flavors and aromas. And we’ll touch on the pros and cons of various brewing equipment. All the while we’ll be tasting commercial examples of beers that you could emulate right away.

Included in the price, each participant will get a portion of the batch (which can be picked-up at Northern Brewer a couple of weeks after the class). This is a great oppurtunity to get some hands on experience, answers to any questions, or to just come hang out and talk beer with us. …one class at the Edina location on July 16 at 6pm. Sign-ups have begun and spaces are limited, so reserve your seats today at: http://www.cooksofcrocushill.com You can also call our retail store and sign up with us directly. We can be reached at: 651.789.0189

Green Beer?

By on July 1, 2008in beer events, homebrew

My friend Erin forwarded this to me, and it looks pretty cool.

The Eco Impact of Beer
Twin Cities Green
2405 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls
How green is your beer? Come to this workshop and compare the eco-footprints of larger beer companies, microbreweries and home-brewing. Expert brewers will also demonstrate how to brew your own beer. 

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To RSVP, please email info@doitgreen.org, call 612-345-7973 or visit http://www.doitgreen.org/workshops
A suggested donation of $5 per workshop is payable online with registration or in person. We appreciate your support!