Category: MN

Schell Snowstorm 2012: Bière de Noël

By on August 31, 2012in beer events, breweries, MN
August Schell Brewing Co.

Yeah, so it’s probably too hot outside to make a joke about an impending snowstorm, right?

Would you like to hear about a Snowstorm? Schell’s is planning one for November 1st, 2012… specifically a Bière de Noël!

This year’s Snowstorm is modeled after beers traditionally brewed in France for the holiday season. According to my not so top secret sources:

Schell Bière de Noël displays a highly aromatic nose:  malty with a good dash of yeast esters (peppery, spicy, and citrusy).  On the palate, the yeast influence is once again evident, with notes of white pepper and citrus.  In the background, a herbal hop can be found.  Despite the dryness of the beer, it displays an incredibly silky mouthfeel.

 

Malts:
French Pils
2 Row
Munich
Wheat
French Special Aromatic
Caramunich
Midnight Wheat

Hops:
Nugget

 Yeast:
French Ale yeast

OG 14.5°P, IBU 24, 18 SRM, 6-7% abv

Oysters & Summit Oyster Stout at Meritage

By on August 29, 2012in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries, food pairing, MN

Sometimes you read an article and a line jumps out at you. Hell, sometimes it’s just a fragment:

…Summit Beer’s launch of its first oyster stout… (Pioneer Press – article link)

Granted, the Pioneer Press article is about more than just a beer, but I do have a bit of a one-track mind. So aside from the fact that Meritage is holding their second-annual Oyster Fest on September 30th from noon-8pm (which is a big deal in itself), here’s the snippet to make beer geeks excited:

Summit Brewery will launch their Oyster Stout, inspired by and made from our very own oyster shells. In first discussions the Brewers are thinking a British perspective and tradition might be an interesting way to go. Enjoy your pint, and even join us at the pairing station to learn about the beer, its process and pairing oysters with it. We’re even in development for a seminar on the brew and the history of Oyster Stouts.

Further details forthcoming. Aside from great beer, Meritage has a great schedule of music, education, pairings, oyster shucking and more planned for the day. For a schedule and less beer-obsessed information, visit their website.

 

Schell’s Update: Citra Pils, Chimney Sweep

By on August 29, 2012in breweries, Features, MN

Some nice news from New Ulm. Mike, one of our contributors, caught wind of one (or both) of these after the Schell’s beer dinner a couple of weeks ago. Glad to see more details, even if it’s just label art!

If you watch Beerpulse with any regularity (Thanks, Adam), you might have noticed that Schell’s Stag Series No. 6 is Fresh Hop Citra Pils. This beer will be an unfiltered pilsner, dry-hopped with freshly-picked Citra hops. More info on specifics and release to come shortly!

This unfiltered Pilsner was brewed with 100% while cone Citra hops, picked fresh from the farm and shipped overnight directly to the brewery.

Update: Schell’s has 750 pounds of Citra hops ordered, with an expected harvest date the week of September 14th. The hops will be picked, packed wet, and shipped overnight to the brewery and brewed with as soon as they arrive.

The malt bill is fairly simple, Pinnacle 2-row malt and a decoction mash. There will be four separate additions of Citras including a huge addition in the whirlpool to let the hops shine through in the beer.

5.0% ABV, 45 IBU’s  mid to late October release (depending on the harvest).

Also on deck at Schell’s is Chimney Sweep, a Franconian Dark Lager. Again, more details as we get them. From the label:

Schell’s Chimney Sweep is inspired by the rich dark lagers of upper Franconia. Black in color with a rich roasty maltiness, firm hop bitterness, and a subtle underlying smokiness.

Update: Here are some more details with Chimney Sweep. This beer will be the first part of a duo of beers that will replace Stout in Schell’s year-round line-up of specialty beers. It will be available November through March and then from April to September, another yet-unnamed beer will take its place (Nope! Not the Radler.)

The inspiration for Chimney Sweep comes from the rich dark lagers of Franconia. The idea for the beer is a full-bodied, yet sessionable black lager with a wisp of smokiness. It will have a rich roasty malt body with notes of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. It will have a sturdy hop bitterness and a subtle smokiness for balance and depth. From what I gather it defies style, featuring he rich malty body of a Franconian dunkel, the roastiness and color of a Schwarzbier and a subtle smokiness, though it’d decidedly not a rauchbier, either.

31 IBUs
5.2% abv, and 48 srm ( black). Cheers!

State Fair Guide for Monday

By on August 27, 2012in breweries, MN

There’s your tip of the day. The Fair does have drinkable water, and as much as we respect (and often support) your right to substitute water with beer, it may hurt the next day, even at 2.8%. Thanks to Joe for willingness to serve as a guinea pig.

Check out the Minnesota Craft Brewers Exhibit in the Ag. Building.

3:00pm: Hop Agriculture in Minnesota – Charlie Rohwer, PhD, U of M Scientist. Charlie’s job is cooler than your job. Among other things, he’s a hop researcher with the U of M. You can read more about him here.

6:00pm: Beer Tourism – Dan Justesen, Vine Park Brewery. This is another presentation that’s definitely worth checking out. Dan is no stranger to beer tourism. For the

Today’s beer flights in Land of 10,000 Beers:

HOPPY:
Summit Horizon Red Ale
Indeed Brewing Midnight Ryder
Third Street Bitter Neighbor
Excelsior XLCR

LIGHTER:
Fulton Lonely Blonde
Mankato Original
Schell’s Pilsner
Brau Brothers Old 56

BELGIAN STYLE/SWEETER:
Lucid Summertide,
Flat Earth Belgian Pale Ale
Flat Earth Bermuda Triangle Tripel
Surly Cynic Ale

DARKER:
Flat Earth Cygnus X1
Third Street Brewhouse Brown Trout
Schell’s Firebrick
Finnengans Irish Amber

To keep up to  date with Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild events, speakers, flights and other fun things at the Fair, be sure to follow @mncraftbrew on Twitter and check out their Facebook page!

 

 

Minnesota State Fair Day One: Beer Edition

By on August 23, 2012in beer events, MN

Happy Thursday, or as I used to say when I worked on Energy Park Drive, “Oh shit.” Today mark the first day of the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Aside from the traffic, I’ve always looked forward to the fair. Over the course of fair, we’ll make suggestions for you on a regular, if not daily basis.

Thursday, August 23rd:

  • Visit the Ballpark Cafe for a first taste of Pour Decisions’ Pubstitute, a Scottish session ale. This is the first public tapping of a Pour Decisions beer. It’s been a long time coming!
  • Check out the Minnesota Craft Brewers Exhibit in the Ag. Building. Do not argue with 4H students. They are smarter than you… Instead, grab a beer flight (or four) and peruse the exhibit. Four 5 oz. beers will set you back $8. (See below for today’s flight info.) From what I gather (correct me if I’m wrong… I know you will…) with the event schedule, there aren’t set speakers for Thursday.
  • Make out with a pretty girl or boy in Ye Olde Mill.
  • Don’t get a yardstick, you’re better than that.

Today’s beer flights in Land of 10,000 Beers:

HOPPY:
Brau Brothers SheepHead Ale
Summit Extra Pale Ale
Lake Superior Black IPA
Steel Toe Size 7 IPA

LIGHT:
Finnegans Blond Ale
Steel Toe Provider
Schell’s Pilsner
Brau Brothers Old 56

BELGIAN STYLE/SWEETER:
Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison
Boom Island Silvus Pale Ale
Flat Earth Bermuda Triangle
Surly CynicAle

DARK:
Brau Bros Moo Joos Oatmeal Milk Stout
Surly Bender
Mankato Stickum
Schell’s Dark

To keep up to  date with Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild events, speakers, flights and other fun things at the Fair, be sure to follow @mncraftbrew on Twitter and check out their Facebook page!