News & Updates

Holiday Beers Worth Hunting Down

By on December 22, 2024in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., general beer, history, holiday beers

The holiday season often calls for beers with some substance. Oftentimes they carry a higher ABV and will feature seasonal spices (think cardamom, cinnamon, anise, cherries, and chocolate) to bring holiday cheer to those who imbibe. The truth is though, that the first known holiday beers were actually brewed by Viking women in celebration of the winter solstice using ingredients that were readily available.

Women were the primary brewers in medieval Europe, and would often make special beers to celebrate the yuletide season which were often consumed in honor of the gods. This was especially true in Norway (women primarily brewed beer stateside before the industrial revolution as well) where beer was enjoyed by all communities across all social classes.

Modern holiday beers can be credited to Fritz Maytag of the infamous Anchor Brewing Company out of San Francisco California. The team first brewed Anchor Christmas Ale (Originally called Our Special Ale) in 1975 making it the first seasonal beer since Prohibition.

Here are some holiday beers worth seeking out.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale – St. Bernardus uses their proprietary yeast that was harvested back in 1946 to bring this beer to life. This Belgium Quad is essentially their ABT Ale with spices added. Roasted chestnuts, stone fruit, and chocolate come across the palate making this a great pairing with all things chocolate, or your favorite winter stew. 9.8% ABV.

Sierra Nevada Celebration – Celebration differs from many options in the market as it is a West Coast IPA rather than a Winter Warmer and does not contain the typical spices used in most holiday beers. Citrus and pine notes seek to balance the sweet caramel malt used in this recipe. Serve it up with Sole Meuniere for the holidays to honor the legacy of Julia Child. 6.8% ABV.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale – Roasted malts along with cinnamon, honey, and ginger make this classic winter warmer worth space in your fridge for the holidays. Pair it with a festive salmon dish for the holidays and you won’t regret it. 7.5% ABV.

Bell’s Christmas Ale – This is one of the better Scotch Ales in the market and the perfect partner for your cheese board. The sweet malt base with subtle plum notes plays well with a nice brie or an alpine style cheeses such as Gruyere or Comte. 7.5% ABV.

Bent Paddle Christmas Cookie Cream Ale – This crowd pleaser is essentially a liquid spritz cookie. Yes, just like the one on that plate of cookies at any given holiday party. Naked oats and acidulated malt make up the base of this beer that also showcases vanilla, almond, and cardamom. Bring this to your party and serve it right alongside that platter of bright, sugary morsels. 5%ABV.

Cheers!

Five Oktoberfest Celebrations Worth Checking Out

By on September 12, 2024in August Schell Brewing Co., beer events, breweries, Fair State Brewing, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, history, Summit Brewing Co., Utepils

Grab your pretzel necklaces and dust off that lederhosen or dirndl that’s sitting in your closet. Steins will be knocked all over the state of Minnesota in the next month. Minnesota has a huge population of Germans and New Ulm in particular has the highest reported population of German ancestry in the country.

The history of this celebration originated on the 12th of October, 1810 in Munich, Germany to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

As far as the beer goes, you may have noticed there are a couple varieties. One is a Marzen and the other, Festbier.

Marzen: Brewed in March and lagered until ready, this beer is similar to a Vienna Lager and has a nice malt backbone to it. They generally come in at 5.5-6.5 ABV and boast a beautiful amber hue with a clean and dry finish. Some local examples would be Schell’s Oktoberfest, Summit Oktoberfest, and New Glarus Staghorn.

Festbier: This style tends to showcase German Pilsner Malt and is pale in color. They tend to fall in the same ABV range but are more approachable to the average beer drinker. Some local examples would be Fulton Oktoberfest, Fair State Festbier, and Utepils Receptional Festbier.


As far as the festivals go, you can’t go wrong with any of the following:

Schell’s: There’s no better atmosphere than the backdrop of New Ulm, Minnesota for Oktoberfest. Peacocks, historic architecture, and the home of one of Minnesota’s oldest German breweries. The Marti family is not only a fantastic group of brewers, but a family that knows hospitality. I’ve been in this industry for many years, and Jace and crew are some of the best people around. Without Schell’s there is no history and one stop at the brewery will give you the best representation of what a brewery should be. For the most authentic version of this celebration, this is the trip to make. Hotel reservations are highly recommended.

October 12th from 10:30am-5pm

Admission: $10 general admission. Kids 12 and under are free.


Fulton: This iteration of Oktoberfest was voted by Wall Street Journal as one of the best in the country! This event pours draft beer in steins only and you will need to purchase tokens to grab a fresh pour. There will be traditional German staples served such as brats, Bavarian pretzels, and meterwurst. There will also be live entertainment in the form of music and dance throughout the day.


September 20th from 4:00pm-10:00pm
September 21st from 12:00pm-10:00pm
September 27th from 4:00pm-10:00pm
September 28th from 12:00pm-10:00pm


Admission: Free!


Fair State Co-op: Fair State will be hosting two days of Oktoberfest complete with flash tattoos, food, a stein hoisting competition and music while also celebrating 10 years in business. Members will be able to start an hour earlier which means you should get in on that membership if you haven’t already. Expect some fantastic pretzels from Aki’s Bakery and sausages from Sweet Lou’s and music from bands such as The Hill Top Pines, The Right Here, Lutheran Heat, and Night Jobs.


September 20th 12:00pm-10:00pm (members at 11:00am)
September 21st 12:00pm-10:00pm (members at 11:00am)


Admission: Free!


Surly: Surlyfest is proof that there is no party in town like a party at the Surly Beer Hall. These folks pull out all the stops on the way to a good time. It starts with their Marzen style Oktoberfest which is rich, malty, and finishes dry and pairs well with their stellar food lineup featuring pierogis, stuffed cabbage, chicken spaetzle, pork schnitzel, sauerkraut croquettes, and Rueben frites. Surly is well known for hosting some amazing bands and this year is no different. Lighter Company, Fenixdion, and Rhino will be taking the stage outdoors complete with the gorgeous backdrop of the Beer Garden.


September 21st All Day

Admission: Free!


Utepils: There isn’t another brewery in the Twin Cities that does German beers like Utepils. One visit to the brewery and you’ll know you’re in for fantastic lagers and a good time. Utepils is hosting Oktoberfest for two weekends (beginning tomorrow) and will feature a ceremonial keg tapping and a cribbage tournament. The food highlight is Gerhard’s Brats and Northeast Pretzels. There will also be music, kids activities, and the essential meat raffle. A Minnesota staple. Shuttles will be running back and forth throughout the events from Anwatin Middle School.


September 13th 11:00am-Close
September 14th 11:00am-Close
September 20th 11:00am-Close
September 21st 11:00am-Close

Admission: Free!


Remember to tip your beertenders and to arrange for a ride home.  Don’t be a jerk!

Prosit!!!

Five Session Beers to Seek Out

By on September 2, 2024in Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, Steel Toe Brewing

Have you ever found yourself wanting beer options that allow you to be out with friends for an extended period of time that won’t leave you feeling extremely intoxicated? This can be challenging since most craft beers are rated at 6% ABV or higher.

There is nothing worse than signing yourself up for happy hour on a work night and knowing that you will be there for multiple hours with that all important morning meeting looming. Behold, some craft options that are sure to allow you a social life no matter what the morning beholds.

Daytime IPA Lagunitas Brewing – This unique brew will please everyone from the IPA fanatic to the gym rat. This boasts a remarkable statline of 98 calories per can, 3 carbs, and 4% ABV. You can literally be on a low carb diet and smash these considering they size up against those in the Michelob Ultra category. This may be the official beer for your summer weight loss program.

Fulton Chill City – Hamm’s is a classic beer around these parts. When you’re looking for something similar, there is no better choice. Your standard go-to crusher fit for the pontoon or the backyard potluck. ABV 4%.


Steel Toe Size 4 – When you want something crisp and flavorful, this is your pick. West Coast hops shine through this in this offering that has taken home a couple of prestigious medals. Plus, all the pretentious IPA bros will agree that this is the pick in the category. ABV 4.5%.


Bell’s Light Hearted – What separates this from the rest of the bunch is the balance and body demonstrated in this option. Those who love Bell’s Two Hearted will adore this iteration of a session style IPA featuring Galaxy hops. Michigan’s finest brewery knocks it out the park with this one checking in at 110 calories and an ABV of 4%.


Dangerlight Dangerous Man – This Pilsner really hits the spot on a beach or paired with a book on the couch. This beer won’t fuck up your fantasy football draft and will pair well with those tacos served up buffet style. Fear not, this beer finishes dry and will make you feel much less guilty for crushing the whole six pack at 4% ABV.

Cheers!

The 2024 Target Field Lineup

By on April 3, 2024in food pairing, general beer, Summit Brewing Co.

It’s springtime in Minnesota signaling the start of the season for the Minnesota Twins. The home opener kicks off on Thursday, April 4th at 3:10 pm and once again the food options are growing. Here are some of the things on deck for the season ahead.

Q’BO Latin Food Chicken Tinga Arepas are now on the menu at the Truly On Deck Market out in right field. Chicken tinga, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, and the star of the show— pickled red onions which provide an essential zip to this handheld.

Union Hmong Kitchen is dishing up a new take on a ballpark favorite, the brat. Yia Vang’s take on this is a Banh Mi Brat which features sausage, pickled veggies, and caramelized garlic aioli. This was by far the most unique and delicious offering at the event today. Find them at section 127.

Hrbek’s is serving up a Bussin Birria Taco featuring braised and melted cheese in a griddled tortilla with consomme. Nothing too fancy here, just some glorious meat and cheese. Located in section 114.

East Coast BBQ Mac N’ Meat is offering Mac & Cheese topped with your choice of smoked meat. These include chicken, rib tips, or pulled pork. Nothing pairs better with a ball game than smoked meats. They are located at section 131.

Two Mixed Up is smashing burgers over at Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern. This is a double smash burger with the usual suspects. Lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, and Two Mixed Up sauce. Grab a few napkins on your way back to your seat. Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern is located out in left field.

Summit Brewing is present throughout the ballpark and their Twins Pils is still the big hit out at Target Field. They also updated the look of the can to match the current Twins branding. This beer pairs well with just about any dish served at the stadium. Crisp, refreshing and perfect for soaking up all that vitamin D.



Cheers!

Target Field Going Yard on Local Once Again

By on April 3, 2023in beer travels, food pairing, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, homebrew, Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co.

Target Field hosted its annual Taste of the Twins event again ahead of the Home Opener and they are going big on “local” as per usual. Here were some of my favorites:

Official Fried Chicken (Section 133) is serving a number of items in right field. Four pieces of fried chicken, chicken tenders, a chicken sandwich, and fries. Stick with the classic four piece here and pair it with a Surly Hell.

Union Hmong Kitchen (Section 127) is turning up the heat with their Kramarczuk’s Hmong Sausage and Khao Sen Rice Noodle Bowl. Chilled noodles are dressed with a sweet chili vinaigrette, fresh herbs, and cabbage slaw. Chef Yia Vang’s influence is all over town these days and the Twin Cities are much better for it. This dish plays well with Twins Pils from Summit Brewing.

Soul Bowl (Section 113) is offering a Gong Jerk Chicken Bowl which consists of chicken thighs slathered in pineapple jerk sauce—along with plantains—all resting on a bed of yellow rice. Go to bat with a Sweet Child of Vine from Fulton, it’s a flawless match for spicy food.

 

Cheers!