News & Updates

Darkness 2015 Artwork by Brandon Holt

By on August 15, 2015in breweries, Surly Brewing Co.
surly-darkness-brandon-holt-mnbeerSQ

Surly Brewing Co. 2015 Darkness Art by Brandon Holt. Click on the image for the full version of the artwork.

Go figure that we stumble across the artwork for Surly Brewing Company’s 2015 Darkness on a hot and sticky day in which a Russian Imperial Stout is about the last thing I’d consider drinking. Truth be told, I’m nursing some iced tea and craving a saison. But I digress… For 2015 Surly brought tattoo artist and illustrator Brandon Holt on board. If you’re curious to check out some of his other work, click here for a some samples and here for his Instagram feed. Brandon follows Nic Skrade as second Darkness artist affiliated with Uptown Tattoo.

From the back:

Our 2015 vintage bottling of Darkness features a screeching bat-nightmare by local artist Brandon Holt.

No creature is more adept at navigating in the Darkness than a bat. Emerging from a deep and ancient cave, this year’s twisted nocturnal creature has evolved a set of adaptations well suited to detecting and devouring uncommon nourishment.

Notes of chocolate, coffee, dried tart cherries, and raisins emanate from his lair. If you can evade the talons and teeth, the thick body of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piney resinous hop character.

Surly Darkness Day 2015 is slated for Saturday, October 24th at their Brooklyn Center brewery. Watch this space for more info as it becomes available.

 

Summit Unchained #20, Sticke Alt

By on August 13, 2015in Summit Brewing Co.

sticke-altOld timers still lament the loss of Summit Altbier. I remember seeing it around, but quite frankly, I don’t actually remember much about it. I’ll defer to the old timers, who seemed to be quite fond of the beer.

Iold-altbiern October, brewer Mike Lundell brings another Alt to the Summit line-up in the form of Summit Unchained #20, Sticke Alt. Perhaps I’m just a beer nerd, but there’s something special about an Altbier. Alts are brewed at relatively moderate temperatures using top-fermenting ale yeast and are matured at cooler temperatures. The resulting beer ends up with a crisp flavor, not unlike a lager.

Summit describes Unchained #20 as a beer with a light noble hop nose with a good malt backbone that is slightly sweet, with a crisp, clean finish.

For this beer they’re using Pilsener, Vienna, Light and Dark Munich, Caramel and Black malts along with Hallertau and Mittelfruh hops. IBUs rack up at 55 and an abv of 6.3%.

Cool, eh?

Now keep in mind, this info is about Unchained #20. The 19th Unchained beer is still in stores. “Make it So,” is an ESB brewed with Earl Grey Tea. If you haven’t checked it out, you really should. I enjoyed it.

makeitso

 

Chop & Brew #38: Homebrewing With Tea

By on August 12, 2015in beer education, education, homebrew, Summit Brewing Co., video

A new episode of the locally produced homebrew/cooking webcast Chop & Brew is now online. This episode focuses on the topic and technique of homebrewing with tea. Tea geek/homebrewer Jessica Hanley (until just recently the manager of Eden Prairie TeaSource) talks about methods for brewing/infusing beer at home using tea. She also hosts a flight of her tea-kissed homebrews. We also throw Summit’s new Unchained 19: Make It So in the mix since it is an ESB infused with Early Grey tea. Relevant and timely!

Other recent C&B episodes you may enjoy:

C&B 37 – Influence of Mashing on Sour Beer Production
Features a presentation by Michael Tonsmeire, author of American Sour Beers and blogger The Mad Fermentationist, on his experience and suggestions regarding mashing for particular styles of sour beer.

C&B 36 – Big Brew Day at Summit
Dozens of homebrewers descend upon Summit Brewing Company for American Homebrewers Association Big Brew Day to brew extract, all-grain and Brew in a Bag batches of homebrew and enjoy a great day in the Minnesota sun.

Speaking of Summit’s Make It So, here is a bit more about the beer, its Star Trek nerd inspiration and effect of the Earl Grey tea:

(Full disclosure: post author works at Summit. Sup.)

Minnesota Made: August Schell Brewing Co.

By on August 3, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co., breweries

Here’s the latest episode of Minnesota Made with August Schell Brewing Co. Thanks for sharing Chris!

August Schell – Episode 8 from Chris Jones on Vimeo.

August Schell Brewery was established in 1860 in New Ulm, MN and is the 2nd oldest family owned brewery in the United States. They have succeeded despite dramatic historical events and now are thriving with the craft beer boom. This is a short documentary on their story.

See more at mnmade.tv

Director, Director of Photography, Editor: Chris Jones

Music Composed By Ben Frizzell

 

Minnesota Made Teaser – August Schell Brewery

By on July 31, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co.

A friend and former coworker started Minnesota Made some time ago. Several months ago we were talking about topics and (obviously) breweries came up. Episode 8 of MNMade will feature August Schell Brewing Company. Check out the first teaser video. Full video to come.

Nice work Chris!

Episode 8 Preview – Cypress Blanc from Chris Jones on Vimeo.

Listen to Jace Marti (5th generation & Assistant Brew Master) talk about August Schell’s Noble Star Collection.

See more at mnmade.tv

Director, Director of Photography, Editor: Chris Jones

Music Composed By Ben Frizzell