News & Updates

Junkyard Brewing Taproom Grand Opening Today

By on November 21, 2014in Junkyard Brewery, tap rooms

Our friends from Junkyard Brewing in Moorhead are celebrating tonight from 4pm to midnight. Over the course of about a year, they’ve moved from a tiny brewery in the corner of a woodshop to a brand new brewery and taproom.

Should you find yourself in Moorhead, be sure to stop by. They’ll hold a ribbon-cutting at 5:30 and tap a dry-hopped cask of Hop Habbit. Public tours will follow at 6:30 and 8pm. Later that night they’ll have music from Diane Miller and Mark Reitan.

Check it out!

Photo: Junkyard Brewing

Photo: Junkyard Brewing

Friday 5ive: High School Me Picks Five

By on November 21, 2014in Friday 5ive

I grew up in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and graduated from high school in 1993. I hung out with some of the “weird kids,” kids in accelerated classes and the high school swim team. Though traditional “cool” probably wasn’t seeping out of my pores, I managed to have a good time and had arguably okay taste in music fueled equally by a young uncle, Thrasher skateboard magazine, 120 Minutes, snowboard video soundtracks, KJ104 and the Flipside fanzine.

Today I give you a few selections courtesy of my high school self. I’m giving myself bonus points for including a couple of bands I’d entirely forgotten about (Buffalo Tom and Seaweed). Enjoy!


Buffalo Tom – Birdbrain. I forgot all about this band, but played their first couple of albums pretty heavily in high school. No surprise that J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) produced this album.


Pixies – Head On. High school friends introduced me to the Pixies and I fell in love. This seems fitting as I didn’t have a girlfriend for the bulk of my high school years. This song is a Jesus and Mary Chain cover… I never cared for Jesus and Mary Chain, but whatever. This is good.


All – She’s My Ex. I’m fairly sure I became familiar with the Descendents offshoot band, ALL, thanks to 1990’s “Snowboarders In Exile.”


Seaweed – Bill. Much like my “discovery” of Sunny Day Real Estate, Seaweed fell into my lap thanks to the fact that they were on Sub Pop records and grunge was huge at the time. I never really thought of the band as a “grunge” band per se… I just thought they rocked out pretty hard.


NOFX – Bob. Again, I have my snowboard days to thank for this one…

Insight Brewing Grand Opening

By on November 21, 2014in breweries, Insight Brewing
insight1

Photo: Insight Brewing Co.

Do you remember when we only had something like seven breweries in Minnesota? It really wasn’t that long ago. Today we add another to the tally, Insight Brewing Company. Their taproom opens at 4pm today (Friday) at 2821 East Hennepin in Minneapolis. O’Cheez food truck will be there and The Dead Pigeons will be playing in the evening as well.

Beer? But of course. How about Chiswick Porter, Curiosity IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale, Lamb and Flag English Ale and Saison de Blanc?

Go check them out! Welcome to the scene, guys!

Friday Five: Some Old Pop/Punk Favorites

By on November 14, 2014in Friday 5ive

If you find yourself bobbing your head along with these, you’re probably not alone. Punching Screeching Weasel into Pandora earlier in the week sent me down this road. I grew up this stuff. Enjoy!


Screeching Weasel – The Girl Next Door. The impetus for this week’s 5ive. One of my old favorite tunes from Screeching Weasel.


Descendents – Bikeage. The Descendents are one of my all time favorite bands. This is a great tune that’s been covered by a bunch of bands. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the backing vocals from the singer from Rise Against in this live clip, but it’s better than watching the album cover for two minutes. 🙂

The Queers – Fuck This World. I’m pretty sure this band is a bastard child of The Ramones and The Beach Boys.


Jawbreaker – Boxcar. “You’re not punk and I’m telling everyone… Save your breath, I never was one…” Remember the 90s? Grunge? Pop punk? Nirvana going mainstream? Green Day graduating from driving a bookmobile and playing First Avenue to tour buses and arenas? Jawbreaker’s Blake Schwarzenbach treads on the topic of “selling out” quite nicely with this one.

Blatz – Fuk Shit Up. Again with the f-bomb. How punk of you Mr. Anderson. Sloppy, somewhat poppy and rough around the edges. How can you not like something so simple?

New Life for Minneapolis’ Grain Belt Sign

By on November 13, 2014in August Schell Brewing Co., breweries
Photo: Wikipedia

Photo: Wikipedia

Yesterday our friends at August Schell Brewing Company announced that they had reached an agreement to purchase the iconic Grain Belt Beer sign on Nicollet Island. Better yet, the brewery is in the process of discussing plans for preservation and relighting of the historic sign with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. In connection with the purchase, the brewery is in the process of discussing plans for preservation and relighting of the historic riverside sign with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. Wouldn’t it be cool to see the sign lit up again? From what I gather, it’s been dark since 1996.
“As the stewards to a 154-year old brewery and family business, we understand the importance of preserving heritage. We are honored to have this opportunity to protect and restore such a beloved part of the Minneapolis landscape,” said Schell’s Ted Marti. “Working in concert with the community, our goal is to preserve and relight this important remnant of the city’s industrial and commercial past.”

For more information on the history of the sign, be sure to check out https://historicminneapolissigns.wordpress.com/signs/grain-belt-beer/