Month: January 2008

Perfect Happy Hour at Cooks of Crocus Hills

Josh sent me this tip about an interesting beer-related class at Cooks of Crocus Hills in Edina:

Perfect Happy Hour, $65
Rachael Rydbeck, Josh Pepper
If your idea of happy hour is oversalted popcorn and a cranky bartender, this class may not be for you. Rachael — who, by the way, is neither oversalted nor cranky — will brighten your mood and tickle your tastebuds with these snappy apps, and Josh will share the perfect beers to complement them.

Menu: Spiced Nuts; Spicy Cheese Straws; Cheese Fondue with Grilled Veggies; Artichoke Dip; Bacon Wrapped Shrimp; Apple Crisp

Sign up here!

“Brew Like a Monk” author Stan Hieronymus at Northern Brewer

Here’s a quick note from Juno at Northern Brewer:

On Thursday, January 24th from 5-7pm Stan Hieronymus will be at our retail store discussing how to brew Belgian beers and signing copies of his book Brew Like a Monk. We will have discounts on Belgian products – yeast, sacks of grain, candi sugars, and books – the entire day. And we will give you a 10% discount on Brew Like a Monk from now until Mr. Hieronymus’s visit.

Courtesy of Stan Heironymus and Northern Brewer part-timer Kris England (BJCP Continuing Education Director) we will have two limited edition beer kits available for extract or all-grain batches:

The Number 8 (O.G. 1.084) Ready: 2 Months
A wonderful example of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale brewed in the Trappist tradition. A beer that seems lighter than its almost 9% abv would suggest. This beer should be highly carbonated, with peppery alcohol, spicey cloves, rum-raisin, and caramelized figs.

Petersbier (O.G. 1.041) Ready: 5 Weeks
The reverent Cistercian Brothers brew this beer on the left side of the Belgian town of Malle solely for their own consumption. It is not sold or served to the public, making it one of the rarest beers in the world. The monks make it from only Pilsner malt, hops, water, and yeast. The complexity that results from these simple ingredients is heavenly: perfumey floral hops, ripe pear, sour apple, cloves, candied citrus, and a slight biscuit character in a dry finish. All in all, a monk’s session beer.

Town Hall Update

townhall.jpgThe hand-wringing and whining can end! Masala Mama (as well as a nice Tripel) will be on tap at Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery on Monday.

Hey All,
Beer release this coming Monday 1/14. We will release Triple Vision our Belgian-style Tripel and we will have Masala Mama back.

See you Monday!
Cheers

Barley John’s Sunday Night Supper

barleyjohns.jpgIn case you couldn’t make it to Barley John’s New Year’s Eve dinner, you have another chance coming up to enjoy some of their tasty fare at a special time. Sunday, January 20th they will be offering a Sunday Night Supper with your choice of Handmade Chicken Potpie, Family Style Roast Beef or a vegetarian option (TBD). All meals are served with homestyle sides, salad and choice of dessert. Reservations are recommended. Call for available times and price.
Whether you make it to the Supper or not, stop on by soon to enjoy their current seasonal – Belgian Dubbel weighing in at 6.8% abv.

No More Surly Tours Until Spring

I’ll take the lack of access in exchange for more beer. From the Surly MySpace page:

NO TOURS UNTIL SPRING 2008! We are cutting out the floors, taking walls down and adding 6 more brewing tanks. Because of all the construction, we will not be having any tours until the Spring of 08. That means no group tours or private tours. Sorry folks.