Author: Ryan Tuenge

Fair State Debuting First Batch in a New Series of Sours

By on January 26, 2016in Fair State Brewing, general beer, hops, MN, mnbeer.com, new beer

Bricoleur #1

Bricoleur: One who engages in bricolage.

The folks over at Fair State Brewing are getting themselves into a great number of experiments over at their space on Central Avenue in Northeast. The latest, a series of sours that include Saccharomyces, Lactobacillus, and Brettanomyces in the same stainless steel kettle. The naming convention will be the same with a separate batch number attached to each release. Each batch will have a similar pH level with the goal being to see just how American hops interact with the yeast and bacteria.
Batch number one was kettle soured initially with Brett being introduced during secondary fermentation. Niko Tonks who heads up the brewing operations seems excited to be releasing batch number one. “This was sitting for about 7 weeks before bottling. These beers will never see oak [never spend time in wooden barrels]. We want to let the Brett chew on all of those sugars.”
The beer smacks you in the mouth with bursts of pineapple and other tropical fruits and finishes very dry. Caleb Levar is the assistant brewer and he explains that a lot of the tropical flavors come from the Brett and how it works with the hops in the brew, especially the Nelson Sauvin variety. “I’m quite enamored with this beer” he says.
Where can you find this? Well, it will be on draft at the taproom and limited at other locations, but will also be available in bottles at the taproom ($15 each and no limit) beginning at 4:00 pm this Thursday, January 28th. They filled 1,550 bottles in total and whatever doesn’t sell at the taproom will be distributed to liquor stores. “We’re really happy to be pushing this stuff out to liquor stores” says Tonks. Niko also mentioned that they will be pouring this one at Winterfest which is coming up on February 26th and 27th.
You’ll probably want to grab one to enjoy now and one to save for later. “I’m always a proponent of drinking these beers right away, but this one will change over time” says Levar.
Bricoleur #1
18 IBUs
5.3 % ABV
3.65 pH
Hops used: Citra, Equinox, and Nelson Sauvin

Cheers!

NorthGate Celebrates 3 Years

By on January 25, 2016in breweries, cask beer, general beer, Grumpy's NE, history, mnbeer.com, NorthGate Brewing, tap rooms

NorthGate

NorthGate opened quietly in Northeast Minneapolis back in 2013 with a capacity of only 500 barrels. With their recent expansion in their new building [they moved in 2014], the brewery is now able to produce 4,500 barrels of beer thanks to some new equipment. “They [two new tanks] make our current ones look tiny” says owner Adam Sjogren. “I can’t even reach the sample valve.”
The brewery also made the move to cans for their flagship brews this past year despite the apparent can shortage affecting the industry. “I can’t get Crown cans at all unless we get bigger. “That being said, I’m never not going to have cans.” The shortage is real, and manufacturers are being forced to give priority to larger breweries. Sjogren says that this could be related to the “bubble bursting” that so many are talking about. “The bubble will burst when there are no more raw supplies.”
According to Adam they are at least a year and half ahead of where they projected they’d be at this time. “I thought we learned our lesson the first time [in their original space], the space is shrinking fast.”
They are planning to celebrate the same as they always have, at Grumpy’s in Northeast on their anniversary which is January 28th beginning at 5 pm. Special casks will be on site and they anticipate a full house in celebration of 3 years. That wasn’t always the case though. At their one year they didn’t know what to expect. “That first anniversary party started at 5 pm and I didn’t think anyone would show up” he says. Instead the place was packed, much to his surprise. Looking back Sjogren can’t believe how fast the time has gone by. “It’s been way better, way faster, and way more challenging.”
The brewery will also host a party on Saturday, January 30th beginning at 10 am. They will be releasing 750 ml bottles of their 2016 Fiddle Smasher which is a Wee Heavy, and also a new Imperial Red Ale (also will debut on tap at Grumpy’s on the 28th) which will both only be available for sale at the tap room. What’s really neat about the deal is that if you buy a pair of this year’s bottles, you can buy a pair of last year’s for $30 as well.
After 3 years and what seems like a lifetime of comradery among industry folks, he seems content doing what loves in the Northeast portion of the city. “It seems to be ingrained [comradery] in the industry, we are closer than the outsiders know.”
If you go:
Thursday, January 28th at 5 pm
Grumpy’s Northeast
2200 4th Street Northeast
Minneapolis, MN 55418

Saturday, January, 30th at 10 am
NorthGate Brewing
783 Harding St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Cheers!

Surly Releases Brett Mikkel’s IPA

By on January 16, 2016in breweries, general beer, MN, new beer, Surly Brewing Co.

IMG_0621

Surly teamed up with the Copenhagen, Denmark brewery Mikkeller— to come up with a brew that pokes fun at our favorite (or least favorite) pink pants wearing, make up laden, 80s butt rocker Bret Michaels. This funky IPA is fermented with Brettanomyces which differ from Lactobacillus in that they are a strain yeast, not bacteria.

Bottles (750 ML) have gone out to stores in their Twin Cities, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Iowa markets after a positive reception at the beer hall last summer. Most stores are charging around $9.99 a bottle so it’s pretty affordable compared to a lot of special releases.

Barnyard and tropical notes are evident in the nose right off the bat. Sweetness from the honey comes through slightly in the flavor but is soon overwhelmed by the bitterness of the german hops. The finish is nice and dry making this an extremely drinkable beverage. I’d grab this as soon as you can though because I can’t imagine it will sit on shelves long.

Cheers!

MN Beer Notebook: Early January 2016

By on January 7, 2016in breweries, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, hops, Lift Bridge, mnbeer.com, new beer, Summit Brewing Co., tap rooms

LBSilhouette

Fulton will be brewing their 300 IPA year-round now. Brewed with Mosaic hops, this has quickly become a local favorite for hop heads. Expect to find this around town starting on January 18th.

Our friends over at France 44 Cheese Shop (MPLS) just tapped Hawaiian Speedway Stout from AleSmith Brewing. This highly coveted Imperial Stout is a version of their popular “Speedway Stout” but is made with vanilla beans and toasted coconut.
Summit Brewing is celebrating 30 years in 2016 and they plan to celebrate by releasing four special beers throughout the year. The first one will be a Double IPA (8.5% ABV) made with Pale, Concerto Pale, and wheat—and aggressively hopped with Mosaic, Citra, Equinox, Bravo, Orbit and Experimental 06300. Four packs of tallboys should begin to hit shelves in a few weeks.

Dangerous Man, The Minneapolis Beard and Moustache Club, and Chowgirls Killer Catering will be hosting the 3rd annual Beard and Mustache Contest at the Solar Arts space on Sunday, January 17th at 1 pm. This also kicks off Dangerous Man’s 3rd Anniversary Week. You can register on the day of the event and if you’d like to attend it will only run you $5. Dangerous Man beer will be available for purchase on site as well as those fantastic pasties from Potters.
Lift Bridge is hosting their Silhouette Release Party on January 23rd from noon until 10 pm. They conducted a pre-sale for bottles of Silhouette but will sell any remaining bottles they might have at the event. Tickets are only $5 and include a free beer token.

Cheers!

Community Keg House Set to Open in Northeast on 1/15

By on January 6, 2016in August Schell Brewing Co., Bauhaus Brewlabs, Fair State Brewing, general beer, grand opening, Indeed Brewing Co., misc. mn beer, MN, NorthGate Brewing, Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co., tap rooms

Community Keg House

Here is a Q & A session I conducted with Nate Field from Community Keg House which is set to open on Friday, January 15th. This “beer room” is located in the Grain Belt Brewing Keg House and it provides a different experience than the other taprooms in town.

When was the idea for Community Keg House born?

I came up with the idea around 6 years ago. This was before the taproom boom. I wanted to create a space where beer enthusiasts could get closer to the experience of enjoying and understanding beer. I liked the experience I’d had at some wine bars and I modeled much of it on that form/vibe.

How did you secure that location?

My real estate broker found the space for us. We knew we wanted a location in NE where I live. When we found the space in the Grain Belt Keg House it felt right. We liked the idea that we would be celebrating the history of Minnesota beer while showcasing the next generation of what we are brewing.

How does the system work?

A patron walks up to our bar. Rather than order a specific beer they order a glass (either 16 or 10 oz size).

They enter a self-contained room we refer to as the “pour room.” Within the pour room is a 17-foot long table with 16 taps on it. Each tap is a different Minnesota brewery. Located and monitoring the tap table are “taptenders.” The taptender is there to help you. You can talk with them about beer, get a sample or directions on how to pour the perfect pint.

When you decide which beer you would like to drink, you POUR YOUR OWN PINT!

Now, beer in hand, you exit the pour room. You return to one of our seating areas. When you want another beer you return to the bar and get a new glass. The cashiers at the bar (bar control) can cut you off if you’re drunk). And the system repeats.

How will you make sure that people are pouring their beers correctly in regards to proper sanitation?
Well, each time you go back to the table you have to get a new glass. We will have some signage on proper pouring and the taptenders are there to advise.

Will you have options for people who don’t like beer?

Yes. We have two ciders on tap at all times. Also, there are NA drinks in the kitchen.

 

Which local beers will be available?

Belgian

Boom Island Witness
Insight Sunken City
Harriet Dark Abbey
Schell’s Snowstorm 2015

Winter

Northgate Stronghold
Summit Winter Ale
Bauhaus Tallander
Indeed Stir Crazy

Hoppy

Surly Furious
Fair State Pomp Le Moose
56 Brewing Polonaise APA
Able Seedhouse & Brewery First Light

Alternative

Grain Belt Nordeast
Bent Brewstillery Maroon & Bold
Four Daughters Loon Juice
Sociable Cider Werks Freewheeler

Community Keg House
34 13th Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Hours:
Monday 4 pm to 12 am
Tues-Wed Closed
Thursday 4 pm to 12 am
Friday 4 pm to 12 am
Saturday 1 pm to 12am
Sunday 1pm to 10 pm

Cheers!