Quick reminder. Winterfest tickets go on sale at NOON TODAY!!!
http://www.mncraftbrew.org/festivals/winterfest
Author: ryan
Ryan Anderson (that's me!) is the editor & founder of MNBeer. Much has changed since the fall of 2005 and I'm proud to have been a part of it all.
Sometime I'll tell you about my grand theory that links craft brewing to punk rock. Just ask.
Borealis Fermentery Holiday Pointed Hat Party at Beaner’s Central, Duluth
Borealis Fermentery is holding a Holiday Pointed Gnome Hat Party starting at 8pm at Beaner’s Central in West Duluth.
Music will be provided by Jason Wussow and Friends, Bluegrass band Black River Review, interim music by Borealis’ band – pointed hats on pointed heads.
They’ll be sampling few new brews, too. For the hop lovers among you, check out Homdinger- a Belgian style amberish hoppy ale. Inspired by some of their dear Dutch friends who don’t celebrate Christmas, they’ll be serving up Cinderclaws – a darker holiday brew crafted from maple sugar and star anise. $10 cover.
Fulton Worthy Adversary Release Saturday
This was the first Fulton beer I ever tried – in the back room of The Four Firkins, provided to the staff as a sample of a product for a brewery that had yet to launch… fast forward to today and they’re selling beer, expanding distribution and have a killer taproom not far from the Minnesota Twins’ ballpark.
In any case, Fulton will be releasing Worthy Adversary Saturday starting at noon at the brewery (414 6th Ave N, Minneapolis). Bottles should follow starting on 12/17 at liquor stores in 750ml bottles.
Related:
On Wednesday the 12th at Pig & Fiddle, Chef Stephanie will be making stout pudding to pair with Worthy Adversary.
On Friday the 14th, Grumpy’s Northeast will be pouring a firkin of Worthy Adversary aged on macadamia nuts.
The Local is tapping a keg on Thursday 12/20.
Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits Grand Opening
Congrats to Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits on their recent launch! To celebrate, this week they’ve been having “grand opening” festivities all week and plan to cap things off on Saturday (see below) with more fun. Pay them a visit – 4135 Hiawatha Avenue, Minneapolis
The deals run all week, but the party starts at noon on Saturday and will run until we close at 10pm (after party TBA).
* Free Scratch Food Truck Wine & Beer Pairings
* Free Photo Booth
* Musicians/DJs
* Special Guests: Lucid Brewing, Leslee Miller (Local Sommelier), Boom Island, & More
* Raffles/Giveaways
* Elevated Swag
* Free Tastings & Samples
* Awesome Deals Store-Wide
Surly Smoke Release Party at Zen Box Izakaya
Mark your calendars for Monday as Zen Box Izakaya in Minneapolis plays host to this year’s release of Surly Smoke. Things kick off at 5pm with Cynic, Bender and Furious on tap and 12 oz. pours of Smoke starting at 6pm.
Zen Box will also have a limited menu with signature items to pair with Surly beer, as well as a Double Smoked Pork Tsukune special dish made with Smoke.
About Smoke:
Ebony-hued, Smoke wafts out of the bottle and into your senses, borne on the wings of European traditions, wrapped in American innovation. Lager-brewed, like anytrue Baltic Porter, with smoked malts from Bamberg, Germany, the home of Rauchbiers, then mellowed by oak-aging. Black malt flavors mesh with notes of raisins, plums, figs and licorice with the subtle smoke on the side, for a complex and luxurious, yet silky smooth drinking experience. It’s a sipper at Alc. 8.2% by VOL., but everyone knows you can’t have Smoke without fire!
What: Surly Smoke 2012 Release Party
When: Monday, Dec. 10 from 5pm to close
Where: Zen Box Izakaya, 602 South Washington Ave., Minneapolis
About Zen Box… I spoke with Lina last week and she emphasized that Zen Box Izakaya is proud to be a beercentric Japanese restaurant. They serve only Minnesota-made beer and Japanese craft beer, including the Surly offerings mentioned above as well as Hitachino Nest Ginger & White ale on draft as well as Kirin, Sapporo and Asahi, the latter of which is on tap with a special chiller machine from Asahi. They were the first restaurant to bring in this beer on tap, and may well be the only one in the midwest with this chiller.