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.

Muddy Pig’s 1000th Beer: Summit 103

By on April 12, 2012in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 19th from 12-3. The Muddy Pig will tap their 1000th beer that day. What will it be, you ask? A special beer from Summit Brewing Co., 103, brewed especially for the occasion. Details for the beer are still in the works, but we know that it’ll include 10 malts and 10 hops. It’ll only be available at the Muddy Pig, and only ’til it runs out. One can only guess that it will be brewed on Summit’s new pilot brewery.

Congrats to the The Muddy Pig on serving 1000 different beers over the course of their 10 years. Cheers!

Fitger’s Brewhouse Beer Updates

By on April 11, 2012in brewpubs

Pouring soon @ Fitger’s Brewhouse
Brewhouse Brown Ale
Joe Logger Vienna Coffee Lager

Pouring soon @ Burrito Union
Sierra Neveda Torpedo

Pouring soon @ The Rathskeller
Schlenkerla Smoked Helles

Pouring soon @ Tycoons Alehouse
Tugboat Irish Stout
Joe Logger Vienna Coffee Lager

…and just for fun, Duluth’s Trampled by Turtles filmed a video for their song Alone in The Rathskeller, check it out. This will be MNBeer.com’s one and only link to CMT.com 😉

Book Signing at Flat Earth Thursday – “Minnesota’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs”

By on April 11, 2012in beer events

Tomorrow from 3:30pm – 6:30pm you can visit Flat Earth Brewing Co. for a book signing with author Robin Shepard, who authored “Minnesota’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs, Searching for the Perfect Pint.”

Minnesota’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs
Searching for the Perfect Pint by Robin Shepard

SPECIAL EVENT – Flat Earth Brewing Company. This Thursday (April 12) from 3:30pm – 6:30pm. Book Signing with the author in the Flat Earth Tasting Room!
Join Robin Shepard for a beer and discussions about his quest to find the best brews in Minnesota!

Based on four years of travel and research, Minnesota’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs is a welcome addition to Robin Shepard’s series of guides to the best of the Midwest’s beer industries. From large-scale breweries such as Cold Spring and trendsetters like St. Paul’s Flat Earth Brewing Company, to individual brewpubs like Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery and Fitger’s Brewhouse, Shepard provides commentary for more than thirty beer makers and three-hundred Minnesota beers. Accessible enough for people at all stages in their journeys to discover great-tasting beer, the information-packed guidebook also features a list of helpful books and websites, as well as information on Minnesota’s beer tastings and festivals.

For each brewery and brewpub site you’ll find:

•    a description and brief history, plus many “don’t miss” features
•    a description of beers on tap and a list of seasonal and specialty beers
•    a space for the brewmaster’s autograph
•    notes on the pub food, with recommendations
•    suggestions of nearby sights and activities
•    general directions to the location
•    Shepard’s personal ratings of the experience, plus room to add your own.

“Thorough, interesting, and surely helpful to those—there are thousands these days—who are searching for a decent glass of beer.” —Jerry Apps, author of Breweries of Wisconsin

Robin Shepard is author of Wisconsin’s Best Breweries and Brewpubs, which was awarded the Quill and Tankard Writing Award of the North American Guild of Beer Writers, and Best Breweries and Brewpubs of Illinois.

[More information at: http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4268.htm]

Republic to Expand to 57 Taps in May

By on April 10, 2012in bars/restaurants, cask beer

Fun news from the Twitterverse… Republic announced today that they will be expanding their expanding their tap beer selection by 25 lines in early May, for a grand total of 57 lines, one of which will include a beer engine for cask-conditioned beers. Congrats to Republic!

Republic is very pleased to announce that 25 additional tap lines are planned for installation in early May, bringing the grand total of their all craft draft beer offerings to 57.

The expansion will fill gaps (if any could be counted) on their beer list and represent more local and emerging American craft beer companies. A few more offerings from Germany and Belgium are also part of the plan.

Co-owner and beer buyer, Matty O’Reilly, will keep around 50 lines aggressively rotating
with the seasons and new releases, with a number of year-round static lines maintaining
their spots (e.g. Surly ‘Furious’, Fulton ‘Sweet Child of Vine IPA, Left Hand ‘Nitro Milk Stout’). Five lines will be dedicated to a weekly rotation of “one-off” kegs, limited releases and special features. One line will remain for Beer of the Day, which is a daily rotating $3 all-day, everyday, craft beer. One line (utilizing a beer engine) will be dedicated for cask conditioned ales.

Surly Bandwagon at Target Field

By on April 9, 2012in breweries

Today Surly announced that they would have a new IPA available at Target Field this summer that will be exclusive to the ballpark. Bandwagon IPA is brewer with pale & crystal malts as well as Centennial & Chinook hops and English ale yeast.

Introducing Bandwagon, a West Coast India Pale Ale. This IPA is brewed with pale and crystal malts, centennial and chinook hops, and fermented with English ale yeast. Bandwagon is pale gold in color and has flavors of caramelly biscuits slathered in pineapple-orange marmalade.