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.

Save the Nook Saturday at Groveland Tap

By on December 16, 2010in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries

By now, you’ve probably heard that The Nook in St. Paul had a devastating fire on December 14th. The crew from Groveland Tap & Summit have offered to lend a hand to Nook employees to help them through the holidays. On Saturday, Dec. 18th from open to close (11am-1am), for every pint of Summit purchased, $1.50 will be donated to a find to help Nook employees. “Have a pint & help your neighbor!”

$2.50 Summit Happy Hour (and Groveland Tap has NO shortage on Summit products on draft), $2.00 wings (1/2 #, $1.50 donated back to employee fund).

Belg-a-rama II, The Wrath of Al

By on December 14, 2010in bars/restaurants

The second round of The Blue Nile’s Belgian beer tap series starts right now, with some great seasonal favorites. Delirium Noel, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Scaldis Noel, Barbar Winter Bok, Blaugies Darbyste fig saison, and Rodenbach Classic. Enjoy a full glass or a sample set of 3 4-ounce pours, runs through next Sunday.

Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival

By on December 14, 2010in beer events, breweries

The Second Annual Beer Dabbler at The Winter Carnival offers an afternoon of craft and micro-brew tasting and awareness to adults yearning for a full spectrum of flavor and color in their beer. For $25 in advance and $35 day-of, beer enthusiasts can take in a great variety of liquid gold and other precious hues from fifty different local and regional small batch brewers. Dabblers get a miniature pint glass from which to sample and to keep as a souvenir.

Tickets here.

Or buy your tickets at one of these stores:
(Cash Only)
The Four Firkins
8009 Minnetonka Blvd
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426
(952) 938-2847

Thomas Liquors
1941 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105-1433
(651) 699-1860

Ale Jail
1787 Saint Clair Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105-1941
(651) 698-9463

Station 4
201 4th Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1603

TC Craft Beer
4455 Winnetka Avenue
New Hope, MN 55428-4928
(763) 537-0000

If you like to dress up or want to see how your home brew stacks up, click here for details on the costume contest (five categories) and home brew competition.

‘Tis The Seasons In The Abyss!!

By on December 13, 2010in bars/restaurants, beer events

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the season of the Abyss! Finally! Deschutes Abyss will be here and we are having a “tour” to celebrate! Seven bars, games prizes and BEER, tons of beer!!!

Thursday December 16th

5:00 The Happy Gnome – Offering flights of Deschutes Beers featuring Black Butte Porter, Abyss, and Jubel 2010

5:45 Stub & Herbs – SLAYER TRIVIA*!!! Abyss, Jubelale, Hop Trip, and Hop Henge on tap!!

6:30 Pracna – Abyss, Obsidian Stout on Nitro, Jubelale plus Deschutes specials all month long with beer and prize giveaways!!**

7:15 Haute Dish – Abyss and Mirror Pond Pale Ale, features TBD

8:00 Mackenzie – Abyss, Inversion IPA, Jubelale, Jubel 2010 with Beer Trivia!!

9:00 Bryant Lake Bowl – Abyss & Black Butte Porter with Bowl for the Abyss (win free Abyss bottles!!)**

10:00 Buster’s on 28th – Black Butte Porter, Abyss, & Jubel 2010 with T-Shirt and beer Giveaway!!**

See you there!!!!

All bars will promptly tap their kegs of Abyss at 5pm so get on it!!!

*Slayer rules!

**visit any 3 bars on the list and get the bartender to initial off the special card and turn it in at Busters after 10pm for a free limited edition Abyss t-shirt (while supplies last, void where prohibited, no purchase necessary and all that crap!)

Dissident Keg a Pracna

By on December 10, 2010in bars/restaurants

Pracna will be tapping The Dissident from Deschutes today at 4pm. It’s a 1/6 barrel and one of only two in the state, so get there early so all the other jerks don’t drink it up. 🙂

After nearly two years aging in isolation, 2010 The Dissident has reached its pinnacle. Deschutes Brewery’s only wild yeast beer, brettanomyces and lactobacillus “critters” (a technical brewing term) create a …distinctive Oud Bruin, Flanders-style sour brown ale, with a fruity aroma and flavor. Along with the wild yeast “critters”, which help to create a strong Belgian flavor, this lavish brew has whole central Washington cherries – pits, stems and all – added to the mix.