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.

Winterfest Teaser: Surly Brewing Co.

Todd just sent over Surly’s line-up for Winterfest. Dig it…

Bourbon One
Our first anniversary huge malty lager aged in a fresh Bourbon barrel for one year.

Two
Oak aged Cranberry Stout. Very tart.

Jesus Juice (Aged Three)
Brewed with 50% honey and 50% German Dark Munich malt, aged on toasted White Ash and aged in a French oak Pinot Noir barrel.

Four
Double Espresso Milk Stout.

Darkness
Huge stout.

Smoke
Smoked Baltic Porter (Lager).

Coffee Bender
Coffee Infused Bender.

Cynic
Belgian-style Saison.

Cask Oak Aged Bender
Bender aged on oak.

Cask Mild
English style dark mild.

Cask Tea Bagged Furious
Dry hopped cask conditioned Furious.

Winterfest Teaser: Schell’s Line-up

Jace over at Schell’s let the cat out of the bag and sent us Schell’s line-up for Winterfest. Enjoy:

Schell’s Hopfenmalz
The commemorative beer for the 150th Anniversary of the August Schell Brewing Company. Hopfenmalz was part of the Anniversary Draft Series, a collection of eight single batch, limited release brews which took place over the past two years. Fans were asked to go online and vote for their favorite in the series, with the winner, Hopfenmalz, becoming the commemorative beer for the sesquicentennial year. So join us as we raise a glass and celebrate 150 years of brewing history with Schell’s Hopfenmalz! Prosit!

Hopfenmalz incorporates the elegant drinkability of a Pilsner, the bready maltiness of a Vienna Lager, and the hopping of a Pale Ale. The malty backbone is beautifully balanced by a bright, citrusy hop aroma and bitterness. Then we lagered it for an extended period of time to give it a crisp, dry finish.

Beer Style: Amber Lager, Alcohol By Volume: 5.8%

Schell’s Snowstorm
Much like snowflakes, no two Snowstorm beers are alike. Once a year, our brewmasters lock themselves in the testing room with a secret selection of fine malts and hops, only emerging when they’ve hit upon something truly extraordinary.

Few beers fit the season like a Baltic Porter does winter. The 2009 edition of Snowstorm was brewed with copious amounts of Munich malt coupled with three different British crystal malts, and British Chocolate. Snowstorm is dark mahogany in color with a tan head and displays flavors reminiscent of dark fruit, licorice,
and chocolate.

Beer Style: Baltic Porter,  Alcohol By Volume: 5.8%

Schell’s Bock
Each year the promise of spring was confirmed as the first keg of Schell’s Bock rolled onto waiting delivery wagons. And since 1860, Schell’s Bock has continued in the true German tradition. Completely reformulated in 2009, Schell’s Bock has replaced Caramel Bock as our late winter seasonal. Brewed with a harmonious blend of 10 different types of malt and noble hops, Schell’s Bock is fermented slowly, and then lagered for an extended period of time to ensure a smooth finish. Perfect for passing even the coldest winter day.

This dark copper colored beer sports a robust toasty malt character. Medium bodied with a smooth dry finish.

Beer Style: Bock, Alcohol By Volume: 6.1%

Dry Hopped Schell’s Maifest from fass
Our annual spring seasonal, a blond doublebock, is brewed for the transition from the cold winters to the warm summers here in Minnesota. Pulled straight from the lagering tanks at the brewery, this beer is unfinished – served uncarbonated and unfiltered from a Bavarian Stich-Fass. Dry hopped with German Tettnangs.

Beer Style: Blonde Doublebock, Alcohol By Volume: 7.2%

Winterfest Teaser: Fitger’s Brewhouse Line-Up

Dave dropped us a line to share the line-up of beers Fitger’s Brewhouse is bringing to Winterfest:

Bourbon Barrel Aged Edmund Imperial Stout (Cherry Version)
This robust stout comes in about 11.5% alc. We brew a triple strength stout focusing on dark malt flavors then balance with assertive hopping. We ferment out and begin aging. After 4 months we rack the young stout into Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels. We let the beer sit around 8 months. We then split the batch into two parts. 1 part is served the other is racked onto Door County Cherries. This is what you are enjoying.

Undertow Pilsener
Our German style pils. 4.9% alc. All German malt and hallertauer and spalt hops. Lagered for 10 weeks after a 16 day fermentation. Clean malt notes with balanced hopping.

El Diablo
Belgian style strong golden ale. 9%. Pils malt and candi sugar. High fermentation temps lots of ester character from the yeast. A very approachable strong ale.

Starfire North Shore Style Pale
Duluth’s idea of what a Pale Ale should taste like. 6% alc. Pale malt and German Vienna malt. Cascade and Amarillo hops. Our number one flagship at the pub.

Blitzens Blueberry Porter

Chocolate Porter at 6.2% Aged on fresh Bayfield Blueberries. Very much a chocolate blueberry surprise.