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.

Two New Beers from Flat Earth

By on July 31, 2008in breweries

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Flat Earth has two new beers hitting the stores on Friday – Convention Ale, a Belgian red and Onvi Ale, a Biere de Garde.  Here’s the lowdown on each beer.

Convention Ale is Belgian red ale. We combined a lot of different ingredients to make this beer. Made with American, English and Belgian malts, English and German hops and Belgian yeast. Very refreshing, smooth and easier to swallow then the up coming election cycle and you’ll still want more of it later. At 5.5% abv you can enjoy more then one.

Ovni Ale has a substantial and complex malt profile with flavors of toffee and caramel and a restrained hop bitterness. The beer is very smooth and deceptive at 7.1% ABV. Brewed in the spring to get you through the summer. The high amount of carbonation keeps this beer light on the palette and refreshing.

Acadia Cafe Specials

By on July 30, 2008in bars/restaurants

Juliana from Acadia Cafe sent me a little update on some of their specials:

Beer Nights Sunday-Thursday 7 p.m.- close. Here’s the schedule: Sunday – Bartenders Choice! Come and be surprised! Monday – Local Night – $1 off all local tap brews and bottled. We’re including our Wisconsin neighbors in this. Tuesday – Belgian Night – Half-price bottles or all Belgian beers and $1 off Belgian taps. Wednesday – Bottle Night – Half-price bottles of beer & wine. Thursday – Tap Night – $1 off every beer on tap. Also, we’ve sweetened our happy hour to include half-price appetizers. Come Monday-Friday from 4-7 to eat half-price appetizers and get $1 off pints, wine, and well drinks and $4 off pitchers and wine bottles.

As the old fellas like to say, it sounds like a f#*%ing HOOT!

Summit News: Augustfest

By on July 29, 2008in bars/restaurants, breweries

SummitI just got a note saying that 12 packs of Summit Oktoberfest are in the JJ Taylor warehouse and should be heading out to stores this week. Last year the beer sold out early, so this time around they got a bit of a jump on things. Man! Oktoberfest…in August. Phew.

On a related note (but from a different source), Mark Stutrud will be the guest speaking at the Summit tasting at Stub & Herb’s.  Summit will also be bringing a cask-conditioned ESB, dry-hopped with Spalt hops. See you there!

McCann’s Updates

By on July 28, 2008in brewpubs

McCann’sThree good reasons for me to find a #%*$&# open weekend to visit McCann’s in St. Cloud:

1. McCann’s now has a patio. Not a necessity, but always a welcomed addition.

2. 1 liter dimple mugs. Again, not a necessity, but there is indeed a time and a place foe everything.

3. Keg Hopped Deep Seven. As Chris puts it:

We cram fresh hops into a keg and fill it with our Deep Seven IPA. Let it sit a few days to meld with the hoppy goodness, then put it on tap-Yum! The first keg of the series is dry hopped with Pacific Northwest Cascade hops. Keg two will be dry hopped with Goldings and Fuggles from the UK. Test kegs have worked out great and feedback has been amazing. Come on St. Cloud, show me you love your hops!

Happy Gnome Mead Dinner

By on July 28, 2008in bars/restaurants, beer events

I think I just got a slight buzz just thinking about this…

$70 per person

The Happy Gnome
498 Selby Ave
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-287-2018

The kick-off for the Twin Cities NATIONAL MEAD WEEKEND will be the Mead Dinner at the Happy Gnome on Thursday, July 31 at 6pm.

Happy Gnome Executive Chef Matthew Hinman will prepare and serve a six-course feast paired with SEVEN meads from White Winter Winery, featuring fish, wild game, and local seasonal fare. A “meet and greet” will start promptly at 6pm with a selected White Winter mead.

* Ken Schramm, author of “The Compleat Meadmaker” will be on hand to talk about mead tasting.

* Jon Hamilton, meadmaker at White Winter Winery of Iron River, Wisconsin will be present to talk about each of his meads.

* Chef Matt hopefully can be coaxed to speak about his choices in creating the pairings.

Cost of this unique, star-studded event is $70 per person.

To reserve, call the Happy Gnome at 651-287-2018
Ask to reserve for “The Mead Dinner” on July 31.