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.

Summit Backyard Bash Sept. 7th

By on August 5, 2013in beer events, breweries
Summit Backyard Bash. Photo © Summit Brewing Company

Summit Backyard Bash. Photo © Summit Brewing Company

Occasionally we like to promote items from the events pages to the homepage, and Summit’s Backyard Bash is just such a thing. Our 27-year-old friends in St. Paul are celebrating their collective birthday in a big way on Saturday, September 7th from noon-8pm. $18 gets you a whole lotta’ music, and half of the proceeds from your ticket go straight to the Minnesota Music Coalition, a nonprofit service organization dedicated to supporting Minnesota’s independent music community. Very cool. In a previous life (let’s call it the 90s), I was an indie zinester and independent music is still very near and dear to me.

But I digress… sort of, anyway. The Backyard Bash will include performances by local bands including  Secret Stash Soul Review (The Valdons, Sonny Knight, Jackie Harris and Wanda Davis), Haley Bonar, The New Standards, Lizzo (featuring Lazerbeak), Night Moves, Charlie Parr and friends, and Hotpants DJs. The Current’s David Campbell will emcee with help from Ellen Stanley from the MMC.

Needless to say, you’ll find some good munchies at the event from places like Bennett’s Chop and Railhouse, Barrio, Pizza Luce, Blue Plate and Black Forest Inn and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to wash down all that Minnesota music and food with a little beer from Summit Brewing Co.

Expect a variety of beers from the brewery as well as a cask beer area in their brand new cellar. They’ll also feature some kellerbier straight from the tanks and served in Fass kegs (think casks, but German…)  Casks will be tapped continuously throughout the day. Good times!

Hey Mom or Dad, wanna’ come down to the Twin Cities and watch my kids for the day?

For more information about the Backyard Bash, including directions and FAQs, please visit: http://www.summitbrewing.com/Summit-Backyard-Bash

 

Darkness 2013 Artwork

By on August 5, 2013in breweries
Surly Brewing Co.

This year’s artwork for Surly Darkness comes from the hands of Josh “Jawsh” Lemke. Check it out.

Surly Darkness 2013 label

From the bottle:

“Brewcifer Lord of Darkness”
From the depths of the Brewhouse he arises! Enveloped in raging flames, his shadowy visage commands submission ot the dark nectar in his goblet. Brewcifer holds before you a massively opaque black brew with notes of chocolate, coffee,d ried tart cherries and rasins. The thick body of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piny resinous hope character.

Brewcifer commands that you enjoy this creation in a tulip glass, to capture the comple aromas and flavors. Brewcifer would suggest that you share with a friend. Brewcifer doesn’t want you to e a jerk.

Each year, we select a different artist to create a Darkness-inspired monstrosity. This year’s fiery creature is from the dark imagination of local artist Josh “Jawsh” Lemke.

Omar Ansari  Todd Haug

HammerHeart Brewing Co. Opens Friday

By on August 1, 2013in breweries

hammerheartFriday at 4pm, another new Minnesota brewery opens its doors. HammerHeart Brewing made their debut at All Pints North in Duluth a couple of weeks ago with some nice beers, among which was a smoked IPA. If you didn’t join us in Duluth, fear not…  Starting at 4pm, if you get your ass out to Lino Lakes, you can check out their beers. The lineup is said to include some beers that didn’t make their way to APN as well as a couple of collaboration beers brewed with former Haand Bryggeriet head brewer Andreas Riis. …and of course they’re appealing to the coffee lover in me with a coffee stout brewed with coffee from Flamenco Organic. No growlers just yet folks… patience.

Congrats HammerHeart! Best of luck!

HammerHeart Brewing Co.
7785 Lake Dr.
Lino Lakes, MN 55014

Direction Notes: For those of you coming to the brewery on 35W, the exit to take is #36, or Hwy 23, NOT the “Lake Dr.” exit you see if you are coming from the South. Once you exit, go North on Lake Dr/Hwy 23 a little less than a mile, and we are on the left, flag is flying high. If you reach “The Tavern”, formerly Millers, you have gone too far, turn around.

Castle Danger Brewery to Expand into Two Harbors

By on August 1, 2013in breweries

castle-gangerGreat news from the North Shore – our friends at Castle Danger Brewery are expanding into downtown Two Harbors in 2014. They’ve maxed out their small brewery on the grounds of the Castle Haven Cabins and need to expand. Can I get a “hooray!”? Owner Clint MacFarlane tells us that they’re planning on building a 10,000 sq. ft. facility that will include a 2000 sq. ft. taproom as well as outdoor seating. The brewhouse will be upgraded to 30bbl (currently 3bbl). The icing on the cake? They’ll be adding a canning line to the new operation.

Congrats Clint & Jamie!

The new location in Two Harbors. See that parking lot? Imagine yourself drinking beer there...

The new location in Two Harbors. See that parking lot? Imagine yourself drinking beer there…

The brewery today. Photo: Castle Danger

The brewery today. Photo: Castle Danger

Beer For Life at Northbound Smokehouse

By on July 30, 2013in brewpubs

Beer4GoodAwesome. It’s always cool to see folks in our brewing community give back, and Northbound Smokehouse is doing just that in celebration of their first anniversary. The brewpub that initially offered up beer for life for a $1000 contribution to their Kickstarter campaign now plans to donate a Beer4Life membership to two different charities in the 55406, 55407 and 55417 zip codes. You can pick your favorite by texting BEER4GOOD to 75309 (Msg. & data rates may apply) and replying to the bounceback message with your charity of choice by August 9th at midnight.

“Our first year has been amazing. We’re thankful for our community that supported us. This is our way of supporting the charities that support our community.” ~Northbound’s Jamie Robinson

The final two charities selected will set up raffles that will be sold at the brewpub and other locations in the area. The winner will be picked at random at a special event on Sunday, September 22nd at Northbound.

“We expect that once word spreads, there will be a lot of nonprofits pressing their supporters to vote,” said Amy Johnson, co-founder of Northbound. “They’re welcome to. We’ll be covering the raffle costs for the two charities to ensure that 100% of the funds raised go to them.”