Category: beer events

Northeast Minneapolis Beer Fest and Homebrew Competition

By on August 29, 2013in beer events, homebrew

Fest

For the third consecutive year, the East Side Neighborhood Services is proud to offer a beer fest in the historic Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. The fest will take place on Saturday October 19th, 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Historic Grain Belt Bottling House located at 79 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis.  An ever-updating list of participating breweries can be found here.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.  In addition to esns.org, tickets can also be purchased at North Loop Liquor on 2nd Ave downtown Minneapolis.  All proceeds from the Brew Fest go to the ESNS, who provide community support and assistance in various capacities throughout northeast Minneapolis.

But wait, there’s more!

In addition, local homebrew club the Nordeast Brewers Alliance is holding the 2nd Nordeast Big River Homebrew Competition.   This is a BJCP sanctioned competition for all BJCP beer styles (no mead or cider).  There are also two additional categories, American Wild Ale and 100% Brett, so unleash the wild ales and bring out the funk!  Registration opens Saturday August 24th at nordeasthbc.brewcompetition.com. Judges and stewards are welcome to sign up as well; judging will be October 12 & 13.  Winners will be announced at the Nordeast Big River Brew Fest on October 19.  Check out the promo from Chop & Brew here.

It’s always a great time in Northeast Minneapolis.  Come for the art, stay for the beer!

Harriet Brewing Rauchfest

By on August 13, 2013in beer events, breweries

harriet logoClear your calendars. Harriet Brewing just made plans for you… On Saturday, September 28th, the brewery celebrates beer (duh), art, food and music with the festival known as Rauchfest! This smokin’ event features two stages of musical mystery, ten bands, food trucks a’plenty and local artists.

Want a ticket? Friday is your day… tickets go on sale at noon on August 16th at harietbrewing.com
Tickets Go On Sale Friday, August 16th at Noon at www.harrietbrewing.com

Par for the course, our friends at Harriet will brew a single batch fo Rauchfest, a smokes Oktoberfest lager. And if smoky beers aren’t your thing, fear not as Harriet will have 8 beers on tap as well as food from Tollefson’s Family Pork, AZ Canteen and Potters Pasties.

Musical acts include Boys ‘N The Barrels, Useful Jenkins, Dérobé Dance Band, The Blackberry Brandy Boys, Dead Larry, Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers, Erik Koskinen Band, Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, and more.

General Admission tickets are $10.00 before Sept. 23 and $15.00 week of show. Purchase Tickets at Harriet Brewing or online at www.harrietbrewing.com

Minneapolis Debut of “Beer Hunter” Sunday

By on August 12, 2013in beer education, beer events
beerhunterBeer dorks… if you’re not familiar with the only Michael Jackson that mattered (the English beer writer, not the pop singer with the Peter Pan complex), someone should probably slap you. Jackson wrote a number of influential tomes on the subject of beer and advocated the enjoyment of great beer long before most of us even cared. Jackson was influential and engaging and was a luminary that would give most “beer personalities” a run for their money if he were still alive.
“Michael’s engaging writing literally saved many styles of beer from extinction, and his work inspired an entire generation of brewers to experiment with beer styles from around the world.”
Heavy stuff. In any case, this film documents his personality and his travels, among other things, in the mid-00s. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting the man in person or if you caught him on television, you’ll know his charm. If not, let’s just say that you should check it out this Sunday.
On a side note, Jackson was a fan of Minnesota’s beer, featuring Summit’s Great Northern Porter on the cover of his book “New World Beer Guide,” and singing praises for the long-defunct Sherlock’s Home brewpub (See “Hate the Pun, Love the Pub.“) among others.
Republic at Seven Corners hosts two shows on Sunday, August 18th (2pm and 5:30pm). Tickets are $15. Jackson dealt with Parkinson’s in the latter part of his life and fittingly, proceeds from the show and a silent auction will go to support to support a Parkinson’s charity. Tickets and details below:

http://thefourfirkins.com/events/events-detail.php?id=5927

 

No Homebrew Sampling at this Year’s Deer River BBQ & Brew Fest

By on August 7, 2013in beer events, beer laws, homebrew

This year’s Deer River BBQ and Brew Fest will be without one of it’s starring attractions – this year’s homebrew competition will go on, but sampling homebrew to the public will not. We’ve seen issues with sampling homebrew come up for the past few years, and unfortunately this comes as no surprise.

Hello everyone. You may have seen the article in Saturday’s edition of the Grand Rapids Herald-Review that announced we are suspending homebrew public sampling at this year’s event but don’t worry. The homebrew judging event will proceed as planned and beer will be available for sale.

During final preparations for this year’s event it was discovered that Minnesota’s interpretation of current state statutes is that a home brewer or organization cannot give away samples of homebrew to people beyond the brewer’s family, as home brewed beer is not regulated in the same manner of professional breweries. More information will be available at the event Saturday if you would like additional details.

While disappointing, it is a small setback to what is a great event. We have a great lineup of BBQ teams who are ready to pair their low and slow ribs, brisket, chicken and pork with the live music of MESH. Home brewers will compete for prizes and bragging rights as well. Many folks will be camping on the site; BBQ smokers, brewers and their families.

See you on Saturday!

Much like 2010’s Artenbru, this event could very well have two-fold issues. Aside from the interpretation that homebrewer’s can’t share samples with the general public, this is also an event with a ticket price, which very well could be interpreted as payment for beer. Right, wrong or otherwise, this event will be shifting gears this year. What do you think?

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