Category: beer events

Mpls. St. Paul Tastemakers – A Toast to the Twin Cities Craft Beer Movement

By on October 12, 2012in beer education, beer events

Stephanie March and Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl from Mpls. St. Paul Magazine are hosting a Tastemakers tribute to local craft beer on Tuesday night at the Ritz Theatre in Northeast Minneapolis from 6-8pm. Tickets are $10 and include appetizer and beer samples as well as great conversation with four players in the local beer scene who all have great stories to share about their history in the brewing world and the breweries that they represent. I’ve personally had the pleasure of sitting down with all of these guys and suffice to say that this event gets my shining endorsement.

Todd Haug, Surly Brewing
Damian McConn, Summit Brewing
Joe Pond, Olvalde Farm & Brewing
Jason Schoneman, Steel Toe Brewing

Cash bar, too, in case samples aren’t enough. You can purchase tickets here or at the door.

Plus, if you get your act together before Monday, you can have a chance to win tickets. Go here, read a bit more about the event and add a comment with a Minnesota beer that you love. And just so we’re clear, you need to comment on Dara’s blog in order to win tickets. Comments with your favorite Minnesota beer on this site are always appreciated, but won’t get you any tickets.

Cheers!

 

Excelsior Brewing Oktoberfest Saturday

By on October 12, 2012in beer events, breweries

On Saturday, October 13th, Excelsior Brewing will hold their first annual Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery from noon to 9pm featuring beer (surprise!) music & hammerschlagen, among other things. Music includes Tim Mahoney and Thee Unholy 3 as well as roaming accordion players. This event will serve as the debut of Excelsior Oktoberfest Märzen. You’ll also be able to enjoy other beers like their Bitteschläppe Brown Ale, XLCR Pale Ale and Big Island Blond Ale. Maynard’s and Patisserie Margo will be serving up food in the form of brats, strudel and a homemade pretzels, etc.

All ages. 21+ to drink.

421 3rd Street, Excelsior, MN 55331

 

Surly Darkness Day Details

By on October 11, 2012in beer events, breweries
Surly Brewing Co.

This year’s Surly Darkness Day is  Saturday, October 27, from 11am–6pm. Obviously if you’d like to get your hands on a bottle (or six) of Darkness, it’s advised that you get in line early. What time? It’s difficult to say, and as this event gets more popular. How about early o’clock? Not to rub it in, but for the first Darkness Day, we showed up around 9am and were near the front of the line. Don’t count on that this round!

Surly Darkness Day no. 1. Shitty cell phone shot. I’d apologize, but some of you were still drinking Miller Lite at this point! 🙂

…and of course there will be beer… and food, and music.

Beer:
Expect some of the usual suspects as well as limited-release beers and casks. You can buy beer tokens for $4. Pours of cask beers & Darkness will be 8 oz. and everything else is 12 0z.

Food trucks:
You will not go hungry unless you are broke… or stupid. Plan ahead. Chef Shack, Natedogs, Barrio, Groveland Confections, Caribou Coffee, and others will be serving throughout.

Live Music:
As always, at Darkness Day the rock will be accompanied by the roll. Bands include God Came From Space, We Are Legion, Wolvhammer, and Powermad.

Powermad – Surly Darkness Day No. 2

So you wanna buy a bottle (or six) of Darkness?
The Surly crew will hand out 1200 wristbands for bottle sales prior to the gates opening. If you get a wristband, you’ll be allowed to buy up to 6 bottles of Darkness. Bottles of Darkness are $18 each, (cash only). Extra bottles will be available for purchase later in the afternoon. Not everyone buys their allotted 6 bottles, so stick around if you want a bottle but weren’t one of the first 100 people in line… you may just get one…

Some Rules:
[Aside from the golden rule in the beer world… don’t be a jerk. Oh, and for the love of all that is good in the world, don’t ]

  • Must be 21+ to enter unless accompanied by parent. No tickets needed.
  • DON’T SHOW UP BEFORE 3:30 on Friday! Surly has neighbors. Respect their employees and their space.
  • Any tents/structures that are up during daylight hours will not be allowed.
  • Volunteers will be helping with the line overnight. Please follow their direction as they can blackball you from the event if you don’t.
  • As always, be safe and arrange a ride or take a taxi home.

Vine Park’s 17th Anniversary

By on October 11, 2012in b.o.p., beer events, breweries

Vine Park Brewing will be celebrating 17 years being “The Fun Place to Brew Your Own Beer & Wines” on October 17. Vine Park has a long history (well at least for a teenager) in St. Paul, operating as a brew-on-premise first and foremost, and in recent years adding growler sales via their commercial brewing setup. Congrats to Vine Park!

To celebrate, on their birthday, they’ll be offering growler fills for $8 all day long, which is an even better deal than their  “Year of Beer” card.

Also, Vine Park will award a Year of Beer card good for $144 worth of growler fills to the best photo submitted to our Facebook page or emailed to newsletter@vinepark.com that celebrates our 17th birthday.  The rules are wide open and the gang from Vine Park will  pick the one they like best.  Creativity Rules!