Category: Lift Bridge

Top Local Barrel-Aged Beer Programs

By on February 5, 2026in beer dinners, beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., general beer, Lift Bridge, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Steel Toe Brewing, Surly Brewing Co.

Quality Barrel-Aged beers are not always easy to find. The entire brewing process is lengthy and can lead to unexpected results in the final product. These beers require patience and the quality is hard to predict. Results often vary and they don’t always turn out the way the brewer intends them to. That being said, there are a handful of programs here locally that do a solid job at delivering on their experiments. Here are some of the top programs here in Minnesota.


Town Hall Brewery hosts Barrel Age Week every February with this year’s iteration taking place from Thursday, February 13th thru Sunday, February 24th. That’s a whole 10 days featuring over 20 special beers and a ticketed beer dinner event. Some of which include:

Manhattan Reserve: A Gran Cru aged in the barrels of two different Kentucky distilleries with tart Michigan cherries. This is must try.

Cold Runnings: The ever popular Scottish Wee Heavy aged in Jamaican Rum barrels contributing flavors of vanilla, chocolate, nougat, maple, and black strap molasses.

Jalisco Highlands: A Strong Belgian Blonde aged in an oak tequila barrel with notes of honey, lemon, watermelon, cherry and lime. A very unique addition worthy of sipping.

Iced Old Vine Curve: A blend of Town Hall beers aged in Cali Red Zinfandel barrels and briefly frozen to which left H20 crystals that were later removed with the concentrate saved for your enjoyment. What charcuterie boards are to Lunchables, Iced Old Vine Curve is to Icehouse. Plus, Icehouse is so mid-nineties.

Surly Brewing is notorious for their annual Darkness release every fall and their barrel-aged version is collected by many from all over the region. They are currently pushing their Barrel Goblins Project headed up by the talented Ben Smith. This collection includes:

Boris, a Parker’s Heritage 14 year Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine.

Lizzie, the French Oak Aged Dopplehelles Bock.

Viktor, a daring Bourbon Barrel-Aged Strong Ale with Vanilla.

Vlad, the mega Belgian Golden Strong Ale aged in Bourbon barrels and fermented with Brettanomyces.

Also around the bend is a collab project with Chicago’s Revolution Brewing which released in January. This concoction happens to be a Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout finished on wine lees. Also of note, Barrel-Aged Darkness is heading our way coming up in March in bottles and on tap. I’m drooling…

Steel Toe Brewing produces a couple of barrel aged beauties, Lunker and Before the Dawn. These releases are typically every other meaning that one year it will be Lunker, and the next is Before the Dawn. These usually drop late fall and they move fast so you’ll want to get in soon after the release if you want it on tap.

Bent Paddle Brewing brews up a Russian Imperial Stout version of Cold Press Black called Double Shot Double Black which typically releases in late November. This beer is a beast in terms of ABV, and especially compared to the standard version of Cold Press Black which is extremely crushable and the perfect companion to a campfire.

Lift Bridge Brewing produces one of the most overlooked barrel-aged options around called Silhouette. This Russian Imperial Stout is often available in different versions. For example, last year they released the traditional Bourbon Barrel Silhouette, French Toast, and Espresso Martini versions.

Cheers!

Jibe Talking Release/Disco Party

By on May 30, 2019in Lift Bridge
As the kids say, “their ain’t no party like a Lift Bridge party…” Perhaps I just made that up, but our friends at Lift Bridge are indeed celebrating the release of a new beer this Saturday, an Apricot Sour, Jibe Talking. At 4.5% abv and only 13 IBUs, this may just be your summer sipper.
If disco is your thing, dust off your old sharktooth suit, pregame with Gloria Gainer on the turntable at home and head to Lift Bridge for a Travolta-esque good time from 5-10pm.
Entertainment courtesy of DJ Stacey & Dwight Chocolate begins at 6pm. Dress in your very best disco gear for a chance to win some Lift Bridge prizes. Grab a bite via River Dogs Food Truck and GET DOWN!
Be cool! No cover.

Lift Bridge Brewery Turns Ten

By on August 16, 2018in Lift Bridge

Ten years is a long time in craft beer years. Though Lift Bridge doesn’t pre-date this site, they’ve still been around the proverbial block.  Lift Bridge was one of three breweries to open in 2008. Previous to that, Minnesota saw one new brewery in 2007 and one in 2006. Things have changed a bit, haven’t they? When they launched, they brewed their beer at Jeff Williamson’s Flat Earth location. In 2019, they’ll be brewing at a brand new location in Stillwater.

This weekend you can raise a Farm Girl (or your favorite LB beer) to the fine folks at Lift Bridge in celebration of their 10 Year Anniversary. The bash runs from noon-10pm on August 18th and will include food, music, axe throwing, giant yard games, hammerschlagen and a beer dunk tank, among other things.

Beer Lineup:

  • 93X Brotherhood
  • Crosscut IPA
  • Getaway Pilsner
  • Hop Dish IPA
  • Hazy McHazeface
  • Mango Blonde
  • Barrel Aged Silhouette 2015
  • Barrel Aged Silhouette 2017
  • Commander 17
  • Wee Heavy
  • Farm Girl Saison
  • Irish Coffee Stout
  • Mini Donut Cream Soda
  • Root Beer
  • Minnesota Tan 2015
  • Chardonnay Barrel Aged Farm Girl
  • Okotberfest
  • Mango Slushies
You’ll also want to check out their 10 year twist on Farm Girl. “From the pop of the cork, the bubbly pour, to the effervescent tingle on your tongue, champagne yeast and bottle conditioning make this truly a celebration of our past, present, and future.”
Tickets are $7 on Eventbrite and $10 at the door. Tickets include a beer token or two soda tickets. Kids welcome until 7pm.

Lift Bridge Commander Barleywine Release Party Saturday

By on November 9, 2017in beer events, Lift Bridge
Our Friends at Lift Bridge are having a party this Saturday from noon to 10pm. Their seasonal Barleywine, Commander, makes its appearance at the brewery this weekend along with food, prizes and other merriment.
– Commander Mustache Contest and Hairy Chest Contest at 5:45 w/ prizes from Man Cave Precision Hair
– Live Music
– Giant Turkey Legs and other tasty items available for purchase from Big Guy’s BBQ
-Lift Bridge Beer (and root beer)
-Event tickets are $7 and include a beer tooken or 2 root beer tickets.
Commander Barleywine is an English-Style Barleywine ale brewed a ton of malt and a little bit of cardamom, then aged in  bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky. At 12.5% ABV, you may want to kick back and savor this beer. Maybe. 
Bottles of Commander Barleywine can be pre-ordered right here (limit of 6 per person). You can also use the link to pre-order tickets and/or buy a 5 year vertical (2012-2016) of Commander Barleywine (!). I’d suggest you do it now. Bottles are $18 each after November 10th.

Music Lineup: 
1:30-3:15 Buster Phelan

3:45-5:30 Thick & Tasty
6:00-7:30 Apollo Cobra
8:00-9:30 Candy Shop

*Note that the event is all-ages until 7pm.

Lift Bridge Brewery, 1900 Tower Drive, Stillwater, MN

The Land of 10,000 Beers (and more)

By on August 24, 2017in Bad Weather Brewing Co., breweries, food pairing, general beer, Hoops Brewing, Indeed Brewing Co., Insight Brewing, Insight Brewing Co., Lift Bridge, Modist Brewing, Steel Toe Brewing, Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co.

“Four and three and two and one, when I’m on the mic, the suckers run…” Hoops Brewing’s Dave Hoops raps with the audience in the Land of 10,000 Beers.

In case you live under a rock, the Minnesota State Fair starts today in St. Paul. Years ago, I had an office on Energy Park Drive and always cringed as the Fair approached. We usually had a flood of last minute creative and print work for a few big clients and the traffic always sucked. I’ve never understood why people choose to travel to or from the fair during rush hour. You’re smarter than that people!
Looking for some food and beverage updates? HeavyTable (Twitter) has you covered.
Thirsty? Here are a few suggestions.
Land of 10,000 Beers
The Land of 10,000 Beer exhibit, courtesy of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild returns to the Ag/Horticulture Building for a 6th year with 300 beers from nearly 70 Minnesota breweries and brewpubs. Try all 300! Or maybe not. This year they’ve revamped the flight categories to align more-closely with Brewers Association beer categories: Crisp and Clean, Malty and Sweet, Dark and Roasty, Hoppy and Bitter and Fruity, and Spicy Tart and Funky. Our friends at Better Beer Society are also curating a “Blue Ribbon Flight” with hand-selected flights from our favorite nerds, BBS’ certified cicerones.

New this year is a refreshed rotation of beer flight categories that align with the Brewers Association of beer categories: visitors to the exhibit can select among different flights of beers — Crisp and Clean, Malty and Sweet, Dark and Roasty, Hoppy and Bitter and Fruity, Spicy Tart and Funky. Also new, the Guild’s partner, the Better Beer Society (BBS), is curating the “Better Beer Society Blue Ribbon Flight” comprised of beers selected by BBS’ certified cicerones.

In addition to the beer, the Guild offers daily education programs at 3 and 6pm on weekdays and noon, 3pm and 6pm on weekends.  And if you want to step up your edumacation, BBS’ cicerones will also be conducting Fair food and beer pairing ideas.

Ballpark Cafe
This is a required stop in my book. The Ballpark Cafe has been slinging good beer longer than some of you have even cared. Along with some State Fair classics like Summit Oktoberfest, Lift Bridge Mini Donut and Steel Toe Size 7, the Ballpark Cafe also offers up a variety of beers from Bauhaus, Bent Brewstillery, Bent Paddle, Castle Danger, EastLake, Excelsior, Hoops Brewing, Indeed, Modist and Surly. You can also check out some ciders from Sweetland Orchard and an IPA from War Pigs (3 Floyds, Mikkeller).

Other Beers to Seek Out

Insight Duke of Cuke – Insight’s light lager infused with cucumber. (Lulu’s Public House)

Barley John’s Pickle Beer – Dry-hopped with fresh dill, horseradish and spices. Garnished with a dill pickle and havarti dill cheese. (Giggles)

Mini Donut Beer from Lift Bridge – this State Fair classic is a real treat. We’ve often joked that State Fair beers occasionally “jump the shark,” and this was the first. We really only need one of these per year, but still can’t help but enjoying it. (Ballpark Cafe)

Freehouse Caramel Apple π  -It’s like a little shot of apple pie. Much like Fair food, once a year is enough… but you may as well enjoy it while it’s there. (Blue Barn)

 Bad Weather Lemon Sunshine – a Limoncello-inspired ale brewed with lemons and lemon zest. (Mancini’s)

Summit Lazy Slipper – a Kolsch style beer brewed with ingredients sourced in Minnesota.  (Shanghaied Henri’s)

Follow this link for a list of all of the State Fair specialty beverages. Enjoy!