Aah, Grain Belt. The beer reminds me of college and punk rock bands in sweaty basements. Surely you’ve got your own memory as well. In any case, as you’ve probably heard, to celebrate Grain Belt Nordeast’s second birthday, the beer is rolling out in fancy new duds, 16 oz. cans. Not surprisingly, Northeast Minneapolis gets first dibs. Ted (Marti) puts it best, “To stay true to tradition, we will first offer the 16oz to Northeast Minneapolis in honor of Grain Belt’s roots.” Join the Grain Belt crew for a Nordeast Pub crawl. Details below:

JOIN THE NORDEAST PUB CRAWL!
Here’s what you have to do:

*Pick up your official Nordeast Crawl Card at one of these fine establishments (limited supply of cards at each bar. If one runs out, try another…).

• Legends
• Scott’s 1029 Bar
• Mac’s Industrial
• Dusty’s Bar
• 331 Club
• Mayslack’s
• Stanley’s
• Moose on Monroe
• Grumpy’s NE
• 22nd Ave Station
• Keegan’s Irish Pub
• Spring St. Tavern
• Elsie’s
• Shaw’s Bar
• NE Yacht Club
• Whitey’s Saloon
• Otter’s Saloon
• Vegas Lounge
• NE Palace
• Knight Cap Bar
• Lush Food Bar
• Jimmy’s Bar
• NE Social Club
• Tony Jaro’s River Garden

*To complete the crawl, make your way to any 6 (or more) of these establishments and get your crawl card stamped at each.

*Between 7-8pm head over to Mayslack’s and hand in your completed Nordeast Crawl Card for a chance to win fabulous prizes! (While supplies last).

Join the festivities Saturday, April 7th. Check out the new can, enjoy great beer specials and enter to win exclusive Nordeast swag!

Must be 21+. No purchase necessary.

In case you missed last week’s soft opening, here’s another opportunity to check out the new taproom at Harriet Brewing. Tonight… 4-10pm. Cheers.

On tap:
West Side
Divine Oculust

Food Option:
Nate Dogs “Quality Wieners”

Live Music:
6-8pm – High-Strung Ramblers
oldtime jazz, country, blues, rock, etc..from a decidedly “Jerryatric” perspective. (Members of the High Strung String Band)

Vinyl – DJ Jazzy Jason

Craft beer & wings? Twist my arm… On Saturday, April 14th, head to the National Guard Armory in Red Wing, MN for “Wings & Brew Fest,” a festival of… well… wings and beer. The event will feature beer from fifteen different breweries as well as wings from ten different restaurants. If wings aren’t your thing, there are beer-only tickets as well. Entry includes beer (and wings if you so choose), a commemorative glass and some sweet leather coasters from the Red Wing shoe company.

Three two-hour sessions (1:30pm-3:30pm, 4:00pm-6:00pm and 6:30pm-8:30pm). $35 (plus fees) for beer & wings, $30 for beer only. Sounds like fun!

Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 11am.

The fourth annual St. Paul Summer Beer Fest takes place this year on June 16th from 2-6pm at the International Bazaar at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Beer, food, music, summer… you know the drill. This will be fun. I promise.

On Friday, March 30th, you’ll have your first shot at tickets on their website starting at 5pm. Good luck!

Watch this space for more specifics as we get them.

Just a quick reminder to buy your tickets for Rochester Craft Beer Expo now. You don’t want to miss this one, southern Minnesota! If you’re not familiar, this event is put on by the same fine folks who bring you the St. Cloud Craft Beer Expo and the St. Paul Summer Beer Fest and they do it up right… right?

Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door, assuming any are left. As per usual, this event will include a ton of great local and out-of-state breweries, music, food, education and more craft beer nerds than you can shake a stick at!

Some of the MNBeer crew will be making the trip down… come and say hello at the event!

More details to come as they become available: www.rochestercraftbeerexpo.com