Category: breweries

Schell’s Snowstorm 2014: Grand Cru

By on October 30, 2014in breweries

Schell's Snowstorm 2014: Grand CruI always look forward to Schell’s annual Snowstorm beer. I love that they change up the style year after year, and as far as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed the offerings. This year, Snowstorm is a Belgian-style Granc Cru. The folks at Schell’s brewed it with 2-Row Pilsner, Red Wheat, Red X, Special Roast, Light Chocolate malt and Tubinado sugar as well as coriander, bitter orange peel, sweet orange peel, and lemon peel. It’s been hopped to 20 IBUs with Opal and Cascade. Schell’s fermented with Forbidden Fruit yeast strain for fermentation. Schell’s Jace Marti says to look for a beer with a deep copper color and off white head and goes on to say, “The aroma is a combination of fruity esters from the yeast complimented by the citrusy notes of coriander, orange, and lemon peel. This beer is deceptively lighter bodied, with a lively carbonation and subtle warmth from the moderate alcohol. Fruity notes from the yeast carry over into the flavor profile with hints of citrus and light chocolate and a lasting dry finish.”
Can’t wait!

Bent Paddle Cold Press Black

By on October 23, 2014in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries
Photo lifted from Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Photo lifted from Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

The first time I tasted the Cold Press variation of Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s black ale, I knew I had to have some more. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. Bent Paddle’s Bryon Tonnis says it’s been one of their most requested special offerings, “People really wanted to see this beer in cans from the first time we made it – so we did!”

Amen.

“The concept for this beer really started out as a way to vary our initial taproom offerings. When we opened a year and a half ago, we had two beers on tap and this was a way for us to explore the Black Ale recipe we had developed while offering our customers something new.” says Colin Mullen. Cold Press Black follows the same base beer recipe as Bent Paddle Black, but is infused with Duluth Coffee Company Cold Press just prior to packaging.

You should start to see Cold Press Black starting next week in 4-pack cans and in kegs.

Stats:
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.0%
IBU: 35
Style: Coffee Infused Black Ale
Malts: Pale, 2-Row, Golden Promise, De-husked Black Malt, Flaked Oats, C-165, C-20
Hops: CTZ, Willamette
Yeast: House Ale Strain

Waconia Brewing Taproom Opens Today at 2pm

By on October 22, 2014in breweries

waconiabrewinglogo250x250nobackToday we add another brewery to the ranks! Beer fans, let’s give a warm welcome to Waconia Brewing Company located in (get this!) Waconia, MN. Today at 2pm, Waconia will be the first brewery to open its doors in the town since 1890. If you’re free, stop by ant welcome them to the scene. They’ll have their Carver Co. Kolsch, 90K IPA, 255 Amber Ale and a Wit ready for your imbibing pleasure!

Waconia Brewing Company will be open from 2-9pm tonight. Normal taproom hours are 2-9pm on Wednesday and Thursday, noon-10pm on Friday and Saturday and noon-6pm on Sunday.

Waconia Brewing Company
255 Main Street West 
Waconia, MN, USA

Summit Union Series: 3x Mild Ale

By on October 13, 2014in breweries, Summit Brewing Co.

3XM_Label_700pxThe latest beer in Summit’s Union Series will be called 3X Mild. This is brewer Damian McConn’s take on the Mild ales of 19th century England, brewed with a new American base malt, an experimental hop variety and a traditional English yeast. Summit refers to this beer as “a rich, malt-driven and full-bodied beer with notes of stone fruit, molasses, toffee, toast and a hint of chocolate. And if you can believe it, the chocolate notes come from the hops. Great Fermentations refers to the hop with this description: “Cocoa, tropical, stone fruit, Jolly Rancher (oh yeah), passion fruit, and carmel.” Expect this beer sometime in mid-to-late November.

UNION #4: 3X MILD Specs
ABV: 7.2%
OG: 1.5 Plato
IBU: 38
Malts: Expedition base malt (U.S.), with Mild Ale and Amber malt (U.K.)
Hops: Experimental 06300 (U.S.)
Yeast: Yorkshire Ale