Category: breweries

Tom Thumb Would be Proud – Lift Bridge Mini-Donut Beer

By on August 15, 2013in breweries

lift-bridge-mini-donut-beer-smIf it didn’t sound delicious, I’d call it a gimmick. Our friends at Lift Bridge have produced what is said to be the first-ever mini donut flavored beer. Armed with a stack of Motley Crue albums, some ripped jeans and a sleeveless Iron Maiden t-shirt, brewer Matt Hall toured the country with carnies for months as he honed his recipe and devised a tiny automatic brewhouse to produce this sweet little beer, one pint at a time.

True story. The fruits of the brewery’s labors will be available exclusively at the Ball Park Café.  And though you won’t have to bitch should you throw this beer into your mouth too quickly, drinking a dozen in a sitting will probably kick your ass. Expect a malty sweet sipper that weighs in at about 5% abv. Mini-Donut will be served in a glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar. Suggest pairing: Mini-donuts. Duh.

Many thanks to the guys at Lift Bridge for not making a corn dog or blooming onion beer. Gah.

Summit State Fair IPA

By on August 14, 2013in bars/restaurants, breweries

Here’s a cool little video featuring Summit Brewing Company brewery and all-around good guy, Jeff Williamson. Jeff and his amazing mustache explain his State Fair-inspired brew. Look for it daily at the International Bazaar and bask in the glory that includes Minnesota ingredients like wild rice, honey, pronto pups corn and Cascade hops from Hippity Hops Farms. And just so it’s hoppy enough for you, they’ve thrown in Magnum, Amarillo, Chinook and Centennial hops, creating a beer that rounds out at 95 IBU and 5.5% abv.

You know what would be awesome? State Fair vendors, are you listening? State Fair IPA beer-battered something on a stick. DO IT! Incidentally, if you’d like to catch Summit at the fair, here are a few dates for your consideration.

• August 22 – Jeff Williamson, brewer of State Fair IPA – Summit Booth at International Bazaar – 1-2:30pm
• August 26 – Meet Founder Mark Stutrud – Summit Booth at International Bazaar – 12-1:30pm
• August 28 – Meet Head Brewer Damian McConn – Summit Booth at International Bazaar – 1:00-2:30pm
• August 30 – Mike Lundell, brewer of Another IPA – Summit Booth at International Bazaar – 11:30-1:00pm
• August 30 – Mark Stutrud (with Ted Marti from Schell’s) – Craft Brewer’s Guild Area in Agriculture Building – 3pm

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

New Label Art from Summit

By on August 8, 2013in breweries

After seeing the artwork for the Union Series as well as the new logo, we figured it wouldn’t be too long before Summit rolled out new labels. No word yet as to when we’ll start seeing these on bottles, but I think they look pretty damn good.

summitepa

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