Summit Brewing Co. – MNBeer – Craft beer information from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul and beyond

New Bites at Target Field for 2026

The Twins are preparing to kick off their 2026 season with a new manager and a relatively new cast of players. Target Field which opened in 2010 is widely considered one of the most beautiful ballparks in the entire MLB, and with that always comes an array of tasty nibbles around the park.

The team strives to entertain a fanbase full of skepticism this year, and hopefully they’ll surprise a lot of people. They won two World Series titles in both 1987 and 1991 after lackluster years in 1986 and 1990. Could this be year?

You’ll have to come down to Target Field to find out. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of these food and beer options.

The Elote at La Madre was a hit. Served on a stick, this comes multiple ways. Cotija, Tajin, árbol, Flaming Hot Cheetos, or blue corn chips. I preferred the Tajin with fresh squeezed lime. Pair this up with a Fulton Chill City and you’ve got yourself a winner.

At both Truly On Deck and Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern, they are serving up Chocolate Fish on a Stick. No, it’s not fish. It’s a fish shaped battered waffle served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. I’m not usually a big sweets person, but this is worth checking out on a summer day at the park. This was created by Chef Matthew Kazama who is opening Izakaya Kazama in the next couple of months. Grab a Bent Paddle Cold Press Black and call it breakfast.

The Mediterranean Bowl at Grand Slam Shawarma is a great lighter option. You know, some actual vegetables in a dish served at a stadium. Consisting of rice, chicken shawarma, diced red onion, tomatoes,
cucumber, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce. Summit Twins Pils is the perfect refresher for this dish.

The surprise of the bunch was the Vegan Sriracha Brat from Herbivorous Butcher which will be served at the Market Grill. This tasted freakishly like a real sausage and was even better than some of the sausages I’ve eaten at Target Field over the years. A Surly Furious would be perfect to match with this.

My one skip would be…

No Gluten Way is serving up burgers, hot dogs, cookies, beer and snacks suitable for those with celiac’s disease. For those fortunate enough to have the choice, I’d avoid this one based off the buns having an off-putting texture. It is nice, however to have an option for the many that suffer from celiac’s. Holidaily Golden Ale is their gluten free beer option if you are looking for something in the beer realm, and the ballpark features ciders from Minneapolis Cider Company. Go with the Mango Habanero option to spice things up.

Cheers!

Local Flair Takes a Front Seat at Target Field

By Ryan Tuenge on April 3, 2025in general beer, Pryes Brewing Co., Summit Brewing Co.

Minnesotans take immense pride in their culinary traditions. Food here is more than just sustenance—it’s a way of bringing people together, celebrating the seasons, and honoring local farmers and artisans. The Minnesota Twins always consider this when selecting vendors to fill the menus at Target Field. Dill Pickle Pizza, Walleye Tacos, Sweet and Sour Pork from Chef Yia Vang, and a Spam Sandwich headline the new options at Target Field this summer.

The Twins are coming off a disappointing season, but are looking forward to changing that this year as evidenced by the move to promote Derek Falvey to President of Baseball Operations and Business Operations. He was on-site to help introduce the new culinary options at 1 Twins Way in downtown Minneapolis. Pete Spikes, the GM of Delaware North is proud of the new lineup. “We’re excited to welcome back Twins fans with a full lineup of new food and beverage options for the 2025 season, featuring, as always, an array of local partners,” said Pete Spike, Delaware North’s general manager at Target Field. “With everything from walleye tacos to refreshing boba teas, we’ll have something for everyone as they cheer on the Twins.”

Here are some of the options that stood out.

Lord Fletcher’s Walleye Tacos: Seasoned and grilled walleye gets the taco treatment with a nice acidic punch from the dressing of vinaigrette and sour cream baja sauce combo. Big ups for avoiding the typical deep frying technique and embracing the healthier grilled preparation.Choose the newly available Summit Lager to accompany these and you won’t regret it.

Truly on Deck Market SPAM Sandwich: SPAM, bacon, and caramelized onions bring legendary flair to the ballpark from the folks at Hormel who introduced SPAM back in 1937 out of necessity during World War 2. The onion bun is a nice touch as well. Pick up a Twins Pils from Summit to wash it down.

Vinai Sweet and Sour Pork Fried Rice: Chef Yia Vang has an aura about him. A chef as humble as you’ll find with a passion for cooking like noone I’ve ever met. Pickled carrots adorn pork that is tossed in a sweet and sour sauce and served on a bed of cabbage slaw with cucumbers. Pair it up with a Summit Pale Ale for that mid-afternoon lunch at the ballpark.

Kramarczuk’s Cherry Bomb Sausage: The premier sausage house is offering a sausage made with tart cherries and it’s a hit. An acidic element is welcome with this iconic baseball food item. Go all in with a Prye’s Miraculum and make all of your hipster friends proud.

Pizza Luce Dugout Dill Pizza: The debate has long been over in Minnesota between dill and sweet pickles. Dill pickles win out 100% of the time and the folks at Pizza Luce confirmed that with this offering. Twins Pils from Summit is the perfect match for this slice of ‘za.

Cheers!

Five Oktoberfest Celebrations Worth Checking Out

By Ryan Tuenge on September 12, 2024in August Schell Brewing Co., beer events, breweries, Fair State Brewing, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, history, Summit Brewing Co., Utepils

Grab your pretzel necklaces and dust off that lederhosen or dirndl that’s sitting in your closet. Steins will be knocked all over the state of Minnesota in the next month. Minnesota has a huge population of Germans and New Ulm in particular has the highest reported population of German ancestry in the country.

The history of this celebration originated on the 12th of October, 1810 in Munich, Germany to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

As far as the beer goes, you may have noticed there are a couple varieties. One is a Marzen and the other, Festbier.

Marzen: Brewed in March and lagered until ready, this beer is similar to a Vienna Lager and has a nice malt backbone to it. They generally come in at 5.5-6.5 ABV and boast a beautiful amber hue with a clean and dry finish. Some local examples would be Schell’s Oktoberfest, Summit Oktoberfest, and New Glarus Staghorn.

Festbier: This style tends to showcase German Pilsner Malt and is pale in color. They tend to fall in the same ABV range but are more approachable to the average beer drinker. Some local examples would be Fulton Oktoberfest, Fair State Festbier, and Utepils Receptional Festbier.

As far as the festivals go, you can’t go wrong with any of the following:

Schell’s: There’s no better atmosphere than the backdrop of New Ulm, Minnesota for Oktoberfest. Peacocks, historic architecture, and the home of one of Minnesota’s oldest German breweries. The Marti family is not only a fantastic group of brewers, but a family that knows hospitality. I’ve been in this industry for many years, and Jace and crew are some of the best people around. Without Schell’s there is no history and one stop at the brewery will give you the best representation of what a brewery should be. For the most authentic version of this celebration, this is the trip to make. Hotel reservations are highly recommended.

October 12th from 10:30am-5pm

Admission: $10 general admission. Kids 12 and under are free.

Fulton: This iteration of Oktoberfest was voted by Wall Street Journal as one of the best in the country! This event pours draft beer in steins only and you will need to purchase tokens to grab a fresh pour. There will be traditional German staples served such as brats, Bavarian pretzels, and meterwurst. There will also be live entertainment in the form of music and dance throughout the day.

September 20th from 4:00pm-10:00pm
September 21st from 12:00pm-10:00pm
September 27th from 4:00pm-10:00pm
September 28th from 12:00pm-10:00pm

Admission: Free!

Fair State Co-op: Fair State will be hosting two days of Oktoberfest complete with flash tattoos, food, a stein hoisting competition and music while also celebrating 10 years in business. Members will be able to start an hour earlier which means you should get in on that membership if you haven’t already. Expect some fantastic pretzels from Aki’s Bakery and sausages from Sweet Lou’s and music from bands such as The Hill Top Pines, The Right Here, Lutheran Heat, and Night Jobs.

September 20th 12:00pm-10:00pm (members at 11:00am)
September 21st 12:00pm-10:00pm (members at 11:00am)

Admission: Free!

Surly: Surlyfest is proof that there is no party in town like a party at the Surly Beer Hall. These folks pull out all the stops on the way to a good time. It starts with their Marzen style Oktoberfest which is rich, malty, and finishes dry and pairs well with their stellar food lineup featuring pierogis, stuffed cabbage, chicken spaetzle, pork schnitzel, sauerkraut croquettes, and Rueben frites. Surly is well known for hosting some amazing bands and this year is no different. Lighter Company, Fenixdion, and Rhino will be taking the stage outdoors complete with the gorgeous backdrop of the Beer Garden.

September 21st All Day

Admission: Free!

Utepils: There isn’t another brewery in the Twin Cities that does German beers like Utepils. One visit to the brewery and you’ll know you’re in for fantastic lagers and a good time. Utepils is hosting Oktoberfest for two weekends (beginning tomorrow) and will feature a ceremonial keg tapping and a cribbage tournament. The food highlight is Gerhard’s Brats and Northeast Pretzels. There will also be music, kids activities, and the essential meat raffle. A Minnesota staple. Shuttles will be running back and forth throughout the events from Anwatin Middle School.

September 13th 11:00am-Close
September 14th 11:00am-Close
September 20th 11:00am-Close
September 21st 11:00am-Close

Admission: Free!

Remember to tip your beertenders and to arrange for a ride home. Don’t be a jerk!

Prosit!!!

The 2024 Target Field Lineup

By Ryan Tuenge on April 3, 2024in food pairing, general beer, Summit Brewing Co.

It’s springtime in Minnesota signaling the start of the season for the Minnesota Twins. The home opener kicks off on Thursday, April 4th at 3:10 pm and once again the food options are growing. Here are some of the things on deck for the season ahead.

Q’BO Latin Food Chicken Tinga Arepas are now on the menu at the Truly On Deck Market out in right field. Chicken tinga, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, and the star of the show— pickled red onions which provide an essential zip to this handheld.

Union Hmong Kitchen is dishing up a new take on a ballpark favorite, the brat. Yia Vang’s take on this is a Banh Mi Brat which features sausage, pickled veggies, and caramelized garlic aioli. This was by far the most unique and delicious offering at the event today. Find them at section 127.

Hrbek’s is serving up a Bussin Birria Taco featuring braised and melted cheese in a griddled tortilla with consomme. Nothing too fancy here, just some glorious meat and cheese. Located in section 114.

East Coast BBQ Mac N’ Meat is offering Mac & Cheese topped with your choice of smoked meat. These include chicken, rib tips, or pulled pork. Nothing pairs better with a ball game than smoked meats. They are located at section 131.

Two Mixed Up is smashing burgers over at Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern. This is a double smash burger with the usual suspects. Lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, and Two Mixed Up sauce. Grab a few napkins on your way back to your seat. Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern is located out in left field.

Summit Brewing is present throughout the ballpark and their Twins Pils is still the big hit out at Target Field. They also updated the look of the can to match the current Twins branding. This beer pairs well with just about any dish served at the stadium. Crisp, refreshing and perfect for soaking up all that vitamin D.

Cheers!

Target Field Going Yard on Local Once Again

By Ryan Tuenge on April 3, 2023in beer travels, food pairing, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, homebrew, Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co.

Target Field hosted its annual Taste of the Twins event again ahead of the Home Opener and they are going big on “local” as per usual. Here were some of my favorites:

Official Fried Chicken (Section 133) is serving a number of items in right field. Four pieces of fried chicken, chicken tenders, a chicken sandwich, and fries. Stick with the classic four piece here and pair it with a Surly Hell.

Union Hmong Kitchen (Section 127) is turning up the heat with their Kramarczuk’s Hmong Sausage and Khao Sen Rice Noodle Bowl. Chilled noodles are dressed with a sweet chili vinaigrette, fresh herbs, and cabbage slaw. Chef Yia Vang’s influence is all over town these days and the Twin Cities are much better for it. This dish plays well with Twins Pils from Summit Brewing.

Soul Bowl (Section 113) is offering a Gong Jerk Chicken Bowl which consists of chicken thighs slathered in pineapple jerk sauce—along with plantains—all resting on a bed of yellow rice. Go to bat with a Sweet Child of Vine from Fulton, it’s a flawless match for spicy food.