Category: general beer

New Bites at Target Field for 2026

By on April 3, 2026in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co.

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 Breweries Support International Women’s Day

By on March 15, 2026in Bad Weather Brewing Co., Broken Clock Brewing, general beer, new beer, Unmapped Brewing Co.

Let’s be real, we should really be celebrating women every day, but there is one day a year dedicated to supporting women internationally, and there are several local breweries who choose to celebrate with a special beer, brewed by their female employees.

This industry has a long and not so pretty history of keeping women at the front of the house rather than in the brewery where decisions are often made.

Here are some of those breweries.

Broken Clock Brewing brewed up a Dark Czech Lager called Czech on Your Neighbor. This one clocks at 4.9% ABV and would be a great addition to your first spring backyard fire. They held a women’s safe defense class on Sunday along with a donation drive that sent feminine products and diapers to Community Aid Network MN in support of women in the community.

Unmapped Brewing deployed MJ and the crew to collaborate again with Base Camp Coffee for Paddle My Own Canoe with a nod to to the line in Little Women “ I’d rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe.”

According to the brewery, “We’ll be donating $1 from every pint of Paddle My Own Canoe to A Book of My Own, a nonprofit dedicated to getting books into the hands of children and families who need them most. The giveback continues until the beer is gone — not just on release day.”

Congrats to MJ and crew for their dedication to the cause and giving back.

Bad Weather Brewing concocted a Pear Kölsch aptly named Girl Power. Bad Weather hosted an Kölsch service on IWD where customers opened a tab and the staff came around and re-filled empty glasses. Six packs are still for sale at the brewery. Here is what brewer Jessie Skrypek had to say about the choice.

“Kölsch is a crisp, pale, beer that originated in Cologne, Germany. We chose to add pear to complement the subtle fruitiness attributed from the yeast and El Dorado hops. It is a refreshing beer for the spring to celebrate Women around the world for international Women’s day.”

Name: Girl Power

Style: Pear Kölsch

ABV: 4.6%

Malt: Rahr North Star Pilsner malt, Weyermann Pilsner Malt and Rahr White Wheat.

Hops: Saphir, Tradition, El Dorado

This is your reminder to support women in the beer industry and to advocate for equal opportunities in ownership, leadership, and brewing. Women were the original brewers of beer and we all need to defeat stereotypes and make sure that the industry continues to grow in a more equal manner.

Cheers!

MN Breweries Respond to ICE by Giving Back to Communities

By on March 7, 2026in beer events, charity, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, Modist Brewing, Unmapped Brewing Co.


Several Minnesota breweries are reacting to the chaos that Minnesota immigrants have been through lately, with good intentions. Namely ICE and their oppressive mission, Operation Metro Surge which has been ripping through the Twin Cities and beyond since the beginning of the year.

ICE now claims to be pulling back on their operation yet these breweries are continuing their donation programs that give back to communities in need. Here are some ways to give back the next time you decide to go out.

Unmapped Brewing in Minnetonka has been gathering essentials for an organization called Bridge to Basics which is a hygiene bank dedicated to getting people the products they need on the daily such as toothbrushes, menstrual products, soap, toilet paper and many others.

They’ve also been donating to food shelves and Immigrant resource organizations which are crucial, especially right now.

Co-owner Derek Allmendinger is proud of his team for the effort they’ve made during these trying times. “In response to ICE we’ve been gathering money, food, and pet food for the same food bank (ICA). We have been gathering personal hygiene products for an organization called Bridge to Basics. We are also providing resources for staying safe, knowing your rights, and just generally being a safe place for our community. It’s amazing how supportive people have been!”

Fulton Brewing is running a supply drive for the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf that will run indefinitely as they continue to provide support those in the community affected by ICE. Joyce Uptown Food Shelf has been supporting their community since 1969. They have a no appointments, no questions asked policy and provide two bags of food per month to individuals.

Fulton’s CEO and co-founder Ryan Petz had this to say back in January via Fulton’s social channels.

“We’ve Never envisioned Fulton as platform for political debate. Our work has always been focused on something simpler and more human: bringing people from all walks of life together over a beer. But the last few weeks feel different because our city, our state, and our day-to-day life is under attack from our own federal government.

The most famous line from our nation’s Declaration of Independence state that among our unalienable rights are ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Right now, these rights that we have long take for granted are getting trampled on.

Life? Two Minneapolis residents dead. Liberty? Uncounted thousands detained, harassed, living in fear. Pursuit of Happiness? Seems impossible without the other two.

Our children’s teachers missing, either fearing for their safety or just gone, taken; their classmates fleeing the country, legal citizens unable to bear the ongoing racial profiling. Restaurants unable to open, because their staff live in constant fear. Masked gunmen forcing an entire block out of their apartments.

These are not abstractions; this was Monday. And the day before, and the weeks before that. In what version of America has this ever been acceptable?

America’s greatness, such that it is, has never belonged to a politician or political party. All it ever was or might someday be can only exist to the extent that we the people make it so, within our families, our neighbors, our communities. It goes way beyond who you voted for, it’s about who you show up for, today, tomorrow, and every day.

It is there that what little power we have as individuals is multiplied as a community; where we see the best of humanity in our neighbors.

Volunteers bringing in food and supplies to those who can’t leave home.

Business owners giving rides to employees who no longer feel safe on public transit.
Parents patrolling streets outside schools.
50,000 people marching peacefully in the bitter cold.
We want to say thank you and recognize the selflessness, generosity and bravery of this community who are making an impact in so many big and small ways. For our part, we will continue to support our employees and prioritize their safety. Our ongoing supply drive will continue indefinitely. And our doors will remain open and welcoming if you need a beer, an ear, a hug, or a soft place to land.

As Minnesotans, we know a few things. How to grow community gardens with a growing season barely 4 months long, and how to push a neighbor’s car out of the snow. Or that you don’t have to check someone’s papers to decide whether to treat them with dignity and respect. We also know that no matter how long and cold the winter, spring always comes. ICE will melt away, and we will still be here.

For our employees, customers, neighbors, and fellow businesses, this is personal.”

Modist Brewing will be hosting an even on March 13th from 5 pm to 9 pm called We Take Care of Us. This is not only a party, but a community fundraiser and donation drop off that supports those affected by ICE in the area.

You will find food, music, immigrant resources, tattooing, and craft table all in a family friendly environment. The following vendors can be found on site.

Food vendors:⁠

@caphinmpls⁠

@axehole⁠

@youvebeensouled⁠

@hermanoslocostacos⁠


Tattooers/artists:⁠

@bunnyakahk⁠

@cbriggstattoo⁠

@prettyininktattoo⁠

@common.frog⁠

@erinncreates⁠

Cheers!

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!

2025 Wet Hop Season is Here

By on October 19, 2025in Castle Danger, general beer

The hop harvest of 2025 spawned some locally made wet hop beers once again. The hop harvest season generally runs from late August to early October, but most breweries begin brewing them during peak season which happens around mid-September.

These beers are made while the hops are still wet which is within 48 hours of being picked. This is part of which makes these beers so special. These are often marketed as fresh hop beers (though the definition between wet and fresh is different) and are in the market by early October. You will want to consume them quickly as they expire much sooner than traditionally crafted beers.

Here are a few that are currently in liquor stores here in the Twin Cities.

Fresh Hop ‘25 – Castle Danger Brewing

Brewed with PINK (ID-158) hops from Idaho, this classic west coast IPA hits big with strawberry flavors and is slightly tart. Fruit forward without being sweet. This clocks at 6.5% ABV and is sold in 4 packs of 12 oz cans.

Fresh Hop Strata Hazy IPA – Venn Brewing

Strata hops from Oregon are the star of Venn’s iteration this year. Tropical fruits (mango mostly) and cannabis dominate the flavor profile of this Hazy IPA. It’s a bit of an odd choice to showcase fresh hops with a Hazy IPA, but it works oddly well with this one. Coming in at 6.5% ABV and available at the brewery in 4 packs of 16 oz cans.

Fresh Bier – Haggard Barrel Brewing

This was by far the most interesting of the bunch. Constructed of wild Minnesota hops (within one hour of being picked) from someone’s backyard, lager yeast harvested from the historic St. Paul beer caves, and locally grown Pilsner and spelt malt. This results in a beer that is honeydew melon forward with a nice slightly sour funk to it. This lager is light bodied and suitable for crushing. 5% ABV. Found at the brewery in 6 packs of 12 oz cans. Also available at Zipp’s and Wine Thief and Ale Jail.

Cheers!