Category: general beer

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!

Local Flair Takes a Front Seat at Target Field

By 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!

Holiday Beers Worth Hunting Down

By on December 22, 2024in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., general beer, history, holiday beers

The holiday season often calls for beers with some substance. Oftentimes they carry a higher ABV and will feature seasonal spices (think cardamom, cinnamon, anise, cherries, and chocolate) to bring holiday cheer to those who imbibe. The truth is though, that the first known holiday beers were actually brewed by Viking women in celebration of the winter solstice using ingredients that were readily available.

Women were the primary brewers in medieval Europe, and would often make special beers to celebrate the yuletide season which were often consumed in honor of the gods. This was especially true in Norway (women primarily brewed beer stateside before the industrial revolution as well) where beer was enjoyed by all communities across all social classes.

Modern holiday beers can be credited to Fritz Maytag of the infamous Anchor Brewing Company out of San Francisco California. The team first brewed Anchor Christmas Ale (Originally called Our Special Ale) in 1975 making it the first seasonal beer since Prohibition.

Here are some holiday beers worth seeking out.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale – St. Bernardus uses their proprietary yeast that was harvested back in 1946 to bring this beer to life. This Belgium Quad is essentially their ABT Ale with spices added. Roasted chestnuts, stone fruit, and chocolate come across the palate making this a great pairing with all things chocolate, or your favorite winter stew. 9.8% ABV.

Sierra Nevada Celebration – Celebration differs from many options in the market as it is a West Coast IPA rather than a Winter Warmer and does not contain the typical spices used in most holiday beers. Citrus and pine notes seek to balance the sweet caramel malt used in this recipe. Serve it up with Sole Meuniere for the holidays to honor the legacy of Julia Child. 6.8% ABV.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale – Roasted malts along with cinnamon, honey, and ginger make this classic winter warmer worth space in your fridge for the holidays. Pair it with a festive salmon dish for the holidays and you won’t regret it. 7.5% ABV.

Bell’s Christmas Ale – This is one of the better Scotch Ales in the market and the perfect partner for your cheese board. The sweet malt base with subtle plum notes plays well with a nice brie or an alpine style cheeses such as Gruyere or Comte. 7.5% ABV.

Bent Paddle Christmas Cookie Cream Ale – This crowd pleaser is essentially a liquid spritz cookie. Yes, just like the one on that plate of cookies at any given holiday party. Naked oats and acidulated malt make up the base of this beer that also showcases vanilla, almond, and cardamom. Bring this to your party and serve it right alongside that platter of bright, sugary morsels. 5%ABV.

Cheers!

Five Oktoberfest Celebrations Worth Checking Out

By 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!!!