Greetings–
At this time, we have 20 signed up for the trip of the year. If you are on the fence or just haven’t gotten around to sending in your deposit, please take care of that ASAP. For the trip to be financially viable, we need 30 takers (then the bus will be about $65 per person–at 35 riders, it’s about $56). We’re taking no more than 35, so that the bus and pubs are not crowded.

I need ten more deposits by August 28th, so quit hemming and hawing–you know you’re going to sign up eventually, so just do it today, please! If you need encouragement, the itinerary follows.

Thanks for your interest!
John

BEER GOOD BUS TOUR III
September 30th and October 1st

(to bastardize the classic Robert Service poem . . . )

The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
but the queerest they ever did see,
was that bus full of drunks going pub to pub,
thank heavens on the bus they could pee!

It’s once again time to sign up fool-hardy folks for the Beer Good Bus Tour III! Last year’s tour of central WI brewpubs was a great success, and this year’s route will be a northerly one, as you may have guessed whilst groaning at the above verse. I can’t promise Northern Lights, but I can almost guarantee great fall foliage as we skirt the south shore of Lake Superior and tour the northern third of Wisconsin, hitting 9 brewpubs, one microbrewery, and one meadery in two days! The trip itinerary is below.

If you’re interested, please send your non-refundable $50 per person deposit to John Longballa, 1211 Minnehaha Ave W, Saint Paul, 55104. The bus will be about $60 per person, assuming that around 35 people come along. The hotel will be $100 for double occupancy, and you’ll be able to walk to it from the last Saturday stop, so how late you stay up will be entirely up to you!

Saturday, September 30th!
7:30 a.m.–we board a luxury bus, complete with restroom. We immediately begin the People’s Choice homebrew competition, and hopefully Paul won’t take BOTH the top spots again! 😉
10:00 = tour and tasting at Lake Superior Brewing in Duluth
11:00 = we roll into Fitger’s for lunch, because any day that begins at Fitger’s has GOT to be GOOD!
1:00 = we roll across Duluth Harbor and into Superior’s Twin Ports Brewing for sampling. Normally they don’t open until 4:00, but I sweet-talked Steve into opening just for us!
1:45 = we leave TP, arriving at White Winter Meadery in Iron River, WI at 2:30 for a special tour and tasting, complete with appetizers.
3:45 = we exit WW and turn south toward Hayward, where not one, but TWO brewpubs await! We pull into the Old Hayward Eatery and Mad Muskie Brewpub around 4:30 for dinner. 6:30 we head to the Angry Minnow just one mile away.
7:30 = we leave Hayward and head for an 9:00 tour of Deep Water Grill at South Shore Brewing in Ashland after checking into the Ashland Super 8, just five blocks from the brewery. We kick back and relax after a hard day’s work. We sleep hard in Ashland.

Sunday, October 1st!
9:00 = on the road again
11:00 = we have lunch at Minocqua Brewing in Minocqua.
1:00 = we head 10 miles to Bugsy’s Brewpub in Rhinelander.
1:45 = we head to Hereford and Hops in Wassau, arriving around 2:45.
3:45 = leave Wassau for Central Waters Brewpub in Marshfield. Yes, this is the same brewer as last year in Junction City with the sewage problem–no, it’s not the same PLACE!
5:00 = dinner at Central Waters.
6:30 = head for Saint Paul, arriving around 9:00.
Yes, I’m certain that we could stop at a WI liquor store for WI micros again! 🙂
Yes, I’m certain that there will be funny movies showing on the bus again! 🙂
Yes, I’m certain that someone will run the Wheel of Fortune again! 🙂

Sooooo . . .

As soon as I get your non-refundable $50 per person deposit, made out to me and mailed to 1211 Minnehaha Ave W, Saint Paul, 55104, then you are set. To keep the bus comfortable and to not overwhelm the brewpubs, I will cut off registrations at 35 people, so send your deposit today!
Thanks for entertaining the idea!
John

While visiting family in Fergus Falls this weekend, I found information about The Home Brewer’s Festival in Fergus Falls, courtesy of The Midweek’s July 2006 Vacation Guide:

One of Otter Tail County’s more unique summer events is back. The Home Brewer’s [Festival?] is scheduled for Friday, August 18, 7:00 pm at the Elk’s Event Center in beautiful downtown Fergus Falls.

The Brewer’s Festival is a fundraiser for the Otter Tail County Historical Society. It features home brewers and fermenters providing samples of their finest wine and beer. As the Festival gains attention more home brewers have asked to participate. This year there will be a wide variety of wine nand beer to satisfy the most discriminating palate. In addition to sampling, the brewers are glad to offer advice on how to get your home brewing started. Bread, cheese and other snacks will be available throughout the evening.

What better way to spend part of your visit to Lakes Country than an event of sampling homemade beer and wine. And, you can feel good about supporting one of the finest historical societies in Minnesota.

The doors to the elk’s Special Event Center open at 7:00 pm. Admission is $12 and includes visits to all sample stations and snacks. No one under 21 will be admitted. For more information, contact the Historical Society at 218-736-6038.

Interesting! Has anyone been to this event or taken part in it? With two municipal liquor stores and the best on-tap offerings in town are limited to Guinness and Sam Adams, I believe. Regardless, Fergus Falls has spawned a couple of industry pros (Dave Berg, formerly of Bandana Brewery and Lanny Hoff from Artisanal Imports) and there’s a homebrew shop in nearby Pelican Rapids (Pelican Homebrewing) and of course Country Cannery in Moorhead is only about an hour away.

In any case, if you know anything more, or plan on going, let us know!

Hey All,
Our floor is fixed and we will soon have all our beer back on tap, until then enjoy the Surly Bender and the Summit Grand Pilsner as well as our hoppy Ipa and Centennial Pale ale.

Next Wednesday 8/2 we will release our Tripel Vision. This Belgian style tripel was a very popular beer last time it was brewed and it is equally delicious this time around. Remember this beer is very strong! Release at 5:00 (8/2) $2 pours for this big dog.

Dates to remember
Aug. 5 Summit Porter & ESB on cask

Aug 6&7 TOWN HALL BREWERY CLOSED
-Boss man will close the brewery and invite all the workers to his cabin “up north”. Thanks boss man…but look out northern Minnesota

Aug 19&20 BOCCE TOURN and PIG ROAST at the brewery. Throw stones, eat pork, and drink Smoked Porter. A sure recipe for fun! Many teams are already signed up and space is limited

Cheers
Mike

…or those of you, like myself who wouldn’t mind being in Duluth right now…

Subject: Das Firkin Friday this Week

Firkin Friday returns this Friday with a real ale
classic……………Kolsch! Yes, those crazy guys at Lake Superior
Brewing
are at it again and this time have cask conditioned a firkin of their Kayak
Kolsch. This bubbling gusto will be available on a good ole traditional
German hand pump at Sir Benedict’s this Friday for happy hour.

Be sure to stop by with your favorite stein and give it a try.

Prost!

805 E. Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: 218-728-1192

Cool. Minneapolis Town Hall will be pouring beer from Summit Brewing on cask on August 5th.

Mark your calendars…Saturday, August 5 we will feature two fine beers from Summit Brewing Company ON CASK! Those crazy brewers have been working on cask versions of some of their finest and thought you folks would be a great market to test the beers out on. We are very excited to offer Great Northern Porter and the limited release ESB on cask Saturday, August 5. Stop in and try some of Minnesota’s finest, then drop me a feedback email that I can forward to our friends at Summit Brewing Company.

Cheers,
Mike

Oh, and on a side note, I’ve been told that the 1800 IPA is once again gone…