As we reported back in late March, on Sept 30th at Harriet Island, Summit is throwing themselves a 20th anniversary bash with musical performances by Cake, Soul Aslylum, The Suburbs, etc… etc…. I know it’s a ways off, but tickets do go on sale soon.

Details from Summits website:

Summit’s Big Brew – Mark your Calendars!!
This year we are celebrating our 20th year in business and beer takes center stage! On September 30th, Noon-10pm the brewery will move its headquarters to Harriet Island to celebrate our anniversary with Cake, Soul Asylum, The Suburbs, Richard Thompson, Tapes n Tapes, The Alarmists, Big George Jackson, Minnesota Pipes & Drums.

Tickets will go on sale August 7th at the brewery and through Ticketworks.com

We are busy making plans for the day and finding home-grown talent to accompany our home-grown beer. We expect a lot of surprises over the next several weeks as we get commitments from the bands we have contacted. Stay tuned as we will first announce the bands on our web site.

Other things that are happening during 2006 to celebrate our anniversary include the introduction of Summit Extra Special Bitter. Available July 1, Summit ESB will be brewed in the UK style with plenty of interesting hops and a beautiful malt finish. Look for this beer in a special 20th Anniversary twelve pack.

Finally, look for special neck straps on Summit beer bottles commemorating our 20th year.

Tickets will go on sale August 6th at the brewery and through Ticketworks.com

Just noticed over on Barley John’s website that they have a 6% Belgian “Enkle” on tap (Enkel, Dubbel, Trippel, you get the picture). Anyone here sampled it yet?

Here is the details from their site:

Belgian Enkle (6%abv) What is an Enkle you ask? Enkle means Single in Flemmish, as in Single, Dubbel and Tripel. This is a style that does not see commercial success and in fact there is very little written on it, so naturally we were intrigued. This is our attempt at a Monk’s table beer, a beer that is golden, lightly hopped, pulled together by the wonderful Belgian spiciness from the yeast, and can be enjoyed without the consequences of a Tripel.

Attention Beer Lovers!

We would appreciate it if you would list the Big Lake Brewfest on your event calendar.

It’s time to mark your calendar for Superior’s Premier Brewfest. The Big Lake Brewfest will be held on September 23, 2006 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Superior’s Wessman Arena.

This unique event will bring craft/micro brewers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to Superior for an afternoon of sampling some of the finest handcrafted beers in the country. Persons age 21 and over will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for $25. Only 1200 tickets will be sold.

The Big Lake Brewfest is sponsored by Junior Achievement, Keyport Liquor, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Clear Channel Radio, Northland News Center, The Northland Reader, Arrowhead Printing and Jeff Frey & Associates.

Tickets will be available in early-August at:

Duluth: Fitger’s Brewhouse, University Liquors, Last Chance Liquors, Cashwise Liquors, Liberty Liquors, Dubh Linn Pub, and Carmody’s Irish Pub.
Superior: Keyport Liquor, Belknap Liquor, Hammond Liquor, The Shack and Twin Ports Brewing.
Carlton: Tall Pine Liquor
Proceeds from the Brewfest will benefit Junior Achievement programs across the Northland. JA is a worldwide not-for-profit organization that provides business, economic and free enterprise programs taught by volunteers to school children from grades K-12.

Tim Wigchers
Junior Achievement, District Manager
Northeastern Minnesota & Northwestern Wisconsin
P.O. Box 161071
Duluth, MN 55816
Phone & Fax (715) 392-3914
Toll Free (800) 362-5925 ext. 145
twigchers@jamn.org

Junior Achievement … Celebrating 50 Years in the Northland!

“Bad” news and good news–

The bad news is that we will now be leaving Saint Paul 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. For those coming along, that means the bus rolls out of Saint Paul at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 30th.

The good news is that Don Brewington of Lake Superior Brewing Co. saw the posting for the trip and has graciously invited us to tour and taste at his microbrewery in Duluth! We’ll leave 30 minutes earlier so that we can stop at Lake Superior Brewing at 10:00, tour and taste until 10:45, then roll a few blocks up the street, arriving at Fitger’s just before 11:00. “Shoot–you mean we have to sample at ANOTHER brewery?!?”
Yessssssss! 🙂

Bring a friend or coworker and join us on the Beer Good Bus Tour III, touring the fall colors and alcohol producers of northern WI and MN. For those of you keeping track, that means we’ll hit 9 brewpubs, 1 microbrewery, and 1 meadery. Unless you’re at the GABF, why WOULDN’T you sign up? Send your $50 non-refundable deposit to John Longballa, 1211 Minnehaha Ave W, Saint Paul, 55104. The bus will be approximately $60 per person (depending on how many go). The hotel is $100 for double occupancy.

Thanks,
John

It’s a sad day for Minnesota beer. We’ve been told that another brewpub, in this case Bandana Brewery will no longer be making beer and from what I understand, whatever is on tap is the last of the beer. Perhaps it’s time for one last road trip to Mankato?

More importantly, though, is the fact that one of our brothers in beer, Mr. David Berg, is obviously out of a job. All of us at MNBeer.com wish David the very best of luck and hope to see him brewing somewhere nearby in the near future.