Just a head’s up that Surdyks in Mpls has a sale on Belgian beer from 4/27 to 5/6, 15-25% off.

Congrats to local Curt Stock! He was elected to the American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee along with Bev Blackwood, Denny Conn and Gordon Strong. It’s always good to see some Minnesota represent. Feel like celebrating? Maybe you should brew up one of Curt & Kathy’s mead recipe kits over at Northern Brewer… or you could just buy me a beer and we’ll talk about it! 😛

If my grandma wasn’t such a good cook, I’d consider having Easter brunch at The Happy Gnome… Now if only Grandma had a kegerator…

Wondering where to go for brunch this Sunday? How about The Happy Gnome? We will be serving up a nice selection of breakfast and lunch items from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Not to mention $3 bloody marys and mimosas and one of the best beer selections in the Twin Cities. Since this is our first year we have no idea how busy it will be so you may want to call for reservations. Our number is 651-287-2018.

The Muddy Pig will be opening at 5:00 this Sunday. See above.

Summit’s new beer, Scandia, will be available at The Muddy Pig and The Happy Gnome on Thursday, April 20. Check out their website www.summitbrewing.com for details of this great new beer.

Drink good beer,
Mark

This sounds like fun as well. Word on the street is that Lanny, Dave Berg from Bandana Brewery and I are all from the same town in central Minnesota… beer nerds unite!

Slow Food Minnesota Presents
TRUE BREW
Sunday, April 30, 2:00-6:30 p.m.

Lanny Hoff, owner of Artisanal Imports of Minneapolis and an international beer expert, will conduct a formal beer tasting from 2:00-6:30 p.m. Fifteen fine beers from around the world will be presented in five flights: each flight will consist of three examples of a single type of beer. (A very special thanks to Cellars Wines & Spirits, Inc. for being our retail partner and for offering attendees a 10 percent discount on purchases at their shops throughout the Twin Cities.)

At the halfway point, attendees will have an opportunity to enjoy a light snack, conversation and of course more beverages. In addition to treats from the Happy Gnome, our snack will feature certified organic cured pork tenderloin from Beaver Creek Ranch. We are grateful to Doug Anderson of Beaver Creek Ranch for his generous donation. Mr. Anderson holds the patent for his unique curing process using spinach. No nitrites or nitrates are used. You will not want to miss this tasting and presentation.

Activities: formal beer tasting, light lunch and conversation. Casual dress.
Where: the Happy Gnome, 498 Selby Avenue, St. Paul.
Directions: (from Minneapolis) take 94 East to exit 240-Dale Street. Turn right on Dale Street. Go to Selby Ave. and turn Left. The Happy Gnome will be on your right. Turn right into the parking lot. Our event will be held upstairs in the banquet rooms.
Cost: $25 for Slow Food members; $35 per person for non-members. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

RESERVATIONS NEED TO BE MADE BY APRIL 27, AND FULL PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
To reserve, e-mail chefron73@hotmail.com or call 612-362-9210. Please make check payable to Slow Food Minnesota and mail to
Slow Food Minnesota
P.O. Box 14059
Minneapolis, MN 55414.
Reservations are limited, so take a moment to respond to chefron73@hotmail.com now.

For those interested in joining Slow Food, membership materials will be available at the event.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will be used to fund local food producers accepted as Terra Madre participants in Turin, Italy in October 2006.

Thank you for your continued support.
Ron Huff, CCC
Leader/founder Slow Food Minnesota

Vine Park is hosting a beer trip and it sounds like a great time… if only I had some $$ and vacation time…

Enjoy a beer with us in Prague & Krakonos & Cerna Hora & …
Introducing Vine Park’s First Beer Trip!

Ten days starting & ending in Prague with days of exploring micro and
independent breweries throughout Czech Bohemia and some of Moravia.
We’ll visit medieval cities, tour breweries, see Telc (a UNESCO World
Heritage site) and much more. Our focus is the culture of the area as
expressed in the beers but also with plenty of time to see &
experience the food & people beyond the beers!

August 31 thru September 10, 2006. We meet in Prague and the trip
price includes: 9 nights accommodations, travel by private coach, rail
and public transportation, brewery visits, beer tasting, entrance fees
& tours, all breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, and trip leadership.

Our tour operator is very experienced and specializes in travel to the
great beer destinations of the world. We are very lucky that Beer
Trips owner, Mike Saxton, will join us in our travels. Dan & Deb
Justesen will go as trip hosts and we want to encourage spouses &
significant others to come along.

Detailed trip information and registration is at
www.beertrips.com/vinepark. Contact Dan at dan@vinepark.com or call
at 651-228-1355 to express an interest.