News & Updates

Spring Ale Fest – April 6th

What do you get when you combine 14 local breweries, food trucks and a boxing gym in northeast Minneapolis?  The Spring Ale Fest!

April 6th will mark the 2nd Annual Spring Ale Fest.  This year the fest will be held indoors at the Uppercut Gym in Northeast Minneapolis (1324 Quincy St NE).  Most other days of the year Uppercut is home to boxers and trainers, April 6th will see the space set up for drinking. The gym will be stripped down to one ring, and local music group, White Dad, will be providing the tunes.

The event is sponsored by and benefits Nice Ride Minnesota, the community bike sharing program you can find in just about every neighborhood in Minneapolis.  The Spring Ale Fest also marks the kick-off to the 2013 Nice Ride season!  (Someone tell Mother Nature.)  There will be plenty of bike parking at Uppercut, and there are a few Nice Ride stations in close proximity to the event.

Last year eight breweries were showcased; this year ups the ante to 14.  Local favorites such as Dangerous Man, Northgate, 612Brew and Indeed will be representing their turf, plus other local favorites, and even one or two that are coming from just across the Mississippi.  Check out the entire list here.

While on the smaller side compared to some of the beer fests in the area, this festival limits the tickets to keep a favorable ratio of brewers to drinkers. Long lines won’t be an issue, and there will be great food from Rusty Taco and Stanley’s Bar Room to soak up the libations.

Last year the event sold out, and this year is on pace to sell out this week, so go over to brownpapertickets.com and grab some of the last ones!  VIP tickets are $60 and get you into the fest an hour early, 1-5pm, as well as a special souvenir mug.  Regular tickets are $40 and get you access from 2-5pm.

If you have any questions, direct them to info@springalefest.com.

DRINK LOCAL – EAT LOCAL – RIDE LOCAL

Taprooms & Growlers Approved in Bemidji

Good news from the Bemidji Brewing Company – the Bemidji City Council has approved ordinances allowing taprooms and growler sales within the City. With that move, a large hurdle to growth has been removed for Tom, Tina and Bud as they continue to brew out of the Harmony Co-op shared kitchen.  Things are looking promising, though;  in this clip from Lakeland Public Television, Bud hints at a move to a permanent location to allow increased production and of course, a taproom.

Here’s to continued success, Bemidji Brewing Co.!

Lift Bridge Beer Dinner

Lift Bridge is teaming up with FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar in downtown Minneapolis to bring you a delicious evening of beer and food. There are still a few tickets so after you stop drooling, give FireLake a call and book your seat.

MENU
Reception – Farm Girl with Limousin Beef Tenderloin & Ahi Tuna

First – Gross Cut Pale Ale with Salmon Coulibiac, fennel pollen & grapefruit gastrique

Second – Chestnut Hill with Pheasant + Chestnuts = Poutine

Third – Hop Dish with Smoked pork belly, chicory & beer cheese fondue

Fourth – Sihlouette with Braised Bison with oxtails & salsify

Dessert – Commanders with Sourdough crepes, bourbon apple butter, beer caramel & cardamom creme fraiche

Tickets: $55/person (plus tax & gratuity)
Call Kristin Holt at 612-547-6241

Goat Roast at Grumpy’s NE

Grumpy's NEGrumpy’s NE, Artisanal Imports and London’s Meantime Brewing are throwing a party. a goat roast party today! They’ll be tapping two of only three Minnesota-bound kegs of Meantime’s Smoked Bock. And since it’s a Friday happy hour, you know there will be food!

The guys will be doing a Mexican Barbacoa Style goat roast. Expect food to be ready anywhere between 4-7pm. Hopefully on the earlier side of that range.

Spring Ale Fest

Spring Ale Fest 2013Beer. Bicycle-sharing. Birthday? How can you go wrong? While you don’t need to celebrate my birthday on the 6th (and no gifts, please), you should celebrate spring with great local breweries and food trucks. Sample over 30 beers from a dozen or more breweries and support one of the coolest bike sharing programs in the world, The Twin Cities’ very own Nice Ride Minnesota.  Tickets and more details at SpringAleFest.com