News & Updates

Winterfest 2013

By on February 5, 2013in breweries, brewpubs
The very dapper Lift Bridge Brewing Co.

The very dapper Lift Bridge Brewing Co.

In a flurry of snow and icy temps Winterfest 2013 has come and gone. The Minnesota History Center played host to the annual festival put on by the MN Craft Brewer’s Guild on Friday February 1st in St. Paul. This event, while potentially prohibitive in cost for some, offered an intimate setting to sample craft brews from 38 of Minnesota’s great breweries.  This year showcased the staples of the MN breweries, and also welcomed a slew of new breweries.

Borealis Fermentery

Borealis Fermentery

As there were only 750 tickets sold, attendants were given the opportunity to talk with the brewers about their craft while sampling some tasty offerings without having to wait in lengthy lines.

Harriet Brewing

Harriet Brewing Co.

It would be impractical to list all the great beers that were sampled, but some definitely stood out.  A smashing availability of winter seasonals were on display but that wasn’t the only thing on tap.  A few personal favorites were Bemidji Brewing Co’s Sour Red, Fitger’s barrel aged Edmund Bourbon Imperial Stout, Fulton’s Double IPA, Lift Bridge’s Silhouette, Borealis’ Homdinger and of course all the new breweries representing Nordeast Minneapolis.

The Snowshoe for Best of the Fest was again awarded for to Barley John’s Brew Pub for best beer as well as best brewery as voted by the crowd. Congratulations for consecutive years with the Snowshoe!

Thank you to the MN Craft Brewer’s Guild for putting on an impressive festival once again!  I’m sure many of the attendants woke up today thankful this only happens once a season.

Surly Brewing Co.

Surly Brewing Co.

North Coast Nosh VII

By on February 1, 2013in beer events, food pairing, misc. mn beer

Dubbed as “The Best Foodie Event in 2012” by Minnesota Monthly, The Heavy Table’s North Coast Nosh has become just that, featuring awesome breweries, cheesemakers, coffee roaster and more. Look for familiar local breweries such as Badger Hill, Fulton, Lucid, Indeed, Summit and other fine purveyors like Caves of Fairbault, Cookie Cart, Singing Hills Goat Dairy, St. Croix Chocolate Co. and more. Tickets and further details at heavytable.com. Not to be missed!

Thursday, February 7th, Peace Coffee Roastery, 5:30-8:30pm, $26.90

Pour Decisions Stonky Wonky

By on February 1, 2013in breweries
Pour Decisions Brewing Company Stonky Wonky Stout

Pour Decisions Brewing Company Stonky Wonky StoutPour Decisions latest is Stonky Wonky, a “Southwarkian Imperial Brown Export Stout.” Rather then tryt o describe it, we’ll let them do so:

Back from the dead, the beast of all beasties. The ORIGINAL Russian stout. Announcing, for the first time in the US, THE Imperial Brown Export Stout. IBSt Export. The granddaddy of all Russian stouts. Thrale brewed this baby for Catherine the Great. Thrale’s was bought by Barclay Perkins and they made their Russian Stout world famous. Our take, Stonky Wonky, has a smidge over 10% abv with 10 pounds of hops per barrel making this a powerful delicious thing. Espresso, cocoa, dark dried fruits and deeply toasted bread. Dark chocolate truffles and rum raisins. A smooth, rich, elegant velvety depth-charge of a drink.

Look for it tonight at Winterfest or starting tomorrow in their taproom. Enjoy!

Boom Island LoMoMOpalooza

By on February 1, 2013in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries
Boom Island Brewing Company logo

Boom Island Brewing Company logoWithout further ado, LoMoMOpalooza is the name of Boom Island’s new beer (here’s our previous post) brewed in support of the Minnesota Orchestra Musicians. LoMoMO stands for Locked out Musicians of Minnesota Orchestra. The beer’s style lies somewhere between that of a Belgian Farmhouse and Biere de Garde with a touch of hop spice, 6%ABV. 10% of each keg sold and $1 from each bottle sold will be going to producing music for our community.

Boom Island will be tapping the new beer tonight at the WinterFest, then later at Zelo in downtown Minneapolis after Minnesota Orchestra’s concert. It will be available in the 750ml bottles later this month.