News & Updates

Excelsior Brewing Beer Dinner at Eat Shop Kitchen/Bar

By on October 31, 2012in bars/restaurants, beer dinners, beer events, breweries

Eat Shop in Plymouth is hosting their first beer dinner with Excelsior Brewing Co. on November 13th at 7pm. They’re excited to showcase some of Excelsior’st beers alongside chef Jeff Anderson’s food.

The four course dinner will run $49 per person, and include big glasses of beer paired with the following menu:

Big Island Blonde Ale: Eat Plate with horseradish cured wild salmon sausage, summer sausage, pickled egg, chevre with cornichon, aged cheddar, butter crackers.

XLCR Pale Ale: Stone crab soup with sunchokes, beer-mustard creme fraiche, bacon, mustard greens.

Bitteschlappe Brown Ale: Smoked brisket with squash & rye fry bread, celery root puree, apple braised cabbage.

Mr. Jimmy Cherry Baltic Porter: Peanut butter mousse, milk chocolate, cinnamon tuile, pistachios.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot calling Eat Shop at 763-270-5929.

Grumpy’s Firkin Friday/Happy Hour/Customer Appreciation Day

By on October 31, 2012in beer events, breweries, cask beer

Every Friday Grumpy’s NE has a firkin of some sort of beer. On November 2, not only does Grumpy’s NE have a firkin, but they will also have a couple of rare beers that are very seldom seen in the Twin Cities, brought in by Artisanal Imports, Fulton and Dave’s BrewFarm.

To add to the fun, they are roasting a pig! There will be some side dishes and it will be free with purchase of a participating beer.

On top of all of that nonsense, it’s our friend Corey Shovein’s birthday! So he’ll be there doing his normal fabulous thing. Other special guests include the Fulton Gang, Lanny Hoff of Artisanal Imports, BrewFarmer Dave and probably a host of other fine folk.

Beer List

St. Feuillien Cuvèe de L’Amitié (collaboration with Green Flash)
Fulton Libertine Cask
Hair of the Dog/De Proef/Bockor Collaboration Flanders Fred
Dave’s BrewFarm Matacabras
La Trappe Isid’or Trappist Ale

Foam Combers Stache Bash December 1st

By on October 30, 2012in bars/restaurants, beer events

The Foam Combers are hosting the 4th Annual Stache Bash for Movember at the Blue Nile, Saturday, December 1st.  $15 gets you a wristband and access to bottomless pints until the keg runs out; silent auction; live music; and a moustache contest.  Prizes donated by Midwest Supplies, local breweries and brewpubs, as well as other local businesses.  Once the keg has been killed, there is still the world famous Blue Nile 2-4-1 happy hour until 10pm.  Drink beer, fight cancer. The kegs for the event are secret thus far, but I can tell you that they’re local.

The Dark Knight Returns to Barley John’s

By on October 29, 2012in beer events, brewpubs, cask beer, contest

For all you big kids out there Barley John’s has treats for you on Halloween starting with the return of the Dark Knight which has been aging for a year and a half.

In case you are unfamiliar, the Dark Knight is our Super imperial, oak aged, Old Eight Porter, aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels. Rich, syrupy, oaky, and everything you could ask for in the chill of autumn. If you’ve never experienced it before, it is a must try! Aged for an unbelievable 18 months! High abv, yet to be determined.

To sweeten the pot and since Halloween is on a Wednesday, they’ll be tapping a cask of Stockyard IPA infused with Sriracha at 4pm.

Show up in costume and you’ll receive happy hour pricing on all house brewed beers all night (excluding the Dark Knight and cask beers). There will also be a costume contest running from 10pm – midnight. The bartender will pick his favorite costume and award the winner with a $20 gift certificate.

StoutFest 2012 at the Blue Nile

By on October 29, 2012in bars/restaurants, beer events

For the fifth year the Blue Nile is celebrating the darkness of stouts and porters. Here’s a peek at the festivities.

This year, once again, we spend a Saturday with our dark side, as all of our taps turn to the deepest, the richest, and the thickest of beers, be they porters or stouts. Look for beers from Surly, Central Waters, Founders, Stone, Left Hand, New Holland, Widmer, Flying Dog, Alaskan, Bell’s and more. Goes from opening at 4 pm until 9 pm (when Wachilia, the monthly Kenyan dance party begins).