News & Updates

Northern Lights Rare Beer Festival Saturday

By on March 26, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co., beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, brewpubs, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Steel Toe Brewing

nlrbf-2015_slide-1As of last night, tickets were still available for the Northern Lights Rare Beer Festival. And though the ticket price is decidedly steep, this is a festival that should make every beer nerd get a little giddy. For the uninitiated, this festival features rare, vintage and special one-off beers from 30 select craft breweries from across the country, including 10 form Minnesota. Suffice to say that this event includes food, entertainment and more.

Five beers I’ll really f&#@ing miss because I’m working Saturday:

  • Schell’s 2013 Barrel Aged Snowstorm With Brett
  • Bent Paddle Double Shot Double Black
  • Fitger’s Brewhouse Woodford 1100 Wheatwine
  • Town Hall Nitro Tennessee Dessert
  • Steel Toe Brewing Barrel of the Blood

Download the program here.

Buy your tickets here.

Fulton Expat Returns

By on March 11, 2015in breweries, Fulton Brewing Co.

expatLast night Fulton’s rye saison, The Expat made its triumphant return with a kick-off party at Smack Shack in Minneapolis. If you missed it, fear not. You’ll find this beer on tap at other fine establishments and, for the first time, in bottles.

The Expat features plenty of Sterling hops and just enough rye and wheat to make a homebrewer scream “rice hulls!” Coupled with French Saison yeast, you’ll find a great interplay of spice with the mix of hops, rye and saison yeast.

More info here.

March Madness: Historic Bar Brackets with Tycoons Alehouse

By on March 11, 2015in bars/restaurants, Tycoons
Rathskeller at Tycoons

tycoonslogoGreat news from Duluth – Tycoons Alehouse & Eatery has been chosen to be part of Preservation Nation’s “Historic Bar Tournament.” This nationwide competition showcases 32 historic bars from across the country and puts them head-to-head in competition to determine the country’s favorite historic bar.Each week Preservation Nation will set up another round of pairings, allowing readers to vote for their favorites. Could a historic Minnesota bar claim top honors? Strangely enough, you can help.Voting for each round will last a week and close Fridays at 7am Central. Follow this link to vote… and in the words of sketchy politicians, vote early and vote often.Rathskeller at Tycoons

BBSU Starts Wednesday!

By on March 2, 2015in bars/restaurants, beer education

BBSUBetter Beer Society University starts Wednesday! There are still some open spots, so grab your no. 2 pencils (or perhaps your keyboard) and sign up today! Classes meet Wednesdays from March 4th through May 20th at either 6pm or 7:30pm at Republic Seven Corners.

Now in it’s third year, Better Beer Society University offers up 12 weeks of beer school with both local and national guests as well as hosts Rob Shellman and Michael Agnew, both certified Cicerones.

Tuition for the program is $100 for the semester and includes everything you need to get your beer education on, including weekly beer flights!

Sign up today for Spring Semester!  www.betterbeersociety.com/bbsu  

 

Chop & Brew # 34: Bad Ass Saison with Nathan Smith

By on March 1, 2015in beer education, homebrew, video

Our homebrewing friends at Chop & Brew are back in the Bad Ass Brewery with a bad ass guest host and co-brewer – Nathan Smith! Nathan is an awarding-winning homebrewer who calls the Bay Area home, but he’s originally from Minnesota — which is why he’s such a great brewer, of course. During a recent trip home, the Chop & Brew krewe invited Nathan to take the helm of the Bad Ass Brewery. The result: a split-batch of saison, lessons on mash efficiency, making brew day changes on the fly, and some schooling on farmhouse ales.

Some other recent Chop & Brew episodes that homebrewers may appreciate:
Episode 33 – Belgian Dark Strong Ale (Part 2)
Brewing with New Hop Varieties (Nathan Smith presentation from NHC 2014)