News & Updates

None More BLAKKR

By on February 19, 2014in bars/restaurants, breweries
Blakkr Brewers
Blakkr Brewers

BLAKKR. New album out in February. Michael Berglund – Surly artist-in-residence, Erik Ogershok – Head Brewer at Real Ale Brewing Co., Todd Haug – Head Brewer of Surly Brewing and  Barnaby Struve – VP of Three Floyds.

What do you get when you throw three brewers known for their affinity for metal into a brewery, crank the stereo to eleven and let them do their thing? According to Surly Brewing Co.’s Todd Haug, the group was compelled to create “The most metal beer ever.” describing BLAKKR as being “Black as the sky on a moonless night,” with “flavors of black licorice and bitter sweet hops with strong hop aromas of pineapple.” And so begins the tale of BLAKKR, an imperial black ale brewed collaboratively by Surly, Real Ale and Three Floyds.

BLAKKR’s North American tour hit all three breweries and the end product is set to launch in each brewery’s respective markets soon. Real Ale will offer up BLAKKR in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, Three Floyds will be packaging the beer in bombers and Surly will be releasing BLAKKR in 16oz cans.

Minnesota gets BLAKKR Monday:
Surly Brewing will be hosting a BLAKKR release party at Grumpy’s Downtown in Minneapolis on Monday, February 24 at 6pm. Look for BLAKKR on tap, as well as various other Surly specials on tap and live music.

BLAKKR Details:
Imperial Black Ale
Malts: Pale Malt, Carafa Special, Oats
Sugar: Brewers Crystals
Hops: Bittering – Warrior, Aroma- Simcoe, Centennial
Yeast: English Ale
OG: 22 P
FG: 4.5 P
ABV: 9.99 %
IBU: 85

nonemoreblakkr

The Art:
BLAKKR’s album cover artwork was created by Surly’s Michael Berglund and was inspired by Medieval engravings of monsters and chimeras. He said: “The idea came from having to please three metal brewers—a three headed beast.” He said the symbols are from Medieval alchemy, and are, in order from left to right: water, alcohol, eternal darkness, fermentation, fire, flavor, pint, grain, trinity, boil, union (collab), carbon dioxide, metal, and wizard. Berglund added: “It’s up to the viewer to decide if the souls in the fire are burning, worshiping, partying, or just asking for a beer.”

Schell’s “The Current” Beer

By on February 18, 2014in breweries

currentbeer

Today the fine folks at The Current have announced that the station is hooking up with our friends at Schell’s to introduce a co-labeled Schell’s The Current beer, available in May. The beer will be a limited edition run of Schell’s Seasonal Zommerfest, a Kölsch-style ale. Look for it in 16 ounce cans at bars and liquors.

Surprised? Perhaps a little, though with the station’s attention to craft beer in recent years, this seems like a fun fit. And to be perfectly honest, aside from the “Frozen” cd that my four-year-old requests daily, The Current is a staple in my car. I’d suspect that many of our craft beer loving friends are also fans of The Current.

“We know that many of our fans love craft beer, and we look at any partnership or promotion through the lens of our audience,” said Jim McGuinn, program director for The Current. “We know our listeners and this is a natural fit.”

In addition to increasing brand awareness of The Current, the station also hopes to introduce listeners to local bands, whose songs will be available in May at thecurrent.org/beer. A list of participating bands and songs will be announced closer to the launch of the beer.

“Local bands and local beer are a great match,” McGuinn said. “We love that we can bring the two together. Through the downloads available at thecurrent.org and upcoming shows featuring these artists, we hope to continue to support our local music scene.”

“Beer drinkers are looking to quench their thirst with a brew that has a good story behind it,” said Ted Marti, President of Schell’s, and a fifth generation member of the brewing family. “We’ve got that covered with 154 years of German heritage, and The Current has that covered with the fantastic local music it supports. It’s a win-win.”

Any revenue generated from the sales of Schell’s The Current beer will go back to The Current and the work it does to support local music.

Hey Art Nerds, How ‘Bout a Beer Gig?

By on February 14, 2014in breweries, general beer

call-for-artists-02

Our friends at Surly Brewing Company are looking for their next featured artist. Said artist will create art for Surly’s next anniversary beer (∞ight?), SurlyFest & Darkness. You’ll no doubt see the artwork on bottles posters, shirts and other fun things.  Surly has worked with a variety of artists over the past number of years (tattoo artists, graphic designers, illustrators, painting elephants) , so the medium & style is wide open with the caveat that the work needs to be unique and “Surly.”

And while recognition and free beer is nice, this is a paid gig as well. “The chosen one” will be working from concept to design to finished piece with the merry men and women of Surly on a timeline.

Care to join the likes of artists such as  Josh “Jawsh” Lemke, Brent Schoonover, Michael Berglund, Aesthetic Apparatus, DWITT, Nic Skrade, and Adam Turman?  Send some info about yourself, your connection with Surly and examples of your previous work (links to your portfolio, etc.) to michael@surlybrewing.com by Friday, March 7.

Good luck!

Great Books: Local Craft Beer in Print

By on February 11, 2014in misc. mn beer

Little confession here… I like to read. Give me a comfortable chair and something from an author like London, Kerouac, Palahniuk or Eggers and I’m a happy camper. I also have a slight addiction to beer books, especially of the homebrewing persuasion. It it’s a halfway decent book, there’s a good chance I’ve either skimmed it, read it entirely or own it.

Here are three books that touch on the Minnesota beer scene in one way, shape or form. Check them out! By the time you read this, all three should be available for your purchasing pleasure.

Locally Brewed: Portraits of Craft Breweries from America’s Heartland, Anna Blessing
localThis book is a fun, fast read profiling a variety of breweries that call the middle-west their home. Blessing profiles three Minnesota breweries (Schell’s, Surly and Steel Toe) and an array of other breweries form the heartland – some you’ve heard of and others that probably aren’t even on your radar. The writing is approachable and honest, and when I put down the book, I felt like I had a good sense of the breweries featured without a lot of help from the brewery PR departments. The photography is good as well the “Brewer’s Playlist” is a nice touch. Midwest brewers seem to have (mostly) good taste in music (in my book anyway), but Two Brothers wins the award for most eclectic, with selections ranging from GG Allin & RKL to Rusted Root and Amy Winehouse.

Craft Beer for the Homebrewer, Michael Agnew
craftbeerHey, I know that guy! Michael Agnew, Minnesota’s first certified glass-carboy juggler Cicerone brings us a new book that is one part homebrew recipes, one part brewery profiles and another part awesome. Michael and his band of merry beer writers profile a variety of brewers from around the country and squeeze homebrew recipes out of said brewers. Minnesotans will be happy to see both Surly and Schell’s represented, with homebrew recipes for Furious and Smoke from Surly and Snowstorm (2009, Baltic Porter) and Pils from Schell’s as well as recipes form the likes of The Bruery, Funkwerks, Odell, Rogue, Lagunitas and more. I’ve yet to brew any of the recipes from the book, but perhaps it’s time to fire up the kettles. It’s now clear that my attempt to clone Lagunitas’ Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ was WAY off. 🙂

The American Craft Beer Cookbook, John Holl
cbbThis book features a ton of recipes from a variety of breweries across the country. The book touches on every course and to be honest, a lot of the recipes in here look pretty damn tasty. One, in particular, deserves our attention. The lone Minnesota representative in this book comes from Surly Brewing Co. in the form of a recipe for Ginger-Garlic Chicken Stir Fry that begs to be enjoyed with a Saison (Cynic perhaps?). I’ve yet to try said recipe, but I’m pretty damn sure it’ll be good. Now if they could have only tracked down Barley John’s pizza recipes…

Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest Tickets on Sale Today at Noon!

By on February 7, 2014in beer events, breweries, brewpubs

northernlightsToday at noon you can buy tickets for the newest beer festival from the folks from Chop Liver, the people who have brought you the St. Paul Summer Beer Festival as well as other festivals in Rochester and Mankato. Needless to say these fellas are well-practiced, so the Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest should be something special.

The event promises to showcase a selection of rare, vintage and specialty one-off beers. A select group of ~30 brewers and owners were invited to share unique offerings in an event that also raises money for Pints for Prostates.

“This is the first year for the Northern Lights fest,” said organizers Juno Choi and Mark Opdahl [in unison, no doubt], “and we’re very excited because it will be unlike any other beer event in the area. It will be a great chance to try some really unique, maybe even once in a lifetime, beers.”

“These aren’t beers you’re going to be able to go out and buy off the shelf or on tap at a pub,” according to Choi. “These are limited-availability, vintage bottles from a past release, and in some cases brewed specifically for the fest.”

Besides rare beers and the opportunity to rub shoulders with the beer geek elite, ticketholders will also enjoy complimentary food catered in by top area chefs and live music.

Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest
March 29th, 2014
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
7-10pm
$100

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 7th at noon online and at participating retailers. For more information, including a list of participating breweries, are available at the event’s website: http://northernlightsrarebeerfest.com/