News & Updates

Worthy Adversary Launches This Saturday, 12/7

By on December 6, 2013in breweries

worthyNewly crowned “Kind of a Big Deal” Winter Seasonal winner (and a beer I got to try in the homebrew stage at The Four Firkins) Fulton Worthy Adversary arrives just in time to warm up the insides this Saturday. If you’re not familiar, Worthy Adversary is a Russian Imperial stout that nearly falls into the 10% abv category. The Fulton taproom opens at noon and you’ll be able to grab growlers  ($18/fill) or taste this beer on tap ($5/12 oz pour).

On Monday, Worthy Adversary kegs will be flowing into bars and restaurants and 750mL bottles will start to hit liquor store shelves. Enjoy!

Schell’s Anniversary Pilsner Series

By on December 5, 2013in breweries

PilsSeries_AAB_FebMarchToday we learned that August Schell Brewing Company will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Schell’s Pils with a new series of beers in February. The 30th anniversary series will include four different pilsners – the original recipe from 1984, the current recipe and two new offerings – a Roggen and Mandarina Bavaria Pils. Expect those in variety 12-packs and for bars, 4x 1/6 bbl kegs.

It’s great to see the “old timers” like Schell’s embracing special release beers in their very own way. In the days of double IPAs and barrel-aged concoctions, it’s often easy to forget that in the 80s breweries like Schell’s were starting to buck the system and break away from mass-produced, homogenized  boring beer. In 1984 Schell introduced a traditional Bavarian-style Pilsner well before it was cool to be craft (or crafty?). Beer writer Michael Jackson called this beer “One of the best American examples of the Pilsner style.”

The Roggen Pils will be a departure from a traditional pilsner with rye malt, Tettnang and Smaragd hops and the last beer in the series will feature a new German hop, Mandarina Bavaria, said to have strong tangerine and citrus notes.

I’m looking forward to this one – I’ve always liked Schell’s Pilsner. I’m not surprised at the choice of beers – a few years ago at a Schell’s event at Stub & Herbs, Ted Marti told me that Schell’s Pilsner was his favorite Schell’s beer. And speaking of favorite beers, one of my favorite Schell’s offerings, Hefeweizen will be turning 30 this year as well and Schell’s will be doing a special series in July as well.

Third Street Brewhouse Cans

By on December 4, 2013in breweries

No word on an exact date, but look for cans from Third Street Brewhouse in the near future. According to Third Street’s David DeGeest, cans have always been part of Third Street Brewhouse’s plans. Given Third Street Brewhouse/Cold Spring Brewing’s long history with canned beer, this is hardly an exploratory move into cans. Pretty cool. Some can art? Sure, why not?

Maroon & Bold Day at Pour Decisions Saturday

By on December 4, 2013in breweries

M&B-2013Maroon & Bold, we’ll fling your banners high,
Sing loud and long your praises to the sky,
Maroon & Bold, we’ll love you ’til we die.
Hu-rah-hah-hah,  Hu-rah-hah-hah for P.D.B.C.

(Thank you Fergus Falls for burning your school song into my head all those years ago.)

Saturday is Maroon and Bold day at Pour Decisions. Maroon & Bold is a double IPA made entirely from Minnesotan ingredients. You can check out this 9% beer Saturday in both bottles and on draft.

Food from Butcher and The Boar starting at noon.

Standard draft and growler:
Patersbier, 5.7%, Belgian Golden Ale
Actress and Bishop, 4.1%, English Golden Bitter
Infidelity, 7.2%, Imperial Red/Burton Ale
Fi Dem, 8.5%, Jamaican Stout
Kalamity, 11%, Old English Stock ale

Specialty draft:
Maroon & Bold, 9%, 100% Mn ingredient Double IPA
Kalamity – Bourbon Barrel aged, 13%
Brother Vesper – Belgian Dark Strong Stout, 12.5%
The Scytheman – Polish Grodziskie, 4.1% – $10
Acerbity (ed. Würzig) – Berliner Weisse, 2.7%
ExperimentAle #12 – Nutritious stout on Nitro, 4.4%
ExperimentAle #13 – Barrel Fermented Sour Belgian IPA, 7%
WeizenBocher – Belgian Quadruple Wheat wine w/ Butcher and The Boar smoked malt and peppers, 9%

Bottles in limited quantity:
Maroon & Bold, 9%, Mn Double IPA – $12 (Limit 6)
Kalamity – Bourbon Barrel aged, 13% – $16
Kalamity – Rye whiskey quarter cask, 13% – $16
Brother Vesper – Belgian Dark Strong Stout, 12.5% – $16
The Scytheman – Smoked Polish Grodziskie, 4.1% – $10
Acerbity (ed. Würzig) – Berliner Weisse, 2.7% – $12

Black Friday Throwdown in Duluth

By on November 29, 2013in bars/restaurants, brewpubs

tycoonslogoOur friends in Duluth have a black beer throwdown going on right now. Starting at noon today, the fine folks at Tycoon’s will be pouring sixteen different black beers today. From the sound of it, it’s not only the largest collection of black beers ever assembled in Duluth, but also larger than a couple of respectable black beer events in the Twin Cities.

In any case, if you’re in Duluth check it out. They’re releasing their super-duper-awesome Edmund Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a beer which has won gold, silver, and bronze in various years at the Barrel Aged Beer Festival in Chicago.

Tap list below.

BH Edmund Imperial Stout
Lift Bridge BBL aged Commander
Indeed Rum Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Bent Paddle Cold Press Black w/ Madagascar Vanilla Bean on Nitro
Surly Darkness 2012/2013
Sierra Nevada Belgian Black IPA
Sierra Nevada Narwhal
Deschutes Abyss
Deschutes- Great Lakes Smoked Porter
Deschutes XXV Black Butte
Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Alaskan Smoked Porter
New Belgium 1554
Cider  – Aspall Black Label Imperial Cyder