News & Updates

Duluth Beer Week & Bent Paddle Launch

By on May 13, 2013in breweries, brewpubs
bent paddle brewery

Photo: Bent Paddle Brewing Company

This week, Bent Paddle Brewing Company is releasing their beer to the public for the first time ever. Fifteen breweries from around the state (including several in or near Duluth) are teaming up to bring an all-Minnesota tap lineup to the Rathskeller in Tycoons. And of course, Fitger’s master brewer Dave Hoops is serving up his own contribution to the party. May 13–19 is American Craft Beer Week—and Duluth is rising to the occasion.

“It’s the nation-wide celebration of American craft beer,” Hoops says. “We wanted to really take the opportunitiy to really highlight local craft breweries.”

Ground zero for the week’s activities is the Rathskeller, the speakeasy-style bar in the sub-basement of Tycoons Alehouse (132 E Superior St, Duluth). They’ve turned all 14 of their taps over to Minnesota breweries (and one cidery) to celebrate local beers, and are serving bottles from two further breweries as well. And some of those breweries are from Duluth.

Beer at the Rathskeller. Photo: Maxwell McGruder.

Beer at the Rathskeller. Photo: Maxwell McGruder.

For Bent Paddle’s first-ever release, they’re offering up two flagship brews: the Bent Hop and the Black. The Bent Hop is a smooth, chocolaty, semi-roasted ale somewhere between a porter and a stout, and the Bent Hop is a non-traditional IPA with a big floral/citrus hop flavor. Both will be on tap at the Rathskeller in the starting tonight at 5pm.

Duluth beer fans will also want to try Blacklist, a “nomadic” brewery based out of Duluth and with limited distribution. Their contribution is the Or De Belgique, which honors traditional Belgian processes and boasts tropical fruit flavors and rich aromas. Dubrue is participating too (Brown), along with Knife River’s Borealis Fermentery and the Castle Danger Brewery.

“It’s always been us alone,” Hoops says. “We now have quite a few breweries in Duluth.”

But the brewers aren’t just sending along beer. Several are coming in person to celebrate this Wednesday night from 7–9pm. Brewers who have confirmed that they are coming come from Blacklist, Borealis, Castle Danger, Bent Paddle, Big Wood, and the Brewhouse. They’ll be available to answer questions about their process and otherwise talk good beer.

With new breweries popping up seemingly overnight, Hoops says that it’s a good time for craft beer in Minnesota. He thinks that this week’s celebration shows a deep field both locally and statewide, and that the movement’s only getting started.

“I feel like we’re on the trajectory to get to maybe double where we’re at as far as brewery numbers,” Hoops says. “The sky’s the limit on selling craft beer.”

Pour Decisions Infidelity Burton Ale

By on May 10, 2013in bars/restaurants, breweries

clip_infidelityPour Decisions releases their new Burton ale, Infidelity this weekend at Ward 6 in St. Paul and at their taproom for draft and growler sales!  “Infidelity is a British, hop-centric, nourishing ale with herbal hops, spicy endive, cedar and hints of grapefruit flowing into a rippingly tannic, crisp finish.”

Head Brewer Kristen will be at Ward 6 starting at 2pm Saturday for the release party to talk shop and pass out phone numbers. Look for wider distribution next week.

Win a Pair of Tickets to Stanley’s NE Craft Beer Fest & Block Party

By on May 10, 2013in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries

stanleysartWanna’ win a pair of tickets to the  Stanley’s NE Craft Beer Festival during Art-a-Whirl? Leave a comment listing your favorite craft beer brewed in Northeast Minneapolis for a chance to win. Winner will be chosen at random. Please include your email address when you enter your comment (no one will see it except the fine folks at MNBeer) and we’ll notify the winning party via email. Entries accepted until Midnight Sunday.

Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild American Craft Beer Week Events

By on May 9, 2013in b.o.p., bars/restaurants, beer dinners, beer education, beer events, beer stores, breweries, brewpubs, cask beer

So much beer, so little time. Our good friends at The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild have compiled a week’s worth of events (or 10,000 Minutes, if you prefer) at http://www.mncraftbrew.org/10000minutes in celebration of American Craft Beer Week! Consider it your civic duty to get out there and enjoy some of these events!

MNCBG-10000-Minutes-of-Minnesota-Craft-Beer-20131

American Craft Beer Week Events from Hohenstein’s

By on May 7, 2013in bars/restaurants, breweries

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I don’t even know where to start… enjoy!
MULTI-DAY RUNNING FEATURES & EVENTS

NEIGHBORHOOD CAFE May 13-17
-Featuring:
**Rush River Nevermore Shakes **Founder’s All Day IPA Fish Sandwich
**Bell’s Two Hearted Beer Cheese Soup **Ace Joker Mimosas

TOWN HALL TAP (Chicago Ave) all week long
-All Minnesota Beers on tap. Featuring Fulton and Bad Weather Brewing

MUDDY PIG all week long
-Featuring New Holland Beers and Spirits

UPTOWN TAVERN throughout the week
-Beer & Brat combo. Will be making different beer brats throughout the week

KRYMARCZUK’S all week long
-Brats made with Rush River Small Axe Golden Ale

RESTAURANT ALMA all week long
-$15.00 beer flight featuring Fulton Blonde, Lift Bridge Farm Girl & Two Brother’s Domaine du Page. Will be paired with prix fix menu

HAUTE DISH all week long
-$2.00 off American Craft Pints

STUB & HERBS all week long
-All Minnesota taps featuring Fulton and Bad Weather Brewing

VALLEY TAP HOUSE all week long
-Serving Founder’s Dirty Bastard Jambalaya

PAIRINGS all week long
-Baja Beer Battered Fish Tacos made with Bell’s Oberon $12.00
Pair them with a pint of Oberon $3.00

WASHINGTON SQUARE all week long
-Celebrating American Craft Beers all year long, this week we will be focusing on regional and Eco-Friendly Breweries such as Fulton, Rush River & Great Lakes

MAD CAPPER all week long
-“Coast to Coast Week”. Featuring beers from Lagunita’s, Boulder, Fulton, Founder’s and Southern Tier

CHEROKEE WEST ST. PAUL all week long
-Featuring Bell’s, Fulton and Schell’s

SMALLEY’S STILLWATER all week long
-Release the inner pirate in you! Featuring multiple Lagunita’s all week. Will also be tapping Big Sky Old Blue Hair Barley Wine & Big Sky Power Wagon Wheat Wine

THE LOOP ROCHESTER all week long
-Featuring 3 Fulton Brews, Bell’s Two Hearted & Left Hand Milk Stout

KATHY’S PUB ROCHESTER all week long
-Featuring Bell’s Two Hearted and Oberon

McGOONS TAXI CO. ROCHESTER all week long
-Featuring Lagunita’s Undercover Shutdown Ale & Bad Weather Wind Vane

THE TAP HOUSE ROCHESTER all week long
-Featuring 50 Craft Beers on tap

LONE OAK GRILL every Friday in May @ 4pm
-Firkin Friday’s featuring casks from Fulton, Founder’s, Bell’s, Rush River and Big Sky

MONDAY, MAY 13TH:

OLD CHICAGO APPLE VALLEY @ 5pm
-Michigan invades Minnesota. Tap Takeover featuring beers from Bells, Founders and New Holland

MUDDY WATERS @ NOON
-Tapping Founder’s KBS, Founder’s Double Trouble, Bell’s Black Note, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout, Surly Pentagram and more! Giving away 4 pairs of tickets to ST. Paul Summer Beer Fest

BAR ABILENE @ 4pm
-Southern Tier Tap Takeover featuring: Back Burner, 2X IPA, 2X Milk Stout, Iniquity, Mocha, Oak-aged Unearthly and Hop Sun

BULLDOG UPTOWN @ 5pm
-Southern Tier Tap Takeover featuring: Pumking, Creme Brûlée, Back Burner, Iniquity & Oak-aged Unearthly

BULLDOG NORTHEAST @ 5pm
-Rush River Tap Takeover featuring: Unforgiven Amber, Bubble Jack, Double Bubble, Uber Alt, Nevermore and Small Axe

REPUBLIC SEVEN CORNERS @ 6pm
-Bell’s Jazz Series featuring on tap: Le Contrebassiste, Le Batteur & Le Pianiste with live Jazz music

GROVELAND TAP all day long
-Lagunita’s Undercover Cask

BUSTER’S ON 28TH @ 5pm
-5 Bell’s on tap featuring: Expo Stout, Raspberry Ale, Smoked Vienna Lager, Two Hearted & Oberon.

TUESDAY, MAY 14TH:

GEORGE AND THE DRAGON @4pm
-5 Fulton’s on tap featuring: War & Peace, Sweet Child of Vine, Lonely Blonde, The Expat Rye Saison & The Ringer Pale Ale

BLACKBIRD @ 4pm
-Lagunita’s Steal the Pint Night. Buy a pint of Lagunita’s and keep the glass (while supplies last)

WARD 6 @ 4pm
-Cask of Bad Weather (style to be announced). St. Paul Summer Beer Fest ticket giveaway.

BILLY’S ON GRAND 5-8pm
-Lagunita’s Steal the Pint Night. Buy a pint of Lagunita’s IPA or Undercover and keep the glass (while supplies last)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH:

ANSARI’S (Eagan) @ 5pm
-Lagunita’s Steal the Pint Night. Buy a pint of Lagunita’s and keep the glass (while supplies last) Featuring: WTF, IPA, Lil Sumpin’ Maximus & Undercover

ACADIA CAFE @ 5pm
-Big Sky Tap Takeover featuring: Old Blue Hair Barley-wine, Power Wagon Wheat Wine, Bucking Monk, Brush Tail Saison & Moose Drool

NOMAD WORLD PUB @ 6pm
-Midweek Beer Geek. Tapping a keg of Founder’s KBS

BARRIO EDINA 3-7pm
-Fulton Tap Takeover featuring: Sweet Child of Vine IPA, Lonely Blonde, The Ringer Pale Ale, War & Peace Coffee Imperial Stout and a cask of Insurrection Imperial IPA. Also featuring War & Peace Lamb Barbacoa Empanadas

PAT’S TAP 3-7pm
-Featuring Lagunita’s WTF, Undercover, Pils and IPA all on tap. St. Paul Summer Beer Fest ticket giveaways every hour

PRACNA ON MAIN @ 5pm
-Founder’s specialty tappings featuring: Doom, Double Trouble & Dirty Bastard

MUDDY PIG
-Featuring a cask of Great Lakes Commodore Perry

PIG AND FIDDLE @ 4pm
-Featuring New Holland beers and spirits. Tapping an extremely rare keg of Blue Sunday

WHISTLE BINKIES PUB NORTH ROCHESTER 5pm-Midnight
-8 American Crafts on tap featuring Fulton and Bad Weather Brewing

THURSDAY, MAY 16TH:

HAPPY GNOME @ 5pm
-Bad Weather Happy Hour featuring Wind Vane, Ominous & Migration

TILIA
-Featuring Left Hand Brews: Smokejumper, Milk Stout and Twin Sister

BLUE NILE
-Featuring Southern Tier Brews: Back Burner, Iniquity, Creme Brûlée and Mocha

REPUBLIC SEVEN CORNERS
-Ommegang Tap Takeover featuring: Game of Thrones Iron Blonde Ale, Art of Darkness, Gnomegang & Fleur de Houblon

BULLDOG UPTOWN @ 5pm
-Tapping Bell’s Barrel-aged Batch 9000, Black Note, Roundhouse IRA, Surly Darkness & Surly Pentagram

STANLEY’S @ 6pm
-Tapping Fulton Worthy Adversary and War & Peace. Will be giving away a pair of tickets to Stanley’s Art a Whirl Beer Fest

BRYANT LAKE BOWL @ 5pm
-Tapping Founder’s Doom and Founder’s Double Trouble

COMMON ROOTS CAFE @ 6pm
-Rush River Tap Takeover featuring: Nevermore, Uber Alt, Double Bubble, Unforgiven Amber and a cask of Bubblejack IPA on Lavender.

MACKENZIES
-Featuring Bell’s Roundhouse IRA, Expo Stout and Raspberry Ale

CHEROKEE EAGAN 5-8pm
-Bell’s Oberon Patio Party. (will also be featuring craft beers all week long)

WHISTLE BINKIES ON THE LAKE (South) ROCHESTER 5pm-Midnight
-8 American Crafts on tap featuring Fulton and Bad Weather Brewing

FRIDAY, MAY 17TH:

GRUMPY’S NORTHEAST @ 4pm
-Tapping Founder’s Doom and Founder’s Double Trouble

SWEENEY’S @ 6pm
-Tapping Fulton’s Insurrection Imperial IPA