The brewers of Nisswa Minnesota want to be able to sell growlers of their beer on Sundays. The only problem, the Nisswa City Council won’t allow it.
Last year’s legalization of Sunday growler sales has seen widespread success across the Minnesota. However, one of the stipulations of the new law states that brewers must gain approval from their local municipality before being able to take part in the delicious freedom of convenient commerce. So, you have Nisswa Minnesota.
After twice asking, and twice being voted down, the local brewers of Big Axe and Gull Dam are gathering signatures and hoping that the third time is the charm. If anything, obstacles like these lend credence to the opinion that when Sunday liquor sales are legalized, it should be legalized statewide.
Formerly known as Señor Wong, SW Craft Bar continues their rebranding with the addition of a cask ale system and beer engine. Having already expanded their craft beer selection to 25 lines, the addition of cask ale will give customers added variety.
“We are really looking forward to showcasing cask beer,” says Son Truong, owner of SW Craft Bar. “Having a cask system will allow us to be even more diverse in our craft beer offerings.”
Summit Sága IPA on Amarillo at SW Craft Bar
Cask ale is anything but new. All beer was served via cask before the industrialization of beer. Many craft brewers still make cask beer as a nod to tradition and because it allows them to be creative in small batches. Nowadays, cask beer is often made with special additional ingredients that set them apart from their mainstream counterparts. It is not uncommon to find fruit, sugar, spices, or additional hops in casks, usually as additions and variations to a standard beer offering. You aren’t likely to find beer that is made exclusively for cask anymore, current production and methods are geared to larger batches.
Located just off the LRT Green Line in St Paul’s Lowertown, SW Craft Bar will be showcasing all the fun and creativity cask beer has to offer every week. This week the cask is Bent Paddle’s Lollygagger Pale Ale on Citra Hops. 5 percent of all Lollygagger sales to Duluth’s cycling organization COGGS to help them reach their goal to create the first 100+ mile system of singletrack all within an urban environment – the Duluth Traverse Bike System. The release also coincides with the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.
Father’s Day is nearly here. Dad isn’t always easy to buy for. And let’s face it, he only needs so many ties. Luckily your father likes beer. We have some great gift ideas for the dad that loves craft beer.
1. Get Dad a Growler from NorthGate Brewing
Growler fills at NorthGate Brewing are just $10 Father’s Day weekend. We recommend the Twice Told IIPA. It’s the biggest bang for your beer buying buck, just make sure to watch Pops around the BBQ.
Hayes’ Public House is expanding and using Indiegogo to raise some of the funds. There are lots of packages to choose from. The rewards range from posters to bottles, to brewer for a day, and beyond.
3. Father’S Day All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Buffet in the Surly Brewing Beer Garden
Full Details: http://surlybrewing.com/events/fathers-day-all-you-can-eat-bbq-buffet/
You don’t need a reservation or a table, just come right on through and get down to it, we even recommend bringing a picnic blanket to enjoy the garden. The first 200 Dads get a Surly Dad Can Koozie. It’s $28 per adult, $14 for under 12’s, and under 5’s eat FREE. WHAT: Father’s Day All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Buffet in The Surly Beer Garden WHEN: Sunday, 6/19, 11am – 4pm WHERE: Surly Beer Garden, 520 Malcolm Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 MENU:
Beer Can Smoked Chicken
Porchetta Sausage Links
Potato Salad
Elote (Grilled Mexican Corn on the Cob)
Sides
Desserts BONUS: Surly Executive Chef Jorge Guzman talks all things beer and BBQ on the Minnesota BeerCast.
4. Book Dad a Brewery Tour
Dad deserves an afternoon touring taprooms and the tours at Bitter Minnesota are great way to put someone else in the driver’s seat. Get him a gift certificate he can use later, or surprise Dad with a group package join him! http://bitterminnesotabrewerytours.com/join-in-tour/
5. Get Dad tickets to the Summit Brewing Backyard Bash 30th Anniversary Celebration
Summit Brewing has been kicking ass and taking names for a long time (kind of like dear old Dad). They are celebrating all year long with special events, special anniversary brews, and of course, the Annual Backyard Bash. The celebration is bigger than ever this year. When: Saturday, September 10, 2016 Noon-8pm Where: Behind the brewery at 910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul Cost: $30 in advance/$40 day of (cash only at gate) Menu:
Anchor Fish & Chips
World Street Kitchen
Black Forest
Pizza Lucé
Bennett’s
Signature on Wheels
21+ (Children 12 & under are permitted with 21+ adult, no cover for kids)
Rain or Shine (no refunds)
A portion of ticket sales go directly to the Minnesota Music Coalition (MMC), a nonprofit service organization dedicated to supporting Minnesota’s independent music community.
Live music by:
Bob Mould
Bully
deM atlaS
Bad Bad Hats
Apollo Cobra
Nooky Jones
Hotpants DJs
Father’s Day falls on Sunday. Coincidence? We think not. The folks at MPLS / STP Clothing Co. have made a shirt that Dad will be proud to wear any day of the week. Order it here.
Have a great Father’s Day gift idea that we missed? Let us know in the comments section below!
It is that time of year. The time of year where Minnesota consumers get an honest look at who represents their shopping interests at the Capitol. The time of year when Minnesota legislators discuss Sunday liquor sales.
Rep Jenifer Loon offered an amendment to what Joe Hoppe called his omnibus liquor licensing bill, HF3699. After lengthy debate and a quick vote, the amendment ultimately failed and was not attached to Rep Hoppe’s larger liquor bill.
Though the language of the amendment was more restrictive then the language voted upon last year, there were actually more people who switched from a “yes” vote to a “no” vote than the other way around. Here is the breakdown:
From Yes to No (9)
-Carlson
-Dettmer
-Hamilton
-Hancock
-Isaacson (absent on 4/28/15)
-Kelly
-Mack
-Miller
-Newberger
From No to Yes (7)
-Bennett
-Bly
-Cornish
-Lueck
-Pelowski
-Rarick
-Slocum
How new legislators voted
-Ecklund voted No (formerly held by Dill who also voted no)
-Flanagan voted No (formerly held by Winkler who also voted no)
– Anderson, C voted Yes (formerly held by Lenczewski who voted no)
The Minnesota House of Representatives is scheduled to hear a bill related to liquor wine and beer on Thursday, May 12, 2016. The bill (HF3966) is focused on licensing for the major league soccer stadium in St. Paul, a brewpub in Minneapolis, and others. Rep. Jenifer Loon is likely to propose an amendment that would give municipalities the option to authorize Sunday liquor sales.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a municipality may authorize off-sale licensees or a municipal liquor store under its jurisdiction to make off-sales of intoxicating liquor on any day, provided that no sale may be made before 8:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m.EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Look below to find out how legislators have voted in the past. Do they represent your interests?
Record numbers of Minnesotans attended precinct caucuses on Super Tuesday. While much of the focus was on the Presidential races, caucus-goers also passed resolutions urging policymakers to support various policies.
Popular with Voters
One of the most popular policies that consumer activists acted on at many caucus sites across Minnesota was a resolution supporting Sunday liquor sales. Many reported the resolution was passed with applause from caucus attendees. Sunday liquor sales is a nonpartisan issue, and resolutions were passed in both DFL and GOP caucuses.
Resolution to allow Sunday liquor sales gets a round of applause at Whittier precinct
The public overwhelming supports Sunday liquor sales, passing resolutions at the precinct caucuses sends a loud message to politicians that the grassroots activists from both parties want to see this passed in the 2016 legislative session. Some candidates looking to the be elected this fall are already talking about the issue.
I fully support #SundaySalesMN. Sen Dziedzic voted against. If you live in SD60 (NE& SE Mpls), caucus tonight and become a delegate for me!
Allowing Sunday growlers was a good start. However, it is clear Minnesota voters want to see the entire ban repealed. Not only does the current setup leave out consumers of wine and spirits, but it excludes other local retailers, even some craft brewers. Sunday is the number 1 shopping day for consumers in Minnesota. It is just common sense the people of Minnesota should be able to buy a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer along with everything else.
Did Your Resolution Pass?
We have heard from consumer activists all over the state. Did a resolution pass at your caucus? Want to learn more or help? Contact us here.
Learn More
To learn more about the ban on Sunday liquor sales or sign the online petition visit SundaySalesMN.org.
SundaySalesMN.org is urging supporters of ending the prohibition on Sunday liquor sales to go out to the caucuses Tuesday evening and get involved. Minnesota’s precinct caucuses will be held
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Click on the image above to find your neighborhood caucus location.
Precinct caucuses are meetings organized by Minnesota’s political parties. Caucuses are typically held early in the spring during a statewide election year. Minnesota’s major political parties must hold Caucuses at a minimum of every statewide election year. Other political parties may also choose to hold caucuses. It is the first step for the party to select candidates and choose the party’s goals and values (called the party platform).
Who can attend a caucus?
Precinct caucuses are open to the public. But in order to vote, offer resolutions, or become a delegate, you must:
Be eligible to vote in the fall election.
Live in the precinct.
Be in general agreement with the principles of the political party (Minnesota does not have a party registration process).
What happens at a caucus?
Elect precinct officers who work to organize political activities in the precinct. This could include maintaining contact lists, convening political meetings and helping with campaign efforts.
Discuss issues and ideas for the party to support. People may bring ideas, called resolutions, to be voted on. People usually bring a typed or handwritten copy of their resolution.
Vote for the person you want the party to support for governor or president. This is called the straw poll, which is an informal poll to learn how much support each candidate has. Candidates are officially chosen at future meetings, called conventions.
Elect delegates to represent your precinct at upcoming political conventions that are held during an election year. The first are the political party’s county or district conventions. At these conventions, delegates endorse candidates to represent the county or district, and then choose a smaller number of delegates for the party’s congressional and state conventions. These delegates will endorse candidates to represent the congressional district or statewide offices such as governor or U.S. Senator.
It is important to introduce resolutions, but it is also important to support the legislative candidates that support listening to voters and repealing the Sunday liquor sales ban.
Yes, we all know you have always wanted to work in a brewery. Here is your chance. The beer industry is growing in Minnesota and across the nation. That growth brings jobs and opportunity. Good luck in your endeavors, just please don’t waste the time of people making delicious beer by applying if you are not qualified.
