All posts by Andrew Schmitt

Andrew is just a guy that likes beer. You can usually find him on the twitters or spending time with his family.
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Jack Pine Brewery Opens

Award winning home brewer and BJCP judge Patrick Sundberg is bringing locally made craft beer to the Brainerd/Baxter area with the launch of Jack Pine Brewery this weekend.

After years of planning and working, followed by months inspections, everything is ready. The TTB is approved, equipment is installed and working, and recipes are perfected. It is time enjoy a fresh pint!

Patrick will start off brewing 40 gallon batches and plans expand as demand and quality allows. The brewery will begin by supplying local bars and restaurants and making their beer available directly to consumer via growler and taproom sales this Saturday.

Opening day for the taproom is this Saturday, January 12th from 1-4pm. After that, regular taproom hours will be Fridays from 4-7pm.  Tasters $2, Pints $5, New Growlers $15 (refills will be $10) Cash or Credit.

Initial beer offering will be Duck Pond Nut Brown Ale, with Fenceline Pale Ale and Dead Branch Cream Ale coming soon.

Jack Pine Brewery
7942 College Road, Suite 115
Baxter, MN


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Surly Brewing Gets First of 3 Grants Needed for Destination Brewery

Behold the PowerSurly Brewing cleared one of the several hurdles that stand in the way of their “Destination Brewery” with a grant approval from The Met Council.

The Metropolitan Council approved $545,300 to assist with environmental investigation and soil remediation for the proposed site.

Two more grants are needed for the brewery to become a reality. A ~$1.5M grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and another ~$500k grant from Hennepin County.

UPDATE: The largest piece of the puzzle fell into place on Thursday morning. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced that it had awarded the city $1 million in cleanup funds for the 7.4 acre site.

The new brewery is tentatively planned for a vacant industrial lot near Malcolm Avenue and 5th Street SE, in Minneapolis.


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Source – Metropolitan Council – Star Tribune

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4th Annual Vine Park Brewing Photo Contest

Once again Vine Park Brewing Co is inviting you to win a FREE batch of beer or wine by entering their 4th Annual Photo Contest.

Submit one or more digital photos before April 1st and they will pick the winner.
Rules are very simple:

  • The photo must include the Vine Park logo somewhere in it AND communicate the idea of having fun!
  • The photo must be taken on your winter vacation or stay-cation between now and the entry deadline.
  • Judges decision will be based upon what ever photo they like best.
  • All photos will become property of Vine Park and can be used for marketing purposes such as posting to our Facebook page or used in a future email.
  • Lobbying Vine Park to pick your photo is ok; especially if you get lots of people to “like” your photo when it is posted on Facebook.
  • And, of course the winning photo will NOT be something too indecent…which is not to say you can’t submit them.
  • The VPBC Logo can be anything (creativity counts) from a T-shirt, a drawing in the sand, scratched in a frosty window pane, or a temporary tattoo…to be honest a real tattoo would be impressive but don’t do anything you’d regret.

Check out some of the entries from past years on our Facebook Photo Albums
2012 Photo Contest
or
2010 Photo Contest

Submit your entries to newsletter at vinepark.com with Subject Line: Photo Contest

Go to Vine Park Brewing Company on Facebook for official rules and details

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Boom Island Anniversary

Boom Island Logo

Boom Island Brewing turns one year old this week. The little Minneapolis brewery that could has been brewing Belgian-inspired beer for a great tasting year now.

Boom Island is a family operation run by Kevin Welch, his wife, and her parents. In their first year on existence Kevin, Qiuxia, HuBaba and Hu Mama have worked together to put out 4 regular beers, pale ale, ipa, dubbel, tripel, and a special seasonal, Yule.

Yule might be their greatest achievement so far. Yule is a strong dark Belgian-style ale made with tart Michigan cherries and some top secret spices. When I spoke with Kevin last week he told me it would be a regular release around the holidays every year. He plans to subtle variations to the recipe a bit from year to year, giving each release its own identity.

To celebrate their first year in business they are extending their regular free tasting hours on Friday December 28 from 5PM-8PM, and Saturday December 29 from Noon-4PM. In addition to the regular Boom Island brews, they will be tapping a firkin of something very special, and giving 15% off all brewery swag.