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.

New Surly Brewing Site Likely Hinges on Environmental Remediation Grant Approval

Surly Brewing is hoping to build on the site of a former food processing plant near University Ave. in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis.  However, there is several million dollars worth of clean up to do before Minnesota’s dream brewery can become a reality.

Surly has applied for grants to clean up the site from local and federal entities. A lot hinges on the grant approval.  With clean up costs estimated at $2.5 million, a +10% addition the $20 million construction budget would mean they would likely choose another site. 

The grant approval process can take several months.  We should expect to hear something around the beginning of the new year.

Source:

Lift Bridge Brewing Co. Selects Local Distribution Partner

A few weeks ago, Lucid Brewing announced its new distribution partnership with Original Gravity. This week Lift Bridge Brewing announced it has also partnered with Original Gravity. See the press release below for full details.


Lift Bridge Logo

STILLWATER, MN, September 25, 2012. – Founded in 2008, Lift Bridge Brewing Co’s mission has been to create top quality beers for the region while developing relationships with local businesses. Since our first year, we have experienced tremendous growth in our home town of Stillwater and throughout the Twin Cities. We have selected Original Gravity partners in the Twin Cities to take over selling and servicing the territory only covered by Lift Bridge Brewing Co. This will allow us to continue our strong growth and meet increasing customer demand.

“It isn’t just about delivering beer, we enjoy the relationships with our retail partners,”
says Dan Schwarz, CEO, Lift Bridge Brewing Co. “We have come a long way from
delivering beer out of the back of a mini-van. This is a big step forward and we are
excited to work with the team at Original Gravity.”
“We have watched Lift Bridge Brewing Co grow as we have grown over the last 3 years
and admired their well calculated and strategic plan. We are extremely excited to add
them to our great portfolio of craft beers and mutually grow together as locally owned
companies for the years to come,” said Hans “Hanszee” Lofgren, Beer Guru at Original
Gravity.
The transition will take place starting October 22, 2012.

About Lift Bridge Brewing Co

Lift Bridge Brewing Co was established in 2008 by a group of Stillwater guys dedicated
to creating well-balanced beers that will help you slow down, relax, and appreciate life.
Our tasty brews can be found at fine retail establishments throughout Minnesota and
western Wisconsin, as well as our own Brewery and Taproom at 1900 Tower Drive,
Stillwater, MN.
Lift Bridge Brewing Co currently offers four year round beers including Farm Girl
Saison®, Hop Dish™ IPA, Chestnut Hill™ Brown Ale, and Crosscut™ Pale Ale. We
also release season and annual brews. Up next on the release schedule is Harvestör™
Fresh Hop Ale – October, Commander™ Barleywine – November, Biscotti™ –
December

About Original Gravity

Original Gravity is a central group of locally owned and operated distributors that are passionate about craft beer. Original Gravity is committed to a common mission of building quality craft brands with first-rate craft brewers through a dedication to education, innovation, relationships, service and camaraderie in the Twin Cities craft beer market. In three short years, Original Gravity has grown to be a premier craft distributor network for the growing Twin Cities craft beer market.

Harriet Rauchfest Ticket Contest

Harriet Brewing is hosting Rauchfest, its yearly art – music – brew festival at the brewery next weekend.

The festival was a hoot last year, and it looks like it is going to be even better this year. They have upped the ante by adding more artists and big name musical acts like Big Wu & Nicholas Mrozinski (Contestant on “The Voice” on NBC)
Let’s not forget the beer. There will be a ton of great Harriet beer on tap, including the featured seasonal Rauchfest, a smoked Märzen-Oktoberfestbier.

We had a couple tickets to Rauchfest fall in our hands, so we decided to have a ticket contest.

Contest Rules
Share a photo with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ by Monday morning, Sept 24th
Make sure it is in good taste
Tag it with #Rauchfest2012
We will choose 2 winners
1 random winner
1 winner based on artistic content – It is a Music – ART – Beer – festival, remember?
All decisions are final
21+ to enter

Badger Hill Brewing Announces Launch of 12oz Bottles

Badger Hill Brewing has announced that its flagship craft beers MSB & Three Tree American Rye are now available in 12-oz bottles. Its Foundation Stout, will be bottled later this fall.
Badger Hill Logo

“We are extremely excited for this next step in our growth at Badger Hill Brewing,” says President Brittany Krekelberg. “We have been working hard the past 2 months to get our bottling line up and running. Our fans can now enjoy a Badger Hill MSB or Three Tree in the comfort of their homes, and we can also introduce ourselves to a new audience.” Badger Hill, which debuted in June of this year, will support the launch with tastings at several liquor stores throughout the Twin Cities.

According to Krekelberg, Badger Hill’s alternating proprietorship agreement with Lucid Brewing was a key factor in the launch of 12-oz bottles. “Our relationship with Lucid has allowed us to really focus on high quality. We have been able to invest additional capital on better equipment, such as advanced controls for our fermentation and brite tanks, and have purchased a new bottling line. It is important for Badger Hill to put out the highest quality product, and our new bottling line ensures that quality.”

Where to find Badger Hill Brewing six-packs? Retail locations that carry the12-oz bottles will be available on Badger Hill’s website along with bars and restaurants that carry them on tap. “Finally, we can now answer the question we most often get asked” says Krekelberg, “‘Where can we purchase a six- pack of your beer?'”

Beer Details

MSB (Minnesota Special Bitter): Style – ESB, Extra Special Bitter

A brew made in the tradition of English Special Bitters. The use of English malts such as Marris Otter and Crystal 60 provide a smooth malt backbone with small caramel undertones, medium mouthfeel and hints of biscuit flavors. The traditional ESB yeast adds complexity to the beer yet allows great clarity. The use of 4 English and American hops throughout the brewing process, including dry-hopping, provides traditional excellent hop flavor and aroma, with a bitterness that is evident but balanced. Finishes slightly dry. (ABV 5.7%)

Three Tree American Rye: Style – American Rye (Roggeinbier/Pale Ale hybrid)

Extremely complex, yet dry and refreshing. The blend of seven Belgian, American and German grains give this beer a profile that is hard to match. The bready, spiciness of Rye is complimented by subtle saison and sweet caramel malt flavors, and true balance is achieved by the use of one unique American hop throughout the brewing process. A hybrid German yeast finishes the beer very dry yet subtle with hints of banana and clove. (ABV 5.2%)

Nordeast Big River Brew Fest

Big river fest

East Side Neighborhood Services is hosting the second annual Nordeast Big River Brew Fest outside the historic Grain Belt Bottling House on the corner of 13th Ave. NE and Marshall St. NE in Minneapolis on October 13, 2012 from 1-4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the programs of East Side Neighborhood Services.

Fest goers will be able to sample from an exciting and diverse array of over 200 international, micro and craft brews. Local beers from Summit and Grain Belt will be there. And, this will be your first chance to taste the beer from the brand new Northgate Brewing.

Tickets to the event are $25 per person in advance or $30 at the door, which includes a commemorative event mug. Commemorative mugs are limited, so get your tickets today!

The event is being held outdoors this year to accommodate a larger audience. They are anticipating an attendance of around 1,000 people.

Great beer, great food, great friends and support for the community. It sounds like the 2012 Nordeast Big River Brew Fest is getting done right!

To purchase tickets online, visit www.esns.org/events or call 612.781.6011 for more information, or to become a sponsor. Tickets are also available at ESNS, Stanley’s, Surdyk’s, River Liquor and Sentyrz; who are all supporters of the event.

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub to Open

Northbound Logo

Jamie, Amy, and Bryce are just days away from opening the first brewpub in Minneapolis in a good decade.  And, from the looks of things the long wait could definitely be worth it.

The trio first gained notoriety when they began looking for investors. They made national news with their community based investment plan.  They offered locals a chance to invest in the their dream in exchange for beer for life, and the idea paid off.  Not only did they meet their funding goal, they have dozens of neighbors that are invested in making sure their new local does well.
When I last talked to Amy, she gave me a quick rundown of some of the more exciting menu items while I enjoyed a taste of their Wild Rice Amber Ale.  As I sipped on Jamie’s latest creation, I couldn’t help but think of how nicely the flavors would play with the variety of smoked meat, fish, and cheeses, as Amy described each in detail, after glorious detail.
Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub is located in south Minneapolis, just off 38th & Hiawatha.  It is mere feet from the light station.  It is the perfect starting or ending point for a trip into the city.  I know the next time I’m headed up the light rail line for a sporting event, I’ll be leaving early so I have time to stop in and grab a pint before the game.
With beer for life, a full menu of smoked food, a community based operation, and a location that won’t quit, the wait could definitively be worth it.  Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years for the next great Brewpub.

View Larger Map

Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub

Grand Opening: Thursday, September 20th

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am

Address: 2716 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406 | 612-328-1450