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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1,700 Empty Growlers of Beer at Town Hall Brewery

Town Hall’s Growler Return Program a Smashing Success

In case you miseed it with all the other Mn Craft Beer Week & American Craft Beer Week events going on, Town Hall Brewery, the award-winning Minneapolis brewpub, has been running a special “Growler Spring Cleaning Program.” The recycling program offers discounts in exchange for any empty growler, from any brewpub or brewery. The #RefillTownHall has been so successful they have extended it through Sunday, May 17.


Town Hall Brewery estimates more than 1,700 empty growlers have been returned since the campaign started April 27, roughly 75 percent of those have been from other breweries or brewpubs. Most of the growlers have been from Twin Cities breweries, while there is also growler representation from Greater Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as California.

Town Hall Brewery is encouraging craft beer fans to clean out their collections and bring in used growlers to their Seven Corners location: 1430 Washington Ave. South in Minneapolis. In return for each empty growler, customers will receive either a Town Hall Brewery gift card worth $4, or a $4 discount on a fresh, full Town Hall 64oz or 750ml growler. The more growlers a person exchanges, the bigger their reward. It should be noted that ONLY the Seven Corners location is set up to accept take growlers, but you’ll be able to use the gift cards at any Town Hall Location.

In addition, for each empty growler you bring in, you can enter to win the following prizes:

  • 4-pack (mini growlers) of Town Hall’s famed ‘Barrel Aged’ beers.
  • A free Town Hall growler every month for a year.
  • Bowling party for four at Town Hall Lanes.
  • Private brewery tour for eight at Town Hall Brewery.
  • Dinner for two at Town Hall Tap.
  • Other Town Hall gift cards, growlers, and merchandise.

Through the rest of the May Town Hall will continue to accept empty growlers from other breweries in exchange for a $4 discount on growler refills. Thereafter, the discount for empty returns from other breweries will be $3.

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10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer – MN Craft Beer Week

To celebrate Minnesota’s nationally recognized craft beer community, from May 4-10, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild presents 10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer, a week packed with more than 150 member events. Guild events will be happening across the state. Check the calendar below for events happening near you and events worth traveling for. It is going to be special week for beer fans.
MN Craft Beer Week_Beer Activists

Guild President Dan Schwarz talks MN Craft Beer Week on Minnesota BeerCast


The Minnesota BeerCast RSS Subscribe MInnesota BeerCast on iTunes Subscribe to the Minnesota BeerCast on Stitcher

10,000 Minutes events include: tap takeovers, special releases, cask tappings, beer art, beer dinners, and all-day happy hours. It’s the most Minnesota-specific craft beer events in one week ever. Events are being added every day, so for the latest, visit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaCraftBrewersGuild

Share your 10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer photos on Instagram!
#10000Minutes, #MNCraftBeer, #MNBeerWeek
Follow the Guild!
Facebook Facebook.com/MinnesotaCraftBrewersGuild
Twitter @MNcraftbrew

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Schell’s Releases Cypress Blanc Berliner Weisse

Latest beer in the August Schell Noble Star Collection pays homage to classic American Lager

MN_Beer_Activists_NobleStar_CypressBlanc_Bottle_042215-150x430It is hard to deny that Schell’s Brewery is hitting on all cylinders lately. Minnesota’s oldest brewery has proven themselves to be force in the marketplace while not being afraid to innovate on tradition. Cypress Blanc, August Schell Brewing’s newest release and latest in the Noble Star Collection, is a perfect example of taking tradition and twisting it just a bit.

As with all the Berliner Weisses in the Noble Star Collection, Cypress Blanc was fermented in historic cypress wood tanks from 1936 that 6th generation brewmaster Jace Marti reconditioned by hand.

In their previous life the cypress tanks were used nearly exclusively for the production of Schell’s Deer Brand, a classic American Lager. That’s right. Schell’s has brewed American Lager for a long time with traditional local ingredients (corn). While the appeal of American Lagers may be lost on some market segments, Schell’s has never ran away from their history. In fact, Schell’s and the Marti family have always owned their brewing history proudly. Jace Marti rightfully took umbrage with the Brewer’s Association definition of “Craft Beer” before it was changed in 2014.

The use of an experimental American Lager recipe to make Cypress Blanc proves how inconsequential these ingredients can be when defining “craft beer.” Ask a Belgian brewer about using adjuncts, I dare you. I’d rather see consumers concerning themselves with consistency, off-flavors, and unfair business practices, rather than trying to label a beer as “true craft.”

“Cypress Blanc is lighter bodied and very dry with a uniquely complex flavor profile and a pleasantly tart acid[it]y that is totally different than anything that would have been aged in these tanks before,’ said Jace Marti, Assistant Brewmaaster.

The Brettanomyces yeast used to give Cypress Blanc that unique tart flavor pushes the alcohol level to 7.4% ABV, about double what is typical for the style. Berliner Weisses are usually very lower in bitterness, and true to form Cypress Blanc has an IBU of 4. The hop aroma and flavor you will pick up comes from Hallertau Blanc, a new German hop variety often compared to the hard to source Nelson Sauvin hop. The Hallertau Blanc hops lend flavors and aroma characteristics that play well with “Brett.” Look for notes of pineapple, gooseberry, white grape, and fresh lemongrass.

Cypress Blanc is a dry, tart wink and nod to a tradition that shows Schell’s can make “craft beer” that can stand up next to any other craft brewer in the country. Look for it on store shelves now in hand-filled caged and corked champagne bottles.

Related:
Jace Marti talks about the Star of the North Collection on Minnesota BeerCast

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Legislative Events, Newsfeed

MN House Fails to Adopt Sunday Liquor Sales Amendment 57 – 75

MN House Vote on Sunday Liquor Sales

Members of the MN House Voted down Rep. Loon’s amendment to the Omnibus Liquor bill to make Sunday liquor sales a local option. The amendment would have given power to the local governing bodies while banning delivery on Sundays in an attempt to appease Teamster concerns. The vote shows progress, but some House members are still clearly our of touch with the wants of their constituents.

If you want to leave a polite message for your House Rep you can find their contact info here.

The omnibus liquor bill did pass 127 – 4. It includes a few measures of note including Sunday growlers for qualifying brewers, brewpubs at the MN State Fair MN Craft Brewers Guild exhibit, bottle sales at distilleries, and bar service at 8am on Sunday.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

MN House to Hear Omnibus Liquor Bill, Vote on Sunday Liquor Sales Amendment

The House version of the omnibus liquor bill is on the calendar to be heard on Tuesday, April 28th. It turns out it’s the same as the Senate, the House has decided to adopt the Senate version of the bill, S.F. 1238.

Pursuant to House Rule 3.33, a prefiling requirement for amendments offered to this bill has been established by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration. It is the chief author’s intent to substitute the House language.
S. F. No. 1238, (Senate Authors: Metzen, Housley and Hoffman. House Authors: Sanders; Dehn, R.; Hoppe; Theis; Smith and others. Companion to H. F. No. 1090.) A bill for an act relating to liquor; recodifying statutes related to certain licensees; regulating the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages; authorizing various liquor licenses; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 340A.101, by adding a subdivision; 340A.22; 340A.301; 340A.404, subdivisions 2, 10; 340A.503, subdivision 6; 340A.504, subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 340A. Substituted for H. F. No. 1090.First Engrossment.Senate printed page No. 17.

The House will surely hear an amendment on Sunday liquor sales during the omnibus hearing. Most people agree that the odds are good in the House for an amendment to pass. House Speaker Kurt Daudt has expressed his support, and the grassroots movement toward repeal has support at the legislature from both sides of the aisle.

Leave a message for your House Reps and let them know this issue is important.
You can find their contact info here.

The Senate made great strides toward repeal, but sparked outrage when they ultimately came up a few votes shy.

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Sunday liquor sales featured on TPT Almanac

Sunday Liquor Sales


The Minnesota House will be taking up the omnibus liquor bill as soon as next week and activists continue to push hard for Sunday liquor sales.
Original Broadcast: 04/24/2015
Length: 4 minutes, 30 seconds.

Vote coming soon

As the video stated, a vote is coming soon in the House and that has been the best path for a bill to allow repeal of the Sunday liquor ban this session. Give your House Reps a polite phone call to let them know this issue is important.
You can find their contact info here.

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Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Minnesota Senate fails to adopt full Sunday liquor sales, now it is up to the House

2 Comments

Close, but no cigar

The Senate heard their version of the omnibus liquor bill today. It was perhaps a bit earlier than usual this time around. Included in the bill were notable provisions for Sunday growlers sales, distillers selling their own products, 8am bar openings, and MN brewpub beer at the MN State Fair.

“It is a law that was founded in a past era, it’s kind of how the industry grew up and everything got entrenched and established the way it is,” Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said. “But things change quite a bit over time as well, and it’s important to respond to that.”
– MINNPOST April 16, 2015

Missing from the bill was language to repeal the ban on off-sale Sunday liquor sales. An amendment from Senator Susan Kent to allow Sunday sales was quickly introduced and a rousing debate and thorough discussion ensued. For some reason the streaming feed had technical difficulties. The audio of the floor discussion should be available here at some point in the near future.

“The short answer is, the House is the next step,” said Sen. Dave Osmek, R-Mound, a Sunday sales proponent. “If they can pass it, it goes into conference committee; I think we’ll get it this year.”

Though the debate was filled with the usual pro and anti-Sunday sales arguments, a number of lawmakers pushed for supporting Sunday sales if only because a repeal of the ban is inevitable.

“It’s not ever if this happens, it’s when,” said Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester. “…It’s going to happen eventually. Let’s get this issue behind us and move on.”
–Star Tribune April 16, 2015

The debate from those opposed held mostly to some of the same worn out arguments everyone has heard for years. Although the “safety” banter was kept to a minimum. It is hard to protest Sunday liquor sales at stores in the name of safety when you are opening bars 2 hours earlier. Senator Kent’s amendment would have banned liquor delivery on Sunday in an effort to appease Teamster concerns, although that did not seem to earn much goodwill from opposition. The debate wore on, but in the end Minnesotans will have tie their hopes to an amendment passing in the House. The Senate amendment came close to passing, but lost by only a handful of votes, a significant improvement over the last time the bill was heard in the Senate.

Once all the fireworks were over the Senate passed the bill. Sunday growlers sales, distillers selling their own products, 8am bar openings, and MN brewpub beer at the MN State Fair all made it through unscathed. I just hope someone alerts the Minnesota craft brewers that they’ll be spreading out their growler sales across 7 days, they may not want that option.

Following the Senate floor session several people took to twitter to both shame their legislators and thank them. #SundaySalesMN was a trending topic well into the evening hours.

The path to Sunday liquor sales is through the House

As disappointing as losing vote is in the Senate, it shouldn’t be a total surprise. The Senate is usually the more “reserved” of the two bodies. Pile on that that Senate Majority Leader Bakk doesn’t support it and a 28 – 34 vote looks good. However, all is not lost for those supporting a repeal of the Sunday liquor sales ban. The House Speaker has assured a vote on a Sunday sales amendment, and he thinks if it passes it will become law. The most likely scenario for that to happen would be conference committee that settles differences between the House and Senate bills.

“It has a 50-50 shot of getting added,” as an amendment, Daudt told the station. “If it does get added, I believe it will become law.”
– Star Tribune April 10, 2015

Sunday Liquor Sales – How They Voted

S.F.1238 Amendment
Last Name First Name Party Vote
Anderson Bruce D. R N
Bakk Thomas M. DFL N
Benson Michelle R. R Y
Bonoff Terri E. DFL Y
Brown David M. R N
Carlson Jim DFL N
Chamberlain Roger C. R excused
Champion Bobby Joe DFL Y
Clausen Greg D. DFL N
Cohen Richard DFL N
Dahle Kevin L. DFL Y
Dahms Gary H. R N
Dibble D. Scott DFL Y
Dziedzic Kari DFL N
Eaton Chris A. DFL N
Eken Kent DFL N
Fischbach Michelle L. R excused
Franzen Melisa DFL Y
Gazelka Paul E. R N
Goodwin Barb DFL excused
Hall Dan D. R Y
Hann David W. R Y
Hawj Foung DFL Y
Hayden Jeff DFL N
Hoffman John A. DFL N
Housley Karin R Y
Ingebrigtsen Bill R N
Jensen Vicki DFL N
Johnson Alice M. DFL N
Kent Susan DFL Y
Kiffmeyer Mary R Y
Koenen Lyle DFL N
Latz Ron DFL N
Limmer Warren R N
Lourey Tony DFL N
Marty John DFL Y
Metzen James P. DFL N
Miller Jeremy R. R Y
Nelson Carla J. R Y
Newman Scott J. R Y
Nienow Sean R. R Y
Ortman Julianne E. R Y
Osmek David J. R Y
Pappas Sandra L. DFL Y
Pederson John C. R N
Petersen Branden R Y
Pratt Eric R. R Y
Reinert Roger J. DFL Y
Rest Ann H. DFL N
Rosen Julie A. R N
Ruud Carrie R N
Saxhaug Tom DFL N
Scalze Bev DFL Y
Schmit Matt DFL Y
Senjem David H. R Y
Sheran Kathy DFL excused
Sieben Katie DFL Y
Skoe Rod DFL N
Sparks Dan DFL N
Stumpf LeRoy A. DFL N
Thompson Dave R Y
Tomassoni David J. DFL N
Torres Ray Patricia DFL N
Weber Bill R N
Westrom Torrey N. R N
Wiger Charles W. DFL N
Wiklund Melissa H. DFL N

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Legislative Events

Omnibus liquor bill up in Minnesota Senate | Sunday liquor sales amendment to be offered

The MN Senate is scheduled to vote on omnibus liquor bill on Thursday

The Senate appears to be in a hurry to vote on their version of the liquor bill. Sunday liquor sales will be introduced as a floor amendment this Thursday. Contact your Senator and ask them to support the Sunday Sales amendment. It is important to be polite, but make sure your Senator knows repealing the ban is important to you.

Click here to find the contact info for your MN Senator (not U.S. Senator)

Governor Dayton supports Sunday sales, Speaker Daudt supports Sunday sales, Minnesotans support the repeal 2 to 1. Hard working Minnesotans deserve to be represented. Make sure your Senator supports retailer choice and consumer freedom. It’s time.

Other ways to help

Make a polite phone call to leadership

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk-
651-296-8881

Senate Minority Leader David Hann
651-296-1749

House Speaker Kurt Daudt-
651-296-5364

Minority Leader Paul Thissen-
651-296-5375

Governor Mark Dayton
651-201-3400

In the Media

Star Tribune:

Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt said Friday that a measure to repeal the state’s ban on Sunday sales is guaranteed to come up on the House floor, and when it does, it has a more significant chance of passing than in previous years.

Minnesota Senate Media Services:

Senator Metzen, “…we will fight Sunday sales amendment on the Senate floor.”