Category Archives: Newsfeed

MN Beer Activists feed of news, events, education, legislation related to beer, wine, and spirits in Minnesota.

EAT A BEER: The Goods, the Beer, and the Ugly

With spring fever consuming our every waking minute, I could only think of one thing….BLTs!!!

What a scrumptious way to satisfy the hunger for spring. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that beer bread would be the perfect recipe to carry this out for Eat A Beer.

I usually use a bread machine. It’s pretty fool proof. But after searching my trusty beer recipes I found one that was hand mixed & baked in the oven. It’s been a few years since I have baked bread this way. It seemed pretty simple. Simple ingredients, simple steps.

And just for fun, the BLT turned into a smoked trout club. You see, I am a big trout fishing junkie. I will sit in the rain, snow, you have it, just to catch those tasty little morsels. And lucky for me, my fella knows how to smoke some meat. So voilà! Smoked Trout Club Sandwich! Lets see how this bad boy goes down.

The Good

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Smoking brook trout ala Weber grill.

So that’s pretty self explanatory. Catch fish. Clean fish. Smoke fish. Eat fish.

The Beer

Eat A Beer - BLT
Simple Ingredients. I used one of my favorite local beers to cook with, the Great Northern Porter from Summit Brewing Company.

The Recipe:
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
12 oz beer (not light!)
2 tbsps baking powder
2 tsps salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Mix all dry ingredients together. Add beer and eggs at the same time. You may need to add a bit  more flour when kneading. Mix into a consistent dough- not too sticky.
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Place in a 9×5 greased loaf pan. Bake at 375 for 1 hour 10 mins. Remove immediately from pan to cool.

Recipe Source :http://homecooking.about.com/od/breadrecipes/r/blbread1.htm

The Ugly

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It’s not pretty, but it turned out pretty tasty! Very dense, but sliced thin & toasted? Yum.

The GOODS

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Yes. This is the goods

3 layers of beer bread. Avocado, cucumber, herbed goat cheese, BACON!, fresh & oven roasted tomatoes. This is my tribute to spring. Fishing, baking and fresh foods? Bring it! And let’s eat it!

10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer

guild banner
In observance of American Craft Beer Week and to celebrate the Minnesota craft beer scene, all week long, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild presents 10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer, a week packed with guild member events.

Happenings will include tap takeovers, special releases, firkin tappings, cask tappings, block parties, beer art, all-day happy hours, and a taproom grand opening. It may be 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 or see the embedded calendar below.

Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub Loads Up Schedule for Craft Beer Week

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub is packing in the events this week. If you find yourself near south Minneapolis this week you should be sure to stop in and enjoy the festivities.

The public can receive free daily text message reminders from Northbound during the week by texting BEERWEEK to 75309. Those who join the list will automatically be entered to win one of two $50 prize packs that include a t-shirt of their choice, two pint glasses and a $25 Northbound gift card.

“It’s hard to believe that we opened our doors less than a year ago,” said Jamie Robinson, head brewer at Northbound. “The community support has been amazing, and there were many of our fellow brewers who provided great advice and even dropped by for a quick meal and a beer on their off days. Minnesota Craft Beer Week offers us the chance to thank them, and connect our customers with the amazing beers they’re brewing.”

Craft Beer Week 2013 Postcard(1)

Bent Paddle Ready To Stir The Waters In Duluth

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“The fermenters are full – let’s drink some beer!”

Bent Paddle Brewing Company is soon to be the newest addition to the Minnesota craft beer scene but it has been a long time coming for its founders. “This opening symbolizes over two years of planning of our craft production brewery,” says Laura Mullen, “my partners and I are so excited to have people come into the taproom, view the brewery, and enjoy the beers we have been dreaming about for so long.” The philosophy behind Bent Paddle’s beers will be to “brew in traditional styles, just a little bent,” says Laura, one of Bent Paddle’s four co-founders. Laura and her husband Colin Mullen along with fellow husband and wife team of Bryon and Karen Tonnis, are ready to make a splash in a Duluth craft beer scene that they see as growing and strong.

 The team has strong brewing credibility with Bryon having a degree from the Siebel Institute and World Brewing Academy along with 12 years professional brewing experience, most recently at Rock Bottom Brewery in Minneapolis. Colin also brings 8 years of professional experience including his last position as Head of Brewing Operations at Barley John’s Brewpub in New Brighton.

Bent Paddle is 50% female owned. Karen brings 12 years of distribution and operations management experience and  Laura  has run an accomplished event design company since 2004 which produced craft beer festivals for her largest client, the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild.  Each of the co-founders brings unique strengths to Bent Paddle with the common goal of producing unique, quality craft beer bent towards their philosophy and lifestyle.

taproom_4_smallMany have followed the chronicles of the brewery via the company’s The Daily Mash blog, watching the progress and waiting eagerly for the time when they could enjoy Bent Paddle’s brews. Now, the wait is nearly over. Thursday, May 16th marks the official grand opening of the Bent Paddle taproom. The public will finally get its first taste of BPBC’s brews as well as sneak peek tours of their 30 barrel production brewery all weekend long (reservations required, check their website beginning May 13th.) Other festivities include door prizes and beer specials.

As for the beer, the launch will include two of the four planned flagship beers– the Bent Paddle Black, which Colin says is “an oat infused black ale that drinks like a porter but looks like a stout” and the Bent Hop which Bryon describes as “an India Pale Ale that is golden in color with a bright floral citrus hop aroma and supporting malt profile”. The brewery will follow later this summer with their 14º ESB and Venture Pils.

Choosing Duluth as the location for their brewery seemed natural for the couples whose ties to the area and the high quality waters of Lake Superior lend themselves to the mission of Bent Paddle to “brew craft beer with a concentration on sustainability for our business, employees, the environment and the greater community – all while “Bending the Traditions” that we encounter, for a more unique and interesting craft beer experience.

brewerytanks_2_smallFollowing the grand opening, Bent Paddle will self-distribute their beers around the Duluth area, all over Minnesota, and beyond. Select area bars and restaurants will begin to offer Bent Paddle on draft as early as late May. Six-pack cans (another nod to the outdoors lifestyle embraced by Bent Paddle’s founders) will be available at select retail locations beginning in June.

Further information on the Bent Paddle Brewing Company grand opening, taproom, beers, and founders visit their website at

StopMnDrinkTax.org

The House and Senate version of the Tax Omnibus bill are in conference committee to hash out differences between the bills. The House version has a steep increase alcohol taxes. You can links and language below.

We’ve created StopMnDrinkTax.org to give you an easy resource for contacting your legislators.  Please, use it and share it with your friends.

Rep. Paul ThissenClick here to email
Call: 651-296-5375

Sen Tom BakkClick here to email
(651) 296-8881

 

Link to the Senate version.

Link to the House Version.

House language pertaining to excise tax.

59.32    Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 297G.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
59.33    Subdivision 1. General rate; distilled spirits and wine. The following excise tax is
59.34imposed on all distilled spirits and wine manufactured, imported, sold, or possessed in
59.35this state:

 

60.1 Standard Metric
60.2
60.3
60.4
(a) Distilled spirits, liqueurs, cordials,
and specialties regardless of alcohol
content (excluding ethyl alcohol)
$ 5.03
11.02per gallon
$ 1.33
2.91per liter
60.5
60.6
60.7
60.8
(b) Wine containing 14 percent or less
alcohol by volume (except cider as
defined in section<statute_ref>297G.01, subdivision
3a )
$ .30
2.08 per gallon
$ .08
.55per liter
60.9
60.10
60.11
(c) Wine containing more than 14
percent but not more than 21 percent
alcohol by volume
$ .95
2.73 per gallon
$ .25
.72per liter
60.12
60.13
60.14
(d) Wine containing more than 21
percent but not more than 24 percent
alcohol by volume
$ 1.82
3.64 per gallon
$ .48
.97per liter
60.15
60.16
(e) Wine containing more than 24
percent alcohol by volume
$ 3.52
5.34 per gallon
$ .93
1.42per liter
60.17
60.18
(f) Natural and artificial sparkling wines
containing alcohol
$ 1.82
3.60 per gallon
$ .48
.95per liter
60.19
60.20
(g) Cider as defined in section<statute_ref>297G.01,
subdivision 3a
$ .15
1.93 per gallon
$ .04
.51per liter
60.21
60.22
(h) Low-alcohol dairy cocktails $ .08
1.36 per gallon
$ .02
.36per liter

 

60.23In computing the tax on a package of distilled spirits or wine, a proportional tax at a
60.24like rate on all fractional parts of a gallon or liter must be paid, except that the tax on a
60.25fractional part of a gallon less than 1/16 of a gallon is the same as for 1/16 of a gallon.
60.26EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2013.

 

60.27    Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 297G.03, is amended by adding a
60.28subdivision to read:
60.29    Subd. 5. Small winery credit. (a) A qualified winery is entitled to a tax credit of
60.30$2.08 per gallon on 50,000 gallons sold in any fiscal year beginning July 1. Qualified
60.31wineries may take the credit on the 18th day of each month, but the total credit allowed
60.32may not exceed in any fiscal year the lesser of:
60.33(1) the liability for tax; or
60.34(2) $104,000.
60.35(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a “qualified winery” means a winery, whether
60.36or not located in this state, producing less than 100,000 gallons of wine in the calendar
60.37year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the credit under this subdivision
60.38is claimed. In determining the number of gallons, all brands or labels of a winery must
60.39be combined. All facilities for the production of wine owned or controlled by the same
60.40person, corporation, or other entity must be treated as a single winery.
61.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2013.

 

61.2    Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 297G.04, is amended to read:
61.3297G.04 FERMENTED MALT BEVERAGES; RATE OF TAX.
61.4    Subdivision 1. Tax imposed. The following excise tax is imposed on all fermented
61.5malt beverages that are imported, directly or indirectly sold, or possessed in this state:
61.6(1) on fermented malt beverages containing not more than 3.2 percent alcohol by
61.7weight, $2.40 $25.55 per 31-gallon barrel; and
61.8(2) on fermented malt beverages containing more than 3.2 percent alcohol by
61.9weight, $4.60 $27.75 per 31-gallon barrel.
61.10For fractions of a 31-gallon barrel, the tax rate is calculated proportionally.
61.11    Subd. 2. Tax credit. A qualified brewer producing fermented malt beverages is
61.12entitled to a tax credit of $4.60 $27.75 per barrel on 25,000 50,000 barrels sold in any
61.13fiscal year beginning July 1, regardless of the alcohol content of the product. Qualified
61.14brewers may take the credit on the 18th day of each month, but the total credit allowed
61.15may not exceed in any fiscal year the lesser of:
61.16(1) the liability for tax; or
61.17(2) $115,000 $1,387,500.
61.18For purposes of this subdivision, a “qualified brewer” means a brewer, whether or
61.19not located in this state, manufacturing less than 100,000 200,000 barrels of fermented
61.20malt beverages in the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which
61.21the credit under this subdivision is claimed. In determining the number of barrels, all
61.22brands or labels of a brewer must be combined. All facilities for the manufacture of
61.23fermented malt beverages owned or controlled by the same person, corporation, or other
61.24entity must be treated as a single brewer.
61.25EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2013.

 

Sunday Alcohol Sales Amendment Fails

Sadly, the Sunday sales amendment sponsored by Tina Liebling was shot down by both sides of the aisle.
Watch video testimony here.
Shortly after the vote House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt tweeted the roll call including his negative vote.


Daudt’s vote and the “no” votes other Republicans seem to contradict the MN GOP Platform.

We support a fair, honest and competitive business environment…

Failing to allow Sunday liquor sales put local liquor store owners at a competitive disadvantage with bars. Furthermore, it puts MN at a competitive disadvantage with surrounding states every week.

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Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub Begins Growler Sales

northbound growlersNorthbound Smokehouse & Brewpub announced via Facebook that they will start Growler sales on Monday, May 6th. They doubled their fermentation space in February and are now able to produce enough beer to have growlers. They will start by offering their four year-round beers: Big Jim IPA, Light Rail Pale Ale, Smokehouse Porter and Honey Wheat. They intend to offer their seasonal beers via growlers later this summer.

If you want to buy them on Sundays, Please contact your representative to let them know that you support SUNDAY SALES. http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

 

Sunday Liquor Sales Amendment to be Introduced

Sunday liquor sales amendment will be introduced in the House Wednesday by Tina Liebling, State Representative (26A, DFL).

Click here to call or email your Rep and tell them to support it!

The proposed language would read as follows:
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 340A.504, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Intoxicating liquor; off-sale. No sale of intoxicating liquor may be made 
by an off-sale licensee:
(1) on Sundays;
(2) before 8:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday Sunday; or
(3) on Thanksgiving Day;
(4) (2) on Christmas Day, December 25; or.
(5) after 8:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24.
EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the title accordingly