The last few years have been an exciting time for beer drinkers in Minnesota. We have seen a real groundswell in the craft beer community. Small breweries are popping up left & right. Third Street Brewhouse, the latest brewery to jump into the craft beer scene, is anything but small and not exactly new. Cold Spring Brewing, the company behind Third Street, has existed in one form or another since 1857. The deep pockets and wealth of industry knowledge at Cold Spring Brewing has enabled them to build a brand new and impressively large brewery. Staffing the new brewery are several very experienced brewers using the very latest in brewing technology.
Part of appealing to consumers is making sure they know what they are drinking. Horace is putting together a “Beer School” at the brewery to educate their consumers. The education aspect makes a lot sense. Why bother creating a premium product if most people don’t know realize what they should be tasting, or how it was created? Hopefully we will see similar educational programs from brewers.
Horace is supported by a very Minnesota-based crew of brewers. They hired brewers from Rock Bottom Minneapolis, Granite City, and McCann’s. If you follow the brewing culture in Minnesota you will recognize names like Mike Niep, Steven Gittens, Bob McKenzie, Karl Schmitz, Chris Laumb, and Adam Thies.
The facilities at Third Street Brewhouse are simply amazing. They have invested $12 Million dollars into creating what is probably the most advanced brewery in Minnesota. The technology is really second to none. There are data cables linked to sensors and probes running literally everywhere. Everything is recorded and monitored by a state of the art brewing system put together by GEA Brewery Systems in Kitzingen, Germany. The use technology in the brewing process enables the brewers to create beer to exacting specifications and consistency. One of the things beer lovers hate is any variation in the final product. The ability to brew a consistent premium product will go a long way with craft beer fans.
This is an easily drinkable beer that can satisfy at a session with friends. It is definitely the beer I found most appealing. Minnesota doesn’t have many cream ales and this one is executed to perfection.
COLOR: Brown
ABV: 4.1%
MALTS: Pale, Wheat
DRY HOPS: Northern Brewer and Saaz
IBU: 20
Lost Trout is a brown ale that adheres stringently to the style guidelines. The hop flavor and aroma is full and plays well with the roasted malt flavors. There is limited fruitiness and medium body.
COLOR: Brown
ABV: 4.9%
MALTS: Pale, Caramunich, and Barley
DRY HOPS: Magnum, Goldings, Tettnang
IBU: 20
COLOR: Black
ABV: 6.5%
MALTS: Pale, Caramel, Munich, Roasted, Black
DRY HOPS: Magnum, Hersbrucker, Amarillo, Cascade
IBU: 62
Third Street Brewhouse
219 Red River Ave
Cold Spring, MN 56320