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8 Holiday Gifts for the Craft Beer Lover

Trying to find a gift for that one person in your family that is hard to shop for? We have you covered. Here are a few great holiday gifts for everyone who enjoys craft beer:

  1. SmartPhone Case Bottle Opener:
    This iPhone case has a retractable bottle opener attached to make sure that you are never without the means to open a drink!
    http://www.openacase.com/

  2. Pub pass – $25 for 25 beers:
    PubPass is a small book that gets you a free pint of craft beer at 25 pubs for just 25 bucks. And it’s good for the entire year so you can explore at your own pace.
    http://www.getpubpass.com/

  3. Northern Brewer Homebrewing Starter Kit:
    A Brewery in a Box, the Essential Brewing Starter Kit combines a simplified brewing process with easy-to-use equipment, plus your choice of three great beer recipe kits and a FREE copy of Getting Started in Homebrewing DVD.
    http://www.northernbrewer.com/essential-brewing-starter-kit

  4. VIPer Utepils Brewing MemBEERship
    By joining the Utepils community of craft beer lovers, you not only receive access to exclusive perks unavailable to the general public, you are key to bringing a brewery to the edge of Theodore Wirth Park and the Byrn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis.
    Best of all, your Host of Privileges (HOPs) entitle the holder to the such as free beer for 99 Years, free growler fills, special access to events & limited release beers.
    http://utepilsbrewing.com/join-the-viper-program/

  5. Beer Cap Map of MN:
    State beer cap maps are just what you need to keep track of your local or out of state breweries. . These maps are available for every state in the U.S.! All maps measure 16″ to 22″ across, holding anywhere between 33 and 99 bottle caps.
    http://www.homewetbar.com/beer-cap-map-states-p-4631.html

  6. Bottle cutter makes glasses from bottles:
    Create your own keepsake with these bottle-cutters! Make glasses out of beer bottles to enjoy your favorite beverages anytime!
    http://www.bottlecutting.com/

  7. Spiegelau Craft Beer Tasting Kit – Set of 3 Beer Glasses:
    This set of three beer glasses offers the premium hallmarks of pure Spiegelau quality. Inside the box, you’ll find an IPA glass, a Stout glass, and an American Witbier glass. Each glass is carefully crafted from non-leaded crystal and rigorously engineered to provide a superior taste profile that truly unleashes the full flavor and aroma of your chosen style of beer.
    http://www.kegworks.com/spiegelau-craft-beer-glass-tasting-kit-set-of-3-beer-glasses
    Spiegelau Craft Beer Tasting Kit - Set of 3 Beer Glasses

  8. 2016 Craft Beer Festivals Package
    Check out the Minnesota Craft Brewer Guild’s Craft Beer Festival ticket packages, which give the beer fan access to Winterfest, All Pints North, the Autumn Brew Review, and even Land of 10,000 Beers Craft Beer Hall at the Minnesota State Fair! Some packages also include free craft beer merchandise.
    http://mnbeeractivists.com/newsfeed/minnesota-craft-brewers-guild-announces-2016-festival-line-up-and-ticket-packages
    All Pints North 2015

    Did we miss anything? Leave you suggestion in the comments below! It’s what Santa would want.

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Summit Union 5: Old Blaggard Barleywine

crown

Summit has just released their latest Union Series beer, Old Blaggard English style barleywine.  Head brewer Damian McConn has headed this one up, creating the fifth Union brew in the series.  This series aims to pair classic styles with new techniques and ingredients.  This is the first barleywine that Summit has ever brewed, and they’ve made an homage of the traditional Burton-on-Trent style with new British malt and hops.

pckg

This beer is packaged as a four pack for near enough as makes no difernece to ten dollars.  I feel that needs to be said again.  Ten dollars for 48 ounces of barleywine.  As much as Summit’s always provided a great value for local craft beer, this is a big deal.  So how is this beer?

pour

It’s an experience.  Do yourself a favor, and follow the serving notes Summit provides.  Chill to 55 degrees, and put it in a glass.  Let it sit, and sip slowly.  The invert sugar lends a toffee, brown sugar background to some of the dried fig, stone fruit, and marmalade notes.  My first pour of this was too chilled, and it really opened up as I spent an hour sipping on it.  This is ready to drink off the shelf, but I’m choosing to cellar some (okay, a lot) of this to see how it ages.

This is a limited release, and I suspect it won’t be around long.  I’m stocking a lot into my cellar, and expect I’m not alone.  Again, this is possibly the most reasonably priced barleywine I’ve seen recently, so don’t dawdle.

By the numbers:

  • Style: English Barleywine
  • Original Gravity: 24 degrees Plato
  • ABV: 10.10%
  • IBUs: 50
  • Malts: Odyssey Pale and Torrified Wheat
  • Hops: Endeavour

Links:

From the brewery

Video interview with Damian McConn

 

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Lakes and Legends – Minneapolis’s Newest Brewery

lakeslegendslogo

With Lakes and Legends grand opening celebration this Saturday, I thought I would stop in and see what the new brewery located in Loring Park had to offer. I was more than impressed with this new Minneapolis brewery.

Lakes and Legends' taproom
Lakes and Legends’ taproom

Walking into a large open room, I note lawn games lining one wall, bringing a bit of the outdoors to the indoors. Another wall hosts a clear view of the brewhouse equipment. The heavy dark-wood tables and bar, and floor to ceiling windows are evocative of the farm to bottle attitude that co-owner Ethan Applen says defines Lakes and Legend’s vision. Applen says they plan to focus on brewing Belgian and farmhouse styles, a unique approach that should set them apart from other Minnesota breweries. They also intend to source as many local ingredients as possible. When I asked Applen why they decided to focus on Belgian styles, he responded that these were the styles that got him interested in craft beer because they are approachable and demonstrate different flavors than other popular craft beer styles like IPAs. Applen hopes that Lakes and Legends’ unique takes on Belgian beers can ignite interest in these styles for others as well.

Flights at Lakes and Legends
Flights at Lakes and Legends

 

With their expansive and eclectic taplist, Lakes and Legends is already standing out. I tried four, but the new brewery already has eight different beers on tap. Starting with their Belgian IPA, I was already impressed. This beer has all the esters one should expect of a traditional Belgian ale. The flavor itself is dry and biscuity, with a healthy bitterness to satisfy any hop-head, and a mild fruitiness. The next beer I tried was their raspberry braggot. A braggot is a style of mead made using malt for a portion of the fermentable sugars. Not many Minnesota breweries serve a braggot, so I knew I had to try this one. This beer is fantastically sweet, a bit tart from the raspberries, and overall a very pleasant, light, easy-drinking brew. Their Belgian Rauch was the next beer I tried, a beer brewed with smoked malt and belgian yeast. This beer had an expectedly strong flavor of smokiness, but notes of clove and pepper shined through as well in this crisp ale.

So much good beer!
The long and eclectic taplist!

The standout beer from my flight however was their seasonal cranberry saison. The cranberries lend the beer a lingering tartness. This complemented the spicy clove notes from the saison yeast very well. The beer finishes crisp and dry, making it a complex but very drinkable choice. Also, the cranberries were all locally sourced from a family cranberry farm in Aiken, Minnesota. In addition to the beers I didn’t try, Also on their menu are several appetizers and craft sodas. Overall, the beer at Lakes and Legends seemed very consistent and refined, and I look forward to trying more from them.

This Saturday, Lakes and Legends is celebrating with a grand opening party, where they will release their newest beer – a Winter Warmer. At the party patrons can donate a new unwrapped childrens toy or book for donation to the Children’s Hospital and receive a free 4 oz. beer! Celebrate the season with the newest member of the Minnesota craft beer community, we’ll see you there!

 

 

 

 

Lakes & Legends: 1368 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis MN 55403

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Hours:

  • Tuesday – Thursday: 3pm – 10pm
  • Friday: 3pm – 12am
  • Saturday: 12pm – 12am
  • Sunday: 12pm – 9pm
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Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Announces 2016 Festival Line Up and Ticket Packages

Online Ticket Sales Start Noon, Tuesday, December 1

At noon, Tuesday, December 1, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild will release online ticket sales for packages to its 2016 craft beer festivals at http://www.tempotickets.com/mcbg. The ticket packages deliver 10 percent discounts over purchasing tickets individually.

2016 Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Festivals

Winterfest — A two-night event at St. Paul’s Union Depot: 7 p.m., Friday, February 26, and 7 p.m., Saturday February 27.

The Guild’s 90 brewery members will break out their specialty beers, delivering a fresh rotation of breweries and brewpubs each night, plus a roster of “Brewers Choice” breweries pouring both nights. Event includes upscale, catered food menu, beer education and music.
Winterfest Barley Johns

 

All Pints North — 3 p.m., Saturday, July 23, Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth.

Sample hundreds of beers from a roster of Minnesota and national craft brewers, set to the backdrop of Lake Superior and live music.

Land of 10,000 Beers Craft Beer Hall at the Minnesota State Fair — August 25–September 5, Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Get together with Minnesota craft beer at the 5th year of the Land of 10,000 Beers Craft Beer Hall for flights of fantastic Minnesota craft beer.
All Pints North 2015

 

Autumn Brew Review — 1 p.m., Saturday, September 17, Historic Grain Belt Brewery, Minneapolis.

Returning for its 16th year, the Autumn Brew Review is one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest craft beer festivals, pouring hundreds of Minnesota and national craft beers from 130-plus breweries under the shadows of the Historic Grain Belt Brewery.
Autumn brew review 2015 jace marti schells

 

Ticket Packages

Purchase tickets at http://www.tempotickets.com/mcbg:

Seasonal Six Pack: $300 — online sale at noon, Tuesday, December 1.

  • Winterfest: two tickets for either the February 26 or February 27 event.
  • All Pints North: two tickets.
  • Autumn Brew Review: two tickets.

Superfan Pack: $450 — online sale at noon, Tuesday, December 1.

  • Winterfest: two tickets for both the February 26 and February 27 events.
  • All Pints North: two tickets.
  • Autumn Brew Review: two tickets.
  • State Fair: two beer flight tickets at the Land of 10,000 Beers Craft Beer Hall.
  • Two Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild “Brewed in Minnesota” t-shirts.

Two-Day Winterfest Pack: $135 — online sale at noon, Tuesday, December 8.

  • Winterfest: one ticket for both the February 26 and February 27 events.

Winterfest: $75 — online sale at noon, Tuesday, December 16.

  • General online ticket sales for both the February 26 and February 27 events.
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Utepils Brewing® Announces Eric Harper as Head Brewer

Press Release – 

Minneapolis, Minn.: Utepils Brewing® today put an end to the suspense surrounding the identity of its head brewer and announced that Eric Harper will be assuming the role. Harper comes to Utepils Brewing® from Summit Brewing Company and is well-known in craft beer circles, winning acclaim and World Beer Cup Gold and Silver medals as part of the Summit Brewing team. Prior to that, the University of Wisconsin graduate was the Brewhouse Team Leader at Wisconsin’s New Glarus Brewing Company, home of Spotted Cow.

Dan Justesen, founder and President of Utepils Brewing®, said keeping Harper’s identity under wraps was both fun and challenging during the equity raise. Justesen said, “I promised investors that our head brewer, whom we were referring to as code name “Ewald”, had the perfect skill set and resume’ to brew the award-winning European-style craft beers that we aspire to create. For Eric, that style of brewing helped convince him to come over to us.”

Harper agreed. “The plan to brew styles I personally enjoy and the European feel to the brewery were big factors for me. When I imagine creating a brewery from the ground up for myself, Utepils Brewing is that place.”

Still, leaving an established and successful brewery like Summit wasn’t an easy decision, said Harper. “I love where I work and the people at Summit are awesome. Utepils was offering an opportunity to have a lot of creative control. One of the things that helped in my decision was Dan’s recognition of the importance of quality. He understood the need to include a sophisticated brewery lab in his plan, in addition to quality equipment and ingredients, in order to make great beers. I think the Utepils team that he’s built is the ultimate reflection of that. The strength of the team is really what gives me confidence in our future success.”

Harper completed his bachelor’s degree in German Culture at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is also a graduate of the Master Brewers Program at University of California – Davis and has a Diploma in Brewing from London’s Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

For the past five years he has served on the board of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas St. Paul – Minneapolis District, holding roles of secretary, treasurer, and currently Vice President.

Below is a comprehensive list of awards Harper won as part of brewing teams at Summit and New Glarus:

World Beer Cup:

Summit
2014 Silver Extra Pale Ale
2012 Silver Extra Pale Ale
2010 Gold Extra Pale Ale

Great American Beer Festival (GABF):

Summit
2014 Bronze Extra Pale Ale
2013 Silver True Brit IPA
2012 Silver Pilsener
2010 Bronze Extra Pale Ale

New Glarus
2007 Bronze Raspberry Tart
2006 Gold Belgian Red
2006 Gold Cherry Stout
2006 Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year
2005 Gold Belgian Red
2005 Gold Cherry Stout
2005 Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year

Last week, Utepils Brewing® officially changed its name from Bryn Mawr Brewing. Utepils was the name of the holding company. The word “utepils” is Norwegian for the first beer enjoyed outdoors in the sunshine after a long, dark winter. The word “ute” means outside and “pils” means beer. The “utepils moment” is widely-anticipated and celebrated every Spring by Norwegian beer drinkers.

Utepils Brewing® is steeped in the traditions of European brew masters, but will soon be available close to home in Minneapolis, with plans to distribute regionally and nationally. Construction is now underway for the full-production brewery and taproom being built at the site of the former Glenwood Bottling plant. Utepils Brewing® is set to open in early 2016 and will specialize in classic European beer styles and also offer select, special edition seasonal brews.

Special Holiday Offer for VIPER MEMBEERSHIPS®

Just in time for the gift-giving season and to celebrate the new brand, Utepils Brewing® is offering holiday cheer MEMBEERSHIPS® with free beer for 99 years. The exclusive VIPER Program “Very Important Patron, Enthusiast and Recruiter” gives patrons access to the coolest (and only transferable) beer club in town.

Single MEMBEERSHIPs® are $1000, but Utepils Brewing® has a special holiday offer for the first 100 Couple MEMBEERSHIPS ® of $1848 per couple, reduced from $1900. 1848 is the founding date of the German brewery that was the original home of the signature copper kettle
that will be displayed in our taproom.

Offer is limited to first 100 couple MEMBEERSHIPS® and expires December 23, 2015. To reserve your VIPER, email MEMBEERSHIP@utepilsbrewing.com.

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Stone Saloon Coming Soon(ish)

A piece of St. Paul history recently made history in a whole new way.

The Anthony Waldman House, the oldest surviving commercial structure in St. Paul, and one of the oldest in the state, was a German Saloon in the 1850’s and may soon become a saloon again.

Tom Schroeder and local architect, John Yust, are renovating this historic building to look as it did 150 years ago. Photo by Craig Johnson
Tom Schroeder and local architect, John Yust, are renovating this historic St. Paul  building to look (and function) as it did 150 years ago.
Photo by Craig Johnson

This pre-Civil War limestone building on Smith Avenue, between West Seventh Street and High Bridge, has been zoned as a private residence for decades but Tom Schroeder, who bought the building in 2008, has other plans.

Schroeder hopes to pay homage to the historic building’s roots by opening a 1800s-style saloon and brewery called the Stone Saloon, producing and serving around 550 barrels of German-style lager a year.

Stone Saloon

On September 16, 2015, Schroeder received St. Paul’s first-ever historic use variance. The historic use variance is a new ordinance created recently by the St. Paul city council to permit the commercial use of historic properties. The variance was created specifically with the Stone Saloon in mind. The vote of approval from the City Council was unanimous.

Schroeder envisions serving lager brewed in the German tradition using local ingredients. Some of the lager will be casked and stored in the building’s original limestone basement. He is quick to point out that he’s interested in honoring the history of the building and that this will not be a sports bar, but an historically accurate taproom.

There are still city planning reviews, liquor licensing and other small obstacles to contend with but they hope to be able to start taproom construction in the Spring.

No word on an opening date, yet.

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Better Beer Society & Happy Gnome host Beer Trivia Night

fbcoverMN Beer Bowl 2016 at The Happy Gnome
Sunday Jan. 31st, 3:00-6:00pm

Do you think you’re beer savvy enough to win a game of beer trivia? Better Beer Society and the Happy Gnome are teaming up to bring you the second edition of the MN Beer Bowl. Teams of 4 will compete to win prizes from local breweries and other beer-related sponsors

The last MN Beer Bowl was hosted at Zeke’s Unchained Animal last year, where the ladies from Barley’s Angels took home the gold. This year, that team is back to defend 10153886_1434853963420777_843572067_ntheir title. Among last year’s 15 different sponsors were Summit, Surly, Harriet, Boom Island, Bad Weather, Hammerheart, Growler Magazine, 16oz society and lots more. Teams take home prizes from every round, giving each team lots of opportunity to win as well as bonus questions every other round for free beers from the Happy Gnome’s huge selection of craft beer.

Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at the link below:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2461141

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Able Seedhouse + Brewery Opens

Able Seedhouse and Brewery, the newest brewery in the Logan Park neighborhood, is opening November 6th. We stopped by their soft opening the night before in order to get a sneak peak at what you can expect from Able. Located just walking distance from Indeed, 612Brew, Bauhaus Brew Labs, and Sociable Cider Werks, Able is definitely in good company.

Able Logo

The Taproom is clean and spacious, making use of natural wood and ample lighting to give a warm atmosphere. There are attractive views of both the brewhouse and fermentation areas from the Taproom for those looking for a peak behind the scenes. Tables are lined with small plants, and an intriguing magazine Able had created just for their taproom. Featuring photos, information about Able, and fun facts, these handouts were a nice twist on the typical bar literature. Inside you can even find a flowchart showing the musical connection between Bob Dylan and Insane Clown Posse.

Twin Sparrows WPA
Twin Sparrows WPA

On opening night Able Seedhouse + Brewery will have four flagship beers on tap: First Light IPA, Blk Wlf Stout, Twin Sparrows Wheat Pale Ale, and House Red Ale. We tried all but the IPA, as it wasn’t on tap at the soft opening, but we were assured it would be on tap at the grand opening the next evening. Among the three beers we tried, Blk Wlf Stout was the clear standout. The nose had a mild hint of hops and a light caramel sweetness. On first taste we noted an excellent malt character that was strong in roast, with a mild chocolate finish. Served on nitro, the body was smooth and creamy.

Able Seedhouse + Brewery
Able Seedhouse + Brewery

One standout thing about Able’s beer was the ABV. Their Stout, Wheat Pale Ale, and Red Ale all stand below 5% ABV. This means that one can have more than just one or two beers without feeling a serious buzz, and with session beers becoming even more popular, this is a wise move on Able’s part.

Able Flights
Flights at Able

Perhaps the most intriguing fact about Able Seedhouse + Brewery is their plan to start malting their own grain. Malting, the process of kilning and drying grains for use in brewing, is typically done by dedicated malt houses, not by breweries themselves. Able intends to malt locally grown grains, and use a percentage of that in their own brews. Will this in-house malting capability bring a unique twist to their beers? We are interested to find out.

Taproom Hours:

  • Wednesday: 3-11
  • Thursday: 3-11
  • Friday 1-11
  • Saturday 12-11
  • Sunday 12-6

Able Seedhouse + Brewery | 1121 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis

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