Tag Archives: Duluth

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Rocky Coast Brewing to open in Silver Bay

Rocky Coast BrewingMinnesota is about to see another brewery open it’s doors in the near future.

Rocky Coast Brewing is set to open during the Spring of next year in Silver Bay, Minnesota. According to the company’s website, the head brewer, Johnathan Klinkenberg, intends to close on a property by the fall of 2013, permitting that financing goes through without delay. Production and distribution would start over the winter season with a Grand Opening of the facility in the Spring of 2014.

Mr. Klinkenberg wants to make Rocky Coast Brewing a destination brewery. The brewery itself will feature a taproom, food service, live music & art booths featuring local artists and campfire rings for visitors and campers.

Rocky Coast Brewing will join the ranks of Borealis Fermentary and Castle Danger Brewing as breweries situated along Minnesota’s Scenic North Shore.

To find out more information about Investment Options & Opportunities, you can find out more by visiting their Brew Crew Membership Page

You can visit their Facebook Page at Facebook.com/RockyCoastBrewing
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You can visit their website at www.rockycoastbrewing.com

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Brewing Comes Full Circle on the North Shore

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As most of Minnesota’s craft breweries are packing up for a weekend on the north shore at Duluth’s All Pints North beer festival there is no better time for a quick primer on the region’s beer history.  Currently Duluth and Superior have a rapidly evolving beer scene with comfortable standbys like Fitger’s and new taprooms like Bent Paddle.  Although Duluth and Superior were some of the earliest explored regions in Minnesota and Wisconsin they would not incorporate as cities until the 1850’s.  In the 1800’s there was one key business necessary to the survival of any new city, a brewery.  Duluth as the younger and larger sibling would dominate brewing over the last 156 years.

The north shore has been brewing since 1857 when Sidney Luce allowed a brewery to be built on his property in an attempt to reinvigorate Duluth’s floundering economy.  That first brewery would go through many name changes between 1857 and 1972 but through most of its history it would be known as the Fitger Brewing Company.  Fitger would be joined two other large breweries and the first legitimate competition would come from Duluth Brewing and Malting in 1896, one of very few breweries to do its own malting on site.  The other brewery to open and survive in Duluth was the People’s Brewing Co founded in 1907 by eastern European immigrants with Socialist ideals as the name implies.

Duluth Brewing and Malting Company Duluth Minnesota
Inside the old Duluth Brewing and Malting Company, Duluth, Minnesota
Northeast Minnesota Historical Center – 1961

 All three breweries would survive Andrew Volstead’s attempt to doom America’s brewing industry by establishing Prohibition and in 1933 would among the first to brew beer on April 7th.  The three would survive using different methods though all would produce some form of soft drink.  After Prohibition they would each expand during the brewery boom that followed the repeal and in the 1950’s Duluth would be the only city in Minnesota to claim three breweries.  This was the high point for Duluth brewing in the 20th century but similar the rest of the nation the price wars underway by the national giants like Miller and Busch would doom each brewery in its turn.

 People’s Brewing Co was the first victim of the price wars when it shut its doors in 1957.  Duluth Brewing and Malting would soon follow suit in 1966 when the I-35 expansion needed the property.  Fitger would make it until 1972 when it finally shut its doors after a series of pitfalls surround the I-35 expansion as well.  The Minnesota Historical Society would eventually save much of the complex from demolition. Duluth would be without a brewery for 22 years until the craft beer movement finally reached Minnesota.

In 1994 Bob Dromeshauser started a small home brew shop and brewery called the Lake Superior Brewing Company in the old Fitger complex.  In 1995 the Fitger name would be revived with Fitger’s Brewhouse by Tim Nelson and Rod Raymond who have vacationed in Colorado wanted that same craft beer scene for Duluth.   Fitger’s would become one of the most popular attractions in present day Duluth.  In 1996 Twin Ports brewing would open in Superior and would eventually change hands in 2006 to become Thirsty Pagan.  A little over an hour to the east in Ashland the South Shore Brewery was founded in 1994.

The generation of brewing founded in the 90’s would joined most recently in 2011 with Castle Danger, Dubrue, Borealis Fermentary, Canal Park in 2012, and Bent Paddle in 2013.  Carmody Irish pub also added a 2 ½ barrel brew house in 2011 to join the fray.  So finally a city with a great brewing history has come full circle.  Anyone headed to the north shore this weekend for the 2nd annual All Pints North beer festival featuring 47 breweries or this summer for a great staycation I hope this helps provide you with some context for the great beer you enjoy.

Home Brewing

All Pints North 2013 Preview

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All Pints North 2013 Preview

Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild’s annual All Pints North Summer Brew Festival is happening again this weekend in Duluth. The festival is one of the premier craft beer events in the state, bringing brewers in from far and wide to sample their beer, and celebrate the growing beer culture in Minnesota and the north shore.

Getting There

I have talked to several people that missed out on APN last year. Every one of them lamented that it was too far from their dwelling, complaining that the journey was just to much. Thankfully, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild has a solution to their woes. The Guild is working with Get Knit Events to charter transportation to the festival and back from the twin cities. $99 gets you a round trip ticket without the hassle of finding a sober driver or a hotel room. Plus,I won’t have to listen to anymore worthless excuses from friends missing the fest.

The Music


White Iron Band will be bringing their unparalleled foot stomping Americana to the festival stage. These guys are the only reason I go Grand Old Day (too many popped collars for my taste), and perennial favorites at the CASH ONLY tribute shows at the Cabooze. I would pay the price of admission just to hear these guys play in Bayfront Festival Park.

The Food

Pizza Lucé and Nate Dogs will be in the house. What more do you need to know? Pizza Lucé some of the best ‘za in the state, and Nate Beck is probably the greatest guy on earth with hotdogs to match. I’m hoping Nate brings some of his world famous Bacon Explosion to top his wieners. (he changed the name to bacon jam a while back due to legal reasons, but it will always be bacon explosion to me)

Education

Be sure to swing by the education booths and learn more about the culture and science behind the fantastic beverages you’ll be enjoying. You’ll be able to meet and greet folks from Better Beer Society, Author Doug Hoverson, Certified Cicerone® Michael Agnew from A Perfect Pint, and Barley’s Angels. The Highlight here might be the Duluth Beer City panel with Mayor Don Ness and local brewers.

The Beer

Mmmmm, beer… With so much great beer and new beer at the fest it is hard to nail down which brews to make a priority. Only a mad person would try to squeeze them in. Here are 5 you should be sure to get in your souvenir tasting glass.

Stockyard IPA w/sriracha – Barley John’s

This British style IPA is cask conditioned with the famous Vietnamese garlic chili sauce Sriracha. The heat from the Sriracha adds a spicy flavor that is almost too much and definitely not lacking, exactly where a spicy beer should be.
ABV: 6.8% IBU: 50

Surtr’s Flame Smoked IPA – Hammer Heart

Maris Otter and Beechwood and Cherrywood Smoked Malts with cascade and centennial hops. Who else is doing this? Nobody. Welcome to big time Hammer Heart!
ABV: 7%

Clementine Jim – Northbound

Northbound’s signature Big Jim IPA infused with Clementine zest and a touch of grapefruit zest. If this IPA is anywhere near as tasty as the Cara Cara variety the released for Minnesota Craft beer Week it could be the talk of the fest.
ABV: 7.2% IBU: 92

Verity – Pour Decisions

Pour Decisions keeps doing things a little differently, thanks goodness. Verity is a low ABV low IBU brew that is aged a wine barrels that have been dosed with lots of lactobacillus and fruity brettanomyces.
Sour heads rejoice!
ABV: 3.8% IBU: 3

Pils – Schell’s Brewing

A Traditional German style Pilsner with Sterling Hops. If there is a God, he probably created this beer for you to drink it in the hot July sun, on the shores of lake Superior, while listening to rock ‘n roll.
ABV: 5.0%

Date/Time
Date(s) – 07/13/2013
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Location
Bayfront Festival Park
Online tickets are still available for the event, but walk up ticket sales cannot be guaranteed as the event may sell out.


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Bent Paddle Ready To Stir The Waters In Duluth

BPBC_LogoTiltDuluth_RGB_Web
“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

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All Pints North Summer Brew Fest Tickets Go On-Sale

The Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild All Pints North tickets go on-sale at noon this coming Monday, April 15.

In addition to the regular All Pints North ticket on-sale at noon, there will be an early pre-sale at 10am Monday for ticket 2-packs to All Pints North and Autumn Brew Review. This means you’ll get early access to ABR tickets that generally sell out in seconds, and don’t go on sale until July.

This a nice surprise for those might have missed out on the MNCBG FESTIVAL 6-PACK, or balked at the financial and time commitment when the full pack originally went on sale.

all pints pano

The All Pints North Festival rivals every other guild fest.  The music stage and view alone make this festival worth the price of admission.  It is worth noting that if buy tickets you should book your hotel room at the same time.  Hotel rooms, and even campsites, will fill up quickly.  With all the great places brewing beer in Duluth you should definitely make a weekend out of it.

Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild All Pints North Summer Brew Fest
Saturday, July 13, 2013
3-7 p.m.
Bayfront Festival Park | Duluth, MN

Approx. 2,500 attendees
$30 in Advance (Limit 6) | $40 at the door (if available) | $10 Sober Driver Ticket
APN tickets on sale Monday, April 15 @ Noon
For tickets visit tempotickets.com/apn

APN/ABR ticket packs on sale Monday, April 15 @10am
For tickets visit

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Sunday Sales Bill SF 0225 Introduced to Minnesota Senate

DFL Senator Roger Reinert and GOP Senator Jeremy Miller crossed party lines to author SF 0225, a bill to finally ease the prohibition on Sunday off-sale liquor purchases in Minnesota.

The bill would allow off-sale establishments to operate on Sundays if they choose to be open. In addition to Sundays, the bill would allow sales on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“We are a free market society, consumers can make choices and people of faith who don’t want to shop on Sunday can make that choice, others who want to can,” said Sen. Reinert. “We just really don’t need the government telling a business when it can be open and when it can’t be.”

Sen. Reinert said it is all about giving the consumers what they want and giving businesses options. Sunday sales could generate anywhere between $15 million to $150 million in tax revenue.

Senator James P. Metzen
Senator James P. Metzen

After the initial reading the bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.  If the Senate Commerce Committee Chair James P. Metzen (52, DFL) decides to hear the bill it will continue to move along in the political process; if not, the bill is likely to die before making it to the floor for discussion.

 

 

 

 

Source: WDIO – Duluth

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Canal Park Brewery Opens

Canal Park Brewery is finally opening. These guys have been keeping a fairly low profile, but they have been working steadily at getting everything in place for the big day.

Built on the grounds of the Duluth Spring Co., an old manufacturing facility, the land was rehabbed to clean up environmental contaminates such as lead and other industrial waste. The cleanup was no small feat, a state grant to make the site usable totaled over $400,000.

Well-known local developer Rocky Kavajecz, has built an impressive facility and put veteran brewers Badger Colish and Dan Aagenes at the helm. Both men have earned their stripes in the brewing industry at Muskie Capital and Anheuser Bush, respectively.

The brewpub plans to brew 2,000 – 2,500 barrels of beer this year. All the brews will be made with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. And of course, the beer names will be Duluth relevant too, with titles like Wetsuit Malfunction Wit and Pack Sacker Oatmeal Stout. Checkout a full breakdown of the beer details here, a nice touch.

Half of any good brewpub is the food. Canal park has a great array of burgers, salads, and appetizers. One thing that really impresses is the suggested pairings on the menu. For example, Coco Lime Ale Mussels paired with Dawn Treader Tripel. It baffles me why more great brewpubs (and restaurants) don’t do this.
Canal Park Brewing
Canal Park Brewing Company
300 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
218-464-4790


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HOURS
Monday – Saturday11 – Close
Food served until 11pm
Sunday10 – Close
Food served until 11pm

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Bent Paddle Brewing Makes a Stir

Bent Paddle BrewingBent Paddle Brewing is the new brewery being opened by veteran brewers Colin Mullen and Bryon Tonnis. Both brewers have local ties to the Duluth area, and are not rookies in the brewing industry. Colin spent years at Barley John’s in New Brighton, and Bryon was a brewer at Rock Bottom in Minneapolis.

The new venture will be a family affair, the wives of both men are owners and partners. They’ll bring their own area of expertise to the operation with experience in distribution and event planning and design.

When I last talked to Colin he was super excited about the progress being made at the brewery, and the location in particular. The brewery & taproom (The Bent Tap) will be in West Duluth on Michigan St.

No word yet on what kind of beer they will be brewing. But, they plan being available in kegs, 12 oz. cans, and growlers.

Follow links for the full story & keep up on progress.

Bent Paddle Brewing Co
1912 West Michigan Street
Duluth, MN 55806
Web: http://www.bentpaddlebrewing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bentpaddlebrewing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bentpaddlebeer