Featured: Bent Brewstillery, Enki Brewing, and Mankato Brewery
For the sad saps — like me — who don’t have a taproom nearby their home to frequent, I spend a lot of time perusing the aisles of liquor stores for the latest Minnesota beer offerings. Here’s a few that have found their way to my fridge and, ultimately, down my gullet. You should check them out.
Brewer’s ExperimentalAle No. 12: Oakmeal Stout, Funked Up Series No. 14 – Cheery, Moar IPA, Nordic Blonde, Über Lüpin Schwarz IPA
Bent Brewstillery
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a collection of Bent Brewstillery offerings. The Roseville brewery sure has been ambitious in a lot of its offerings (beer and spirits), and I had only had a couple of their beers before this gift basket of goodness.
The Oakmeal Stout was deep with coffee undertones, and the fermentation on French oak definitely brought that flavor to the fore. My wife even enjoyed some of it. For those of you who read my last entry, I haven’t jumped on the sour train yet. But, with each sour experience, I’m enjoying them more and more. Last time it was Fair State’s Raspberry Roselle, and this time, it was the Cheery from Bent Brewstillery. This sour ale with cherries (duh) and black currant was smooth and pleasing. I would definitely drink more of this.
While those two beers came in bottles, Bent’s can offerings of Moar IPA, Nordic Blonde, and Über Lüpin were all tasty in their own way. Moar is a very drinkable IPA, Nordic Blonde was pleasant (and I don’t tend to drink too many blondes) and Über Lüpin wasn’t what I expected when I poured it, but it was a fun, complex beer. Maybe it’s my lack of beer acumen here, but I had never had a Schwarz IPA, which is also defined as a black/Cascadian Dark Ale (according to Bent’s Untappd entry). It hit on all the right notes, balancing the cocoa flavor with the piney hops.
Oakmeal: 8.5 percent ABV, 35 IBU
Cheery: 6.6 ABV
Moar: 4.7 percent ABV, 47 IBU
Nordic: 5.7 percent ABV, 27 IBU
Über Lüpin: 8.3 percent ABV, 83 IBU
Oh, my. Between Bent’s Nordic Blonde and Enki Brewing’s Victoria’s Gold Cream Ale, I may have to dabble more on the “lighter side.” Admittedly, I’ve been closed off the past year or so as I delved deeply into the clichéd and nuanced world of craft IPAs and big stouts. Sue me. But this cream ale was divine. Smooth, silky and refreshing are just three adjectives I can throw at it right now.
Speaking of those “darker” beers, as much as I enjoyed Victoria’s Gold (quite a bit), Mocha Porter was right up my alley. This is a beer I would drink on the boat in July. I enjoyed it that much.
The Victoria-based brewery is increasing its foothold in the western side of the cities (and beyond), so be on the lookout for these offerings (as well as their equally good Tail Feather IPA and CACAO Porter). Fair warning: Mocha Porter is a winter offering from Enki, so there probably aren’t many bottles still floating around. Find one. Now.
Victoria’s Gold: 5.2 percent ABV, 11 IBU
Mocha Porter: 6.5 percent ABV, 24 IBU
BOOMCHICKAPOP Popcorn Ale
Mankato Brewery
BOOMCHICKAPOP.
You should try typing that.
Yes, the very popular popcorn has found its way into a beer from Mankato Brewery after owner Tim Tupy had the bright idea to combine two of man’s favorite substances.
While the flashy can (like the namesake popcorn’s branding) and promotion of such a joint venture may seem to be all for publicity, it’s backed up with what resulted in a very nice farmhouse ale that’s easy to drink; and, at 4.45 percent ABV, you can drink a few of them without issue. In fact, I had my first sip before going double bogey recently. No word on if the beer had any effect on my terrible golf game.
Mankato’s smattering of other year-round offerings are also good in their own right, from Haymaker IPA (and Mad Butcher IPA, yum), to Organ Grinder Amber Ale, Crooked Rook Porter (right up my alley!) and Kato Lager.
ENKI® Brewing has announced that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded the brewing company a grant of approximately $44,000. The grant will be used to expand the Victoria, MN brewery’s production and distribution footprint, as well their quality assurance program. The added brewing capacity will enable ENKI to package their beer in bottles while adding beer styles that feature Minnesota grown hops and barley.
John Hayes, President of ENKI Brewing, stated, “We are extremely appreciative of this grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and are committed to promoting the use of hops and grains grown by Minnesota farmers. All of us at ENKI wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our community leaders for their letters of support which were so crucial in the MDA’s assessment of our grant proposal.”
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Value Added Grant Program
The MDA Value Added Grant Program supports Minnesota agricultural producers and processors by expanding markets for Minnesota products. Value Added Grants are funded through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program, which focuses on advancing Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy industries. AGRI targets areas of greatest opportunity and potential economic impact to create agricultural jobs and profitable businesses in the areas of livestock investment, value-added business and market development, and renewable energy. Value Added Grants are directed towards farmers, agricultural businesses, cooperatives and entrepreneurs with new business or market plans, diversification or expansion goals. ENKI Brewing is one example of the dozens of public and private partnerships supported through AGRI annually.
“This is exactly the kind of success story we like to see from the local investments we make using our Value Added Grants,” said MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “It’s a great return on investment for all Minnesotans and its adding value to more than just business at ENKI Brewing. Hops and barley farmers also benefit from the use of these ingredients grown right here in Minnesota.”
ENKI Brewing Company has announced that the company will celebrate its first year of business by hosting an anniversary party in the ENKI taproom and brewery grounds. The party will start at noon on Saturday, June 21st,and continue through 11:00pm, featuring live music by the Tex Pistols, food by School of the Wise, and games. At 1:00pm ENKI Brewing will tap I ANNO ENKI ALE, a special anniversary ale. Everyone ages 21 and over is invited. No cover charge.
Over the past 12 months we’ve made great headway in our mission to make the world a friendlier place two beers at a time. To date we’ve sold nearly 150,000 pints of ENKI beer. “That’s a whole lot of new friends,” observed John Hayes, co-founder, ENKI Brewing.
In anticipation of this occasion being our biggest and best event ever, ENKI Brewing was granted a special permit, expanding our public space to all of the brewery grounds—comprising the entire city block. “This is going to be a great and continue through 11:00pm, featuring live music by the party. I’m excited to share our newest beer with friends who we’ve met this past year and to a crowd of new friends,” remarked Jason Davis, Brew Master, ENKI Brewing.
“I’ve already made more friends in Minnesota than at any other time or any other place in the previous 35 years. I hope to see all of you at our party so together we will raise a pint in appreciation of friends old and new,” remarked Dan Norton, co-founder, ENKI Brewing.
ENKI Brewing is a 20BBL craft brewery operating in Victoria’s historic creamery building along the shores of Steiger Lake in downtown Victoria, MN. Comfortable and inviting, the ENKI TapRoom and Beer Garden offer a cozy ‘lived in’ feel with a great view of the beautiful lake and our shiny new brewhouse. The ENKI TapRoom is a great setting for making new friends, two beers at a time. Whether our guests, drive up or peddle out to the ENKI TapRoom we strive to make their experience one that leads to a lasting friendship.
As the centerpiece of our business, the ENKI TapRoom is often the first place that people experience ENKI Brewing Company and our beers. Because of this, we truly believe that the experience must be fantastic — from the service they receive, the beers they drink, to the space they drink it in and the people they meet. The ENKI TapRoom Friendmaker is crucial to our goal of making friends with every person who visits the brewery.
The TapRoom Friendmaker’s responsibility is assuring TapRoom operations run smoothly and effectively. In addition, the TapRoom Friendmaker will be filling the role as our primary server day to day.
Day to day activities include:
Ensuring all of our customers have the best possible experience in the TapRoom
Knowledgably serving beers to our guests and engaging them in friendly conversation
Greet and engage taproom customers
Offer assistance and suggestions on beer selection as needed
Serve beer over the bar and fill growlers to go during normal business hours
Bus tables and remove used, empty glassware from bar to be washed
Wash glassware and ensure it is always “beer clean” when serving
Maintaining the TapRoom staffing schedule
Opening up and closing out many days of the week
Maintaining and advancing the general appearance of the tap room and beer garden
Assist in organizing brewery events in the tap room and beer garden
Assist with merchandise organization, inventory and sales
Assist with draught line cleaning and maintenance
Assist with brewery tours as needed
Working with the co-founders to promote the brewery experience
Additional day to day activities necessary to keep the tap room running.
The tap room manager will report to the founders of ENKI Brewing.
Skills required:
Excellent personal communication skills
Attention to detail
An appreciation and experience in using the web and other technology for developing and maintaining customer relationships through social media promotions
Working knowledge of craft beer styles and appreciation for how beer is created and served.
The ability to lift 60 pounds (1/6 BBL keg) and move 165 pounds (1/2 BBL keg)
The ability to transport kegs with a dolly
Ability to stand for long periods of time
Flexibility to work non-standard work hours and alternate locations for events as necessary
Previous bar experience
The right person will be in at the ground level of ENKI Brewing. We all have an important voice in shaping the business. We share special values of loyalty, trust and integrity. And, we share a common bond in our enthusiasm for making friends through the experiences of making and serving quality, distinctive craft beers. While each of us has our roles in the brewery, we are team. We’re looking for a team player who is excited about the opportunity of helping to build a successful business and is ready to chip in wherever needed.
Compensation will be based on experience.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions associated with the position.
If you’re interested in applying, please email resume and cover letter HERE
̴ Unfriendly people need not apply ̴
ENKI Brewing Company is an equal opportunity employer.
This summer I went on a road trip to beautiful Victoria, Minnesota. I didn’t realize just how neat this little town was until I visited. I always knew where Victoria was but never made a point to visit. It was a speed bump, not a destination. It was on the way to places like Waconia and other western towns. I’d been to Floyds for bands before but never ventured far off Highway 5. This trip made me wish I had.
The People
I showed up just as Brewers Supply Group was delivering, well, brewing supplies. I thought to myself, perfect timing, Derek. However, co-owner Dan Norton and brewer Jason Davis were more than happy to put the heavy lifting on hold to talk beer with me. I walked in through the brewhouse to the taproom where we sat down. Instantly I noticed the contrasting beauty of the shiny stainless steel with the nearly one hundred year old architecture. As we sat in the taproom, we discussed Jason’s brewing history, how the co-owners partnered up and what direction the brewery is heading.
Owners Dan Norton and John Hayes met while working together thirty years ago. They met while working for shoe giant Nike and although their career paths have taken them in separate directions, they have remained friends with a mutual interest in good beer ever since. I’ve read that although Enki is an anagram for Nike, it has nothing to do with the name of the brewery. You see, Enki is the Sumerian god of running water. Most historians will tell you that beer was invented – or discovered rather – in ancient Sumeria. Also, Enki’s daughter Ninkasi was the goddess of beer.
Jason’s brewing history goes back to the mid 90’s. He was waiting tables at the Sioux Falls Brewing Company, a small brewpub located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Before long he was in the brewhouse learning the craft of brewing. Eventually Jason took over the reigns as head brewer and was making some pretty good beers – he won 4 medals at the GABF during his tenure there. And I can vouch for his beers. Coincidentally, I was going to college in Sioux Falls at the time and remember quite fondly the Buffalo Stout, Ring Neck Red (South Dakota is the pheasant hunting capital of the world) and Phillips Ave Pale Ale. This was definitely one of my earliest memories of craft beer and it made a lasting and positive impression. Thank you, Jason! Sadly due to law changes in South Dakota as well as an obnoxious tenant in the same building the brew pub was forced to close. Shortly thereafter Jason packed up his family and moved to Minneapolis. He spent a few years working for Midwest Supplies in Saint Louis Park which is where he met John.
Originally, Jason started helping Dan and John in the planning stage as a consultant. Dan joked that a consultant is “someone who borrows your watch and then tells you what time it is”. It wasn’t long before Jason was invited to join the team on a full time basis. In early June they brewed their first beer, Citric Journey, and on June 22nd they opened the tap room. The only beer on tap opening day was Citric Journey and it was very well received. Their goal was never to open with a huge variety of beers on tap but rather to brew one beer at a time and brew it well. Then introduce another one… and another…
If you were at Autumn Brew Review last weekend perhaps you met Enki’s Instigator of Camaraderie, Karie McDougall. She rounds out the team as the head of sales, marketing, special events as well as making sure your visit to the taproom is exciting and memorable. Industry folks, you’ll want to get to know Karie as she is your connection to delicious Enki beer! Karie is no newbie to the business. She’s spent the last six years working around craft beer. Initially with JJ Taylor’s craft beer distribution team and then with New Belgium Brewery promoting their brands. Look for her fun and charismatic personality at special events and when you visit the taproom.
The Beer
The first beer I tried was their debut ale Citric Journey. A hoppy balanced Pale Ale booming with flavor. The name comes from the citrus notes the hops impart combined with malted barley coming from both North America and Europe. Even the beer itself takes you on a journey. There’s a subtle welcoming of malt on the nose followed by some pretty intense hop flavors. It finishes nicely with an array of complex malt sweetness. But not too sweet, there is a wave of bitterness tickling the tongue. Definitely worth a try.
The second beer I tried was their sophomore offering, Auburn Kolsch. Auburn – Kolsch, that’s an oxymoron right? As Jason explains, this beer was brewed as a red ale but fermented and hopped like a Kolsch. My eyes definitely played tricks on my mouth. What I was expecting out of that glass was not what hit my tongue. It was delicately hopped with some floral notes and fruity esters. But there was also a soft malt presence. It was very good. As a stylistic thinker and trained beer judge this one confused me. But to hell with styles! Come on down and enjoy this one on the beautiful taproom patio surrounded by a table full of friends.
Speaking of friends, Enki’s mission is to “Make the World a Friendlier Place – Two Beers at a Time”. I really like this phrase. How many times have you heard “doing this” or “doing that” one beer at a time? It’s quite a familiar line. But this statement suggests companionship; having a beer with a friend, whether meeting up with an old friend or making a new friend. This philosophy resonates well with the brewery as it was founded by longtime friends who also made lots of new friends over beers leading up to this moment.
The Brewery
As I mentioned earlier the brewery and taproom were built within a one-hundred year old building, formerly the Victoria Creamery. The generations-old aesthetics were definitely kept intact while constructing the brewery. Located just feet from Steiger Lake and the Lake Minnetonka Regional Bike Trail this place is in an ideal location. Enki brews on a custom built 20-barrel brewhouse built by Metalcraft in Portland, Oregon. There are three fermentation tanks now with room for five more. The cooler, which sits directly behind the taproom, contains three 20-barrel brite tanks for finished beer. These are also used as serving vessels for the tap room. There is room for another three brites when needed. At the brewery you can get growlers to go or pints to stay. The taproom, with its beautiful exposed brick walls is open Thursday and Friday 4-10pm and Saturday noon-10pm.
Jenga
Brewhouse
Fermenters
Tanks
Patio
Off to the side of the taproom there is a game room with oversized Jenga and other games. I imagine this will be the place to hang out when the weather turns cold. But during the summer months, there is a comfortable, well shaded, outdoor patio complete with arbor and greenery. Get there early though, these tables fill up fast. The brewery also owns all the property curb-to-curb around the building and future plans may include some kind of beirgarten or festival grounds. That definitely piques my interest!
Currently beer is available on draft only at local bars mainly in Victoria and Waconia but there will be more to come. I am looking forward to their upcoming release of Chocolate Porter, available only in the tap room and special events. Perhaps we’ll see it at the Tonka Brew Fest next month! Also coming up is a tap-takeover at The Gold Nugget in Minnetonka. The author personally recommends this watering hole. They have been dedicated to craft beer, and specifically Minnesota craft beer, since day one. Coming up later this month all taps will be represented by western suburbs breweries. Twenty taps in all from Enki, Lucid, Badger Hill, Excelsior and Bad Weather. I know I’ll be there.
I was definitely impressed with my visit to Enki. Impressed with the brewery and grounds, impressed with the people and impressed with the beer. No longer will Victoria be a speed bump or just on the way somewhere else. I will definitely be making Victoria, and Enki Brewing, a destination… and you should too!
Enki Brewing
7929 Victoria Drive, Victoria, Minnesota On Facebook On Twitter
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Enki Brewing is set to make Victoria the next home of local craft beer in Minnesota. The doors will swing open at noon this Saturday.
Dan Norton and John Hayes, are the partners behind Enki Brewing. The two met at Nike years ago and the have finally been able to make their brewing dreams happen. They remodeled the old Victoria Creamery in a brewery and taproom.
Fun fact: Enki was the Sumarian deity of crafts, mischief; water, intelligence, and creation. Enki was also the father of Ninkasi, Sumarian goddess of beer.
