Tag Archives: Fair State

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Fair State Brewing Coop’s Massive Expansion

If you subscribe to the adage of ‘If you’re not growing, you’re dying”, Fair State Brewing Cooperative has been secretly working out and taking steroids. To an excited gathering at a members-only event on September 6, President, CEO and Chief Holder of Fancy Titles Evan Sallee announced the next phase of expansion for the co-op: a production brewery capable of quintupling beer production in the Midway industrial district.

The numbers shared by Sallee would cause any entrepreneur to drool: keg sales have gone up 82%. Taproom sales are up 50% over last year. Liquor store sales since they started canning? Up 388%. Demand for their award-winning beers is off the charts. With peer, industry, local, state and national recognition as one of the best up-and-coming breweries in the country, they’ve released 78 different beers and seen a membership explosion from 125 to over 900 members.

The face of the expansion
East entry exterior view. The patio joins up with a customer reception area and spacious office inside.

“The existing brewery on Central Avenue is going to stay exactly the same,” announced Salle to a cheering and relieved membership. “The existing brewhouse will become Niko’s laboratory to continue to craft, experiment and develop new beers.  This facility is going to help us meet demand for our more popular beers.”

The new brew house will come with 120 BBL cold and hot liquor tanks feeding with a 30 barrel mash tun and kettle, processing via whirlpool and centrifuge before filling 4 x 90 barrel fermenters (with space for more) and 4 horizontal lager tanks.  Barrel aging racks, a keg/cooler space bigger than the entire current brewery footprint, a canning line, a full lab, modern offices and trailer-level docks will all reside in the new space.  While the leased space is 40,000 sq ft, parts are planned to be leased out to another business.  “We should not have to move again,” remarked a smiling Matt Hauck, Director of Operations.

Brew house expansion
Artist’s rendering. The artist has no idea how big 90 BBL fermenters are.  They will reach to the ceiling!  But who am I to judge – this looks much better than what I could do in MS Paint.

“Are you doing the expansion in steps?” I asked Niko Tonks, Head Brewer. “No, we’re going to do it all at once,” he replied. Niko went on to explain that the search for additional brewing space has been going on for over a year. “We looked everywhere, but we kept coming back to this space.”  The building is flanked by two parking lots, which seem to dare the co-op to hold even larger events that the taproom could not.  When asked if they’d be open to sharing space or collaborating with Midway brewing neighbors Lake Monster, Urban Growler, Burning Bros and Bang Brewing, Tonks said anything is possible.

Because Minnesota law does not allow a brewery to have more than 1 taproom, only samples can be offered to tourists and guests at the production brewery.  There will be no on- or off-sale beer here.

Sallee ran through other statistics which caused multiple rounds of applause.  Their charitable “Fair State Cooperates” effort has contributed over 10% of revenues to 12 worthy, non-profit causes in the community chosen by the membership and the board of directors.  Their volunteer group has worked over 3000 hours with these organizations, further helping them to succeed in their mission.

“The goal is to start brewing by 12/31, even if this means we’re boiling some water.” quipped Peter Heidorn, freshly-hired marketing, and communications manager. “There are some advantages to brewing in the same year you buy your equipment. Not sure what’s actually possible or if that’s too ambitious.”

Memberships and volunteer opportunities are still available at fairstate.coop/shop. Ready to turn your skills into free beer? Check fairstate.coop/events for upcoming volunteer dates or contact Davin at davin@fairstate.coop.

 

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What (Minnesota beer) I’ve been drinking …

Featured: Boom Island Brewing Company, Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Indeed Brewing Company, Lift Bridge Brewing Co., Sociable Cider Werks.

Because of my geographic location (I live in Northfield), I tend to seek out Minnesota beers I can pick up from local liquor stores or in the metro area when I’m up that way.

It’s been a busy month or so of experiencing new beers. Like most beers, I can find a positive in most brews because, well, I like beer. Fortunately, I didn’t have to fall to the lowest threshold to enjoy any of the following beers that I had the pleasure of consuming in recent weeks.

Django Hop Bier
Boom Island Brewing Company

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From the brewery in northeast Minneapolis with a cozy taproom, Django Hop Bier is a nice offering that’s hard to know what you’re getting yourself into. Even for those of us who a step above laymen (I hope?), when you read hop in the beer name, you immediately have a flavor profile in mind. This had a nice, delicate touch to it that was easy to get down. It’s perfect for this time of year when, we hope, we start experiencing a series of nice afternoons and evenings (or mornings, if that’s your kind of thing).

According to Boom Island:

Crafted with Wai-iti hops, pilsner and wheat malt, and a hint of citrus, this hoppy number moves to its own rhythm.

ABV: 6 percent
IBU: 39
Available: 11.2 oz. four-packs and on draft

Raspberry Roselle
Fair State Cooperative Brewing

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I’ll just get this out there: I’ve not yet jumped on the sour train. I’ve read and heard time and time again that sours are “the next IPA.” I’m not so sure. I don’t dislike sours; perhaps I just haven’t found one that tickles me in the right places.

That said, I did enjoy the Raspberry Roselle from Fair State Co-op. It wasn’t too tart for me, which is the issue I’ve run into. Though I enjoyed the better part of the 750 ml bottle, I don’t know if I would have been able to handle much more of it. That’s more of an indictment on me than the beer. It was smooth, sweet and popped with flavor. At no point was it overwhelming. It’s by far the best sour I’ve had.

According to Fair State:

“We re-fermented our year-round Hibiscus Sour Saison, Roselle, with a whole bunch of raspberries. The result is a fruit-forward, rose-hued beer that’s distinctly juice and dry, with increased acidity.”

ABV: 5.8 percent
IBU: 19
Available: 750 ml bottles (if still around – check out their other beers, too!)

Lavender Sunflower Honey Dates Honey Ale (not LSD)
Indeed Brewing Company

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Controversy over the name aside, LSD (for simplicity’s sake) is a smooth 16 oz. trip that can be enjoyed in myriad settings: Porch swing, golfing (guilty) or on the boat (hoping to be guilty of soon). Having not previously sipped this one, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the advertised name of so many ingredients, many of which I can’t say I consume all that often – or at all. They work together.

Indeed, one of the shining stars in a galaxy of worthy Minnesota breweries, clearly knows what it’s doing. I had faith, even with some trepidation. Go pick this one up and enjoy it. You can also appreciate the artwork, something of a staple for the Minneapolis brewery.

According to Indeed:

“Hello, beautiful stranger. A kaleidoscopic spiral of Lavender, Sunflower honey, and Dates, LSD sets the stage for a mind-bending beer experience as electrifying floral aromas dance atop rich notes of fruit and honey. Are you experienced?”

Malts: Pale, Carafoam, White Wheat, Honey Malt, Meloidin
Hops: Willamette Yeast: American Ale II Specialty
Ingredients: Lavender, Sunflower honey, dates

ABV: 7.2 percent
IBU: 20
Available: 16 oz. four-pack cans and draft

 

93X Brotherhood Beer
Life Bridge Brewing Company

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I didn’t know what to expect here. Like most, um, “craft” drinkers, this wouldn’t be the first beer I grabbed based on its description. But I like a challenge. I’ve also learned to trust Lift Bridge as a company that has a pretty good handle on its product, so that quelled some of my concern.

It’s an American lager, but, after trying the 93X Brotherhood Beer, it could easily be my go-to American lager in a pinch. It was clear, crisp and went down well. It’s clearly a notch above its larger brewery counterparts.

A collaboration beer with the 93X Half-Assed Morning Show, portions of the profits “benefit the Minnesota Military Family Foundation, a community-supported fund that financially supports deployed Minnesota military personnel, their spouses and children with grants during times of extraordinary financial hardship.”

ABV: 4.5 percent
IBU: 15
Available: 16 oz. four-packs and on draft.

Freewheeler, Hop-a-Wheelie, Spoke Wrench
Sociable Cider Werks

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I’ve got a three-for-one here.

Like most people, I’ve had cider – both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic variety, and largely by a large maker. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Sociable Cider Werks, a fast-growing, popular destination for Minnesota consumers. I’m open to experimentation, but I wasn’t sure what a cider with added hops and grains would do. Sociable says it adds bitterness and body, which makes sense.

“The result is tart, dry and flavorful with a well-balanced body. It’s not your typical cloyingly sweet macro-cider. It’s decidedly different. It’s Sociable,” its website reads.

So, how do they taste?

My favorite was Freewheeler, Sociable’s dry apple offering. It was light, easy to drink and had a nice feeling as it went down. To me, this was probably what tastes most like a cider when I think of it, right or wrong. Sociable says this one is its closest to a traditional European cider.

Closely following was Hop-a-Wheelie Hopped Apple, which takes their “signature tart and dry apple flavor and adds a brewer’s hoppy flair that will give you a new appreciation for what a cider can do for your tastes buds.” It was tasty, and I would recommend it.

By default, Spoke Wrench Stout Apple was third for me. I did enjoy it, just not as much as the other two. It’s a hybrid, clearly, of a cider and “a hearty stout brewer’s wort that we then co-ferment using a traditional English ale yeast.” There should be some chocolate and toffee notes, but my limited palate only pulled out some toffee. Still enjoyable, though.

Available: All in 16 oz. four-packs and on draft.