Tag Archives: Northbound Smokehouse

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#MNCLEANPINT Campaign Returns

How clean is your beer glass?

#MNCLEANPINT is a social media awareness campaign created by Joe Falkowski at J.J. Taylor Distributing Company of MN to promote the proper cleaning of glassware at Minneasota bars and pubs. (Sorry, no taprooms)

Throughout February consumers and on-sale retailers are encouraged to share photos of their beer on social media (Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook) that has been served in proper “beer clean” glassware and tag it with #MNCleanPint and your location. At the end of the month, the establishment (excluding tap rooms) with the most mentions will win be crowned as the owners of “Cleanest Pint in Minnesota.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjLLYyitO1M

MN Beer Activists is proud to support the #MNCLEANPINT educational initiative along with J.J. Taylor Distributing Company of MN, Cicerone® Certification Program, Micromatic, The Better Beer Society, MNBeer.com, and A Perfect Pint. Feel free to tag MNBeerActivists in your photos, we’ll be retweeting, regramming, and toasting consumers all month long.


The campaign for clean glassware kicks off February 3rd, at the location of 2014 Cleanest Pint in Minnesota, Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub. The winning establishment gets a party from J.J. Taylor. Other prizes include Cicerone® training and tests, a $100 bar tab, a home kegerater kit, glassware, and lots of other prizes throughout the campaign.

#MNCleanPint-Kickoff-Party

Joe Falkowski talks #MNCleanPint on the MN BeerCast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-minnesota-beercast/id936715007

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-minnesota-beercast

http://www.twincitiesnewstalk.com/media/podcast-the-minnesota-beercast-MinnesotaBeercast/schells-brewing-company-jj-taylor-distribution-25725994/

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Northbound Brewpub announces patio picture contest

Every Minnesotan is familiar with the horror and tragedy we call the winter season here in our lovely home. That is why when the weather turns warm we carry our beers to the decks, docks, and patios to soak up as much Vitamin D as we can. Mosquitoes be damned, it is nice out and we are drinking on the patio!

Jamie and Amy at Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub know they have one of the nicest patios around, and they want to prove it with a photo contest. Every week this summer they will giveaway a $20 giftcard to a lucky participant that tags their picture with #NorthboundPatioPic and shares it on social media.

Good luck, you’ll have competition!

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Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub debuts Polar Vortex Eisbock

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub has announced the release of Polar Vortex, the first Eisbock released in Minnesota in several years.

Allegedly, Eisbock is a style of beer that was an accidental discovery in Germany in 1890. The Reichelbräu Brewery in Kulmbach, Germany left some casks of their Bockbier outside on a bitterly cold night and the casks froze leaving behind only a small amount of liquid. Upon drinking the beer they realized that the liquid had a high concentration of alcohol because the water froze out.

Since then breweries around the world have made Eisbock beers during the freezing cold of winter. Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub decided to take advantage of the Polar Vortex this year and create an Eisbock from their Doppelbock. They froze concentrated their 8.3% Doppelbock to a 10.4% Eisbock.

“I wanted to do something unique that no one else in Minnesota was doing. With all the great new breweries opening there are not a lot of styles that haven’t been brewed locally,” said head brewer Jamie Robinson.

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub will be releasing Polar Vortex Eisbock at 3pm on Monday February 10th. There is a very limited amount of this beer available, so get there early on Monday if you want to try it.

“We hope that our customers are as excited about this beer as we are”, said Robinson. “It’s about the only good thing that you can get from the Polar Vortex.”

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Northbound Brewpub & Indeed Brewing Make National Television Debut

beer geeks tvMinnesota breweries Northbound Brewpub and Indeed Brewing Company make their national television debut on beer Geeks TV late Saturday night.

If the name Beer Geeks TV sounds familiar, it should. The syndicated television show has its roots right here in Minnesota. In fact, in its first incarnation the show focused almost entirely on Minnesota breweries and restaurants. The newest version of the show travels the country instead of the state, and replaces local talent with master brewer Michael Ferguson as the jovial host. The format remains mostly the same, but the shows is now produced by David Page, of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives fame.

The only Minnesota-centric episode centers on Hot Box, an Imperial Smoked Porter that Northbound brewed in collaboration with Indeed Brewing Company.

“We’re thrilled to be one of the first Minnesota breweries featured on Beer Geeks TV,” said Northbound Smokehouse Co-Owner and General Manager Amy Johnson. “Having recently celebrated our first birthday, it’s quite an honor to receive national attention. We’re also thrilled to share the spotlight with our good friends at Indeed Brewing.

The episode will be broadcast live at 12:30 am on Nov. 10 on WFTC/MyFox 29. Northbound Smokehouse is inviting the public to watch the episode at the restaurant. They are extending their late night Saturday happy hour with $3 house beers from 10 pm to 2 am. To honor the collaboration with Indeed Brewing, Northbound Smokehouse will also offer a partial “tap takeover” with several special Indeed Brewing beers along with Northbound’s house offerings.

For those unable to attend the late-night screening, Northbound Smokehouse will host two additional screenings on Nov. 10 at 11:00 am and again at 7:00 pm.

http://beergeeks.tv/episode-guide/season-1/episode-10/

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Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub raffles Beer4Life membership for charity

Northbound Smokehouse, in South Minneapolis, has plans to donate a Beer4Life membership, worth $2,500, to raise money for two yet to be named charities. The public gets vote for their favorite nonprofit by texting BEER4GOOD to 75309 (Msg. & data rates may apply) and entering the charity name by August 9th at midnight. All nominated organizations must be a 501c3 nonprofit and based in the 55406, 55407 and 55417 zip codes.

Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub Amy and Jamie
Amy Johnson and Jamie Robinson of Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub

Nearly a year ago, the restaurant owners publically offered Beer4Life memberships for $1,000 to successfully raise startup capital for the brewpub. The program allows members, of which there are currently 80, to drink any of Northbound’s house beer for free for the rest of their life, or the life of the restaurant.

“The bankers thought we were crazy when we offered the membership,” said Jamie Robinson, the head brewer and co-founder of Northbound. “Our first year has been amazing. We’re thankful for our community that supported us. This is our way of supporting the charities that support our community.”

“Several of my friends considered purchasing a membership initially, but ultimately didn’t” said Beer4Life member Zach Zins. “In hindsight, they wish they had. I’d bet my own money they’ll now be foaming at the mouth for another chance to put free foam in their mouth. And what a great idea by Northbound to give back a bit to the community that’s been supporting them.”

The top two charities nominated will set up raffles that will be sold at the brewpub and other locations in the area. The winner will be picked at random at a special event on Sunday, September 22nd at Northbound.

“We expect that once word spreads, there will be a lot of nonprofits pressing their supporters to vote,” said Amy Johnson, co-founder of Northbound. “They’re welcome to. We’ll be covering the raffle costs for the two charities to ensure that 100% of the funds raised go to them.”

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Beer Lover Valentine’s Day

Obviously, men love beer. But thanks to the prominence of groups like Barley’s Angels and the Pink Boot Society, and the ladies who run Finnegan’s and have co-founded or helped start other breweries and pubs, it should now also go without saying that women love beer. If you want to spend Valentine’s Day sharing your love of beer with that special someone, here’s a short list of awesome beer events going on around February 14th.

If you like to keep things spicy, Indeed will have its Hot Box, an Imperial Smoked Pepper Porter, at the taproom on Valentine’s Day. The brew is collaboration with Northbound Brewpub. There will also be some bottles of Hot Box available in case you’d rather take it home to celebrate Valentine’s privately (limit two).

beer romance
Baby, get me another beer.

If your Valentine is more sweet than spicy, Bulldog Lowertown will feature a Southern Tier Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) randalled with chocolate and strawberries.

At both Republic locations, you’ll find a four-course dinner paired with different brews like Bell’s Hopslam, Harriet’s Dark Abbey Dubbel, Surly Hell, and Steel Toe Provider. Dinner goes from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm and will run $26 per person, or $36 with the added beer pairings. Reservations are recommended; call 612-338-6146.
Not hungry? Check out the cask of Fulton’s Worthy Adversary conditioned on French Oak, available in goblets starting at 5pm.

If you and your date can’t wait for Valentine’s Day to celebrate, Happy Gnome has a five-course dinner paired with Lagunitas brews on Tuesday, February 12th starting at 6:00 pm for $75.

Want to avoid the crowds on the 14th? Head to Town Hall next week instead for their Barrel Aged Beer Week. You’ll find their normally delicious beers such as barley wine, imperial stout, and Grand Cru made extra-delicious with barrel aging. The barrel beers will be available from the 18th-25th of February.

Another post-Valentine’s date worth mentioning is Hazel’s five-course dinner paired with Summit brews. Hazel’s is offering it on Sunday, February 17th at 5:30 pm for $40. Space is limited, though, so call: 612-788-4778.

Steel Toe Taps
You’d so tap that.

Steel Toe’s taproom opens this Friday at 3:00 pm and Saturday from 12:00 pm-10:00 pm. Grab a pint and check out their new space!

Thursdays at the Fulton taproom are cask Thursdays, so there’s always something special going on. Check their facebook page or twitter feed the day of for more info!

Finally, if you’re a little less picky and a little more interested in just drinking, Stub and Herb’s kills a keg or two every Thursday. At 8:00 pm, $5 gets you beers from whatever keg they’re emptying. (It’s a great deal—last time I went, the beers were from Steel Toe!) Check Sterb’s facebook and twitter feed on the day of for more info.

No matter where you end up, your sweetheart will surely thank you for avoiding the normal champagne toasts and hitting the excellent craft beer offerings this year. Did we miss any Valentine’s Day specials? Leave them in the comments below!