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Why You Should Care About That Grain Belt Sign

Grain Belt Sign
Image from Schell’s Twitter of the Grain Belt Sign

Grain Belt Lock and Dam

You’ve probably already heard that Schell’s has bought the iconic Grain Belt Beer sign that overlooks the Mississippi river in Minneapolis. They plan to restore and re-light the sign by 2017. And if you’ve heard that, then you’ve almost definitely heard that Schell’s is planning to brew a new beer to celebrate this acquisition – a copper lager by the name of Lock & Dam Lager under the Grain Belt brand. The promise of a new lager from a brewery putting out some of the best lagers in the state is definitely exciting news. Remember, Schell’s has taken home GABF medals for Firebrick and Oktoberfest. Even Grain Belt won silver in 2014 and gold in 1994. Despite all this, you might be wondering why we should be so excited about them planning to buy and restore an old beer sign. I mean, Grain Belt isn’t on most craft beer lovers top ten lists. And it is after all, just a rusty old sign.

A Rich History

Grain Belt Brewery
The Historic Minnesota Brewing Company Brewery

Grain Belt isn’t just another pale lager that just happens to be brewed in Minnesota. Much like the malted barley used to produce beer, Grain Belt is steeped in the history of Minnesota. To get to the origins of Grain Belt, we must look back to July of 1890, when four breweries joined together to create the Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company. This name was later shortened to The Minneapolis Brewing Company. The new brewery this conglomerate constructed would be one of the largest producers of beer of its time. It eventually producing half a million barrels of beer every year. For reference, there is not a single brewery in Minnesota today producing that much – Schell’s comes closest at 131,000 barrels per year. This brewery still stands in Minneapolis to this day, and its unique style stands out. When it was built four different architectural styles were used to honor the four original breweries. It’s this that gives the brewery it’s “mismatched” style.

And the most popular beer of Minneapolis Brewing Company? The Golden Grain Belt Old Lager, whose name honored this part of the country. Minneapolis Brewing Company produced more beer than almost any other brewery in the state, bested only by the Theodore Hamm Brewing Company. Grain Belt was being sold as far away as Michigan, Illinois, and Nebraska. In today’s time of interstate trucks and international distribution this may not seem impressive, but for the time it was a rare achievement.

After prohibition ended Grain Belt returned strong and became one of the most popular beers in the country. But by the 1950s sales had faltered and in 1975 the brand was bought and quickly sold to the G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This would take Grain Belt out of Minnesota, at least temporarily. This would be the last time the Grain Belt Beer sign lit up the Mississippi River.

A Bright Future for Grain Belt

grainbeltnewlabel
Schell’s Grain Belt

In 2001 Schell’s purchased the brand, returning it to Minnesota and restoring its popularity. It has again become one of the most popular brands of the Midwest, and in 2010 released a new beer, Nordeast, in honor of Northeast Minneapolis. By restoring that old sign Schell’s is restoring an integral part of craft beer – and Minnesota – history.

Every brewery in Minnesota today owes a nod to the Minneapolis Brewing Company and Grain Belt, who were pioneers in Minnesota beer. And yes, in the end, we are just talking about a sign. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing its light reflecting on the Mississippi again, a symbol of not just Minnesota’s rich history, but the exploding beer culture in our state.

Head to Schell’s website or Twitter for more updates.

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Schell’s 2015 Snowstorm – Wallonian-Style Brown Ale

Winter is coming. Schell’s Brewery is readying their annual Snowstorm beer for release. Snowstorm’s style varies every year. Previous Snowstorm iterations have included a Biére de Noél, Strong Belgian Golden Ale, and most recently a Grand Cru. The 2015 release of Schell’s Snowstorm will be a 6.5% abv Brown Ale of Wallonian inspiration. Wallonia is a French speaking region in south Belgium. Wallonia is home to famous breweries such as Chimay, Rochefort, and Orval. Schell’s could certainly choose a worse place to draw inspiration for a beer. Look for Snowstorm to hit shelves and bars around November.

Visit: http://schellsbrewery.com/beer/snowstorm/ for updates and info.

Schell's Snowstorm 2015
Taking inspiration from the artisanal and experimental tradition of the Wallonian brewers, our 2015 is malt-focused mahogany ale with hints of nut, biscuit, and stone fruit. Alc. 6.5% by Vol
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August Schell Brewing Co. Releases One Five Five – Red Lager to Celebrate 155 Years of Brewing Tradition

Have you heard of August Schell Brewing? They are the new kids on the block. August Schell started making beer at home in his garage and all his friends loved the beer they tried…  I’m kidding. Anyone that is a beer fan in Minnesota should be familiar with Schell’s and their long history of brewing tradition. Owned and operated by the Marti family, they are six generations deep into the brewing boom. They were crafting beer before term “craft beer” was a thing. The second-oldest family owned brewery in America, August Schell Brewing, is celebrating their heritage the best way they know how, releasing a new beer.

Schells one five five

 

One Five Five is Red Lager with full caramel flavor, medium body, and a very crisp hoppy finish. If you like a full malt profile, and fancy yourself a fan of hops, this beer is for you. According to Schell’s Brewer Dave Berg, the beer is dry hopped with equal amounts of American Cascade and German Mandarina Bavaria hops, giving it a pleasant little kick of hop-btterness at the end.

Abv: 5%
IBUs: 35
Malt: 2-row, Munich, Victory, Crystal 60, Crystal 80, Crystal 120
Hops: Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria
Availability: Year Round

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Schell’s Releases Cypress Blanc Berliner Weisse

Latest beer in the August Schell Noble Star Collection pays homage to classic American Lager

MN_Beer_Activists_NobleStar_CypressBlanc_Bottle_042215-150x430It is hard to deny that Schell’s Brewery is hitting on all cylinders lately. Minnesota’s oldest brewery has proven themselves to be force in the marketplace while not being afraid to innovate on tradition. Cypress Blanc, August Schell Brewing’s newest release and latest in the Noble Star Collection, is a perfect example of taking tradition and twisting it just a bit.

As with all the Berliner Weisses in the Noble Star Collection, Cypress Blanc was fermented in historic cypress wood tanks from 1936 that 6th generation brewmaster Jace Marti reconditioned by hand.

In their previous life the cypress tanks were used nearly exclusively for the production of Schell’s Deer Brand, a classic American Lager. That’s right. Schell’s has brewed American Lager for a long time with traditional local ingredients (corn). While the appeal of American Lagers may be lost on some market segments, Schell’s has never ran away from their history. In fact, Schell’s and the Marti family have always owned their brewing history proudly. Jace Marti rightfully took umbrage with the Brewer’s Association definition of “Craft Beer” before it was changed in 2014.

The use of an experimental American Lager recipe to make Cypress Blanc proves how inconsequential these ingredients can be when defining “craft beer.” Ask a Belgian brewer about using adjuncts, I dare you. I’d rather see consumers concerning themselves with consistency, off-flavors, and unfair business practices, rather than trying to label a beer as “true craft.”

“Cypress Blanc is lighter bodied and very dry with a uniquely complex flavor profile and a pleasantly tart acid[it]y that is totally different than anything that would have been aged in these tanks before,’ said Jace Marti, Assistant Brewmaaster.

The Brettanomyces yeast used to give Cypress Blanc that unique tart flavor pushes the alcohol level to 7.4% ABV, about double what is typical for the style. Berliner Weisses are usually very lower in bitterness, and true to form Cypress Blanc has an IBU of 4. The hop aroma and flavor you will pick up comes from Hallertau Blanc, a new German hop variety often compared to the hard to source Nelson Sauvin hop. The Hallertau Blanc hops lend flavors and aroma characteristics that play well with “Brett.” Look for notes of pineapple, gooseberry, white grape, and fresh lemongrass.

Cypress Blanc is a dry, tart wink and nod to a tradition that shows Schell’s can make “craft beer” that can stand up next to any other craft brewer in the country. Look for it on store shelves now in hand-filled caged and corked champagne bottles.

Related:
Jace Marti talks about the Star of the North Collection on Minnesota BeerCast

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August Schell Brewing saves historic Minneapolis Grain Belt sign

August Schell Brewing Company Reaches Agreement to
Purchase and Preserve Iconic Minneapolis Landmark

We all know the sign. It is a piece of our heritage and our history. The Grain Belt sign IS Minneapolis, it IS Minnesota. Schell’s has announced the  fantastic news that the Marti Family, in cooperation with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, has announced the purchase and restoration of the iconic nordeast landmark.

As the stewards to a 154-year old brewery and family business, we understand the importance of preserving heritage. We are honored to have this opportunity to protect and restore such a beloved part of the
Minneapolis landscape,” said Ted Marti, President and fifth-generation descendant of brewery founder, August Schell. “Working in concert with the community, our goal is to preserve and relight this important remnant of the city’s industrial and commercial past.”

Home #northeast #mpls #ihearnempls @iheartnempls #grainbelt #mississippi #home

A photo posted by Melissa (@melmnsurf) on

“This historic sign is a unique resource and a valuable part of the city’s character,” said Doug Gasek, Executive Director, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. “We’re looking forward to working with the August Schell
Brewing Company to rehabilitate and relight this prominent riverfront landmark, making it accessible for future generations to enjoy.”

If the discussions with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and other purchase formalities lead to the conclusion that the sign can be relit, the closing on the purchase of the land and sign is expected later this year, which is when more details about the sign’s preservation and relighting will be available.

For more information on Grain Belt, visit grainbelt.com.

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August Schell Brewing Company announces Star Keller Taproom and Noble Star Collection Expansion

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jace marti
Sixth generation brewmaster Jace Marti takes a pull from the cypress tank

August Schell brewing Company has announced plans to begin construction on a 12,000 square foot production facility and taproom. The Star Keller, German for Star Cellar, will be the new home of the Noble Star Collection as well as a hospitality area.

Now in its second year of production, Schell’s Noble Star Collection is brewed in rare cypress tanks originally constructed in the 1930s to meet demand in the post-Prohibition brewing era. The old tanks were taken out of service in the 1990s and fell into a state of disrepair. In a massive undertaking they have have been painstakingly reconditioned and repurposed by hand for the series by Schell’s sixth generation brewmaster, Jace Marti. The new expansion will allow room for the restoration of eight additional historic tanks, as well as hospitality areas and a taproom.

“In order to meet the growing demand for the Noble Star Collection, we need additional space to house these unique lagering tanks,” said Marti. “This project takes a part of brewing history completely unique to Schell’s and reuses it to produce something totally new and different – way beyond its original intention. These are beautiful tanks and, as far as I know, are among the last remaining cypress beer tanks left in the world. Their size and shape are perfect for producing sour beers. The expansion gives us a chance to clean them up, put them back into production, and give them a home of their own where people can come see, touch and experience the beer they produce firsthand.”

black forest cherry
Black Forest Cherry – Schell’s Noble Star Collection

The most recent Noble Star release – Black Forest Cherry – was introduced. Marti says he has very fun and interesting things planned for the collection. He has taken a lot of inspiration from one of his favorite Belgian breweries, Rodenbach Brewery. He painted the rings on the cypress tanks signature Schell’s blue in contrast to Rodenbach red, but Marti he says he may try to emulate the blending Rodenbach does with older and younger batches of sour beer if the new expansion provides the capacity.

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Schell’s Releases Arminius

Sticking with what they do best, Schell’s recently released a new lager to their arsenal. This time, however, it’s getting the royal hop treatment. Arminius Hoppy Pale Lager is double dry-hopped and brewed with over 2.5 lbs per barrel of a combination of German, French, and American hops. At 6.5% ABV and 70 IBU, it weighs in like an IPA.
Schells arminius pouring
I’m not typically a lager fan, so I was reluctant at first to give this one a try. My trusted liquor store guys had just cracked a can before I arrived one day and it came highly suggested. I found that it had a nice citrus fruit bitterness of an IPA  while introducing the clean, crisp finish of a lager. I think this is a beer that could bring together hop-heads and traditional lager drinkers.

Arminius is currently being sold on tap at bars and in 4-packs of 16 ounce cans at your local retailer.

From Schell’s Website:

Schell’s Arminius is named after the legendary chieftain of the Germanic Cheruscan tribe better known as Herman the German. Arminius’ united coalition of Germanic tribes famously defeated the Roman army some 2,000 years ago, and permanently established the border of Germany, which still exists today. The Herman Heights Monument, which sits atop the hill in New Ulm, overlooks the town and Minnesota River Valley below. His eastward looking gaze and upraised sword signify freedom from Rome.