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Du Nord Craft Spirits releases Fitzgerald Gin, asks Minnesota to decide final recipe

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Fitzgerald Gin hits store shelves, begins Du Nord’s community feedback program to decide “Minnesota’s Gin.”

 

Just in time for the late summer season, Du Nord Craft Spirits is releasing Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1. Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, is a classic London dry style gin. Like any London dry style gin the lack of sugar lets the botanical elements impart most of the flavor and aroma. The traditional juniper flavor stands front and center in Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1. It is supported by flavors of citrus, angelica root, and licorice root. The result is a gin that stands on its own, but is equally tasty in a bright summer cocktail. Gin and Tonic, anyone?

Fitzgerald Gin Du Nord craft SpiritsFitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, kicks off Du Nord’s unique quest to discover “Minnesota’s Gin.” Du
Nord will release three gin formulas for consumers to taste and judge. Each gin formula will be a different style. Formula No. 1 is a obviously a classic London dry. Formula 2 will be a new-world style that focuses more on herbs than Juniper. Formula No. 3 promises to be wild. Nothing is set in stone, but in co-owner Shanelle Montana says it may include hop oil. Visitors to the soon-to-open Cocktail Room will be able to sample each formula and vote for their favorite. The winning formula, to be chosen in spring of 2015, will be forever known as “Fitzgerald Gin” making Fitzgerald the first gin to be chosen by its consumers.

“We want to get the community involved,” said co-owner Chris Montana, “gin drinkers are particular about their style; what better way to find out what Minnesotans like then by letting Minnesotans choose?”

The release of Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, comes on the heels of L’etoile du Nord Vodka – Du Nord’s
first product – winning a Triple Gold Medal for taste at the 2014 Microspirits Awards in Beverly Hills. Like L’etoile du Nord Vodka, Fitzgerald Gin is hand crafted in small batches in the Minneapolis distillery, using grain from co-owner Shanelle Montana’s family farm in Ivanhoe, Minnesota.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Sunday liquor sales is a hot topic at the Minnesota State Fair

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During an election year the Minnesota State Fair is unofficially considered the beginning of the political season. At the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” political parties set up booths booths, politicians and political hopefuls make PR appearances, and debates are often held.

Politics at the Minnesota State Fair makes a lot of sense. Where else can you reach so many Minnesotans in one place? Likewise, where else can so many Minnesotans talk to politicians? That is why Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services makes use of the MN State Fair to conduct their annual fair opinion poll. Sunday liquor sales has made several appearances on the House of Representatives poll at the Minnesota State Fair, and it always gets favorable results.

Be sure to swing by the Education Building near Snelling Avenue & Cosgrove Street to take the poll. While you are there you can visit with House Members and see if they represent Minnesota consumers, or if they side with special interests. The Independence Party of Minnesota has been running their own Sunday liquor sales poll at the Minnesota Sate Fair. In 2014 the Independence Party of Minnesota adopted a resolution to support full repeal of Sunday Blue Laws.

The Independence Party booth is situated near Dan Patch and Underwood, not too far from the Grandstand.

Independence Party of Minnesota supports Sundays liquor sales
Photo Credit: Sally Paulsen

Update: Supporters for Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Jeff Johnson are also talking Sunday beer sales at the Minnesota State Fair. Johnson has been a vocal supporter of repealing the prohibition on Sunday alcohol sales since early in his campaign. You can find the Johnson for Governor booth on the west side of Underwood, between Wright and Dan Patch Ave.

Jeff Johnson for Governor supports Sunday liquor sales
Photo Credit: @VandykeBrown
Sunday liquor sales is a hot topic at the Minnesota State Fair
Photo Credit: @AngieHasek
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Beer + Education + Fun = Land of 10,000 Beers at the Minnesota State Fair

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The Great Minnesota State Fair  will again be the host the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild’s Land of 10,000 Beers, centrally located in the Agriculture/Horticulture Building from Thursday, August 21 through Labor Day.

There is so much more going on this year than last, we need to break this down to capture all the awesome:

Flights of Four! (photo credit simplegoodandtasty.com)

More Beers: Over 130 different craft beers from almost 35 local Minnesota breweries.  Most will pair with a Pronto Pup,  Mini Donuts, Cheese Curds or Bacon on a Stick. There will be six to seven different flights of four 5 oz samples for $8.00 per flight.

Beer Hunter’s Pro-Tip: Find the rare beers on  Firkin Fridays and Rare Flights Saturdays and Sundays. You can purchase flights of rare, limited-run beers that showcase the brewer’s creativity. Fruit, wine-aged, barrel-aged, smoked…. it’s all here. You’ll want to bring an extra pair of socks to replace the ones that get knocked off.

Excelsior Brewing Presentation and Q&A
Excelsior Brewing Presentation and Q&A (photo credit ExcelsiorBrew.com)

More Education: There will be daily educational programming that will explain all the things that make craft beer amazing – straight  from the folks who have made Minnesota the 10th highest craft beer producing state in the U.S. Weekday programs are at 3-6 PM and weekend programs are at noon, 3 and 6 PM.

So that's what hops look like! (photo credit tcdailyplanet.net)
So that’s what hops look like! Photo credit tcdailyplanet.net

Do you know what a hop looks like? What is a malt? Check out the displays that will visually lead you through the basics of making beer.  There will be a Breweriana which chronicles the history and culture of beer in Minnesota.

More Fun: There is more to beer culture than that liquid in your glass.  Tour the Art Gallery which features local artists’ beer-inspired art. It’s like the Fine Arts building but cooler. While you’re working through your flight, seek out the Brew-cation Destination Wall which pinpoints all the breweries and brewpubs.

For the latest information, go to http://www.mncraftbrew.org/statefair

 

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Wander North Distillery Announces Ribbon Cutting in NE Minneapolis

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Signature Vodka Already Headed to Stores

Years of planning and preparation are paying off for Brian Winter and Wander North Distillery. The new craft distillery has just announced the ribbon cutting ceremony for its manufacturing facility and sampling room at 771 Harding St NE, Suite 150, Minneapolis, MN 55413. The new space will officially open at 2:30 pm on August 13, 2014 in a ceremony sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and attended by city officials who assisted Wander North owner Brian Winter in the process of launching his business.

A 400 gallon, handcrafted, made in America still.The ribbon cutting ceremony will kick off Wander North Distillery’s open house, which is open to the public and will include food, tours and tastings of Wander North’s signature product, Outpost Vodka. The event also serves as a kickoff event for Wander North’s retail sales. Outpost Vodka will be available in stores beginning August 15. Made from Minnesota-grown corn, Outpost Vodka will be available at multiple retail accounts. A list of locations can be found on their website, wandernorthdistillery.com. Future spirits from Wander North will include gin, bourbon and whiskey.

Wander North Distillery was conceived in 2011 by Northeast Minneapolis resident and military veteran Winter. “It amazed me that there was all this great beer being brewed in Minnesota, but the booming craft distilling industry hadn’t yet caught on here,” said Winter. “Recent law changes in Minnesota have made distilling a viable business here, and I’m thrilled to be joining the first wave of Minnesota craft distilleries.”

Recent changes to the law will allow Winter to transform the distillery’s sampling room into a full-fledged cocktail lounge similar to a craft brewery taproom. Until then, Wander North will be hosting tours and tastings most Saturdays.  Reservations can be made through the distillery’s website. Winter expects that Wander North’s cocktail room will open roughly around the same time as the new facility for NorthGate Brewing, located in the same building. Collaborations between Wander North and NorthGate Brewing are already in the works, as are collaborations with several other local craft breweries.

“I’m truly excited to be joining the exciting world of local craft distillers and brewers,” said Winter. “This is a great time to be in this industry and I’m thrilled to finally introduce my product and facility to Minnesota consumers.”

Let’s hope that for the sake of consumers and distillers alike that the state and city officials that helped Wander North open their doors also help them secure the ability to sell bottles of their own products.

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Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across America brings one-off collaboration beers to Minnesota

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How does a pioneer in the craft beer industry like Sierra Nevada Brewing celebrate a west coast to east coast expansion? Road Trip!

Chico, California’s Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is opening a brand new in Asheville, North Carolina. To celebrate the occasion Sierra Nevada is throwing a traveling caravan festival from coast to coast and releasing a collaborative 12-pack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM7BrsN8qVo The release of Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across America collaboration 12-pack is a feat that is absolutely unprecedented. It is logistically impressive that 12 of the top brewers in the nation came together for this celebration. Impressive becomes astounding when you look at the names of breweries on the collaborations beers.
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp
No other industry would do a collaboration like this. Can you see Ford Motor Company working with Chevy and Toyota to celebrate a milestone? Would Chevrolet and Toyota want to take part? I doubt it. Burger King and McDonalds? Nope. It is clear how much the craft beer elite respect Sierra Nevada Brewing.

Every single beer in the Beer Camp Across America collaboration 12-pack is unique. The brewers developed these recipes together specifically this occasion. They have never been seen before, and they will never be brewed again. The beer will be distributed across the nation using Sierra Nevada’s network of beer distributors. This is a big deal. Beer lovers across the country will get to taste beer from brewers at places like 3 Floyds, New Glarus, and Russian River. Some beer enthusiasts will trade beer from these renowned breweries, but most won’t. This is might be the only chance for many to try beer from many of these brewers, and they are all in one convenient package. These beers are all “one and done” as they say. So, get them while you can. beer camp

The off-sale 12-packs are scattered here and there around town, but your best chance at enjoyment is hitting up one of the various tapping events around the Twin Cities area. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America

Featured, Home Brewing, Newsfeed

Eating Spent Grain: Granola

Spent Grain Granola

Spent grain is healthy and full of protein and fiber. Granola is healthy and full of protein and fiber. Combine the two and you have a tasty and deceivingly healthy protein-packed snack to balance your bacon and beer.

Spent Grain Granola
Spent Grain Granola

This recipe is on the sweeter side, but filled with savory nuts, and fiber from the spent grain, so it’s okay! It’s great to just munch on with a beer, but also nice as cereal with milk, or with fruit and yogurt.

The nuts are specified as chopped just to distribute them and let the flavors work together, but you can also leave some of them whole for more bite.

Ingredients:
2 oz hazelnuts, chopped
2 oz almonds, chopped
2 oz walnuts, chopped
2 oz pecans, chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut(optional)
4 cups old fashioned  rolled oats
1 cup spent grain, dried
1 cup honey
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground clove
1 cup raisins or other dried fruits(optional)

Directions:
Roughly chop the nuts and combine with the oats and dried spent grain. Mix together and set aside.
In a small sauce pot, combine the honey, brown sugar, spices, vanilla, and butter. Let the mixture dissolve and then simmer on med-low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
Using caution (HOT!) quickly stir the liquid into the dry ingredients and spread out in a baking pan in a layer 1-2 inches deep.
Place the mixture into a 350 degree oven and stir(gently) every 5-7 minutes until evenly golden brown and dry. 25-35 minutes.
Lastly, add any raisins or dried fruits right out of the oven, give it a final stir, and leave it alone until cool.

Note: For big chunks of crunchy granola pieces, it’s all in the handling. When stirring the granola, try to just swap the corners with the middle and the outside with the inside and leave it at that. The more you agitate it the more fine the texture will end up. This is especially true towards the end of the baking time, and even more so once it begins to cool. So, when it comes out of the oven, just leave it alone!

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Lake Monster Brewing to open Saint Paul brewery and taproom in 2015

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Lake Monster Brewing has announced a partnership with real estate developer First & First to open a new microbrewery and taproom at the Vandalia Tower complex located at 550 Vandalia Street in Saint Paul. Construction will begin soon and Lake Monster plans to begin production at the new brewery early next year and to open the taproom next summer.

Lake Monster Brewing has been producing beer at Sand Creek Brewing in Black River Falls, Wisconsin under the supervision of Lake Monster Brewmaster Matt Lange. Their two flagship beers – Empty Rowboat IPA and Calhoun Claw Pilsner are available across the Twin Cities.

Lake Montser Brewing IPA“We’ve been very happy with the quality of beers and the growth of our brand under our current brewing arrangement, but the plan has always been to build our own brewery in the Twin Cities,” said Lake Monster Brewing Founder and President Matt Zanetti. “We are very excited to be partnering with First & First on this project creating a home for Lake Monster in Saint Paul.”

“Brewing is continuing to boom in Saint Paul and I congratulate Lake Monster on joining this diverse and growing industry in our city,” said Mayor Chris Coleman. “I look forward to celebrating with Lake Monster when they open next year.”

In addition to increasing Lake Monster’s production capacity and opening their own taproom, the new brewery will provide the opportunity to expand into brewing many other styles of beer.

Lake Monster Brewing Logo“The new brewery will give us a chance to experiment and try out a whole bunch of new styles and recipes, many of which will only be available in the taproom,” said Lake Monster Brewmaster Matt Lange. “As a brewer, this is where I get to have some fun.”

The Lake Monster Brewery in the Vandalia Tower Complex will sit near I-94 and University Avenue, one block south of the Green Line. Lake Monster will join several breweries and taprooms to make the Green Line the most delicious section of mass transit east of the Mississippi river.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Minnesota Republican Gubernatorial Candidates on Sunday liquor sales

Most of the Minnesota Republican candidates for Governor took part in a debate last week. The debate was moderated by Up & Em hosts Jack Tomczak and Ben Kruse, with help from Rachel Stassen-Berger & Aaron Rupar. Missing from the debate was GOP candidate Marty Siefert.

The debate covered a wide range of topics. We took the liberty of condensing the audio to beer / liquor related questions. You can find the full audio here.

Kurt Zellers said he would sign a bill legalizing Sunday sales, but he also defended his votes against repeal in the past. All the candidates taking part were requested to answer via twitter which #Mnbeer they would buy on Sunday. Jeff Johnson made it point to say he supports a repeal bill, the rest gets a bit comical…

What do you think of the their answers? Let us know in the comments or via social media.

Beer Consumers in Minnesota

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