Oberon Release Update

In addition to the Stub and Herb's release, here are a few more from MNBeer:

Bell’s Oberon release parties… Monday, March 30 8-11pm, Bryant Lake Bowl. Best fake tan will some prizes. Tuesday, March 31st, Bulldog Lowertown in St. Paul 7-10 pm.

Not sure if these are "official" release parties, with reps in attendance, swag, etc., but should be fun times anyhow.

Oberon Release MSP

According a post on beeradvocate the Oberon release will be April 1 at Stub and Herb's.

Unfortunately, it's the same night as Lost, so I'll try to make it out, but it won't be as raucous of an evening as the last two years.

Magic Hat #9 Release

From MNBeer:

Head on over to The Happy Gnome on Thursday, March 12th at 5pm. Magic Hat Brewing Company will be releasing #9 to the MN market. Enjoy!

I am so there.

Reminder: Festival of Hops

Head on over to the Muddy Pig! Starting tonight (Thursday) and going through Sunday, they will be putting on the first annual Festival of Hops.

We will have 40+ hopped up beers (pale ales and up) on tap throughout the weekend and we hope to rotate through 55 or more different beers in four days.

I'll be there briefly tomorrow and again on Saturday night. Huzzah!

The Groveland Tap Grab Bag Experience

I finally did it; I went to an event I posted about. I know! And I have to say, it was quite successful. Not only were the beers $2, they were ridiculous. Here's the rundown that our group of five was served:

• Steamworks Steam Engine Lager (12oz can)
  
• Cold Spring Olde Johnnie Ale (16oz can)
  
• Lake Superior Mesabi Red (12oz bottle)
  
• Wittekerke (11.2oz bottle)
  
• Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss (1oz bottle)
  
• Bud Light Lime (12oz bottle)
• Miller High Life (40oz bottle!)

Did you read that last one? A 40. Of Miller High Life. Hi-larious.

Taste-wise, the list ranged from so-so to kind of not so great. I really wish that had thrown in a few fancy-pants bottles to be had throughout the evening...but I can't complain that I paid $2 for any of those. And, it was fun not knowing what was coming our way.

Next Groveland Tap event to attend: root beer/oatmeal stout floats on the 23rd.

Muddy Pig Presents Festival of the Hops + Maredsous

Big ol' update from The Muddy Pig via MNBeer:

Beer Lovers,

We have a few events planned at The Muddy Pig:

Abbey of Maredsous Event. Wednesday, December 17 @ 5:00. We will have all three of their ales on tap; the Blonde 6, Dubbel 8 and Triple 10. Buy a Maredsous and keep the glass (limit one glass per customer).

Flat Earth Event. Monday, December 29 @ 5:00. We will be tapping up kegs of Flat Earth’s Black Helicopter coffee stout and their Winter Warlock English barley wine. Jeff Williamson, Mr. Flat Earth himself, will be here to answer all your questions about St. Paul’s newest brewery.

The 1st Annual Festival of Hops. Thursday, January 22 through Sunday, January 25. Our Belgian Beer Festival in September was so successful we decided to organize another beer event, this one devoted to hop forward beers. We will have 40+ hopped up beers (pale ales and up) on tap throughout the weekend and we hope to rotate through 55 or more different beers in four days.

Yes, this really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Mark

I love Maredsous. I mean, I really love Maredsous. The dubbel? My all-time favorite dubbel. And their tripel? Different, dark, and delicious. Seems unlikely that I'll be able to swing over there at the start time, but I'll see what I can do later in the evening. And they can run out of the glassware. Seriously...I have way too much glassware as it is.

Festival of the Hops also sounds great. If it's half as good as the Belgian Beer Festival they threw earlier this year, it will be amazing. I plan on being there for at least one of the days.

I love the Pig. So much love...

Groveland Tap Presents the 12 Nights of Christmas

Great news about The Groveland Tap from MNBeer:

I just got a note from Craig over at Groveland Tap. He wanted me to share that they’ll be redoing their bar today and will be adding 13 more taps! Thirteen! He also mentioned that Miller Lite will be removed around Jan. 1 for something better.

Also, on Friday the 12th they will be start The 12 Nights of Christmas:

Dec 12: Grab Bag night - till we run out! $2 bottles. They choose, you drink.
Dec 13: Delerium Night. Tis the season to see pink elephants. $6 Taps
Dec 14: St. Pauli Girl Christmas $5 Bomber bottles
Dec 15: Schell’s 150th Anniversary taps $3
Dec 16: Christmas from Across the Border, Wisconsin that is, Rush River $3 taps
Dec 17: Summit Flight Night $6
Dec 18: Meet me in Kansas, Boulevard night $3 taps.
Dec 19: Drop Top Night $3 taps
Dec 20: Double wide night $10 6-pack PBR tall boys
Dec 21: Get your Christmas Goose. Goose Island Matilda $5.
Dec 22: It’s Firkin Christmas! Casks from Summit, Surly, Rush River, Flat Earth and Schell’s
Dec 23: Christmas Parade? Have a float Root Beer or Oatmeal Stout you choose. $4

So many good things from this post. The first, of course, being the 13 new taps, upping their total taps to 27. They already have a fantastic selection of Summit, Surly, and other local favorites. It'll be interesting to see which beers they choose to fill in the rest.

And, wow, these events are fun. Anyone interested in heading over there for a burger and some oatmeal stout floats on the 23rd? Or, really, any of these things.

Mulled Beer at The Blue Nile

Straight from Al of The Blue Nile on the BeerAdvocate forums:

Yup.
Gonna Do it.
Have a keg of Lake Superior's Old Man Winter Warmer I've been saving for a year.
Gonna tap on Saturday the 20th of December, the day before the Winter Solstice...first day of winter, officially...and I'm gonna Wassail it. Gonna mull it, gonna spice it. At least cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, and possibly some fruit.
This will be available on tap as well, but I'm just gonna take some back to the stove, toss on the goodies, and mull it up.
These will be available in hot drink glasses, for a reasonable price.

One of my bartenders cussed me out for messing up a great beer, but you will have a choice that day, messd-up or non-messed up. But, I guarantee a good mess!

cheers,
al

P.S. It'll start right at 4pm, when we open, so hopefully Town Hall pint club members and Sterb's BA gathering goers an make it after or before.

I, personally, have never had a mulled beer, nor have I had Old Man Winter Warmer...but, I have had mulled wine, and it was tasty. Seems fun regardless.

Winterfest News

The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is putting on their 8th anniversary Winterfest on Friday, February 6, 2009 at the Minnesota History Center. Here's the info:

Date: Friday, February 6, 2009
Time: 7-10pm
Where: Minnesota History Center / 345 W. Kellog Blvd. - St. Paul, MN
Ticket Price: $45 - purchase tickets online via www.uptowntix.com or by calling (651) 209-6799

Tickets go on sale Monday, December 15th promptly at 12pm (noon). We only have one price level and we are only selling 700 tickets (limit of 6 per purchaser). This has been a sell out event for the last couple of years so purchase early! Thank you for your support and please plan ahead for transportation.

Breweries: Current members of the MN Craft Brewers Guild - TBA -
More information on what the brewers are bringing will be displayed closer to the festival

Catering: Bon Appetit at the MN History Center
Live Music: The Jaztronauts

Leinenkugel's 140th Celebration

On Saturday, June 16 from 9am to 4pm, Leinenkugel's will be celebrating their 140th year anniversary. There are plenty of events scheduled throughout the day: brewery tours, scavenger hunts, music, dance contests, cooking contests, brats, giveaways, etc.

Being from Wisconsin, I'm a fairly loyal Leine fan. I love the Red, Sunset Wheat, Oktoberfest, and I've got a few of their newest, the Summer Shandy, in my fridge. It has potential to be a great time, but I don't think I'm going to make it. Apparently, they've been doing an annual celebration since 2003; so, there's always next year.

Go here for more information