What to look for in Duluth

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015.

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  1. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm a Seattle area BA, headed to Duluth on Monday for a week around Thanksgiving, visiting family.

    Do any Duluth area BAs have tips about what I should be looking for? I've been to Duluth once before, so I've visited Bent Paddle, Fitger's, Canal Park, 7 West, and Mount Royal.

    I'm curious now about (1) any special seasonal beers that are available, either on tap or bottled in stores, and (2) any other places that you would recommend I try.

    How about any suggestions for New Glarus or other beers that I could get by heading over to Superior?

    Thanks much for any ideas.

    If you've got any requests for Seattle area beers and can reply quickly, I might be able to bring you something.
     
    #1 ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015
  2. SudsSavant

    SudsSavant Savant (1,038) Jan 9, 2007 Minnesota
    Trader

    Cross the bridge, pizza and beer at Thirsty Pagan. If you can't do both then just do the beer.
     
    #2 SudsSavant, Nov 21, 2015
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  3. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Bent Paddle for sure and head 20-25 miles or so north to Castle Danger in 2 Harbors well worth the drive
     
    #3 gatornation, Nov 21, 2015
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  4. runfoodrun

    runfoodrun Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2008 Minnesota

    Keyport in Superior has all kinds of great beer that is only WI...plus they fill glowers:

    http://keyportliquors.com/growler-station

    They even has some Alpine on the growler station not long ago.

    You'll find New Glarus here, along with Smuttynose and several others not in WI. But even more so, you can find Alpine, TG and others that MN does get, but don't hang around long. Worth a stop.

    Thirsty Pagan is also worth a stop for food and beer.
     
    #4 runfoodrun, Nov 21, 2015
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  5. runfoodrun

    runfoodrun Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2008 Minnesota

    As gatornation mentioned, Castle Danger is definitely worth it.
     
    #5 runfoodrun, Nov 21, 2015
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  6. Dizmal

    Dizmal Crusader (437) Oct 28, 2009 Minnesota

    Fitgers for a highland beef cheeseburger and a number of good beers. It's right there in Duluth. Also Castle Danger up in Two Harbors, it's worth the short trip. Fun spot! Wife and I went there on our honeymoon and made the trip back again this year. The scenic highway doesn't suck.. Haven't been to Bent Paddle but I need to. The wife and I love Fitgers so it's hard to visit unfamiliars. That and I can buy most Bent Paddle at a liquor store. Not so with Fitgers.
     
    #6 Dizmal, Nov 21, 2015
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  7. HammsMeASAP

    HammsMeASAP Pundit (931) Jun 14, 2012 Minnesota

    Also recommend Thirsty Pagan for pizza (Derailed). And their beer is great IMO.
     
    #7 HammsMeASAP, Nov 21, 2015
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  8. mnbearsfan

    mnbearsfan Initiate (0) Dec 25, 2009 Minnesota
    Trader

    #8 mnbearsfan, Nov 21, 2015
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  9. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks, folks, for all the suggested places to go. Keep the suggestions coming.

    And if you have any specific favorite beers to recommend, toss those in too. Is there anything from Surly around right now that's not part of their year round lineup?
     
    #9 ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015
  10. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Abrasive is being canned now.
     
    #10 gatornation, Nov 21, 2015
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  11. tgates

    tgates Pundit (970) Aug 3, 2014 Minnesota
    Trader

    #11 tgates, Nov 21, 2015
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  12. Josholson666

    Josholson666 Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2015 Minnesota

    You could probably still find some Surly Nein around. It's this years anniversary beer, it's pretty good and they lowered the price point on it a bit, which was appreciated. If you're real lucky, there may be some indeed rum king still available up there. Also bourbon county on black friday, which I'm sure you're aware of.
     
    #12 Josholson666, Nov 21, 2015
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  13. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks, that's a very helpful thread.

    We've got a couple of similar threads in the Northwest forum, for visiting Seattle, and visiting Portland. Someone updates them and reposts them about every three months, so they stay fresh and towards the top of the forum list of messages.

    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-seattle-fall-2015-update.340979/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-portland-fall-2015-update.340997/

    There are also threads for visiting Bend and Tillamook, both in Oregon. The Tillamook thread is pretty funny, with lots of jokes about cows, cheese curds, and clam guns. Tillamook is out on the Oregon coast, and is mostly known for its cheese making, but has a great brewery that makes sours and simiilar beers, so there's a lot of interest in it. http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-tillamook-fall-2015-update.341549/
     
    #13 ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015
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  14. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    There could be a slim chance finding Darkness in smaller towns around Duluth. My buddy was passing through a small town (Cloquet) last week and they still had most of the case they got.
     
    #14 nograz, Nov 21, 2015
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  15. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for the suggestion of Nein and Rum King -- I'll look for those. I looked up the beers, to see what they were about, and was happy to see reviews by feloniousmonk, one of my favorite all time beer reviewers. That guy can really write, and I agree with his taste in beers.
     
    #15 ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015
  16. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I do have a MN one started but I have not gotten to the Duluth area yet.

    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-minnesota.349982/

    I still have a lot of work to put towards it and then revise and compile into a coherent entry.
     
    #16 morimech, Nov 21, 2015
  17. KarlHungus

    KarlHungus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,315) Feb 19, 2005 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    If you have any time to spend in Minneapolis stop by Acadia Cafe. Ask for Al (Feloniousmonk), and let him know in person while talking good beer.

    As for Duluth, I would second driving up to Two Harbors and checking out Castle Danger then making a short detour to check out Borealis Fermentary in Knife River. They are putting out some fantastic and unique Belgian style beers.
     
    #17 KarlHungus, Nov 21, 2015
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  18. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My daughter lived in Minneapolis for five years before moving to Duluth, so I did get to visit many of the Twin Cities beer spots (including the amazing Town Hall barrel aged extravaganza:grinning:). I got to meet Al when he was at the Ethiopian restaurant. I had heard he had moved, but didn't know where. I probably won't get there this trip, but might in the future. Thanks for the information.
     
    #18 ExVashonGujy, Nov 21, 2015
  19. cl3

    cl3 Savant (1,244) Aug 16, 2013 Wisconsin
    Trader

    I was just in Superior/Duluth yesterday. Passed on everything at Mt. Royal. Keyport had some good stuff though. Mixed 4 packs of the New Holland Dragons Milk variants and bombers of Mischevious ($4.99!), Summit Old Blaggard, a bunch of the Mikkeller wilds & stouts. Perrenial Pineapple Kumquat Berliner. And probably some new growler fills in the near future, as most of them were blown. Surly-wise they had abrasive and wet for seasonals.
     
    #19 cl3, Nov 22, 2015
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  20. onenut

    onenut Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2007 Minnesota

    All of the above, and grab a bottle from Blacklist.
     
    #20 onenut, Nov 22, 2015
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