Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2020)

@ZAP Utepils does have a new Helles out now, along with prior seasonals Czech dark Lager (Loonar Eclipse) and Ewald the Dark (Dunkelweizen).

 

Hey man, did you used to live in CO? I recognize the avi. I've made my way to MN too

 

I did!! We moved back to MN like 4yrs ago

 

Indeed and Fair State for their Vienna Lagers. Too bad Fair State does not list their Kazbek Keller as being available. I would still ask for it.

 

Ideale from Wild Mind is available in crowlers (I got mine at France 44), and is advertised as an Italian-style Pilsner (which is a dry hopped style of German Pilsner). Being aware of crowler aging life, the beer I drank is quite good and very aromatic, crisp, and expressing Noble hops and French bread malts.

 

Would also suggest Venn for very well made beers that offer alternatives to the more trendy styles. They currently offer a pilsner, helles, Scottish Export, kolsch, and smoked black ale in addition to the IPAs, stouts, and sours.

 

To get back to the intent of this thread - Luce Line Brewing in Plymouth opened today. I stopped by and had a couple of beers. There facility is nice and spacious and tables were properly distanced. I liked the Foggy Bottom Hazy IPA and the Sault Line Stout.

I have now been to all the breweries in Minnesota that have either a tap room or brew pub.

 

Good that you squeezed that in ahead of Shut Down 2.0.

 

Yes. That was an unfortunate time for them to open. They will have only 3 days for on site service. I assume they will have crowler or growler sales. I wish them luck.

 

I plan on resuming what I was doing during the summer... making a point of buying crowlers directly from some of my very local brewpubs. These small guys, with little to no distribution of packaged beers, are highly dependent on the in-house trade. My small purchases won't keep anyone in business, but hopefully it will help.

 

Website says no crowlers yet. But definitely will head over (local to me) as soon as they do and show some support.

 

By themselves, no... but cumulatively, it can make a difference. Same thing with restaurant takeout. If those of us blessed with stable incomes and no immediate health threats all hunker down and stop spending, it's not good for our communities. Even though some of these places might go under later, we've at least kept some people employed for a while.

 

Wow that is impressive. I've gotten to maybe 75% of them and that has taken some work. Would love to hear your top 10..

 

I was at Luce Line Brewing Wednesday night and was able to 2 crowlers to go. Not sure if they have sold out since then but my guess is that they should have crowlers for sale.

 

I also did only Crowlers from local Breweries during, and just after shutdown 1.0. A couple of the Brewery owners have thanked me for helping support them, when I visited the Tap Rooms after they reopened. I believed that we were going to see quite a few Breweries close after the first shutdown. I'm happy that hasn't been the case yet, but they need local community support to get through shutdown 2.0 and beyond.

 

I agree that if enough people do this, it will help them survive.

However, while I have a stable income, I am in the high risk category, so I am only willing to do curb-side, no contact or at home delivery. This makes it a bit of a PITA, especially for those businesses that have not embraced the online business model.

One local brewpub, while allowing online ordering, has implemented it rather poorly. Unless you are looking during the hours they will accept online orders, you can't even browse their list of beers available. Frustrating.

And, my favorite local liquor store does not support online ordering at all. It is all phone in. The big loss there for me is similar to my issue with the above mentioned brewery: no ability to browse. I have to know what I want and call it in. After a couple of tries at this, I got tired of the "wait, I'll ask our beer guy if we have that...", so I stopped buying from them.

 

Just throwing this out there.

Anyone know what the ABV on Schell's current 'Cave-aged' is?

 

Huh. Website still says no crowlers available. But FB page says "on-line store launches tonight". I just see their membership thing so far. Phone answered by generic voicemail (if you know the extension of the party you are calling...). Sent an FB message, will post any reply.

 

Cave-Aged Barrel-Aged Lager No. 7 is listed at 10.89% ABV on Untappd ?????? not sure if it 's accurate
I am drinking a can of last years Schell's bock right now, still good

 

Update on Luce Line, per an FB response. They were selling crowlers in the taproom, but not on-line. However, their on-line store is now available for purchase. About five beers and some hard seltzers available. Go buy some!
<Caveat - I have no idea how good their beer is, but anyone opening three days before a shutdown deserves the benefit of the doubt>