Best beers currently available in MN

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by opwog, Dec 10, 2012.

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  1. opwog

    opwog Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2008 Minnesota

    I go back and forth to MN fairly often, so I am not looking to find out about the regularly available beers like Furious. My gf is going to Hopkins area tomorrow and she said that if I wrote a short list of bombers, that she would stop into Four Firkins and see what they had.

    So I am wondering about the top seasonal or special release beers and this doesn't have to be limited to MN produced beers; as many midwest breweries are not available out in CA that are distributed through MN.

    Thanks for the help!
     
    #1 opwog, Dec 10, 2012
  2. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    Surly abrasive. End thread.
     
    #2 minnesotaryan, Dec 10, 2012
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  3. Douggo

    Douggo Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2009 Minnesota

    Yup. It's not bombers, but Abrasive is the best out there right now.
     
    #3 Douggo, Dec 10, 2012
  4. MPLSbrewer

    MPLSbrewer Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2010 Minnesota

    besides abrasive, i'd say stuff by olvalde farm or steel toe
     
    #4 MPLSbrewer, Dec 10, 2012
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  5. KarlHungus

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

    I would also add Indeed Day Tripper and Midnight Ryder in cans for Minnesota beers. As for non Minnesota beers we get a bunch of stuff from Michigan that you probably don't get in California. Founders Breakfast Stout is all over the place now. So are all of the Bell's winter stouts (I'd suggest Expedition and Java). We also get Jolly Pumpkin. If you like sours I'd suggest having her pick up a bottle of their Oro De Calabaza (it's one of my favorite beers of all time).
     
    #5 KarlHungus, Dec 11, 2012
  6. Revenant

    Revenant Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2012 Minnesota

    Abrasive, The Auroch's Horn and Indeed and Hop Dish!
     
    #6 Revenant, Dec 11, 2012
  7. tharreld

    tharreld Crusader (407) May 7, 2010 Montana

    Brau brothers. Rye wine and the barrel quad are a couple beers I would try to pick up. Not sure if Firkins has them in stock but worth a look.
     
    #7 tharreld, Dec 11, 2012
  8. djschnabel

    djschnabel Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2010 Minnesota

    Yes, I almost forgot about Hop Dish (but how could I?)

    Another vote for Abrasive, Hop Dish, and in a couple of days, Surly Smoke. I wouldn't have her only stop by FF, as they seem to get hit very quickly. Have her stop in at Liquor Barrel (the Miracle Mile location) which is only 1/2 -1 mile from FF. From there, have her stop by France 44 and a couple of others as they might even have stragglers of Goose Island BCS sitting around, although a MGM might be her best chance at that.
     
    #8 djschnabel, Dec 11, 2012
  9. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't get down there often either and would second the Day Tripper suggestion...hell of a pale ale...

    I purchased the following on sat on my trip down and would highly recommend all three.

    -Abrasive (haven't tried this years version yet but the reviews are glowing)

    -Hop Dish (best MN IPA)

    -Schell Fresh Hop Citra
     
    #9 ZAP, Dec 11, 2012
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  10. Tamarack22

    Tamarack22 Initiate (0) May 19, 2011 Minnesota

    Minnesota receives a lot of stellar imports, not sure if California does. Particularly a few Belgian beers that are common to see here, but tough to find elsewhere in the nation.

    Boom Island Yule is by far the best local seasonal around. Just a great beer all around.

    I feel like a lot of the new Minnesota breweries are much more concerned with marketing rather than the beer itself. So don't get caught in the hype. California has access to much better pales ales and IPAs.
     
    #10 Tamarack22, Dec 11, 2012
  11. opwog

    opwog Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2008 Minnesota

    Is Abrasive a seasonal or once a year release? I have had it numerous times even dating back to some previous name that it used to have (forget what that name was, but I think that it was two words). Maybe I have made so many trips to MN when it was around, that I assumed that it was a year round beer.

    Nobody has mentioned Flat Earth. It has been a while since I had any of their beers, but I remember having a few different beers of theirs years ago that I thought were very good. Do they have any seasonals or limited releases in circulation right now?
     
    #11 opwog, Dec 11, 2012
  12. opwog

    opwog Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2008 Minnesota

    That Rye Wyne sounds right up my alley. Most of the reviews specify 2011 vintage. Do you know if that is what is currently on the shelves?
     
    #12 opwog, Dec 11, 2012
  13. tharreld

    tharreld Crusader (407) May 7, 2010 Montana

    2011
     
    #13 tharreld, Dec 11, 2012
  14. zeledonia

    zeledonia Pooh-Bah (1,899) Nov 23, 2008 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Used to be 16 Grit. It's available for 4 months or so (November to March). That's short enough that we're all eagerly anticipating it come fall.
     
    #14 zeledonia, Dec 11, 2012
  15. gatornation

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

    steel toe size 7 ipa
    Odells
    Boulevard
     
    #15 gatornation, Dec 11, 2012
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  16. zeledonia

    zeledonia Pooh-Bah (1,899) Nov 23, 2008 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Some stores still have the 2011, but the 2012 is out too. Several cases of the 2012 at Zipp's today.
     
    #16 zeledonia, Dec 12, 2012
  17. Rob-P

    Rob-P Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Iowa

    Are hop dish, day tripper, and size 7 hard to find or are they pretty readily available?
     
    #17 Rob-P, Dec 12, 2012
  18. deadbody

    deadbody Initiate (0) May 10, 2010 Minnesota
    Trader

    It is tough to find but not impossible. I have an extra bottle that I might be willing to part with.
     
    #18 deadbody, Dec 12, 2012
  19. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    pretty easy as long as you go to a store that carries indeed and steel toe.
     
    #19 minnesotaryan, Dec 12, 2012
  20. Revenant

    Revenant Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2012 Minnesota

    Also I just learned that Big Top in Eagen is one of the latest stores to carry Indeed. Drink up my friends.
     
    #20 Revenant, Dec 12, 2012
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