Minnesota beers to bring back?

Surly - Abrasive
Indeed - Day Tripper
Indeed - Midnight Ryder
Schells - Frambose du nord
Steel toe - Size 7

 

You should for sure grab some Abrasive and really any of the Surly stuff. You might be able to find a bottle of Surly Smoke and Lift Bridge Commander.

 

Here's a list of all the breweries we have in Minnesota that aren't in NY (via seekabrew.com)

Alaskan
Anchorage
Ass Kisser
August Schell
Badger Hill [Limited]
Bank
Barley John's [Draft only]
Bells
Bent Paddle
Big Sky
Blacklist
Boom Island
Boulevard
Brainerd Lakes [Limited]
Brash
Brau Brothers
Breckenridge
Capital
Castle Danger
Central Waters
Choc
Dave's Brew Farm [Draft only]
Deschutes
Epic (Utah)
Excelsior
Fish (Leavenworth)
Fitger's Brewhouse [Draft only]
Flat Earth
Fulton [Limited]
Furthermore
Game on Brewing
Granite City
Great River
Harriet [Draft only]
Hinterland
Hook & Ladder
Howe Sound
Hub City
Indeed
Knee Deep [Limited]
Laughing Dog
Leech Lake
Left Coast Brewery
Lift Bridge
Lucid
Lucky Bucket
Mankato
Millstream
Minhas
Minneapolis Town Hall [Draft only]
New Belgium
Odell
Olvalde
Pour Decisions [Draft only]
Purity
RJ Rockers
Rubicon
Rush River
Salt Lake (Squatters)
Sand Creek (Lilja's)
Schirf (Wasatch)
Staples Mill
Steel Toe [Limited]
Summit
Surly
Tallgrass
Third Street
Tommyknocker
Tyranena
Vine Park

 

He is going to want to bring some Abrasive back so you can see if the hype is warranted. Indeed Brewing also have a lot of can offerings that are really good. Star of the North and Frambois du Nord are exceptional. He should also grab a bottle of Olvalde as well. Anything he brews is good.

 

It really depends on what styles you're into. But if I had to name one brewer that I think is the most unique and extraordinary I would agree with the olvalde sentiment.

 

If he wants New Glarus, he'll have to hit WI. WI really isn't that bad of a drive from the airport. I guess it comes down to how bad you want it. As far as Ovalde, I would have to agree they put out good stuff. I would grab a bottle of Ovalde Arochs Horn (spelled differently I'm sure). If you're fortunate you may be able to find a bottle of the Aroch's Horn Aged on Rhubarb. Maybe others don't like it as well since it seems to still be on the shelves but the rhubarb is a nice addition in my opinion. Ovalde is a one-man operation. Pretty sure he still delivers all the beer himself too.

 

don't sleep on Big Wood as well, Bad Axe (thought expensive) is a good one to try.

 

For local stuff I would recommend trying to find a bomber of the Indeed Haywire if possible. I am also a fan of Brau Brothers 100 Yard Dash each year, which just came out.

I don't know which west coast breweries make it to NYc, but a couple of the ones that are just now making it here that are worth grabbing if you don't have access at home include Green Flash (any), Ballast Point (Sclupin, Victory at Sea), or AleSmith (Speedway stout)

And yes, Abrasive lives up to the hype

 

Surly
Abrasive
Coffee Bender
Furious

Indeed
Day Tripper
Haywire
Midnight Ryder

Steel Toe
Size 7

Lift Bridge
Commander

If you really want some New Glarus you can drive to Casanova liquor in Hudson, WI. It is about 20 minutes from St. Paul and 30 from Minneapolis. If you want to message me with the specific styles you like I can be more specific.

 

All great suggestions so far and I'd add Fulton's Worthy Adversary to the list. Just came out and is a great stout.

 

Casanova is definitely the better of the two liquor stores that I go to in Hudson, WI but don't underestimate Chicone's. I always hit both and usually find Chicone's has some nice stuff that may have already sold out at Casanova's. The Nova, attached to Casanova's, usually has a few Toppling Goliath beers on tap that you can get growlers of too.

 

I'd just bring back as much Abrasive as possible and nothing else

 

Yah it is a great beer and trades nicely for other great off the shelves. If you happen into a store that carries Surly but they don't seem to have abrasive ask the staff. This year with not as much coming out I have found my four packs by asking as some places are hiding it in back for those who really want it.

 

Every time I do a blind IPA taster Lift Bridge Hopdish is either first or right there...I like it better than Size 7

 

I love Commander but was scared of them after the Boscotti. Are there other beers fairly good? I just thought the second was a total drain pour. Just not my thing I guess.

 

If your friend needs any help finding things I would be willing to help him. He can pick me up and I'll find him whatever goods I can find that you want. Local help is always nice.

 

Thanks a ton for this thread by the way. Helping me put together a game plan when I am in Minneapolis next week. Driving to Hudson might be on my to-do list now...

Question on BCBS variants - what has made it to shelves up there?

And of course message me if you're wanting stuff from Texas. Have access to Jester King, Prairie, FW and more.

 

The only variants that I know made it here were Coffee and Barleywine. Others have mentioned that their stores got or were getting Backyard, but I don't know what happened with those. The Coffee and Barleywine are pretty much gone from shelves, unless someone is willing to reveal a hole-in-the-wall that still has it. You shouldn't have trouble trying to trade for some, though. Cheers!

 

Sleeping on Big Wood would be quite uncomfortable.
He's right. Bad Axe is pretty good stuff. Their others, IMO, are just ok.