Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2019)

Linked is another article on the partial government shutdown delaying brewery openings. The article discusses Minn'Ohana in Mankato, again, but also Arbeiter in Minneapolis. Arbeiter is targeting a July 2019 opening. If it makes Arbeiter's owners feel better, my "Double It" rule says they weren't going to get their warm weather opening regardless (in fairness, Arbeiter seems to be more realistic than most breweries about its time schedule).

In other news, Finnegans (of Minneapolis and Shakopee) has partnered with the upcoming Fiddlehead Coffee Co. cafe in Rochester "to exclusively serve its small batch brews as its only satellite taproom." That's not an actual taproom by Minnesota standards, and, though it sounds a little like a tied house, my guess is that it just means that Finnegans has agreed to distribute Fiddlehead some kegs of otherwise actual-taproom-only beer. A quick editorial aside: Finnegans quietly has been doing some surprisingly good work in its taproom and is well worth a visit. I consider it easily one of the best openings of 2018.

Also, I stopped by Uncommon Loon Brewing Company in Chisago City (opened December 2018) and am happy to report that it's off to a good start. Based on my one flight, I'd call it above average for a new brewery and a roughly average Minnesota brewery already. It's better than it needs to be in an area with minimal competition (northeastern Twin Cities exurbs).

 

Agree on Uncommon.

 

"Portage Brewing Company will be back bigger and better than ever!"

 

Per the Yoerg facebook:
WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY A BREWPUB!!!

January 23rd, 2019 - we just passed inspection with the ATB and now have our brewing license!

Our brewer Mike Spores is getting his orders ready tonight to turn in - and he's got one more "test" to do with the equipment, and should start brewing early next week. So if all goes well, we will have 'Yoerg Hefeweizen' and Yoerg Roggenbier' ready to keg in three weeks.

 

Now that the government shutdown appears to be over (hopefully for good) does anybody with more knowledge than I have any insight on what the approval backlog at the TTB may be looking like?

 

F-Town update: Rice County (which includes Faribault) is suing Travis Temke, the owner of the permanently closed F-Town Brewing Co., after Temke allegedly again failed to make payment on a loan from the county. The county previously had agreed to accept 38 cents on the dollar for the outstanding balance of its loan to F-Town if Temke paid by December 31st, but it claims Temke missed that deadline. The county is looking to seize and sell off F-Town's brewing equipment to cover the balance and other costs. F-Town also defaulted on loans from several other lenders, including the city of Faribault.

Temke currently is developing an as-yet-unnamed brewery in St. Paul that also is receiving public funding.

The article is behind a paywall.

 

I can’t believe St.Paul is offering public funding. That’s sure to end well.

 

And that's just the loan from the HRA. He has an agreement with the city that's also due on Jan 31st, which has yet to be paid.

 

St. Paul is managed by a bunch of SJWs who know nothing about running a business and have little respect for the taxpayer's money.

 

According to their web site the grand opening for Under Pressure Brewing in Golden Valley is Feb 2, though it may be a Feb 1-3 event. They have been in soft opening.

 

I thought I heard Yoerg's brewer is leaving already. Are they going to actually brew any beer onsite?

 

Social Justice Warriors

 

Incorrect.

 

yes they will brew beer onsite. I have not heard anything about the brewer leaving?? unsure about it.

 

far left wing liberals

 

When does far left wing liberals brewing co. open?? I need to set up my camp chair

 

LOL We already have plenty of them (far left wing liberals brewing co) in the twin cities. All they need to do is change there company name. It is what it is. I am a Democrat but.......I am getting more and more unhappy with the party. What ever happen to the center in this country?

 

Looks like Drastic Measures has inspectors coming in on Wednesday! If all goes well they hope to be brewing soon

Per their Facebook page

 

Perhaps this is old news that escaped my attention, but the Growler reports that original Hoops Brewing Company (Duluth) head brewer Melissa Rainville has departed for a job at Summit and strongly implies that Dave Hoops has taken over head brewing duties at his eponymous brewery. I'll tentatively take this as good news for people like me who were fans of Hoops' work at Fitger's but disappointed by the early output from Hoops Brewing Company.