Is Minnesota brewing a craft beer bubble? An interesting article on craft brewing in MN. As well written as the article is, and with a nice perspective on the whole "bubble bla bla bla..." thing, the author is either lazy or sloppy on the history of craft beer in MN. Two quotes: and I'm far from a MN beer historian, but even I know that Summit was preceded by Schell's and that Surly was preceded by Town Hall and Fitgers.
Answer to "Is there a MN craft beer bubble"? For brewpubs the answer is: no. For shelf space the answer is: getting close.
If you live in a neighborhood with a brewery/brew pub, there is no bubble...you will most likely visit if the beer is average. I may visit once, but it better be good to go back. As for shelf space, yep @maximum12 that will dry up. Ask any of you liquor store friends. Many local breweries don't sell much at the store
Bubble shouldn't even be discussed yet We still don't have a brewery the likes of Treehouse or Trillium here.....still waiting. Disgruntled is a hopeful newcomer though. IPAs are sexy. Could care less about the sought after regional stouts. Give me refreshing IPA or DIPA anytime.
Surly 2nd craft brewery in MN? What about Lake Superior, Fitgers or Town Hall? Correct me if my timeline is off.
Or James Page, Glacial Lakes, Ambleside? All "breweries" vs "brewpubs" (throw Lake Superior in that list as well, a brewery)
We weren't a craft brewery then. Wait, we were, until about 2006. Then we weren't. Until 2014 or so when we were again. Yeah, I get confused too.
Fitgers and Town Hall aren't breweries, they don't package beer to sell in liquor stores. They are brewpubs, very different according to the law.
I remember working for a beer distributor in 1988 that distributed Summit and James Page. I remember trying them and thinking "what the fuck is this shit"...my how times changed. Not breweries but brewpubs but too easily forgotten....Green Mill (St. Paul) where Indeed's brewer learned from one of the best. Sherlocks Home.....Water Tower....I think all were before Town Hall even...
I remember when you were a "Traditional Regional" brewery, yet you "...continued to crank out new craft brews..." according to the (pre-Brewers Association) Institute for Brewing Studies' Brewers Resource Directory 1996-97.
Have you had that much Trillium or Treehouse? Just spent 10 days visiting Treehouse, Trillium, Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, Fiddlehead, Lost Nation, Foley Brothers, etc... For my tastebuds Treehouse was the winner. However I would put Todd and Abrasive right up there and over the Trillium offerings I've had. I just think Todd is over hoppy beers and likes to explore other styles. However the hoppy styles are incredibly well executed.
"It was twenty years ago today . . . " and just last year for that matter. The distribution scene is getting smaller. Gobble-gobble.
