MN Brewers Guild Winterfest 2017

I should also add brewing practices to the differences.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I had missed that on the website so had planned to aim towards the main plaza, but that helps with direction!

 

Anyone have two tickets?

 

Surprised no one has posted in here after the fest...

Looks like Fair State won best brewery and U-Pick won best beer (I had a hard time telling U-Pick apart from Rasp. Roselle to be honest...). Not sure where Forager's Magnus came in, but it was easily the most memorable beer of the night for me. Great selection of breweries/beers and the food was good as well. My only beef was that the venue wasn't really suited for that kind of event. The space was so narrow in most areas that lines for beer extended out into the walking space, which was also doubling as congregating space. My friend and I were on a constant quest for flat surfaces to stand at. The openness of Union Depot seemed a way better fit for the event. Anyone know why they changed venues? Or does it change every year?

Lots of fun overall though. And I even remember leaving! (which isn't always the case at these festivals)

What did you folks who also attended think?

 

WInterfest moved out of the Union Depot because the MN Craft Brewers Guild wanted to go back to one night only and have space for all MN breweries. I agree it got crowded in many areas but seeing the field behind the serving stations was nice. Maybe Winterfest will need to look into a bigger space like the Convention Center.

Still it was a great festival as always. I agree that Forager's Magnus was great and I also loved their porter Pudding Goggles

 

Definitely too many people for the size of the space. Not enough water/dump stations. Most of the other beer festivals that we have been to ran 4 hours...3 seemed a little short.

 

It was a bit tight but I didn't wait more than a minute or two for a beer all night - and I only saw a few beers than ran out. Agreed on lack of water/dumping stations...had to ask pourers to do it for me a few times. Some highlights for me included Knob Creek Dark Infusion, Rosie's, Port BA Imperial PB Porter, Magnus, Hop Lab White, Single Barrel Reserve Foolish and Electrik Empress. Blissful Ignorance was a nice surprise as well. The Eisbock from Northbound was pretty nuts. I had a great time.