MN Craft Beer Week

This event is owned by an individual, not put on by distributors, breweries or any type of association. That's the difference. How can we put together a week of events, when the beer buyers, the breweries and the distributors don't even know when the week is? Also, I kind of fired all my guns during American Craft Beer Week and anything I have left will be coming out for ABR week in September (which PS is going to be amazing!) Anyways, yeah it sucks that MN craft beer week kind of snuck up on everyone but you know what? There are so many bars (Muddys, Haute Dish, Blue Nile, Mackenzie's, Grumpys, Pracna, Gnome, Groveland Tap, Muddy Pig, etc...) that do events all the time; beer releases, beer dinners, beer fests, beer classes, and generally do a good job to bring you, the beer consumer, a great Craft beer life.

 

I am not challenging any of your last statement, I completely agree with you. The events that run all year are fantastic but there are so many and they are so spread out that some of these events are very poorly attended. The larger ones that get a lot of press have great turnouts(Firkin Fest, Beer Dabbler Events, etc) but why MNCBW is going to go by with so many people missing it is beyond me. I really am just looking at this as an opportunity to gather more of us together and contribute to what should be a great week of events. While it is still going to be a great week of events I bet the turnouts are going to be average at best(and that might be generous).

I apologize to anyone that did contribute to this week of events, I am not hammering anyone, I am just saying I want to help next year.

 

I completely agree with your statement. We do have a great beer culture here in the Twin Cities. My disappointment is with the fact that MN Craft Beer Week fell after American Craft Beer Week this year. I remember a lot of the events that where held during American Craft Beer week this year were part of MN Craft Beer Week last year. Town Hall Tap putting all Minnesota beer on tap comes to mind first, but there were many more. I get the feeling that a lot of bar had planned on putting things on during MN Craft Beer Week, put decided not to because of the lack of marketing for the event.

On a side not, I had lunch at Groveland Tap with the accompaniment of a 2008 BCBS. The beer was amazing, but at $10 a pop, I can see why it is still available.

 

It would just make more sense to organize a Twin Cities craft beer week leading up to ABR. Lots of events already going on during that week. Besides as far as I know nobody 'owns' Twin Cities craft beer week.

 

If you're looking for something on Friday night; Mackenzie is going to do flights and pours of Alaskan Rasp Wheat, Birch Bock, 2011 Barleywine and 2011 Smoked Porter on Friday night at 7pm.

 

Last year was awesome!!!! I bet I dropped around $500 during that week. This year the best I can see is just a single tapping of BCBS 08', then done. Last year there was vintage Darkness, Tea bagged everything from Surly not to mention cherry oak aged , Madame Rose, Verticals of KBS, Black Butte XXI and XXII, Jubele 2010, Dissident, Abyss, Mirror Mirror, Ivan the Terrible, Olde Blue Hair, I can go on and on. This year it seems that no one even tried. I hope next year is better. If you guys need some help let a brother know, I will gladly work the forums for you.

 

Yes, but the flights will probably be $35 for a few three ounces pours...

 

Aren't you thinking of the Happy Gnome?

Seriously, I think the prices at Mackenzies are usually pretty reasonable.

Edit: I originally Muddy Pig, but was thinking Happy Gnome

 

They were once upon a time. After a Twins game last year we stopped in for some special Founders Barrel Aged Wonder Something, & 5 ounce pours turned out to be $9 or something. Shame on us for not asking beforehand, but damn. Not the first time that happened there either, it's gotten more expensive than the Gnome the past couple times we stopped. Haven't been back in over a year.

 

So.....anything special on tap tonight anywhere? Wife & kids are gone so I'm FREEEEEE!

 

08 bourbon county should still be on at groveland I would guess, give a call.

 

at $10 a pour, it should be there for a month.

 

Odell is doing a tap takeover at Old Chicago Roseville. They're tapping some Levity and Easy Street Wheat. Don't see those in Minny. Not big beers by any means, but damn tasty.

 

A buck an ounce is steep, but honestly I wouldn't have guessed there were any kegs of 08 left in the cities. This is a beer I never thought I'd get to have on tap again, and it is hands down my favorite vintage of my favorite beer, so if it sticks around for a month, I'll be back two or three times a week to help take it off their hands! Doesn't hurt that I can walk there from my place...

 

No homebrew comp for the craft beer week either this year. Sucks as I had actually planned ahead and brewed for it. Would have been nice of the organizer to at least say they were letting it drop this year vs leaving everyone guessing.

 

I think the Distributor brought it. Since he was there.

As for best Vintage, in bottles, I think 2010 is the best by far. 2008 on tap was very good, but it was too well carbonated for what I want in a 4 year old beer. I like them to be a tiny bit more flat. Not carbonated like it is a fresh keg.

 

I started MNCBW and own the website. A few of you have emailed me asking for an explanation of what is going on this year. The reason that I have not chimed in earlier is that I really only have excuses to offer you all and I do not believe that excuses are acceptable (ever). That said here we I go with the excuses...

Organizing MNCBW last year took a considerable amount of time and money. I did ask local breweries and distributors to help with the cost of things last year. A few of the local guys thought having a craft beer week was a good idea/opportunity to sell some beer and host some fun events. At least 1 brewery/distributor did not want to work with me at all. They saw my efforts as being an attempt to become an event promoter and to line my pockets with their hard earned cash. That is the reason that last year you saw some breweries celebrating AMCBW and some participating in MNCBW. That is also the reason that I decided to move the date. I believe that MN's beer scene can easily handle 2 different weeks to celebrate beer. I picked this week in particular due to the fact that we have 2 different beer festivals going on locally. Between the 3 different events, I thought that perhaps some out of state breweries would be sending personnel to town to help execute events at participating bars as well as attend the 2 fests.

Last years events were all organized by 2 people. It was a pretty big undertaking and took a considerable amount of time. Since last year, I lost my helper and the fellow that did my design work/website moved away. I spent a lot of time trying to track someone down to help update my website within the restraints of my budget. Thanks to the help of a friend the website was finally updated about 2 weeks ago. I did not believe that I had enough time to line up events, secure prizes, get my advertising lined up and still do the job I am paid to do. When it started to feel like MNCBW was going to be a half assed event this year, I decided to not do it at all. The plan was to skip it and start looking at making a big effort for next year. That said, quite a few retail locations already had plans to do events this week. I was definitely willing to add any events or specials to my website calendar. I did not get any contact from retailers asking to be added to the calendar.

I have had a few different people contact me about taking over MNCBW's planning and execution. I am weighing my options for next year. I may or may not be involved next year. Sorry to disappoint you guys.

 

Thanks John! I was wondering when we'd hear from you.

 

10 oz pours... I guess that isn't too bad. Normally a beer like that goes for about a buck an ounce on tap. I guess it is cool to have it around, but I would rather buy a 12 pack of Summit Summer Ale at a buck a bottle and enjoy that.

12 oz of summit summer ale > 1 oz of 08 bcs

...especially for a minnesota summer

 

Stubs has a cask tomorrow! I know its tough to get over to our neck of the woods right now (LRT Construction is great!) but we will be tapping an Oak Aged Tea Bagged Furious cask at 4pm tomorrow (Friday the 22nd) $3 pints on the cask, Furious, Cynic, Bender, Hell, and Schadenfrude. We are trying our best to celebrate MN Beers on campus!