I know a few around here still remember when Todd was brewing for Rock Bottom before his Surly fame. I just thought of it because I pulled out a Rock Bottom growler with his signature on it. My memory is not so good but I remember hitting Rock Bottom somewhat frequently when in town back then and really thinking his pale ale back then (simcoe or amarillo I think) was the best I ever had.... Any other memories of his old Rock Bottom brews and did some get resurrected at Surly....just curious if anyone remembers or knows...
It was called Itasca Pale Ale...looks like they still make it...not sure if it is the same or not..here is my review from back in the day.. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1550/20587/?ba=ZAP
When the Gordon Biersch folks bought Rock Bottom they scraped the standard beers at Mpls location, and probably the rest of their locations. Alas, Itasca is no more. A shame as that was a hell of a beer. Of course, RB Mpls still makes fine beer, though I see they have another new brewer which makes him at least number four since Todd's departure. Yesterday via Facebook I saw they were tapping a rum barrel aged brown ale for Talk Like a Pirate Day. Didn't try it, but it sounded interesting.
Todd Haug? Isn't he the guy that used to work at Summit? Todd made some exceptional beer at Rock Bottom. Itasca, which was already mentioned was fantastic, as were the saisons. The one I miss most is Intoxicator Doppelbock. I used to buy two growlers of this as soon as it was released - one for the weekend and one saved for the week between Christmas and New Years.
I see their last brewer Pio is over at Blue Plates soon to be brewpub in the North Loop, Loose Wiles Free House. I liked RBMPLS beer while he brewed here, should be some killer stuff coming outta Loose Wiles in a bit. Plus, since it's Blue Plate, they already have the tied houses to distribute their beer to which makes their free house moniker a bit of an oxymoron.
Yes Intoxicator...loved that beer and growlers were pretty reasonably priced for the time too if I remember right..wonder if he'd ever bring that one to Surly
