I saw a post that Karl is leaving West O for a job he couldn't refuse. Any ideas where he is going? This guy brought GABF gold to the brewery in the small NW Iowa brewery.
I asked at a beer fest recently. All I got was a head shake and "I don't know anything" from one person and a smile from the other.
http://www.sctimes.com/story/money/2015/10/07/third-street-brewhouse-shakes-up-staff-beers/73522274/ "Karl Schmitz returns to Cold Spring as the new head brewer after a stint at an Iowa brewery where he recently earned his second Great American Beer Festival gold medal."
WOW! Major employee turnover and changes at Third Street Brewing. Head brewer gone and replaced by Karl and many of their year round beers being removed and placing all their chips on a lager to sell nationally. I was kind of excited reading the article seeing as I haven't purchased a Third Street Beer for several years until I read that they are aiming at crossover craft beer drinkers with lagers and Minnesota Gold being their new flagship beer. It will be interesting to see what happens with all these changes.
I am not a fan of the Minnesota Gold. It was just bland and boring to me. I do like their Jacked Up Pumpkin. I hope they do keep it, or even improve it. Also liked Bitter Neighbor. Honey Do, was also not good in my opinion.
I think for a regular ol American Lager Minnesota Gold is quite good....on the sweeter/honeyed side....I bet it will be popular with a big marketing push....great looking cans too...I'll be buying it in my rotation of American Lagers..
