A small celebration, with a few (thousand) breweries
This next week, from Monday May 16th through Sunday, May 22nd, is American Craft Beer Week! This year marks the tenth anniversary of this celebration, with over 4,200 craft brewers in all 50 states participating. We hope that you will take time to get out, visit a new brewery or taproom, or an old favorite, and join in the celebration.
Ask the Brewer
How did the modern craft brewing movement get started?
Picture yourself in the late 1970s, standing in the beer aisle, staring at your choices. Lager, lager, light lager, and lager (“…Check it out! They’ve got both kinds of beer, Bud AND Bud Light…”). At this point, the US beer industry was down to just 44 brewing companies, beer imports were at an all time low, and industry experts were predicting that soon there would be only 5 brewing companies left operating in the United States.
Now, picture the advent of the home brewer. The individual who wanted to be able to taste the beers of other countries, and other times. These early home brewers, and the microbreweries and brewpubs they started, were some of the first craft beer pioneers of the modern movement, fighting their way through the 1980s, when industry experts flat out refused to recognize their existence as anything serious. These early brewers emerged with their passion and vision, serving their local communities a taste of full-flavored beer and old world traditions; all with a uniquely American character.
The expansion of the craft beer movement has truly been an explosion, with 8 craft brewers in 1980, 537 in 1994, over 2,800 in 2013, and now over 4,200 in 2016. At this point, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a local brewery or brewpub. There has never been a better time or place to be a craft beer lover than right now in America.
Taproom Tidings
Apparently, once was not enough. 😉 This Friday, May 13th brings the return of our Raspberry Infused Pyro. This tart favorite has had so many requests since we last served it that we decided to bring it back yet again.
Also on Friday, May 13th we are pleased to welcome back Hot Indian Food (Yes, we are down with the brown!). On Saturday, May 14th Signature on Wheels will be joining us with their unique take on American classics.
- Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Parched Lime Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA, and Raspberry Pyro starting on Friday
- Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growler fills (no growler or grumbler fills after 8pm on Thursdays)
- Coconut Turtle Cupcake from Groundswell includes a coconut chocolate fudge cake with pecans, whipped cream, honey caramel sauce, and chocolate ganache
Final Thoughts
ATTENTION DARK BEER LOVERS!!
Next Friday, May 20th at the taproom, we will be tapping our Dry Stout that we have been waiting so patiently for (well, somewhat patiently) as part of American Craft Beer Week.
Following that, on Saturday, May 21st, we will pouring beer at the City Pages Beer Fest to close out American Craft Beer Week and kick off summer in the Twin Cities. One of longest running events of its kind in the Midwest (24 years and counting!), this outdoor festival has become a yearly tradition for beer lovers, food lovers, and music lovers alike. We hope to see you there!
As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.
Cheers!