Archive: Author: Thom

Moose hunters in Alaska, having a few beers!

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the Signature Cafe for our first ever beer pairing dinner on Sunday, April 3rd!

This unique event will be held at the Cafe starting at 4:30pm and feature five gluten-free courses paired off against five of our delicious gluten-free beers. Reservations are required (612-378-0237 or signaturecafe@learn-2-eat.com), so make sure to call/email ahead as this one will fill up fast.

Ask the Brewer

Why is it illegal to give a moose a beer in Alaska?

As the photo above aptly demonstrates, moose and beer don’t always mix. Even in Minnesota, it can be a bit dicey to give a moose a lovely beverage, as the following story illustrates:

If You Give a Moose a Beer

The moral of this story is that giving a moose a beer could lead to the complete and utter destruction of your home, hence our recommendation to never give a moose a beer, even if it’s a really good one, like Pyro!

Taproom Tidings

The Dry Stout is still thinking things over, so while we wait (patiently) for it to do the right thing, we thought we might share something a little different. You see, Dane wanted to demonstrate to the staff how changing one or two ingredients in a beer can have a dramatic impact on the taste. So, he took our Roasted recipe and brewed it up using both a different yeast and a slightly modified schedule of hops. The resulting beer is delicious, but has notable differences to it’s cousin. So, we thought it might be fun to share the experience with the rest of you. Stop in this weekend and ask for a pint of our Roasted Too Ale.

Food options for this weekend include the farm fresh, made from scratch offerings of Tollefson Pork Farm. Chef T-Bone will be whipping up his culinary delights on both Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA & Roasted Too
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growler fills
• Coconut Turtle Cupcake from Groundswell includes a coconut chocolate fudge cake with pecans, whipped cream, honey caramel sauce, and chocolate ganache

Final Thoughts

As the snow melts and the temperatures warm, spring approaches, as does the advent of the beer festival season.

For those of you who love to travel, we recommend checking out Midwest Microwbrews, which maintains a calendar of beer festivals occurring through out the Midwest.

With a little planning, a person could spend their whole summer going from beer festival to beer festival.

(a feat typically done only by those who work at breweries <grin>)

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Louis Pasteur, Father of Yeast

While yeast is critical ingredient to the brewing process, for centuries brewers didn’t even realize that it existed. What they did know is that sometimes, in the right conditions, their grain soup would make made beer, and in the wrong conditions, it didn’t. It wasn’t until one particular scientist sat down to figure out why, which of course we talk about in this edition of…

Ask the Brewer

Who are some of the people who have been instrumental in the development of the brewing industry as it exists today?

While we could go on and on about people who have influenced modern brewing, one of the more interesting stories revolves around someone who is famous for other reasons. Louis Pasteur, the scientist credited with discovering pasteurization, was also the father of yeast (well, the science of yeast that is).

Prior to Pasteur’s research, it was believed that beer’s fermentation was spontaneous or in some cases even religious (picture your local clergy coming down and blessing your beer). Pasteur began his research by studying the “diseases” of beer, publishing Études sur la bière, (translation – Studies on Beer), which is celebrated for providing compelling evidence that dispelled spontaneous generation and identified the microbial causes of spoilage in beer.

Interestingly enough, his decision to study beer was based less on it being the logical candidate after research on wine and vinegar, but more about anger towards Germany. After France’s loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, Pasteur hoped that increased knowledge about the science of beer would put France in a position to best the Germans at their own game.

Pasteur’s research into the diseases of wine and beer, and his identification of yeast as the microbe that caused fermentation, fed directly into his germ theory of disease. From there, one thing led to another, and Pasteur goes from pasteurization to canning techniques to modern beer bottling/canning to understanding the importance of sterilization.

Truth be told, Pasteur is a historical rockstar to the brewing industry!

Taproom Tidings

Food options at the taproom this weekend include the Signature on Wheels team on Friday the 26th and on Saturday the 27th the crew from Tatanka Trunk.

The Dry Stout we had hoped to tap this weekend is “not quite ready”, and since we have a strict policy to serve no beer before it’s time, we must be patient and wait.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy and Raj-Agni IPA
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growler fills
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

This Friday, February 26th, the Burning Brothers Crew will be at Winterfest here in St. Paul. This celebration of Minnesota Craft Beer is held at the Union Depot, and tickets are still available. Check out the write up in the Pioneer Press about our Cranberry Shandy.

On Saturday, February 27th, Dane and Andrew will be at the Grand MN Taste Together at Grand Casino Hinckley. This is a chance to sample delicious craft-beer and participate in a fund-raiser that supports the Twin Ports Miracle League, an organization that provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of ability.

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

President Obama – Executive Home Brewer

President Obama’s love of beer has been well publicized, as he purchased a home brew kit in 2011. Inspired by home brewers from across the country, he embarked on the same journey of brewing in the kitchen as so many others have! He started with recipes that came from a local brew shop, then consulted with other home brewers who work in the White House to customize the recipes and make them his own. As far as is known, the beer he has brewed is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds. And this brings us to …

Ask the Brewer

Is President Obama the first president to home brew?

Actually, several other commander-in-chiefs have home brewed, but since it’s President’s Day, let’s talk about one founding father in particular. Presidents Day was originally established in 1885 to celebrate the birth of George Washington, our first president.  It was initially celebrated on his actual birthday of February 22nd, but in 1979 the holiday was moved to being the third Monday of February. President Washington was an avid home brewer, as were many people during that time period, but he was also a strong advocate of American made beer, especially Porter. Of course, the Revolutionary war may have had something to do with his “buy American” stance. In 1789, he penned a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette stating “We have already been too long subject to British prejudices. I use no porter or cheese in my family, but such as is made in America; both these articles may now be purchased of an excellent quality.”

So, in honor of our Presidents, past and present, whether you celebrated on the 15th, or will be celebrating on the 22nd, raise your glass in a toast to American made beer! Or you could just celebrate National Battery Day instead….  😉

Taproom Tidings

Food options at the taproom this weekend include the crew from Tatanka on Friday night and the Signature on Wheels team this Saturday.

Brewer’s Choice is our American Lager which will be getting tapped on Friday. Yeah, we know it’s the middle of February, and that this is more of a summer beer, but we have been brewing up all kinds of things on the pilot system and thought we would share some of the love. So come on down, buy a pint before it is gone and let us know what you think.

On deck for next week we are hoping to tap our Dry Stout.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA and American Lager (Limited quantity, so no growler fills on this!)
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growler fills
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

This Saturday, February 20th, Thom and Andrew will be making the trek to the 18th annual Food & Froth Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This celebration of beer, food and music supports the Milwaukee Public Museum and its world-class exhibits, programming and educational opportunities, and community outreach efforts. We hope to see you there!

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Need we say more?!?

While we very much love beer, we are also willing to admit that we love other things too… like food!  In honor of the weekend of love (lust?), we took a look at some foods and flavors that enhance romance, which brings us to our latest edition of…

Ask the Brewer

What can you tell us about romantic foods or beverages?

While there are many foods that are considered aphrodisiacs, one of the most well known is oysters. Digging a little deeper into the science reveals that there is evidence to the oyster’s reputation, as these little power-houses pack a lot of zinc which is proven to help with fertility. They also are high in amino acids which helps in stimulating the production of sex hormones. If you serve those with a side salad of arugula and avocado, and then top it with pine nuts and a dressing rich in olive oil and cayenne pepper, you could be firing up a recipe for…. well… you know!! (WOOT!)

Arugula has been documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century AD, potentially because the minerals and antioxidants found in dark leafy greens are proven to block environmental contaminants that can harm the libido. Avocados have a similar historic reputation, with their lore dating back to the time of the Aztecs. While there is some debate as to their specific “love” effect, their high Vitamin E content helps maintain youthful vigor and energy levels which certainly helps to keep the spark alive! Like oysters, pine nuts are an additional source of zinc, while the fats in olive oils are critical for a healthy heart, blood flow, and hormone production. (Greeks believed olives made men more virile!) Add in some chili pepper to stimulate endorphins (i.e., the brain’s feel good chemicals) as well as to speed up the heart rate and to make you sweat, and you start to mimic how you feel when you’re aroused. (*blush*)

For dessert we suggest watermelon, figs and bananas. (Yes… watermelon…) The lycopene in watermelon can have a Viagra-like effect by relaxing blood vessels and improving circulation, while the antioxidants and potassium in figs provide a nutrient powerhouse. Bananas contain bromelain, an enzyme which triggers testosterone production and the fruit’s potassium and vitamin B help to elevate energy levels.

For a beverage, while wine is the traditional choice for this holiday, we instead recommend beer! (of course) Specifically, we suggest choosing styles with honey, coffee or chocolate. (I wonder where we could find a brewery that serves all of those….) Honey’s association with romance dates back to the 5th century when newlyweds would drink fermented honey beverages (i.e., mead) for the first month, or moon cycle, after they were married, which lead to the use of the term honeymoon. Honey also contains boron, which helps to regulate the levels of sex hormones while also providing an energy boost. Coffee provides a similar surge in energy and can purportedly help put women in the mood. However, if you want to really indulge, we recommend chocolate. While all chocolate is delicious, dark chocolate in particular causes a spike in dopamine levels, which increase feelings of pleasure. (YES!)

Irregardless of what you do this holiday to celebrate those you love, we wish you all an enjoyable weekend with much laughter and fun!

Taproom Tidings

Food options at the taproom this weekend include our first visit from Ernie’s Pub & Grille on Friday and well known favorite R Taco on Saturday. The Brewer’s Choice of the Raspberry Chocolate Strong Ale will be getting tapped on Friday, so come on down and buy a pint before it is gone! On deck for next week’s Brewer’s Choice is the return of our American Lager.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA and Raspberry Chocolate Strong Ale
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growler fills
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

This Saturday, February 13th, we are hosting Pints for CCFA (that’s Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America) here at the BBB Taproom. There will be food, raffle prizes, etc. and we’ll be donating $1 of every pint sold to the foundation. Find more details on their Facebook page and if you can help spread the word, that’d be great. Looking forward to see you there!

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Winter Beer Dabbler – Defy the Cold!

The 7th Annual Beer Dabbler at the Winter Carnival is occurring this Saturday, February 6th, from 3:30 to 7:30PM.  The forecast is for a balmy 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so come on out and join us in thumbing our noses at winter!  Tickets are still available, and, while we are the only gluten-free brewery serving there, they will have 11 other gluten-free options pouring that day!

Ask the Brewer

My spouse loves beer, what can I do with them for Valentine’s Day?

Have you considered Brewers Anonymous?

Seriously though, if you want to do something special, we suggest a beer-lovers Bed and Breakfast trip.  You can book a room with a brew, featuring top-notch beer trails, unique beer lovers’ packages or even on-site microbreweries or pubs.  These B&Bs for beer lovers are perfect for romance and your next beer-tasting adventure!

The Hopkins Ordinary Bed and Breakfast in Sperryville, Virginia, has a nano-brewery tucked into it’s cellar.  Built in 1820 and featured on the National Register of Historic Places, its wrap around porch is the perfect spot for a very locally produced beer and good conversation.

The 1777 Americana Inn, in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, was once the mansion of a well known clock-maker.  The back yard contains the Inn’s brewery and tasting room, where they serve up to 10 beers on tap.

The Inn at the Round Barn Farm located in Waitsfield, Vermont is in the heart of Vermont’s Craft Beer country.  They offer special two night beer tasting excursions, where they do all the driving!

The Black Friar Inn and Pub, in Bar Harbor, Maine, is situated in a historic village within walking distance of the waterfront.  As an added bonus, there is the on-site pub, featuring Gritty McDuffs Microbrews.

The Eagle Inn, located in Santa Barbara, California, is in the middle of an expanding microwbrew community.  There are bicycles available for guest use, and the innkeepers will create personalized brew maps so that you can head out on an independent bike and brew tour.

Our final location, the Woodstock Inn, in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, is a combination inn, brewery and restaurant.  The brewery and taproom are right next door to this historic 19th century home, so tours and tastings are merely steps away.

Taproom Tidings

Food options at the taproom this weekend include our first visit from Soup Coupe on Friday and Tatanka on Saturday. We will be open our normal hours, with growler and grumbler fills all of the days we are open. The Brewer’s Choice is the Black Pepper Porter which will be getting tapped on Friday, so come on down and get a pint before it is gone!

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA and Black Pepper Porter (no growler fills on this).
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growlers (No growler or grumbler fills after 8pm, cuz… you know…)
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

While we know that Valentine’s weekend tends to focus on romance, there is also the opportunity to have a beer (or 2) and help support a good cause. On Saturday, February 13th, we are hosting Pints for CCFA (that’s Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America) here at the BBB Taproom. There will be food, raffle prizes, etc. and we’ll be donating $1 of every pint sold to the foundation. Find more details on their Facebook page and if you can help spread the word, that’d be great.

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

114 Different countries worth of beer, what a way to travel!

While this map shows the best-selling beers in each country (rather than the thousands of micro-brews that are out there), it definitely shows that beer is a worldwide beverage. When you look at the United States, our most popular beer is Bud Light. Yet with number of breweries passing 4,000 this past year, craft beer still accounts for only 15% of the beer sold here in the US. Still, if you are planning to travel, why not try the most popular local beer as well as the micro-brews specific to the region you’re in!

Ask the Brewer

So, if I’m going to Japan, are there any good craft beers there?

The most popular beer in Japan is Hitachino, with over 10 year round varieties and many seasonal offerings.

Like the United States, Japan is also experiencing a resurgence in their craft beer scene. They had an uptick in craft breweries in the 1990’s, with a corresponding drop late in that decade, and now another increase. As of late fall 2014 Japan was home to 215 craft breweries and in Tokyo alone there are now almost 80 brewpubs, up from a handful only a few years ago.

If you want a taste of Japan here in the US, any of the following imports could give you that opportunity.

Niigata Golden Kolsch
Echigo Koshihikari Rice Lager (Gluten Free)
Ishikawa Bottle Conditioned Ale
Kankiku Kujyukuri Ocean Beer Weizen
Orion Premium Draft Beer
Iwate Kura Oyster Stout
Baird Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale
Yo-Ho Tokyo Black Porter
Ryujin Shuzo Ozeno Yukidoke IPA
Kiuchi Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy and Raj-Agni IPA
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growlers (No growler or grumbler fills after 8pm, cuz it’s the law!)
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, it seemed like a good time for us to thrown down and brew up something special. Yeah, we know that beer in and of itself should be special enough, but we wanted to make something that reflects that day.

That being said, we will be releasing our Chocolate Raspberry Strong Ale in the taproom that weekend. Keep your gluten-free sweetie in mind as you make your plans!

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Thom’s National Beer Can Appreciation Day Dance

Believe it or not, there are many holidays out there that celebrate beer, not just ones that people drink a lot of beer at, such as St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco De Mayo (the 5th largest beer consumption holiday in the US!). We plan on touching on some of those holidays each month over the upcoming year, which brings us to our “Ask the Brewer” question for this week.

Ask the Brewer

Are there any beer drinking celebrations in January?

We’re surprised you asked! (no… REALLY!) There are beer drinking celebrations every month of the year, and January is no exception. January 24th is Beer Can Appreciation Day. In January of 1935, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company released the first cans of beer developed for mass consumption. By March of that year, their sales were up 550%! On the 4th of July, 1935, Pabst introduced their canned beer (but not in “Tall Boys”), and things have taken off from there. Take a moment and think about how different things would be if you couldn’t get beer in cans, then crack open a cold one and enjoy the fact that you can.

😉

Taproom Tidings

This weekend we have the return of the Tatanka crew on Friday and R Taco on Saturday. We will be open our regular hours, with growler and grumbler fills all of the days we are open.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy and Raj-Agni IPA.  On Friday we will also be tapping our Dark Lager as part of our Brewer’s Choice offering. Available by the glass or in grumblers.until the keg is gone.(edited 1/22/16)
  
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growlers (No growler or grumbler fills after 8pm, cuz it’s the law!)
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

We are just now starting to get reports from our distributors as to where Roasted is being carried.  If you find some, help us get the word out as to where it is located by Tweeting/Facebooking #IGotRoasted. If you can’t find it, ask for it. Thanks!

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Brewer humor

With the long haul through the rest of January ahead of us, especially for those who live in Northern states, we thought it was time for a dose of brewer humor. Whether groaning, smiling or laughing, we hope you’ll appreciate the effort. Prost!

Ask the Brewer (tries to be funny)

A little boy was lost at a large shopping mall
He approached a uniformed policeman and said, “I’ve lost my dad!”
The cop asked, “What’s he like?”
The little boy replied, “Mainly craft beer.”

***
A bear walks into the taproom, and looks at the menu.  He says “I’d like a…………………..pint of Pyro”, the beertender says “Why the big paws?”

***
Old man Murphy had worked down at the brewery for years, but one day, he just wasn’t paying attention and he tripped on the walkway and fell over into the beer vat and drowned.

The foreman thought it should be his job to inform the widow Murphy of her old man’s death. He showed up at the front door and rang the bell. When she came to the door, he said, “I’m sorry to tell you, but poor old Murphy passed away at work today when he fell into the vat and drowned.”

She wept and covered her face with her apron and after a time, between sobs, she asked, “Tell me, did he suffer?”

“I don’t think so,” said the foreman, “He got out three times to go to the men’s room.”

***
A priest, a clown, and a horse walk into the taproom, the beertender looks at them and says “What is this, a joke?”

Taproom Tidings

This weekend we have the return of the Signature on Wheels crew on Friday and the Tatanka Truck on Saturday. We will be open our regular hours, with growler and grumbler fills all of the days we are open.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey Ale, Cranberry Shandy and Raj-Agni IPA.  We also have tapped our Coffee Stout as part of our Brewer’s Choice offering. Available by the glass or in grumblers.until the keg is gone.(edited 1/15/16)
  
• Thirsty Thursdays $1 off pints and $2 off growlers (No growler or grumbler fills after 8pm, cuz it’s the law!)
• Nutmeg Pear Cupcake from Groundswell, nutmeg cake with fresh pear butter and cream cheese frosting

Final Thoughts

We are just now starting to get reports from our distributors as to where Roasted is being carried.  If you find some, help us get the word out as to where it is located by Tweeting/Facebooking #IGotRoasted. If you can’t find it, ask for it. Thanks!

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook or Twitter.

Cheers!

Taproom Tidings
On Friday we’ll be tapping our Coffee Stout, brewed with a 50/50 mixture of water and cold brewed coffee. This flavorful stout will jump start your evening. It’s a limited batch so we’re only offering pints, half-pints & grumbler fills. Chef T-Bone will be serving up fine food from Tollefson’s Family Pork Farm on Friday & Saturday.

• Tap selection includes Pyro APA, Roasted Coffee Ale, Fused Orange Blossom Honey, Cranberry Shandy, Raj-Agni IPA and Coffee Stout(Limited Batch)

As always, if you have questions, drop us a note via Email, Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

Cheers!