The rooms do look nice, and yes, Drekker-themed, and they offer to stock your fridge with Drekker beer at retail prices (4pks). Nice touch, but if I want beer in the fridge, I'll just stop at a liquor store, I don't mind. 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
For all of you beer aficionados.
https://twitter.com/StarTribune/status/1811128331380679035
Here's a list of all the Minnesota winners:
- Spilled Grain Brewhouse: gold in the old/strong ale category (Bearded Man); silver for root beer; bronze for white wine barrel age (Batch 1000).
- Lupulin: silver for strong bock (Doppelbock); silver for barrel-aged german lager (Barrel-Aged Doppelbock); bronze for breakfast stout (Church Basement Pancake Breakfast Stout).
- Haggard Barrel: gold for sour smoothie (Glonky).
- Forgotten Star: gold for Belgian strong blonde ale (Starstryker).
- Venn: silver among peanut/peanut butter beers (Choconut); silver for German-style heller bock/Maibock (Maibock).
- Hackamore: silver for oatmeal stout (Potbelly); bronze for breakfast stout (Saturday Morning Cartoons).
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Go Annandale!
Haggard Barrel might want to work on their marketing. I can see that building from my office and had no idea they are there.
The only issue I have is that it's the best who entered the competition. LTD in Hopkins have won a couple awards, but they don't really enter anything on any regular basis. Of course, the secondary question is how relevant is the competition? For example, you win at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver? Booyah. That's the gold standard.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The only issue I have is that it's the best who entered the competition. LTD in Hopkins have won a couple awards, but they don't really enter anything on any regular basis. Of course, the secondary question is how relevant is the competition? For example, you win at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver? Booyah. That's the gold standard.
well in that case I could be an Olympic champion then. I just never bothered to enter.
😂
Honestly, find the right competition, you can be a gold medalist. 😉The only issue I have is that it's the best who entered the competition. LTD in Hopkins have won a couple awards, but they don't really enter anything on any regular basis. Of course, the secondary question is how relevant is the competition? For example, you win at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver? Booyah. That's the gold standard.
well in that case I could be an Olympic champion then. I just never bothered to enter.
😂
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I like Lupulin, but they seemingly enter nearly every competition so they’ve really racked up awards. That being said it is cool to see them winning for things that aren’t IPAs.
In Minnesota we'll even discount winning a beer award. 🤣
@the-rube I'm just glad they're brewing dopplebocks. I haven't seen Bell's Consecrator much the last few years, but Lupulin does make a good one.
I also wish there were more Rye IPA options out there. Modist's Wastelan, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Two Brothers Cane and Ebel were some of my favs.
Brewhalla (Drekker hotel/brewery) is friggin' awesome. The rooms are themed after the different Drekker beers, there's a full marketplace in the brewery, monstrous taproom area(s), etc.
Weird thing: when you check in, you get a 4 digit code, that is your personal code, to use the elevator/get in your room/etc. There are no keys, just the code.
We also stopped by the new Junkyard taproom in West Fargo, and that also is rather large, and very nice.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Trip to Da U.P. this past weekend+. My travel partner wanted to take a slight detour on the way, I didn't know what it was, didn't want to know, surprise me. Central Waters Brewing! (she had never been). Flights were 6 5oz pours of anything on tap. They recently had their 26th Anniv, so THAT stout was on tap, along with Black Gold stout (both amazing). What a planned 45 min stay ended up double the time 😀 . Bought some bottles, some swag. Great destination brewery for a road trip. To say the tap list is extensive is a massive understatement.
Also, on the way out of Houghton, stopped at the big grocery store on the edge of town, and happened to find Bell's Black Note at an incredible price ($25/4pk). Around here, if stores had it (and I admit, the prices may have changed) it was a limit of a bottle at about $8-$10.
Finally, did find some New Holland's Dragon's Milk Oatmeal Cookie Stout variant, which I have not seen in MN. That right there is one of the best variants I've had over the years. I mean, I had to crack ONE bottle, for science, right?
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
Looks like Surly to me. Can't really tell, though.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Oktoberfests will be out soon. Schells is the gold standard.
I would readily agree with that statement. Schells is already on shelves but I find that I don't really start to enjoy Oktoberfest until the temperatures start to feel like fall.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
THIS IS NOT POLITICAL THIS IS JUST BECAUSE HE'S OUR GOVERNOR.
Got his own beer, from (get this, a WISCONSIN brewery) Minocqua Brewing:
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Oktoberfests will be out soon. Schells is the gold standard.
Hands down the best Ofest from a American based brewery. The only debate... who's #2?
Keep your stick on the ice...
THIS IS NOT POLITICAL THIS IS JUST BECAUSE HE'S OUR GOVERNOR.
Got his own beer, from (get this, a WISCONSIN brewery) Minocqua Brewing:
Doesn't even look like him...
Keep your stick on the ice...
Hands down the best Ofest from a American based brewery. The only debate... who's #2?
Not to needle you or anything but IMO Surly Oktoberfest is very good and #2 on my list of O-fest beers.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
Hands down the best Ofest from a American based brewery. The only debate... who's #2?
Not to needle you or anything but IMO Surly Oktoberfest is very good and #2 on my list of O-fest beers.
Unless the recipe has changed, Surly Oktoberfest is the worst I have ever had. I don't even consider it an Oktoberfest beer.
Oktoberfests will be out soon. Schells is the gold standard.
Hands down the best Ofest from a American based brewery. The only debate... who's #2?
Millstream (IA) is the best Oktoberfest. Viking tried it once, and said he'd put it up against the real German Oktoberfests. The stuff is insanely good.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Receptional from Utepils is a solid entrant.
Oktoberfests will be out soon. Schells is the gold standard.
Hands down the best Ofest from a American based brewery. The only debate... who's #2?
Millstream (IA) is the best Oktoberfest. Viking tried it once, and said he'd put it up against the real German Oktoberfests. The stuff is insanely good.
I'll agree that Millstream is insanely good. And I originally going to put in my comment...
Hands down the best Ofest from an American based brewery followed by Millstream being #2. The only debate... who's #3?
Keep your stick on the ice...
Bias aside, I'll take Millstream over Schells. Bias included, then Schells, because MN, duh. I really don't recall any other US-based Oktoberfest beer (Marzen or Festbier) that blew me away. Many are very good, but not the level we are talking about.
Also, the store I work at happened to have Dragon's Milk Orange Chocolate single 12oz bottle, and a 2017 Bell's Black Note single 12oz bottle. Not in the system, which means "open beer sale" and we choose the price. I was buying them and ringing them up, which meant I chose the price. 😀
I was fair. I found 2023 Black Note in July on my MI trip, $25/4pk (which is CHEAP compared to what it would sell for here due to basically gouging, it was $9-10/bottle limit one), and DM variants' cost I am familiar with (about $17). So $7/$6 respectively, as one gets a little more when one breaks a 4pk. Still, haven't seen those bottles in ages (obvious). Worth it. Can't wait to try them.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Unless the recipe has changed, Surly Oktoberfest is the worst I have ever had. I don't even consider it an Oktoberfest beer.
I will change my opinion on this and trust your pallet on O-fests which is much more worldly than mine. I'll change my statement to read that Surly Oktoberfest is the only Surly beer that I enjoy drinking without placing it in a category of style of beer. I will preface that by saying I haven't tried too many Surly beers because they lean to the IPA side which is a style that doesn't appeal to my beer pallet.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
Picked up a bottle of Woodford Reserve Master's Collection upon my return from Seoul in duty free. Not an all-time favorite, but it's a comforting standard.
Which Master's Collection? Most common is the Batch Strength, but there's a bunch of possibilitiesPicked up a bottle of Woodford Reserve Master's Collection upon my return from Seoul in duty free. Not an all-time favorite, but it's a comforting standard.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
State Fair:
Lift Bridge Key Lime Pie: It was the salted rim deal, tasted ok, but tired of the salted rim gimmick.
Mankato Brewing Cinnamon Limoncello: reallllly liked this. Light, easy drinking, kinda sorta wants to be a shandy of some variation, but it's still a beer.
Millstream Oktoberfest: I was honestly looking at a cider, at Giggle's, until I saw this on tap. Oh, hell yes. I want THAT.
For the most part, none of the brews really stood out. I either can get them outside of the Fair at some point, or they just didn't sound that good (or were seltzers, which, blech).
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
OK hivemind, I need some recommendations:
I will be flying into Phoenix and driving to Tucson. Any recommendations for breweries where I can pick up some things to go?
I love unique beers, sours, and malty beers (red ales, Oktoberfest, etc.), and really like Drekker, Junkyard, WeldWerks, Wiley Roots, Lupulin, Woven Water, etc.
Thanks in advance!
I dunno if Prescott AZ is in the mix here, but Superstition Meadery is gold.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
If not too far for you (Tempe), a few we enjoyed were O.H.S.O, Four Peaks, Wren brewing is closer to the airport, Huss is good too. I know I took stuff home from all but Wren.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
For those local...stop by LTD Brewing in Hopkins tomorrow for their annual block party known as Oktoberfest! Games, live music (in the evening, apparently a band that polka-izes current hits), etc. I'll be pouring beer inside from 2-10.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Kilt Lifter is a good Scottish Ale made by Four Peaks Brewing in Tempe.OK hivemind, I need some recommendations:
I will be flying into Phoenix and driving to Tucson. Any recommendations for breweries where I can pick up some things to go?
I love unique beers, sours, and malty beers (red ales, Oktoberfest, etc.), and really like Drekker, Junkyard, WeldWerks, Wiley Roots, Lupulin, Woven Water, etc.
Thanks in advance!
Not necessarily between PHX and Tucson, but I liked Fate Brewing. I've only been to the South Scottsdale location but they have a Tempe location.
Dove Mountain Brewing in Marana has some good options and good food too.
I haven't been to any other places in Tucson, but would be interested to hear about any if you do go as my parents now live down there and will be visiting often.
Surly Darkness and variants should hit stores by the end of the month, Darkness Day was last Saturday.
As for non-beer, came across an over-proof rum at the store today while stocking shelves. Plantation, and it's 138 proof. FOR A FRIGGIN' RUM. About $33, so my co-worker and I each bought a bottle, because curiosity. Ended up cracking one to sample, and it's delicious madness.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I refuse to buy darkness unless it's in a bomber.
I wish they still had bombers, just for the artwork. Another bad decision by Omar.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
We were on the island of Grenada and visited an off the beaten track rum spot. They pretty much made rum like it was the 1700s. Water wheel crushed the cane, a tiny train carried crushed cane to the boilers. Except for the fact they’d replaced bamboo pipes with PVC, it was identical. The “bottling” area was 2 women sitting in lawn chairs with Coleman spigot coolers, filling bottles, capping and hand labeling. They made 3 versions, one of which was over 150 proof. Hubby wanted a bottle of that. Woman said she couldn’t sell it to him because he couldn’t take it on the plane…it was basically a Molotov cocktail. 😳. Then she said, well I can sell it to you, I’ll just put the other label on it so they don’t know!As for non-beer, came across an over-proof rum at the store today while stocking shelves. Plantation, and it's 138 proof. FOR A FRIGGIN' RUM. About $33, so my co-worker and I each bought a bottle, because curiosity. Ended up cracking one to sample, and it's delicious madness.
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
I have really cut back on the amount of beer I drink compared to what I used to. For a number of reasons, but cost being part of it.
Maybe this is a question for @the-rube ... I don't want to make this a "remember when coca-cola was a nickel?" but what has happened to beer pricing? I know there were some steady bumps during the 2020-2022/23 period but in the last year, it seems that the price jumps are even higher.
I have The Vintage, Top Ten, and Total Wine near me. Total wine, the one near me, has turned most of their beer selection to room temp, and a big chunk of the cooler space is now seltzers and THC beverages. Surly Wet, for instance, was all room temp when it was recently released. But they have maintained their prices. Many beers, it doesn't matter, but a beer like Surly Wet does not taste the same after it has sat warm for awhile.
The Vintage has increased most of the craft beer pricing, such that it is hard to find a 4 pack of 16oz cans for less than $16. Local 755 used to be $11.99 a 4 pack. Then went up to 12.99 and 13.99 and stayed that way for awhile. It is now 15.99 a 4-pack. Surly Axe man is $17.99 (or more), used to be a $13.99 4 pack not that long ago. Anything from Barrel Theory, Back Channel, the Blackstack one-offs, etc. are all over $20 a 4-pack. Toppling Goliath King Sue is $24.99 for a 4 pack, and Psuedo-Sue is $16.99 for a 4 pack. King sue was $20 when it first came out in 4 packs and Psuedo was usually $12. Even Steel Toe size 7, I used to be able to get for $9.99 for a 6 pack, and it is now $14 for a 6 pack. Waconia PB Porter used to be a $9.99 4 pack, that is now $14 too. Additionally they change a 5% "service charge", which bugs me on top of charging significantly more than Total Wine. I walk back to the cooler, get my beer, and check out. What service has been provided?
Top Ten Has similar pricing, but if you become a "Member" then you get a couple bucks off. I am not really interested in becoming a Member and found it extremely frustrating bringing my purchases to the counter, seeing different prices, and being told the price on the tag was the "member price" and the non-member price was in much smaller print in the corner of the tag. I know why they want it, but I don't feel like giving out my email and phone number to a liquor store. (Old man yells at cloud)
Is this across the board? Or do I need to drive somewhere else to get some cold, good beer. I know many posters on here aren't IPA people, but I am just listing what I drink and like. Maybe IPAs are seeing price changes more than most... I am just having a hard time drinking a $5+ can of beer at home. I know, I know... first world problems. So I either pay less at total wine and get warm beer, or pay a significant chunk more for cold beer.
Like DX, I am also not going to buy Darkness at $20 a can. Hard pass.
Lot to digest here.
Darkness, price per ounce, has not really changed. 16 oz can vs 25 oz bottle, still about $1/oz.
Top Ten Membership is free. They just want your information/buying habits, and they have pretty much dropped off of a wide choice of craft beer.
Any store that puts IPAs on the shelf, if it's more than a week old, avoid (check canning dates). The store I work at, no IPA will touch a shelf. It's all cooler. However, almost no stout will hit a cooler, it's all shelf.
As far as pricing, there was a canning shortage for a bit, which gave an excuse for a price hike, but people kept paying, so that became the norm. For craft beer, the higher end stuff, expect $14ish to be the norm, maybe go up to $20ish. That's for your normal stouts or IPAs or Double IPAs. Triple IPAs or Barrel Aged? Add a few bucks.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
@the-rube Thanks.
I guess I just hit my price limit. I used to get nearly every Blackstack one-off at $16-$18. I am not going to pay over $20 for a 4-pack... maybe Heady Topper, Pliny, Treehouse, etc. for a treat, but not these. Same with Barrel Theory and Back Channel, I used to get them occasionally, but now skip them every time at $20 a 4-pack.
Stone has seemingly pulled out of the market. I used to be able to get FML for $14 for a 6-pack of 16oz cans, I haven't seen it in months. The Delicious IPA 6-pack was $10, that's gone too.
People must be paying, because the stuff is flying off the shelves. Local 755 is frequently sold out, even at $16 a 4-pack. Its a good beer, just a mental block for me at the current price.
We always have 755. A LOT of non-midwest "national regionals" like Stone or Ballast Point are out of this market. Markets have become SUPER-local, so basically a small surrounding state area for most of the stores. There is only so much shelf space, and the Covid shut down didn't help due to supply chain.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
We always have 755. A LOT of non-midwest "national regionals" like Stone or Ballast Point are out of this market. Markets have become SUPER-local, so basically a small surrounding state area for most of the stores. There is only so much shelf space, and the Covid shut down didn't help due to supply chain.
Yes, I would argue that if a year round core is out at a store it’s cause the buyer or distributor rep isn’t ordering enough or cutting it too tight.
The brewery I work for had no price increases thru Covid and we have actually dropped the prices on quite a few things. Not because of cost of goods but better efficiencies. Also don’t forget that there’s way more things that affect a brewery’s bottom line than just cost of ingredient increases or sales. In particular, whether it’s healthcare insurance for employees or building insurance, just the price of being in business has gone up.
Misbeehavin mead/cider in Valparaiso.
If you’re into that sort of thing, get here sometime. Not that I’ve been to a lot of meaderies, but still by far best mead I’ve ever had. Cider is phenomenal too.
Journeyman distillery is next, also a place you must visit. Especially for you whisky folk. 😁