Damn that would have been great.
@dxmnkd316 yes, 6 years
I’ve worked in the industry for almost 20 years and got very lucky to find a great home.
Surly Darkness is on the shelves and they finally did something smart: they are back to the bombers with the artwork. Haven't tried it...yet. Darkness in cans was dumb.
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.
@dxmnkd316 yes, 6 years
I’ve worked in the industry for almost 20 years and got very lucky to find a great home.
Too bad I didn’t know this sooner. Or I would have stopped in sometime. Stopped drinking during Covid cause I don’t allow alcohol in the house. And even stopped being a causal drinking in the last year. It’s a good thing for me, but I do miss that casual beer here and there.
Dad's b-day today, so I cracked my 2009 Four Roses Mariage bottle, 54.8%. Tastes way stronger than that, more like a 70%er. Good, but hoo-boy.
Tried Junkyard's Macho Mandalf (yes, the name says it all, hybrid logo/theme) hazy IPA. Quite smooth.
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.
Invictus Brewing in Blaine closing.
https://twitter.com/InvictusBrewCo/status/1991206092970557673
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
On a similar topic, I heard about this last weekend. Rogue Ales & Spirits shuttered last week:
https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/legendary-craft-brewery-shocks-fans-with-sudden-closure/91267203
Invictus Brewing in Blaine closing.
https://twitter.com/InvictusBrewCo/status/1991206092970557673
Everyone in the industry saw that coming. Wasn't a fan of their beer, so meh, but such is the business.
And Rogue basically gave NO warning, they just up and closed.
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.
Exactly with Rogue. Like literally the night before or that morning, they were calling employees to tell them not to bother showing up.
Many think that more breweries will close. The Golden Age is over, Gen Z doesn't really drink, and THC seltzers (for now) keep gaining ground. Plus, oversaturation.
The ones that survive have been around forever and are big enough to survive ebbs/flows (eg for MN: Schells, Summit). For the smaller ones, they have established themselves as a neighborhood hangout. Pretty much the locals go there, and they are loyal to that brewery.
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 ones that will survive also have a good menu. And not some food truck outside. A good menu that not only draws in the beer drinkers, but the non as well.
The ones that will survive also have a good menu. And not some food truck outside. A good menu that not only draws in the beer drinkers, but the non as well.
That only applies to brewpubs. Breweries cannot serve food, but can distribute. The opposite is true for brewpubs. Different licensing/rules/etc. I know for a fact that LTD wants to become a brewpub, but finding a bigger space is really crazy right now. They did put in a bid for the space that Bear Cave currently has, but the EPA cleanup (former Firestone) was too much $$$.
Also, due to the brewpub/brewery rule, that's why Humble Forager was opened in Wisconsin. It's basically Forager Jr, but they are only a brewery, and therefore can distribute.
Surly, you ask? Something to do with different company entities, another location for production, something like that. Knowing about Omar, he found some sort of loophole or loopholes, and had the money to utilize that path.
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.
There's a lot that will survive without their own menu. That's a serious plus, but far from required to survive.
I do find it funny that Junkyard has 2 locations. One in Moorhead, and one in Fargo. 
(Can't own more than one "brewery" in MN).
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.
You can get your own brewery start up on k bid for opening bid of $10,000
You can get your own brewery start up on k bid for opening bid of $10,000
The equipment is easy. The location/cost of property is the wrench in the works.
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.
You can get your own brewery start up on k bid for opening bid of $10,000
The equipment is easy. The location/cost of property is the wrench in the works.
This true if you know how to brew well and interestingly. Maybe some label art that isn’t lame as well.
Yes, the product has to be good, and if you are a the cliched homebrewer looking to move up, obvious first step. That jump is HUGE though. Huge. For the brewing side, can't do those 1:1 ratios. 😉
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.
You can get your own brewery start up on k bid for opening bid of $10,000
The equipment is easy. The location/cost of property is the wrench in the works.
This true if you know how to brew well and interestingly. Maybe some label art that isn’t lame as well.
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.
Yes, the product has to be good, and if you are a the cliched homebrewer looking to move up, obvious first step. That jump is HUGE though. Huge. For the brewing side, can't do those 1:1 ratios. 😉
Homebrewing is like dipping your toe into professional brewing. The guys who try to jump from one to the other get a rude awakening. You gotta go work for someone else first to see if you’ve got it.
Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
Wait... rocket fuel cider? Was that from two years ago?Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
Wait... rocket fuel cider? Was that from two years ago?Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
No, 2009. We had it out for a tailgate between a Gopher football game and hockey game on the same day. Might still have some in a keg somewhere…
Just making sure, having brought two kegs of cider to the fall event in question two years agoWait... rocket fuel cider? Was that from two years ago?Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
No, 2009. We had it out for a tailgate between a Gopher football game and hockey game on the same day. Might still have some in a keg somewhere…
Just making sure, having brought two kegs of cider to the fall event in question two years agoWait... rocket fuel cider? Was that from two years ago?Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
No, 2009. We had it out for a tailgate between a Gopher football game and hockey game on the same day. Might still have some in a keg somewhere…
Nothing might ever top the WCHA final five keg tent where we had a keg for all 12 teams, and came up with corresponding brew names.
What’s a Seawolf? sour ale (or something like that).
Michigan tech man soup I think was another one.
😆
Started the weekend off with around 75 gallons of homebrew. As I recall, we were in the 25-30 gallon range total by the end of the day Saturday (spread across several partial kegs, with three or four completely tapped out).Just making sure, having brought two kegs of cider to the fall event in question two years agoWait... rocket fuel cider? Was that from two years ago?Slip it in cider. 😂
A few of you here do have some brewing to do for a certain fall event next year….🤔
Can’t be any worse than the rocket fuel cider from a few years back, eh @armadillo? 😉
No, 2009. We had it out for a tailgate between a Gopher football game and hockey game on the same day. Might still have some in a keg somewhere…
Nothing might ever top the WCHA final five keg tent where we had a keg for all 12 teams, and came up with corresponding brew names.
What’s a Seawolf? sour ale (or something like that).
Michigan tech man soup I think was another one.😆
Viking needs to make his theoretical cornschlager, some 9% concoction lager (might have been pilsner). He was toying around with the ratios back in the Zoom days.
Had Keeper's Heart in for a tasting today, and their pre-made Old Fashioned is rather outstanding.
Also have the full lineup of Revolution's Deep Wood Series (stout, coffee stout, scotch ale, barleywine, all BA).
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.
@cowgirl 2013 F5. It was Man Soup.
Pre-pre setup.
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.
Let's see what I can upload:
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.
Skunk in a popcorn box stout. 😂
Good times. Thanks for finding all those!
Skunk in a popcorn box stout. 😂
Good times. Thanks for finding all those!
I had 'em in my Facebook account, didn't know the upload rules on this site.
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.
Back Channel ending their Sub Rosa membership club (very exclusive, I think it was around 90 members overall, all guaranteed beers were heavy hitting stouts). Working on a new membership club.
Brewery Memberships are either disappearing or radically changing, to either more basic structures or cheaper versions. For example, Sub Rosa was $250/year, 8-10 bottles (IIRC) plus some discounts, free beer all night at the membership party. LTD's membership is just constant discounts and bigger pours for the same price, membership party is free pizza and one free beer, and only costs $50/year.
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 you ever spent time in #5, wouldn’t surprise you.
I haven’t been there, and it doesn’t surprise me…
Annual Goose Island Bourbon County Stout release tomorrow. Pretty much the only macro (owned) beer I still drink. Not as sought after as it used to be, but still a good beer. It's the one thing that InBev didn't mess around with when they bought Goose Island.
And my brother cracked his Blanton's Gold today for T-Day. Man, that is smoooooooth.
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.
Annual Goose Island Bourbon County Stout release tomorrow. Pretty much the only macro (owned) beer I still drink. Not as sought after as it used to be, but still a good beer. It's the one thing that InBev didn't mess around with when they bought Goose Island.
And my brother cracked his Blanton's Gold today for T-Day. Man, that is smoooooooth.
Bought and tried the Goose Islands:
The base is the base. Solid beer.
Cherries Jubilee: too cough syrup-y for my tastes.
Chocolate Praline: delicious, and even better as it warms up.
Also, my liquor store put out some big hitters in the whiskey dept: Midwinter Night's Dram, Shenk's, Yellowstone 10, Red Spot, Blue Spot, and a bottle I've been pining for since the day I was hired (and yes, bought it): Yamazaki 18YO.
Finally, for you Bloody fans, Northern Taphouse's super special December version:
Lobster tail
Jumbo bang bang shrimp
Parmesan basil cod strips
Bacon wrapped jumbo scallops Coconut shrimp Lobster roll
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.
Yuengling coming to WI early 2026
Fair St closing their taproom, but will still be doing contract production.
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.
Another domino falls. 🙁
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.
That is a bummer. I will miss their Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. Lots of similar ones out there, I know, but that one I liked best. I haven't had it in quite some time as the liquor stores around me in Chanhassen, not far from Waconia, didn't carry anything from Waconia Brewing and said they couldn't get just that one without a bigger order that wouldn't sell.
I am sure the beer industry has been hit hard... I know I am drinking much less than I used to and making different choices in the beers I do buy.
I cannot remember the last time I bought a 4-pack of 16 oz cans. Now that most of the 4 packs are a minimum $16 purchase with most getting close to $20 or more after taxes and fees (looking at Blackstack, Back Channel, Barrel Theory, Drekker, etc.), I just can't do $5+ beers at home without feeling guilty about it. I have shifted to the 12 packs that are $20 to $24; Surly has one, Summit, Castle Danger, and also Stone, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, etc. $2 beers I can do.
The places that have no/limited distribution have to be feeling it the worst. Most of my beer drinking friends aren't going to breweries or brew pubs at near the pace they were a few years ago. For a variety of reasons. One of the main ones being that the beers went from $6-$8 to $8-$10+, and now there are credit card fees, staff benefit fees, additional taxes, etc. Just going with my wife to get 2 beers and a tub of pretzels at Back Channel is almost $30 now. Two $8/$9 beers, a $4 tub of pretzels, taxes/fees and tip... it just doesn't take much to get there any more. I know ingredient costs have gone up along with labor costs. I think the increased labor costs on the hospitality industry are going to continue to be felt, and I am guessing there are more closures coming. Just a guess.
This is becoming too common....Hoops Brewing in Duluth is closing next month.
Mother f#%ker!!!! 
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
It's unfortunately inevitable. Opening up what amounts to a small local restaurant, only with more limited appeal and greater regulatory rules, plus needing special equipment to operate, is never an easy task to make work financially. With as many craft breweries and such that opened up, I'm somewhat surprised there haven't been more that have had to close as is.
Even just a restaurant is a tricky proposition. Going with a brewery makes it even more difficult.
I know, if a restaurant isn't a franchise it will have a hard time making it a decade in the business. A niche market like a brewery has even a tougher time. Hoops really makes me sad, it was such a neat place with great beer and friendly employees. It was my go to place when visiting Duluth and I liked it so much more than Canal Park Brewing. I can't imagine the overhead that Hoops had to deal with in it's location.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
Anyone been to any of these?
Anyone been to any of these?
I’ve been to The mn, Florida, ND, Missouri and Hawaii selections.
I’ve been to:
Alaska (Anchorage brewing)
Florida (Angry chair) (I was angry that day for reasons, so it was fitting…)
Illinois (Revolution brewing)
Indiana (3 Floyds)
Iowa (Toppling Goliath)
Michigan (Bells)
Minnesota (Forager)
North Dakota (Drekker)
Of those my top three would probably be Drekker, Forager, and Angry Chair. But I’m a fruit sour kinda gal so ymmv.
I’ve been to:
Alaska (Anchorage brewing)
Florida (Angry chair) (I was angry that day for reasons, so it was fitting…)
Illinois (Revolution brewing)
Indiana (3 Floyds)
Iowa (Toppling Goliath)
Michigan (Bells)
Minnesota (Forager)
North Dakota (Drekker)
Of those my top three would probably be Drekker, Forager, and Angry Chair. But I’m a fruit sour kinda gal so ymmv.
I have had all of the above, although have not BEEN there.
And all of the above are very 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.
That is a bummer. I will miss their Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. Lots of similar ones out there, I know, but that one I liked best.
I haven’t had a drink in nearly a year. Though I agree… They had the best Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. They drank plenty of them, when it was on the mini tour at OC or even available at OC.