Mankato Brewery brings locally brewed beer to Mankato

​The new breweries just keep on coming in this exploding Minnesota beer scene. Last week saw the launch of the Minneapolis-based and Belgian-inspired Boom Island Brewing Company at Pig and Fiddle, the Edina beer pub recently opened by the owners of the Muddy Pig. This week brings a slew of release events for the state's newest suds maker, Mankato Brewery.

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For a limited time only!

​Sure, we're a state full of Scandinavians, but that doesn't mean we can't party like the beer-swigging Germans when October rolls around. Which beers should be filling your stein this time of year? Five local breweries offer the Oktoberfest experience for a limited time, and we're ready to weigh in.

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Tip back a few of these and talk brewing laws.

​Whether you're finding yourself fired up about or confused by all the recent discussion of brewing laws, Something's Brewing next week that you might want to check out.

The West Bank Brewing Association, a U of M student group, has assembled speakers from a few of the Twin Cities' best known beer institutions--Omar Ansari, president of Surly Brewing Co., Pete Rifakes, owner of Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, and Jake Keeler, the marketing director of Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply--to discuss the laws, public policies, and business practices of local craft and home brewing.

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R.T. Rybak is slinging guns so Surly can sling suds.

​In his state of the city speech, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak made his strongest endorsement yet of a change to local liquor laws proposed by Surly Brewing Co.

"Beer is a part of our history, beer is a part of our future," he said. "We need to change the laws."

His audience was about 300 people seated in the Hoversten Chapel at Augsberg College, but he was really talking to state legislators.

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Surly Brewing is one step closer to building the hoppiest place on earth.

​Today, the language of a bill that will enable Surly Brewing Co. to build a huge $20 million destination brewery was revealed. The concept now has authors, a bill number and -- possibly -- a chance of becoming law.

"He obviously has a gem of a product that has enormous public appeal," says Senator Linda Scheid (DFL-Brooklyn Park), one of the principle authors. "This could be one of those bills that people are really enchanted by."

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Surly asks for help to get dream brewery approval

​When Surly Brewing Company announced plans for a new $20-million brewery complex last week the Twin Cities beer world exploded with excitement. This wasn't going to be just any brewery; this was going to be a "destination brewery" complete with a restaurant, bar, rooftop beer garden, and an event center for concerts, weddings, and other kinds of get-togethers. It would enable the brewery to expand production five-fold. Surly fans could hardly contain themselves. Twitters tweeted, bloggers blogged, and Facebook fans shared regular updates from the brewery's fan page. Although the project was only just a plan, the celebration had already begun.
But there's a catch. What Surly wants to do is currently illegal.

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Beer Dabbler sold out, but you can still get tickets

​Once again Twin Cities beer fans have demonstrated their insatiable desire for good beer and their willingness to support those that provide it. Advance tickets for the Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival event scheduled for Saturday in Mears Park have sold out. But you don't need to be left out in the cold.

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The best of Minnesota beer at Winterfest

​Winterfest, the annual celebration of home-grown craft beer, returns to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on February 4. Sponsored by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild and open only to breweries that are current guild members, Winterfest showcases the best of the best of Minnesota-brewed beer. With attendance limited to 700, it is an intimate affair, made more elegant by the ornate corridors of the History Center. Tickets are in demand. This year's event sold out in less than a minute. Brewers pull out all the stops at Winterfest, bringing their most unique and enticing creations. There's a lot to love about what is in my view the Twin Cities' best beer festival.

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Seven hundred tickets sold out in less than a minute. Seriously.

​In spite of its chilly name, Winterfest is the hottest craft beer event of the year: Tickets for the 10th anniversary, 2011 event sold out in less than a minute!

But you don't have to miss out. The Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild is offering a pack of tickets to the event to the guy and gal who pledge the greatest devotion to Minnesota craft beer. Maybe you brew your own? Evangelize Flat Earth's beers to everyone you meet? Have the Surly logo tattooed to your chest?

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Beer Dabbler at the Winter Carnival January 29th

​The second annual Beer Dabbler Showcase at the St. Paul Winter Carnival happens on January 29 in Mears Park. The brainchild of Minneapolitan Matt Kenevan, the Beer Dabbler is not a beer-geeks-only event. As Kenevan describes it, "The concept behind the Beer Dabbler is to introduce great beer to people who may or may not be familiar with craft and micro brews. It is intended to be a fun event for people of all levels of beer enthusiasm." Last year's fest sold out. This year's event will be expanded, with the closure of Sixth Street allowing space for more beer, more food, more entertainment, and more attendees. The Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival runs from 3:30 to 7:30 PM. Admission is $25 in advance or $35 at the gate and includes a complementary tasting glass, unlimited tastings, and access to all the entertainment and activities. Advance tickets are available at www.beerdabbler.com.

So about this Winter Carnival event...an outdoor beer festival in St. Paul in January? Cold beer on a cold winter's day? Is Kenevan crazy? I asked him this very question.

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