bikes, brews, and a birthday

Thursday of my craft beer week was full of fun times and superb beer! From start to finish, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction about how much I love Minneapolis, craft beer, and community. I also love my Black Beauty [pictured below] who I may not have introduced until now.

Kevin and I hopped on our bikes, and the afternoon began at Glam Doll Donuts! I sang a quick happy birthday to the best drinking partner I could ask for (I had discreetly shoved a tea candle and lighter in my purse) and we ate our perfect filled donuts to fuel up for the ride.

We made our way to 612Brew to see some Adam Turman prints and enjoy one of my latest favs – the Mary Ann Ginger Lager.

As we came around the corner, it was obvious that 612 is hard at work getting their patio ready!

The nice surprise here was the Trivial Pursuit cards on the tables… Believe it or not, things got a bit competitive.

Ryan of 612Brew kindly bought us a round, so I also had the Six, a nice easy-drinking ale.

After purchasing a few postcard prints from Adam, we were off to Dangerous Man next!

Lucky for me, the Chocolate Milk Stout was on the menu for the first time when I’ve been there! It always goes so quickly. We also ordered the Scottish Ale and shard some sips. One of the unique things about Dangerous Man is that they offer 10oz pours which makes it much easier to try different beers without getting drunk or full.

Things were relatively quiet and nothing out of the ordinary was going on for craft beer week. I wonder why Dangerous Man didn’t participate more.

And now, for the finale – one I’ve been looking forward to!

Rush River Brewing infused their Bubble Jack IPA with fresh lavender and served it on cask at Common Roots on Lyndale! It was as amazing as it sounds. The lavender was clearly present in the finish but not overpowering, which is a fine balance to master. It went well with my spring flatbread that I was more than ready to eat!

I enjoyed the creative use of the herb almost as part of the beer’s hop profile. It reminded me a bit of the gruit technique. It was fun to discuss the process with head brewer Brett, who I hadn’t met before.

My final beer of the night was Rush River’s flagship – Unforgiven Amber. It is one of few ambers I actually enjoy drinking and it was a perfect way to round out the flavors of the evening.

Huge thanks to everyone for their hospitality and enthusiasm during my first American Craft Beer week, espcially to Ryan – 612Brew / Broc, Brent, and Britt - Badger Hill / Tim, Dan, and Brett – Rush River. Thanks to Kevin for torturing his liver along with me. Also, hats off to Northbound Smokehouse for being such a huge participant. I couldn’t make it to everything I wanted to, so I’ll be planning ahead for next year!

Cheers!

George and the Dragon feat. Fulton

George and the Dragon, located in South Minneapolis, has been on my list of must-try’s for a while. I have heard so many good things about their food, their vibe, and their beer selection. I finally visited on Tuesday while they were hosting a Fulton tap takeover.

George and the Dragon is not a one-dimensional cliche of a beer bar. It is secretly an incredibly family-friendly neighborhood place with excellent food and knowledgeable staff. It boasts high-quality taps for adults and a wonderful little library of children’s books to keep the rest of the family entertained.

I enjoyed Fulton’s Insurrection Imperial IPA which was specially tapped for the event. It packed some serious hops but still felt smooth and balanced given the significant malt to back it up.

The Banh Mi sandwich made a pretty good partner; the hops cut through the sweet barbecued meat and complimented the crisp, light veggies. I also recommend the fried green beans to pair with the Insurrection. They are lightly battered and served with a garlic aioli.

I had to cap things off with the War & Peace, though, which is pretty much dessert in a glass. If you haven’t tried the War and Peace, you’re silly. It’s a phenomenal coffee-infused imperial stout that uses fair-trade Guatemalan beans and other magical ingredients.

 

I highly recommend George and the Dragon if you’re looking for a great spot for a family meal that doesn’t involve packs of waxy color crayons or endless whining. It’s also great for a quick snack at the bar after a long day.

craft beer week continues

Last night was the best yet of my craft beer week! I drank some Badger Hill at Northbound Smokehouse and chatted with Broc, Brittney, and Brent of Badger Hill. What a group of classy folks who are passionate about beer and community. Love Badger Hill!

The night continued at The Nomad where they somehow had some Founder’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout they were sitting on. Believe me, that keg didn’t last long. You really only need a few ounces of the stuff, though.

Bocce was in full swing and the patio was definitely the place to be!

More than once this week I have said “so much beer, so little time”, and today is just another example of that.

Tonight I will be several places:

Common Roots is hosting Rush River! How did I not know this earlier? Probably because I was looking at Minnesota brewery events. Glad I heard about this, since its so close to me.

After that I’ll be heading to 612 for their beer and art event with Adam Turman and limited prints and T-shirts. I also plan to visit Dangerous Man for no reason other than their never-disappointing selection.

Dangerous Man is featuring some specials this week, though, too: “free tulip glassware with $25 purchase while supplies last. After spending $35 dollars, individuals are entered into raffle for limited edition Dangerous Man Zip Hoodies. Also, Each night there will be two trivia questions. The first person to answer correctly will receive a certificate for a free growler.” You know, if you needed more motivation to visit.