Beer Snob

Birthdays are always cause for celebration but when your business is beer and it comes time to celebrate another year of bringing delicious, locally crafted brews to your market you better throw a helluva PARTY!

Drekkerfest 3 is just around the corner and the fun loving, hard working crew at Drekker Brewing is getting ready to throw the biggest party the brewery has ever imagined. With a third year that was full of excitement and expansion, they certainly have much to celebrate as they…

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On Monday I had a special opportunity to learn more about Brazil’s favorite distilled spirit, cachaça, directly from the founder of one of the highest quality brands of cachaça, Novo Fogo.

While Dragos Axinte himself has quite a fascinating story that could fill my entire column, it was the premium quality, certified organic spirit that Novo Fogo produces that had drawn me to the special event at Rosey’s Bistro and Bar on Broadway.

This particular distillery is located at the…

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In my last column, I talked about what wine industry experts call “The Sideways effect,” which was the period of time after the release of the film “Sideways” in 2004 when the sales of pinot noir rose, and continue to rise, and merlot kind of, well, tanked.

I think merlot conceptually tanked more than anything, because the overall sales of merlot only declined about 2%. And 2% isn’t all that big a number, but it’s probably a long fall for the most popular varietal in the…

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If you’ve never had Mankato’s Organ Grinder Amber Ale, you should probably put it near the top of your “must try” lists.

If you are a fan of Mankato Brewery you may have been a bit confused the last time you went looking for your favorite six packs of Mankato bottles. That’s because beginning last month, they have transitioned over from twelve ounce bottles to twelve ounce cans with new artwork that is sure to “POP” right out of the cooler doors. Along with a complete…

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North Dakota is most certainly part of the latest craft beer revolution, with around a dozen different breweries currently operating from Minot to Fargo and several points in between. While it wasn’t always that way, we have had some very important and interesting connections to beer since before we even became a state. Freelance writer and photographer, Alicia Underlee Nelson goes in depth to explore our history with beer in her new book “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History”,…

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Raise your hand if you saw the movie “Sideways.” You know, the 2004 critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning film about wine? Well, it wasn’t only about wine. It was about relationships and a skosh about struggles with alcoholism, but mostly it was a glorious film about the beautiful subtleties of wine.

If you haven’t seen the film and you love wine, stop reading this column and immediately proceed to iTunes or Netflix. It’s a must-see. Then, read on.

If you have seen it, you…

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Appearing somewhat quietly on offsale shelves and on draft at select bars, AleSmith Brewing out of San Diego has been available in the local market for a couple of weeks now.

As an operator of one of the largest selections of craft beers in town, I completely understand how some beer shoppers can be almost overwhelmed by the steady influx of new-to-the-market beer brands. A big part of my job is helping customers wade through the flow of beer and make choices they are hopefully…

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Minnesota is certainly well known for being a hotspot for craft brewing. While most of the action has been centered around the Minneapolis metro area, yet another brewer from the Northern part of the state has decided to bring its beer across the border and into the North Dakota market.

Originally brewed at the Castle Haven Cabins, a small resort in Castle Danger on the North Shore of Lake Superior in 2011, the brewery operations for Castle Danger Brewery were moved to a brand new…

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The Red River Zoo is inviting adults to gather their friends and tap into your wild side for one special night of fundraising. Zoo Brew is back again at 7pm on Thursday evening, July 27th, and with even more beer to sample than last year and beautiful summer weather on the forecast, it is shaping up to be twice the party it was last year.

Three new local breweries have popped up since the last Zoo Brew and that means even more great local beer to sample with your price of admission,…

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On the Wednesday before the 4th of July, in the slightly secluded “back room” of Rosey’s Bistro and Bar, a Whiskey and Wine Bar popped up almost without notification.

The small but comfortable 20 seat space features exposed brick, both painted and unpainted, and is augmented with filled in doorways and adorned with prohibition-era photographs. The bar shelving is simply made from repurposed wood and the bar top itself appears to be of the same style and appropriate for the tone of…

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