​Local Flavor

By Krissy Ness

American Craft Beer Week is upon us. All week there have been events: new beer releases, infusions of your local favorites and so much more. This is a week to celebrate big, little, new and old breweries around the country, by supporting craft breweries and sharing a pint of your local favorite beer and your all-time favorites with fellow beer connoisseurs.

In 2006 the Brewers Association decided to make American Beer Month into a weeklong event. One week’s worth of national activities was found to be more manageable and thus more effective. Additionally, the term “craft” was added to the title in order to dial in the focus of the events. This week has become the largest national effort focusing on American craft beer, and remains so today. American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22, and is celebrated by members of The Brewers Association, the national non-profit association for small and independent craft breweries.

From Würst Bier Hall to JL Beers and Pounds, and of course local breweries around the F-M area, you can find spectacular tap takeovers, new releases, and infusions. Let’s take a peek at our local breweries to see what they will be offering this week/weekend.

To get the ball rolling we will take a look at Fargo Brewing Company and the events they have planned for the remainder of the week. Thursday May 19th, their infamous 1.21 Gigahops will be infused with blueberries, and if you remember from last year it will be nothing shy of amazing. Friday they will release their “Black Mess” a bourbon barrel aged stout with lactobacillus. Saturday will feature Fargo’s Original Lager infused with lemons. If you weren’t able to make it out to one or many of these events, don’t fret, there will be a variety of the entire week’s selection on Sunday,

Now lets see what Drekker Brewing Company has brewed up for us this week. Beginning on Thursday, May 19th, the release of their new lager, Nodak Steam California Common, will roll out. If you find yourself on the South side of Fargo, fear not, JL Beers South Fargo will have five Drekker brews on tap, from old favorites like Burn the Boats and Rollover ESB, to new brews and infusions such as Hibiscus-infused Drive By Glitter Bomb and Cask of Broken Rudder Irish Red conditioned on Dark Cherries & Vanilla Bean. Friday will be a day you don’t want to miss if you are a fan of barrel-aged stouts. That’s right, the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nightman Cometh Russian Imperial Stout will make another appearance and it will go fast.

If stouts aren’t your thing, no problem, there will be a cask of Broken Rudder Irish Red with 20 Below Coffee, and of course a full tap lineup. Ciro performs from 8 to 11, pumping out some acoustic rock -- you don’t want to miss this! Also on Friday, a 10-beer tap takeover at Brew in Detroit Lakes. Finally, on Saturday there will be A Fargo Marathon Cheering Party where beer & waffles will be served, and a cask of Broken Rudder Irish Red conditioned on Kona Coffee, and of course live acoustic folk & bluegrass music by Rob Ashe & Nate Pitcher from Boots from 8 to 11.

Moving on, we will take a look at what Kilstone has to offer us this week. There will be a special beer released every day -- they are open in the taproom. Each special release will be on their happy hour special all night. If you would like to see what they will be releasing, follow them on Facebook, as they will be updating their page daily with the new beer release.

Finally, let’s a look at Junkyard Brewery. They recently celebrated Minnesota Craft Beer Week, last week, and they have a killer lineup that will be sticking around this week for American Craft Beer Week, including favorites like the Ugly Teds Brown Ale and Hop Habit Pale Ale along with some exciting experimental sours such as Experimental Blueberry Farmhouse style Sour, the Grapefruit Goose, and the Free Candy oak-aged with brettanomyces. If you are looking to check out some local music head on over to Junkyard on Friday May 20th from 9-11 where Diane Miller will be performing with Zen People. This is sure to be one hell of a show.

This has got to be one of the best weeks for craft brewery drinkers that I can think of. All the small independent breweries are pulling out all the stops and really showing you what they are capable of, and have been listening to their patrons and releasing fan favorites.

This is also a time to celebrate your local breweries and all the people that keep these places up and running. If you find yourself in a brewery this week, thank your local head brewer, owner, server, or anyone working hard to keep your thirst quenched.

Cheers to Local Independent breweries!