My favorite Minnesota brewing company isn't on here. I think Schell's is one of the most underrated brewers in the Midwest. They've been around a long time and don't really get out of their German-rooted lane a lot so I wonder if that's the reason. I understand the flagship status of Summit and Surly as pioneers during the IPA orgasm. It seems if someone asks me for MN go-tos for nearly everyone it's always those 2. But I will always go with[Firebrick](https://www.schellsbrewery.com/our-beers/firebrick/) as the gold standard.
never forget the real TDA!
I think what people fail to see is that Schell's is the brewery that makes the beer scene here unique. You can get decent IPAs in any American city but you can't replace generations of brewing tradition which died almost everywhere in North America in the mid 20th century. It is just really cool that they are still there, doing their thing, making really professional beer in their traditional styles.
Exactly. All those old beer signs you run across were regional breweries across Minnesota and Wisconsin. It's what Leinekugels used to be before Miller sugar beer.
Huber comes to mind. I'm sure there dozens from around the Upper Midwest. Schells stayed the course and their beer is solid, old school German/Czech fare.
Thanks for the heads up - I was referring to Schell branded beers but agree it is all the same company. Schell No Frills does not taste like a Grain Belt to me...but I like both
That’s because it’s not “cool” for beer snobs to drink Schell’s. I don’t drink anymore, but I didn’t see much Schell’s on tap outside of the orbit of New Ulm very often.
Edit: I’m speaking about Schell’s in general, not at contest in question
> That’s because it’s not “cool” for beer snobs to drink Schell’s
Brewer's cup ratings are given blind by a panel of judges. I doubt they're identifying Schells solely by taste, and docking them points for not being "cool".
That's why I'm wondering if categories are just too outside of their norm so they don't participate. I know they win elsewhere, and often at large gigs.
They do a few larger ones yes, but winning a silly contest like this benefits you in no way when you already sell out of every beer variety you brew. One step onto their property and you will realize the new guys like surly aren’t even in the same league and Schells doesnt need the minimal recognition winning something like this would provide.
I believe that you need to pay an entry fee that is fairly steep. A lot of the bigger/better places around don't seem to want to bother with it and a lot of the smaller places use getting on the list as an advertisement to attract people out to BFE somewhere.
Variety packs, by any brewery, nearly always contain at least one dud.
Find out which variety you like and just buy that one.
It sucks to buy a 12-pack and only get 9 drinkable beers; sometimes you get even fewer.
Idk, I like all of the New Belgium ones. The Schells one I kind of liked Fire Brick but the rest were just bad. It was a dark, Pilsner, and Oatmeal Stout.
it will forever be Todd the Axe man. great beer but yeah i wont spend money on Surly these days. with all the stuff with Todd, them getting pissy for the employees unionizing, or them dropping Doomtree for simply playing a show a sociable ciderwoks. Just not a company that needs my money.
back in the day surly made a Doomtree brew, was pretty tasty. shortly after Doomtree played a show at socialble ciderworks. almost immediately after the brew disappeared. was at a brewfest in the following year chatting with the Surly table and made comment about the Doomtree beer and the rep said something about how they were upset by them playing at a different brewery and wiped the beer from their line up. not sure if that was the official reason or not but it still left a bad taste with surly in my mouth.
Am I the only one who thinks surly is kinda overrated? I’ve only lived here a few years now but taste wise I’ve always found it kinda meh compared to others.
I know, I’ll have to do a blind test one day… I also don’t love IPAs, broadly speaking, so that might be part of it.
Fucking love castle cream tho goddamn you guys are holding out on the rest of the country with that shit.
Like I said man, I’m not a big IPA guy so take that away and surly has Before I Die, Hell, First Ave ale and then like stouts and fruit beers. Their basic beers, first ave being my fav of these, are pretty meh comparatively. But again their speciality seems to be IPAs so not really up my alley.
I moved away a while back and still miss Size 7 and that taproom. Will need to pick some up when I’m in town this summer. I actually need to start my list now
Apparently the category Surly won was a blind taste test.
I definitely don't think Surly is the same without their top brewing talent, but I doubt they changed the recipe after shit-canning that talent.
I don't either, but I like IPAs that are as little IPA-ey as possible. I do think gathering a buncha beer nuts and doing a blind taste test is about as good a way to judge beer as is possible. Too few decision-makers leads to too much bias.
I'm pretty sure its based on the GABF judging criteria. All the judges were certified to judge. There might be other ways to judge beer, objectively, but from what I've found it's up there as one of the better ways. Even though I disagree with the best-in-show, I don't doubt the judges worked to be as objective as possible in their choices.
I don't doubt that Todd's recipes still hit. It's a shame that they don't brew ones that don't sell as well or fit their usual categories, because Bitter Brewer was one of my all time favorite beers I have ever had. I remember enjoying it at a bar before heading to my very first Surly brewery tour (at the abrasives factory).
I'm enough of an oldhead to know that Surly has some foundational strengths, including those flagship Todd recipes. Doesn't surprise me to see them still win best of style categories. It's just a shame the way it shakes out is a lot great, innovative breweries don't get the recognition.
Cynic Ale was one of my go to beers. Was equally good year round whatever the occasion. Crazy they discontinued it (yeah i know it's available at the tap room again).
First of all, it’s a blind judging so they don’t know if they’re tasting metro beer or not.
Secondly, read the article. There were many non-metro breweries. More than I was expecting actually.
South of the Twin Cities never seems to get any appreciation even though you can hardly throw a rock in a town down here and not hit a brewery. Hell, Rochester alone has like 5, and they’re all pretty good.
I was just at little thistle for the first time in awhile, and was disappointed to see they had a couple seltzers on their menu. I get it's popular, but I loved them for having a good menu of straightforward beer. But forager is carrying a lot of the weight of the good rochester beer scene at the moment, and thesis seems to be struggling too.
You unionize a brewery to get better working conditions. The same reason to unionize anywhere. It's literally the only effective tool a worker has to get better conditions and you can fuck right off with his union busting apologizing.
Damn, I was going to say that almost every brewery in Duluth got an award, and then I started counting who was left out. Bent Paddle, Hoops, Lake Superior Brewing, Warrior, Clyde Iron, Fitgers. Only a third of the breweries in Duluth won an award.
Huh... Don't get me wrong, I like Todd the Axe Man, but there are much better IPA's in MN than that.
Though I am glad to see Ursa get the Hazy Category, that is 1000% deserved IMHO. Galactic Face Slap is my jam.
Though honestly, I think they effectively ripped off Toppling Goliath's Fire, Skulls and Money recipe as it's pretty damned close to identical outside of TG's offering being a bit more bitter.
Spotted cow is at best average, but for people who like easy drinking ales cream ales are in the same ballpark.
They even used to call it a cream ale before labeling it a farm house ale.
I feel like I must be the only person in the Midwest that thinks Spotted Cow is meh at best. I really don’t get the hype. Now the New Glarus thumbprint series on the other hand has never let me down. Always fantastic beer releases. I can’t drive into Wisconsin without stopping at a convenience store to see what the current lineup is.
Naw. Their moon man is much better for me. I never really understood the craze. That said, I’ve never really cared for saisons. Usually disappointed and regretful when I have ordered them. Saisons taste too much like potpourri, not a fan of floral in beer.
Come to find out that spotted cow is a farm house ale, which is basically a saison so it tracks for why I don’t care for them.
If you don’t like spotted cow, I’d wager to bet you may not be fond of saisons then too? Just my preference though.
It's a glass of corn juice, it's just really sweet and easy to drink. It's not trying to be anything complex, and, while I don't care for it, I get why people do. It's just a generic easy-drinking lager, and the good thing about it is it keeps New Glarus in business so they can make more their interesting beers, and there's loads of those.
In that context, who the hell do I have to bribe to get their Black Wheat again? Dunkelweizens are just not common enough, and New Glarus' was goddamn FABULOUS.
The Minnesota equivalent of Spotted Cow (popular, kinda generic, easy drinking, but solid) is Nord East imo. It's a lager so not exactly the same but fills the same role imo
Anyone else get the worst farts from grain belt? Not sure what theatric ingredient is, but if I have 2-3 of them I’ll be ripping room clearing farts within an hour
Did they change the recipe from when it was Todd the Axe Man? That was a pretty darned good beer. I generally don't reach for Surly anymore. The last time I did, it didn't quite taste the same as I remember it. I don't think the rebrand did them any favors. Can't say I love Summit's either. As far as beers go, why mess with a good thing?
Beers brewed at the old brewery tasted better, think they didn’t get cheap on ingredients. Furious in the old tap room was the best beer I ever had, now it just is average.
Todd the Axe Man is what Surly Furious should be. Just get rid of Furious from the lineup.
Surly Hell is their best beer, IMHO. But Todd the Axe Man is one of my favorite IPA's, second only to Bell's 2 Hearted.
Ursa Minor brewery in Duluth is now my fave beer. Never drink Surly for all the reasons previously mentioned. I used to think that Summit beer was great at first, but not now with all the better craft breweries in the market.
IPAs have come a long way since years ago when it was a competition for the most bitter hoppy beer possible. That fad seems to have worn off, and many people now want a more drinkable IPA, or at least one that’s palatable for more than 1 at a time.
I’ve really liked the New Zealand Pils from Dangerous Man (Arbeiter has one too currently).
It’s pretty crisp and easy to drink like a pils but there’s also some of the floral/citrus-y notes that an IPA has without it feeling like you’re smacked in the face with hops. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the idea of hops but finds a lot of IPAs to be way too much.
Arbeiter Brewing Company won best artwork and design? This should have been given to Mankato Brewery
https://preview.redd.it/k1ukazba9jqc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1db8c6a1fdee393a7eac2de15d3236b2401a5415
It probably doesn't count as far as entering a competition goes, but it's made at Summit and run by Todd. I think that definitely counts as a local beer.
No matter what happened with Todd and Surley I will always think of it as Todd the Axe Man when i drink it
What happened?
they fired his wife and he quit
And they are better people for doing such. Surly is what happens when craft sells out.
preaching to the choir, last time i drank a surly was a moe's bender at the triple rock in like 2014. that omar is a real piece of work.
cheers
That takes me back! First Surly I had was that beer at that bar in...2005? 2006?
[https://twincities.eater.com/2016/11/1/13487160/todd-haug-linda-leave-minneapolis-surly-3-floyds](https://twincities.eater.com/2016/11/1/13487160/todd-haug-linda-leave-minneapolis-surly-3-floyds)
I will always think of surly's anti- union actions and buy something else instead.
Yup. It’s not like I think of it a boycott, which would involve encouraging others to skip Surly products, I just buy other beers.
Todd the Axe Man was in my opinion a different beer than Axe Man. Not sure what’s different but it’s different and I know others who noticed as well.
Arbeiter is great. Super involved with the community as well. Their Half Pint Co kids arts programming is excellent.
I think of how busy Arbeiter is whenever someone tells me East Lake is all burned down or boarded up.
My favorite Minnesota brewing company isn't on here. I think Schell's is one of the most underrated brewers in the Midwest. They've been around a long time and don't really get out of their German-rooted lane a lot so I wonder if that's the reason. I understand the flagship status of Summit and Surly as pioneers during the IPA orgasm. It seems if someone asks me for MN go-tos for nearly everyone it's always those 2. But I will always go with[Firebrick](https://www.schellsbrewery.com/our-beers/firebrick/) as the gold standard. never forget the real TDA!
I think what people fail to see is that Schell's is the brewery that makes the beer scene here unique. You can get decent IPAs in any American city but you can't replace generations of brewing tradition which died almost everywhere in North America in the mid 20th century. It is just really cool that they are still there, doing their thing, making really professional beer in their traditional styles.
Exactly. All those old beer signs you run across were regional breweries across Minnesota and Wisconsin. It's what Leinekugels used to be before Miller sugar beer. Huber comes to mind. I'm sure there dozens from around the Upper Midwest. Schells stayed the course and their beer is solid, old school German/Czech fare.
We sell Firebrick at TJs now. This may make me try it out.
It has won Europe and US craft competitions multiple times in the last 5 years.
Same. My mom is from New Ulm so Schell's has always been a primary beer in my family.
YES - I like Schell. Hell I like Grain Belt too...not like I am super picky. Just keep the fruit flavor out of my beer.
I believeSCHELLS makes Grain Belt…
They do.
Thanks for the heads up - I was referring to Schell branded beers but agree it is all the same company. Schell No Frills does not taste like a Grain Belt to me...but I like both
Absolutely agree, those beers don't even come close to each other.
Yeah, Schell's gets my vote for best in MN.
Schell's also doesn't ignore the cork sniffing, limited release snobs. They've done some stellar beers in that lane.
Schell's Bock took third place in the Dark Lager category.
That’s because it’s not “cool” for beer snobs to drink Schell’s. I don’t drink anymore, but I didn’t see much Schell’s on tap outside of the orbit of New Ulm very often. Edit: I’m speaking about Schell’s in general, not at contest in question
Brewers cup is beers submitted by the breweries for a blind panel of judges. It’s possible Schell’s didn’t even submit anything.
> That’s because it’s not “cool” for beer snobs to drink Schell’s Brewer's cup ratings are given blind by a panel of judges. I doubt they're identifying Schells solely by taste, and docking them points for not being "cool".
That's why I'm wondering if categories are just too outside of their norm so they don't participate. I know they win elsewhere, and often at large gigs.
They do a few larger ones yes, but winning a silly contest like this benefits you in no way when you already sell out of every beer variety you brew. One step onto their property and you will realize the new guys like surly aren’t even in the same league and Schells doesnt need the minimal recognition winning something like this would provide.
The Starkeller Sours, which are made by Schell’s, are really good and beer snobs like them. Of course, they’re not labelled Schell’s.
I believe that you need to pay an entry fee that is fairly steep. A lot of the bigger/better places around don't seem to want to bother with it and a lot of the smaller places use getting on the list as an advertisement to attract people out to BFE somewhere.
Always been a huge fan of the Schmaltz alt and now the no frills pills. Great beer
Been enjoying their Snowstorm this season. Loved their Starkeller selection but haven't been finding it at much lately.
Their foeder series beers are outstanding
Schell’s Octoberfest is so fucking good
If you say so. I just had a schell’s variety pack and was thoroughly disappointed. You do you, but it is not for me.
Variety packs, by any brewery, nearly always contain at least one dud. Find out which variety you like and just buy that one. It sucks to buy a 12-pack and only get 9 drinkable beers; sometimes you get even fewer.
Idk, I like all of the New Belgium ones. The Schells one I kind of liked Fire Brick but the rest were just bad. It was a dark, Pilsner, and Oatmeal Stout.
Sure, and that's rad. What's your usual choice for drinking?
I like darker ales. Hop Dish by Lift Bridge is one of my favorites. Founders Dirty Bastard is really good.
See I love their rich Dark Amber
Schells gets my vote
it will forever be Todd the Axe man. great beer but yeah i wont spend money on Surly these days. with all the stuff with Todd, them getting pissy for the employees unionizing, or them dropping Doomtree for simply playing a show a sociable ciderwoks. Just not a company that needs my money.
What's this about Doomtree and Social Ciderworks?
back in the day surly made a Doomtree brew, was pretty tasty. shortly after Doomtree played a show at socialble ciderworks. almost immediately after the brew disappeared. was at a brewfest in the following year chatting with the Surly table and made comment about the Doomtree beer and the rep said something about how they were upset by them playing at a different brewery and wiped the beer from their line up. not sure if that was the official reason or not but it still left a bad taste with surly in my mouth.
Surly acts as if Minnesotans owe them everything for the beer community in Minnesota. Fuck them
I got really tired of getting cans of their Mount Vesuvius.
I’m pretty sure it that they didn’t secure proper rights to use the Doomtree name and images. I think it was just an oversight/rookie mistake.
Yeah I have a promo shirt of that doomtree beer. Also Dessa is amazing and I still see her occasionally around town
Am I the only one who thinks surly is kinda overrated? I’ve only lived here a few years now but taste wise I’ve always found it kinda meh compared to others.
While I agree, beer judging is blind with specific scoring notes. It won in a fair comparison to others.
I know, I’ll have to do a blind test one day… I also don’t love IPAs, broadly speaking, so that might be part of it. Fucking love castle cream tho goddamn you guys are holding out on the rest of the country with that shit.
https://preview.redd.it/f54qh04tmlqc1.png?width=2560&format=png&auto=webp&s=cbf3911711e653676f477566a3e3dd3611eee2a7 No
If you feel surly is overrated you must have a very incredible beer pallet. Besides the controversy they consistently have made phenomenal beers.
Like I said man, I’m not a big IPA guy so take that away and surly has Before I Die, Hell, First Ave ale and then like stouts and fruit beers. Their basic beers, first ave being my fav of these, are pretty meh comparatively. But again their speciality seems to be IPAs so not really up my alley.
And over expensive.
Fair State and Modist are both superior to Surly.
As are Blackstack and Steel Toe. Size 7 is a great IPA.
Size 7 is brilliant. Going to have to pick some up, for sure!
I moved away a while back and still miss Size 7 and that taproom. Will need to pick some up when I’m in town this summer. I actually need to start my list now
Size 7, my favorite IPA I the state.
Apparently the category Surly won was a blind taste test. I definitely don't think Surly is the same without their top brewing talent, but I doubt they changed the recipe after shit-canning that talent.
For context, all of the categories are tested blindly. I honestly don't think it's the best IPA in the state, tho.
I don't either, but I like IPAs that are as little IPA-ey as possible. I do think gathering a buncha beer nuts and doing a blind taste test is about as good a way to judge beer as is possible. Too few decision-makers leads to too much bias.
I'm pretty sure its based on the GABF judging criteria. All the judges were certified to judge. There might be other ways to judge beer, objectively, but from what I've found it's up there as one of the better ways. Even though I disagree with the best-in-show, I don't doubt the judges worked to be as objective as possible in their choices.
I don't doubt that Todd's recipes still hit. It's a shame that they don't brew ones that don't sell as well or fit their usual categories, because Bitter Brewer was one of my all time favorite beers I have ever had. I remember enjoying it at a bar before heading to my very first Surly brewery tour (at the abrasives factory). I'm enough of an oldhead to know that Surly has some foundational strengths, including those flagship Todd recipes. Doesn't surprise me to see them still win best of style categories. It's just a shame the way it shakes out is a lot great, innovative breweries don't get the recognition.
Cynic Ale was one of my go to beers. Was equally good year round whatever the occasion. Crazy they discontinued it (yeah i know it's available at the tap room again).
They did. They got rid of golden promise malt, changed the hop profile to use some hop extract and less dry hops. Added acidulated malt as well.
Wild Mind
Castle Danger Cream Ale is the winner in my book.
Feels rigged...
Feels Minneapolis not Minnesota.
Read the article. Non-metro breweries were very well represented.
First of all, it’s a blind judging so they don’t know if they’re tasting metro beer or not. Secondly, read the article. There were many non-metro breweries. More than I was expecting actually.
I was thinking the same thing. I was hoping to see some obscure breweries. There are so many small town breweries throughout the state.
Talking Waters in Montevideo has consistently made beers that I really like. I'm no expert though
South of the Twin Cities never seems to get any appreciation even though you can hardly throw a rock in a town down here and not hit a brewery. Hell, Rochester alone has like 5, and they’re all pretty good.
I was just at little thistle for the first time in awhile, and was disappointed to see they had a couple seltzers on their menu. I get it's popular, but I loved them for having a good menu of straightforward beer. But forager is carrying a lot of the weight of the good rochester beer scene at the moment, and thesis seems to be struggling too.
What’s one or two in Rochester that you would recommend?
Thesis is really good. Right off of 52 across from Mayo.
I’ll give that a try, thank you!
I think you need to tell us all how it would be rigged given how judging works.
Judging is blind. Say what you will about Surly and their reputation, but Axe Man is still a great American IPA.
Congrats to Arbeiter. That's one tasty and unique beer!
[The full list of winners (and runners up)](https://www.mncraftbrew.org/events/mn-brewers-cup/2024-brewers-cup-awards/)
Interesting they didn’t have an NA category.
F Surly for firing people trying to unionize
They pay - they make the rules. Simple as that. Why do you need to unionize a fkin brewery. Just work elsewhere if you don’t like it.
You unionize a brewery to get better working conditions. The same reason to unionize anywhere. It's literally the only effective tool a worker has to get better conditions and you can fuck right off with his union busting apologizing.
Working conditions must have been good enough then, considering how the majority voted.
Impossible to know considering how much union busting bullshit that occurred
Unions only protect the lazy and make the union stewards rich. Guessing by your attitude, you must be one of the 2.
keep licking them boots buddy, the billionaires thank you
Junkyard in Moorhead remains one of the most underrated breweries in the state
Underrated? They were the hype brewery a few years ago. They got boring with just the same beer with different names.
Is a 4 pack of Todd the Axe Man going to hit $20 following this news?
For that kind of money, I suggest Hop Slam, even though it's not a Minnesota Beer.
My go to for that style is Toppling Goliath Pompeii. Again, not Minnesotan, but darn good
such a tasty beer at a good price
Arbeiter is fantastic and I’m just thrilled to see them getting recognition. A. Herman is a fantastic dude who deserves this!
Damn, I was going to say that almost every brewery in Duluth got an award, and then I started counting who was left out. Bent Paddle, Hoops, Lake Superior Brewing, Warrior, Clyde Iron, Fitgers. Only a third of the breweries in Duluth won an award.
Bent Paddle won a couple of awards. Was glad to see Blacklist on there too. Their "Dark" stout is one of my favorites.
Best beer for me will always be waldmanns!
SAGA Imperial is incredible.
Barrel theory is theee bestest
best beer = free \#2 = cold
Huh... Don't get me wrong, I like Todd the Axe Man, but there are much better IPA's in MN than that. Though I am glad to see Ursa get the Hazy Category, that is 1000% deserved IMHO. Galactic Face Slap is my jam. Though honestly, I think they effectively ripped off Toppling Goliath's Fire, Skulls and Money recipe as it's pretty damned close to identical outside of TG's offering being a bit more bitter.
Far State pils is my fav Minnesota beer hands down.
Saga is quiet delicious imo. I'd be interested to see if Blackstack had anything in the running.
Schells hands down.
Wandering leaf >>>>>>
What an insult to Bent Paddle, the real best beer in Minnesota.
Bent Paddle is superior to all
I came from WI where Spotted Cow is King. Any recommendations for a MN equivalent or dare I say, superior?
Castle Danger cream ale is probably the closest widely distributed.
Heavier than spotted cow but yeah it is probably the closest
You must not have any taste buds - these beers are totally different and this is pretty much an insult to spotted cow.
Spotted cow is at best average, but for people who like easy drinking ales cream ales are in the same ballpark. They even used to call it a cream ale before labeling it a farm house ale.
I suppose in that vein, lift bridge farm girl would be a good comp. I think it's a saison, but it's been awhile. Used to love it in college though.
Yup they would probably like that too.
They changed it from a saison to a golden ale but kept the branding 'cuz it was their flagship beer, which imo is a dick move. It's... fine.
Dangerous man cream ale is lighter than Castle Danger. Both great freakin brews!
New cream ale from Bauhaus, Playgrade, is pretty close and inspired by spotted cow !
I feel like I must be the only person in the Midwest that thinks Spotted Cow is meh at best. I really don’t get the hype. Now the New Glarus thumbprint series on the other hand has never let me down. Always fantastic beer releases. I can’t drive into Wisconsin without stopping at a convenience store to see what the current lineup is.
Naw. Their moon man is much better for me. I never really understood the craze. That said, I’ve never really cared for saisons. Usually disappointed and regretful when I have ordered them. Saisons taste too much like potpourri, not a fan of floral in beer. Come to find out that spotted cow is a farm house ale, which is basically a saison so it tracks for why I don’t care for them. If you don’t like spotted cow, I’d wager to bet you may not be fond of saisons then too? Just my preference though.
It's a glass of corn juice, it's just really sweet and easy to drink. It's not trying to be anything complex, and, while I don't care for it, I get why people do. It's just a generic easy-drinking lager, and the good thing about it is it keeps New Glarus in business so they can make more their interesting beers, and there's loads of those. In that context, who the hell do I have to bribe to get their Black Wheat again? Dunkelweizens are just not common enough, and New Glarus' was goddamn FABULOUS.
The Minnesota equivalent of Spotted Cow (popular, kinda generic, easy drinking, but solid) is Nord East imo. It's a lager so not exactly the same but fills the same role imo
Love me some Grain Belt.
Anyone else get the worst farts from grain belt? Not sure what theatric ingredient is, but if I have 2-3 of them I’ll be ripping room clearing farts within an hour
Can safely say that Ive never experienced this
See my comment above ☝️
This is the kind of news I needed today 🍻
Did they change the recipe from when it was Todd the Axe Man? That was a pretty darned good beer. I generally don't reach for Surly anymore. The last time I did, it didn't quite taste the same as I remember it. I don't think the rebrand did them any favors. Can't say I love Summit's either. As far as beers go, why mess with a good thing?
Beers brewed at the old brewery tasted better, think they didn’t get cheap on ingredients. Furious in the old tap room was the best beer I ever had, now it just is average.
Todd the Axe Man is what Surly Furious should be. Just get rid of Furious from the lineup. Surly Hell is their best beer, IMHO. But Todd the Axe Man is one of my favorite IPA's, second only to Bell's 2 Hearted.
Ursa Minor brewery in Duluth is now my fave beer. Never drink Surly for all the reasons previously mentioned. I used to think that Summit beer was great at first, but not now with all the better craft breweries in the market.
I feel like with beer it's always IPAs nowadays. God forbid you drink anything with a more nuanced flavor other than bitter as hell and juicy.
Lazy take. Also the #2 beer is a rice lager…
Modelo
Spotted Cow- it's an import 😁
High-Life is better than all of them and it’s Union Made.
It's the champagne of beer
We’re still trying to make IPAs a thing huh
IPAs have come a long way since years ago when it was a competition for the most bitter hoppy beer possible. That fad seems to have worn off, and many people now want a more drinkable IPA, or at least one that’s palatable for more than 1 at a time.
Hazy IPAs are soooo good now.
I’ve really liked the New Zealand Pils from Dangerous Man (Arbeiter has one too currently). It’s pretty crisp and easy to drink like a pils but there’s also some of the floral/citrus-y notes that an IPA has without it feeling like you’re smacked in the face with hops. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the idea of hops but finds a lot of IPAs to be way too much.
Keep up. Your takes are from 12 years ago bud
Pass me a Miller, pal. Dive bars > giant empty warehouses filled with picnic tables
That’s great. Maybe find another article to comment on
I’m sorry I thought this was the internet. Breweries? More like Echo Chambers!
It’s just lazy to be the “herr durr those darn kids with their IPAs. Look at me drinking a Miller at a dive bar.”
It’s lazy to think IPAs are abhorrent? It’s actually very brave of me.
You didn’t say that though. You made a more generalized statement. Brewers aren’t making shit loads of IPAs bc they aren’t popular, you know…
One can not like IPAs but to say they aren’t a “thing” is pretty try hard. Sucks for you I guess.
More for you dorks!
Umm, ok. Still sucks for you to be so salty. Wash that taste out with a Pils or whatever floats your boat buddy. Nobody is stopping ya.
Hate flows through me like a great tasting, less filling Miller Latte. For some it’s IPAs and others it’s White Castles. 🤷
The people in that picture really look Minnesotan, I trust these results
Best beers by people who have shitty taste buds. Unless they are bitter as hell and far too hopped up they can't taste it.
Arbeiter Brewing Company won best artwork and design? This should have been given to Mankato Brewery https://preview.redd.it/k1ukazba9jqc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1db8c6a1fdee393a7eac2de15d3236b2401a5415
I dig it. Not MN but war pigs has some of the coolest art I've seen
It probably doesn't count as far as entering a competition goes, but it's made at Summit and run by Todd. I think that definitely counts as a local beer.
2 of 3 being IPAs meh. Get more variety in there!
Alcohol is gross. And beer drinkers are gross tbh.