Beer Fear

With so many different micro brews available on the market today, it can be daunting to find a beer or style of beer that you really enjoy, especially if you are new to the craft beer scene. This blog will be aimed at spotlighting great local beers, where to find them and what to eat while enjoying them. So even if you are a seasoned drinker, we may still be able to help with suggestions of what beers are a must try as they become available on the market, or as distribution to this area becomes available. I will focus mainly on Minnesota Craft Beer since there are plenty of great beers produced locally in the state, but I will sneak in some out-of-state recommendations as new products become available in our local bar, restaurant, liquor store and direct-from-the-brewer markets. Hopefully this blog will help take the fear out of ordering a great beer on local taps.

First recommendation:  Brau Brother's Pilz. This is a wonderfully refreshing beer that is great for a hot summer day.  W.A. Frost in downtown Saint Paul currently has it on tap, and I would highly recommend having a glass or three of this fine beer with the curried mussels... and ask for extra bread for sopping up that curry broth after you demolish the mussels.

Second recommendation: Fulton's Sweet Child of Vine IPA. This is an IPA done Fulton's way for sure. It is dark amber in color, almost copper even, and has a rock solid malt base (which a lot of IPA's miss) which makes it an IPA done my way too. This is a serious burger beer which is perfect since you can find it on tap at the Mad Capper right on South Main Street in Stillwater. I would go Capper House Chilli and Bacon Burger for sure when you stop in to have a glass.

Third recommendation:  Maredsous 8 Dubbel. This is a Belgium Dubbel that is a great beer for anyone wanting to get into darker beers. Luckily it is also available at the Mad Capper on South Main Street here in Stillwater, and it would make a terrific beer to have after that Sweet Child of Vine and burger. I would have this beer by itself after a meal so that you can fully appreciate how elegantly the different flavors in the beer marry together.

I would also like to thank my new friend Mike for making me a wonderful drink that I will now share with you all. It is called a Pendennis and was created in the speak easies of prohibition. I think this would be a wonderful cocktail for the local bars to revive!

Recipe:  1 tbs. Apricot Brandy, 2 dashes Peychauds Bitters, 1.5 oz. Gin, 0.5 oz. Lime Juice - Shake on ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Cheers,

    - Zachary Morgan