Si Mangia Bene: A Beer Geek’s Dreamscape

Today’s Si Mangia Bene post — from wine lover and beer enthusiast, Doug Weber — comes as a response to a tkTC reader’s comment:  “What’s up with the Twin Cities’ craft beer scene?  Other than Surly, any real creative brewers out there?” -Micki

By Doug

Yes, in fact there are. Maybe we’re a little behind the national curve, maybe we’re on the cutting edge, but Minnesota’s craft beer scene seems to be gaining quite the momentum lately. My knack for homebrewing and craft beers has grown in the past few months and I’d like to shed a little light on three local breweries that I’m excited about. And nope, Surly is not one of them.

Flat Earth Brewing Co.

Beer geeks making beer for beer geeks, Flat Earth is small but worth every bit of attention.  Its bombers with colorful caps and quirky labels are what initially got me interested in the beer from Flat Earth Brewing Company. While I have only recently tried its dark and burly Black Helicopter Coffee Stout (which is infused with locally roasted Dunn Bros. coffee), what I had was thick, dark and savory. If you get a chance to check out its (relatively compact) facilities in St. Paul and forget your wallet, don’t worry: you can pay for your growler with PayPal.

Photo from flatearthbrewing.com

Fulton Beer

Photo courtesy of Fulton Beer

I have heard relatively little about this operation but I can tell you that the IPA I had on tap at The Local was one of the best I tried in 2010. With a little digging I found out that Fulton has been around since 2007 and currently only brews for on-premise consumption (which explains why I haven’t found it anywhere yet in bottle) at the Sand Creek Brewery in Black River Falls, WI, but is set to open a state-of-the-art brewing facility downtown sometime soon.  Check out the website and keep your eyes peeled.  I know I’ll be waiting anxiously.

Rush River Brewing Co.

Though it’s not based in the Twin Cities — but instead just across the border in my home state of Wisconsin — Rush River deserves all the attention it can get.  I had a pint of its Unforgiven Amber Ale last summer with a big burger at The Bulldog in Uptown and instantly fell in love. I’m not usually a big fan of amber ales but the lush maltiness is so smooth and rounded with a perfect hop profile that one pint is simply not enough of the stuff.  There’s something about the beer that I can hardly describe; perhaps that none of its beers are filtered or pasteurized.  I think a trip to tour its facilities in the near future is well in order.

There you have it, local beer is present and growing beyond the days of the sweet Premium or the still tasty and innovative staple of Summit. If you’re interested in trying some of these and other local — and (inter)national — beers, check out the Beer Dabbler Showcase at the St. Paul Winter Carnival on January 29.

So beer lovers, what’s your favorite local brewery? Does anyone dabble with homebrew? Shoot me an email at [email protected], and watch for the forthcoming post about homebrewing.

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