Milk at Carl’s Corner in Essig, Minnesota, is 80 cents a glass, $1.50 if you want a large—which, from a quick survey of the wood-paneled dining room, several patrons do. We’re on day two of our three-day road trip from Lake City to Luverne. Normally, this cross-Minnesota trek would take four, maybe four-and-a-half hours to … [ Read more]
Freedom of limitations, or ‘How Germany took away my options in all the best ways’
July 3, 2018 by
What beers do you have on tap?” I’ve always been a firm believer in the overused cliche “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” but at that moment, sitting at a bar in Munich with the question I’d just asked echoing in my head, I was considering amending it slightly to: “There’s no such … [ Read more]
The Unnecessary Categorization of Everything (Or Why I Love Shibuya Crossing)
April 26, 2018 by
My buzz has completely worn off. Throwing back Asahi, Japan’s rice beer equivalent to Budweiser, the entire 12-hour flight over seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, standing in line at Japanese customs, I was beginning to rethink my decision to make friendly with the flight staff. When you’re flying with a … [ Read more]
The Delights of Des Moines, Iowa, Minnesota’s Minor League City
March 21, 2018 by
Just a hair less than 250 miles south of the Twin Cities sits the city of Des Moines, Iowa, the state’s capital city. As a major hub for the insurance industry, it’s nicknamed the “Hartford of the West.” Though the city received a much more flattering honor in 2017 when SportsBusiness Journal named it the … [ Read more]
Winter Weary? Staycation Ideas for the Fancy and the Frugal
January 30, 2018 by
For the Frugal By Bill Lindeke No matter how many generations your roots stretch back, winter is the true test for any Minnesotan. By the time February rolls around, the months of shortened days, numb appendages, icy streets, and long, cold nights take their toll. To make it through the last seasonal stretches, we often need … [ Read more]
State of Chicago Beer: A good time to be thirsty in the Windy City
December 13, 2017 by
If you’re heading to Chicago, come parched. As of this writing, there are just under 200 breweries in the greater Chicagoland area. Like many American cities, the Chicago craft beer scene is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Eight Chicago-area breweries took home a total of 10 medals at the most recent Great American Beer Festival, … [ Read more]
13 Quintessential October Experiences in Minnesota
October 13, 2017 by
If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent months counting down to this short but sweet season. Now that fall is in full swing, we’ve put together a list of quintessential October experiences in Minnesota. Whether you head up north for the fall foliage or stop by Minnesota’s very own Halloweentown, we hope you make the … [ Read more]
Pedals and Pull-Tabs: The dive bars of U.S. Bike Route 41
July 24, 2017 by
The North Star Bicycle Route (a.k.a., U.S. Bicycle Route 41) connects St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Canadian border, winding through Duluth, Grand Marais, two national parks, past nine state parks, and along the shores of Lake Superior. The route offers 315 miles of safe and sound pedaling, either on mixed-used paths or highways with bike-friendly … [ Read more]
Maybe this is heaven: Nine innings in Miesville
June 29, 2017 by
The village of Miesville, Minnesota, wears Father’s Day like a ballplayer wears a broken-in glove. It’s fit, it’s snug, it’s natural. There are few matches more perfect for each other than a ballplayer and his mitt. There are even fewer matches more perfect for each other than a day like this in a place like … [ Read more]
Paddles, pinot, & porter: My spirited Apostle Islands kayak adventure
May 15, 2017 by
Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water on the North American continent, is so cold and clean you can see nearly 10 feet down. Surrounded by long stretches of sandy beaches and deep piney forests, it’s a paradise for kayakers and hikers. And while its physical charms are immediately evident the moment one hits … [ Read more]
Soaking in Beer: Stepping into Budapest’s thermal beer spa
February 23, 2017 by Leave a Comment
I’m deep inside the Széchenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest, a sprawling 67,000-square-foot menagerie of heated indoor and outdoor pools and baths, encased in Neo-Baroque architecture. Despite the grandeur, I’m feeling slightly naked while wrapped in my bath towel and swim trunks. Snaking through the private changing cabins, the scent hits me: Is that hops I … [ Read more]
Tales From The Tour: Three Minnesota musicians recount travels around the world
February 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Travel can be enough of an adventure on personal vacations. But when you need to tour for a living, there’s even more at stake. Laughing while they remember language barriers and culture shock, three Minnesotan musicians share the ups and downs of life on the road. Sims In 2014, I played 10 shows in the … [ Read more]
7 Continents of Beer
February 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
With all that’s happening with craft beer in the U.S., it’s easy to overlook the influence the movement is having on the world stage. Today, microbreweries can be found in every continent across the globe. Plucky young entrepreneurs are navigating complicated liquor laws to start breweries in their local communities, sometimes partnering with American expats … [ Read more]
The new era of cerveza artesanal in Quito, Ecuador
February 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
South America’s first brewery was founded in Quito, Ecuador by a Franciscan friar accustomed to drinking beer with his meals. In the 1500s, alcohol in this part of the world came mostly in the form of fermented corn drinks, such as chicha, which can still be found in roadside restaurants and traditional homesteads. For the … [ Read more]
South Pole suds: A glimpse into Antarctica’s unlikely beer culture
February 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The ice-covered continent of Antarctica is a frozen desert with no indigenous human population. And understandably so: With winds gusting up to 200 miles per hour, temperatures capable of dropping to record lows (the coldest recorded temperature was minus 128.56 degrees Fahrenheit on July 21, 1983), and frequent blizzards, Antarctica is one of the most … [ Read more]
