Ten years ago, when we all had faster metabolisms and fewer kids, the three of us worked together at Northern Brewer and started a web series titled Brewing TV. Because the internet is forever, you can still find those episodes. The topic was brewing, both home- and pro-. Chip’s friend Art (Abstract Artimus) recorded our … [ Read more]
Now Open: Royal Foundry Craft Spirits in Minneapolis’ Harrison neighborhood
March 8, 2019 by
For years, Andy McLain didn’t know what to do with his “British experience.” Though he was born in the United States, McLain spent many of his early years abroad—first in England, his parents’ home country, and then in Belgium. Even after returning to the States, he visited family in the U.K. once or twice each … [ Read more]
Celebrate National Homebrew Day with Big Brew events around Minnesota
May 3, 2018 by
If there wasn’t enough to celebrate on May 5 between Cinco de Mayo and the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, Saturday is also the worldwide celebration of the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) National Homebrew Day. In 1988, May 7 was declared before Congress as National Homebrew Day, and to toast to this blessed beer … [ Read more]
Fire Cider: The DIY winter tonic that’ll punch you in the face
February 22, 2018 by
There’s no denying that fire cider looks bad. Its glow-in-the-dark yellowish hue is like a liquid version of hepatitis. But not to worry—it tastes much, much worse than it looks. What is it? This tonic/remedy/taste bud marauder is made by infusing apple cider vinegar with a heap of pungently healthful ingredients like garlic, ginger, hot … [ Read more]
Homebrew Recipe: Snozz Project Dry Hopped Fruited Unicorn Sour
February 20, 2018 by
The Growler and actor and comedian Erik Stolhanske of Broken Lizard are joining forces Tuesday, February 20 for a special brew day at Barrel Theory Brewing. In honor of the occasion, Michael Dawson, author of “Mashmaker: A Citizen-Brewer’s Guide to Making Great Beer at Home,” created this Super Troopers themed homebrew recipe: Snozz Project Dry … [ Read more]
Northern Brewer Minneapolis adding ‘tasting bar’ for homebrew and wine
November 15, 2017 by
Roseville homebrew supply company Northern Brewer is expanding its South Minneapolis retail location into a full homebrewing experience, complete with a new tasting bar that will sample featured beer and wine recipes. Samples from the new tasting bar will be free and limited to three-ounce pours. Brews available during the week of the store’s opening … [ Read more]
Bug Hunters: Bootleg Biology is collecting and cataloging the world’s wild yeast
June 26, 2017 by
Mitch Ermatinger wanted a truly unique brewery. He wanted Speciation Artisan Ales to showcase what he knows best—spontaneous sour beers and wild farmhouse ales. So he turned to Bootleg Biology to make his mixed-culture fermentations stand out from the pack. “Funk Weapon #2 is in all of my beer, as well as some yeast that … [ Read more]
The Growler’s Homebrew Con visitors guide
June 12, 2017 by
Thousands of homebrewers are gathering in Minneapolis June 15–17 for the 39th Annual National Homebrewers Conference, better known as Homebrew Con. The three-day conference will include a massive show floor, speakers, educational seminars, parties, and more. It’s also the site of the final round of judging for the National Homebrew Competition, which saw 7,962 entries from around … [ Read more]
Minnesota Homebrewer Spotlight, Part 3: Lori Ertl
June 12, 2017 by
The annual Homebrew Con is coming to Minneapolis. It is the largest gathering of homebrewers in the world. As such, from June 15-17 thousands of homebrewers from around the country—and the world—will call the Twin Cities their home away from home. In celebration, we have been featuring local homebrewers that call Minnesota home year-round. For … [ Read more]
Minnesota Homebrewer Spotlight, Part 1: ‘Bad Ass’ Bryon Adams
June 5, 2017 by
As the Twin Cities gear up to host Homebrew Con 2017, the mother of all homebrew parties, at the Minneapolis Convention Center June 15–17, The Growler is spotlighting three local homebrewers that we think are pretty bad ass. And in the case of our first profile, we mean it literally. Meet “Bad Ass” Bryon Adams of Brooklyn Park. … [ Read more]
Minnesota: The State of Homebrewing
May 22, 2017 by
The eyes of the homebrewing universe will be on the Twin Cities in mid-June, and many of its citizens will pour into our hometown to celebrate their community and culture. Homebrew Con, the world’s largest annual gathering of homebrewers, will host its official conference events at Minneapolis Convention Center from June 15–17. Other beer-focused activities … [ Read more]
How to make a stir plate for homebrewing
April 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Republished here with permission from the American Homebrewers Association While there are multiple ways to grow yeast in a starter, one of the most effective is to use a stir plate. Stir plates utilize magnetic attraction to create a vortex inside a container of wort, keeping the yeast in suspension and providing oxygen—which are both … [ Read more]
Homebrew Recipe: Solar Wave Golden IPA
March 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In our DIY Issue, Michael Dawson breaks down the basic steps of reverse engineering your favorite beer. This recipe appeared alongside that article. In the spirit of scaling down production beers for the homebrew system, here’s a recipe from our friends at Chop & Brew. Solar Wave Golden IPA is a beer developed in collaboration … [ Read more]
We Can Rebuild It: How to reverse-engineer a beer
March 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Bad Weather head brewer Andy Ruhland. A reverse-engineered version of Bad Weather’s Solar Wave Golden IPA is this month’s Homebrew Recipe // Photo by Lucy Hawthorne Pablo Picasso once said “To copy others is necessary,” and who are we to argue with a cubist? Since contemporary craft and world classic beers are a source of … [ Read more]
How To Make Wild Minnesota Pear Cider Vinegar
March 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Fruit vinegar is easy to make, and almost any fruit can be used to make vinegar with varying levels of intensity. I have made pear, apple, and plum vinegars using wild fruit from the bluffs of southeast Minnesota. There are many resources to make great fermented products at home; “Wild Fermentation” by Sandor Katz is a … [ Read more]
