It’s all about layers,” Erik Eastman tells me. “It should taste complex without being complicated.” Director of sales for Minnesota Ice and proprietor of Easy & Company, Eastman knows a thing or two about mixing a cocktail. But he’s received tons of great feedback lately—through social media and at a meeting of the Sunday Sober Supper … [ Read more]
Strong tea and sweet honey are the recipe for the perfect non-alcoholic cocktail
December 11, 2019 by
From Bean to Bag, Artisan coffee packaging can help tell a complex story in a flash
October 3, 2019 by
This article was made possible through the underwriting support of Peace Coffee. The Growler maintained full editorial control of the content. What’s in a name? Or for that matter: a color, a turn of phrase, or a font choice for a label? For small coffee brands, the image projected on a package of coffee is … [ Read more]
The Coffee Wizard of Sister Bay: Ryan Castelaz ushers in the ‘Fourth Wave’ at Discourse Coffee
September 4, 2019 by
If you want to experience the most gonzo, balls-to-the-wall, experimental coffeehouse in the Upper Midwest, you are obligated to leave the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area and go for a drive into Wisconsin, to the village of Sister Bay on the Door County peninsula. Buried behind the town’s Piggly Wiggly supermarket in a hive-like collection of … [ Read more]
¡Viva Malta! An introduction to the official drink of Caribbean summer
August 30, 2019 by
It’s difficult to describe the magic of malta. For me, a drink of malta can shift the mood of a day. For many, including my father, the taste of malta instantly teleports them to their childhood—to hot, equatorial days and a cold bottle of sweet and smooth relief from the heat. While there are many brands … [ Read more]
Science of Coffee: The changing chemistry of coffee beans from farm to cup
July 10, 2019 by
This feature was underwritten by Peace Coffee. The Growler maintained full editorial control of the content. In modern America, nothing appears more ordinary than a cup of coffee. Coffee is available at gas stations and fast food joints; it’s made in our homes and offices; it’s consumed in upscale cafes and restaurants. Its price and … [ Read more]
Better Camp Eats & Drinks: Best Camp Coffee
May 28, 2019 by
This article is a part of The Growler’s Outdoor Guide. Find more tips for outdoor adventure and dining here. While backcountry camping, a full-flavored, fresh cup of coffee is one of those small luxuries that can lift one’s spirits. But how do you produce the highest quality flavor while keeping the amount of equipment and … [ Read more]
Leaves of Change: Verdant Tea champions China’s unheralded family farms by going straight to the source
March 26, 2019 by
The future of tea is a new generation—one of thoughtful drinkers who have developed their palates by selecting pour-overs from lists describing coffee beans’ origins and consuming spirits in the same building in which they were distilled. Developing that same relationship between tea farmer and tea drinker is where Verdant Tea has staked its mission, … [ Read more]
The Brewer’s Dilemma: Are hard seltzer and NA a trend or the future of the industry?
February 25, 2019 by
Ask any market researcher in 2015 to define the future of craft beer and the answer would have been “more beer.” Craft brewing was soaring, with brewery numbers overtaking the pre-Prohibition era and a veritable flood of SKUs hitting liquor store shelves. Ask that same economist about the future of beer in 2019 and the … [ Read more]
Bauhaus releases Minnesota’s first NA beer since Prohibition
December 18, 2018 by
Bauhaus Brew Labs is doing what no Minnesota brewery has done in nearly 100 years: releasing a non-alcoholic beer. Not since Prohibition has a locally made NA beer been available in Minnesota. Bauhaus’ take is based on their Homeguys Helles Lager, and is crafted with help from St. Paul-based upstart ABV Technology. The result, according … [ Read more]
The Mill: Misfit Coffee to bring its coffee trailer ethos to cozy brick-and-mortar spot
April 24, 2018 by
Minneapolis’ Urban Bean Coffee has sold its Lyndale location to Misfit Coffee, which is currently operating a coffee trailer regularly parked near Gold Medal Park, at a counter inside the Weisman Art Museum, and at various pop-ups around town. True to its coffee truck (or trailer, rather) roots, Misfit’s vision for the space is less … [ Read more]
Afternoon tea at Saint Paul Hotel is a Victorian-style happy hour
April 5, 2018 by
I committed a faux pas at afternoon tea. This is actually difficult to do, but I managed it by arriving late. My misstep was made clear not from the staff’s response, who seemed quite unruffled, but in arriving only three minutes past the hour to find the entirety of the floor already seated and sipping brimful cups of tea. One arrives to … [ Read more]
5 Minnesota brewers proving root beer is craft, too
March 2, 2018 by
Brewers across the state take pride in crafting drinks that are innovative and refreshing—and that includes root beer. Root beer not only provides a non-alcoholic option at local taprooms, but it also allows brewers to experiment with flavors through handcrafted sodas. “Much like the craft beer scene, it’s been fun to watch and sample and … [ Read more]
A taste of Minnesota’s coffee scene for National Coffee Day
September 29, 2017 by
Coffee in Minnesota has come a long way from your grandma’s percolator. Like craft beer and the slow food movement, Minnesotans are embracing coffee in all its forms. Lucky for us, we’ve got a bevy of new and seasoned purveyors to supply us with all the caffeinated beverages we can drink. Not to be outdone … [ Read more]
Blackeye Roasting Co. to open cafe in Minneapolis skyway
April 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Blackeye Roasting Co., the Twin Cities-based company known for its cold brew coffee, announced today that it will open its first Minneapolis location this spring. The 18-seat cafe will be located in the skyway at the corner of 2nd Avenue South and South 4th Street (2nd Ave S., Suite 210) and will feature 10 tap lines … [ Read more]
