Chef Doug Flicker’s meta-dive bar is fighting creeping anxiety by experimenting with ramen This article is part of our “10 Bars for 2020” feature. Read more stories of bars that are defining this moment in drinking. When Chef Doug Flicker cashed in his fine dining chips and traded his sous vide rig for a popcorn … [ Read more]
Bike Camping & Touring: Gear Guide
July 1, 2020 by
For those looking to up the ante in their biking, “bikepacking” takes road biking and backpacking to a whole new level. But in order to be successful, it’s essential that you’ve got all the right gear. Here, we’ve got everything you need from bikes to bags to shelters, plus a handy directory to all the … [ Read more]
Explore Minnesota’s Mountain Biking Trails
July 1, 2020 by
Despite our unmistakable lack of actual mountains (sorry Eagle Mountain, you’re an overgrown hill), Minnesota has been home to a rich tradition of mountain biking dating back to the early ‘90s. Our state’s emphasis on conservation and the outdoors has created a robust network of trails that crisscross the state and metro area, while advocacy … [ Read more]
The Beginner’s Guide to Bike Camping & Touring
July 1, 2020 by
When your long-distance rides just aren’t long enough, it might be time for you to tackle a multi-day bike camping tour. But be warned, there’s far more to touring than just crushing mileage. In fact, many cyclists, even extremely athletic ones, struggle with the transition. You’ll have to adjust your equipment, your riding style, and … [ Read more]
Growler Giveaway: Win an unforgettable outdoor experience with Kerfoot Canopy Tours
June 30, 2020 by
You could win a high-flying outdoor adventure package from Kerfoot Canopy Tour!
The Herkimer closing after 20 years of brewing at Lyn-Lake
June 22, 2020 by
One of Minneapolis’ longest-standing brewpubs, The Herkimer, is closing permanently at the end of June, according to an announcement on the company’s social media platforms. Founded in 1999, The Herkimer was a neighborhood staple known for serving house-brewed, traditional German lagers and English ales, even as their home neighborhood of Lyn-Lake changed rapidly around them. … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s largest hop farm Mighty Axe Hops up for sale
March 9, 2020 by
Mighty Axe Hops, Minnesota’s largest hop farm and processor, is up for sale as the result of a storm that devastated the hop farm’s 2019 crop. Late in the evening on Labor Day in 2019, roughly halfway through their harvest season, Mighty Axe’s hopyard in Foley, Minnesota, was hit by 55-mph straight-line winds that snapped … [ Read more]
Surly Darkness Day on indefinite hiatus, brewery cites state distribution laws in decision
February 27, 2020 by
Surly Brewing Co. CEO Omar Ansari announced today on social media and an email newsletter that his brewery will be putting their annual Darkness Day festivities on hold indefinitely. Pulling no punches, the state’s third-largest brewery placed the blame for their festival’s hiatus squarely at the feet of local lawmakers. The craft beer industry is … [ Read more]
Fueling Progress: On a crowded highway of convenience stores, 36Lyn is an oasis of quality
December 23, 2019 by
Inside a shop at 36th and Lyndale, there’s a full-sized rack of CBD products by the register. To your right, three airpots of Peace Coffee changed out every hour-and-a-half for maximum freshness. A fridge case offers grab-and-go wraps from Afro Deli, cage-free eggs, and more than one variety of fancy pink coconut water. By the … [ Read more]
New Belgium selling 100% of the company to Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages
November 19, 2019 by
N ew Belgium Brewing Company, the fourth-largest craft brewery in the U.S., has reached an agreement to sell 100% of the company to the Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages, making the Belgian beer specialists the latest buyout in a series of major brewery acquisitions this year. According to Brewbound, the all-cash transaction will take place … [ Read more]
Lowertown Letdown: Birch’s now the second brewery in the neighborhood up for sale
October 1, 2019 by
St. Paul brewpub Birch’s Lowertown has been listed for sale, just over one calendar year after they opened for business in the neighborhood’s Market House Collaborative building. The Growler became aware of Birch’s Lowertown’s intention to sell their brewery via a classified ad listing on ProBrewer, an industry-insider resource. The short ad, credited by name … [ Read more]
Your Guide to Unlabeled No. 2: Oktoberfest
September 16, 2019 by
This Friday, The Growler’s blind tasting festival series will return to Upper Landing park for an Oktoberfest celebration featuring 48 local Märzen and festbiers, live music, food trucks, and more! If you’ve never been to an Unlabeled event before, we do things a little bit differently than the average bierfest, so check out our event … [ Read more]
Find your Gemütlichkeit at all the 2019 Oktoberfest events across Minnesota
September 13, 2019 by
While Minnesotans are probably best known for our Scandinavian heritage, the German people and their descendants have been inextricably tied to our state’s cultural history since the first settlers put down roots in our state. These settlers spread the Volksfest traditions of their homeland all around the state, so we have them to thank for … [ Read more]
Polishing the Apple: Elevating the cider cocktail beyond a simple bar drink
August 29, 2019 by
You’ll be forgiven if your conception of cider cocktails until this very moment consisted of snakebites on St. Patrick’s Day or the mulled stuff that Uncle Randy enjoys spiking just a little too much. Before Lars Olsen was tapped to create Minneapolis Cider Company’s new in-house cocktail program, his view of the genre was even … [ Read more]
Now Open: Boom Island Brewing’s new taproom in Minnetonka
August 28, 2019 by
A change of scenery can often work wonders to rekindle the embers of personal creativity. Visual artists change studios, musicians and writers hole up in cabins or other remote spaces, but for brewers, whose tools are industrial in size, it’s not so easy. If the size of the smile on Boom Island head brewer and … [ Read more]
