The Minnesota State Fair returns Aug. 27 – Sept. 7 and will feature more craft beer than ever before // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
It’s that time of year: to drink some cold craft beer with a couple hundred thousand of your closest friends. It’s been eight years since the Great Minnesota Get-Together began allowing beer stronger than 3.2% ABV. Now, you can hardly swing a pronto pup without hitting a booth that pours the state’s finest suds.
Here’s our rundown of craft beer at the 2015 Minnesota State Fair. We’ll be adding to the lists between now and Fair time, so check back for updates.
Notable new beers for 2015
The Freehouse Caramel Apple π: The creation of Freehouse head brewer Tim Piotrowski, π (Pi) is a blend of apple cider with caramel malts. (Blue Barn)
ICYMI – For @BlueBarnMN we created Caramel-Apple Cider Beer as a @mnstatefair exclusive http://t.co/R1BBvgXI72 #bluebarnbeer
— The Freehouse (@FreehouseMpls) August 19, 2015
Brewpubs: A provision in last year’s liquor omnibus bill means 10 brewpubs will be able to serve their beer at the Fair for the first time. (Land of 10,000 Beers Exhibit)
Bloody Beer: Grain Belt Premium topped with frozen tomato juice. (Schell’s Stage in the West End Market)
Fest Hop: The State Fair’s Homebrew Competition Best of Show winner in 2014, Bent Brewstillery’s crisp, dry and hoppy ale will make its commercial debut this year. (Ball Park Cafe)
Excelsior Maple Bacon Brown Ale: It’s smoky, it’s porky, it’s surprising that bacon hasn’t found its way into a beer at the Fair until now. (Giggle’s Campfire Grill)
How tasty does our Maple Bacon Brown Ale look? Find it at the @mnstatefair in 10 days! Yum. #drinklocal #onlyinmn pic.twitter.com/Muc4YvOJjm — Excelsior Brewing (@excelsiorbrew) August 17, 2015
Maple Island Brewing Two Headed Goose Sourdough Pretzel: A savory, salty brew made with spices, Bavarian yeast and a heaping dose of sourdough pretzels. Each pint is topped with an actual pretzel. More info. (Chicago Dogs)
LTD Sweet Dreams Pineapple Wheat: Wheat beer with hints of pineapple. (Ball Park Cafe)
Who’s excited for the @ltdbrewing Pineapple Wheat? It’s citrusy. It’s refreshing. It’s something you just have to try pic.twitter.com/MNvjTLhadh — Ball Park Cafe (@BallParkCafe) July 24, 2015
Minnesota Iceberg: Summit Pilsner with frozen Bud Light Lime-A-Rita. (LuLu’s Public House) Note, the Summit Brewing representative we spoke to was not previously aware of this concoction.
What about those crazy beers from past years?
Yes! Some oddball brews are making a return appearance to the 2015 Fair:
Lift Bridge Mini Donut (Ball Park Cafe)
Flat Earth S’mores (Giggle’s Campfire Grill)
Grain Belt Blueberry, regular and frozen (Schell’s Stage)
How can I make people-watching even more fun?
Perhaps you should consult this State Fair Bingo card from Summit Brewing.
The Full Craft Beer Lineup
Click the pint glasses on the map to display the craft beers available at individual establishments. Click the icon in the upper left-hand corner of the map to display the list of establishments serving craft beer. (Beer lists provided by the Minnesota State Fair.) Note: The alphanumeric location markers in the list below refer to the official State Fair map.
Alton’s Wings and Barbecue (Coliseum, L-31)
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine and Fulton Lonely Blonde
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Summit EPA
Surly Furious and Bender
Andy’s Grille (Carnes Ave. between Liggett & Nelson, L-27)
Andy’s Grille at the Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
612Brew SIX
Bell’s Oberon
Blue Moon
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Big Wood Jack Savage
Finnegan’s
Fulton Lonely Blonde
Goose Island Honkers Ale
Indeed Dandy Lager
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison
Lucid Foto
Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Schofferhofer Grapefruit Radler
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Summit EPA
Surly Furious
Ball Park Cafe (Underwood St. between Dan Patch & Carnes, R-25)
Ball Park Cafe at the Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Badger Hill White IPA
Bauhaus Wonderstuff Pilsner
Bent Brewstillery Fest Hop
Bent Paddle Bent Hop (nitro) and Cold Press Black Ale
Castle Danger Danger Ale
Excelsior MinneGose
Lift Bridge Farm Girl Saison, Hop Dish IPA, and Mini Donut
LTD Pineapple Wheat
Indeed Daytripper and Dandy Lager
Steel Toe Size 7 IPA
Summit EPA and Oktoberfest
Surly Furious and Hell
Sweetland Orchard Scrumpy Sweet and Cherry Rhubarb (cider)
Urban Growler Cowbell Cream Ale
Tin Whiskers Short Circuit Stout (nitro)
The Blue Barn (West End Market, H-24)
The Blue Barn at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Freehouse #1, #5, and Caramel Apple Pi
Fulton Lonely Blonde,
Grainbelt Premium
Summit EPA and Oktoberfest
Surly Furious
Boulevard Grill (South side of Coliseum, L-31)
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Summit EPA
Surly Furious and Bender
Cafe Caribe (South side of Carnes Ave. between Liggett & Nelson streets, L-27)
Bell’s (Two Hearted & Oberon)
Burning Brothers Pyro
Fulton (Sweet Child of Vine & Lonely Blonde)
Grain Belt Premium
Lakefront New Grist
Leinenkugel’s (Honey Weiss, Orange Shandy, & Summer Shandy)
Not Your Fathers Root Beer
Shock Top
Summit EPA
Surly Hell
Chicago Dogs (East wall, The Garden, T-24)
Grain Belt Premium
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss & Summer Shandy
Lift Bridge Farm Girl
Not Your Fathers Root Beer
Redbridge (gluten free)
Summit EPA and Saga IPA
Maple Island Two Headed Goose Sour Dough Pretzel (Fair-exclusive)
Coasters (Southeast corner of Carnes Ave. and Liggett St., J-27)
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine
Grain Belt Nordeast
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Lift Bridge Farm Girl
Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Omission (gluten free)
Schell’s Oktoberfest
Summit EPA
Dino’s Gyros (Carnes between Nelson St. and Underwood St., R-26)
Grain Belt (Premium & Nordeast)
Leinenkugel’s (Summer Shandy & Oktoberfest)
Shiner Bock
Shock Top Orange
Summit (EPA & Saga)
Famous Dave’s (Dan Patch between Liggett and Chambers, J-24)
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Not Your Fathers Root Beer
Redbridge (gluten free)
Summit EPA
Frontier Bar (Carnes Ave. between Liggett & Nelson, K-27)
The Frontier Bar at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Bell’s Two Hearted and Oberon
Deschutes Pinedrops
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine
Grain Belt Premium & Nordeast
Lagunitas Imperial Pils
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss & Summer Shandy
Lift Bridge
Omission (gluten free)
Shiner Bock
Summit EPA, Oktoberfest, and Saga IPA
Giggles Campfire Grill (Lee Ave. and Cooper St., T-12)
Giggles’ Campfire Grill at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
612Brew SIX
Alaskan Amber
Big Wood Jack Savage
Blue Moon
Boom Island Witness Witbier
Burning Brother Pyro (gluten free)
Capital Grateful Red
Clown Shoes Galactica and Chocolate Sombrero
Coors Light
Evil Twin Falco
Flat Earth Angry Planet
Fulton Lonely Blonde
Giggles Maple Bacon Brown
Giggle’s S’More’s Beer (Flat Earth Cygnus X-1)
Grain Belt Premium
Indeed Berry Swell
Insight Sunken City
Keweenaw Widow Maker Black Ale
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss & Summer Shandy
Lift Bridge Farm Girl
Millstream German Pilsner and Oktoberfest
Michelob Golden Draft Light
NorthGate Get Together
Sam Adams Oktoberfest, Rebel IPA and Boston Lager
The Grandstand
Brooklyn Summer Ale
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed
Excelsior Big Island Blonde
Finnegan’s Dead Irish Poet
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Lakefront Fixed Gear
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss, Oktoberfest, and Summer Shandy
Not Your Father’s Spiced Ale
Odell Raspberry Beerah (exclusive to the Grandstand)
Oskar Blues Pinner
Schell’s One Five Five
Sociable Cider Freewheeler (cider, gluten-free)
Summit EPA
Land of 10,000 Beers (Agriculture-Horticulture Bldg.)
The Land of 10,000 Beers is presented by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Their $10 flights of four Minnesota beers, for the first time, can be purchased with a card (in addition to cash) or buy your flights in advance online.
Breweries: (asterisk denotes a brewery making their Fair debut)
612Brew
August Schell Brewing Co.
Badger Hill Brewing Co.
Bang Brewing Co.
*Bank Brewing Co.
Bauhaus Brew Labs
Bent Brewstillery
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Big Wood Brewery
Boom Island Brewing Company
Brau Brothers Brewing Company
Burning Brother Brewing
Canal Park Brewing Co
Castle Danger Brewery
Dangerous Man Brewing Co
ENKI Brewing
Excelsior Brewing Company
*Fair State Cooperative
Finnegans
Flat Earth Brewing Company
Fulton Brewing
Grand Rounds Brewing Co
*Gull Dam Brewing Co
HammerHeart Brewing Company
*Hayes Public House
Indeed Brewing Company
*Insight Brewing Co.
Jack Pine Brewery
Lift Bridge Brewing Co
Lucid Brewing
*Lupine Brewing
*Lupulin Brewing
*LynLake Brewery
Mankato Brewery
Northbound Smokehouse
NorthGate Brewing
Olvalde Farmhouse and Brewery
Rock Bottom Brewery
*Sidhe Brewing
*Sociable Cider Werks
*South Fork Brewing Co
Steel Toe Brewing
Summit Brewing
Surly Brewing Co
*Take 16 Brewing
Third Street Brewhouse
Tin Whiskers Brewing Co
Town Hall Brewery
*Urban Growler Brewing Co
Vine Park Brewing Co
*Voyageur Brewing
*Wabasha Brewing
*Waconia Brewing
Brewpubs (All are new to the Fair for 2015. You’ll be able to taste them together in a dedicated brewpub flight.)
Barley John’s Brewpub
Canal Park Brewing Co.
Day Block Brewing Co
Fitgers Brewhouse
Grand Rounds
Great Waters Brewing
The Herkimer Pub and Brewery
Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub
Rock Bottom Brewery
Town Hall Brewery
Leinie Lodge (Cooper St. between Dan Patch Ave. and Judson Ave., U-26)
Leinie Lodge at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Leinenkugel’s Original, Summer Shandy, Honey Weiss, Oktoberfest, Imperial Pale Lager, and Harvest Patch Shandy.
LuLu’s Public House (West End Market, G-24)
LuLu’s Public House at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
612Brew Unrated
Burning Brothers Pyro (gluten free)
Four Daughters Loon Juice Cider
Fulton Lonely Blond
Grain Belt Premium, Nordeast, Light, & Blueberry
Summit EPA & Saga IPA
Minnesota Iceberg (Summit Pilsner with frozen Bud Light Lime-A-Rita)
Mancini’s al Fresco (Carnes between Nelson St. and Underwood St., P-26)
Mancini’s al Fresco at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Lakefront New Grist
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Schell’s Firebrick
Summit EPA, Saga IPA, and Oktoberfest
Midway Men’s Club (Underwood St. between Wright Ave. and Dan Patch Ave., R-22)
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and Oktoberfest
Lift Bridge Farm Girl
Summit EPA
O’Gara’s at the Fair (Dan Patch Ave. and Cosgrove St., V-25)
O’Gara’s at the Fair at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Blue Moon
Burning Brothers Pyro (gluten free)
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA
Excelsior Big Island Blond
Finnegans
Four Daughters Loon Juice Cider
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Guinness
Harp Lager
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Lift Bridge Farm Girl
Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Schell’s Oktoberfest
Smithwick’s
Summit EPA and Saga
Surly Furious
Ragin Cajun (in The Garden, west wall, R-24)
Blue Moon
Grain Belt Nordeast
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Summit EPA
Sabino’s Pizza (North side of the Coliseum, L-31)
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Summit EPA
Surly Furious and Bender
Schell’s Stage (West End Market, E-24)
Schell’s Stage Booth at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Schell’s Arminius, One Five Five, Oktoberfest, Shocked Radler, Goosetown, Bloody Beer, and Frozen Blue; Grain Belt Premium & Nordeast
Shanghaied Henri’s (International Bazaar, U-31)
Shanghaied Henri’s at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Guinness
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Omission (gluten free)
Old Speckled Hen
Paulaner Hefeweizen
Summit (EPA, Hopvale, Oatmeal Stout, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, & Saga)
Snack House (North side of the Coliseum, L-31)
Fulton Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde
Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast
Summit EPA
Surly Furious and Bender
Summit on a Stick (International Bazaar, T-31)
Summit on a Stick at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair // Photo courtesy of Summit Brewing
Summit EPA, Hopvale Organic, Oatmeal Stout, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, Saga IPA and The Villain, their State Fair-exclusive black lager.
Tejas Express (North wall, The Garden, S-24)
Fulton Lonely Blonde
Leinenkugel’s Honeyweiss
Omission (gluten free)
Summit EPA
Surly Furious
Original Beergarita (Tejas margarita mix blended with Leinie’s Honey Weiss.)
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