When Homebrew Con 2017 rolls into Minneapolis next week, beer will not be the only home-fermented beverage taking the spotlight. For years now, Minnesota has been well-known (and highly awarded) for its amazing meads and amateur meadmakers. Often referred to as “honey wine,” mead is a strong, fermented beverage—usually between 10–17% ABV—made from a solution … [ 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
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]
We Can Rebuild It: How to reverse-engineer a beer
March 28, 2017 by
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]
Big Beer buys Northern Brewer
October 14, 2016 by
Roseville-based Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply, the largest homebrewing supplier in the country, and its sister company Midwest Supplies have been acquired by a venture capital arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The Growler first caught wind of a potential acquisition from a tip pointing us a homebrew forum last week. Since then, Beer Marketer’s Insights has reported that Northern has “partnered” with ZX Ventures, a … [ Read more]
New homebrew supply store coming to St. Cloud
October 11, 2016 by
According to an article in the St. Cloud Times, a new homebrew supply store called The Hop Shop will be opening in St. Cloud’s Midtown Square Mall. In a blog post on The Hop Shop’s website, the couple behind the store, Desi and Lori Hall, say they’ve signed a lease and hope to have the store open … [ Read more]
Lift Bridge, North Loop, & more hosting events Saturday for Homebrewers Assoc. Big Brew
May 5, 2016 by
In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) created AHA Big Brew as an annual event to celebrate National Homebrew Day and this year Big Brew falls on Saturday, May 7. Throughout the day, hundreds of bars, breweries, homebrew shops, and homebrew clubs across the country and … [ Read more]
New research finds homebrewers may be able to predict the future
February 9, 2016 by
According to a recent study, homebrewers can predict the future. OK, maybe your homebrewing buddy isn’t a mystic seer, but a high number of homebrewers in a state might foretell a surge in new breweries, says Brewers Association chief economist Dr. Bart Watson. After looking at the 6,906 entries from the 2011 National Homebrew Competition … [ Read more]
Modern Moonshining
October 27, 2015 by
Forget the image of the hillbilly in the woods: home distillers in the Twin Cities are serious about their craft—and their underground practice might soon see the light of day Jack’s garage smells like a brewery. And that’s mostly what it is. There’s a plastic drum full of malted barley in the corner. Three large … [ Read more]
Duluth Homebrew Supply opens in Fitger’s complex
July 17, 2015 by
Duluth homebrewers, start your engines! Duluth Homebrew Supply opened its doors July 16 in the Fitger’s complex. Owners and siblings Katie Hagglund and Kelly Katoski opened the store with hopes of bringing to life a vision of people gathering around a shared passion. “We started Duluth Homebrew Supply not just because we love to make great beer,” … [ Read more]
American Homebrewers Association Rally is Sunday at Surly
July 13, 2015 by
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is hosting a rally this Sunday, July 19, from 2–7pm at Surly Brewing Company, and several attendees will walk away with five gallons of Surly wort to ferment and experiment with at home. AHA rallies are meant to give AHA members an inside look at local breweries and provide homebrew and beer … [ Read more]
The Minnesota Brewer: Pitching Yeast with Twins Closer Glen Perkins in the Offseason
April 8, 2015 by
Photos by Brace Hemmelgarn, Minnesota Twins Glen Perkins’s newfound hobby has him pitching more than just baseballs in the offseason. Beer and baseball are an iconic pairing—and it’s not just enjoyed in the bleachers. Twins all-star closer Glen Perkins, a longtime beer fan, took that pairing a step further this offseason when he discovered the joys … [ Read more]
Homebrew Recipe: Neck Tat That Says “Evil” Black IPA
April 1, 2015 by
Illustration by David Witt At a recent brewing conference I attended I sat next to a guy with a neck tattoo that was simply the word “evil.” At least I think that’s what it said—I was too scared to stare directly and it was hard to read the stylized script with a semi-averted gaze. Even … [ Read more]
Vine Park Celebrates 20 Years of Brew-Your-Own Beers
March 27, 2015 by
Anybody can brew their own beer. From department store kits to all grain systems at homebrew supply centers, a range of products are out there for people to make their own beer at home. What those recipes tend to ignore, though, is the social side of brewing. Sure, homebrewers share their products with friends, but … [ Read more]
