I turn on my recorder and loft up what I think is a softball question: “What led you to go the brewmaster route?” Caleb Levar and his business partner Levi Loesch exchange a look. In pure Minnesota Nice fashion, they both immediately look away and smile but clearly something is amiss. I’ve said something wrong … [ Read more]
Building A Brewery, Chapter 4: For the Love of Microbes
March 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of journal entries in which Oakhold Farmhouse Brewery founders Levi Loesch and Caleb Levar write about the trials and tribulations of starting their mixed-fermentation brewery in Northern Minnesota. Catch up with Chapter 1: Oakhold Digs In, Chapter 2: The Right Tools For The Job, and Chapter … [ Read more]
Beers for Bob: 10 perfect pairings honoring Dylan’s Nobel Prize
October 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Bob Dylan became the first singer-songwriter to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” In honor of this achievement by one of Minnesota’s most recognizable native sons, here are 10 of our favorite Dylan songs or albums and their perfect Minnesota beer … [ Read more]
Building a Brewery, Chapter 3: Outside Expertise
October 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment
[Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of monthly journal entries in which Oakhold Farmhouse Brewery founders Levi Loesch and Caleb Levar write about the trials and tribulations of starting their mixed-fermentation brewery in Northern Minnesota. Catch up with Chapter 1: Oakhold Digs In and Chapter 2: The Right Tools For The Job.] With … [ Read more]
Building a Brewery, Chapter 2: The right tools for the job
August 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of monthly journal entries in which Oakhold Farmhouse Brewery founders Levi Loesch and Caleb Levar write about the trials and tribulations of starting their mixed-fermentation brewery in Northern Minnesota. Read Chapter 1: Oakhold Digs In. How important is equipment? When Levi and I started down this … [ Read more]
The State of Sours: An update on Minnesota’s funkiest beers
July 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota brewers are becoming fixated on mixed-fermentation [Editor’s Note: This post will continue to be updated with more news on sours made by Minnesota’s breweries] A whole new segment of Minnesota beer has turned sour. Or maybe not sour—that makes it sound like a mistake. These beers are intentionally tart and astringent, funky and wild. “Sour beer” is … [ Read more]
Beer list for Fair State’s Mixed Culture sour festival
June 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Fair State Brewing Cooperative has put a stake in the ground on the funkier side of beer. The Northeast Minneapolis brewery will dig into the recesses of their cellar to celebrate all things sour at their Mixed Culture (Festival of the Funky & Sour) on June 25 from 2–8pm. The event is free to attend … [ Read more]
Building a Brewery, Chapter 1: Oakhold Digs In
May 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a monthly series of journal entries in which Oakhold Farmhouse Brewery co-founder Levi Loesch writes on the victories and setbacks of building his mixed-fermentation brewery in northern Minnesota. Introduction: A short history of a brewery-in-planning When our friends at The Growler asked Caleb Levar and me if we would be willing to … [ Read more]
