This May, University of Minnesota researchers, in collaboration with a collection of local cider producers and apple growers, were awarded a $100,000 grant to explore the production of cider and cider apples in Minnesota. The Speciality Crop Block Grant, which enables state agricultural agencies to administer federal funds for specialty crop research, will provide funding … [ Read more]
A taste of ‘Plague Water,’ and other spirits of centuries past
February 20, 2019 by
I’m drinking Plague Water. It’s made from a medieval-sounding roster of roots and herbs including zedoary, valerian, horehound, thistle, and rue. It tastes bitter and strange—but I have it on good authority that these ingredients are a “singular remedy against pestilence and poyson.” So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice. The recipe is from … [ Read more]
Bite of the Week: Chef’s Special Dry Chili Chicken at Lao Sze Chuan
February 13, 2019 by
Bite of the Week is a weekly feature showcasing an exceptional meal or dish, curated by The Growler. Chinese food fans who frequent University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus have a lot to keep track of—the lively scene includes mainstays like Hong Kong Noodles and Tea House as well as numerous newcomers. The latest development is … [ Read more]
The Next Phase In Local Craft Beer: Homegrown Hops
September 11, 2018 by
For the casual craft beer drinker in Minnesota, supporting local breweries usually means frequenting area taprooms and buying Minnesota-made beer at the liquor store. But with the increasing availability of locally grown brewing ingredients such as hops, the next step in the craft movement involves seeking out beers that go one step further and use ingredients harvested as close … [ Read more]
Food for Thought: A U of M partnership yields some exotic fruits
August 28, 2018 by
Across the country, campus dining tends to be where mediocre food comes to a bad end, ladled from plastic bags into heating vessels and then into troughs where it is consumed with a mixture of indifference and resentment. “Banquets” are sorry affairs, dominated by overcooked vegetables, cloying desserts, and rubber chicken entrees more appropriate to … [ Read more]
UMN and Urban Growler team up to save the rainforest
April 20, 2018 by
Not every beer has the lofty goal of saving the rainforest, but that’s precisely what the University of Minnesota and St. Paul’s Urban Growler Brewing Company aimed to do with two recent beer releases. Their collaboration centers around the rámon nut, a seed that grows in tropical forests in Central America, South America, and the … [ Read more]
U of M paving the way toward better barley, stronger hops
January 17, 2018 by
It’s not a question of if, but when an invasive species will threaten Minnesota hop crops. That’s not meant to scare local hop growers or breweries that use them. It’s just something University of Minnesota professor Gary Muehlbauer is trying to prevent with his research. Luckily, he and two other U of M professors have … [ Read more]
Trailblazers 2017: University of Minnesota Grape Breeding and Enology
December 26, 2017 by
This January, when the mercury dips below zero and the snow is blowing across windswept fields in Minnesota, take a moment to consider—in spring, the grape vines at the state’s 60-plus wineries and even more vineyards will begin to bloom again. This fact is due in large part to the University of Minnesota’s grape breeding … [ Read more]
Golden Rivalries: Gopher football’s most storied trophy games
October 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Autumn in Minnesota. Gold in the changing leaves, gold in the fields and prairies, and of course gold on the gridiron. It’s the time of the year that for autumnal traditions provided by college football at the University of Minnesota: reveling in the camaraderie of tailgating, raking leaves to the rhythm of radio play-by-play, the … [ Read more]
Honeycrisp Apples Dissed by The New York Times
November 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The New York Times is back to misrepresenting Minnesota food. Last year, it was “Grape Gate.” This year, they’re attacking the Honeycrisp, labeling our state’s beloved apple as “soft and quickly dissolving in the mouth,” with an inconsistent flavor that fades in long storage. The paper goes on to shower praise on the Washington-bred Cosmic Crisp. … [ Read more]
Climate Change: The Good, The Bad, and The Barley
June 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Minnesota of the future will look very different from today. So, too, will the future of Minnesota beer. Photos by David Hansen, University of Minnesota In January 2015, the United Kingdom’s Hadley Center for Climate, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) held press conferences—all in the same week—to declare 2014 the … [ Read more]
A U of M Design Class Crafted Tap Handles for Three Minnesota Breweries
January 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Photos by Warren Bruland If you were at the University of Minnesota’s Campus Club on December 16, 2014, you got a firsthand look at an exciting collaboration between some of Minnesota’s best craft brewers and designers. If you weren’t, don’t worry: You can see the fruits of the collaboration at Excelsior Brewing Company and Fair State … [ Read more]
New Happy Hour Alert: Campus Club
June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
By John Garland So, here’s an interesting new spot to grab a cocktail in style this summer: The University of Minnesota Campus Club has announced that happy hour (3pm-6pm, Monday-Friday) is now open through August to non-members. Drink specials are $1 off rail drinks, tap beers, house cocktails and 1/2 price bottles of wine. And … [ Read more]
