Blog
Asking questions can lead you to new places. Writing helps bring you to answers. And more questions.
Here, I’ve collected writings on a number of topics. Sometimes they’ve been published elsewhere, and other times they’re just for this blog.
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Arriving at Haggard Barrel Brewing Co. at 6:30 a.m. that Saturday morning, my mission had been simple: shadow a professional brewer using industrial equipment, do some backbreaking labor and gain a better appreciation of the process. An errant gasket changed that. But as a result, I saw a different side of what makes brewing so…
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Paddlefish Brewing Co. opened in January 2024 in St. Peter, Minnesota. It’s a community-focused taproom with brews for craft connoisseurs as well as light beer lovers.
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Kölsch may be related to the other beers of the Rhine valley — Dortmunder export and the Altbiers of Dusseldorf. However, unlike those cousins to the north, Kölsch is truly part of the city’s culture.
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The Basics: Pumpkin Ale
What is a pumpkin ale really? They often get lumped into the PSL trend, but should it be? Let’s talk to the brewer at Saint Paul Brewing. maker of the Mummy Train pumpkin ale, to find out.
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The basics: Hefeweizen
To understand the love-hate relationship with Hefeweizen, I spoke with Dave Berg of August Schell Brewing Co. about all things weissbier.
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What is beer poking?
One piece of brewing alchemy you can do, even after bottling, is beer poking. This involves taking a red-hot iron and plunging it into a glass of malty beer. Here’s how to poke beer and why.
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Minnesota women brewing change
As a way to celebrate and support other women working in brewing, Jordan Nordby of Utepils and Ariel Keeton of Pryes Brewing Co. formed Team Nevertheless.
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Don’t mess with the Fest
What we celebrate may be your Opa’s Oktoberfest, but it isn’t his Opa’s. It’s unrealistic to think cherished traditions will never change. Here’s why.
James Figy 