Looking for something beer-y to do this weekend? Here are five choice beer happenings going on around the Twin Cities:
1) Butcher & The Boar May Beer Bash with Surly Brewing
When: Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m.
Where: Butcher & the Boar
What: The restaurant is partnering with Surly Brewing to serve its beers including: Furious, Hell, Coffee Bender, Cynic, Bitter Brewer, Schadenfreude, Diminished Seviin, Pentagram, and a cask of "Tea Bagged" Overrated IPA. There will also be live music in the beer garden.
2) 2013 Memory Lanes Block Party
When: Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: Memory Lanes
What: Summit is co-sponsoring two days of live music at the Memory Lanes Block Party. Look for 16- and 24-oz pours of Summit Summer Ale, EPA, and Saga IPA. The event is free, all ages are welcome, and will go on rain or shine. See full lineup here.
3) Harriet Brewing Crawfish Boil
When: Saturday, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Where: Harriet Brewing
What: Cajun 2 Geaux brings a crawfish boil and jazz music to the taproom. All you can eat crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage, corn on the cob, and potatoes served promptly at times posted. Advance registration is closed, but they will be serving crawfish to a limited number of walk-ups, and you can always get the truck's regular fare, enjoy the jazz music, and drink plenty of beer. If you're set on crawfish, Cajun 2 Geaux will be running another crawfish boil at Summit on Friday, May 31, and you can get your tickets here (ticket sales close at midnight on May 27). Tickets are $22 each.
4) Memorial Day Shagagogo Bash
When: Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.
Where: Excelsior Brewing Co.
What: Excelsior Brewing is hosting a 60s themed party for the holiday weekend. Expect beer, food, and live music featuring Austin Powers tribute band, Shagagogo.
5) Minnesota Brewery Running Series at Great Waters Brewing
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Great Waters Brewing
What: Join the first run of the MN Brewery Running Series at Great Waters Brewing Company. Run 5k or 1 mile through downtown St. Paul before drinking a free beer at Great Waters Brewing. Registration for the Great Waters run is closed, but you can still sign up for the next run in the series, ending at Fulton on June 5 (registration ends June 3). Registration is $30; you can sign up and see the full running calendar here. You can also register on-site, but the runs often sell out.
Also of Note: Fulton owner/brewer Brian Hoffman will be at Keegan's Irish pub for a firkin tapping of Ringer American Pale Ale (Friday, 5 p.m). Summit's Taproom Friday (3 to 8 p.m) will feature food truck B-52 Burgers and Meridian Session Ale along with trivia (6 to 8 p.m.). 612Brew has Bloomy's Food Truck on Saturday (noon to 9 p.m.). Indeed welcomes Hola Arepa and Heavy Metal Grill food trucks Friday (4 to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) respectively. Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub is now serving Brunch every Sunday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
—Lindsay Abraham
· The Essential Guide to Twin Cities Taprooms, May '13 [Eater MPLS]
