Looking for something beer-y to do this weekend? Here are five choice beer happenings going on around the Twin Cities:
1) St. Paul Summer Beer Fest
When: Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m.
Where: MN State Fairgrounds
What: Sample beer from over 100 breweries at the 5th annual St. Paul Summer Beer Fest taking place at the MN State Fairground's International Bazaar. This outdoor festival also has live music, food, educational seminars, and a silent auction benefiting the YMCA of St. Paul. Tickets: $40-50.
2) Stone Arch Bridge Festival
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Minneapolis Riverfront
What: The St. Anthony Main festival has more than 40 acts and 250+ visual artists' displays. Look for Goose Island beer, food, and music at the free, outdoor event. For music lineups and other information, visit the festival's website.
3) Kegs & Eggs Beer Brunch
When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m
Where: Stout's Pub
What: The official pre-party of the St. Paul Beer Fest is at Stout's Pub. Chef Dan Parker prepares a full buffet of brunch favorites using Summit beer in nearly every dish. Firkins of Summit Oatmeal Stout and Saga IPA will also be tapped. Check out the menu.
4) Harriet Brewing's Summer Picnic Brewdown
When: Saturday, 2 to 10 p.m.
Where: Harriet Brewing
What: Rain or shine, the taproom presents an afternoon and evening of beer, art, food, and music. See the music and food lineups here. There's a $5 cover after 5 p.m.
5) The Brooklyn Brewery MASH
When: June 17 through 23
Where: Various Locations around the Twin Cities
What: Brooklyn Brewery brings adventures in food, film, music, books, and beer to the Twin Cities for this week-long event. Attend a multi-course beer dinner at Haute Dish or sip beer while talking books at The Amsterdam. For a list of the events, check out the MASH website.
Also of Note: Summit's Taproom Friday (3 to 8 p.m.) will feature food truck Tiki Tim's, a firkin of Meridian Session Ale, and music from Hotpants DJs. Excelsior Brewing teams up with Bayview boat cruises for a three-hour tour and beer dinner on Lake Minnetonka (Friday, 6:30 to 9:30pm). Punch Pizza is serving up $1 pints of 612 Brew when you buy a pizza (through Sunday) during its Fire & Craft Beer Festival. Pour Decisions welcomes Cajun 2 Geaux for its final crawfish boil of the season (Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m.). Pizza Luce has a free beer for dads with any food purchase of $5 or more on Father's Day (Sunday).
—Lindsay Abraham
· All Previous Weekend Brewery Reports [Eater MPLS]
· The Essential Guide to Twin Cities Taprooms, May '13 [Eater MPLS]
