Minnesota Craft Beer Week is upon us. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild has deemed May 5-11 as a week to highlight all the breweries around the state with a plethora of brew related activities. Here are our five choice picks for some beer-loving fun in the Twin Cities.
1) Minnesota Monday at Grumpy's NE
When: Monday, 4 to 11 p.m.
Where: Grumpy's NE
What: Surly Brewing Company and Kramarczuk's are teaming up to bring you some next level beer brats. Bender boiled bison brats on buns from Hell. That's right, Kramarczuk's will be preparing Bison sausages made with Surly beer and boiling them in Surly Bender (brown ale) on the patio at Grumpy's. But wait, the brats will be served on buns baked with Surly Hell (lager). Oh, AND many of the condiments are also made with Surly beer.
2) No Firkin Way: The Ovni Edition
When: Tuesday, 2 p.m. to Midnight
Where: Black Sheep Pizza
What: Flat Earth Brewing Company will be tapping a firkin of their Ovni Ale, a French style bier de garde. The malty, caramel-y, seasonal beer is back and in firkin form and the guys from Flat Earth are tapping it at 2 p.m. In honor of the French ale, Black Sheep is pairing it with a special pizza known as the "Pizza St. Germaine" made with ham, mushrooms, and parsley.
3) Beer Lovers Speed Dating
When: Wednesday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Herkimer Pub and Brewery
What: Calling all beer-loving singles. The Herk invites you to stop in for speed dating and beer flights. There will be discounted beer flights for those participating in the speed dating and other specials. Not single? May we suggest spectating the speed dating fun while sipping on beer from a firkin of Clementine IPA (cascade dry hopped beer).
4) Pizza Party and Four Square Tournament
When: Thursday & Friday starting at 3 p.m.
Where: Big Wood Brewery
What: Remember four square? No, not the app, but that playground game we used to play back in the day. Big Wood Brewery is hosting a four square tournament and pizza party at their new taproom. The tournament is free to sign up and the winner will receive some super cool prizes. There will also be a pizza party with grub from Pizzeria Pezzo.
5) Fulton Gran Fondo
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Fulton Brewery (NE Location)
What: Join Fulton for their first annual Fulton Gran Fondo. The 100 mile ride departs at 9 a.m. from the new Fulton Brewery (in NE Minneapolis). Following the ride, a free block party kicks off at 2 p.m. Check out $5 Fulton beers (including the first tapping of The Randonneur, Fulton's all-new Summer Saison), live music, food trucks, and much more. Register for the bike ride here.
