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Gravity Well 2018: Five bottles drop 11/17

Paige Latham Didora

Nov 6, 2018
3 min

Gravity Well 2018: Five bottles drop 11/17

From time to time, I’m asked about the future of the industry. One frequent question is whether bottle releases still draw a crowd. While the serious beer enthusiast may be more picky about what makes it into her cellar, more “average” drinkers seem to be showing up, and in significant numbers. Minnesota beer event calendars are still populated, weekend after weekend, with special releases. The perennial favorites include Lift Bridge Commander, Surly Darkness, and Bent Paddle

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The Familiar, Alewive’s Golden, and International Women’s Day

Paige Latham Didora

Mar 8, 2018
3 min

The Familiar, Alewive’s Golden, and International Women’s Day

The advancement of women in beer and brewing is a welcome movement that I’m happy — and relieved — to see come to light over the past few years. Women in beer used to be the exception, a notable departure from the norm. It’s no longer the head-turner that it once was. I’ll say it now: are we there yet? No. Is gender inequality in the industry, as in all industries, still a major issue? Absolutely. When I started in beer in 2012, I had few women to look to. I was fortunate to

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Town Hall Barrel Aged Week

Paige Latham Didora

Feb 16, 2018
5 min

Town Hall Barrel Aged Week

Town Hall has become the local OG of barrel aging, and every year around this time, the brewpub becomes nearly synonymous with Barrel Aged Week, the annual event showcasing wood-aged beer. I’ve enjoyed covering it (and also drinking it) in years past. From year to year, it gets a variable amount of attention depending on the whims of the craft beer audience. For fear that it be overlooked next week, I’ll not bury the lede: this is THE YEAR to make your way to Seven Corners. F

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Venn Brewing, a preview

Paige Latham Didora

Dec 5, 2017
5 min

Venn Brewing, a preview

Venn Brewing in Southeast Minneapolis is slated to open as soon as this month, and overall things have been pretty quiet, media-wise. I wanted to learn more about co-owner and head brewer, Kyle Sisco, as well as the Venn taproom, which will serve a beer desert, an area previously only served by Northbound Smokehouse (and the late Harriet Brewing). Kyle and I became acquaintances during my occasional forays into beer judging, namely at The State Fair and the Minnesota Mashout.

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a first look at utepils

Paige Latham Didora

Mar 6, 2017
3 min

a first look at utepils

Perhaps no other brewery has had as much presence before its opening day since 612Brew opened in Northeast Minneapolis. Utepils Brewing has generated buzz for over a year (since about July, 2015, but who’s counting?) prior to opening their doors due to their capital-raising strategies, name change, location, and size. Formerly founded as Bryn Mawr Brewing, admittedly a much more attractive name, 18,000 square feet makes Utepils a very large brewery. In fact, owner Dan Justese

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wild mind artisan ales

Paige Latham Didora

Sep 27, 2016
3 min

wild mind artisan ales

Talking with Mat Waddell, brewer and owner of Wild Mind Artisan Ales, is like catching up with an old friend who happens to be a skilled brewer. His attitude is one of passion, yet he is entirely unassuming and realistic about his business, which opened its doors several weeks ago. There’s no great story about the name Wild Mind, or lightbulb moment to his becoming a brewer. Make no mistake, though, he takes his beer very seriously. Unlike most new craft breweries, there is m

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norseman cocktail room

Paige Latham Didora

May 26, 2016
3 min

norseman cocktail room

Visiting a taproom isn’t only about the beer. Until five years ago, Minnesota breweries were forced to function without a way of directly serving pints of beer to their guests. It was enough for a brewery to put a high-quality product in a bottle, can, or keg for distribution. Obviously this is no longer the case. With 100 breweries in the state plus countless bars and restaurants, taprooms need to present a particular draw to drinkers. Seldom do I hear about a brewery busine

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2016 Winter Wine Fest this friday

Paige Latham Didora

Feb 10, 2016
2 min

2016 Winter Wine Fest this friday

This Friday marks the 40th anniversary of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, an organization that was formed to “heighten public awareness of the Minnesota grape and wine industry.” To celebrate this milestone, the organization is hosting the 2016 Winter Wine Fest this Friday at the Hyatt downtown. As a former U of M student, I’ve known for many years that Minnesota is unprecedented in their research of cold climate grapes. Visits to any Midwestern winery will reveal ho

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surly + mikkeller + brettanomyces

Paige Latham Didora

Jan 23, 2016
1 min

surly + mikkeller + brettanomyces

The recent collaboration between Surly and Mikkeller is making waves due to the high profile nature of both companies. As the name suggests, the Bret Mikkel’s IPA is a funky beer that takes advantage of both hops and brettanomyces. Neither brewery is a stranger to collaboration. Mikkeller is based in Copenhagen and has no facility of their own. Danish brewer Mikkel Bjergsø travels internationally to work in the brewhouses of others, a practice often referred to as “gypsy brew

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the biggest mistakes new breweries make, a drinker’s perspective

Paige Latham Didora

Dec 14, 2015
2 min

the biggest mistakes new breweries make, a drinker’s perspective

Beyond just bad beer or poor service, there are some predictable pitfalls in the business of opening a new brewery. Launching any new business is rife with difficulties, but opening a taproom in the current climate is a particular challenge. There are certain expectations among Twin Cities drinkers which are not always easy to live up to (food trucks are not always easy to book, people), plus the average drinker is becoming more and more discerning. Furthermore, competition

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one year of insight – celebrate this Saturday!

Paige Latham Didora

Nov 19, 2015
2 min

one year of insight – celebrate this Saturday!

The party celebrates Insight’s big trip around the sun and honors the brewery theme: traveling the world to bring great beer to Minnesota. Head brewer Ilan Klages-Mundt gained his brewing experience in England, Japan, and Denmark. The majority of his barreling experience took place in Denmark at two breweries, one of which contract brews for Mikkeler. You’ve tasted many of his creations, from Sunken City saison to Doe Eyes, famous for it’s strong cherry presence. But in the a

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able seedhouse + brewery now open

Paige Latham Didora

Nov 11, 2015
3 min

able seedhouse + brewery now open

How should we sort through the riff raff, so to speak? I get this question a lot – from locals and travelers alike … “where should we go if Mr. BeerFriendFromDenver is in town?” or “Is it really worth driving to Duluth/Rochester/Stillwater for beer?” First, Minnesota has a lot of great beer; the number of breweries that I routinely advise against are very few. But the liver can only take so much, not to mention other limiting factors like time and money. With that in mind, I

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cherries and chocolate at indeed

Paige Latham Didora

Sep 20, 2015
2 min

cherries and chocolate at indeed

Indeed Brewing has experienced resounding success with their sour cellaring program, which began at the beginning of this year. Their Wooden Soul series, which is meticulously cared for off-site, so as to keep the souring agents separate from their flagship beers, takes place at a microbial level within hundreds of wooden barrels. As with any souring experimentation, many different types of barres are used, namely wine. On the sour end of things is the third installment of th

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Tattersall Distilling now open in NE

Paige Latham Didora

Sep 11, 2015
3 min

Tattersall Distilling now open in NE

The stage is now set for a crop of new Minnesota distilleries, thanks in part to the far-reaching ramifications of the Surly Bill and a few pioneering local businesses like Panther, Far North Spirits, Millers & Saints, Vikre, and J. Carver, to name a few. Tattersall Distilling is part of the new distilling wave, and has made a bigger splash than other cocktail rooms. Whether this is due to good marketing, a great name and location, or it’s affiliation with Dan Oskey (Easy & O

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Fair State’s Lactobac series

Paige Latham Didora

Sep 3, 2015
2 min

Fair State’s Lactobac series

Sour beer is no longer the oddity within the beer market that it once was. When I first wrote about sour beers, I got several messages from people, shocked by the availability of sours in the Twin Cities compared to other areas. One of the area’s newest breweries is churning out hands-down the most impressive sour beers in the Twin Cities. If you’re a co-op member or merely a frequent visitor, of course you know I mean Fair State. Some of their sours are consistently availabl

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In Cahoots

Paige Latham Didora

Aug 4, 2015
3 min

In Cahoots

Collaboration brewing is a serious interest of mine. The idea of two or more brewers getting together to create something synergistic is very appealing to me as both a writer and a drinker. When I consume collaboration beers, I imagine the brewers – especially if I know them personally – brainstorming and impressing each other, making compromises, and ultimately representing themselves in one glass, together. Opportunities to sample collaboration beers have grown, especially

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we need a little revival

Paige Latham Didora

Jul 7, 2015
2 min

we need a little revival

The wait goes quickly, actually, and bar service is first come, first served. But let me be clear, there is no way this place can keep up with any take-out orders. At least not yet. The design of the space is Midwest meets southern but is entirely simple, with mod floral wallpaper and one stenciled rooster head, in a mocking sort of fashion. If you had a head cold and entered, devoid of any aromas, you wouldn’t know whether to expect hot dish or hush puppies. But comfort food

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nighthawks and pickled PBR

Paige Latham Didora

May 22, 2015
3 min

nighthawks and pickled PBR

I don’t work in data analytics, business, or marketing, but I do know beer and food. I will say this and would bet good money on it: Nighthawks is doomed to be a favorite far and wide for years to come. Location, Location, Location? Sure. The little Kingfield intersection is blossoming faster than anything I’ve ever seen. The past year has seen the opening of Five Watt Coffee, Kyatchi, and now Nighthawks, a modernized conceptualization of a diner. Added to the old stand-by’s

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nico’s tacos, tequila, and nostalgia

Paige Latham Didora

Feb 20, 2015
3 min

nico’s tacos, tequila, and nostalgia

credit: Twin Cities Restaurant Blog There are a few spaces in Minneapolis that I refer to as restaurant black holes. Maybe you know what I mean. These kitchens are like extended-stay hotels, with new concepts fluttering in and out within a year (sometimes far less). Off the top of my head, I think of Cafe Zeno, which was once located at Hennepin and Lagoon. Gone since my college years, never to have been effectively replaced in any sustained fashion, the restaurant had kille

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Fulton Insurrection

Paige Latham Didora

Feb 10, 2015
2 min

Fulton Insurrection

A few summers ago, Summit’s Damian McConn chatted with me on the Red Cow patio. He was all jazzed up about experimenting with southern hemisphere hops – varieties from places like New Zealand and Australia. I was still wandering around somewhat blindly in the beer world, and I simply nodded along, but was so happy to see Summit’s enthusiasm and passion for experimentation. Still, compared to other regions, these hops only make up a small portion of total varieties. There are

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