Duluth Beer Tour 2011
How many different beers are produced in Duluth and commercially available in July 2011? Could you drink a pint of each in one day and not require a stomach pump?
As of last week, Dubh Linn Irish Pub had three beers on tap:
Double Hop IPA
Péche Radle
Maple Ale
Carmody Irish Pub usually has about four or five beers on tap.
Lake Superior Brewing Co. has:
Special Ale
Kayak Kolsch
Mesabi Red
Sir Duluth Oatmeal Stout
Windward Wheat (early-summer seasonal, probably in short supply)
Fitger’s Brewhouse has:
Finn’s Finest #9
Dread Pirate Dunkelweizen
Lake Erie
Apricot Wheat
Timmy’s Edlestoff
Starfire Pale Ale
Brewhouse Brown
Wildfire Lager
El Nino Double Hopped IPA
Big Boat Oatmeal Stout
Lighthouse Golden
Burrito Union also has Apricot Wheat and Lighthouse Golden, in addition to:
Blue Label Grand Reserve
Six Finger Hefeweizen
Tugboat Irish Stout
Chester Creek Pale Ale
Superior Trail IPA
Plus there’s Dubrue beer floating around, as well.
So that makes something like 30 Duluth beers out there to try!
And there are six beers from Castle Danger Brewery in Two Harbors at certain Duluth locations, I think, along with four beers from South Shore Brewery in Ashland making the rounds (maybe only two of them are at Duluth bars).
And finally, you can’t buy it in Duluth, but Thirsty Pagan Brewing in Superior has about eight brews on tap.
I guess what this means is that it’s a good time to quit drinking.
Nice list compilation. I love micro brews, especially those from the Duluth area. Brewhouse’s pale ales top my list. The growing selection in our community is very much welcomed and appreciated.
So I’m having a reception soon and will need probably 20 growlers(that’s 21 ounces a person, coppers). We’re serving some bottles of wine as well. We plan on growlers from Castle Danger, Fitgers, Carmody, Dubh Linn.
Any ideas on other growler locations and a good 20-pack mix to satisfy a wide-ranging crowd? i.e. interesting but drinkable. Maybe I’m just asking for the three most solid/popular flavors at each location. Experts, chime in.
Big Boat Oatmeal Stout at Fitgers! Mmmmmmm. Have a couple of those with a Blue Cheese Burger and you are set.
A curious query for the Duluth craft-beer loving crowd here:
Are there too many beer options in town? I know we can’t have too much beer (unless we’re driving), but with all the breweries & brewpubs opening up, do you think the market will become saturated?
I guess another way to ask it is; can the Twin Ports support all the different breweries & brewpubs*?
*This is, of course, assuming these new places put out some good, solid, brews.
From Carmody, I would recommend the Scanlon IPA and the Agnes Red.
From the Brewhouse, Apricot Wheat is very good, especially for those who aren’t really beer drinkers. I’m partial to the Pale Ales from there as well.
The Lake Superior Special Ale and Oatmeal Stouts are also yummy.
Of the Thirsty Pagan’s my favorite has consistently been the Derailed Ale.
I have yet to try the Dubh Linn and the Castle Danger ones though.
I recommend the Thirsty Pagan Brewery in Superior, WI. They have a great selection!
I just picked up a used liver at the 2nd hand store so as I shoulld be set for some touring. Thanks for the list Paul!
Has anyone tried the Maple Ale at Dublinn? That sounds delicious, does anyone know if it is? I’ve never imbibed at Dublinn, I’m more a Fitgers/BU?Pagan girl.
Oh, and of course, Carmody’s! Love the Agnes Red.
Spy1: I recommend the Thirsty Pagan Brewery in Superior, WI. They have a great selection!
I only sampled the Maple Ale at Dubh Linn, I didn’t dive in for a full pint. I liked it, but at the same time I felt like a lot of people wouldn’t like it. And the Double Hop IPA is really good, so I kept drinking that. Péche Radle is a peach beer, and is also to my liking.
Scanlon IPA is the best beer I’ve had at Carmody.
Derailed seems to be everyone’s favorite at the Pagan.
Brewhouse/Burrito Union pretty much never fail. Spy1, if you’re looking for something to serve novices, go with the Lighthouse Golden. It was designed to be the beer they recommend to people who stare blankly at the list and ask what is the most like Bud Light.
Then, there’s that new brewery opening in Canal Park… I know everyone’s going to miss the zipper factory or whatever stupid crap was there, though.
Starfire Pale Ale is my favorite Brewhouse/BU brew … always seems to be a crowd pleaser among my set.
Thanks for the feedback re the Maple Ale, Paul.
I can’t remember the exact name, but Burrito Union has a beer out right now that tastes like smoked fish. How’s that for original?
Smoked fish beer is rather gross sounding.
Their Smoked Helles is excellent, though if that’s what you mean I’m going to go grab a growlie!
Lake Superior also brews an ale for Clyde that is available at their restaurant so you can add that to the list. It’s good.
@Spy1 – they also have growlers available at Lake Superior Brewing too.
As for the too many options question that keeps coming up, it seems to me each brewery is completely different, whether in product or place. I love the beer vacation idea that Duluth could draw people in around its beer selection. Enjoy it as long as we can I guess.
Lake Superior Brewing also makes two beers for Hacienda del Sol: Bueno Blanco and Negra Noche.
At Thirsty Pagan right now is the Barley Burger Scotch Ale. It’s been aging for 5 months so far, and will be released at 7 and 9 months to taste the aging process. Get it while you can.
Had no idea. I figured carmody and the union just featured berwhouse beers.
The El Nino at the Brewhouse is one of the best beers I’ve ever had, and man have I had alot. I’m biased towards super hopped beer though; kind of a snob like that. Word on the street is there will be a new brewpub in canal park where the old spring factory was. The dreaded GMas corp. is opening it. I’ll try it even though I avoid the rest of their average-at-best establishments.
Castle Danger beer is worth the drive.
I would love to showcase Twin Ports Breweries at Duluth Superior Pride this year…a craft beer tent alongside or even instead of the regular bud man? Is that a ridiculously large undertaking?
It wouldn’t be a large undertaking to have a single local brewery serving at Pride. The Brewhouse and Lake Superior Brewing have had beer tents at Bayfront for numerous events.
If you wanted to have more than one brewery it might be more of a project, though. Not necessarily impossible, but more of a project.
I have heard Northern MN, WI, and MI are to beer what CA, OR, and WA are to wine. I love the beer this area has to offer. I am very particualr to the Pale Ale’s of all types. It took some time though. I used to be the guy who stared blankly at a beer list and asked, “what is the most like Bud Light?” Starfire Pale Ale is my favorite Duluth beer. I am excited to try Dubh Linn’s Double Hopped IPA. The last brewfest I attended, Carmody had a black pepper ale which was interesting but I am wondering if it would be good after a few pints. Lake Superior Special Ale is pretty good as well. I still am not on board with the whole Oatmeal Stout thing yet. What is a good local Stout to start sampling to get some variances on the brew?
Don’t forget the Boathouse in Ely. If you’re wondering around up north with a fishing pole, it’s definitely worth the stop
Thanks for the list, Paul.
Dihydrogen monoxide – yep, I think the area can support a good number of local establishments (assuming they’re putting out something decent). Hell, I think a concentration of brewpubs in the area can actually drive demand. After all, who would buy Bud Light when they have so many other, great options. And, folks from outside the area may target weekend getaways to Duluth/Superior specifically for the great brew. Finally, for many people of good taste, a density of brewpubs is a quality of life issue – when considering relocating, they might more strongly consider the area because of the great beer. I did. (Okay, it wasn’t a huge factor in Duluth’s favor, but it sure as hell didn’t hurt.)
How can you not love our six pack culture?
In Crosby, after riding their great Cuyuna trail system I stopped in a liquor store and noticed a six pack of Brainerd beer and read the label and it said brewed by Lake Superior Brewing Co. but you can’t get it here.
Too many brewpubs? Whaaaaaaa? Never!
Anything that gets people drinking locally instead of Annheiser-MillerCrapInACan.
Every brewpub and or small time brewery that opens up is another nail in the coffin of big industry beer.
Except The Clyde thinks there is too many and thus is shelving its brew pub. They better take the “Brewery” off their website and logo cause it aint gonna happen.
With all the “local” brews, how many are sourcing local ingredients? That where I think there is room for expansion. I know for a fact that feral (and cultivated) hops flourish here. Also, there used to be a local malting operation. Davids and I have spoken of trying to grow some Amnicon River barley. At one point I emailed with a barley botanist and found out the following.
I would contact someone at UW-Madison Agronomy or you area UW Ag Extension office for recommendations. You might also talk to someone at Wisconsin Foundation Seed https://www.wisconsinfoundationseeds.wisc.edu/ to see what barley varieties are available. You can also check with foundation seed offices in ND and MN. You choices are likely going to be limited to varieties that are currently produced for the ABs, Millers, etc. If you are looking for something like a heirloom variety (e.g. Maris Otter) that is going to be real tough. Also, European varieties often do not do real well in the Midwest. Something to do with differences in daylight and temp sensitivities, as well as disease resistance. The malting varieties (six-rowed) Stellar ND, Lacey, and Tradition are all grown in NW MN. You could try the 2-rowed varieties Pinnacle or Colon, as they were developed for the Midwest (central to western ND). I would not recommend a western 2-row for Wisconsin (Harrington or Metcalfe) for Wisconsin. You can find some information on current US varieties at https://www.ambainc.org/pub/kymbv/KYMBV.pdf
If you want to have your barley commercially malted you will need several tons. Briess in Chilton WI is the only commercial maltster able to process relatively small batches. If you plan to malt it yourself….good luck. Unlike brewing, its really difficult to make good quality malt on a small scale (without fairly specialized equipment). During steeping it is very important to keep water temp low (16 C) and oxygen levels high. During germination, again temps should be low and there needs to be airflow through the grain. The hardest part though is kilning (drying) Moisture needs to be removed from the grain at low temps (50C or so)……so you need a lot of airflow. If the temps are too high with too much moisture you kill all the enzyme. Temp is only raised when moisture has been reduced from around 45% to <20%
What about yeast strains from local apples? Is Amazing Grace sourdough derived from Lake Superior airborne yeast? I think there’s ample opportunity to step this up a few notches in the “local” department.
jzndyk – I oversee the beer tents at Pride. We are a nonprofit organization and the festival is a completely free event. All of our beer sales go toward paying for the event(s). It’s our liquor license and we need every penny we can get. Sadly we cannot afford to share profits with the local breweries. That said – I love all the local brews we have going on here!
I would also like to add that in my 7 years of working with D/S Pride, the Brewhouse and Carmody have donated kegs of beer to all of our fundraisers and smaller events on Pride weekend. They have been very supportive to the events. Thank you!
I had my first Dubrue Pub Ale today at Beaner’s Central. It’s a nice summer beer, and I’m told it will be one of the regular taps available at Beaner’s, so you don’t have to hurry to check it out.
Dubrue is also available at Lake Avenue Café.
Thanks everyone! I am from NH and this is the info I was looking for as a visitor! I love trying local craft brews and typically like browns or less hoppy flavors. Mmmm. Stout….
@dihydrogen monoxide: I think another outcome, besides oversaturation of this market, is that the Twin Ports could become a microbrew/brewpub destination. Beer-oriented tourism is a growing niche market.
Dubrue opinions? I’ve heard mixed reactions.
Brew-luth! Duluth is getting mad love via MPR re: beer.
Dining with Dara: Duluth becoming state’s premiere destination for beer tourism
Shouldn’t that be Brewerism?
There’s a list of Great Lakes’ Duluth events and promotions at greatlakesbrewing.com/duluth.
The beer is decent and the brewpub is a great space, should you ever have the misfortune to find yourself in Cleveland.
I like how they refer to themselves as GLBC. Transgender relegated to “curious.”