Beer and Breweries
What happened to Dubrue?
I remember drinking Dubrue at local restaurants and bars around 2011-2012. I also vaguely remember a story of a fire in the building the brewery was located in. Since then, I haven’t seen the brew anywhere. I did some internet searching but I haven’t come up with much. Is Dubrue around anymore?
Duluth Brewery Tours
I’ll be in town next weekend Friday and Saturday, and I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations of breweries or brewpubs to check out. We will be doing the Bent Paddle brewery tour … but any additional suggestions/recommendations is greatly appreciated.
Perfect Brewery: Bent Paddle Brewing
Since launching in May 2013, Bent Paddle Brewing has quickly become a dominant force in the region. The company seems to have everything right, from perfect beer to perfect packaging to perfect branding and distribution. From a 10,600-square-foot warehouse in Duluth’s Friendly West End, Bent Paddle already produces twice as many barrels of beer as any other local company — making it the most macro of the area’s microbreweries and brewpubs.
In the final round of Perfect Duluth Day’s poll, Bent Paddle went head-to-head with Fitger’s Brewhouse, a 19-year-old jauggernaut brewpub that supplies beer to five restaurants and a beer store owned by parent company Just Take Action. While the two companies have quite different operations and histories, both are well-known beyond Duluth for producing an array of outstanding craft brews. The nod to Bent Paddle, which amassed 60 percent of the vote, is perhaps due to its reach. Though the company is still fairly new, it’s beer is available in a majority of bar, restaurant and liquor stores in the Duluth market — and the territory has already begun to expand into the Twin Cities metro area.
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Poll: What is the best brewery in the Duluth area?
Duluth is the Beer Capital of Minnesota, at least according to the unofficial claiming of the title by Mayor Don Ness in The Growler magazine in 2013. So, which local brewery has the best blends of barley, hops and yeast? Well, it’s time to decide with a fancy PDD poll.
We often have a nomination process for polls, but in this case it seems appropriate to just throw all the breweries into the running for our first round. We also typically rule out areas farther than 10 miles from Duluth city limits, but since the beer from more outlying areas makes it’s way to taps in Duluth, we broadened the range to include the north and south shores.
So now, without further ado, we ask …
[poll id=”71″]
This poll is now closed. Bent Paddle Brewing and Fitger’s Brewhouse were the top finishers and will advance to the final ballot.
Bent Paddle 14° ESB wins medal at Great American Beer Festival
Duluth’s Bent Paddle Brewing won a bronze medal in the Extra Special Bitter category at the Great American Beer Festival this past weekend in Boulder, Colo. Presented by the Brewers Association, the Great American Beer Festival is the largest commercial beer competition in the world.
This year 268 medals were awarded in 90 categories covering 145 different beer styles. A group of 222 beer experts from 10 countries evaluated the 5,507 commercial entries from 1,309 breweries.
Fitger’s Brewhouse is a past medal winner, taking home a bronze in the American-Style Sour Ale category in 2012 for its Fitger’s Framboise and another bronze in the French- and Belgian-Style Saison category in 2004 for its Farm House Reserve.
Wheat/gluten-free Duluth brews?
As someone recently diagnosed with a wheat allergy, the world of local beer has become a mysterious place. Information on ingredients is sketchy at best on the interwebs. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge if any of our local breweries offer any wheat-free or gluten-free beers? Suggestions would be most appreciated!
Fresh Hops For Sale
Hello, kind Duluthians. I have for sale three varieties of fresh hops, all picked today (Tuesday) and yesterday. Hand picked, by me, no branches, no leaves, no pesticides applied ever.
3.5# Cascades
1.2# Centennial (these smell amazing, by the way)
4 oz. nearly dry Mt. Hood
$30 for the cascades, $15 for the Centennials, $8 Mt. Hood. I will also trade for beer. E-mail me, my PDD username at gmail
Gluten-free Beer Growlers in Duluth
Can someone clue me in to which of our many local breweries offer anything gluten free? My out of town sister wants to bring a growler or two up north.
The Duluth Experience is now on tap
Duluth’s craft brewing scene is now the focus of the city’s newest tour company. The Duluth Experience Brewery Tours is introducing visitors to craft breweries in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
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Is Duluth the Beer Capital of Minnesota?
Frank Kaszuba, Keith Hefley and Dave Hoops of Fitger’s Brewhouse
In light of The Growler magazine beginning distribution to Duluth on Feb. 8, I have to ask if we’re becoming the brewing capital of Minnesota. By my count, we’ve got ten microbreweries open or nearly open: (more…)
Duluth Beer Snob Blog
I was looking for some beta on the New Canal Park Brewery when I ran across this Duluth Beer Snob Blog. So it made me wonder, have we reached the point of Beer stardom where we now have the pinnacle of beer snobbery in town? Seems to know his stuff and he sure gets around the beer joints.
Brewhouse at Great American Beer Festival
Big congrats to the Fitger’s Brewhouse for winning a medal at the GABF 2012. Fitger’s Framboise took the bronze in the American-style Sour Ale category. I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure it’s fantastic.
He got married but … you get the presents!
If you haven’t become a member, or even if you have, check this sweet deal out on Blacklist’s Beer+Art Project! Only a few more days left to back this Kickstarter project and make it happen in Duluth! (more…)
Blacklist Brewing: Beer + Art Project 2013 Kickstarter Campaign
Blacklist Brewing: Beer + Art Project 2013 is a year-long project that meshes local artisans with beer and the brewing process to create fun and unique collaborations. Featuring a different artist and brew each month, we bring you a drinking experience worth sharing and talking about. “Share the Love, Share the Beer”
Pledge your funds to ensure this project happens in Duluth!
Learn more about the company at blacklistbrewing.com.
What Canal Park Brewing Company will look like
Canal Park Brewing Co. is expected to open this summer. Construction is underway and Wagner Zaun Architecture’s designs look like this. (more…)
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? (more…)
The Minnesota Pint Law – HF 703
Today the House Commerce committee endorsed HF 703 (aka The Minnesota Pint Law …or Surly bill, if you prefer), the bill allowing Minnesota breweries to sell pints of their own beer. There is still a ways to go before it becomes law, but the bill will continue through the legislative process. Surly Brewing says, “Thanks to the committee members for their support, and also to all of you for getting behind this bill and moving it forward.”
More Info Here: https://mnpintlaw.com/
Official word on Duluth hash run!
Hey all! Official hash run on Easter Sunday, April 24, up at Spirit Mountain chalet. Meet @11 and bring $5 bucks for beer/food — 21+ please. Check out our Facebook page and email Karen (me) if you have any questions — kdillehay @ aol.com.
Duluth Hash House Harriers
I’m looking to see if we have an established HHH group in Duluth? If not we should it started up!
Hey brewers of the Midwest, we like what you are doing. Keep up the good work.
Surly Abrasive Ale
Double Oat IPA
8.8 percent alcohol by volume
On tap at Beaner’s Central and maybe other places
Bell’s Hopslam Ale
American Double/Imperial I.P.A.
10 percent alcohol by volume
Available in bottles at Beaner’s Central, Zeitgeist Arts Cafe and maybe other places
And congratulations to the amazing Dave Hoops and the folks at Fitger’s Brewhouse. Their Bourbon Barrel Edmund Imperial Stout took first place in the Strong Porter/Stout category at the eighth annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer in Chicago in November.
What are you drinkin’?
Northern Brewing Company in Superior
I work at what was the old Northern Brewing Company building in Superior, now Balcum Appliance, Inc. Some people stop in and tell me stories about when it was the brewery. I was just doing some research about the building and not much comes up. I was just curious if anyone had a little knowledge about the Northern Brewing Company or stories to share regarding it. I would really love to see pictures of it also. I hear that there was another section of the building which has been torn down. Any information is greatly appreciated.
3rd Annual Chester Bowl Wine/Beer/Pizza Tasting & Silent Auction
The 3rd Annual Chester Bowl Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction will be held Saturday, Nov. 6 from 6pm to 9pm at the Midi Restaurant in Fitger’s Brewery Complex.
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