Coffee Brew Debut

A fusion of local small business and a joy for quality beverages united beer and coffee lovers last night at Common Roots Cafe on the corner of Lyndale Ave. S. and 26th St. in Uptown, Minneapolis. The event is one of a series of locally focused sessions being hosted by the less than year-old establishment that prides itself on providing an eco-friendly atmosphere where customers can purchase organic, local and vegan food and drink.

Just as local is Surly Brewing Company, whose Brooklyn Center facility has seen so much activity since the industry newcomers debut in 2006 that they are already expanding. While tours remain on hold until Spring, the craftsmen continue to produce a line of highly drinkable beers that are available in 50+ Minneapolois/St. Paul establishments, others across the state of Minnesota and a few lucky spots in the Chicago area.


These two booming area namesakes joined forces to release a unique beer that unites the roasted flavors of coffee beans from (yes another Minnesota business) Tea & Coffee Unlimited in Linden Hills. The beer saw it's debut at a few other area bars in the last week, however the unique nature of this event was that it wasn't being held in a bar, rather in a place normally reserved for mochas and espressos.

What may be the most uncommon aspect of Common Roots is that ownership took it upon themselves to secure a liquor license and offer a universal location for beverage lovers. Mornings and around lunch you can find the shop packed with students, entrepreneurs and freelancers pounding away on their laptops. By 4:00 the mood shifts to a playful vibe as laptops are packed away and others getting off of work filter in for happy hour- featuring $3 local beer and $3.50 wine.

Those gathering Wednesday night were lucky to have tasted the newest addition on tap: The Surly Coffee Bender. For $4.93 (with tax) I was able to enjoy the concoction in the company of roughly 150-200 others hoping to taste the limited release. After a few sips of the dark liquid I could see why it won a gold medal at last year's Great American Beer Festival (The Academy Awards of beer). Coffee Bender is light in carbonation, smooth in it's drinkability and extremely flavorful with a mix of sweetness and slight bitterness that compliment its' rich texture. At 5% alcohol and 25 IBUs it's a beer that is to be sipped and enjoyed, just like your favorite cup of coffee.


Surly promises to serve the Coffee Bender at tastings, festivals, special events and eventually tours, but you likely won't find it on tap many places; this brew is produced in small 20 gallon batches. If you're craving Surly, or at least curious, you can still find their four signature beers: Bender, Furious, Cynicale and Darkness across the Twin Cities. As their facility grows, production will increase and availability will become more widespread.

For other local tastes, checkout some of the upcoming beer events at Common Roots:

January 31st- Flat Earth's Pale Ale tasting (free samples) 5-7pm
February 2nd- Brau Bros. Pale Ale tasting (free samples) 8-10pm

The Great Taste of the Midwest

Only a good friend would extend an invite to an event that features 5 hours of beer tasting bliss from over 100 craft breweries pouring more than 500 specialty brews. Such an invite came my way this past Spring when tickets for the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI went on sale. Although the event sold out in less than a day, this friend had the connection we needed. $30 and several months later I walked into the Capital City's Olin Park to begin testing my abilities as an amateur connoiseur with three fellow beer fanatics.

Upon entering the grounds you are greeted with a smile and an official glass, which serves as your sud holding vessel for the day. Next, you drink. One after another: Red Ale, Raspberry Ale, Extra Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Lagers, Porters, Cherry Stout, Chocolate Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Pumpkin and Smoke Ale, limited edition cask brews and many more. Between each drink a quick rinse at the water trough and a piece of bread cleansed both our glasses and pallets . When inhibriation clearly set in, food stands with fairly priced sandwiches, cheeses and meats saved the day.

The beer of the day for me was the New Glaurus Red Ale. I'm partial to a fine red as is, and this Wisconsin staple didn't disappoint with it's rendition. It's no surprise that the craft brewery won the 2006 Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year awards at the Great American Beer Festival. That event will be the next journey on this beer loving adventure called life.

Checkout more on the Great Taste of the Midwest at http://mhtg.org/

Or view the details for the Great American Beer Festival at http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/index.htm

DeValera's Red Ale Taste Test

There is a nervousness that takes over just before you snap the cap off of the first bottle of a homebrewed beer. 5 weeks have gone by since the beer was bottled. That nervousness has been around since but is more apparent as you pour the beverage from the bottle to a glass; observing color, carbonation and the amount of head that accumulates. A quick smell- enjoyable and certainly alcoholic. The color- an obvious amber red. Head- fair amount, carbonation- a jet stream of active bubbles. So far so good. Now the glass comes to the lips and the first drops of nectar flow across the tongue. Days and dollars have gone into this production and the mouth's reaction will dictate how well those were spent. Initial taste- quite carbonated, perhaps a tiny bit too much but better so than flat. The taste- three levels of flavors. First a smooth hoppiness, followed by the distinct caramel flavors of a classic red ale and, to close, a strong and abrupt moment for the smack of alcohol to shine through. DeValera's is not on par with a professionally brewed Irish red, such as a Killian's, but as a first effort for Lowertown Loft Homebrewing this beverage comes surprisingly close. Sharing the two cases of this ale with friends is an Irish tradition I look forward to.

Beer Label Debut

The premier Lowertown Loft homebrew,

De Valera's Red Ale, now has an official label. The first taste test will take place on Tuesday, April 9th.

Homebrewing Update:

Experimentation in homebrewing continues as the fermented beer was bottled yesterday and now must wait in dark seclusion for the next 4-5 weeks as it carbonates. In the meantime the venture has officially been named "Lowertown Loft Homebrewing" and this first beer will be named "De Valera's Red Ale" as it is an Irish Red Ale and De Valera was the founder of the Irish constitution, a former president, and one of the principle players in the Irish revolution. Click the pic for a full-view of the new logo.