White Bear taproom

With the entire state gaga for taprooms, White Bear Lake is getting in the game Friday when Big Wood Brewery opens its onsite beer hall. The makers of the euphemistic Morning Wood, an easy-drinking coffee stout, will peddle pints and growlers from their space in a century-old building in the northern 'burb's downtown.

3-10 p.m. Thu. & Fri., 1-10 p.m. Sat. • 2222 4th St., White Bear Lake • 612-360-2986 • www.bigwoodbrewery.com

The state of beer

Dangerous Man Brewing Co. recently got some national love from Rate Beer when it published its state-by-state list of the country's best beers and breweries. The popular beer-ranking website pegged Rob Miller's northeast Minneapolis taproom-that-could as Minnesota's "best new brewer" of 2013. Not exactly in upset fashion, Surly was named the state's all-around top brewer, with the cultishly loved Darkness getting the nod for the state's top beer.

Oskar Blues launch

Wisconsin runs for a 12-pack of Dale's Pale Ale are officially a thing of the past. This week Colorado-born brewery Oskar Blues started distributing its famously canned brews to Minnesota. The popular beer maker is first unleashing its handful of year-round beers, including its highly touted Old Chub Scotch ale, before adding specialties and seasonals in a few months. Oskar Blues caps a week of launch events Friday at Grumpy's in northeast Minneapolis (3-7 p.m.) and St. Paul's Tiffany's Sports Lounge (7-9 p.m.).

Michael Rietmulder