Nightwatch notes: Mixology's final frontier -- beer

Last update: December 13, 2007 - 6:24 PM

Is nothing sacred? Cocktail mixology might be a hot trend, but now Leinenkugel's brewery has thrown beer into the mix. Beer!

After finding that a large portion of its loyal customer base was already mixing beers -- using the Wisconsin company's large roster of flavors -- Leinie's decided to push the trend with a promotion that allows people to post their mixes on the brewery's website.

In October, the Leinenkugel brothers took nationally known mixologist Tobin Ellis (www.barmagic.com) on a tour of Twin Cities bars, where he helped Leinie's fans concoct some pretty hardcore mixes -- which included pumpkin pie, whipped cream, burning orange peels and more. Everything is fair game when it comes to beer mixology, I guess.

"Anything that can go in a glass," Ellis told me.

Almost 300 people have entered their personal beer mixes on the Leinie's website. Besides checking out recipes, you can rate them and add your own. Take a look at www.leinie.com.

Vegas DJs at Envy

Two spicy-hot Las Vegas DJs take over Envy tonight for its "Naughty & Nice" party. The two ladies -- DJ Supra and DJ C-L.A. -- are mash-up queens in Sin City. Check them out at www.myspace.com/djsupra and www.myspace.com/dJ_c_LA. (9 p.m. today. 400 1st Av. N., Mpls. $10. 21 and older. 612-673-9694. www.envympls.com)

After-parties galore

Apparently, next Thursday's R. Kelly concert at the Target Center warrants three after-parties. One is for the R&B crooner himself at the newly opened Epic. (10 p.m. Thu. 110 N. 5th St., Mpls. 18 and older. Cover charge starts at $20. 612-332-3742. www.epicmpls.com.) The other two are for his opening acts, both R&B stars themselves. Keyshia Cole is having one at Visage. (10 p.m. Thu. 400 3rd Av. N., Mpls. $15. 21 & older. 612-455-2525. www. visagenightclub. com.) And J. Holiday's is at Axis (9 p.m. Thu. 322 1st Av. N., Mpls. $20. 21 and older. 612-337-5000. www.myspace.com/axisnightclubmpls.)

'The Hills' is here

Like, ohmigod! Lauren Conrad from MTV's "The Hills" is at Spin on Saturday! (9 p.m. Sat. 10 S. 5th St., Mpls. $5. 18 and older. www.myspace.com/spinmn)

TOM HORGEN

thorgen@startribune.com