Web gem

Last update: December 22, 2007 - 4:35 PM

www.mnbeer.com

Talk about a vicious circle: As Minnesota beer aficionados/snobs have more brands to drink up and events to take in, they naturally have a harder time keeping track of it all. This site was brewed for that reason. Essentially a message board and events calendar for in-state breweries and brewpubs, it's the place to go to find out things like: When is Schell's Bockfest? (Feb. 2.) What new brews are on tap at Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery? (A chocolatey Belgian ale called Festivus 2007 and an English IPA called 1800.) And what's causing the worldwide hops shortage? (Expertly explained in a long letter from Summit proprietor Mark Stutrud.)

OK, so it's not always riveting stuff, but it helps you get to the riveting stuff.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER