Ryan Tuenge

Ryan Tuenge is an avid home brewer and craft beer lover who is not afraid to spend his last $5 on a pint of beer at the local pub. As a member of the Minnesota Home Brewers Association, Ryan has tried a wide variety of beers and has toured many of the local breweries. He also has a blog about craft beer in Minnesota. He likes to read, write and travel with his wife. Follow him on Twitter @lodgefather.

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Posts about Beer

Bad Weather is Brewing

Posted by: Ryan Tuenge Updated: March 25, 2013 - 11:36 PM

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The brainchild of Zach Carpenter and Joe Giambruno, Bad Weather Brewing is out to blur the lines regarding beer styles. The artwork which is nothing short of spectacular is done by Lucas Gluesenkamp and depicts the haunting beauty of Minnesota weather.

The two (Zach and Joe) will join Lucid and Badger Hill Brewing at their brewery in Minnetonka under an alternating proprietorship. Since last summer after finishing brewing school Zach has spent his time learning all about the process with the guys from Lucid Brewing and is excited to bring his brews to the craft beer lover. What is neat about this set up is that consumers will be able to purchase growlers from all three breweries at one location pending government approval.

Their first brew Ominus which is something like an Imperial English Brown Ale was released at Republic last week and as of today will be available at the Happy Gnome in St. Paul. This brew is definitely a winter warmer brewed with dark candy sugar, oats, and English and Belgian malts. Some flavors that come out of this one are warm chocolate and dark fruits and the ABV checks in at 7.5%.

The year round offering from Bad Weather is called Windvane which is a sort of a hoppy Red Ale according to Zach. This is brewed with Columbus hops which gives it a resinous and piney flavor. This one weighs in at 6% ABV.

The spring offering here will be Migration which was described as similar to a Kölsch and brewed with rose hips. This one is not currently available.

For summer expect to see Firefly Rye which will be a Rye Pale Ale and should be a big hit in the warmer months. This one is also not yet available.

Bad Weather is going to be available at the Muddy Pig in St. Paul on Thursday, March 28th and at 6:30 the same day there will be a dinner at Pairings in Minnetonka featuring Bad Weather, Lucid and Badger Hill Brewing.

Now if only spring would get here..

Cheers!

Winterfest: A Sneak Peek

Posted by: Ryan Tuenge Updated: January 31, 2013 - 3:03 PM

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For those who were fortunate enough to get tickets, Winterfest 2013 promises to deliver. Featuring almost 40 breweries and catering by Bon Appétit, fest-goers are certain to tantalize their taste buds with everything from chili pepper Pilsners to Russian Imperial Stouts.

One of the best parts about the festival is the intimate setting, which allows the beer lover to meet the brewers and the people behind their favorite brews. If you’ve never been to the History Center it is a beautiful space that creates the perfect atmosphere for this event. The annual Snowshoe Award will be given to the brewery that brings the best beer (as voted on by the attendees). Last year’s winner was Barley John’s Brew Pub for its Dark Knight, but they will have some stiff competition this year.

Some beers worth seeking out this year include Lift Bridge’s first Russian Imperial Stout named Silhouette. This 10.5% monster was aged in a single barrel with 12-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels and will be featured at the brewery during the release party on February 9th. They are also offering a bacon version, sure to redefine the term “breakfast of champions.”

Another intriguing brew is the product of a local collaboration between Indeed Brewing and Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub. Hot Box Imperial Smoked Pepper Porter was made at Indeed with smoked malt and chilies from Northbound. This one is not to be missed.

For the coffee lovers out there, Harriet Brewing will be breaking out Peace Coffee Elevator Doppelbock. Lightly toasted and infused with cold press concentrate, Elevator will surely please the palate.

Surly Brewing is, once again, pulling out all the stops with a beer called Pentagram, which is a dark ale fermented with Brettanomyces and aged in red wine barrels. This beer will be hitting shelves in bottles this February. Get in line early for this one as it may not last too long.

Fitger’s Brewhouse is bringing a 3-hop IPA called Hoppelujah which will deliver aromas of blueberry, peaches, grapes, and grapefruit and should finish clean. Fitger’s has been known to brew some of the most interesting beers around and by looking at their line-up for this year, they’re continuing the trend.

Winterfest will also be a great opportunity for you to get a first taste of some of the many new breweries such as Dangerous Man, 612 Brew, Canal Park Brewing, and NorthGate.

The doors open at 7:00 PM and the event goes until 10:00 PM. Remember to plan a sober ride home and to drink responsibly. Here is a link to the Metro Transit site where you can find bus schedules. Also according to MNBeer.com (a great source for beer news) there will be free car rides available thanks to a partnership between Better Beer Society and Uber (car service). Check out the details here. Have fun meeting some of the people behind your favorite beers.

Cheers!

All Pints North Festival in Duluth

Posted by: Ryan Tuenge Updated: July 15, 2012 - 12:47 AM

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Pack your bags and get ready to head north on 35W to the beautiful city of Duluth. Although this city that I call my second home flooded just a few weeks ago it is now back up and functioning thanks to the many volunteers who helped to clean up the mess and the generous people who made monetary donations to the cause.

The Minnesota Brewers Guild chose to host the All Pints North Summer Brew Fest in one of the most supportive Craft Beer markets around. This inaugural summer event is being held on Saturday, July 21st from 3 pm to 7pm at Bayfront Festival Park—the “back yard” of some of the northland’s best breweries such as Carmody Irish Pub and Brewing, Fitger’s Brewhouse and even Castle Danger Brewing from the North Shore.

Tickets are on sale for $30 in advance and $40 at the door if not sold out (your sober driver gets in for $10). Admission includes live music from Black Eyed Snakes, Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, and Farewell Milwaukee; beer-centered activities; and educational components. Thirty-four brewers will be on site along with Mayor Ness who is a big supporter of the Craft Beer scene and would like people to know that Duluth is very much open for business this summer.

So get your tickets, book that hotel, and come celebrate all things Craft Beer with some of the best in the business. For $30 it doesn’t get much better than this!

Cheers!

St. Croix Valley Brew-B-Que

Posted by: Ryan Tuenge Updated: May 21, 2012 - 10:35 PM

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Nothing beats a BBQ with Craft Beer in the summertime and Lift Bridge Brewing, in conjunction with St. Croix Valley Sauces and Heritage Liquors, is hosting such an event this Saturday, May 26th. As someone who grew up in the St. Croix Valley I can attest to the beauty of the river and what it means to have a good old fashioned cook out with good friends, great beer, and delicious food.

Tickets are selling for $18 from the brewery between 5-8 PM on Thursday and Friday or online for $18 plus service charges. You could also procrastinate and show up last minute on the day of the event and get in for an even $20.

Your ticket gets you admission to the event, a free pint of beer, samples of beer and food, a sides buffet, and maybe a few friends along the way. Activities and entertainment during the event will include a BBQ competition, chicken races, a food eating contest, and a beer dunk tank.

The best part about the event is that it benefits Valley Outreach; the local food shelf, which not only provides food but also some of the basic necessities in life such as clothing and shelter to those who need it in the St. Croix Valley.

When:

Saturday, May 26th

From 3 PM to 8 PM

Where:

Lift Bridge Brewing

1900 Tower Drive

Stillwater, MN

Lift Bridge will be releasing the popular Hop Dish IPA at the event, a brew made with 7 different hops as well as Maris Otter and Crystal malts. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser and will pair well with the BBQ fare and lots of sun. Great weather does not last long here in Minnesota, which makes events like this one worth your while, especially when it’s for a good cause.

Cheers!

Winterfest Tickets

Posted by: Ryan Tuenge Updated: November 30, 2011 - 11:38 PM

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It’s that time of year again. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is hosting its annual beer tasting event at the beautiful Minnesota History Center on February 3^rd and tickets will go on sale at noon on Thursday, December 1^st. Act fast because this event sold out last year in 30 seconds!

The annual Snowshoe award will be given to the brewery that offers the best beer as voted on by all attendees. This year there will be even more breweries, live music, and food catered by Bon Appétit all included for the ticket price of $55 plus service fees.

Michael Agnew, Minnesota’s first certified Cicerone and owner of A Perfect Pint will be on hand to provide attendees with beer education. He will take you through the steps to help determine your stylistic aptitude. Also providing beer education will be local beer historian Doug Hoverson, author of “Land of Amber Waters,” who will be there to provide historical information about brewing techniques, and talk about the “Breweriana” exhibit.

The MCBG always puts on great events and this would not be one to miss!

Cheers!