Beer -- the perfect thing, according to Justin Timberlake and so many others -- has been the topic of an interesting state shutdown story today. Miller and Coors, which represent 38 percent of the beer market in Minnesota via their various brands, reportedly have to stop selling here during the shutdown because of a licensing issue: The state's government shutdown, now in its 13th day, will soon force MillerCoors to pull its beer from Minnesota liquor stores, bars and restaurants. A state official says the law requires the company to stop selling products like Coors Light, Miller Lite and Blue Moon imminently because their brand licenses expired.

"I would suspect within days to see that product leave the shelves," said Doug Neville, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

A few folks have wondered what that means for Target Field, which surely sells a ton of the cold stuff every night -- including Thursday, when the Twins start a 12-game homestand. The answer, per Twins official Kevin Smith and a conversation he had with vendor Delaware North is that MillerCoors products will still be sold:

"We have plenty of inventory in-house," Smith told us this afternoon, "and we have plans to start selling it at our game until we hear further notice that we can't. We've received no notice that it can't be sold at the ballpark."

So for now, thirsty Twins fans, expect to have a full complement of beers from which to choose at tomorrow's game. Everything, of course, is always subject to change.