E-Malt.com News article: USA, MN: Two new breweries opened in the Twin Cities

Recently, two new craft breweries opened in the Twin Cities, Star Tribune reported on June, 05.

Excelsior Brewing has opened in the suburb of Excelsior, just a couple of blocks from the lakefront. The brewery's beer line-up will lean more toward sessional-style brews, which have lower alcohol content.

Excelsior's taproom joins only a few on-premises, pint-selling breweries in the Twin Cities, such as Fulton, Harriet and Lift Bridge. It'll be open Thursday through Saturday. Growlers will be sold, too.

The owners - John Klick, Jon Lewin and Patrick Foss - have brought in ace head brewer Bob DuVernios, formerly of Great Waters in St. Paul. He's brewing on a 20-barrel system, about the same size as Fulton's. Excelsior's XLCR Pale Ale should be ready within a week, and he's working on a blonde ale, too.

Less than 10 miles away is another new craft beer operation, Badger Hill Brewing in Minnetonka.

Brothers Broc and Brent Krekelberg are all about well balanced ales that tip a hat to their American and European roots. Their first beer is an ESB (Extra Special Bitter), which they're calling MSB (Minnesota Special Bitter). The rest of Badger's line-up will lean heavily on German and Belgian styles. Down the road, they will launch Foundation Stout and Three Tree American Rye.

Badger's setup is unusual. The Krekelbergs are brewing out of Lucid's brewery, but this isn't contract brewing. Instead, it's a federal designation called an Alternating Proprietorship agreement, which allows two licensed breweries to brew in the same facility.

Soon enough, Badger Hill and Excelsior will be joined by even more breweries, including the recently announced 612Brew, Dangerous Man and Indeed Brewing.


06 July, 2012