• Brau Bros will be featured on KSTP’s 10pm news this Sunday night.  Jason Davis, from “On the Road with Jason Davis” was in Lucan doing a segment about the brewery and the town.  It should be re-aired Monday during the 11-12 noon news, and Tuesday during Twin Cities Live.

• Rainwater Oak-Aged Stout is still in the works.  They are very impatiently awaiting final label approval from the TTB.  When they get word, they’ll ship.  Dustin is hoping it happens within a week’s time.

• Elisha’s Olde Ale was brewed on Dec 5, and it is progressing nicely.  Done as a group brew, with help from South Dakota’s very knowledgeable home brewers and some Minnesota volunteers as well, they’re anxiously waiting for this one.  It’ll get a few weeks on oak and possibly get a late-winter release. Dustin hypothesizes most of this will go to South Dakota, as Elisha, the homebrewer who won the contest, is a SoDak resident.

• The Braus shipped their first kegs of Cream Stout Nitro.  This is something new for the holidays, and it layers perfectly on Sheephead.  They call it a Black Sheep.  Dustin tells us to ask for it wherever you see a cool looking stout faucet.

• Finally, if you’re in the area or passing through on the way to Grandmother’s house over the holidays, stop in and visit the Brau Brothers!  Call or shoot him an email to set up a tour.  City folk are always welcome and as always, plenty of free parking!

We’re getting ready to release Brau Bros. Rainwater Stout.  Definitely one of our bigger beers.  Clocks in at just under 10% ABV.  Brewed late this summer, this ale spent months on Madeira Oak for added complexity.  Something a bit new for us, it will be bottled in 750mL bottles.  Look for a release early in December.

I’m excited to try this beer and see how it does. Some of my favorite dark beers come out of Minnesota, and the Brau Brothers have had a good track record with me lately (Ringneck Braun, Sheephead, and Old 56). Further, it looks like there is a planned get-together for a group brew of the South Dakota Homebrewers Challenge winner.

December 5th, a group-brew here at the brewery.  We’ll be brewing Elisha’s Old Ale.  For those not in the know, a terrific homebrewer submitted this beer for the South Dakota Homebrewers Challenge and it was a unanimous winner.  We’ll brew and age a single batch which will go on tap at all the participating bars and restaurants in South Dakota.  Just guessing it will be ready to be tapped later this winter.  Everyone is welcome to help brew, however please email me an rsvp so I have a rough idea of turnout.  We’ll supply lunch and maybe we’ll have a beer, who knows.

Of course you can always check up on the latest from Brau Brothers at braubeer.com or on Twitter with @BrauBeer.

First and foremost, the Brothers will be hosting their 2009 HopFest this coming weekend. There was a dinner at the local BrauHaus tonight – Friday, October 9th. Tomorrow, Saturday the 10th, the festivities will begin at 11am and run until 8pm. (By the way, did you see the new events widget on the side of our site?) In addition to the usual lineup, on tap will be Purple Sting, Fresh Hop, and Ring Neck. When Shawn and I visited the brewery this past summer we pitched our tent near the pond and stayed on the brewery grounds. Unfortunately the pond construction is currently preventing on-site camping.

Looking further ahead, Dustin gives us two tidbits regarding their beers:

SheepHead will be available year-round!  Because of the tremendous response to this ale, we would be dumb to retire it.  It will have its own six pack; bear with us while we move it from a Single Batch sixer to a SheepHead sixer.  If someone tells you that it’s a seasonal, tell them they’re wrong.  On a related note, Ring Neck Braun Ale is creeping into stores.  Check out the website for a full description, it’s a great fall beer. We’ve got something special in the fermenter.  A big stout over 9% ABV. It’s aging as we speak on Madeira Oak.  Love for this ale to be out for Christmas; it will depend on how well it matures.  More details to follow…

I’m definitely itching to try that stout, though it most definitely will not be available in Iowa. Regarding the SheepHead – it’s a great local beer and you should try to find yourself a sixer to sample from. Additionally, to go along with the year-round availability of SheepHead is a new bottle label – as can be seen over at BeerNews.org – to better reflect the card-playing theme of the beer.

I look forward to hearing how this weekend’s HopFest turned out – be sure to comment and provide a link to your pictures.

• Tonight (August 26, 2009), the winner of the South Dakota Homebrew Challenge will be revealed. The winner of the event will have their beer brewed by Brau Brothers and made available on tap at participating bars.
• Brau Brothers have created their 2009 fresh hopped lager, possibly Munich Dunkel in style.
• A BGP personal favorite, the Ring Neck Braun ale, is brewing and will be released on October 10th.
• The HopFest celebration is also set for October 10th and will include the Fresh Hop Lager 2009 on tap and cask, fresh hopped Sheephead (FreshHead) on cask, Lemongrass infused Purple Sting on cask, and, of course, Ring Neck Braun ale.
• Finally, it sounds like the hop vines will be coming down soon, due to their weight. So, if you want to get a tour of the brewery this season, now would be an ideal time to get to Lucan.

• Ring Neck Braun Ale will be released on October 10th, Minnesota’s pheasant opener.
• Carnaval Brazilian Grill, of Sioux Falls, SD, will be hosting a Brau Brothers dinner on August 6th.
• Look for Purple Sting, a one-only summer batch brewed with South Dakota Buckwheat Honey. Only a few dozen kegs and casks will be available.
• It sounds like HopFest is set for October.
• This past weekend, the brothers dug their new pond for the purposes of irrigating the hopyard.

It’s been great seeing everyone make the trip to Lucan to see the brewery, hopyard, and barleypatch.  We’re always grateful when people spend their valuable time on the road visiting beautiful southwest MN!  If you haven’t been out to see us, give a call or shoot an email.

-Dustin Brau

We’re celebrating the middle of winter by reviewing two brews from Minnesota companies. Shawn and I review Strawberry Wheat by Brau Brothers Brewing Company, as well as Surly Brewing Company’s CynicAle.

In lieu of a tasting tip this week, Shawn and I have a “Talking Point” on the “what” and “where” of beer drinking. We take the opportunity to discuss beer with food, as well as situational drinking with the appropriate beer.

Brau Brothers Brewing Company – Strawberry Wheat Style: American Wheat Ale / Fruit Ale ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 4.0% IBU (International Bitterness Units): 7.7

Surly Brewing Company – CynicAle Style: Belgian Ale / Saison ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 6.6% IBU (International Bitterness Units): 38

The Beer Genome Project #5 Show Notes

0:00-1:08 – Introduction 1:08-5:05 – Brau Brothers Brewing Company’s Strawberry Wheat 5:05-11:15 – Surly Brewing Company’s CynicAle 11:15-24:42 – Talking Point: The “What” and “Where” of Beer Drinking 24:42-26:40 – Conclusion