Don't Worry, Be Hoppy

Summer is gone, but suds seasons has arrived in the Twin Cities

Image credit: Photo courtesy Jon Behm.

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Sad but true -- Minnesota’s all-too-brief summer is in the rearview mirror.

Don’t retreat inside just yet, though. September brings some of the Twin Cities’ finest weather -- and with it some of the area’s best beer events. The next three Saturdays offer open-air festivals celebrating Minnesotans’ love affair with craft brews -- both local and beyond.

On Saturday, the Twin Cities’ two largest breweries will both be making merry. St. Paul-based Summit celebrates its 25^th anniversary, while Brooklyn Center-based Surly hosts its ever-popular Surlyfest, now in its fourth year.

A slew of the Twin Cities finest bands will be playing at the events, including Solid Gold (Summit) and The 4onthefloor (Surly). If only it were possible to be in both places at the same time… What’s a hop-head to do?

The only tough decisions to be made at the Autumn Brew Review, on Saturday, Sept. 17, is which of the 80-plus American breweries’ wares you’ll want to sample. Nearly 100 different breweries will be featured at the event, presented by the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild at the historic Grain Belt brewery in Northeast Minneapolis.

Prepare to double-fist again on Saturday, Sept. 24 when Minneapolis unleashes a pair of first-time beer fests to kick off the start of Oktoberfest season.

Harriet Brewing, the city’s newest microbrewery, presents Rauchfest—named after the special batch of smoked Oktoberfest lager special-made for the all-day event. The inaugural Minneapolis Beer Fest—another massive tasting event with nearly a hundred breweries—is being held later that evening.

So yes, summer is indeed gone. But suds season has just begun. Happy equinox.  

Summit 25th Anniversary (sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., $12. Featuring live music from Solid Gold, X-Boys, Pert Near Sandstone, Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles and The Prizefighters. Food available from Pizza Luce, The Loon, Bennett's, Sea Salt and Black Forest.

Fourth Annual Surlyfest (sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2 p.m.–6:17 p.m., $35 (including a Surlyfest stein and 4 beer tokens). Featuring live music from The 4onthefloor, The Sex Rays and Bratwurst Brothers. Food vendors TBA.

Autumn Brew Review: (limited tickets remain for the first session) 

Saturday, Sept 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3 p.m.–7p.m., $30/advance, $40/door. Food and entertainment TBA.  

Harriet Rouchfest (tickets still available)

Saturday, Sept 24, 1 p.m.–10 p.m., $20. Featuring live music from New Primitives, Butanes Soul Revue, High Strung String Band and Blue Soul Caravan. Food available from Seward Co-op, Sun Street Breads, Stanley’s NE and Glacier’s Café.

Minneapolis Beer Fest (tickets still available)

Saturday, Sept. 24, 5 p.m.–9 p.m., $30/advance, $40/door, $75/VIP. Featuring live music from The4onthefloor, White Iron Band and Jambo Joe Bones. Food available from Barrio, Smack Shack, Turkey To Go, Chef Shack, 128 Mobile Café and Buffalo Wild Wings.