Pretty much everyone in Western culture is hip to the craft beer revolution by now.  Indeed, the revolution was spinning in the Twin Cities beer market the past two months.  A handful of craft breweries were introduced in a blitzkrieg of malted goodness. This presented me a colossal challenge, as I am the designated person to find room for dozens of new beer SKUs in a building that apparently does not have flexible walls.

The players (in the order in which they arrived to Minnesota): Deschutes, ODell, Great Lakes, Central Waters, and Weyerbacher.  Some arrived with more fanfare and anticipation than others.  

My take:

I must admit, when the top brass from Deschutes came into the shop as part of their market scouting, I was aghast.  They were very close to the top of my brewery wish-list.  Their flagships, Mirror Pond Pale and Black Butte Porter, are solid.  While some of the geeks were a bit disappointed that The Abyss didn't make it here for the initial offering, Mirror Mirror, Black Butte XXI, and Jubel 2010 were a surprise treat.  We were lucky enough to get a good quantity of MM and XXI and still have some in stock.  

ODell has not let me down, either.  Expectations were high and they delivered, for the most part.  The 90 Shilling is a sessionable scotch ale.  But the IPA is what really won my heart.  They use six different hop varieties, including a hop back in the process.  The hop complexity sets it apart in a craft world rife with IPAs.  

It seemed like Weyerbacher arrived in the Twin Cities with out a ton of hype.  But Wow!  This is the Grande Champion of Minnesota's new beers.  Serious beers that all of the geeks should seek out.  The Simcoe double IPA is easily among the best available.  The Merry Monks Belgian Golden has a fierce intensity.  The Blithering Idiot barley-wine is the quintessential barley-wine.  It boasts a richness and alcohol nuance that begs to be nursed out of a snifter, as the brewery suggests.  And I'd put their Quad up against anything the Trappists have.  You want flavor?  This Pennsylvania brewery produces an avalanche of it.

Central Waters and Great Lakes have offered us some respectable beers.  Sadly, the Great Lakes has seen some supply issues since its introduction to the market.

Lastly, I have to mention my elation that we actually got Flying Dog's Raging Bitch in bottles.  We weren't sure if we would even see this in 2010.  But here it is.  A spectacular Belgian IPA - with loads of fruit esters and all - in six packs for a reasonable price.  

See you in the craft section!

Fitty