Nearby Take 16 brewery has bright future

This past week, I took a quick drive across the border to visit the quaint little farming town of Luverne, Minn. Many beer fans around the eastern part of South Dakota have been making this same road trip for many years, as the town's Blue Mound liquor store is home to some seriously awesome brews that we don't get here in the Rushmore state.

But now, there's an even better reason for folks to hop in the car and head east – Take 16 brewery. The brewery opened its doors on Oct. 28, 2014, and its beers have been popping up across eastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota ever since.

If you're wondering exactly how to get there, simply drive to Luverne and then follow the instructions of the microbrewery's namesake – "Take 16." It's located on the former U.S. Highway 16, which ran east to west through Luverne before the interstate system was built. In fact, the highway once stretched as far west as Yellowstone and as far east as Detroit and included a ferry connection across Lake Michigan.

The local pride apparent in the name is reflected in the brewery's owners. The concept was dreamed up by some Luverne natives who figured that it was about time their town had a great craft brewery. More than 50 other investors agreed, and Take 16 was born.

That group of craft beer lovers placed their trust in Luke Rensink, former brewer (and founder) of Heist Brewing in Brookings. Luke is a Freeman native who began brewing while he studied dairy science at South Dakota State University. In fact, I first met Luke when we ended up being partners in a biology lab at State.

While biology was never really my thing, it is clear that Luke's knack for science is one of the factors that make him a truly awesome brewer. Upon entering the brewery, he showed me his lab, where he tests different recipes and ensures that his beer is not infected. He carefully explained his brewing method, laying particular emphasis on the sanitation of all equipment. Such care is apparent in the brewery's four mainstay beers, which, in my experience, taste consistent, clean, sessionable and refreshing.

Luke informed me that of the four, the Country Mile kolsch is Take 16's most popular style. When he poured me a glass, it was easy to see why. The Country Mile is an incredibly light and refreshing beer with a very subtle sweetness. The flavors mingle in such a way that the end result is delicate and thirst-quenching. I could definitely drink a few Country Miles by the lakeside or after a day of yardwork.

If you're a fan of hops, try the Kick the Can IPA, which boasts notes of grapefruit and citrus (attained from American hops) and smooth bitterness. To me, this beer tastes clean and refreshing with a balanced hop zing that I look for in any great IPA.

We all have one of these in our group of friends – the guy or gal who always orders a Guinness. For them (or anyone who enjoys a darker brew), I recommend the Stormy Jack stout. It's the exact same style as Guinness (a dry Irish stout), but who can beat a delicious local brew? This beer is rich and contains layers of wonderful toasted malt flavor, along with a creamy head. It's a perfect brew to pair with a rich dinner or dessert.

The beer I find myself ordering again and again whenever I see it, though, is Hayloft Hefeweizen. This wheat beer is exactly what I want when I sit on the patio in the warm sunshine. It's a top-fermented, unfiltered, bottle-conditioned wheat that has a wonderful sweetness and a beautiful golden appearance. The body is full with just a hint of hops, and the flavors play beautifully together.

If your mouth is currently watering for these beers, worry not. You can them scattered about Sioux Falls at many different bars. However, to enjoy the full experience and find all four beers in one location, you'll want to make the short drive to Luverne, where the brewery offers growler fill-ups from 4-7 p.m. every Thursday.

If you're looking for something fun to do with the family, you'll enjoy Take 16's Cruise-In nights, where locals pull up their muscle cars for a night of music, beer and food. This month's cruise-in has been rescheduled for 6-9 p.m. June 25. If you can't make it this month, stop by July 9, Aug. 13, or Sept. 10.

Take 16 has a bright future ahead. Right now the brewery only distributes kegs to local bars, but it is working on getting its bottling line up and running, with hopes to have bottles in stores within the next couple of months. Rensink is planning on brewing a nut brown ale for this fall and is hoping to create a new double IPA next year using some unique hops. He hopes to explore other styles in the years to come. The brewery in Luverne has a space that eventually will become a taproom.

If you haven't already had a chance to try Take 16's offerings, you have no excuse now. Whether you seek them out here in town or cruise in to the brewery on a Thursday evening, Luverne's debut craft brews will soon top your list of local favorites.