#MNBeer News Insider: March 11

LUPINE OFFERING 1ST GROWLER SALES

Lupine Brewing Co. announced it will start growler sales out of its St. Cloud brewery location this week.

The brewery will offer samples and cash growler sales from 4-7 p.m. Thursday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

Lupine obtained its liquor license at the end of February.

The brewery's India pale ale, brown ale and pale ale will be available in the 64-ounce glass bottles for $20 with a $15 refill charge. Lupine's cranberry oatmeal stout and chocolate cayenne stout called unCayndness are available for $25 with a $20 refill charge.

For weekly growler sales hours visit Lupine's Facebook page.

Lupine, which hit the market in December, previously announced it will release an Irish ale called O'Phelan on Thursday at Big Ten Restaurant & Bar in Minneapolis.

For an in-depth profile of Lupine's new brewmaster check out Saturday's St. Cloud Times.

SECOND BREWER'S BALL APPROACHING

The second annual Minneapolis Brewers Ball is from 7-10 p.m. March 27 in the club room at TCF Bank Stadium.

The event that raises money for Cystic Fibrosis organizations features more than 25 breweries, mostly from Minnesota, and also wines from Chankaska.

Some of the breweries have already announced their pouring lineups.

General admission tickets are $75. VIP tickets are $125 and include an extra hour of pouring access among other perks.

Advanced tickets can be purchased online.

MONTGOMERY RELEASES DOUBLE IPA

Montgomery Brewing Co. announced that it released a double IPA in its taproom.

The beer features five hop varieties and a 67 IBU rating.

Montgomery previously released a seasonal Russian imperial stout called The General in February.

FITGER'S RELEASES TWO NEW BEERS

Fitger's Brewhouse released a pair of new beers in its Duluth brewpub this week.

As part of the brewery's Bockfest celebration, the brewery released a maibock called Ted Koppelbock. The German-style lager has a 32 IBU rating.

Fitger's also released a beer that features a twist on the brewpub's biggest all-time seller in its nine-year history. It's a double version of its pale ale called StarfireReserve, featuring increased malt, hop and alcohol contents (it has an 8.5 percent Alcohol By Volume and a 105 IBU).

Along with Starfire Reserve's ingredient of Amarillo hops, the double version adds Mosiac hops.

EASTLAKE RELEASES SAISON

Eastlake Craft Brewery announced that it released a Saison called Arcturan in its Minneapolis taproom.

The Saison is brewed with lemons and ginger and contains an ABV of 8.6 percent.

The brewery also announced its black IPA, called Nicollet Mauler, is available on nitro.

BEMIDJI RELEASES STOUT

Bemidji Brewing Co. announced that it releases a stout called Export in its taproom.

The beer uses an English yeast.

Earlier this month, Bemidji released an espresso double porter and held a book release party for "The Unpeopled Season: Journal from a North Country Wilderness," the second book written by Dan Rice that journals his experiences living in the Minnesota wilderness.

CASTLE DANGER RE-RELEASES LAGER

Castle Danger Brewery announced that it has re-released its lager called Wimpy from its Freestyle series in its Two Harbors brewery.

This is the third straight spring that Wimpy, a beer with a 4.5 percent ABV, has been released.

Castle Danger also expanded distribution to St. Cloud, Brainerd and Bemidji locations earlier this month.

Follow Jake Laxen on Twitter @jacoblaxen.

Recent #MNBeer News Insiders

•March 9: Including Fulton Beer, Happy Hour with the Times, Beaver Island Brewing Co., Union Pizza & Brewing, Town Hall Brewery, Kinney Creek Brewery and Bauhaus Brew Lab.

•March 6: Including St. Paul Summer Beer Fest, Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery, Lupine Brewing Co., Badger Hill Brewing Co., Jack Pine Brewery, Burning Brothers Brewing, Hayes Public House, Dangerous Man Brewing Co., NorthGate Brewing, Lupulin Brewing and Sisyphus Brewing.

•March 5: Including Third Street Brewhouse, Summit Brewing Co., Granite City Food & Brewery, Mankato Brewery, Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., Kinney Creek Brewery, Junkyard Brewing Co., Waconia Brewing Co. and Grand Rounds Brewpub.

•March 2: Including Barley John's Brew Pub, Indeed Brewing Co., Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Summit Brewing Co., Tin Whiskers Brewing Co. and the Northern Light Rare Beer Fest.

•Feb 25: Including Junkyard Brewing Co., Third Street Brewhouse, Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Lupine Brewing Co., Lupulin Brewing, Hayes Public House, Surly Brewing Co. and Harriet Brewing.