#MNBeer News Insider: Feb. 20: Summit's Hop Silo

Summit announced Unchained 18 release

Summit Brewing Co. announced it will release the 18th of its Unchained series, a double India pale ale called Hop Silo, on Feb. 27 at Winterfest in St. Paul.

Summit is one of 10 breweries pouring both nights of the Minnesota brewery-exclusive event organized by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild.

Hop Silo is scheduled to be available both nights and also plans to tap its Pilsener, Maibock, Herkulean Woods and a specialty cask of Extra Pale Ale with rose petals.

Limited advanced Winterfest tickets are still available and a small selection of tickets will be available at the door each day.

Hop Silo will debut at Summit's St. Paul beer hall at a special 4-9 p.m. release party Feb. 28. The first 150 people to order the double IPA will receive a Hop Silo collectable can coozie. Also customers who come dressed as twins or with their actual twin receive a 2-for-1 coupon.

Castle Danger announces re-release & new twist

Castle Danger Brewery announced the re-release of its bourbon barrel-aged stout called Gentleman George Hunter Stout on Feb. 27 in its Two Harbors taproom.

The beer is described as having coffee and vanilla flavors.

The brewery also will introduce the Sommelier George Hunter Stout, which features the beer aged in red wine barrels.

Castle Danger also announced that both beers will be available at Winterfest in St. Paul when the brewery pours on Feb. 27.

Beaver Island to open taproom

Beaver Island Brewing Co. announced it will open its St. Cloud taproom at a 4 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.

The event is scheduled to feature an appearance from St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis.

Beaver Island has released a Kolsh called Ripple, a red IPA called '39 and a robust ale called Union Suit. The brewery also plans to release a double IPA called Lane 5 in the spring.

Veteran brewer Chris Laumb is Beaver Island's brewmaster and was featured in a St. Cloud Times story.

Lupine to release Irish ale

Lupine Brewing Co. announced it will release an Irish ale in March before St. Patrick's Day.

The St. Cloud brewery hit the market in December and claimed the Lord Dabbler's Cup at the Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival in January.

Lupine has previously released an IPA, a brown ale and an oatmeal cranberry stout.

Maple Island releases cherry beer

Maple Island Brewing announced that it released a cherry-flavored beer called Cranky Cherry in its Stillwater taproom this week.

The beer has an International Bittering Units number of 15.

Maple Island also recently re-released its maple bock that features syrup made by the Hastings-based Sanderson Family 100% Pure Maple Syrup that taps Wisconsin maple trees.

Urban Growler releases next in series

Urban Growler Brewing Co. announced that it released the fifth of its Plow to Pint series earlier this week in its St. Paul brewpub.

The latest is an apple ale that features fruit from the Pine Tree Apple Orchard of White Bear Lake.

Other Plow to Pint releases include a rhubarb witt, blueberry wheat,pumpkin saison and a cranberry ale.

Big Wood announces taproom release

Big Wood Brewery announced the release of Simcoe Bite IPA this week in its White Bear Lake taproom.

The beer uses the brewery's year-round IPA Bark Bite as the base but uses a heavy dose of Simcoe hops. Bark Bite regularly features Columbus, Centennial, Fuggle and Chinook hops.

Schram announces re-opening

Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery announced that it will re-open its Waconia taproom on March 7.

Schram announced it will release a port-style wine and a new beer at the re-opening event.

The re-opening will also include pairings with Laketown Chocolates and food available from the Filius Blue Food Truck.

Burning Brothers announces new release

Burning Brothers Brewing announced it will release a gluten-free American lager in its St. Paul taproom Friday.

Burning Brothers also plans to have Pyro APA, a roasted coffee ale, a fused OB Honey and a fused cranberry beer on tap this weekend.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Cold Spring Brewing Co. once partnered with Cassandra Peterson, the actress who plays Elvira.

Peterson had previously portrayed Elvira in national Coors television ads. But after being dropped as a spokesperson, Cold Spring Brewery was commissioned to make "Elvira's Night Brew."

"It was a magnificent beer," recalls Third Street Brewhouse general manager Doug DeGeest, who compares it to Surly Darkness. "It was this big, wonderful malty beer. It was on the cutting edge on that time. If it existed now, it would probably be something popular."

Peterson remembers coming to Cold Spring in Elvira character to promote the beer.

"Cold Spring was fantastic," Peterson said. "I remember coming when it was warm in the summer months. It was such a cool old brewery. I was really impressed with it. It had this old spooky vibe, which I love."

The beer grabbed national headlines at the 1997 Great American Beer Festival in Denver when Peterson wasn't allowed into the event.

"I remember standing at the door in the Elvira costume but the police barred me from coming in because they claimed it was too revealing," Peterson said. "Let alone it was an alcohol convention and there was Miller volleyball girls in bikinis.

"I heard later it was Peter Coors who had ordered them to keep me from entering. I was furious. I called every news station in Denver from my car."

The Elvira partnership is part of a long brewing history in Central Minnesota.

Follow Jake Laxen on Twitter @jacoblaxen

Recent #MNBeer News Insiders

• Feb. 17: Including Winterfest, Granite City Food & Brewery, Boom Island Brewing Co., Lift Bridge Brewing Co., Bemidji Brewing Co., Hayes' Public House and Montgomery Brewing Co.

• Feb. 16: Including Town Hall Brewery, August Schell Brewing Co., Jack Pine Brewery, Junkyard Brewing Co., Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Maple Island Brewing and the Science Museum of Minnesota as the site of Minnesota's first brewery.

• Feb. 12: Including Voyageur Brewing Co., Insight Brewing, Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Sociable Cider Werks and LynLake Brewery.

• Feb. 10: Including Sociable Cider Werks, Voyageur Brewing Co., Indeed Brewing Co., Beaver Island Brewing Co., Brau Brothers Brewing Co., The Fargo Brewing Co. and Fair State Brewing Cooperative.

• Feb. 9: Including Town Hall Brewery, Lupine Brewing Company, Indeed Brewing Co., 612BREW and Twin Cities brewery tours.