Rochester Craft Beer Expo – 2017
We are just a couple weeks away from the 2017 Rochester Craft Beer Expo. As I’ve written before, this is always a fun event. Whether you really like beer or don’t think you like beer, it can be a great experience.
Event Details
Date and Time
- Saturday, May 6, 2017
- 3-6 pm (early admission 2-6 pm)
Location
- Mayo Civic Center
- 30 Civic Center Drive SE
- Rochester, MN
Tickets
- General admission ($35 / 3-6 pm) – you get to attend, receive a commemorative glass, can have beer samples from craft breweries, and can attend the educational sessions
- Early admission ($45 / 2-6 pm) – you get everything that a general admission ticket gets you, plus you get in an hour early
- Designated driver ($10) – you get to attend, receive a commemorative glass, can have water and soda samples, and can attend the educational sessions, but you can’t drink any beer
Tips
Last year, I shared a lot of tips for attending the event, so I won’t repeat myself, but will highlight the following:
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Bring your driver’s licence / photo ID.
- Don’t drink before you arrive but do learn to dump out samples that you don’t really like. It is easy to drink too much too fast. So pace yourself.
- Taste your beer and take notes so that you can remember what you liked (and didn’t).
- Talk to the beer representatives. They are all beer evangelists and happy to answer your questions.
- And here is a new tip — don’t bring your pretzel necklace. Last year we were disappointed to learn that we could not bring our homemade pretzel necklaces into the event anymore. We had to dispose of them before entering because no outside food or beverages are allowed. Food was for sale at the venue – including pretzel necklaces.
Breweries
The program for the 2017 event isn’t available quite yet, but a list of breweries has been posted. This is subject to change, but the following are the current breweries who are expected at the event.
| Brewery | New in 2017 | Brewery Location | Web Link | |
| 10 Barrel Brewing Company | New | Bend, OR | https://10barrel.com Note: Sold to AB in 2014. | |
| August Schell Brewing Company | New Ulm, MN | http://schellsbrewery.com/ | ||
| Bad Weather Brewery | Saint Paul, MN | http://www.badweatherbrewery.com/ | ||
| Badger Hill Brewing Company | Shakopee, MN | http://www.badgerhillbrewing.com/ | ||
| Ballast Point Brewing Company | San Diego, CA | https://www.ballastpoint.com/ | ||
| Bells Brewery | Galesburg, MI | https://www.bellsbeer.com/ | ||
| Bent Paddle Brewing Company | Duluth, MN | http://www.bentpaddlebrewing.com/ | ||
| Boston Beer Company | Boston, MA | http://www.bostonbeer.com/ | ||
| Boulevard Brewing Company | Kansas City, MO | https://www.boulevard.com/ | ||
| Deschutes Brewery | Bend, OR | https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/ | ||
| Elysian Brewng Company | New | Seattle, WA | http://www.elysianbrewing.com/ Note: Sold to AB in 2015. | |
| Excelsior Brewing Company | New | Excelsior, MN | http://excelsiorbrew.com/ | |
| F-Town Brewing Company | Faribault, MN | http://www.ftownbeer.com/ftown/ | ||
| Fargo Brewing Company | Fargo, ND | http://fargobrewing.com/ | ||
| Finnegans Beer | Minneapolis, MN | http://finnegans.org | ||
| Forager Brewery | Rochester, MN | https://foragerbrewery.com/ | ||
| Founders Brewing Company | New | Grand Rapids, MI | https://foundersbrewing.com/ | |
| Fulton Brewery | Minneapolis, MN | http://www.fultonbeer.com/ | ||
| Goose Island Beer Company | Chicago, IL | http://www.gooseisland.com/ Note: Sold to AB in 2011. | ||
| Grand Rounds Brewing Company | Rochester, MN | http://grandroundsbrewpub.com/ | ||
| Great Lakes Brewing Company | Cleveland, OH | https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/ | ||
| Indeed Brewing Company | Minneapolis, MN | http://www.indeedbrewing.com/ | ||
| Insight Brewing Company | Minneapolis, MN | http://www.insightbrewing.com/ | ||
| Kinney Creek Brewing Company | Rochester, MN | http://www.kinneycreekbrewery.com/Kinney_Creek/Kinney_Creek_Brewery.html | ||
| Lagunitas Brewing Company | Petaluma, CA | https://lagunitas.com/ Note: Sold to Heineken International in 2015. | ||
| Left Hand Brewing Company | Longmont, CO | http://lefthandbrewing.com/ | ||
| Lift Bridge Brewing Company | Stillwater, MN | http://liftbridgebrewery.com/ | ||
| Loon Juice | Spring Valley, MN | http://www.fourdaughtersvineyard.com/ | ||
| LTS Brewing Company | Rochester, MN | http://www.ltsbrewing.com/ | ||
| Mankato Brewery | Mankato, MN | http://mankatobrewery.com/ | ||
| MKE Brewing Company | New | Milwaukee, WI | http://mkebrewing.com/ | |
| New Belgium Brewing Company | Fort Collins, CO | http://www.newbelgium.com | ||
| Odell Brewing Company | Fort Collins, CO | https://www.odellbrewing.com/ | ||
| Olvalde Farm and Brewing Company | Rollingstone, MN | http://olvalde.com/ | ||
| Oskar Blues Brewing Company | Longmont, CO | https://www.oskarblues.com/ Note: Owned by Fireman Capital Partners. See: http://www.westword.com/restaurants/does-oskar-blues-still-own-oskar-blues-brewery-would-rather-focus-on-the-beer-6746380 | ||
| Rush River Brewing Company | River Falls, WI | http://rushriverbeer.com/ | ||
| Sierra Nevada Brewing Company | New | St. Chico, CA | http://www.sierranevada.com/ | |
| Squatters Brewing Company | Salt Lake City, UT | http://www.squatters.com/ Note: Owned by Fireman Capital Partners. See http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/money/54972911-79/wasatch-squatters-beers-founder.html.csp | ||
| Stagecoach Brewing Company | Mantorville, MN | http://stagecoachbeer.com/ | ||
| Summit Brewing Company | Saint Paul, MN | http://www.summitbrewing.com/ | ||
| Surly Brewing Company | Minneapolis, MN | http://surlybrewing.com/ | ||
| Take 16 Brewing Company | New | Luverne, MN | http://www.take16beer.com/ | |
| Toppling Goliath Brewing Company | Decorah, IA | http://www.tgbrews.com/ | ||
| Wasatch Brewing Company | Park City, UT | https://www.wasatchbeers.com/ Note: Owned by Fireman Capital Partners. See http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/money/54972911-79/wasatch-squatters-beers-founder.html.csp | ||
| Wenonah Brewing Company | Goodview, MN | http://www.wenonahbrewingcompany.com/ | ||
But, I don’t like beer
If your only exposure to beer is what you commonly see advertised on TV… you know, those big name beers that have been around for decades? … I don’t blame you for not liking beer. And, I know that a lot of us not so young anymore ladies were brought up to think that only men drank beer, so we never even attempted to acquire a taste for the stuff. But, I would argue that with the explosion of craft beer in recent years, there are beers which appeal to a much wider audience than in years past. Unlike the beer of my youth, I have learned that beer actually has tastes. So many tastes! There are even some fruit infused beers and brews with hints of caramel and chocolate. The craft beer expo gives you a chance to sample a wide variety of beverages. You may find that you do, indeed, actually like beer. Learning what type of beer that you really like (or really dislike) can make you much more adventurous and confident the next time you are at a bar or restaurant and faced with ordering a beverage. And don’t worry, you can always pour samples that you find distasteful into the waste pails. Plus, Four Daughters is going to be there with their Loon Juice, so even if you don’t find a beer you love, you may find their hard cider quite tasty.
Education, music, and voting
Along with beer sampling, there will be a couple educational seminars held during the event.
- Pairing cheese and beer
- Brewer’s panel – discussion with three SE Minnesota head brewers
There will also be live music and a chance to vote for your favorite beer.
See you there!
I hope to see you there!
Update: The beer list was published, so see, Now we’re getting really thirsty – 2017 Rochester Craft Beer Expo is coming very soon, for more information.
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