Author: Chris Collins
Molson-Coors Cancels Free Leap-day Case: Remembrance
Molson-Coors planed on celebrating leap day, an event with that only happens once every four years, by giving away a free case of Miller Lite. See more here. February 29th, or leap day, is a day we add to our calendar because the earth’s revolution around the sun is six hours longer than 365 days.
However, After a shooting leaving 7 dead at the Molson-Coors complex that happened February 27 the company decided to cancel this give away. Read more about the shooting here.
There was a lot of push back on twitter:
But for every bit of pushback was three tweets of support:
For us at Zymologist.com we purchased a case of Miller Lite in anticipation of this event. After finding out that we lost out on the deal we decided to crack into our Miller Lite cans anyway and celebrated life and Leap Day. Cheers!
Starting 2020 Brewing Beer to Provide 20/20 Vision to Those in Need
Mankato Brewery and Carlson & Tillisch Eye Clinic teamed up to make a unique malty-sweet taste with a melon-fruity hop bite and a slight nut-smokey finish. This beer is sold on draft and 16oz 4pack cans.
The press release says,
“Mankato, MINN. – Mankato Brewery is excited to announce its first Canned for the Helping Hand collaboration beer with Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic in Mankato, Minn. Canned for the Helping Hand is a series of beers to be released in 2020 that are targeted back at giving to those in need. It’s fitting to start out the year 2020 creating an optometry-inspired brew with the goal of providing those in need with 20/20 vision.
20/20 ESP is an American take on a traditionally English ale, extra special bitter. It is crafted with Vienna and Munich malt for caramel tones, El Dorado and Fuggle hops for a zesty melon aroma, a slight nutty-like note from our yeast, and a touch of beech smoke. We’ve taken to calling this unique twist on a traditional style an Extra Special Pale Ale or ESP. We’ve designed the beer to cater to the sweet malt lovers, session-able-beer drinkers, and aroma hop enthusiasts. Its 20 SRM (Standard Reference Method), a rating of color used by brewers, and 20 IBU (International Bitterness Units), a perceived measurement of bitterness, give it an amber-red hue and mildly bitter flavor.”
“A portion of the proceeds and donations will go to the Lions Club Sight Grant Program. The Lions Clubs is an international non-political service organization originally established in 1917. The Mankato Lions were founded in October of 1925. We collect used eyeglass frames and hearing aids to those in need. We also award sight grants of $150 for those in need and we perform KidSight screenings for children.
Contributions to the The Lions Club Sight Grant Program can be made here:
Mankato Lions Club; PO Bos 303; Mankato, MN 56001.”
Mankato Brewery started producing beers in 2012 and is proud to revive the brewing tradition in the Key City. Mankato Brewery is the first production brewery in the community since 1967. Focused on creating authentic beers that reflect the heritage of the region and its people, the crew at Mankato Brewery invites you to try our beer and to Experience Local Flavor. Found online at www.mankatobrewery.com on Twitter (@MankatoBrewery) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mankatobrewery/)
Founded in 1909, Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic has been caring for the eyes of southern Minnesota for over 100 years. With deep roots in the community, the Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic doctors and staff enjoy developing long-lasting relationships with their patients and creating individual solutions to ensure every patient can experience the best vision possible. Using the newest technology and the latest styles, Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic is focused on providing the best eyecare and eyewear available. Stop in and see the difference. Found online at www.carlsontillisch.com on Twitter (@carlsontillisch) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Mankato.Vision/)
Winter Beer Dabbler Win
February 29th 2018
It is the day of the 9th Annual Winter Beer Dabbler. An event of beer drinking, live music, and food. It takes place in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. There are more than 150 craft beverage producers represented.
The day started like any other weekend in the craft beer industry. Wake up early, pack up jockey boxes, kegs, swag, and snacks into the car and drive to the event to set up and wait for the opportunity to share your craft.
Working events like this always start with my preferred attendees, someone asking you questions about the beer. This individual prides themselves on their knowledge of beer and want you to respect them for it. The event quickly turns into people randomly sampling and then turns into inebriated people asking you,
“What’s the lightest thing you’ve got?”
We had fun serving and celebrated a buddy’s birthday whom I made a special batch of beer for his nameday called,
The Honeyman Whisper
It snowed 11″ that day. Minnesotans are certainly hardy they showed up to this, sold out, event despite the storm. We ended up winning. Now as Lord of the Dabbler I am to make a beer that will be featured at the Summer Beer Dabbler. It will be served from a firkin. (The trophy) The recipe is in development but will likely be a Chocolate Blackberry Hopbiscus.
Death Valley Johnnie Revisit
Happy to announce that this February we are releasing in draft and cans a beer dedicated to my grandfather! This was my first beer official brewed for Mankato Brewery and at the time it was named, Hoppy Red Nano. It is cool to see the popularity of this style grow enough to support a seasonal release. Being able to get him the beer made for him before his death was really heart warming. It is a shame he didn’t get to see this large increase in production of his brand, but I’m sure the old man would be proud.
My dad insisted on the description of this beer be of this one and not of him drinking a 24 pack of beer on vacation while his 5 kids fought over a 6 pack of soda. The description reads:
“Death Valley Johnnie, a World War II veteran, was station in a forward field hospital supporting Navy & Marine wounded in the Pacific theatre. When asked about his experience he replied, “Other than the war… I hated the bugs and humidity.” This is why he would bring his family on vacation to the hot, arid desert in California- Death Valley. Crafted with Red-X malt to capture the desert hues, hopped with Falconer’s Flight and Pacifica hops to commemorate the island hopping boys he spent his time helping. Death Valley Johnnie Red Ale is brewed in their memory.”
Here is the sell sheet displaying our can art:
DVJ_SellSheet
For those of you who missed it: Here is my original recipe and post about the old man.
Cheers!
Death Valley Johnnie
This is for John “Death Valley Johnnie” Ernest Collins 1919-2016
Death Valley Johnnie
Death Valley Johnnie Red Ale
ABV: 7.4%
OG: 16.7 Plato
IBU: 81
Death Valley Johnnie, a World War II veteran, was stationed in a forward field hospital supporting Navy and Marine wounded in the Pacific theater. When asked about his experience he replied, “Other than the war…I hated the bugs and humidity.” This is why he would bring his family on vacation to the hot, arid desert in California- Death Valley. Crafted with Red-X malt to capture the desert palette with red hues, Bravo hops to bring out the earthy yet citrusy flavor of the malt, and dry hopped with Falconer’s Flight hops to commemorate the island hopping boys he spent his time helping. Death Valley Johnnie Red Ale is brewed in their memory.
Recipe:
Liquor to grist ratio of 2.4:1
| Death Valley Johnnie Malt Bill | ||
| Maltster | Malt | % of bill |
| Best Malz | Red-X | 71% |
| Rahr | 2-Row | 22% |
| Briess | CaraPils | 4% |
| Simpsons | Crystal Dark | 2% |
| Weyermann | Carafa 3 Special | 0.20% |
| Extract added during boil | ||
| Dextrose | Use 1/10th lbs per total lbs of grain | |
Hop additions:
Beginning of boil: Bravo for 41 IBU
Whirlpool: Falconer’s Flight for 29 IBU
Dry Hop: Falconer’s Flight to taste (This step isn’t necessary and is up for any hop aroma you’d like to impart)
*The original 5 gallon homebrew was 85% Red-X, 2% carafoam, and 13% dark Belgian candy sugar with bravo and citra hops.*
Grandpa, the second he found out I made beer, was always writing letters about the subject. A brewery opening, news about a corporate brewery take over, articles about beer process, and any other beer related thing he saw. The letters would always follow this format: Hey Redhead, I recently read ______. I’ve included ______ for you to read. Beer is on the up-and-up. Very proud of you. Love, DVJ.
They would always be typed with the exclusion of his signature and the post script. His post scripts were the best, bear in mind this is from a 97 year old man; “P.S. – please send beer soon.” or “Still thirsty.”
I was able to get him Death Valley Johnnie Red Ale before he passed. He would ask for another bottle and his health aid would suggest he have water. His reply was, “it’s alright the Redhead will take care of me.”
And I did. Once his health aid went into the other room we’d open another bottle and listen to his life experience. His favorite mottos in life were”
“Never complain, Never explain”
“Take care of your body and your body will take care of you”
A quote from my father and his siblings about my grandfather:
“My dad used to take us out to Death Valley, the hottest place I know, for our family vacation. He’d bring one six-pack of soda and 3 cases of beer. This was intended for five children, his wife, and himself. Yes, one six-pack for 5 kids and 3 cases of beer for good ol’ DVJ.”
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