What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol. 7
Bergseth Brothers is excited to announce the addition of North Dakota’s newest brewery, Rhombus Guys Brewing Company to our fine line of products available for distribution in North Dakota.
Two weeks ago we had the pleasure of touring the brewery and tasting through their amazing line-up of craft beers. I was astonished at the detail and craftsmanship that went into the renovation of the historic opera house transforming it into a cutting edge brewery but most importantly the quality of the beer was out of this world.
Left to Right, Rhombus Guys Brewing Co-Owner Matt Winjum – Bergseth Bros. Staff: Lance Schiltz, Joel Rehder, Ryan Bergseth & Keith Bergseth at Rhombus Guys Brewing Company
Co-Owner, Matt Winjum led our Bergseth Bros. group on the brewery tour. Every step of the tour Matt was beaming and smiling ear to ear, his compassion for Rhombus Guys Brewing Company was hard to deny. After taking my first sip of beer I realized why Matt was so proud of what they had accomplished. The under taking of transforming the historic opera house into a brewery was a big hurdle and making quality craft beer right out of the gate is a huge accomplishment. North Dakota should be proud and commend what Co-Owners, Matt Winjum & Aaron Hendricks along with Brewmaster Chad Gunderson have achieved in such a short amount of time.
Raise a pint of Rhombus Guys Brewing Company Beer in celebration!
Rhombus Guys Brewing Company beers available on draft:
Blond Ale: 4.8% ABV – 16 IBUs
American Wheat Ale: 5.0% ABV – 20 IBUs
American Amber Ale: 5.5% ABV – 25 IBUs
American Pale Ale: 5.5% ABV – 32 IBUs
India Pale Ale: 6.5% ABV – 60 IBUs
Porter: 4.8% ABV – 30 IBUs
Oktoberfest: 5.4% ABV – 24 IBUs
I included a great article written a by Brian Kaufenberg from Growler Magazine – Enjoy!
From the start, Matt Winjum and Arron Hendricks have seen the world from a slightly different angle. In the early 2000s, when conventional wisdom said a college degree was necessary to get a job, the 18-year-old college freshmen decided to create their own employment. Their idea was a mobile smoothie stand to bring to summertime festivals and events around their hometown of Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
Perhaps it was an unconscious rebellion of fitting into a prescribed box or just that they forgot to measure twice and cut once, but the shape of their hand-built smoothie stand would give them a name and vision that would define all their future business ventures.
“When we stepped back and looked at it, Arron said, ‘That thing is not square it all. It’s all slanted like a rhombus,’” recalls Winjum. “And we said, ‘That’s great, that sounds perfect,’ and we just turned it into a lifestyle and a motto from then on. You know, think outside of the box. Don’t do the same thing that everyone else is doing.”
In the 10 years since starting the Smoothie Rhombus, “the Rhombus Guys” have opened four restaurants, including the beloved Rhombus Guys Pizza locations in Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota, on the way to fulfilling their dream of opening a brewpub.
The Rhombus Guys are, left to right, Arron Hendricks, Chad Gunderson, Matt Winjum
Rhombus Guys Brewing is now open in the historic Metropolitan Opera House in downtown Grand Forks, located just a block and a half from Rhombus Guys Pizza. Winjum and Hendricks purchased the building more than a year ago and started renovation on the 5,000-square-foot first floor last November.
In December, they hired Chad Gunderson as the head brewer. Gunderson, a University of North Dakota graduate, got his start in brewing at Leech Lake in Walker, Minnesota, before moving to Montana where he brewed at Lewis & Clark Brewing and Mighty Mo Brewing in Great Falls. In January, he returned to the Red River Valley area with his wife and daughter, and began testing recipes for the new brewpub.
Gunderson will captain Rhombus Guys’ 15-barrel brewhouse equipped with four 30-barrel fermenters and a 30-barrel brite tank. His beers will be traditional renditions of popular styles including ambers, IPAs, pale ales, and stouts that will complement the restaurant’s food offerings.
The menu at the brewpub is a clear departure from the Rhombus Guys Pizza concept. Instead of pizza and beer, they seek to elevate classic bar fare with the area’s first gastropub. Porter-braised pulled pork, fish and chips, shrimp and grits, and warm pretzels from scratch are just a few of the options that will be available
Kaufenberg, B. (2015, July 28). Now Open: Rhombus Guys Brewing Company. Retrieved from http://growlermag.com/now-open-or-damn-close-rhombus-guys-brewing-company/
Available from Bergseth Bros. in North Dakota……
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.6
It’s hard to believe that Summit Brewing Company is on their 20th installment of their Unchained Series. This time around Mike Lundell showcased his incredible brewing skills again. Typically Mike would brew heavy hopped beers for the Unchained series but not this time he decided on brewing a Sticke Alt Düsseldorf Style Ale. “I’ve become known for my hoppier Unchained beers, like India Rye Ale and Another IPA, but this time I wanted to change things up and explore my maltier side,” said Brewer Mike Lundell
Sticke Alt Düsseldorf Style Ale Unchained #20
(A limited edition version of a “secret” German beer)
ABV: 6.3%
IBUs: 55
Sticke Alt, a maltier and hoppier version of traditional Altbier, is a mysterious concoction of hops and malts that is never brewed the same way twice. For Batch 20 in the Summit Unchained Series, Brewer Mike Lundell’s Sticke Alt builds on this tradition with a light hoppy nose, slightly sweet malts and a clean, mellow finish. So spread the word to your best beer-loving friends, because this limited edition brew won’t be around for long.
Serving Tips:
Best served in Alt tumbler or Stange beer glass. Pairs well with hearty German fare: pickled herring on rye bread, pig’s knuckle with potato salad, rolls with aged cheese and blood sausage, bratwurst and sauerkraut.
About the Unchained Series
The Unchained Series, which saw its first batch in 2009, allows each of Summit’s individual brewers to showcase their creativity by allowing them to break free from the norm and create their own beer. “We’re fortunate to have nine phenomenal brewers at Summit,” said Mark Stutrud, founder and president of Summit Brewing Company. “The Unchained Series is a way for our brewers to showcase their artistry. There are no budgetary restraints, no outside influences from a sales team, and the brewers are free to collect ingredients from anywhere in the world. As long as it’s legal, they have complete autonomy.”
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.5
As I sipped on my Pumpkin Spice Latte® this weekend I was thinking what can be better in the fall with flavors of cinnamon, ginger, all spice and nutmeg…… Well Duh, all of these flavors in beer! The change in the weather and leaves not only brings us Oktoberfest but Pumpkin ales and lagers. Pumpkin beer for me encompasses the flavors of fall in one glass.
Brewers get very creative when making these beers, most using real pumpkin while adding classic fall spices; ginger, all spice, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, etc. Brewers also change flavors with the style of yeast they use, whether they use traditional ale, lager or Belgian yeast all of these yeasts will influence the flavor profile of the beer.
At Bergseth Bros. we are fortunate to carry many brands that excel in making award winning pumpkin ales, lagers and ciders.
Below is an excerpt from an interview with Jennifer Glanville, Manager & Brewer with Samuel Adams.
Jennifer from Samuel Adams……………This year we are releasing three pumpkin beers – all made with real pumpkins and perfectly capture the essence of the season. Our three pumpkin beers are Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin (the first pumpkin ale we ever brewed), Fat Jack (an Imperial pumpkin ale) and brewed for the first time this year, Pumpkin Batch (a pumpkin saison).
What qualities best distinguish Samuel Adams’ pumpkin options this year?
Pumpkin Batch is a twist on a traditional pumpkin recipe using Belgian yeast to create a pumpkin saison. It’s brewed with real pumpkin to create a rich, smooth character and a Belgian ale yeast to impart a spicy clove and fruity character to complement the pumpkin flavor. Traditional spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice add layers of warm spice notes.
Harvest Pumpkin Ale is a favorite style of our drinkers and one that we have been brewing now for five years. It was brewed only for employees prior to 2010! It’s a modern adaptation of a traditional New England pumpkin ale. Lacking the ability to produce barley, early colonists brewed with pumpkin. Our Pumpkin Ale is brewed with real pumpkin but also uses four different malt varieties to create a smooth, rich flavor and unmistakable malty character. The addition of classic spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg provides a subtle warmth to this malty brew.
And for serious pumpkin lovers, we have Samuel Adams Fat Jack, a double pumpkin ale brewed with more than 28 pounds of real pumpkins per barrel and traditional pumpkin spices. It’s brewed with classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice that complement the roasted and smoked malts which add hints of malasses and caramel. It finishes smooth with a lingering, subtle heat from its 8.5% ABV strength and spices. Its 22 oz. bottle is perfect for sharing on a crisp fall night! View the full article at http://bumpinpumpkinbeer.com/interview/qa-with-samuel-adams-boston-beer-company/
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol. 4
What a busy weekend in the world of craft beer with the 2015 Great American Beer Festival taking place in Denver, Colorado along with the Fargo Beer Festival in Fargo, ND. The Great American Beer Festival experienced a record year for the competition in terms of entries so anyone taking home a medal should be extremely proud this year. In fact, Fargo Brewing Company took home a medal for their new Fargo Original Lager (New Year-Round Brand launching soon) – marking the first time that an area brewery has ever won a medal from this prestigious event! Below is a short article about the event and a list of brewery’s that Bergseth Bros. represents that took home some metal…….Great Job!
Denver, CO • September 26, 2015—The 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 275 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur brewers paired with professional brewers.
Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence. In its 29th year, the 2015 competition surpassed all previous participation records, exceeding last year’s record-setting competition.
Overview: Great American Beer Festival Competition
Award-winning brewers received prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals in 92 beer categories covering 145 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country. Winners were chosen from 6,647 competition entries (20 percent more than in 2014) from 1,552 breweries hailing from 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
This year’s GABF competition saw its biggest panel of judges ever, with 242 beer experts from 15 countries, including the U.S., and 155 competition volunteers. The panel also evaluated 91 Pro-Am entries.
Courtesy: https://www.brewersassociation.org/press-releases/2015-gabf-award-winners/
Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Pabst Brewing Co., Los Angeles, CA
Gregory Deuhs
Category: 37 American-Style Lager or Light Lager – 55 Entries
Gold: Coors Banquet, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category: 27 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 128 Entries
Gold: Ctayt, AC Golden Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Category: 30 Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 45 Entries
Bronze: Fargo Original, Fargo Brewing Co., Fargo, ND
Category: 50 English-Style Summer Ale – 38 Entries
Bronze: Lonely Blonde, Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN
Category: 39 Vienna-Style Lager – 46 Entries
Bronze: Firebrick, August Schell Brewing Co., New Ulm, MN
Category: 44 German-Style Schwarzbier – 37 Entries
Bronze: Eastside, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI
CHEERS!
What’s Brewing Bergseth Bros.
Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.3
I wanted to take a quick break from Oktoberfest Beers this week and talk about a subject that has taken the craft beer scene by storm – Heineken buying 50% stake of Lagunitas Brewing. I’ve had numerous conversations with retailers both on and off premise in regards to this subject. The main question brought up is; what will change and will this affect the quality of either brand? The long story short –NO…..
This gives Lagunitas Brewing an opportunity to distribute its products worldwide and give back to its original investors. It does not affect operations in the United States. This was a merger for the future growth into international markets. In fact, Heineken wasn’t the highest bidder just the better fit. Enough from me let’s hear from the man who started this tremendous brewery Tony Magee. I’ve attached a few links to read and I highly recommend watching the video below of Tony Magee at the California Craft Beer Summit (29:00 minute mark).
Click on the play button below and go to the 29:00 minute mark –
Be Careful Tony is very passionate about his brewery…
09-08-15
HEINEKEN and Lagunitas Brewing Company Partner to Take Craft Beer Global
HEINEKEN to invest in a 50 percent stake in leading U.S. craft brewer
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands and PETAFUKINLUMA, Calif. (Date) – HEINEKEN N.V (“HEINEKEN”), established in 1864 and now the leading brewer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands, and The Lagunitas Brewing Company (“Lagunitas”), based in Petaluma, California, today announced that they have entered into a powerful new partnership, which will allow Lagunitas to export the exciting vibe of American craft beer globally.
HEINEKEN and Lagunitas will form a joint venture and Lagunitas will continue to operate independently in the US, maintaining the integrity of its brews and culture. Tony Magee, founder of Lagunitas, will remain at the helm, with the same leadership and staff, same brewers, same recipes and same suppliers and distributors helping to drive the brand forward.
Both companies will benefit from the partnership. HEINEKEN provides Lagunitas with a global opportunity to present its beers to new consumers and Lagunitas provides HEINEKEN with the opportunity to build a strong foothold in the dynamic Craft Brewing category on a global scale, with the category growing in popularity almost everywhere now
“This venture will create a way for Lagunitas to help HEINEKEN’s global distribution network participate in the growing craft beer category in places from Tierra Del Fuego and Mongolia to the far-flung Isle of Langerhans,” Tony Magee, founder of Lagunitas, said. “Lagunitas will share in the best quality processes in the world and enjoy an open door to opportunities that took lifetimes to build. This alliance with the world’s most international brewer represents a profound victory for American craft. It will open doors that had previously been shut and bring the U.S. craft beer vibe to communities all over the world.”
Jean-François van Boxmeer, a lifelong beer aficionado and now CEO of HEINEKEN added: “We are very excited to partner with Lagunitas. We recognize and respect the tremendous success of Tony and his team in building one of the great American Craft Beer brands. We look forward to that same team partnering with us to expand Lagunitas globally, so it can reach parts that other craft beer brands have not.”
Lagunitas has breweries in Petaluma, California, and Chicago, Illinois, with a total capacity of 1.2 million barrels. A third brewery under construction is scheduled to open in Azusa, California, in 2017, which will help Lagunitas keep pace with current demand. HEINEKEN, on the other hand, has 180 of those buggers everywhere.
The partnership details have been agreed to and signed and is expected to close early in the 4th quarter.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Lagunitas and Sidley-Austin LLP and McNeil, Silveira, Rice & Wiley served as legal counsel.
View the complete article at: https://lagunitas.com/heineken-and-lagunitas-brewing-company-partner-to-take-craft-beer-global
A few more words from Tony Magee’s blog http://lagunitast.tumblr.com
Please check with your sales person on availability and pricing (please note some products are not available in certain markets)
CHEERS!