Lupulin Libations

The name says it all.

Lupulin glands are the tiny little yellow pockets of goodness in a hop cone that contain some essential ingredients for aroma and flavor in beer.

A libation is an alcoholic beverage, and of course beer fits into that category.

Lupulin Libations is dedicated to everything beer. I offer you a chance to have an experience with beer through my organized tasting sessions.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Coborn's Tasting this Friday

Yep, it's once again time to sample our favorite type of beverage at the Hastings Coborn's Liquor. This Friday, February 25th, I'll be pouring delicious tastiness from 2 breweries we just recently welcomed into the store: Furthermore and Odell.

Furthermore is a quality brewer based in Spring Green, Wisconsin. I've enjoyed their brews for years, and quite frequently recommend them to friends. Three of their varieties will be present on Friday:
  • Knot Stock
  • Makeweight
  • Proper
I first tried Odell at their brewery in Colorado, long before we had access to them in Minnesota. When I got back home, I checked with my fellow beer geeks to see if I could get some and was pretty disappointed to find out it wasn't available here. Then, last year, Odell finally broke into our home state. I was ecstatic! Here are the Odell brews available for Friday:
  • 5 Barrel Pale Ale
  • 90 Shilling
  • IPA
Be sure to stop by the store this Friday between 4:30 - 8:30pm to taste some brews and chat with me about my favorite subject: Beer.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Finnegans Get Lucky Boat Raffle

Today I received an email from Carl over at Finnegans. It appears that our local philanthropist beer brand is having a raffle with some big prizes to help fight hunger in Minnesota:

FINNEGANS Irish Amber, the do-good Minneapolis beer company that sends all its profits to charity, is auctioning off a brand new Ranger fishing boat as part of its “Get Lucky Boat Raffle.” Proceeds from the raffle will go directly to support FINNEGANS’ Minnesota charity of choice for 2011, the Emergency Food Shelf Network.


Only 500 tickets were made available at the start of the “Get Lucky Boat Raffle” and many have already been sold. To enter to win, visit http://www.finnegans.org/2010/getlucky/ or attend any FINNEGANS sponsored event this week, leading up to the Annual International Eelpout Festival in Walker, Minn. The drawing for the new boat will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 4:30 p.m. during the festival. Attendance at the festival is not required to win.


Other prizes include:

  • 2nd place: Two nights lodging, fishing, and cuisine at Chase on The Lake resort in Walker
  • 3rd place: $500 of Ranger Clothing.

As part of it’s aim to be a catalyst for social good, FINNEGANS is hoping to not only raise funds through its boat raffle (up to $20,000 if all 500 tickets are sold), but also awareness on the issue of hunger.


The statistics on rising hunger in the Midwest region and throughout the United States are staggering. The demand at food shelves has increased over 90 percent in many communities. FINNEGANS is partnering with one hunger relief organization in each state where its Irish Amber beer is sold (Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin) to address the hunger issue.


If you'd like a new fishing boat and want to support a good cause, be sure to click on the link mentioned above. The odds of a winning big prize in this raffle are pretty good, especially with only 500 tickets being sold.

Friday, February 4, 2011

February 12 - Coborn's Tasting

On Saturday, February 12th, I will once again be pouring tasty beer at the Hastings Coborn's Liquor. There will be 5 varieties from Brau Brothers along with one from Flat Earth.

Brau Brothers:
  • Cream Stout
  • Pale Ale
  • Pilz
  • Scotch Ale
  • Strawberry Wheat
And... Flat Earth Belgian Pale Ale

These beers are very recent additions to the craft brew section at the store and both breweries are right here in Minnesota. I'll be sharing my beer knowledge and pouring samples from 3 - 7pm. Stop by for a visit!