Finding Minnesota: Bike For Beer
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- He might seem a bit young to be running a brewery, especially since he only reached legal drinking age seven years ago. But when it comes to beer, Ilan Klages-Mundt, 28, already has a world of experience.
He was 23 when he gathered every cent he could scrounge up and took off on an adventure: 12 months working and learning at breweries in Europe and Japan.
He worked for his room and board, got around cheaply on a bike and kept his friends updated with his blog, Bike For Beer.
"The whole time as I was traveling, I was trying to take as many notes as possible to make sure that I could open a brewery when I got back to the states," Klages-Mundt said.
That brewery, Insight Brewing, is now open in northeast Minneapolis.
Klages-Mundt teamed up with three business partners who were also craft brewers: Kevin Hilliard, Brian Berge and Eric Schmidt.
Related: Local Tap Talk: Insight Brewing
"Bike For Beer is kind of what everybody in craft beer dreams of doing," Hilliard, "to travel around the world, learn more about beer and have a good time."
"Him being able to pick up on techniques, styles, ingredients that we're not getting a lot of exposure to over here, that's what creates the nuance that sets you apart in a crowded beer market," Schmidt said.
The beers being served at Insight reflect Klages-Mundt's world travels. There's a London-style porter, an ale made with yuzu (a Japanese fruit) and a Belgian-style beer with a touch of sauvignon blanc grapes.
"The beers that we're going to be making here are going to be bringing back these real authentic ingredients and real recipes from around the world," Klages-Mundt said.
An important keepsake from his adventure is also a central part of the décor – the bike that he rode for part of his trip, through Belgium and France.
"I had a lot of great memories on this thing," he said, "so what better use than to put it in the taproom?"
Insight will be among many craft brewers taking part in the 2015 Twin Cities Craft Beer Festival in downtown Minneapolis.
