Tap Talk: Tin Whiskers' 1st Anniversary Brew-Off Heads Back To St. Paul
Tin Whiskers is celebrating one year of brew-offs!
In May 2015, Tin Whiskers decided to create a challenge that would incorporate several Minnesota breweries, unique flavors and customer choice.
Thus, the Brew-Off series was born!
The challenge: create the best brew using three ingredients chosen by the drinkers themselves.
Tin Whiskers polled guests on social media on what flavors they would like to see in a beer. The top three plausible flavors were narrowed down. Then, a competitor was chosen.
Each brewery had several weeks to craft their brew. Following the brew, at a neutral location, the beer was unveiled in a blind taste test. Guest would taste, vote on their favorite and a winner was crowned.
Every three months a new competitor and three new flavors were chosen.
The first challenge took place on May 27, 2015 between St. Paul breweries Tin Whiskers and Urban Growler at the Happy Gnome.
The flavors were mango, coconut and ginger.
Tin Whiskers made an IPA, while Urban Growler went with a wheat beer.
The result was a tie.
The next challenge moved across the river to Uptown, Minneapolis.
On September 23, 2015, Tin Whiskers and Lynlake Brewery faced off at the now closed Republic Calhoun Square using the flavors of tamarind, lemongrass and caramel.
Tin Whiskers was crowned the winner.
Next, the competition moved north.
Northeast Minneapolis' Fair State Brewing Co-Op brewery took on the reigning champ in February 2016.
At Grumpy's in Roseville, tasters tried brews with cherries, sumac and rosemary.
Tin Whiskers maintained their title as the brew-off champion with a second win.
Now, for its 1st anniversary, the brew-off returns St. Paul's Happy Gnome.
Tin Whiskers will go face-to-face with West 7th Street brewery Bad Weather Brewing Company.
The flavors are blood orange, pineapple and cucumber.
Guests will once again do a blind taste test of the two brews side-by-side, then cast their vote.
The beers will be on tap from 5 – 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The Happy Gnome is located at 498 Selby Avenue in St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood.
For those that may want to indulge, there are plenty of public transit options available.
Metro Transit Bus 21 drops off at several locations along Selby Avenue, Bus Route 83 drops off along Lexington Parkway and the closest Green Line stop is located at Lexington Parkway and University Avenue.
