Bill Cassidy finds heaven at the Herkimer Brewpub in Minneapolis.
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Herkimer Brewpub review
Submitted by Bill Cassidy
This is Minnesota Beer Delegate Bill
Cassidy coming to you
live from the Herkimer
on Lyndale Avenue
in Uptown, Minneapolis.
This might be heaven. Well, as close as a German beer-lover can get in Minneapolis. The Herkimer brews nothing but German styles, and generally good renditions thereof, not to mention their free wireless internet. Mere blocks from my lair, I find myself here often.
I believe I've sampled everything they have on tap. Today, at 4pm on a Monday afternoon (I work in theater, it's my day off), I've stumbled into some truly wonderful examples of what The Herk has to offer.
Herkimer Brewpub
First up I sampled their version of an Alt.
Altbier is a speciality of Dusseldorf, and I've been in search of a reasonable facsimile of the original, such as Schmaltz Alt Ale, since my brief day trip there seven years ago.
Coppery in color and hoppier than most of The Herk's brews, this is Germany's answer to pale ale.
This is the best Alt I've had outside of Dusseldorf city limits. I mean that. Ausgezeichnet! (That's "outstanding" for those of you who aren't, you know, fluent in German.)
I then moved my attention to a beer that is truly close to my heart. Sky Pilot Kellerbier. I have fond memories of Sankt Georgen Kellerbier hailing from Buttenheim, Germany, mere kilometers from my German home of Erlangen. (Interesting side note: Buttenheim is also the birthplace of Levi Strauss. Let's toast to Levi for inventing pants.)
Kellerbier style
is a true Frankish original. The Herkimer Brewpub's version is quite
good. Lighter
in color than the alt that preceded it. Sweet at the
beginning, and
pleasantly hoppy as the swallow continues, it brings back fond memories
of
wandering around the villages of Franken drinking the local, and quite
indigenous
beers.
This beer is really, really good, and you don't have to take my word for it; the Sky Pilot won gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2006.
Moving along to the Red Flyer Marzen: This is arguably the most drinkable of the beers served at the Herkimer. A deep red, as the name would suggest, this is a workmanlike version of the Marzen style (ya know, like Oktoberfest, 'n stuff) offered year-round. It is delightfully malty and slightly sweet and, like a good Marzen, drinkable by the liter. If it's Saturday night and I'm in for the long haul here, this is what I order.
The fine beers are only complemented
by an outstanding
atmosphere. Located in the uber-hip Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis,
this a lively stop on a Friday or Saturday night. The weekday happy
hour is
second-to-none, with 2-4-1
draft beers and mixed drinks (they offer a full bar as well) and
specials on appetizers from 3-6pm (I'm enjoying this right now). The
décor is fantastic, dovetailing
beer and old style pin-up
girls. Yes, it's just that good.
I'm nearing the bottom of my fourth pint and it's now almost 7pm on a Monday evening. I should probably be going. Should you find yourself in Minneapolis and thirsting for a good beer, hop on down to Lake and Lyndale and on into the wonderful Herkimer Brewpub.
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