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When below zero temps fall and ice and snow coat everything in sight – including your car or bike – it’s easy to start doubting why you call Minnesota home. So, let me remind you of some of the perks: skiing and snowboarding; ice skating St. Paul’s gorgeous Wells Fargo WinterSkate outdoor rink; having an excuse to drink earlier – hey, it’s dark out, after all; mulled wine – drinking and making; the annual art shanties on Medicine Lake; the City of Lakes Loppet festival and – one of my favorites – the upcoming annual fest, the Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival.

Marking it’s third year, the Dabbler features a day-long celebration of the art of craft and micro-brewing, not to mention a full day of sampling fit for a beer lover and a beer newbie alike. This year, the festival has expanded its grounds to the St. Paul Farmer’s Market, making it the biggest outdoor winter beer fest in MN.

If you’re new to the Beer Dabbler, don’t worry. There’s plenty to do including a chance to show off your mixology and recipe talents in a home-brew contest presented by Northern Brewer boasting prizes and a opportunity to win the coveted Lord Dabbler’s Cup – a People’s Choice award for excellence in brewery. Watch on as St. Paul’s own Mayor Chris Coleman kicks off the carnival with the annual tapping of the Beer Dabbler Oak Barrel and sip down a special release ale from previous Dabbler Cup winners, Tallgrass Brewing Company, as well as samples from over 200 varieties and 60 breweries while you enjoy access to live music from Pink Mink,

Pink Mink

Romantica and others, strut your dance moves at Leinekugel’s Silent Disco and participate in awesome entertainment like St. Croix Casino’s “Best Dressed of the Fest” contest and minnow races. And – since you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach – make sure to visit some of St. Paul’s beloved food trucks including Fork in the Road, Potter’s Pasties, Simply Steve’s and GastroTruck who will be cooking up delicious hot treats. Long hail cold weather!

Visit The Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival online for a full list of all the beers set to be sampled at the Dabbler, updates and to snag advance tickets.

When: January 28^th, 4 – 8 p.m., doors at 3:30

Where: Saint Paul Farmer’s Market

Cost: $30 advance, $40 day of

Don’t forget to “like” The Beer Dabbler on FB and follow them on Twitter @BeerDabbler.

Lift Bridge wins the 2010 Golden Firkin for their specialty brew "A la Nutsack"

How often do you get the opportunity to sample over 80 specialty craft beers in one spot? Once a year at Firkin Fest at the Happy Gnome, that’s where.

Head to the Selby Ave watering hole for an afternoon of brewski sippin’ and partyin’ with hundreds of other beer connoisseurs. Held in a tent outside, you’ll travel around to vendors shilling their exclusive casks (or firkins) of ale, lager, stout, and more.

Featuring beers with funny names like Left Hand Good Juju, Boulder Mojo Risin’, New Holland Dragon’s Milk, Rush River Double Bubble Dry Hopped, Fulton War and Peace (a Russian Imperial Stout with whole bean Peace Coffee!), Futhermore Fatty Boombalatty, Languintas The Hairy Eyeball, Tallgrass Buffalo Sex (Buffalo Sweat Stout infused with Chocolate and Cherries), Surly Abrasive (Tea Bagged and aged on oak!), Tyranena Bitter Woman, Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian, Dark Horse Scotty Karate, and many, many more.

Photo by Tony Anderson via The Happy Gnome

Attendees will get to vote their favorite in for the Golden Firkin award, and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a home brewing kit from Northern Brewer, Schell’s Beer Dinner tickets and Brooklyn Beer Dinner Tickets at the Happy Gnome and more.

Firkin Fest happens this Saturday, March 26th and runs from 1-5pm and tickets are $35.

The Happy Gnome, 498 Selby Avenue, St. Paul / 651-287-2018

For more info or to purchase tickets online visit www.thehappygnome.com

The legendary Mancini’s Char House & Lounge downtown St. Paul will host a Beer Tasting on Thursday, April 14^th benefiting Wishes & More, a local non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses.

ESPN Broadcaster, Clay Matvick, will assist in showcasing a variety of beers from across the nation.  Participating breweries include: Stone Brewing, Odell Brewing, Goose Island Beer Co and Tallgrass Brewing.  Now that’s something to toast to! Attendees will also enjoy specially paired food samples to compliment the beers.  Live & silent auctions will be held throughout the night with all proceeds funding wishes, memorials and scholarships given to the children of Wishes & More.

Attendees may purchase tickets for the Beer Tasting by calling the Wishes & More office at 763-502-1500 or online at www.wishesandmore.org.  Tickets are $30 in advance and $50 at the door. Attendees must be over 21 years of age to purchase tickets.

CHEERS!

You’ve dealt with everything this holiday season from long lines at malls to bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to ice cold temperatures to putting on a smile for holiday gatherings at the in-laws.  You’ve held up your end of the bargain and now it’s time for you–time to put a smile on that face, kick back with a frosty cold one and say good bye holiday blues.  Now the only question is where should you do it?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.  Look no further for your list of holiday brews to cure your holiday blues!

Senor Wong’s in Lowertown might just be the place for you.  Located on Kellogg Blvd behind Kellogg Square Apartments, Senor Wong’s offers locally crafted beers and imported beers from Asia and South America.

Asian beers include Tsing Tao (China), Singha (Thailand), Tiger (Singapore) , Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), Asahi (Japan), Sapporo (Japan) , Hitachino Ginger Brew (Japan) and Hitachino Xh Sake Cask Quad (Japan).  Latin American beers Corona Extra – Mexico City, (Mexico), Brahma – (Rio De Janero, Brazil), Negra Modelo – (Mexico City, Mexico), Pacifico – (Sinaloa, Mexico), Tecate – (Los Cabos, Mexico).

If you’re looking for that trip around the world but can’t afford it after all that Christmas shopping, grab any of the beers above and sink into the Asian or Latin culture.

Across town at the corner of Selby and Fairview is the Blue Door Pub.  The “Blue Door,” as the locals call it, offers some great brews on tap including:  Surly Furious,  Lift Bridge’s Farm Girl, Summit Extra Pale Ale and Summit Oatmeal Stout.  Additional seasonal beers rotate through the Blue Door including, Bell’s Two Hearted IPA, Summit Winter Ale, Summit Scotch Ale, Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale and Widmer Brrr.  This shoe box of a restaurant offers great burgers to complement your frosty brew and a great neighborhood feel.

Back in the West end area of Saint Paul is the oldest bar in Minnesota known as The Spot Bar.  This bar is a major dive but one of those bars you grow to love and a staple of the neighborhood.  Mike O’Toole has owned the place for over 25 years and you can strike up a conversation with just about any of the regulars inside.  Beers on tap are pretty simple including Premium, Summit Extra Pale Ale, Leinenkugel’s, Michelob Golden Draft Light and Guinness but they are incredibly cheap.

On the east side is Saint Paul’s only Strip Club–get your mind out of the gutter, I wouldn’t send you to a REAL strip club to cure your holiday blues.  This is a meat and fish place, with a fun name and the bar is fantastic.  Tucked under the second floor balcony, the Strip Club bar has a smattering of beer options to choose from including the North Coast Pranqster Golden Ale on tap, a bunch of Budweiser, Miller and Coors products in the can,  some more sophisticated canned beers in Lion Imperial Lager, Tilburgs Dutch Brown, Scaldis Noel $12.50.  If you’re looking for something in a can, there are some unique choices such as the 11.2 oz Wittekerke or the 22 oz Sapporo.  The Strip Club also has what they refer to as large format beers including Avery Imperial IPA (22oz), La Chouffe Houblon (750ml) and Delerium Nocturnum (750ml)–the last two will run you $25 apiece.

Finally, if you want a little education with your beer, you may want to consider a tour at the Summit Brewing Company.  You can get a tour of the brewery over the holidays on Tuesday Dec 22 & 29 and Thursday Dec 31 at 1pm.  Call 651.224.BREW to get on that tour list.  Summit is Saint Paul’s largest functioning brewery located on Montreal Circle.  Get an inside look at how their brewery works from brewing to packaging to sending it out for purchase.  Taste their delicious brews after the tour.

So, I hope you have a chance to get out in Saint Paul to enjoy some brews to drowned those blues.  There are many unique places but remember drink responsibly and never drink and drive!  Happy Holidays.

Whether you suffer from celiac disease or you are cutting down on carbs, St. Paul has a whole host of gluten-free options to get you covered.

Pizza Luce offers gluten-free pizza Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Gluten-free pizza

After a summer weekend spent carb-loading, mid-week is a good time to eat something healthy. Before you cringe at the thought of healthy food, hear me out: I’m talking carb-free pizza. That’s right – Every Tuesday and Wednesday, everyone’s favorite pizza hangout Pizza Lucé offers a gluten-free menu. Whether you can’t eat gluten or are just watching your carb intake, gluten-free at Lucé is the way to go. Check out the full gluten-free menu here. (1183 Selby Ave. 651-288-0186.)

Gluten-free beer

Gluten-free Bard's Beer is brewed locally

You may not know it but beer is a no-no for those suffering from celiac disease because of its wheat content. Fortunately, St. Paul has a ton of gluten-free beer options. Pizza Lucé carries Redbridge and New Grist.

Another great gluten-free beer option is one made right here in Minnesota: Bard’s Beer. It’s available at a number of St. Paul liquor stores as well as Supatra’s Thai Cuisine (967 W. 7th St. 651-222-5859).

St. Paul’s gluten-free beer retailers:
Chet’s Liquor: 974 Sibley Memorial Hwy. 651-454-3227
First Grand Avenue Liquors: 918 Grand Ave. 651-227-7039
Thomas Liquors: 1941 Grand Ave. 651-699-1560
Midway Liquors: 1944 University Ave W. 651-644-7900
Big Discount Liquor 333 N Concord Exchange. 651-451-2186
Sharrett’s Liquor: 2389 University Ave. 651-645-8629
Haskell’s: 2221 Ford Pkwy. 651-698-8844
Liquor Village: 2289 Ford Pkwy. 651-699-7070

Gluten-free baked goods

Get your gluten-free baked goods fix at Cooqi

If you’re looking for something sweeter, check out the Twin Cities’ premier gluten-free bakery, Cooqi Gluten-Free Delights. Everything in the shop are gluten-free and primarily organic, and they also happen to taste pretty darn good. They carry everything from cakes, bars, cookies, breads, frozen pizza dough, and wheat-substitute baking mix (2186 Marshall Ave. 651-645-4433). Two Smart Cookies at Selby & Snelling use all organic ingredients and have one gluten-free option, their delicious peanut butter cookie (181 Snelling Ave. N. 612-384-1069).

Also look for St. Paul’s first Trader Joe’s, which carries a huge variety of gluten-free offerings, to open by the end of the month at Lexington and Randolph.