26 August 2024
Another year, another two-day marathon for me at the Minnesota State Fair.
The second day is traditionally reserved for beverages, and this year, a merry group of us sampled most of the 63 newbies. There was an obscene amount of fruit- (especially berry) flavored beers, way too many slushies and seltzers, and a lot of too-sweet wine.
A few of the new beverages were already sold out, and we didn’t make it to the International Bazaar before it closed, unfortunately.
Here are our thoughts on the new drinks, grouped by location, in the order we sampled them.
The Hangar
On the northeast corner of Underwood Street and Murphy Avenue
Cinnamon Lemoncello Cake’d Up: Although we were dreading this ungodly flavor combination, we did not taste any cinnamon and very little limoncello. One taster quipped, “I’m glad it’s not what it says it is.” Brewed by Mankato Brewery; 5% ABV
Lingonberry Blast: I don’t know whose idea it was to have two lingonberry beers at the same location, but if you gotta have one, this is the winner of the lingonberry wars. Lots of lingonberry flavor without being overly sweet. Brewed by Mankato Brewery; 5% ABV
“The Lingonburg” – Lingonberry Shandy: This tastes like a mistake. The hops clash with the lingonberry, and there’s an off-putting aroma. Brewed by Excelsior Brewing Company.
Giggles’ Campfire Grill
Sweet Clementine Beer and Pina Ciderlada from Giggles’ Campfire Grill, new beverages in 2024 at the Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
At southeast corner of Lee Avenue and Cooper Street, at The North Woods
Piña Ciderlada: Although Giggles gets points for presentation, this was a little too Hawaiian Tropic for us, and the coconut cream left an unappetizing sheen over the top of the beer. If you like ambrosia salad, it tastes a lot like that. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 5.9% ABV
Sweet Clementine Beer: We all had different takes on what this tasted like: Tang, Sunny D or Orangina were mentioned. I guess that means the orange flavor came through, but we still didn’t love any of those flavors in our beer. Brewed by Third Street Brewhouse; 4.2% ABV
O’Gara’s at the Fair
A Watermelon Crush slushie and Strawberry Guava Miraculum are both 2024 Minnesota State Fair new beverages at O’Gara’s at the Fair.
On the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street
Lake Dayz Spritz: This was billed as a “refreshing tropical wine spritz,” and it lived up to that. Though it was too sweet for us to want a whole one, our tasters agreed it was not terrible, and my favorite quote was, “If I was 16, I’d be really into this.” Basically a modern-day wine cooler. Made by Rustic Roots Winery & Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 7% ABV
Prickly Pear Passion Fruit Cider: This crusher of a cider from Wild State Cider in Duluth is apple-y, tropical and delicious. One taster said he’d buy a six-pack to take home if he could. 5.5% ABV
Strawberry Guava Miraculum: This one split the crowd. IPA lovers were fans. Those who don’t enjoy hops were not. The fruit flavor is not overpowering, which I appreciated. Brewed by Pryes Brewing Company; 6.4% ABV
Watermelon Crush: I’m not sure why I even ordered this Red Bull-infused slushie, but it was every bit as horrible as I expected it to be. Our tasters said it best: “Urinal cake,” “I can’t escape that cough-syrupy, tinny Red Bull flavor,” and “Tastes like crushed-up Sweet Tarts.” Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV
Dino’s Gyros
On the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
Purple Reign IPA: This bright purple double dry-hopped Cold IPA from Bent Brewstillery pleased both lovers and haters of hoppy beer. Balanced, tasty and comes with some really cool heart-shaped sunglasses! 5.5% ABV
Imperial Mai Tai Seltzer: Why does “lower-calorie” and “lower-carb” always have to translate to “fake sugar flavor?” This comment made me chortle: “Smells and tastes like a Flinstone’s vitamin.” Brewed by Bent Brewstillery, 8% ABV
Blackberry Limeade Lager: Nice fruity nose, grainy finish. Tasters were pretty ambivalent: “This isn’t totally bad,” one said. Someone followed with “There’s better beer out there.” Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.2% ABV
Blackberry Breeze: What do you know? A berry bevvy that smells and tastes like berries! Fruity, quenching and tasty. Duluth’s Wild State Cider is killing it. 5.2% ABV
Watermelon Hard Candy Seltzer: A watermelon Jolly Rancher in liquid form. Finishing a whole one would be a challenge. Brewed in Roseville by Bent Brewstillery; 5% ABV
Passion Fruit Daiquiri Seltzer: Maybe it was the neon yellow color, but tasters thought this one tasted like soda. We didn’t detect any passion fruit, though. Brewed in Roseville by Bent Brewstillery; 5% ABV
Mancini’s al Fresco
On the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
Cherry Lime Freeze: It’s the color of Kool-Aid and tastes like it, too. If you’re into that, get it. Brewed by Boulevard Beverage Co.; 4% ABV
Grilled Pineapple Lager: A little smoky, a little fruity, very refreshing. We all loved this, and a few thought it would make a perfect breakfast beer. Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.2% ABV
Sparkling Pearsecco: Lovely, crisp, light and refreshing. Tastes like biting into a pear. Brewed by Loon Juice Cider Company; 5.5% ABV
Orange Bellini: Like a mimosa but worse. Much worse. Brewed by Cannon River Winery; 12% ABV
Lemon Bellini: Better than the orange because the base wine is too sweet and the tartness of the lemon balances it a bit. But, as one taster said, “I still don’t want to drink it.” Brewed by Cannon River Winery; 12% ABV
The Hideaway Speakeasy
The Viking duck in our Attack of the Quack! beer from Surly Brewing Co. wouldn’t stay upright. Find this 2024 new Minnesota State Fair beverage at The Hideaway Speakeasy. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
In the Veranda, Grandstand upper level, northwest section
Attack of the Quack!: I liked this fun purple punch-inspired sour, but I was alone at the table. A few commenters compared it to grape soap. Our accompanying Viking-clad rubber ducky wouldn’t stay upright — I’m hoping for Vikings fans’ sake that’s not a metaphor for the upcoming season. Brewed by Surly Brewing Company; 4.5% ABV
Grumpy Old Manhattan: This malt-based cocktail, topped with smoky bubbles, just made us want a regular Manhattan. A little plastic-y, but not terrible for what it is. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 7% ABV
The Blue Barn
At West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center
Barn Storm: This was one of the best beers of the day. A tropical sour infused with jalapeno, it’s refreshing, a little spicy and won over even the skeptics at our table. Brewed in Minneapolis by Pryes Brewing Company; 4.8% ABV
Chocobananas Wheat Ale: I honestly felt like we were being punked with this beer, which does taste like bananas dunked in Hershey’s syrup, but my question is this: Who wants that in their beer? Certainly not us. Gross. Brewed by The Freehouse; 4.8% ABV
A Hazy Shade: I like a good hazy IPA, but this one is unfortunately chalky and has a weird off flavor. There are better ones all over the Fair. Brewed by Dual Citizen Brewing Company in collaboration with The Freehouse; 6% ABV
Steph’s Summer Spritzer: The best thing we could say about this too-sweet blend of white wine, peaches, mangoes and citrus was that it was better than the Chocobananas beer. Wine made in Scandia by Rustic Roots Winery; 6.3% ABV
LuLu’s Public House
A trio of colorful new beverages — from left to right, Sour Batch Fizz, Pineapple Party and Black Current Mead — at Lulu’s Public House at the Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
At West End Market, south of the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
Black Currant Mead: The barnyard smell on this drink was so off-putting I had a hard time getting it past my lips. The flavor was better than the smell — by a hair. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 6% ABV
Sour Batch Fizz: I couldn’t help myself and chose the oddball woodruff flavor (This sour beer is also available infused with raspberry or watermelon), which was probably a mistake. Woodruff is described as vanilla and licorice flavoring, but we got zero licorice and the vanilla clashed with the sour taste of the beer. One taster called it “liquid vomit.” Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co; 5% ABV
Imperial Lager: Too strong to be a good hot-weather beer, this sweet, slightly hoppy lager is decent, but probably will only appeal to serious beer nerds. Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co.; 7.8% ABV
Mai Tai Slushie: This is billed as having tropical orange, pineapple and rum flavor, but all we got was artificial bubblegum. No thanks. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV
Agua Fresca Hard Slushie: Far and away my favorite slushie of the day, I loved the mint and subtle, refreshing, fresh watermelon flavor, but a few in our group thought it tasted weird and even “like penicillin.” Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 6% ABV
Pineapple Party: I don’t usually like blonde ales, but the juicy pineapple here really won me over. Great Fair beer and goes great with Lulu’s runaway hit new food, deep-fried ranch. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 4.7% ABV
Firecracker Cream Ale: I also generally dislike cream ales, and this was not an exception. Billed as “erupting with pops of tart raspberry and a hint of lime,” we did not taste either. Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.5% ABV
Hazy Days IPA: This is a good, juicy hazy that tastes suspiciously like Surly’s Mosh Pit Hazy. And by suspiciously, I mean exactly. Brewed by Surly Brewing Company; 7.2% ABV
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble: I love when a novelty beverage actually tastes like the description! Although a bit too sweet, we’d definitely order this cider, which is infused with rhubarb, strawberry juice, blackstrap molasses and lactose sugars, again. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 5.9% ABV
Tangerine Sunset Mojito: Another malt-based cocktail that didn’t quite hit the mark, this one had one taster asking, “Did someone uncover a bunker of Tang somewhere?” Because it was the second drink of the day that tasted very much like Tang. We did not detect any mint flavor. Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co. in collaboration with Tattersall Distilling; 6% ABV
Touchy Peely: This infused kolsch had a bit of a Lemon Pledge nose, but it’s a crisp, refreshing beer with a low alcohol content that we appreciate on hot, sticky days. Extra credit for the best beer name of the 2024 Fair. Brewed by Modist Brewing; 4.4% ABV
RC’s BBQ
New beverage Chelsey’s Southern Sipper at RC’s BBQ at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
On the north side of Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett and Chambers streets
Chelsey’s Southern Sipper: Most of us loved this peach-infused take on sweet tea, and all of us could agree it tastes very much like a peach tea Snapple. No booze detected, which is honestly a little scary. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV
Frontier Bar
On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Liggett and Nelson streets
Golden Spike Ale: We weren’t sure from the description what to expect here, but the smoky mezcal flavor is pretty subtle and the prickly pear gives it a nice tartness. “I wouldn’t seek this out, so I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I like it,” one taster said. Brewed in Stillwater by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV
Triple Berry Cream Ale: We’ve established by now that cream ales are not my jam, but this jammy, berry-infused beer is an exception. As one taster quipped, “It’s berry good!” Brewed by Fulton Brewing; 5% ABV
Cafe Caribe
On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Chambers and Nelson streets
Blueberry Pancake Lager: We definitely got the blueberry flavor in this too-sweet concoction from Third Street Brewhouse. Perhaps it was because we were 40 mostly novelty beers in, but the cloying quality of this beer really irritated us. 4.9% ABV
Blackberry Mojito Hard Seltzer: This one split the group. I thought it was crisp and refreshing, but others thought it tasted like mouthwash. Brewed by Bauhaus Brew Labs; 5% ABV
Frozen Piña Colada: Tastes like a … pina colada! This no-brainer from Lift Bridge Brewing Company made us feel like we were sitting on a beach with a flower in our hair. 6% ABV
Frozen Spicy Pineapple Margarita: Sorry Lift Bridge, this slushie missed the mark for us. The funniest comment I can decipher in my notes is this one: “A couple of weeks ago I got a fluoride treatment and they told me it was pina colada flavored. It tasted exactly like this.” 6% ABV
Andy’s Grille
On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Liggett and Nelson streets
Tutti Frutti Bubblegum Hard Slushy: I despise bubblegum flavor, so I’ll let the tasters speak for me here. “Bubblicious in a cup” and “I was excited for this, but it’s just OK.” Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV
Tropical Fruit Smoothy IPA: I’m not sure I’m fully on board with the smoothie beer trend, but this tropical pink version is one of the better versions I’ve tried. Happily, we didn’t detect any of the advertised “luscious marshmallows,” though. Brewed by Pryes Brewing Company; 7.1% ABV
Coasters
On the southeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Liggett Street
Cakewalk Berry Bliss Lager: So many berry beers, and this one unfortunately adds vanilla to the mix. It does taste like cake, I guess. Sigh. Brewed in Cold Spring, Minn., by Third Street Brewhouse; 4.9% ABV
Iced Tea Lemonade Blonde Ale: It’s near the end of the night, and my notes simply say, “Smells good, tastes bad.” Brewed by Bald Man Brewing; 4.2% ABV
Mudslide Slushie: Get out your flair, TGIF lovers, because this is the real deal. Creamy, coffee-flavored, boozy bliss. And it’s somehow lactose-free! Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV
Popping Good Wine: First of all, the pop rocks give a little fizzle when this monstrosity of a drink is poured, but by the time you get to your table, they’ve turned into slimy white nuggets in your drink, which is awful. Secondly, this “blend of red and sparkling white wine” tastes terrible. My favorite quips from tasters: “This tastes like communion wine,” and “Ew. Mogan David.” Made by Cannon River Winery; 8% ABV
Swine & Spuds
In the Warner Coliseum
Mustard Stain IPA: Maybe it was just because it wasn’t sweet, but I loved this beer, which didn’t clobber me over the head with mustard flavor and reminded me of the beer mustard I used to make. Others weren’t quite as excited, but no one hated it, which was pretty shocking. Brewed by Spiral Brewery; 4.5% ABV (Also available at Aldo’s Burgers, Sabino’s Pizza Pies and Snack House, all in the Warner Coliseum)
Ball Park Cafe
On the east side of Underwood Street between Dan Patch and Carnes avenues, outside The Garden
Frozen Mango Tango: This was our last stop of the night, and I have to say, this pretty, very mango-flavored slushie went well with garlic fries. Would I drink it again? I guess, if someone handed it to me. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri: You can mix this with the mango if you want (like a mixed-up Icee!) and I think that’s the only way I’d drink it. A little too sweet on its own. Hey, Ball Park, bring back the new beer-flavored beers next year! Please? Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV
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