Slice: Pride Beer Dabbler

Check out the Pride Beer Dabbler photo gallery at the end of the article. Photos by Samantha Olson

It’s not a party until it’s a party packed with some great food. After the huge success of last year’s Beer Dabbler pairing of food trucks and craft brews with the biggest, gayest, best bash in the state, there was no question that we wanted to do it again. The event will be in Loring Park from 5:30 to 9:30pm on Friday, June 28^th. Tickets are available for $35 ahead of time ($45 at the door, if it doesn’t sell out).  A ticket gets you entry to the event, entertainment, and beer samples. Food from the trucks is created expressly to pair with their brews and will cost $3 extra for each dish.

While neither the trucks nor the breweries have committed to what they will be serving, here is a little intro to the breweries and the typical menu items found on these mobile food vendors menus.

Fulton Brewery: This brewery comes from a collection of college friends. It’s hard to say anyone is having more fun than the guys (and ladies) at Fulton Brewery – and it certainly tastes that way. I’ve yet to sample a brew from them that isn’t a fantastic summer sipper.

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Natedogs: These snappy wieners come from a man obsessed with great hot dogs. His are the best, full of pork flavor (from Pastures A Plenty Farm) and topped with made-from-scratch toppings, which often include mustards made with local craft brew. Expect some sassy condiments on a perfectly cooked dog.

 

Herkimer: These brews are crowd-pleasers. They’ve been serving their brews to the Uptown crowd with a flavor to serve every drinker’s palate. They were around long before the brewpub sensation swept through the Twin Cities.

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Sassy Spoon: Food truck fare with a healthy twist. Sassy Spoon serves up the gluten-free goodies along with a vegetarian bent. Everything is made from scratch from a holistic registered dietitian. The best part is, healthy whole food that’s good for you is actually quite delicious.

 

Third Street Brewhouse:  From the golden hued Three Way, the roasted caramel colored Lost Trout and the Rise to the Top cream ale, Third Street Brewhouse creates a variety of beers created for pairing with great food.

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Brew Pub Pizza: Beer and pizza go together like peas and carrots; peanut butter and jelly; Laverne and Shirley; Adam and Steve – this pairing is a no-brainer. These are the Lotzza Motzza frozen pizzas you might have seen in your grocery store freezer.

 

612 Brew: This new brewery in Northeast Minneapolis sports a huge Adam Turman mural and a unique layout where you can sip beers where they’re made. (They’re also working on a patio that should be stunning.) And then there are the beers, the R Rated is a combination of West Coast IPA meets Midwestern Rye, both light and complex or the Mary Ann, a knockout ginger-infused brew.

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Messy Giuseppe: The truck is named after the owners’ grandfather (there’s a cartoon of him on the side). It’s also the name of their take on an Italian influenced sloppy Joe. This truck dishes Italian American classics, like a spicy giardiniera-topped hot Italian beef. This is comforting, filling food.

 

Flat Earth Brewing Co.: St. Paul’s Flat Earth has crafted brews across the color spectrum, from their first brewed Belgian-style pale ale to the mocha-colored Cygnus x1 Porter.

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Foxy Falafel: Another beauty from the saintly city. Foxy’s truck, nicknamed Roxy, serves her famous fried chickpea fritters – the eponymous falafel. Crunchy on the outside and packed with herby goodness on the inside, it’s impossible not to fall in love at first bite.

 

Badger Hill Brewing: They don’t call it their Every Day Ale for nothing. Badger Hill Brewing creates the types of beer that you want to keep close at hand and in the fridge at all time. These craft suds come from two brothers and they get along as well with food as they do each other.

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Potter’s Pasties:  A taste of England in the middle of America, Potter’s Pasties (that’s past not paste) serves this traditional miner’s lunch straight from their truck or trailer. Flakey pie dough is wrapped around all manner of savory ingredients, from traditional beef with gravy to a delectable Thai curry.

 

Schell’s Brewing Co.: New Ulm’s elder statesman brewery leads by example for these young whippersnappers that are up and coming.  From seasonal brews perfect for any day to neighborhood necessities like the Nordeast, these beers are like a great catch-up with old friends.

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Neato’s Burgers: Inspired by the drive-in burgers from the Porky’s of their youth, these friends banded together and created a new summer taste memory. A good, simple burger is made even better by their incredible, cravable French fries. They’re cooked in duck fat and amazing enough to make you sing their praises. When dipped in garlicky aioli they are Ahhhh-maze-ING.

 

Finnegan’s: This brewery does more than make good beer; they also do good for the community. They donate 100% of their profits to alleviate hunger locally.

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Stanley’s on Wheels: This truck, from Stanley’s bar in Northeast is a big enough fan of brew that they even have beer cans decorating the back of their truck. Serving pub fare like smoked beef brisket, which is available in both sandwich and nacho style.

Brau Brothers: Their beers have inspired a passionate following. I’d crawl over my bleeding mother for a pint of their smooth and creamy Moo Joos, an oatmeal stout delicious for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert.

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A Cupcake Social: Food trends may come and go, but these cupcakes are here to stay. Moist, rich, not too sweet, stocked with inventive flavors as well as beautifully executed classics, A Cupcake Social serves lovely little treats.

 

Summit: The original craft brew, Summit in St. Paul led the trend for all others to follow. One sip of a cold, classic, balanced Extra Pale Ale is likely to bring back a rush of warm summer memories.

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Taqueria La Hacienda: Hot griddled corn tortillas, packed with juicy meats, slow simmered and packed with seasonings, topped simply with onions and cilantro. Delicious Mexican street eats in the heart of Minnesota.

 

Lift Bridge: Stillwater’s Lift Bridge brews a sunny tasting summer beauty with their Farm Girl Saison.

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Hibachi Daruma: Serving Japanese-style griddled meats and chicken fried rice.

 

Fytenburg Brewing: European-style ales and lagers made in the former horse stables of St. Paul’s Schmidt Brewery.

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RA Mac Sammy’s: They’ve got other foods, but the specialty of this truck is their customizable mac and cheese. Pack it with bacon, caramelized onions, spicy peppers, tomatoes–anything your heart desires–or leave it classically plain. The power is in your hands.

 

Mankato Brewery: Bringing their brews up north for us straight from the Key City. Mankato Brewery revives the beer tradition with beer like their Organ Grinder Amber Ale or the Haymaker IPA.

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Bloomy’s Roast Beef: Great food to pair with beer. The tender, slow-roasted beef from the Bloomy’s truck is piled on a tender bun just waiting for a big bite to destroy it.

 

Harriet Brewing: Making this pocket of South Minneapolis a hopping spot for refreshing beers, their citrus tinged Sol Boch is beautiful on a sunny day.

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Mr. Mustachio’s: This truck creates neighborhood flavor sensations atop different sausages from Kramarczuk’s. Each perfectly suits their neighborhood like the Seward (vegan) or the Uptowner. What does Loring Park taste like?

 

Indeed Brewing: The very best local craft brew in cans brings their drinkable art in easy-to-carry containers. That their summer seasonal is called Shenanigans sounds too perfect a pairing for this big party.

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The Anchor Fish & Chips: Crispy battered cod the size of a baby’s arm served with a proper English chip just screams for a pint. The beer might not be served in glass at this event, but the flavor magic remains.

 

Lucid Brewing: Straight out of Minnetonka, this brewery promotes “clarity of thinking and quality of drinking.” Usually, we get foggy after a few frosty brews, but this promise might be worth exploring.

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AZ Canteen: Zesty fare from the king of Bizarre Foods, Andrew Zimmern. While the TV personality may not be actually in the truck, the food is inspired by the chef’s travels, like a cabrito burger (ahem, goat) and a super spicy, crispy pork belly and green papaya salad.

 

Boom Island Brewing: Inspired by a Trappist ale, Boom Island’s founder is admittedly obsessed with making perfect Belgian-style beer.

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Cajun to Geaux: Tastes of the bayou in the middle of Minnesota. Fiery jambalaya, crawfish boils and beignets, Chef Tim serves the food of his native land here in his adopted home.

 

Dangerous Man Brewing: A Northeast brewery so attractive to hipsters that even the logo sports the requisite facial hair. The beers have inspired all who have tasted them to return to the brewery for growler after growler of their beautifully crafted brews.

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Hola Arepa: This is one of the best trucks in the city. The arepa, griddled corn cakes packed with long-simmered ingredients, is a deceptively simple dish. A ridiculous amount of skill is needed to create such a perfect bite of delicious food from so humble of beginnings.

 

Bad Weather Brewing: Unexpected, untethered beer is the promise. These guys don’t follow the traditional road and instead are forging ahead down their own path to delicious beer.

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Home Street Home: Just as the name implies, this truck cooks up from-scratch comfort foods. Home is where you find them parked.

 

Olvalde Brewing: From a modest brewery outside of Rollingstone, Minnesota, it doesn’t get more quaint than this. The beer is hardly adorable, serious unfiltered ales are re-fermented in the bottle.

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Hot Indian Foods: Finally, the Indian food truck the town has been waiting for. The chicken tikka masala will spice up your life.

 

Excelsior Brewing Company: This employee-owned brewery is inspired by lake living. Perfect brews for a lazy summer afternoon.

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MidNord Empanadas: Blistered, crispy dough is wrapped around any number of fillings, rich beef; spicy, tender chicken – even mac and cheese or apple pie. All are lovely.

 

Surly Brewing: They play loud heavy metal in the brewery and they are not kidding about that name. What they care about is making fantastic beer. There’s a reason this brewery inspires legions.

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The Motley Crew’s Heavy Metal Grill: Born of a rekindled high school love, a devotion to hard rock ,and a love of great food, this truck brings straight-forward American foods that rock.

 

Blacklist Brewing: A sweet little gypsy operation, these beers come from an experienced brewer who isn’t afraid to experiment with unconventional flavors, like a Belgian-style with rhubarb.

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Scratch: Fresh food with an Asian/Pacific Rim twist. They have crispy fried pork egg rolls and all kinds of sandwiches, like a spicy mock duck or a crispy fried chicken.

 

Big Wood Brewery: The name is as subtle as the brews they serve. (It’s not that they’re compensating for anything.) Fingers crossed that they’re serving up a giant morning wood – it’s a coffee flavored stout. What did you think I was talking about?

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Simply Steve’s: Straightforward, simple food. You won’t get infusions or froths from this truck. Instead, you will find a solid burger, slider, taco, and even the occasional pizza.

 

Northgate Brewing: From three passionate brewers in Northeast Minneapolis come these English-style ales, like the brown Wall’s End or their traditional sweet stout, Maggie’s Leap.

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Tiki Tim’s: A taste of the tropics, this giant blue beauty serves some fantastic fish tacos, barbecue pork (with just a little pineapple), and deep fried pickles (aka frickles). Fricking awesome.

 

*The Beer Dabbler reserves the right to change the food truck and brewery pairings at any time.