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Pub Visit - USA/Canada

Minneapolis (Lyn-Lake), Minnesota:
Herkimer Pub & Brewery

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Bob Thompson

Herkimer 1The snow had just stopped falling as I stepped over the threshold at the HERKIMER PUB & BREWERY. It is a large pub with a central bar that can be approached from any direction. The brewery is located on the left on entering the pub.

They don't do samplers but I was invited to taste what I liked, so eventually I had tried the six beers on offer: Red Flyer Märzen, Handy's Lager, Kölsch, Vienna Country Lager, Altbier and Bock. Sorry, there are no abvs supplied; the brewery obviously thinks that if North Korea gets this information it may threaten world peace, so they keep it secret!

There are always six beers available. These are selected from a list of seventeen, all Germanic styles. It's very hard to judge these beers. Some were as good as you'd find in Germany, others weren't.

Herkimer 2Anyway, I soon had a chance to express my thoughts; I was joined by the brewer. This is not unusual in US brewpubs. If you express any knowledge of the beers, or just come from Europe, your opinion is sought. In the brew house (see photo) I said that although his Altbier was excellent, it wasn't much like a true Dusseldorf-brewed version. Without batting an eyelid he said that he had adjusted it to suit the American palate. So there you have it, Americanised German beers. Please don't regard this as a negative report, as this pub is very well worth visiting for its beers.

This is the full list of the possible beers which has now increased to about twenty: Handy's Lager, Kolsch, Daily Pils, Dortmunder, Sky Pilot Kellerbier, Maibock, Gose, Speciell Weizen, Tooler's Weisse, Dunkel Weisse, Vienna Country Lager, Alt Bier, Red Flyer Marzen, Oktoberfest, Bock, High Point Dunkel, Doppelbock, Schwarz, Czech Pilsner, Big Bottom Doppelstiche. The spellings are as they appear on the pub's beer list.

Important Information:

The Herkimer Pub & Brewery, 2922 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Tel: (612) 821 0101

Open: Monday to Friday 12.00-02.00; Saturday and Sunday 10.00-02.00
Food: Breakfast: Saturday and Sunday 10.00-15.00, Lunch and Dinner: Daily 12.00-02.00
Happy Hours: Food and Beer: Monday-Friday 15.00-18.00; Sunday-Thursday 22.00-02.00

Close to the intersection of Lyndale Avenue South and Lake Street West. Frequent bus
no 4 to and from downtown stops on Lyndale Avenue about 100 yards from the pub.