The Sorta Winter-Winter Beer Dabbler
Well what can I say, this winter has been less than…wintery. And to tell you the truth I’m not really losing sleep over it.
After last years 10 blizzards in a row, especially the one in April, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here, we can use a break from winter weather for a while. Ironically, I’ve managed to go snowboarding more this year than I have in the past few years, but hey there’s nothing like being on the slopes in 50 degree weather so it’s all good haha.
Which now brings us to this years Winter Beer Dabbler!
I’m going to make a confession here, this year is the first time I have ever attended the Winter Beer Dabbler.…Ever!….It’s true!
The first couple years when it was downtown St Paul, it got sold out quick. The following years I was working in the taproom at Summit and some lucky fellow employees got to work the Dabbler (except for that one year it was like actually freezing out, I didn’t envy them that time) And then the following years, I think I just wimped out going or I was out of town or something that prevented me from going.
With this years pretend winter, I decided that I needed to go and finally experience what its like drinking outside in 45 degree heat. But really this was going to be one for the record books.
First I want to thank the folks at the Dabbler for the press pass to attend this years event. Second, I want to say it was a very well run event and I’d recommend it to anyone who hasn’t ever been to it before like myself.
If my count was correct, there were just over 130 beer, liquor, wine etc booths in attendance ….WOW! Of course I did not have a chance to try all of them because if I did, I wouldn’t be writing this right now and would be on life support somewhere haha. But what a feet to get all these companies together for this event.
Many Minnesota based craft breweries were represented along with the surrounding states Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and etc. Also national brands made an appearance too like Sam Adams, Dogfish Head, 903, Coronado and Clown Shoes among others.
Along with drinks, there was also 20 some food trucks to cure your appetite too. After you went down “food truck row” you could also “warm up” in the State Fair Coliseum for more beer tents and live dueling pianos! What a great idea this is to have a refuge for escape from the harsh (normally cold) weather during an outdoor event like this. Of course yesterday it was totally not needed but I can see it being great when winter is actually winter in Minnesota.
Oh and just for an added bonus why not have some hot air balloon flame throwers, giant beer pong, getting thrown in the air by the St Paul Bouncing Team and motorcycle jumping too! There was even a seating flame thrower thing where you could blow off the flames while getting your picture taken too.
Everyone looked to be having a good time, not sure if it was the weather or the drinking but people were dressed up in costumes and matching outfits and other stuff. I wore my old school Hamm’s winter hat just for the sake of it, even though it wasn’t totally needed but hey it’s called the Winter Beer Dabbler after all.
So in closing, would I recommend you attend a Beer Dabbler event in the future, Yes! Would I recommend you attend one out in freezing weather…well that’s up to you haha.
But really, its a fun event put on by people who have been running these types of events for years now and to tell you the truth, back in my beer blog rookie days, I attended the first Summer Beer Dabbler and that event went off without a hitch.
Also did you know the Dabbler folk have a liquor store/coffee shop? It’s true! It’s located at 1545 W 7th Street in St Paul 55102. There you will be able to find many local craft beers among rare wines and a wooden Hamm’s bear also! Check out their website below.
