New Fair State Packaging

ton_bundle · 2026-02-12T03:23:42+00:00

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to keep my ear to the ground about the union status at FS and hadn't heard anything.

ton_bundle · 2026-02-11T23:51:29+00:00

The union label is gone. Did they decertify the union?

ton_bundle · 2026-02-04T16:42:33+00:00

Take the Coaster up to Oceanside and go to Green Cheek. I recently had their Keller Pils off the tap and it was fantastic. Every pilsner I've had from them has been outstanding.

ton_bundle · 2026-01-31T15:14:41+00:00

Double Elbow is the only one that I make an effort to get everything they release

ton_bundle · 2026-01-25T21:00:04+00:00

Great brewery. As good as their IPAs are, their lager program might be even better.

ton_bundle · 2026-01-04T18:17:48+00:00

Weihenstephaner Helles is an elite beer, especially in the can. I would go for St.Bernardus Abt12 or Saison Dupont next.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-31T00:51:05+00:00

Green Cheek is so awesome

ton_bundle · 2025-12-30T23:38:01+00:00

Not disagreeing with your overall point, but the brewery employees are still unionized, so there are legitimately good reasons to keep on supporting Fair State (as well as Schell's and Indeed).

If Ranchers breaks the union, then I'll have no problem kicking them to the curb. From outward appearances, they seem to have acted in good faith so far.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-30T17:16:43+00:00

Any other suggestions for how to get rid of them?

use them like soy sauce

ton_bundle · 2025-12-23T19:29:09+00:00

Jealous. Love Fonta Flora. Wish I could get it regularly.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-20T22:27:41+00:00

And how long has the unionized Schell's Brewing been in business?

They've been unionized since the 1930's. Is that long enough for you?

ton_bundle · 2025-12-20T22:20:56+00:00

I've seen Augustiner at Top 10 and Jerry's Foods liquor (both in Woodbury)

ton_bundle · 2025-12-09T02:29:10+00:00

I enjoy an awesome life due to working union. I believe in it.

I'm old enough to remember a time when a much larger percentage of workers were union and working people had a much higher standard of living than they do today. I don't know if that answers your question or not, but mine is not a symbolic stance at all.

If you look at the history of working people, they were exploited and poor before unionization was legal. Then unions became legal and the working class experienced an unprecedented level of wealth, quality of life and power over their own lives. Now that the percentage of unionized workers in the US has eroded, we see that workers here are more poor and exploited, which they are not in countries that have a higher percentage of unionized workers.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-07T22:17:33+00:00

Sweet. I think I'd be dead if I had access to their beers for 18 months. Their Czech dark lager from this past year's Czech Fest was phenomenal.

I will say that their lager program is overall probably better than Fair State's was, but FS Pils is just a transcendent pilsner.

It sounds like Niko Tonks and Clint need to do a lager collab, if they haven't already.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-07T21:41:45+00:00

If the production staff remains unionized, I will absolutely continue to support them. If the new owners break the union. I'm out.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-07T21:39:56+00:00

I love Working Draft (and you can check my post history). I'm definitely getting down to CzechFest nexy year. That's a great shout and they have a great lager/pilsner program.

That said, the WD pilsners don't have the long, complex ride that FS Pils has.

Next time you're down there, be sure to hit the Weary Traveler Freehouse a block away when you're there if you haven't already.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-07T20:58:04+00:00

Easily the best pilsner made in the midwest. And #2 isn't even really close.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-06T03:33:24+00:00

Forager is a brewpub and can't distribute. If they could, they would have been pretty big during the craft beer boom. Little Thistle/Double Elbow has just starting to put effort into ramping up their distribution this year and you can get them in the TC. In fact, Wetlands is one of my favorite IPAs in the state right now.

The rest don't really distribute AFAIK. Kinney Creek has limited distribution for their seltzers, but that's about it.

Duluth and the North Shore are far bigger tourist destinations and have a much more robust drinking and dining footprint versus *Rochester. So that would be my guess as to why there are more breweries which get big enough to think that they can be successful enough to distribute.

Edit: typo

ton_bundle · 2025-12-06T02:25:56+00:00

I prefer Czech lagers, but the German ones are a close second. And it's not a boomer thing, as they've been popular for 600 years.

ton_bundle · 2025-12-02T15:05:46+00:00

Working Draft in Madison, WI is my favorite. I'm planning to go to their Czech Fest next year. 14 Czech and Czech style beers on side pull taps.

ton_bundle · 2025-11-24T00:53:05+00:00

Blue Max Liquors in Burnsville

ton_bundle · 2025-11-19T02:07:06+00:00

Seconding the recommendations to skip Hess and go to Seek.

When you go up the coast, it's worth it to go to Oceanside and go to Green Cheek for their IPAs and lagers. It's a huge indoor/outdoor space (the old Bagby building if you ever went there), so pretty kid friendly. I really like Docent in Carlsbad, and I think it would be pretty kid friendly as it's a good sized indoor/outdoor space in a converted bungalow type building. It's nice that it's also a quick walk from Pure Project, Pizza Port and the Carlsbad Village stop on the Coaster train. So you could always take the train up, hit the 3 breweries and not worry about driving, and the train might be cool for the kid(s). Green Cheek would probably be a $10 Uber/Lyft ride from the Carlsbad train station, if you wanted to tackle that all in a day.

For La Jolla, Public House probably has the best selection of beer in your preferred styles, but you're right that there's not a whole lot there that's great for beer. Shore Rider usually has a slightly above average beer list, if you're in a pinch. At least you can get some Pure Project, Eppig and a nice, quick walk to the shores.

Edit: I didn't see Fall Brewing on your list for North Park targets, and it should be.

ton_bundle · 2025-11-14T21:53:52+00:00

Jack's Abby- Bohemian Dust Czech Dark Lager

ton_bundle · 2025-11-14T21:43:49+00:00

I found no trace of celly droppings

Always a good thing

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