Local pick: Excelsior Brewing Company
This Lake Minnetonka-inspired microbrewery is located in the heart of Excelsior, Minnesota. Its brews were created to honor lake life – and ultimately, to complement it.
Lake area resident John Klick originally dreamed of starting a brewery, then pitched it to his friends, Patrick Foss and Jon Lewin, while the men cheered on their sons at a little league game. The brewery went on to be a huge local success.
Today, Excelsior Brewing Company offers a wide range of unique brews, including:
Big Island Blond Ale: A light-bodied, approachable ale with a perfect balance of malt and hops, accented by a subtle citrus flavor and aroma. The perfect everyday beer.
Suggested food pairings:
Lighter foods: Grilled chicken, crisp salads, salmon, bratwurst
Cheese: Monterey Jack, brick or similar light, nutty cheese
Dessert: Light apricot or mandarin cake, lemon custard tart
Bitteschlappe Brown Ale: A traditional Munich-style brown ale features a medium body, with brisk carbonation and a malty sweetness that carries the beer to a soft finish.
Suggested food pairings:
Hearty foods: Roast pork, smoked sausage, grilled salmon
Cheese: Aged Gouda, crumbly Cheshire
Dessert: Almond or maple-walnut cake, pear fritters, cashew brittle
Bridge Jumper IPA: A malt-forward IPA dry hopped with raw, whole hops. This IPA defines “extreme balance.” An extreme malty sweetness on the front end with a huge hop bitterness to finish clean.
Suggested food pairings:
Strong spicy foods: Curry dishes, spicy pad Thai, Caribbean jerk chicken wings
Cheese: Milder blue such as Gorgonzola, Cambozola
Desserts: Caramel apple tart, ginger spice cake, coconut, hard fruits
XLCR American Pale Ale: An amber-colored American pale ale that combines a moderate, pleasant floral hop aroma with a satisfying malt sweetness from specialty malts.
Suggested food pairings:
Wide range of foods: Burger or steak off the grill, leafy greens, chicken and even fish
Cheese: English cheese such as Cheddar, Derby with sage.
Dessert: Pumpkin flan, maple bread pudding, bananas Foster
Enjoy a taste of lake living right in your own home: Excelsior Beer is available at all of our Wines & Spirits locations.