Here are all 46 new beers and beverages at the 2022 Minnesota State Fair

Jared Kaufman, Pioneer Press
·8 min read

This year’s lineup of new State Fair foods is showstopping, but as always, we’ll need something equally wild to wash them all down.

There’ll be more than 300 beverage options at the Fair this year, and plenty of new ales, lagers, slushies, wine cocktails, caffeinated concoctions, and non-alcoholic beverages — 46, to be exact — are making their debuts (or “de-brews”?).

Some of last year’s beer innovations are making a comeback, too. The cotton candy milkshake IPA is sticking around at The Hideaway Speakeasy in the Grandstand; Giggles’ Campfire Grill is still offering dill pickle ale and maple bacon brown ale; and Fair fare crossovers like chocolate chip cookie beer at Andy’s Grille and mini-doughnut beer at Ball Park Cafe aren’t going away.

Here’s your guide to what’s new to sip and slurp at the State Fair this year:

1. Arctic Moscow Mule Slushie: A special-edition Super Craft Elixir release featuring ginger beer, zested limes, and cane sugar hard seltzer, slushie-style.

Shanghai Henri’s — International Bazaar

2. Arnold Palmer Spiked Slushy: Classic tea + lemonade, but spiked to 5% ABV.

Coasters – southeast corner of Carnes Ave. and Liggett St.

3. Baklava Cream Ale: The most ambitious crossover event in history? Flavored with vanilla, honey, lemon, and walnuts in a classic Greek dessert style. Brewed by Bent Brewstillery in Roseville; 5.5% ABV and 20 IBUs.

Dino’s Gyros — north side of Carnes Ave., between Nelson and Underwood

4. Bomba Bull Frosé All Day Slushy: St. Paul’s own Gray Duck Distillery Bomba Juice seltzer, along with lemonade, strawberry, and Red Bull, and slushy-ified; 4.7% ABV.

Dino’s Gyros — north side of Carnes Ave., between Nelson and Underwood

5. Bririta: Round Lake Vineyards & Winery’s Brianna white wine blend plus Island Oasis Margarita mix and a lime garnish; 4.8% ABV.

Giggle’s Campfire Grill — southeast corner of Lee Ave. and Cooper St.

6. Cherry Berry Chill: Slushie blend of Red Bull Blue Edition (that’s blueberry-flavored, for those without their wings) and White Claw Hard Seltzer.

O’Gara’s at the Fair — southwest corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cosgrove St.

7. Cherry Limeade Blonde: Cherry meets lime peel and puree in this ale, brewed by Lupulin Brewing Company in Big Lake; 5% ABV.

The Hangar — northeast corner of Underwood St. and Murphy Ave.

8. Chili Pineapple Express Sour: Pineapple sour ale by Pryes Brewing Company in Minneapolis, but rimmed with trendy Tajin chili-lime seasoning for a little kick. Somebody call Seth Rogen; 4.8% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe – east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

9. Coasters Mango Slushy: Mike’s Hard Mango, made into a slushy. Simple as that. 8% ABV.

Coasters — southeast corner of Carnes Ave. and Liggett St.

10. Cold IPA: Getting the chills just thinking about this hoppy IPA that’s drinkable like a lager and meant to evoke an icy plunge in Lake Superior. Courtesy of Bent Paddle Brewing; 6% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

11. Crowd Control: Move out of the way for this New England-style double IPA brewed with three different types of hops (Mosaic, Strata, and Cashmere, for those playing along at home). Brewed by BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul; 8% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

12. Cucumber Summer: An IPA that’s a little golden, a little hazy, and a little cucumber-y. Brought to you by Indeed Brewing Company in Minneapolis; 6.5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

13. Electrik Empress: Buckle up. After a year of slow fermentation in a cypress wood lagering tank from 1936, this gal spent five more months maturing atop 6,600 pounds of plums. The result? A tart, dry, medium-bodied beer with a plum-pink color from August Schell Brewing Company; 5.9% ABV and 4 IBUs.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

14. Encore!: This cold-fermented IPA is brewed with Minnesota wild rice and two varieties of hops; 6.2% ABV and 66 IBUs. It’s brewed by BlackStack in St. Paul, but it’s only at the Grandstand, so you’ll need a concert ticket to get in on the action (unless, that is, you attend the Amateur Talent Contest Finals, which are free, on Sept. 4).

Hildebrand Concessions — Grandstand concert venue

15. Epic Yuzu: Inspired by Ambrosia, the mythic drink of Greek gods, this beer is infused with tart yuzu by Surly Brewing Co. in Minneapolis; 4.5% ABV and 20 IBUs.

Dino’s Gyros — north side of Carnes Ave., between Nelson and Underwood

16. Fair Mullet: This IPA from Lupulin, in Big Lake, is “more mullet, more jean jacket, and all party.” What more do you need to know? 6.5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

17. Grain Belt Lim’: Light malt flavor plus a hit of lime in this lager from August Schell; 4.7% ABV.

Schell’s Pavilion — south of Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

18. Green Apple Caramel Sour: Carnival classic, meet beer. Brewed by Mankato Brewery; 4.5% ABV and 10 IBUs.

The Hangar — northeast corner of Underwood St. and Murphy Ave.

19. Green Apple Wine Slushie: That pretty much sums it up! Apple wine from Round Lake Vineyards & Winery “with a green apple twist,” and, of course, frozen.

Minnesota Wine Country — west side of Underwood St., between Carnes and Judson Ave.

20. Hangar Honey: A melon wheat beer with a sweet, crisp highlight from Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring; 4.8% ABV and 18 IBUs.

The Hangar — northeast corner of Underwood St. and Murphy Ave.

21. Hard Lemonade Slushie: Call it the frozen squozen. It’s a special, slushie release of Squoze Hard Seltzer with fresh lemons and zest from Sociable Cider Werks in Minneapolis; 5.2% ABV.

Shanghai Henri’s — International Bazaar

22. Hawaiian POG BOLO Hard Seltzer: POG, of course, stands for passion fruit, orange, and guava, which are all whisked away on a tropical vacation to Bauhaus Brew Labs in Minneapolis; 5% ABV.

Cafe Caribe — south side of Carnes Ave. between Chambers and Nelson St.

23. Hay-Z: New England state of mind. A juicy, hazy, passion fruit-infused IPA, brewed in collaboration by The Freehouse Brewery in Minneapolis and Lift Bridge Brewing Company in Stillwater; 5.5% ABV and 25 IBUs.

The Blue Barn — West End Market

24. Hideaway Sunset: Imagine a Tequila Sunrise with orange, grenadine, and, wait — sour beer. Hint of tequila flavor; no actual tequila included. Brewed by Bent Brewstilery in Roseville; 6% ABV and 10 IBUs.

The Hideaway Speakeasy — The Veranda, northwest section of Grandstand upper level

25. Kirby Pucker #34 Preserved Lemon: On base is this brew that’s fermented a second time with lactobacillus and preserved and fresh lemons, in collaboration with chef Hassan Ziadi of Moroccan Flavors in Midtown Global Market. Brewed by Eastlake Craft Brewery in Minneapolis; 5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

26. Lemon Razzicle Cream Ale: A sorbet-inspired cream ale with raspberry and lemon is sure to give ‘em the ol’ razzle dazzle. Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company in Minneapolis; 5.5% ABV and 15 IBUs.

Mancini’s al Fresco — north side of Carnes Ave., between Nelson and Underwood St.

27. LuLunatic: A West Coast-style double IPA dry-hopped with Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook hops; it’s bright, dry, and citrusy. Brewed by Surly in Minneapolis; 7.2% ABV and 50 IBUs.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

28. Mango Coaster: Mango and apricot ride together in this wheated ale brewed by Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. in Decorah, Iowa; 5% ABV.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

29. Mango Miraculum: It’s Pryes’ Miraculum IPA, with a hit of mango puree; 6.4% ABV.

O’Gara’s at the Fair — southwest corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cosgrove St.

30. MN Brew Together — Blue Macaroon: This cookie monster of a pastry lager is brewed with almonds, milk sugar, marshmallows, vanilla bean, lemon, coconut, pilsner malt, and blue spirulina. Yeah, you already know what color it is. Brewed in collaboration by Modist Brewing in Minneapolis and Forager Brewing in Rochester; 5.5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

31. MN Honey Chamomile Mead: The honey for this mead comes from Upper Midwest canola hives, and it’s fermented on fresh elderflower petals by Sociable Cider Werks in Minneapolis; 5.9% ABV.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

32. Naughty Shirley: This “grown-up version of the Shirley Temple” is made with wine from Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls; 7% ABV.

The Hideaway Speakeasy — The Veranda, northwest section of Grandstand upper level

33. Olive Lager: The State Fair-goer’s three-martini power lunch. It’s an olive-infused golden lager brewed by Insight Brewing in Minneapolis; 5% ABV and 15 IBUs.

Giggle’s Campfire Grill — southeast corner of Lee Ave. and Cooper St.

34. Piña Colager: An American lager brewed with pineapple puree, lime zest, and hops that lend it coconut and tropical fruit notes; no getting caught in the rain required. By Bauhaus Brew Labs in Minneapolis; 4.5% ABV and 12 IBUs.

Cafe Caribe – south side of Carnes Ave. between Chambers and Nelson St.

35. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake’d Up: Mankato Brewery’s Cake’d Up Beer with notes of vanilla cake and pineapple; 5% ABV and 15 IBUs.

The Hangar — northeast corner of Underwood St. and Murphy Ave.

36. Pitt Boss: I’m at Bauhaus Brew Labs; I’m at Animales BBQ; I’m at the combination Bauhaus Brew Labs/Animales BBQ for this blonde ale with smoked peaches right from the smoker at Animales. Super peachy, a little smokey, perfect for BBQ; 5% ABV.

RC’s BBQ — north side of Dan Patch Ave., between Liggett and Chambers St.

37. Ron Gant Was Out: A pale ale that’s as “legal as Hrbek’s tag in Game 2 of the 1991 World Series,” at least according to Surly Brewing in Minneapolis; 5.5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

38. Sip Hop: West Coast IPA hopped with Centennial, Chinook, and Amarillo for maximum grapefruitiness. Brewed by Dual Citizen Brewing Company in St. Paul; 6.5% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

39. Strawberry Rhubarb Cider: The classic dessert combo meets fresh-pressed apples that are fermented dry by Sociable Cider Werks; 6.2% ABV.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

40. Sunny Brianna: Round Lake Vineyards & Winery’s white wine blend Brianna strikes again, this time with Island Oasis Hurricane mix and garnished with an orange slice or cherry; 4.8% ABV.

Giggles’ Campfire Grill — southeast corner of Lee Ave. and Cooper St.

41. Tootsie Hop: A dessert ale with raspberry and chocolate, courtesy of Lakes & Legends Brewing Company in Minneapolis’ 7.2% ABV.

O’Gara’s at the Fair — southwest corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cosgrove St.

42. Trippple Orange: The three-peat, the trifecta. Tangerines, Cara Cara oranges, and blood oranges, plus vanilla beans for a juicy, smoothie-inspired sour. Orange you glad? By Modist Brewing in Minneapolis; 7% ABV.

Ball Park Cafe — east side of Underwood St., between Dan Patch and Carnes Ave.

43. Tropical Fruit Punch White Claw Slushy: Let’s break it down. Tropical: Red Bull. Fruit Punch: fresh. White Claw: Mango hard seltzer. Slushy.

LuLu’s Public House — West End Market, south of Schell’s Stage at Schiling Amphitheater

44. Tumbleweed Hazy IPA: There’s only room for one gun-slingin’ hazy IPA in this town — and Fulton Brewing in Minneapolis offers one that’s not only “bursting with big fruit flavors,” but also “so drinkable” with “no bitterness.”

The Frontier — south side of Carnes Ave., between Liggett and Nelson St.

45. Walking on Sunshine Watermelon Blonde Ale: Light blonde beer brewed with all-natural watermelon. Brewed by Bald Man Brewing in Eagan; 4.4% ABV.

Coasters — southeast corner of Carnes Ave. and Liggett St.

46. All Day A-Fair!: The Fair’s only new non-alcoholic IPA is hoppy and bitter with melon, pear, and apricot aromas. This N/A concoction is brewed by Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul.

Shanghai Henri’s — International Bazaar

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