Let’s Celebrate 10 Years of Lupulin Brewing

This week, Lupulin Brewing will be celebrating 10 years of pouring sensational beers and creating meaningful memories. Not bad for a strip mall brewery. For a decade, Lupulin has given so many people a reason to stop into Big Lake, Minnesota. Lupulin Brewing has won countless brewing awards, raised thousands of dollars for great causes, and used a metric butt-ton of hops. While all of these accomplishments are noteworthy and jaw-dropping, for me, it is the people behind the beer that deserve to be celebrated.

The enormity of this milestone is not lost of Co-Founder, Jeff Zierdt. “Reaching this ten-year milestone is surreal, ” said Jeff Zierdt, President and Co-Founder of Lupulin Brewing.”What began as a small-town dream has grown into something we could never have predicted, thanks entirelyto our community, our team, and every person who’s raised a glass with us along the way. We’re proud of ourroots, but even more excited for the future. This celebration is about honoring the past while toasting to thenext decade.”

I first met the Lupulin Brewing crew in 2016 at Winterfest, a swanky beer festival put on by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild. The first beer I had was their Imperial Raspberry Truffle and was instantly impressed. I asked if their brewer was around. Aaron, was not currently at the booth so I had to wait and track him down later in the evening. Eventually, we did meet and exchange information. We played email tag for a few months and finally, in late August of 2016, I had arranged to go up to the brewery for an interview.

I had driven past the site of the brewery many times on my way up to Brainerd, but this was the first time I would be stopping. Yes, it was in a strip mall. No, that did not cause me to hesitate to get out of my car. I walked in and let the bartender know that I was here. Brian, a man who is very much a part of why Lupulin is a great place, was tending bar. His beard was exponentially less wily than it is now. However, he had the same charm and kindness that we all have come to expect.

I sat down at the bar and began to chat with a gentlmena with long hair and a farmer’s tan. I would learn that this was Ranger Rick, a local who practically lived at the brewery. If ever there was a great ambassador for a craft brewery, Ranger Rick was it. Rick began to tell me about all the beers and the vibe of the place. Eventually, Aaron Zierdt (brewer), Jeff Ziert (Co-founder), and Matt Schiller (Co-Founder) came out to chat.

We sat down and I started to learn how Lupulin came to be. Now, keep in mind, this was back in 2016. The beer climate was much different then when it came to beer styles. In fact, this was back when Blissful Ignorance was a series of beers that showcased different ways of using hops. For the next several hours, I enjoyed a beer conversation and became acquainted with the ethos of Lupulin.

Since that initial interview back in August of 2016, I have made the trek up to Big Lake more times than I can count. I have brewed beer up there, I have made lifelong friendships with many of the staff, and I even shared the stage with them at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival as they accepted the gold medal for their Dortmunder lager.

My students ask me all the time whether teachers have favorite students. I tell them that everyone is my favorite. Well, when it comes to breweries, I have no qualms screaming from the rooftops that Lupulin Brewing Company is one of my favorite breweries to go to. That is not just in the state of Minnesota, but anywhere. I am so happy that they exist and continue to provide so many people with so many incredible craft beer memories.

So, in the style of one of my idols, David Letterman, here are the Top Ten Reasons why Lupulin Brewing Rocks.

10. Brian’s Beard

9. Jeff has two favorite outfits: lederhosen and a lime-green spandex body suit

8. They are huge in Poland thanks to Blissful Ignorance.

7. Mike’s Mad Scientist Beer Infusions

6. Marcus’s Mural in the Stave showcases undergarments for sloths.

5. They once employed a Sasquatch to run their packaging line who also shares a birthday with me.

4. Scribbled Lines

3. Big Beer Week

2. They are localed in a strip mall and they aren’t bad.

1. The entire Lupulin Brewing Company Staff

Make sure that you get up to Big Lake Starting on May 28th for a unique series of celebratory events that lead up to the big bash on Saturday, May 31st at the taproom. It will be a great celebration of beer, smiles, and people. I cannot wait. I hope to see you all there! Cheers!