I love beer, and I love living in Minnesota. At last count, the state of Minnesota is home to 108 breweries with new ones opening at a rapid pace. The beer scene in the Twin Cities alone is vibrant and growing with a new beer or brewery to try any time you leave your house.
A recent article published in the Star Tribune highlights Summit Brewing, a beer staple in St. Paul that opened 30 years ago and is ranked #29 in the top 50 breweries in the United States according to the Brewer’s Association.
The other Minnesota brewery on that top 50 list? August Schell Brewing Company. Coming in at #27, Schell’s is the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States (the oldest being D.G. Yuengling & Son in Pennsylvania).
I often say I am my father’s daughter because my love of beer really started with drinking Grain Belt, one of my dad’s favorite beers and a product of August Schell Brewing Co. My dad recently suggested that we take a trip down to New Ulm, Minn. to check out this historic brewery.
August Schell emigrated from Germany to Ohio originally then later relocated and settled in New Ulm, Minn. Surrounded by hundreds of other Germans, Schell decided to open a brewery in 1860 to brew German beer.
The brewery has seen rough times throughout its long history. Just two years after setting up shop, the Dakota War took place in 1862 causing the Schell family to evacuate their property up in the hills. When they returned weeks after the war ended, the brewery was left untouched by the Dakota thanks to the friendship the Schells had formed with them early upon settling in New Ulm.
Prohibition hit breweries hard in 1919. There were close to 2000 breweries in the United States before prohibition and only about 600 made it out after prohibition ended. Schell’s stayed in business by creating and producing 1919 root beer and other soft drinks, NA (non-alcoholic) beer and candy.
After these bumps in the road, Schell’s became a successful brewery in Minnesota and has remained family owned since 1860. Schell's acquired Grain Belt beer in 2002 and has most recently purchased the iconic Grain Belt sign in downtown Minneapolis with hopes to have it fixed up and re-lit in the city soon.
Schell’s beers have won awards (including a gold and bronze medal at the 2014 World Beer Cup) and are considered a Minnesota staple. Their Deer Brand label pays homage to the deer that roamed the grounds when August and Theresa Schell first came to New Ulm. The brewery has deer onsite today, just part of its charm and history.
The brewery tour that my dad, mom and I took was probably the best brewery tour I have ever been on (and I’ve gone on a lot). Instead of learning how beer is made, we learned about the history of the Schell family from a descendant of August and Theresa Schell himself. The brewery is currently in its sixth generation of brewmasters with a seventh generation about to be born. We got to see a copper kettle that used to brew every single beer that Schell’s produced-- this machine was installed in 1892 and was in use for just over 100 years.
The tour ended in the tap room where we tried six different and delicious beers. My favorite ended up being the Goosetown brewed with coriander and salt-- I never would have tried this beer outside of this room, but now I plan to order it any time I’m out and it is available! Schell’s newest beer is Grain Belt Lock & Dam named for the lock and dam in Minneapolis near the famous Grain Belt sign. We also tried Schell Shocked, a grapefruit radler that I first tried at the Minnesota State Fair a few years ago. If you like fruity beer, this is a refreshing choice and great summer beer.
After the tour, we walked through the gorgeous gardens in front of August and Theresa Schell’s original home and had a beer with bread made from their own spent grain in the “bier garten.” The picnic tables were decorated with flowers in Schell’s cans. The garden was full of flowers and greenery and two peacocks who live on the grounds. I only saw one, but I was told there are two. They have had peacocks at Schell’s for years and has become almost as well-known as the deer.
This was a really informative and interesting tour and well worth the hour and a half drive south of the Twin Cities. One great thing that I found was being forced to disconnect from the outside world while we were visiting-- no one had any cell service at the brewery so I really got to experience the tour and our time without the distractions from Facebook. If you love beer, Minnesota and history, I would highly recommend that you check out August Schell’s Brewing Co! Tours are held daily in the summer and are first come first serve so get there early. The beer garden is open on Saturdays and Sundays and offers live music on Sundays. Schell’s also hosts a weekend of Oktoberfest, on Oct. 15 this year, and a winter celebration called Bockfest, held in February.
