On Dec. 9, GetKnit Events rolled a busload of thirsty craft beer fans into town to see what’s on tap in the Med City. Based in Minneapolis, the company’s mission is to connect Minnesotans with local businesses – to knit communities together. They host more than 150 events each year across the state, including the Southern Minnesota Brewery Tour, which goes from Roseville to New Ulm, Mankato to Faribault, then to Rochester, where it will stop at Forager and Grand Rounds. The mission is to cultivate community, says GetKnit president Nick Blake. "What better way to meet someone new than over a pint of craft beer?"
Rochester has four breweries within city limits, and LTS and Kinney Creek, while not on this route, have been included in previous tours. These tours show metro residents and other beer tourists what makes Rochester a great place to grab a pint.
"Each brewery seems to take on a unique personality trait of the city," Blake says of his experience working with breweries across Minnesota. It’s no exception in Rochester. Travis Temke, president of F-Town Brewing in Faribault, agrees. Every brewery’s atmosphere is different, and each approaches beer in a unique way.
Grand Rounds exemplifies this bridge building approach. "We really want to showcase that craft beer is great and accessible to everyone," says Grand Rounds CEO Tessa Leung. "With craft beer, there really is something for everyone. You don’t have to have high alcohol, huge hops, or barrel-aged everything."
Both Grand Rounds and Forager rotate their taps frequently, so Rochester visitors can try beers they can’t regularly get. In her experience, Leung says that out-of-town guests "are happy and a little surprised that Rochester has such an active and delicious craft beer scene."
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The tours show off local beer, but the community and culture are equally important. It’s about the idea of a communal "Main Street", says Temke. When a tour comes to Faribault, "we want people to gain an attachment to an experience," he says
With the Twin Cities only 75 miles away, beer enthusiasts can drive to town on their own, but that’s different than a chartered tour. People can visit breweries on their own—in Rochester or elsewhere—Blake says, but that includes the stress of navigating unfamiliar streets, paying for lodging, and making safe choices. "The great thing about these events [is] that people can let us do the legwork so they can just enjoy themselves," he says. "All of us are busy in our day-to-day routine and it’s nice to get to turn your brain off and just enjoy yourself."
For more information about GetKnit events, visit getknitevents.com.
