GaryOsberg.com

Good morning from Collegeville,

This weekend there are at least three Oktoberfest Celebrations that I know of, Duluth, Northeast Minneapolis and the Renaissance Festival. Munich, Germany’s Oktoberfest is the biggest. Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig organized a series of horse races to celebrate his marriage to Princess Therese.

Craft beer is a huge industry and they even have their own magazine, “The Growler, A Beer Dabbler Publication”. More at www.growlermag.com

Before bottled beer became common, if you wanted beer outside the saloon, it was usually carried home in a pail. The term “Growler’ may have come from the sound that the pail, with lid, made as it was being carried. Others say that it came from the constant conflict, “growling”, between the bartender and the customer over what was defined as a full pail. Often children were employed by parents and others to “Rush the Growler”. The Granite City Food & Brewery in St. Cloud has a “growler” program.

Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring, a local brewer of craft beers, has added a special autumn ale, Jack’d Up, brewed with pumpkin spices and available on tap at saloons and restaurants. You may want to take a tour of the brewery and do some tasting. Go to www.thirdstreetbrewhouse.com or call them at 320-685-3690.

The APHC show this week is live from The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Special guests include mixologists of soul, folk and jazz, Lake Street Dive, blues bombshell Hilary Thavis and vocalist Molly Dean. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors are joined by sound effects man Steve Kramer. Butch Thompson will be sitting in with The Guys All-Star Shoe Band. Enjoy the show.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Will Rogers