Beer News in the Star Tribune

Two items of interest from yesterday's Star Tribune: BEER -- IN MINNESOTA In its October issue, Bon Appetit magazine named two Minnesota beers as two of the eight best autumn brews in America -- Schell's Octoberfest and Summit Octoberfest. Schell brewery is in New Ulm; Summit ales from St. Paul. HOPPING AWAY Hops Restaurant, Bar &Brewery in Eden Prairie has closed, but its sister restaurant in Maple Grove remains open. "We are restructuring the Hops brand," said Greg Graber, Hops vice president for marketing. "We are looking at shifting trade areas and closing down negative cash flow restaurants." Fourteen of the 51 Hops restaurants have been closed, and the remainder, including the Maple Grove restaurant, will be transitioned into Hops City Grills in the next 18 to 36 months. The new concept will have a "contemporized" interior and a new menu, including some smaller appetizers called bistro bites.