This week, our summer Drinking Apples series introduces us to a group of cider-makers who began their company as part of a project at the University of Minnesota!

Jason Dayton, one half of the team behind Lionheart Cider, broke it down: the college class that got it all started, the English influences both his tastes and the progression of his company, and their big plans for the future. These guys are only like 25, so they’re just getting started.

I re-united with Sarah Meyer of Bent Paddle, also at Tullibee. Minnesota’s premier beer party is next weekend, All Pints North, in my hometown of Duluth. I have never been to this beer festival and I’m not going again this year, BUT she’s got stories. She shared some treasured memories from last year, previewed this year, and talked about being local to Duluth and helping this beer festival grow. It’s a huge presence, both among Minnesota and regionally, and locally, it behooves them to keep this event moving forward.

Sarah discussed the changing the strategies down here in the Twin Cities. She said tap takeovers like the ones you see advertised at your favorite bar don’t hold the weight they used to, and that forces a brewery’s sales team to adapt. She talked about how she does that, and one of the big events she’s got coming up.