NordEast Grain Belt Beer: New Ulm, MN

New Ulm, Minnesota is home to a hidden brewery called August Schell Brewing Company which brews a brand of beer called Grain Belt.  Grain Belt beer has three versions: Grain Belt Golden (introduced in 1893), Grain Belt Premium (introduced in 1947), and the brand new Grain Belt Nordeast which was introduced to the northeast of Minneapolis on April 7, 2010.  Grain Belt beer was originally brewed by the Minneapolis Brewing Company which was formed by 4 smaller breweries in 1891 and soon after Grain Belt beer became the companies number one product.  The name "Nordeast" refers from the Northern and Eastern immigrants and their language which helped shape the Northeast of Minneapolis.  "Grain Belt" is a term from the American Midwest where the majority of the worlds grain, wheat, and barley hails from.  Nordeast Grain belt beer is a American Amber/ Red lager that contains 4.7% alcohol.

The Nordeast Grain Belt beer is a clear "burnt" orange color and has a relatively small head that dissipates down to a light ring around the glass with no lacing.  The smell is of a caramel apple, with nice grain and a little bit of hoppyness.  The taste is where it grabs you, clean, malty, and hoppy!  There is an astounding caramel maltiness to Nordeast beer and the beer has a nice mix of fruitiness as well with the finish rather bitter.  The Nordeast Grain Belt beer is a very smooth and is a "easy to drink" beer.  Sadly, Nordeast Grain Belt beer is almost impossible to find outside of Minnesota so you would have to drive to the state to purchase it, but it would make a great road trip!  Next time you are in Minnesota hunt down the nearest market or pub and grab a Nordeast Grain Belt Beer.

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