Brau Brothers Brewing Company - Thresher

Thresher presents a rich golden hue with crystal clarity and a lasting cap of white foam that laces the glass nicely. It’s a true-to-style Czech/Bohemian pils look that’s just a couple shades deeper than most German pils. In the aroma, look for an undercurrent of lightly toasty malts with a dash of caramel, overlaid by the earthy, spicy Saaz hop character for which Czech-style pilsners are known. The malt character comes through well on the palate, too, with a smooth, round bready quality with that hint of toast, a touch of caramelization, and perhaps a mild impression of dried fruit. The hops easily tamp down a hint of malt sweetness, lending a crisp bite of bitterness that keeps this lager dry and satisfying through to the finish. Pilsners – both Czech and German-style interpretations – are very food-friendly beers which will pair well with a wide variety of dishes. We prefer to steer towards foods with a bready and/or spicy character, such as pizzas, fried chicken, Buffalo wings, and burgers. Spicy shrimp skewers with a citrus glaze, and even lobster tacos are a good call, too. Prost!

Straight out of college in 1999, Dustin Brau and his wife, Mary, bought a restaurant in the small town of Lucan, MN (approx. 200 residents), which they named BrauHaus. In order to attract more of the local population to come enjoy a meal in town, the duo decided to begin offering their very own BrauHaus beers made on-premises, thus turning their homebrewing hobby into a legitimate microbrewery. Their tiny 2-barrel system was barely enough to keep up with the demand of their restaurant, so in 2006 they moved their beer production to a larger building in Lucan. It was at this time that Dustin's brothers, Trevor and Brady, joined the enterprise, and their father, Dale, joined in to help too. With space to brew more beer, the team could now take the business to the next level. Brau Brothers Brewing Company was officially founded. A bottling line was installed and their beer began flowing out of the town of Lucan to retail accounts throughout the area. Additionally, they began farming their own hops and barley on a few acres of nearby land.

In 2013, an even bigger step was taken when Brau Brothers moved to an even larger facility in the city of Marshall, several miles to the west. BrauHaus was closed in order to focus entirely on the brewing company, which now enjoys 37,000 square feet of space, 3,500 of which is devoted to barrel-aging, allowing Brau Brothers to produce a wider variety of beers, including sours, not to mention their own line of sodas. The brewery's Tap Room offers over two dozen taps and, in addition to providing tasty pub fare including burgers, pizza, and sandwiches, also offers growler fills so visitors can take plenty of beer home with them. For more info, contact them at 507-929-BEER, or visit www.braubeer.com.