Side Pull Czech-Style Lager by Fair State Brewing Cooperative is a lager that highlights bready malt and grassy hops. Sourdough and floral tasting notes dominate the beginning and middle of this lager, ending with a crisp and clean finish. This article covers a review and relation to P.J. Fleck as a sports reference.
Technical Details for Side Pull Czech-Style Lager
- Beer Name: Side Pull
- Beer Style: Czech-Style Lager
- Brewery: Fair State Brewing Cooperative (Minneapolis, MN)
- Brewery website: https://www.fairstate.coop
- Purchased: Beer Geeks in Rockwall, Texas
- Tasted: 9/11/21
- Glass Used: 16 ounce Pilsner Glass
Side Pull Czech-Style Lager Scoring Categories
Beer Review Fair State Brewing Cooperative’s Side Pull Czech-Style Lager Scoring Categories:
- Can Design: plumbers slogan is liquid goes downhill and payday is Friday
- Appearance: clear straw gold 4/6
- Aroma: sourdough bread and crackers up front, floral notes and a touch of black pepper on the backend 21/24
- Flavor: lite bready malt transitions to some grassy hops in the middle, finish is crisp, clean and not watery 37/40
- Mouthfeel: refreshingly light, crisp, thirst quenching 8/10
- Overall Impression: crushable lager at 4.1% ABV with enough flavor to keep coming back for more 18/20
- Total Score: 88/100
- Need to take a trip to Minneapolis, MN to see how well this co-op works and try more of their impressive beer portfolio
Brewery Background
Fair State Brewing Cooperative (FS) is located in Minneapolis, MN and opened in 2014. Founded by three rugby players: Evan Sallee, Niko Tonks and Matt Hauck. All three founders wanted to open a brewery that would provide a place for homebrewers to demonstrate their talents. Co-op members have helped design beer recipes, picked fresh berries for sour beers, volunteered numerous hours to work with non-profit partners and developed a unique working culture. As of 2021, there are 1,500 members in the co-op.
Current beer styles available at the FS taproom include helles lager, sour wheat, lime lager, barrel-aged imperial stout, hazy IPA, corn lager, saison, table beer and pale ale. New beers go on tap every Thursday, which is a unique cadence to get ready for each weekend. Crowlers, bottles and merchandise are available for online ordering and then pickup at the FS taproom or via curbside delivery.
FS has a weekly cadence of the following events: co-op members meeting on Mondays, trivia night on Wednesdays and stand up comedy on Sundays. At first glance, FS is promoting community and neighborhood cohesion, using great beers and co-op members to gel together as teammates. I wish more breweries had this business mindset as we try to forget 2020 and move forward in 2021 and beyond.
Side Pull Czech-Style Lager Background
Fair State Brewing Cooperative brews the following year round beers:
- Big Doinks IPA, 6.5% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.82
- Crankin’ Foamers Lager-American, 4.5% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.67
- Mirror Universe New England IPA, 7.0% ABV, Untappd Rating 4.09
- Pahlay New England Pale Ale, 5.0% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.81
- Party Forward New England IPA, 6.0% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.92
- Pils German-style Pilsner, 4.9% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.62
- Roselle Sour, 5.7% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.74
- Vienna Lager Amber Lager 5.3% ABV, Untappd Rating 3.63
Fair State Brewing Cooperative has brewed 35 lager recipes and and 9 pilsner recipes as of 9/22/21, based on Untappd data. Any brewery that focuses on both of those beer styles deserves a visit to explore their entire portfolio.
Sports Comparison for this Libation
P.J. Fleck, head football coach, University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Fleck has had a methodical career plan by starting as an graduate assistant coach at Ohio State University in 2006. Was named wide receivers coach at Northern Illinois University from 2007-2009. Moved to Rutgers for the 2010-2011 seasons and then reached the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
While working in Tampa Bay, Fleck had an infectious intensity during practices with players, due to wearing cleats and running routes. Big career break arrived on 12/17/12, being named the new head coach at Western Michigan University. From 2013 to 2016, Western Michigan improved from 1-11 to 13-0 and a berth in the 2017 Cotton Bowl against Wisconsin. Fleck was the biggest college football head coaching commodity heading into the 2017 season.
University of Minnesota opened their pocketbook and landed Fleck on 1/6/17. Implemented his slogan of “rowing the boat” and had an incredible Big Ten season in 2019, finishing 11-2 after beating Auburn in the Outback Bowl. Not only has Fleck been embraced by his players and the University of Minnesota athletic department, he’s been adopted by Minneapolis and St. Paul. Is it due to winning football games? No, its due to his personality and commitment to Casey O’Brien:
Fair State Brewing Cooperative and P.J. Fleck are transforming their neighbors and community into a cohesive team that helps everyone out. Keep rowing the boat.
Want to find this beer near you? Check out this article that tells you how to locate great beer near you.
Cheers and keep it classy everyday!
