Able Seedhouse and Brewery, located in the Arts District of Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a brewery with a penchant for creativity. Its latest release, Not Quite Forever, is a collaboration with Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) that showcases this creative edge.
First, let’s talk about the beer. Not Quite Forever is a fruited sour designed for sipping and it makes a good choice for winding down the days of summer. Able Head brewer Bobby Blasey says this new beer is all about refreshment.
“It’s refreshingly crisp and deliciously tart,” says Blasey. “I started with our base blended sour, which is extremely versatile, flavorful, and clean. Then we added a bunch of really tasty lime and raspberry puree. It tastes like a tart version of a summer slurpee. The lime comes through with its bright and lively notes and the raspberry is there to back it up with its delicious and decadent flavor. It’s a fantastic combination.”
Next, let’s talk packaging. Not Quite Forever features a colorful can that is the product of a partnership with MCTC and one of its instructors, Samantha Sather. She tasked her students to create the can design along with a marketing plan for the beer’s release. Sather says the project was an excellent experience for her students and she was more than pleased with the results.
“I was so grateful for this collaboration with Able as it reflected a real-world client relationship and process for our designers,” says Sather. “The students produced such a diverse array of style and approaches.”
Able was presented with several design options and ultimately went with the entry from student Sarah Rusch. Her winning design was partially the result of influence from her current job.
“I work at the Textile Center in Minneapolis, so I am very inspired by pattern and surface design,” Rusch explains. “For this project I wanted to use bright colors and design that would pop to reflect the punchy flavor of the beer.”
Not Quite Forever is a fruity sour beer with a modest alcohol by volume of 4.8 percent and low bitterness of 5 IBU. The beer is available right now at the brewery and at local Minneapolis liquor stores while supplies last.
To learn more about this beer and other Able Seedhouse and Brewery beers, visit online at www.ablebeer.com.
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