Nissa Mitchell

Dec 9, 2024 | racketmn.com | Nissa Mitchell

We’ve all heard of “hygge” or “koselig” at this point, so we know we’re supposed to lean into the winter season. Make the most of it, you know? Bust out the blankets and long underwear. Start a fire in the fireplace. Carry around a mug of coffee or tea. Watch Gremlins while wearing a Die Hard-themed Christmas sweater. But this is also the season for big beers. Bold beers. Flavorful beers. And above all, boozy beers. If it’s not over 8%, what’s the point? You don’t get cozy drinking light lagers.

Oct 14, 2024 | racketmn.com | Nissa Mitchell

The time of the old, deep earth magicks is nigh. Gourds of all sorts litter the landscape, and the sidewalks are covered with the detritus of once-vibrant foliage turned crimson and ocher with death. It is a time of rot and decay—our annual reminder that all things are ultimately compost for that which comes after. Nevertheless, rejoice! Spooky season is upon us, and there’s a ton of spooky beer packaging to enjoy.

Aug 23, 2024 | racketmn.com | Nissa Mitchell

I recently started testing out Threads as a replacement for my Twitter addiction. You know, the good old “trade Nazis for vapid influencers” maneuver—we’ve all been there, right? As part of this experiment, I needed to see how Threads would handle someone starting an argument. So, I did just that. And, of course, I started an argument about hops:How’d it go? Well, I must say Threads scored pretty well on the outrage machine index.

Jul 23, 2024 | racketmn.com | Nissa Mitchell

In late July, I’m always looking for beers that manage to capture the feeling of hopping in the shower after a bike for so long your sweat has mixed with your sunscreen and dried into a salty film on your skin; or the pleasantly full and sluggish feeling that comes from filling your stomach with a solid quart of onion dip at a friend’s party; or the feeling of sitting out on a deck or patio swatting yourself in a never-ending war against an unbeatable army of blood-sucking insects; etc.

Jun 17, 2024 | racketmn.com | Nissa Mitchell

Last July, fresh off of my first Doin’ Beers column, I attempted to do something special: I attempted to pick five Minnesota beers that were quintessentially American. You know, Fourth of July beers, beers that one might drink on, say, July 4th. Naturally, the resulting column was published on… July 5th. This year, I decided I’d get it published in June to prevent such a faux pas.