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Recently, I was a grateful attendee at the second annual Brew Master’s Dinner, hosted at the Republic in Seven Corners. Several craft brewers were in town for the Autumn Brew Review Craft Beer Festival and the dinner was a chance to indulge in offerings from limited edition kegs showcasing regional ingredients. Matty O’Reilly and Chef George Finn of the Republic created five courses sourced from local farm produce to match the distinct beer choices that ranged from a light, Egyptian hop-less to heavy black smoke in a glass. Savoring the offerings, it was apparent that these brewers’ talents if redirected, could rival a chef at Chez Pannisse. Let me introduce five craft beers made by some really talented artisans that have made it hard for beer to not be on my list of all things food+art+local.

Back-to-school ads are blitzing televisions and newspapers, the Minnesota State Fair is a few weeks away and Vikings football is once again the talk of the town. It can only mean one thing: summer is almost over.

But don’t put away the sunscreen and picnic baskets yet; the best of the season has only just begun and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy them. To help you do just that, here is our list of the most delicious seasonal foods to eat and fun activities to do before our magnificent Minnesota summer comes to a close.

Top 10 Things to Eat and Do Before Summer Ends 

1. Sun-ripened tomatoes

Local beer is easy to find these days, especially if you have a tendency to drink microbrews, as I do, and live in a decent sized city (like Minneapolis or St. Paul, as the case may be).