The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

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Sisters, Beer and Pies.  

While one sister finagles away the family inheritance to follow her dream of opening a brewery, the other sister is left to struggle financially.  This is the story of sharp selfishness, fresh generosity, earthy tenacity, elegant acceptance, and refreshing remorse that will leave a smooth and satisfying aftertaste.

Ok I’ve gone overboard with the beer references, but I can’t help it. This book is bubbling with family dynamics intertwined in the beer industry.  Besides getting hooked into the lives of these two very different women, I was also fascinated at how involved the craft brewing business is.  It made me have a whole new respect for my own favorite brew pub.  This book is best enjoyed on a warm summer day with a nice cold one. 

Book Published: July 23, 2019

ROAD TRIP!


The Lager Queen of Minnesota brought back memories of a road trip my husband and I took from Idaho to Minnesota in 2015. We stayed in numerous B&Bs as well as several unique hotels including a train car in New York Mills, MN, a tree house in Long Prairie, MN, and a tug boat in St. Paul, MN. We got to see the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry Sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and his wife Coosje van Bruggen in the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens, took a couple bike rides, saw the starting point of the mighty Mississippi River, posed by the huge Paul Bunyan statue in Bemidji and the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth. What a wonderful vacation!  I’m just glad we didn’t encounter swarms of mayflies that required a snow plow to remove the foot-high hordes.


Whistle Stop B&B in NY Mills, MN.

View from the Covington B&B tugboat in St Paul and LaVoie Tree House in Long Prairie, MN.
One of the beers mentioned in the book and a bike bridge in Minneapolis, MN.
Spoonbridge & Cherry in Minneapolis and posing with Paul Bunyan in Bemidji, MN.

Headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park and Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, MN. (I’m standing by his feet.)


Happy Reading, Happy Travels, Happy Hour!
Annette

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