Amidst a noisy world of beer with bold flavors and sky-high alcohol content, there is a gentle lager nestled like a wildflower in the jungle – Side Pull by Fair State Brewing Cooperative. This golden-straw beer fairy doesn't need to show off its power, nor does it care about conquering the taste buds with a shock. Instead, it comes from the simplest things: aromatic Pilsner malt, gentle Saaz hops and the pride of centuries-old Czech brewing tradition.
In the heat of the sweltering summer days or the chill of the winter Minnesota winter afternoon, Side Pull remains untouched by its charm – a gentle reminder that sometimes, perfection really is in the purest of things. Each clear drop is a testament to patience: slow-fermenting Czech lager yeast at low temperatures, water as soft as the Vltava River, and traditional side-pull pouring technique – all together writing a wordless love song for those who appreciate the true art of brewing.
1. Fair State Brewing Cooperative: A Story of Dreamers and a Love of Traditional Beer
Year 2014, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a beautiful story of love for beer and community spirit begins. Evan Sallee, Niko Tonks and Matt Hauck – three people with burning hearts – together lit the fire of Fair State Brewing Cooperative. Not a normal brewery, but a cooperative (Co-op) – where every member is the owner, every drop of beer is imbued with the spirit of sharing.
They didn't take the easy road. Amidst the jungle of independent breweries, Fair State chose to become one of the few beer cooperatives in America, with more than 2,000 members pooling their money, voting together, and writing this journey together. Their goal is not just great beer, but building a sustainable community where quality and transparency are the guiding principles.
Year 2015, the first small factory in Northeast Minneapolis open, as a promise to the city. Come 2018, they expand scale, increase capacity triple, but still holding on to the original philosophy. And then in 2020, when the world was in turmoil, Fair State warmed hearts with the “Spilled Grain Initiative” – recycling malt residue into animal feed, turning waste into resources.
2. Side Pull: Czech Spirit Beer in the Heart of Minnesota
Year 2020, on the official Fair State blog, a new beer is born – not to follow trends, but to honor the traditional art of brewing. Side Pull is the brainchild of the love for Czech Pale Lager, inspired by the “side-pull” pouring technique – where the golden beer flows smoothly from the side valve, like the whispers of old Prague beer halls.
Fair State didn't make Side Pull to please the masses. They made it for the loving souls. lager purity – where the beer is clean, balanced, easy to drink, yet still has a seductive complexity. The name “Side Pull” was also a deliberate choice – both a nod to the signature pouring technique and a tribute to the Czech beer style that inspired it.
This is not just a beer – it is a taste journey, a story told with yeast, malt and boundless love.
3. Side Pull: When the Essence of Czech Beer Speaks
There are beers that are born to captivate people with their simplicity and purity, and Fair State's Side Pull is just such a love song. Czech Pale Lager (according to BJCP standards), each sip of Side Pull is a journey back to the traditional lager roots - where the yeast ferments slowly in the patient cold, to create a drink as clear as morning dew, as crisp as laughter on the lips.
3.1.A Golden Straw Masterpiece
A light amber glow (SRM 3–6) shimmers in the glass, reminiscent of the golden barley fields of Bohemia. With alcohol content only 4.1%, Side Pull is a gentle yet refined symphony – easy to drink without being superficial, perfectly balancing the sweet taste of malt and the refreshing bitterness (20–35 IBU) of hops. The beer has a light, refreshing body, and a crunchy finish like a crust of freshly baked bread, making every sip a cleansing for the taste buds.
3.2. The Taste of Memory
Bring the glass of beer to your nose and you will smell the aroma of hot bread and buttery biscuits from the famous Czech Pilsner malt. Drops noble hops (usually Saaz or Czech) lightly touches, carrying fresh herbal notes, faintly wild flowers – like a breeze blowing through the Central European grasslands. Unlike many other lagers, Side Pull is low in ester, thanks to the strict cold fermentation process, leaving a clean, pure feeling from start to finish.
3.3. The Art of Pouring Beer – A Feast for the Senses
Side Pull is not only beautiful in taste, but also in the way it is served by traditional side-pull valve. The special valve creates a thick, velvety foam that hugs the golden body of the beer, lifting each flavor to new heights. This is not a showy technique – it is an homage to Czech beer culture, where each glass is a living work of art.
3.4. Standing in the Middle of the World Lager Stream
If compared with German Pilsner – which tends to be dry and bitter and has a slim body – Side Pull is sweeter and fuller thanks to the warm Pilsner malt. When standing next to its brother Czech Premium Pale Lager (usually with ABV 4.5–5.5%), Side Pull is lighter and more elegant, like an acoustic version of the original – still full of spirit, but suitable for endless sipping.
Side Pull isn't the beer that gets you drunk – it gets you passionate in every waking moment. A small but profound masterpiece, like a whisper of history, of the earth and sky, and of brewers who never stop dreaming.
4. Side Pull: A Harmony From Pure Ingredients
A glass Side Pull The golden, snow-white foam is not only the result of the art of brewing, but also a love story with original ingredients - each ingredient is selected like choosing a note for the perfect symphony.
4.1. The Souls That Make the Perfect Beer
Malt: The foundation of Side Pull is Pilsner Malt from Czech or German, which gives it a pure straw color and a gentle, fresh-baked bread and buttery biscuit flavor. Sometimes, for added depth, the Fair State brewers will add a Vienna or Munich malt—just enough to evoke complexity, but without losing the inherent purity.
Hops: Side Pull doesn’t need bold modern hops. Instead, it stays true to the classic European Noble Hops – Saaz, Tettnang, Hallertau – noble hops, bringing wild floral, fresh herbal aromas and a delicate, not harsh bitterness. The IBU of 20–35 is enough to create a delicate balance, making each sip like a gentle step on the spring grass.
Yeast: The secret to Side Pull’s clean, pure taste lies in Czech Lager yeast, usually Czech Pilsner yeast. This yeast ferments slowly at low temperatures, patiently extracting every drop of essence, leaving behind a clear, low-ester flavor – like a cool stream in the middle of an old forest.
Water: Water is more than just a secondary ingredient – with Side Pull, it’s the soul of the crispness. Fair State uses soft, low-mineral water, modeled after the water source in Pilsen, Czech Republic, which helps the beer retain its bright color and refreshing, crisp taste.
4.2. Art is Not Just a Material
Although not a physical component, side-pull pouring technique is the final “spice” that makes Side Pull so special. The side valve not only creates a thick, creamy foam – it also releases hidden aromas, turning each glass of beer into a multi-sensory experience.
Fair State does not hesitate to import ingredients from Europe, because for them, Side Pull is more than just a beer – it is a love letter to Czech beer traditions. Every grain of malt, every hop, every drop of water tells the story of a faraway land where the art of brewing is a heritage that has been cherished for generations.
When you raise your glass of Side Pull to your lips, remember: you are drinking the whole of Europe in miniature – pure, gentle and full of charm.
5. The Art of Side Pull: A Dance Between Beer and Emotion
A glass Side Pull true fine dining is more than just a drink – it’s a multi-sensory experience where temperature, glass, food and atmosphere all come together to enhance the flavour. Let me take you into that world where every little detail is art.
5.1. Temperature & Beer Glasses: Warmth in the Cold
Don't put Side Pull in the freezer just yet! 6–8°C The golden temperature is the one – cold enough to be refreshing, but warm enough to let the herbal hops and bready malt sweetness shine through. Drinking it too cold locks in all the subtle layers of flavour – like looking at cherry blossoms through thick, beautiful glass without touching the soul.
Side Pull deserves to be in the cups traditional:
- Seidel/Mug (Czech/German ceramic mug with handle): Thick ceramic retains heat for a long time, the sturdy handle is like a warm hand supporting, and the wide mouth of the cup allows the thick, smooth layer of foam to be perfectly formed.
- Pokal or Pilsner glass (tall, tapered cup): The glass's shape is as elegant as a tulip, highlighting the shimmering amber color, while focusing the aroma to gently spread when you bring the glass to your nose.
5.2. Food: Perfect Co-Star
European classic couple: Try a bite of hot Bratwurst soaked in mustard sauce, then sip a beer – the fatty taste of the sausage melts in the cool crispness of the beer, like a passionate kiss between East and West. Or a golden Pretzel covered in sea salt, the slight saltiness awakens the hidden sweetness of the malt.
Gentle evening: White moldy goat cheese with honey, or sweet and sour potato salad – the contrast creates an unforgettable taste dance.
Surprise with spicy food: Don't hesitate to try the Side Pull with spicy Thai papaya salad or a sandwich - the high carbonation will wash away the spiciness like a shower, leaving you ready for the next bite.
5.3. Occasion: When Is the Right Time?
- Hot summer afternoons:Side Pull is as cool as a breeze through the grasslands, dispelling the heat in just one long breath.
- After stressful working hours: With an ABV of 4.1%, it's a gentle sedative – enough to relax without getting drunk.
- Romantic dinner: Flickering candlelight, amber-colored beer glasses, and plates svíčková (Czech beef in cream sauce) fragrant - happiness is sometimes that simple.
6. Conclusion: Pure Love Contained In Every Drop Of Gold
There are beers that are born to shock, but Side Pull Fair State's finest lager comes to awaken the gentlest of emotions. This golden lager doesn't flaunt its power, doesn't need the drama of bitterness - she just whispers with the aroma of warm bread, wild flowers and the warm embrace of malt. Every sip is an express train home Ancient Pilsen, where Czech artisans pour beer from the side valve like pouring honey into the heart of the drunkard.
Side Pull teaches us a lesson about patience – yeast slowly ferments in the cold, ingredients are precise to the millimeter, and pouring techniques are elaborate just to give the world a layer of white foam as smooth as the first snow of the season. She is the embodiment of the philosophy of “less is more”: simple yet sophisticated, gentle yet haunting.
Drink Side Pull like you turn the pages of a love poem – slowly, with all my heartWhen the glass is empty, you will realize: the most beautiful thing is not the alcohol content, but the aftertaste that remains on your lips, like the April sun still lingering on someone's hair...
Vietnamese
English
Japanese
German