Overview: The Minnesota Star Tribune evaluated over 50 new adult beverages on opening day at the 2026 Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The review highlights specialty sips, cocktail options at the Summer Lakes Boat House, and a wide range of fruity ciders and hard seltzers.
The Full Story
Officially billed as “Specialty Sips” by the State Fair marketing department, the new drinks in 2026 include some extra-special new drinks to try, and a few extra-weird ones. The sampling marathon covered more than 50 drinks, featuring a cream ale flavored like ranch dressing, a sour ale meant to taste like Starburst candy, and an IPA infused with black pepper. A few trends were welcomed by the review team: espresso martini-inspired slushy-style drinks; guava-infused ciders and beers; a wider range of fruity ciders overall, and the light and refreshing summer cocktail options offered at the newly built Summer Lakes Boat House.
The report card after a hard day at work ranked new-in-2026 drinks that will be ordered again. The Espressotini Frozen Seltzer from Pryes Brewing is caffeinated, cold, and boozy, with rich coffee flavor blending well with cold-foam topping and splash of vanilla. The Lemon Drop Martini Slushie from Lift Bridge offers a perfect balance between sweet and sour from the lemon-candy flavoring. The Limapeño Kölsch from Rush River Brewing provides a spicy spin on the lime beer appeal but with the flavor and heat of real jalapeños. The Passion Fruit Guava Tom Collins Seltzer collaboration by Schell’s and Tattersall features a well-balanced fruit flavor with a light sweetness that takes the acidic edge off the grapefruit base.
The Jamberry Bubbler Minnemosa from Summer Lakes Beverages and Carlos Creek Winery was the favorite of the many nicely presented fruity concoctions at the fairground’s newest hangout spot. It is a sparkling wine cocktail with simply fresh and fantastic berry flavoring that includes real blueberry and strawberry garnishments. The Old Ranch Hand from Dual Citizen Brewing is a cream ale with a lightly buttermilky and dilly flavor poured in a cup with herbs and spices sprinkled around the rim. The Homer Black Pepper IPA from Surly Brewing is very hoppy and very peppery, with a flavor overwhelming enough to make its host vendors’ popular garlic fries taste like McDonald’s.
Production & Profile
Technical specifications vary across the lineup, with some offerings requiring specific fermentation or aging processes. The Idyll Forest Parasol Reserve Summer Blend from Pryes is an 8% ABV example of unusual fermentation combos under the Idyll Forest brand. It is beer and sauvignon blanc grapes blended and aged in an oak barrel with peach and apricot added. The Jamberry Bubbler Minnemosa includes real blueberry and strawberry garnishments, distinguishing it from basic sparkling wine cocktails.
Other notable production details include the Cherry Cola Hard Soda from Lift Bridge, which is well-flavored to go great with smoked meats. The Lingonberry Orange Cider from Wild State Cider features lingonberries that lend a slight sweetness and a pretty color to the tart orange and apple base. The Aurora Tropical Drift from Castle Danger Brewing retains excellent hazy IPA flavor with a light tinge of passionfruit, pineapple and mango.
Brand & Industry History
Contextual background is provided for key vendors within the fairgrounds. Schell’s is described as Minnesota’s great-grandpa of breweries and the popular Wisconsin distillery in collaboration with Tattersall. The Summer Lakes Boat House is helmed by the homegrown company behind Summer Lakes Beverage natural cocktail mixers. Pryes Brewing is noted for its namesake founder Jeremy Pryes, who created a labor-of-love side project under the Idyll Forest brand.
What This Means
The release of these beverages signals a shift toward specific flavor profiles and formats at the fair. Trends welcomed include espresso martini-inspired slushy-style drinks; guava-infused ciders and beers; a wider range of fruity ciders overall, and the light and refreshing summer cocktail options offered at the newly built Summer Lakes Boat House. The sampling marathon is one of the most physically arduous but spiritually rewarding parts of the job, indicating the depth of variety available to consumers.
Consumer Takeaway
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair offers a diverse selection of new adult beverages across multiple locations. Consumers can find options at the Blue Barn, Coasters, RC’s BBQ, LuLu’s Public House, Ball Park Cafe, and other venues within the fairgrounds. The lineup includes hard seltzers, ciders, IPAs, and specialty cocktails, with specific attention to real garnishments and fermentation details for those seeking quality in a festival setting.
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