Pride Dabbler beer named after gay icon … MN Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

A sweet little tidbit for Pride Beer Dabbler attendees: You can drink a beer named for Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

The Dabbler asked breweries to make a beer and name it after a gay icon, and the owners of St. Paul’s Urban Growler Brewing took a perhaps unconventional route.

“We chose Commissioner Jan Malcolm,” Urban Grolwer co-owner Jill Pavlak wrote. “The beer name is ‘Commissioner Jan Malcolm Dazzle Me with Science IPA.’ We chose her because of all she has done for Minnesota during COVID. Many don’t know this, but her life partner died in January of 2020. We can’t imagine grieving and being thrown into a pandemic. We admire her commitment to others. We asked her permission and she said there would be no greater honor. Clearly, she has a good sense of humor.”

The Pride Dabbler takes place on July 16 in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Pavlak said the beer, brewed by her wife and co-owner, Deb Loch, will likely not be available outside the festival, so if you’re interested, you’ll have to get tickets to the event, available at beerdabbler.com.