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Celebrating books and beer in Faribault County

Faribault County Reads discusses ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota’

By Fiona Green - Staff Writer | Apr 7, 2024

The Blue Earth Community Library hosted a discussion about the 2024 Faribault County Reads pick, J. Ryan Stradal’s ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota,’ on Thursday, April 4. The discussion group included, left to right in the back row, Barbara Hanson, Jacque Drew, Mary Eckhardt, Jody Wetzler, Laurie Christensen, Lill Robinson, Karen Gossen and Wendy Nickel. In the front are Lacey Hanson, left, and library director Heidi Schutt, right.

Now that spring has sprung, the annual Faribault County Reads Program is in full swing.

County libraries have many activities planned for area bibliophiles who read and enjoyed the program’s 2024 pick, ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota,’ by J. Ryan Stradal.

Fittingly, the first few Faribault County Reads events align closely with National Beer Day, which is on Sunday, April 7.

In honor of the occasion, and to celebrate the kick-off of Faribault County Reads, the Faribault County Register listened in on a book discussion which was held at the Blue Earth Community Library on Thursday, April 4.

Read on to see what the group had to say about ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota,’ and about beer in general.

And, if you missed this discussion but would like to join another discussion about the novel, stop by the Wells Public Library’s discussion on Thursday, April 11, at 5:30 p.m., or the Muir Library’s discussion on Monday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m.

What did you think of ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota’?

Jacque Drew recalled listening to the audiobook of ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota’ several years ago.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” she said.

Lill Robinson, meanwhile, appreciated the inspiration behind the book – Stradal’s mother, who died before he published his first novel.

“He writes each of his books for his mother,” Robinson explained. “It’s like he’s putting each book into her hands.”

“When he writes a book, he always writes (his mother) into the book so she will stay alive,” library director Heidi Schutt supplemented.

Several discussion participants observed that the book, which is packed with strong female characters, reads as if it were written by a female author.

“I was surprised it wasn’t written by a woman,” Lacey Hanson said.

Schutt explained to the group how books draw in readers by different means – characters, plot, setting and language.

“For this book, characters are the biggest doorway,” Schutt said. “Characters drive the plot; characters drive the setting.”

However, Laurie Christensen said she liked the book’s language best.

“There was a certain way (Stradal) put things,” she said. “I liked the way that characters said things.”

Do you enjoy books that are set in Minnesota?

Robinson said she also enjoyed the language in ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota’ because it felt authentic to the Minnesota setting.

“I loved the Minnesota humor,” she said. “It was a real Minnesota sensibility.”

Schutt observed, “Some people say, ‘I’ll read anything set in Minnesota – it doesn’t matter what it is.'”

Although the discussion group members did not say they will indiscriminately read, and like, any book that is set in Minnesota, they agreed they enjoy when a book is set in their home state.

“It’s not the first thing for me, but I like it (when books are set in Minnesota),” Drew said.

“It predisposes me to like a book,” Robinson agreed.

Jody Wetzler said she enjoys the jolt of recognition she experiences when reading about a familiar location in books by Minnesota-based authors, such as Allen Eskens.

“I always enjoy the fact that (Eskens) mentions Minnesota cities I’ve been to,” Wetzler said.

“I think a lot of Minnesotans want that because they want to claim the book,” Karen Gossen suggested.

Have you tried any of the beers mentioned in the book?

An important beer in ‘The Lager Queen of Minnesota’ is Blotz, a light beer brewed by one of the characters.

Although Stradal dreamed up the beer for his novel, it actually exists now – it was brewed by St. Paul’s BlackStack Brewing several years ago, in Stradal’s honor.

None of the discussion participants mentioned having tried the real-life Blotz, but Robinson said she has tried a beer called ‘Blatz.’

“That was one of my favorite beers when I first moved to Blue Earth,” she remembers.

Did you enjoy reading about beer brewing?

The discussion group had mixed feelings about the novel’s beer-heavy plot.

“I found all of the beer-making stuff boring,” Christensen admitted. “I understand beer, I love beer, but I found it boring.”

Robinson enjoyed reading about the beer-making process, however.

“I loved that he focused on women, and he researched so many women brewers around the country,” she said.

“When lager is in the title of the book, it’s got to be about beer in some way or another,” Drew reasoned.

In the book, several characters brew their own beers. Which of their beers do you wish you could try?

Many members of the discussion group brought up a memorable rhubarb pie beer which a character brews.

“I’d go for rhubarb any day,” Barbara Hanson said.

“I would try the rhubarb one – that’s unique,” Lacey Hanson agreed.

However, several people admitted that they just couldn’t stomach a fruity beer, or the chocolate stout that another character brewed.

“I don’t like stouts, and I don’t like chocolate, so I wouldn’t go in that direction,” Christensen said.

Do you like beer?

“True confession, I had never tried beer until my twenties, when I was living in Australia and got hooked on Fosters,” Robinson said. “Now, I’ll drink about anything. Except rhubarb.”

“I love beer,” Christensen said. “I’ve loved it my whole life.”

Schutt, however, admitted that she is not a beer drinker.

“I don’t like beer, and I didn’t know what I would think of this book because I don’t like beer,” Schutt said. “But it didn’t matter. I still loved it.”

“You don’t have to like beer to enjoy the book,” Robinson agreed.

Those who are interested in more Faribault County Reads Programming can attend several upcoming events.

A virtual author visit with Stradal is scheduled on Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. Viewing parties will be held at the Blue Earth, Wells and Winnebago libraries.

The libraries will also host a trivia night at Lost Saint Brewery in Blue Earth on Sunday, April 14, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

CEDA will present a program about family business dynamics at the Muir Library on April 17, at 6 p.m., and at the Blue Earth Community Library on April 18, at noon.

Finally, local Hamm’s memorabilia collector and enthusiast Steve Miner will present ‘Hamm It Up’ at the Muir Library on Wednesday, April 24, at 3 p.m., at the Blue Earth Community Library on Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m., and at the Wells Public Library on Monday, April 29, at 6 p.m.