Summer Sipping

Lowertown Wine & Spirits owner Jerry Blakey recommends seasonal craft beers.

Jerry Blakey, a past member of the St. Paul City Council, opened Lowertown Wine & Spirits in 2004, bringing a well-curated selection of specialty spirits, local wines and hard-to-find beers to the Lowertown neighborhood.

Blakey has a knack for finding the best seasonal offerings from craft breweries near and far. This summer, he recommends trying the Ginger-Lemon Radler from Boulevard Brewing, a refreshing blend of tart lemon and sweet ginger, or 21st Amendment’s Hell or High Watermelon, a wheat beer that is fermented with fresh watermelon and only available for a few months out of the year.

“We love coming up with seasonal picks and drink recommendations,” says Blakey about the staff at Lowertown Wine & Spirits. “We like to think of ourselves as community service-driven.”