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Craig Korvela opened Fielders Choice Tap and Table in October of 2015. His goal for the Northfield restaurant was a “better burger and woodfire pizza concept,” but the restaurant quickly grew beyond the initial vision. “It went much further than I expected in response from the community,” says Korvela.
Fielders Choice is concepted on beer, and the food that pairs well with it. Korvela knew the Northfield area would be receptive to the concept, despite having limited options until now.
Many know Fielders Choice for their great selection of Minnesota beers and spirits, but some might not know that they also pair that beer with local food. “Where I possibly can, I make choices like pairing up with US Foods and Swanson Meats. We also look for things grown in our state like mushrooms.”
While he often goes local, Korvela always goes for quality. As he works to find the right local foods, he always ensures the products meet Fielders Choice’s quality requirements.
True to character, Korvela opted to go local with a beer distributor right in his back yard – College City Beverage. “We partnered with CCB right out of the gate. A partnership that’s only 2 miles apart only makes sense, especially with how many craft breweries they represent. They have some pretty solid breweries here in Minnesota, so it was easy. They’re good people.”
Partnering with CCB means Fielders Choice has access to great Minnesota-made craft beer. Korvela comments on his multitude of taplines, “We’re lucky enough that we have a lot of lines, so I can follow seasonalities quite well and still stay within our selections.” He tries to keep 12 taps focused on low-IBU beers, 12 leaning towards IPAs and pale ales, and 12 for darker styles.
“I ask every beer vendor that comes in, ‘what’s new?’ There are always core beers that will represent us, but there are also customers who will always come in and order what’s new. People are becoming more open to craft bee,r with each experience and gravitating towards different styles and trying new stuff. Regular customers will try new beers all the time. They’ve also built a relationship with servers for recommendations.
While Korvela is “a hop-forward kind of person,” he makes beer recommendations by asking customers for their typical order, then modifying it slightly. His personal favorites are Mankato’s Mad Butcher and Summit EPA. “You can’t replace that beer,” Korvela says of the EPA, “there’s nobody else that makes one like it.”
“If someone’s coming in for a pint, they should know we have a lot of options and the staff is very knowledgeable. We can pair a beer you haven’t had before, and that you would like, with your food. We can also offer you some samples to see what you like.”
With a burgeoning beer industry, Korvela’s set-up as a craft beer haven in Northfield is only going to grow. He comments, “Beer is getting ultra competitive right now, which makes someone like myself excited because every brewery has to up their game and expand their brewing capabilities. It will make my beer line get better and better all the time.”
You heard it here: great local beer, paired with mouth-watering food. As Korvela says, “If you want to buy a local beer, purchase local products, and support the local community, that’s what we’re all about.”