The Lager Queen of Minnesota Book Club Kit
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J Ryan Stradal is the official June 2021 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers.
I’m always on the hunt for stories from different areas for our monthly book club picks. We’ve had lots of books take place in the South and New England, but I’m not sure we’ve ventured into the Midwest yet.
Married to a man from Minnesota, I couldn’t resist this month’s pick.
While I’m not a beer lover myself, I can appreciate the family farm element of the story since I grew up in Wisconsin.
Whether you’re reading the book on your own or with friends, I hope you’ll take a peek at some of the midwestern treat recipes that would pair well with this book.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this month’s pick!
Peanut Blossom Book Club
This book club pick is one of the awesome books from our seventh year of book club.
We’re still going strong! Want to join us?
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What Is The Lager Queen of Minnesota About?
“A novel of family, Midwestern values, hard work, fate and the secrets of making a world-class beer, from the bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest.
Two sisters, one farm. A family is split when their father leaves their shared inheritance entirely to Helen, his younger daughter.
Despite baking award-winning pies at the local nursing home, her older sister, Edith, struggles to make what most people would call a living.
So she can’t help wondering what her life would have been like with even a portion of the farm money her sister kept for herself.”
The Lager Queen of Minnesota Discussion Questions
I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.
You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!
Question 1:
Do you enjoy beer? Have you ever visited a local brewery? Did this book make you want to?
Question 2:
Which sister’s story did you most enjoy? Do you relate to one more than the other?
Question 3:
Have you ever worked in a male-dominated industry or workplace? Do you feel Helen’s storyline was accurate? How about Diana’s?
Question 4:
What advice would you give to Edith as a young woman?
Question 5:
The sisters don’t talk to each other for decades, can you imagine something similar with your family?
Question 6:
Have you ever visited Minnesota or know anyone from there? Do you feel the portrayal of Midwestern people is accurate?
Question 7:
If you were going to brew your own craft beer like the grandmas, what would be your flavor?
Book Club Party Menu
I think it is so fun to plan your book club dinner menu or dessert list based on the theme of the book.
This month’s book club obviously takes place in Minnesota and other spots in the Midwest.
Plan a few classic Midwestern recipes as fun treats to enjoy while you’re reading this month’s pick or to serve at your book club party.
Plan a family dinner with my Minnesota tater tot hotdish and an authentic Minnesota salad called Snicker Salad.
Or enjoy a cozy Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup that tastes just like the one at Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Duluth, MN.
Bake a batch of hot pretzels and or my easy seasoned pretzels and serve them with a homemade raspberry mustard dip.
And if you’re not a beer fan, go ahead and serve a batch of brandy old fashioned sweet cocktails.
You Might Also Enjoy
If you loved The Lager Queen of Minnesota, you might also like:
