“Can we get a table outside?” I asked. “I’m sorry, the patio isn’t open yet.” the friendly hostess responded. Not open yet? It was early afternoon on a Saturday, almost 70 degrees and sunny. In Minnesota, this place would be overflowing. I’d heard that Utah had some interesting laws and it was unclear whether this was one of them. It was the start of a series of head scratching revelations we would have during our visit to Strap Tank Brewery.
Continue Reading…Ursa Minor Brewing
May 10, 2019
Duluth holds a special place in my heart. The first time I visited was when we toured UMD with my older brother on a college visit. I didn’t think much of the campus, the PortLand Malt Shoppe was more my style at the time. Yet, Lake Superior and the Lift Bridge must have made a larger impression on me than I thought because when it came time for me to choose a college to attend, it was an easy decision. My most formative years were spent on that snowy hill and it culminated with beginning to date the woman that would eventually become my wife. It’s no surprise that we visit the North Shore multiple times a year and each time we select a new brewery to visit. Last weekend we stopped at one of the newest, Ursa Minor Brewing.
Continue Reading…Three Twenty Brewing Co.
May 5, 2019
I’m a planner by nature. When my free time is involved I rarely want to leave things up to chance. My wife and I had organized a trip to Duluth to test out our new baby backpack and while in town it was only natural that we’d stop at some breweries. During our drive, we had just discussed our plans for the evening when my wife spotted a sign for a brewery. In an unusual moment of spontaneity we dashed off the next exit and made our way to Three Twenty Brewing Co.
Continue Reading…Boathouse Brothers Brewing Company
April 27, 2019
Since I began this hobby taprooms have become a regular meeting spot for my in-laws. Almost everyone enjoys craft beer and we’re constantly checking out new places and bringing new beer to our get togethers for everyone to taste. When my brother in-law told us he was moving to Utah he wanted to get together one last time at a local brewery, Prior Lake’s Boathouse Brothers Brewing Company.
Continue Reading…Oliphant Brewing
April 25, 2019
Most of the focus of this blog has been centered around Minnesota breweries. Occasionally, I dip my toe into the craft beer scene across the border into Wisconsin. When I heard the weekend was bringing warmer weather after an extremely long and cold winter I decided that I wanted to drive somewhere, even if it wasn’t quite warm enough for a patio. The taproom of Oliphant Brewing seemed a world away in Somerset, and their adventurous beers would be the perfect compliment to our newly lifted spirits.
Continue Reading…Back Channel Brewing Co.
April 23, 2019
If you’ve been in the craft beer scene for any length of time you’ll begin to realize there are certain glasses for different styles of beer. Since smell is intrinsically linked to taste it makes sense to drink beers with a heavy hop aroma from glassware that provides maximum surface area. When a local brewery began serving IPAs out of a bowl they made waves across the entire industry. It was only a matter of time before I took the drive to the shores of Lake Minnetonka to stick my nose into a bowl of beer at Spring Park’s Back Channel Brewing Co.
Continue Reading…Dual Citizen Brewing Company
April 17, 2019
There is a core group of co-workers that like to take an hour out of their evening each week to grab a drink. Usually we can be found at either Groveland Tap down the street, or Lake Monster up the road. Occasionally we range a bit further, but we tend to stick close to the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul. When a new brewery opens within our range it’s an easy sell to the group. Dual Citizen Brewing Company is the latest brewery to fall before our thirsty gaze!
Continue Reading…Clutch Brewing Company
April 11, 2019
It’s no secret that I’ve got a thing for old buildings. When I heard that a food market was coming to the Schmidt brewery complex I was intrigued. After I heard that Keg & Case was also going to have a craft brewery in their ranks they flashed brightly on my radar! Immediately after they opened I drove over for lunch to check things out. Not only were the food stalls unique and lunch options amazing (Revival Smoked Meats anyone?) but the brewery on the mezzanine called to me. It didn’t take long to get a group of coworkers to visit Clutch Brewing Company for a couple of beers.
Continue Reading…Giesenbräu Bier Co.
April 8, 2019
I’m from New Prague, a small Czech community south of the Twin Cities. That’s where I was born and where I spent over 20 years of my life. When rumors of a craft brewery began I was pretty excited. When I found out it was going to be a German inspired brewery my reaction was mixed. On one hand, I love German beers and our trip to Oktoberfest was the reason I started this hobby. On the other hand, instead of German it would’ve be nice to have a Czech inspired brewery in town. Either way, Giesenbräu Bier Co. brought craft beer to my hometown, and that’s a good thing!
Continue Reading…Wooden Hill Brewing Company
April 7, 2019
I keep a very detailed list of every craft brewery in the State of Minnesota for a project that I’m working on. Because we live in Bloomington, a city that does not allow them, I’m always on the lookout for new locations opening near us. When I saw one that popped up in Edina, Minnesota it instantly went to the top of our “we want to go to a brewery but don’t want to drive” list. That brewery: Wooden Hill Brewing Company.
Continue Reading…