Northbound Brewpub

Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2716 E 38th St
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55406-3004
United States

(612) 208-1450 | map
northboundbrewpub.com

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub opened in September 2012 with much anticipation. Unlike most brewery taprooms, Northbound is a bonafide full-service brewpub with a restaurant and full bar that includes a great whiskey selection. Northbound continues to grow and evolve with its scratch kitchen, equipped with two industrial smokers and also by consistently pumping out adventurous top-notch beers.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.92
Beers:
78
Ratings:
354
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.29
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
55
pDev:
9.09%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NordeastFan26:
Photo of NordeastFan26
Rated by NordeastFan26 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

Mar 29, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Oct 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.23 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Sep 20, 2021
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
A small, neighborhood brewery and smokehouse restaurant. Had a smoked brisket sandwich with delicate, homemade onion crisps, which was quite smokey and really tender. Tried 4 beers and all were at least a 4 rating. Went to 13 breweries in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area, while visiting from out of state and this was my all around favorite.
Sep 18, 2021
Photo of cratez
Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

3.3/5  rDev -23.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Came here during a recent work trip to Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Tried the following:
Northbound Jabrowni (draft)
Northbound Light Rail Pale Ale (flight sample)
Northbound Smokehouse Porter (flight sample)
Northbound Granola Girl (flight sample)
Northbound Dank Juice IPA (flight sample)

Beers ranged from below average to excellent. Standard, bare-bones atmosphere, very much a neighbourhood spot (bordering on parochial), quite busy on my visit. Service was underwhelming as I had to wait a while to order drinks and the waitress was a bit surly / unwelcoming. Good conversation could’ve made up for that, but the bar patrons were not interested in chatting. In sum, while the beer was solid, my overall experience was disappointing, and I don’t think I’d come back.
Apr 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by REVZEB from Illinois

May 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.84 by U2Chaser from North Dakota

Oct 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.74 by Sundin10 from Washington

Feb 06, 2018
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.94/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This is a fairly small place. It expands nicely when they can use the patio in warmer weather. The beers are solid. They have interesting styles for seasonal options. The food was all pretty good.
Jul 09, 2017
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
this place was great, the beer and food was fantastic, and i cant believe it took me so long to finally get in here and check it out. the place is smallish, mellow, and clean, with a rather mod feel, a full and large bar, and an equal focus on the restaurant aspect as the beer aspect. cool outside patio too, garden vibe, and a whole heap of solar panels! awesome! they are a smokehouse, and they are doing some incredible things with both food and beer. they had a maple brown ale brewed with maple syrup that they smoked in house! it was awesome, but their other beers were quite good as well, a range of basic styles done well and more ambitious beers, even a barrel aged offering. the food we ate was amazing, a trio of smoked fishes, including pike, which you just dont see too often, and it was just delicious. the smokehouse aspect seems to be in everything they do, and i am super into it. im not sure they sell kegs out of this place, i have never seen their beer on tap anywhere in the twin cities, so you might have to go here to drink it, but its worth doing for sure. service was sort of irrelevant, didnt enhance or detract from the experience either way. i will get back in here soon for a more substantial meal and a few more beers. everything in here was quality, and fairly priced too! under the radar, but they shouldnt be!
May 25, 2017
Photo of DavidSchaal
Reviewed by DavidSchaal from Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +7.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Great place with a great vibe. One of my favorite brewpubs!
Popular place, can get crowded and and there can be a wait -- that is well worth it.
Full bar and onsite brewed beers. Excellent dining and pub food.
Great neighborhood pub!
Mar 11, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by DissentFatsquirrel from Minnesota

May 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.86 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by Ilafan from Minnesota

Feb 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.91 by juanny from Minnesota

Jan 14, 2016
Photo of Umdrunner
Reviewed by Umdrunner from Wisconsin

4.41/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
Love this place! My favorite Brew Pub in Minneapolis! Always releasing great seasonal beers and have some excellent staples. Big Jim IPA is my favorite. I could eat their fresh cut fries and smoked pork all day! Fun urban vibe with killer happy hour ($3 house pints)!
Nov 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by jeff1973 from California

Nov 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.28 by Josholson666 from Minnesota

Nov 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.2 by tribeerguy70_3 from New Jersey

Oct 14, 2015
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.99/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.25
The Northbound Brewpub was decent......it had a neighborhood feel and every table was full upon our arrival......based on the location this meant that it has staying power as the locals are the primary source of income. The beers were decent....but the food outshines the beer. The service was fine once they warmed up to us.....I think since we were obviously not local.....There was plenty to choose from on the menu and they had 8 beers on tap. The pulled pork was amazing! Worth a visit???? Ah Yeah!
Oct 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Jul 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.76 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Jul 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by Dj1931 from Minnesota

Apr 10, 2015
Photo of brewnic
Reviewed by brewnic from Minnesota

4.06/5  rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Great place to sit outside and have a beer. As of 2014 you could have dogs on the patio. Beer selection in solid and easy to find at least 1 or 2 good taps. Food is great highly recommend the Wings. Only issue with NB is inside is small and at times can get crowded and it doesn't have much room to stand and wait.
Mar 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by PlatonicOtterLuv from Minnesota

Mar 05, 2015
Photo of mwcyclops
Rated by mwcyclops

4.95/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Great place to enjoy beer and food, or food and beer. Depends on your desired order of ingestion!
Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Feb 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by Wer34truh from Minnesota

Dec 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.52 by fureousangel from California

Nov 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by czeise from Minnesota

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Oct 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by millelacsmark from Minnesota

Oct 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Oct 03, 2014
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
This is a friendly little neighborhood place with good beer made on site and a smokehouse. The only place I know of where you can get a smoked egg salad sandwich and a house brew.
Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by R1nzl3r from Minnesota

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by MNBeerGeek from Minnesota

Aug 28, 2014
Photo of brapp55
Rated by brapp55 from Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
Nice selection of beers and good food. Friendly staff.
Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by wesbourne from Florida

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by MNBeer1017 from Minnesota

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by TastyTaste from Minnesota

Jul 20, 2014
Northbound Brewpub in Minneapolis, MN
Brewery rating: 3.92 out of 5 with 354 ratings