-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
The Four Firkins
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by SerialTicker from Michigan
4.15/5 rDev -7%
4.15/5 rDev -7%
*My review from Yelp*
Four stars from me -- five for the fact that they had a free beer tasting when I was in (no idea how often that happes), but then three for the beer prices.
Walked in here on a Saturday before a Twins/Tigers game and they were surprisingly packed. Basically, uncomfortably packed.... there was very little room to move around. The building itself looked pretty nice and there was quite a lot of beer to be bought. The workers are really helpful and all of that good stuff, but the prices of singles at Four Firkins are bumped a little too unnecessarily high for my liking. Still, if you're looking for a specific made-in-Minnesota or shipped-to-Minnesota beer, your best chance of finding it is probably here.
Dec 03, 2014Four stars from me -- five for the fact that they had a free beer tasting when I was in (no idea how often that happes), but then three for the beer prices.
Walked in here on a Saturday before a Twins/Tigers game and they were surprisingly packed. Basically, uncomfortably packed.... there was very little room to move around. The building itself looked pretty nice and there was quite a lot of beer to be bought. The workers are really helpful and all of that good stuff, but the prices of singles at Four Firkins are bumped a little too unnecessarily high for my liking. Still, if you're looking for a specific made-in-Minnesota or shipped-to-Minnesota beer, your best chance of finding it is probably here.
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota
4.9/5 rDev +9.9%
4.9/5 rDev +9.9%
The staff is very knowledgeable about beer and they go out of their way to handle the beer well. They have a steady turnover of product. I find fewer beers past their best by date here than anywhere else in the Twin Cities. Unlike some retailers, they avoid stocking antique beer.
Sep 10, 2014Reviewed by Alpar from Wisconsin
3/5 rDev -32.7%
3/5 rDev -32.7%
Nice selection. Small place. Beers are overpriced but staff is knowledgable. I don't shop here often as there are far better options in Minneapolis. Kind of a newbies bottle shop. Probably wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
Aug 15, 2014Reviewed by AmandaSchaefer from Wisconsin
4.51/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
4.51/5 rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
They pack a ton of great beer into a small space. I love the look of it - the woodwork is beautiful. Staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. The selection is really great here, with a great variety of midwest/MN beers along with some nice imports. I will definitely go back!
Apr 20, 2014Reviewed by emquilxy from Pennsylvania
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Reviewed this spot a few years ago, now that they've moved into a new location it's only gotten better! They feature really good tasting events, the staff is the most helpful that I've found anywhere. I travel to Minneapolis once or twice a year (from Pennsylvania) and I always make a point to stop in.
BTW, if you make the drive, swing on over to Steel Toe Brewing at the same time for a quick pint and/or a growler fill. It makes for a lovely beer day double banger!
Mar 10, 2014BTW, if you make the drive, swing on over to Steel Toe Brewing at the same time for a quick pint and/or a growler fill. It makes for a lovely beer day double banger!
Reviewed by tylerstravis from Colorado
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Man, I wish there were more stores like this in my neck of the woods. They were extremely knowledgable and most importantly, EVERY beer was available as a single! They had an incredible selection of beers across the world! Sure, it's a bit spendy, but I could live in this place :)
Feb 24, 2014Reviewed by barrybeerdog from South Dakota
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Outstanding service
I can't say enough about the staff at Four Firkins. I work overseas and often place my orders online & pick them up when I get back to MN. I have sent staff member, Bryan many emails and tasked him with finding/ordering several different beers. Each time Bryan gets back with me quickly letting me know he tracked down my request and has the beer standing by for pick up.
In times of automated email & phone service, it is very refreshing to receive the type of service that Four Firkins provides both online and in person. Alvey & his staff truly understand the concept of providing quality customer service!! First rate store!!
PS: Hope you tracked down the jerk that stole the decorative store front beer barrel!!!
Jul 06, 2013I can't say enough about the staff at Four Firkins. I work overseas and often place my orders online & pick them up when I get back to MN. I have sent staff member, Bryan many emails and tasked him with finding/ordering several different beers. Each time Bryan gets back with me quickly letting me know he tracked down my request and has the beer standing by for pick up.
In times of automated email & phone service, it is very refreshing to receive the type of service that Four Firkins provides both online and in person. Alvey & his staff truly understand the concept of providing quality customer service!! First rate store!!
PS: Hope you tracked down the jerk that stole the decorative store front beer barrel!!!
Reviewed by bumchilly25 from Canada (BC)
4.68/5 rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
What a great spot! A true treat for me visiting from Vancouver, BC. I was hoping to stock up on beers locally available and I was certainly not disappointed. Walked away with Surly, Steel Toe, Mankato, Bells, Founders and so much more. The wall of singles was fantastic as I was even able to find my wife some treats she'd enjoy as well. What a place!
Jun 28, 2013Reviewed by Tjvan2 from Iowa
4.65/5 rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
Was in town for a conference and stopped out of curiosity...plus I needed to pick up some Surly. The place was set up great with all beers divided by type. There is a large cooler area with plenty of good brews chillin'. The thing I appreciated most is that this place had more craft beers and microbrews than anywhere else I have ever been. I prefer this to a large number of import beers. The prices were on par with every other specialty beer place I have been in. I didn't interact with the staff much but they were friendly and carried my purchase out to the car. I would go back here in a heartbeat!
Mar 13, 2013Reviewed by minnesotaryan from Minnesota
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
5/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
The first and only exclusively craft beer store in Minnesota. They have all the outside light blocked out, and keep the store at a proper temperature for the beer. They also have a good amount of the IPA's in the fridge. They have a nice little bar where they tap casks/firkins for tastings.
The beer is top notch here, they carry lots of great stuff, it is easy to spend a lot of time wandering the MASSIVE singles wall, or combing through all the bombers and 750s. You are always guaranteed to find something good.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, they are also incredibly approachable and will let you know about what is new or coming out. They also remember what you have bought and are quick to make recommendations accordingly.
Don't mind the naysayers, this place is top notch establishment run by great people.
Oct 24, 2012The beer is top notch here, they carry lots of great stuff, it is easy to spend a lot of time wandering the MASSIVE singles wall, or combing through all the bombers and 750s. You are always guaranteed to find something good.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, they are also incredibly approachable and will let you know about what is new or coming out. They also remember what you have bought and are quick to make recommendations accordingly.
Don't mind the naysayers, this place is top notch establishment run by great people.
Reviewed by ssimpson89 from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
I stopped in while visiting on business looking for Surly products and some other locals I can't get in Chicago. I was immediately greeted and asked if I needed help. I was able to get Furious and Surly Fest. I asked for recommendations and was pointed to Steel Toe Size 7, which turned out to be a great pick.
While I was looking over the other 6 packs wondering what to try, the employee suggested a mix a six. He asked me what I liked and helped me make selections from breweries I don't have access to. He was great. I wish I would have gotten his name so I could mention him here.
Nice store that I will visit again when I'm in town.
Oct 05, 2012While I was looking over the other 6 packs wondering what to try, the employee suggested a mix a six. He asked me what I liked and helped me make selections from breweries I don't have access to. He was great. I wish I would have gotten his name so I could mention him here.
Nice store that I will visit again when I'm in town.
Reviewed by JosephThompson from New Jersey
4.2/5 rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
4.2/5 rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Another stop during my family visit time and I came away impressed. Firstly, there's some dedication here to the collection of labels and artifacts of beer's place in the past. It's a nice feature to kill some time in between choosing your quaff to look at these things rather than, say, Skinny Margarita displays with Skeletor.
Wood all around. Great collection of bottles once head on the rim of the island where checkout is located. Shelving is easy to browse and four to five coolers fill one side of the store. All the local brews are represented well. Was only place I could mix a Surly six pack which is nice for the out of towner.
The selection isn't over the top and won't intimidate you but it felt like they did a great job of finding the quality brands needed to fill out a store that reflects their appreciation for the art.
Sep 16, 2012Wood all around. Great collection of bottles once head on the rim of the island where checkout is located. Shelving is easy to browse and four to five coolers fill one side of the store. All the local brews are represented well. Was only place I could mix a Surly six pack which is nice for the out of towner.
The selection isn't over the top and won't intimidate you but it felt like they did a great job of finding the quality brands needed to fill out a store that reflects their appreciation for the art.
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland
4/5 rDev -10.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
4/5 rDev -10.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Very nice place, tucked away in a strip mall somewhat next to a Target and about 10 minutes from downtown Minny. The interior is woody and smells nice, the crowd is friendly as can be, and the beers are grouped together by style, instead of brand.
This last feature deserves commentary: it rocks. Why? Because more often than not, I'll be in the mood for a certain style of beer, not a certain brand. I don't think "gee I'd like some Rogue today," so much as I feel in the mood for an IPA or a porter. On top of this, more and more brewers have been getting cute with their beer styles, either refusing to list them on the bottle/can or else giving them some asinine name ("spunk lager" or "old timey ale"). I don't care for mysteries, especially when I'm shelling over 10+ bucks a sixer.
Local beers came in single servings, they had a very wide variety of affordable local bombers, and a decent Belgian selection. Overall, the selection wasn't world class spectacular, but it was plenty wide. The staff all knew their businesses, too. The only reason I say this place is "a bit pricey" is because that's how nearly every single beer store is nowadays, since things are so goddamn gentrified.
Jun 18, 2012This last feature deserves commentary: it rocks. Why? Because more often than not, I'll be in the mood for a certain style of beer, not a certain brand. I don't think "gee I'd like some Rogue today," so much as I feel in the mood for an IPA or a porter. On top of this, more and more brewers have been getting cute with their beer styles, either refusing to list them on the bottle/can or else giving them some asinine name ("spunk lager" or "old timey ale"). I don't care for mysteries, especially when I'm shelling over 10+ bucks a sixer.
Local beers came in single servings, they had a very wide variety of affordable local bombers, and a decent Belgian selection. Overall, the selection wasn't world class spectacular, but it was plenty wide. The staff all knew their businesses, too. The only reason I say this place is "a bit pricey" is because that's how nearly every single beer store is nowadays, since things are so goddamn gentrified.
The Four Firkins in Saint Louis Park, MN
Place rating:
4.46 out of
5 with
87 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the place's attributes plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!