Wabasha Brewing Co.

 

 

 

This is in an old west sides St. Paul building that probably housed a bar at one time. Has a mixed neighborhood crowd, friendly staff and a good beer selection.

 

 

 

i had a good time in here, a small and cozy little brewery, with a long bar, mellow lighting, exposed brick, and a nice neighborhood feel. they had a moderate sized list of beers on tap, seemingly covering all the bases, but i only had time for a couple. i really enjoyed their cream ale, well made and clean, and i liked the hey man pale a lot less. i still havent had enough of their beer to really levy a judgement on the whole, but it seems to be pretty safe, but pretty well done for the most part. the service was great in here, prompt and friendly, and everyone seemed to know everyone, which makes the whole vibe really communal and fun, it was a great ambiance. this is a great place to hang out for a few pints, but i wonder if their beer is adventurous and good enough to support them long term, it seems like there is just so much innovative and high quality beer in the twin cities that experimentation or perfection would be needed to stay relevant, and i didnt get a lot of either in here, but again, its a small sample size of their beer. i will revisit them down the road and try more of their stuff. highly recommended as a place to relax and have a beer in saint paul!

 

 

 

 

 

This tiny brewery is located just down the road from the Wabasha Caves in St. Paul. It has a decent sized free parking lot and the entrance is on the backside of the building, next to its paved patio. Has a distinct sunken basement vibe with the brewing equipment crammed behind the five seat bar. The walls are adorned with antique looking pictures, beer paraphernalia and a large rug. This is not family-friendly place by the way; no one under 21 allowed inside.

Six taps and two friendly, talkative barkeeps. Beer styles pretty limited due to the low number of taps - four of the six were IPAs or pale ales when we dropped by. The red IPA was to style, unoffensive but forgettable. The maibock had a distinct diacetyl presence backed by peanut flavor - whoops.

They do sell glass on-site but also fill other brands' growlers. No food offered but you can bring your own or order delivery - they have a number of local menus on hand. Board games and self-serve water cooler here as well.

Can't recommend this place at this time. It's clear they are passionate about what they do, and the cozy basement vibe is a nice change of pace, but the crammed space and mediocre (or outright bad) beer make this an easy "pass" for me.

FYI they are expanding this location by combining it with the front of the building's main level area - supposed to open middle of 2016.