Lupulin Brewing

I have been coming to Lupulin in Big Lake, MN from the Twin Cities for years now. Always glad I came. Their beers and beer selection are phenomenal. Even varieties I would not seek out are done above expectations and these have opened my world of beer.

Quaint taproom is always welcoming. Most of the year there is a beer garden just out the door; fireplace when needed. And, they have a much larger room past the pinball alley (they have FOUR pinball machines!). They have regular special releases, discount crowler bundles and once-a-year Big Beer Week (going on now). OMG, fabulous barrel aged beers that compare to the country's best.

I would be remiss to not mention the fabulous staff. Again, so welcoming and knowledgeable. This takes my rating over the top. Obviously, I highly recommend visiting Lupulin.

 

20200112

 

 

Not bad for a strip mall brewery. Legitimately sits at the end of a little strip mall. And given the area, it's pretty much the last place you'd expect to find a brewery. That said once inside it's actually a pretty damn nice place. Decent atmosphere, plenty of seating, a few televisions so you can watch the game, classic rock on the speakers. Nice amount on tap usually 15+, and varied pour sizes, with reasonable pricing. Their beers range from above average, to really f***ing good. Definitely worth the trip, been a few times now, and will be back many more I'm sure.

They really make the most of the strip mall space. The taproom space is attractive, especially the patio. Excellent service, and the beer, if of course, first rate.

Second visit to the taproom.

They have a fairly decent taplist. 2 sets of taps for each beer, so you get your beer fairly fast. Staff is amazing. Beer quality is top notch. They are well known for their NEIPAs, and they are stellar. They also have outdoor seating.

Highly recommended.

Great looking space right off of Highway 10 on the Northwest side of town. Lots of tables, games and there was a food truck. They do flights at great prices. 6 pours for $8 for example. The beer ranges from good to phenomenal. Their IPAs are the star attraction.

The vibe is a little "off" (it's very "strip mall" esque), but the service is great and the beer is phenomenal.

It's a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip if you're in the MSP area.

 

 

 

 

 

Slick brewpub right off of Highway 10, at the end of a newer strip mall. Interior and bar design are better thought out than some taprooms in the twin cities proper! Beer is generally above average to very good, but only 8 taps or so when we visited. The double/"triple" IPAs were best quality.

Had low expectations going in, but these folks know what they're doing. A pleasant surprise!

 

 

First time there. Service was great! Bought a growler of Polarnattens Paradis American Stout. Shared it with family members. Enjoyed by all. Will definitely stop by for a refill.

 

 

 

Solid is what I would say if one word summed up my impression of this place. Nothing remarkable and nothing deficient. Very modern and clean, but a bit antiseptic feel about the place. Lacking a bit of character as it all feels artificial.

The beers were all good but nothing that I felt I wanted another. Found the session IPA rather sloppy. My favorite might have actually been the raspberry/blueberry concoction. The apricot wheat beer was also remarkable and if they could capture that essence into a better base beer, it would be phenomenal. The Belgian Blonde was also tasty.

Nice glassware. I wanted to buy on of their 16oz glasses, but it was prohibitively expensive ($10). Insane glass prices. But they sell a shit ton of glass. They have a lot of space to expand into, so should be interesting to learn what the ultimate plan turns out to be.

 

 

Can't remember how many beers they had going but it was around eight and I tried every one. Every one was very solid. Some were outstanding. I just reviewed a growler of their Imperial Red IPA that I found really top notch. I got a couple other reviews to plug in still. It is right off the highway. Very easy stop. Really nice tap room. People seemed very nice and service was good. Growler prices were reasonable but not low. I think it was $18 for the Imperial Red IPA but the others were in the 12-14 range if I remember right. They do fill growlers from anywhere which is very smart for any brewery but particularly for one where tourists are traveling past frequently. Let's just say this blows away the St. Cloud places I visited. Not that they were bad. This is just really good. It's worth a stop if you are going past but I'll say this as well.....it's also worth a trip up from the Twin Cities for a few pints if you got someone to drive back who isn't drinking because you will want to have more than a pint or two.

 

 

 

Brand new and located right on Highway 10 in Big Lake. Located in a strip mall, but they have transformed the space into something really cool looking inside. Old and rustic feel with the use of raw wood and benches, yet new and fresh with the speckled colored flooring that matches the logo, leather chairs and traditional tables and chairs. Lots of seating and a decent sized bar. The urinal cut out of an actual keg was really cool looking. Service was friendly and prompt.

Only three beers on tap, but being two weeks in, I'm guessing this number will slowly increase. A couple of sodas and coffee also available for those not partaking in the beer. All three beers- American Stout, IPA and Belgian Blonde were all very well done and tasty. Kudos to them for putting out a solid product right out of the gate and having equipment dialed in. I will also add that I think their logo and colors are very eye catching. Everything from their apparel and glassware (4 different) they were selling utilized the bright and colorful logo.

Overall, a really nice new brewery and one that I will visit often as my in-laws live nearby. Definitely worth a stop if in the area.