Starkeller Brewing Company

 

 

A plain metal building on the outside, the taproom is an incredible space. The main feature is the huge, circa 1936, cypress fermenting tanks. A stunning bar completes the scene. Seating is communal style. Low lighting and not at all noisy. Be sure to carefully check out the antique cooperage ephemera lining the hallway. That theme carries over to the ultra-clean restrooms.
The quality of the beers is hard to top. This is the showcase for Schell's Noble Star series. Fabulous beers, with 8 on tap when we visited plus older vintages available in the bottle.
The service was outstanding, knowledgeable, fast and friendly. A great experience. Food pairing plates also available.

Extremely pleased I made the trek from the city to Starkeller. Been to about 65 breweries and counting in the state, and this one has jumped up into my top 5. It's so unassuming on the outside, pretty much looks like a steel warehouse. However, once inside you are quickly ushered into a fabulous experience. The beer hall is such a great change of pace from most taprooms. Low lighting, quiet, with a candle lit vibe, and the huge Cypress tanks are quite impressive.

Only 2 employees working at the time, so a bit slow getting our beer despite only 20 or so guests on the scene. They had 6 taps. There is a standard 4 beer flight they offer. There aren't a lot of places offering strictly sours, and these are all very unique, and delicious. For those driving from the city, the beers here are all fairly low ABV, so you can have a few and drive back no problem. They had one beer that was 7.0%, but most were in the 3 to 4% range. Highlights for me were Tidal Disruption and the Double Barrel.

Absolutely worth the trip from the city, or from anywhere. It is not your standard taproom as far the feel and the beer, and it is a very welcome change of pace. Looking forward to my next trip out to New Ulm for Starkeller!

I was at the Starkeller yesterday, and was impressed. The building on the outside looks like a steel warehouse. That is just an illusion. When you go inside you're greeted with low lighting, which reminds me of a candle lit room. You then get into the bierhall, which is illuminated the same way. Along the walls are 10 huge cypress tanks, 5 on each side. These tanks were from the Schell's Brewery, and were beer storage tanks a long time ago. They've been re purposed, and refurbished for the Noble Star beers, which are the star of the show there - no pun intended.

There's 8 taps. 6 were in use when I was there. They plan on having several Starkeller only beers, and did have one on tap when I was there.

The staff was very friendly, and knowledgeable about the Noble Star beers. Service was fast, but I was the first customer of the day, and the only one when I got my beer. They offer flights of 4 beers. They also offer larger pours and smaller ones.

I will be back.