Heading to Twin Cities & looking for opinions

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by BottleCaps80, Apr 4, 2013.

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  1. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Heading up to the Twin Cities this weekend and am looking to haul home some beers that I have never had and/or can't get in Iowa. Below is a list of breweries I have never had beer from and I am looking for suggestions on what beers of theirs I should pick up and where is the best place to get said beer? Also, we are staying literally 3 miles down the road from Blue Max and was curious if they would carry most of these there?
    • Steel Toe
    • Indeed
    • Lift Bridge
    • Avery
    • Great Divide
    • Great Lakes
    • Tyranea
    • Olvalde
    • Clown Shoes
    I am a hop head, so I love IPAs (especially citrusy/grapefruity), but also really enjoy stouts, sours and saisons, but am really just looking for best/freshest offering from these breweries. Thanks much in advance for any suggestions you can offer!
     
    #1 BottleCaps80, Apr 4, 2013
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  2. BeerBuyerBill

    BeerBuyerBill Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2012 Minnesota

    They should have everything but Steel Toe and Avery. Avery is gone from the MN market and Steel Toe is just in the St. Louis Park/Mpls/St. Paul area.
     
    #2 BeerBuyerBill, Apr 4, 2013
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  3. lonewolfcry

    lonewolfcry Pooh-Bah (1,994) Dec 7, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    France 44
    Ask for Bill.
    He can hook you up -great guy.

    They have Steel Toe and everything else, except Avery.
     
    #3 lonewolfcry, Apr 4, 2013
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  4. Penguin3200

    Penguin3200 Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2008 Minnesota

    Yeah great guy :wink:
    France44 great store, and one of the better wine shops in town too, if that floats your boat as well :grinning:
     
    #4 Penguin3200, Apr 4, 2013
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  5. dc55110

    dc55110 Savant (1,116) Oct 24, 2010 Minnesota

    Don't forget a cheese shop that often has Surly ontap.
     
    #5 dc55110, Apr 4, 2013
  6. pdoran10

    pdoran10 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Minnesota

    Based on your style preferences I'd pick up some -

    Steel Toe Size 7
    Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer
    Great Lakes Alchemy Hour DIPA
    Great Divide any of the Yeti Series
    Lift Bridge Hop Dish
    Olvalde Auroch's Horn or the rhubarb version if you can find it
    anything from Indeed
     
    #6 pdoran10, Apr 4, 2013
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  7. lonewolfcry

    lonewolfcry Pooh-Bah (1,994) Dec 7, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    yes to all of the above!
     
    #7 lonewolfcry, Apr 4, 2013
  8. b33rknuts

    b33rknuts Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2011 Minnesota

    I believe Indeed's new IPA is released on Saturday, the release party is at the Lowry that evening so im not sure if it will be available for sale at the brewery but worth a shot. Steel Toe Size 7 and Rainmaker are fantastic, absolutely can recommend both of those. GLBC Alchemy Hour is great, but be sure to get fresh bottles, the first batch is just about to hit its date stamp in a few days. Lift Bridge Hop Dish is pretty awesome, and their Silhouette Russian Imperial Stout as well if you can track one down. Not sure if MN got bottles of Clown Shoes Luchador en Fuego (Barrel aged Mexican chocolate stout) but hell yes... you will want one of those. Tyranena Shaggin in the Wood might be on shelves as well. Good luck man!
     
    #8 b33rknuts, Apr 4, 2013
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  9. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Thanks for the suggestions so far! Definitely hoping I can get some Yeti, Alchemy Hour and Steel Toe Size 7. Also will be looking to pick up usual offerings from Surly, Odell and Central Waters. I'm assuming all Abrasive is off the shelves? Sounds like France 44 is the place to hit. Is the selection better there than Blue Max? How do prices compare or are the pretty much the same?

    I would love to shop hop all day long to find everything I'm hoping to find, but I don't think the wife will be on board with that, so looking to get most of my wants at one shop if possible. Staying in Apple Valley, as we have family there, and am willing to travel to any shop within 30 minutes or so of there, but Blue Max is super close, so if I can find it there...that would be ideal. How far of a trek is it to Cassanovas from Apple Valley? :slight_smile:
     
    #9 BottleCaps80, Apr 4, 2013
  10. Philly82785

    Philly82785 Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2008 Minnesota

    Yes Blue Max has one of the best beer selections in the state. Heritage Liquor in Maplewood also has an amazing beer selection too. Heritage is about 35 mins from AV. Nova's from AV its about an hour or so, I picked up some Three Floyds last week. Abrasive this late is unlikley. Lift Bridge 2012 Commander [blue label] is at a liquor is Burnsville right off of 35W and Burnsville Pkwy, last time I was there I seen they had a couple bottles.
     
    #10 Philly82785, Apr 4, 2013
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  11. Mplsmetro57

    Mplsmetro57 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Minnesota

    Apple Valley to Hudson will run you about 30-35 minutes. Casanova and Chicone's are always worth checking out. Blue Max iis your best bet in the south metro but Haskells in Burnsville and Cellars in Eagan close by are worth a peek. I'm still seeing Abrasive in the metro.
     
    #11 Mplsmetro57, Apr 4, 2013
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  12. Mplsmetro57

    Mplsmetro57 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Minnesota

    Indeed Let It Ride IPA launch is today from 6-9 pm @ The Lowry.
     
    #12 Mplsmetro57, Apr 4, 2013
  13. biglobo8971

    biglobo8971 Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Minnesota

    I live 2 blocks from Blue Max, hit me up for a beer or two. Can help lead you in the right direction. The Apple Valley Muni has a decent selection of locals. But the more bang for your buck store is Blue Max, go in ask for Jim, he will take care of you. (There is still some Avery on their shelves)
     
    #13 biglobo8971, Apr 4, 2013
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  14. JediMatt

    JediMatt Zealot (549) Jun 18, 2010 Iowa

    Nick, you totally need to check out Blue Max. Also, go to Town Hall. You must try their beers. :slight_smile:
     
    #14 JediMatt, Apr 4, 2013
  15. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Blue Max is 100% for certain, as it is so close to where we are staying. Would love to hit up a taproom like Town Hall, but my wife is preggo and can't drink right now, so she wouldn't be down I'm sure. But...she want's to go shopping for "maternity clothes", so if I have to suffer through that, she may just have to suffer through a beer or two at a taproom! :wink:
     
    #15 BottleCaps80, Apr 4, 2013
  16. Mnmaverick

    Mnmaverick Initiate (0) Mar 23, 2013 Minnesota

    A few stores still have Abrasive that was canned in early March.
     
    #16 Mnmaverick, Apr 4, 2013
  17. Mplsmetro57

    Mplsmetro57 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Minnesota

    Check out the Valley Tap House nearby. They usually have a few good craft taps. Otherwise, the nearest Town Hall is the TH Tap @ 4810 Chicago in south Minneapolis.
     
    #17 Mplsmetro57, Apr 4, 2013
  18. biglobo8971

    biglobo8971 Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Minnesota

    here is an idea for you, go to the Valley Tap House, have her drop you off and she can go shopping in the strip mall right behind. You can drink some locals and other crafts while she blows your dough. I do it all the time, here receipts usually beats mine.
     
    #18 biglobo8971, Apr 4, 2013
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  19. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Haha....I like the way you think!
     
    #19 BottleCaps80, Apr 4, 2013
  20. biglobo8971

    biglobo8971 Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Minnesota

    Fork it, let me know when you are going to be there and I can meet you for a couple. Won't let the two wives get together, I can't afford it.
     
    #20 biglobo8971, Apr 4, 2013
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