Breweries opening in Minnesota 2013/2014

Lulz...

"After opening its doors just yesterday, The Freehouse—the new Minneapolis brewpub from Blue Plate Restaurant Company—is getting some attention for its beer pricing. While the brewpub offers up its own house-brewed pints for $6, it's charging a whopping $7 for tallboys of Coors Light, PBR, Bud Light, and other "guest cans" of beer. The brewpub is also charging $8 for pints of "guest taps" including Indeed Midnight Ryder (which would sell for $4 in its own taproom).

The pricing debacle spread quickly in the Twitter-universe, too. The Heavy Table weighed in with a sarcastic "Whoa, cool: Trendy NYC beer prices right here in Midwest!" while co-owner Stephanie Shimp justified the pricing by tweeting "Why would anyone even 'want' a National brand at a local brewery!" in response."

 

Shouldn't that be reworded to, "Why would anyone even 'want' to sell a National brand at a local brewery!"

 

Ha, a brewpub selling cans of Coors and Bud Light tells me it's a place I don't have to try out. Not saying it won't work out in that location, but I certainly won't take them seriously as a brewery.

The dudes at Day Block Brewing won't have to worry much about these cats stealing their business when they open up...

 

Looks like I will keep going to Cuzzys and Fulton

 

I think it's a little early to suppose the Freehouse is getting by on anything just yet, they haven't even been open a week.

 

Two days! I know I'm harsh, but I'm skeptical of cutesy joints that "brew their own!"

I want good beer.

 

Well, these guys having been running great bars and restaurants in the Cities for years, so I'll personally give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

Oh yeah, I dig the Lowry, Longfellow, and Groveland Tap. But I am skeptical of their brewing ability.

And I hate the words "sammich," "sammie", and "breakie."

 

Well, they hired a pro, so that's a good start anyway. He made good beer at his last gig. And, I absolutely despise the words "sammich", "sammie" and even though I've never heard it before, "breakie".

 

This is what it sounds like to me - a catch all model. A bar/restaurant first that happens to brew some of their own beers. No reason for a brewery/brew pub to offer macros (especially at those prices) unless their goal is to satisfying every type of customer, rather than the "build a following of customers who like your beer" approach. No doubt they know what they're doing from a business standpoint.

 

Who is their brewer? Where was he before?

 

His name is Pio or something. He was the previous brewer at RB Mpls.

 

Right. It sounds like an urban Granite City type joint.

That gives me hope that the beer could be really good.

 

The food is good and despite the names of the menu items the menu rocks. I highly recommend the $1,000 burger (short rib, brisket & sirloin, duck fat, No 4 butter house English muffin, cheddar)!!

The beer is a total miss for me. I had the IPA and the Brown Ale the stout will be ready tomorrow. They took absolutely no chances with these three styles. I don't understand the rationale behind this approach, these are complete gateway beers for non-craft drinkers.

 

Don't all brewpubs happen to brew at least some of their own their beer? It seems like you are saying that the brewing aspect of the Freehouse is an afterthought. Maybe I'm reading you wrong. I really can't imagine that anyone would put the huge amounts of money and time into opening a brewery for it to be an afterthought.

 

They did no promotion of the beer while the build out was happening. It was a mystery to most who brewer even was for awhile. They know the space is in a prime location and they have a huge following. They played to their strengths and that is not brewing their own beer.

 

It may not be a strength now, but I think it could be. I'm not sure why they would spend the time and money on brewing equipment if they weren't serious about making good beer. Their brewmaster wasn't at Rock Bottom for very long, but I recall his beers being solid.

 

Whats not to understand? Their target market isn't BA members, they are likely targeting the much larger demographic that has little to no craft beer experience.

 

Yeah, he was there maybe a year give or take. I don't think Mpls was his first gig either.

 

I think it's a little early for any of us to know who their target market is. They have only been open a few days lol.