Breweries opening in Minnesota 2013/2014

A quick update:

- Fair State received their Federal TTB approval.
- I found another twenty (un-named) BIPs for the state.

I hope Tod Fyten is right, and that those are all Metro-area taprooms!

 

At this point I don't see how any brewery other than a taproom will succeed. It's too late in the game to try for production unless your beer is a home run. All female? Community driven? Unique beers?! Etc.
Unless your beer is world class, price competitive, or unique packaging, why would a retailer replace a viable brand or why would a consumer trade out?
Most established breweries have great beer in a can at a great price. I just don't see anyone buying anymore unproven bombers for $9.

 

I spoke to a beer guy at a local liquor store for quite a while last week and asked him what was selling, and my thinking was right. Cans are killing it, locals are what people are buying as well as Deschutes, Bells, Lagunatias, Odells and Founders, the others are falling behind (Brooklyn, Stone, Rogue, and various others from across the US). He said that one brewery came in and he sold a case the first week and has not sold a case total in 4 month. This is normal.

If you are a local MN beer, it does sell. Indeed and Surly are by far his top sellers. He believes that once he has Summit in cans, they will be up there as well. His biggest surprise has been Schell's. He said that in the past few months, he has sold more of that than he ever has. I am very glad to hear that. Great job, Ted!

Like Beerbelly said, people are going away from everyday bombers. I will buy one every once in a while, but not often. I even shy away from Steel Toe. I wish they would go to cans..I would buy a ton of them. A ton.

 

There's a Half Pints Brewery in Manitoba. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14078/

 

More info on Burning Bros. Brewing: http://www.citypages.com/2014-05-21/restaurants/gluten-free-beer-brewery-st-paul/

 

I too really wish Steel Toe would brew in cans but I don't think that is happening anytime soon. Steel Toe would really increase sales but I think Steel Toe is happy being small.

 

Thanks for the info! Did he give you any indication on location? Hard to imagine not having a taproom these days, so hoping for another player in the downtown/lowertown St. Paul area...

 

Well, I told an old beer-y friend of mine: "Highland Park could use a destination taproom", and this prompted my friend to get pretty excited -- seeing as he lives in Highland Park!

But Mat only lives over that way, and I'm really not sure that the community council is as enthused about that idea as some of us beer hobbyists and budding breweries might be. So, he is still in the process of negotiating a lease; I wonder if it's at the "Water Tower"?

 

No doubt about that. The few good beer bar options in the area are usually packed to the gills.

 

Any word on Live the Dream (or Living the Dream) in Hopkins?

 

They are in the middle of quite a build-out, and look to be coming along quite nicely:

 

I couldn't agree more. I just can't convince myself anymore to put out the big $ for bombers. There are a lot of things I would like to try but pass on in bombers. Most of my off-sale beer money other than growlers goes to Summit, Schells, Indeed, and Surly....Liftbridge Hop Dish sometimes...Bent Paddle when I see it....

 

I am pretty behind in reading BA forums; is Surly Brewery still building a brewery/resturant at a new location (Prospect Park, I heard )?

 

I will buy bottles of Steel Toe, the price is good...usually around 5 bucks. But I don't buy bombers very often unless it is something I really want to try.

 

Still building.

http://oxblue.com/open/surlybrewing/destination

They are hiring an executive chef.

 

I just picked up a bottle of Sommer Vice yesterday afternoon. $4.50, and not bad for the price. Great price for Dissent, which I should have grabbed as well.

 

$4.50 is a relatively cheap bomber, but per ounce that's still the equivalent of a ~$15 six-pack.

 

True, but also the equivalent of $2.25 pours from a bar.

I get what you're saying, but if the beer isn't available in a six pack, I think about per bottle price versus what I'd pay to get it while out.

It's also how I feel okay getting a mixed six which is almost always way more money than if I bought a regular six-pack of something - I'm usually trying six beers I've never had before for less than half the price I'd pay to get it at a bar - assuming I found it at the bar I was at.

 

Oh shit yeah for $5 I'll buy but not these $10-18 dollar bottles...unless it is Lunker (Maybe the best beer in MN for high abv)....then I will pay that price range...

 

I should probably add that I have no problem paying $4.50 for Dissent. I'm just saying that Steel Toe will never be our "house beer" if it only comes in bombers.