Minneapolis summer trip

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by rturkaly, Feb 15, 2015.

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  1. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Thanks for the updates. It's good to get the perspective from another traveler. I just started looking at some reviews and you may be right about st paul. Both of the downtown breweries, great waters and tin whiskers, got average reviews at best. Still might check them out since they are sort of on the way to summit. I'll have to check the beer bars in St Paul to see if there is anything interesting. Thanks for the Lyn Lake area update. I think we will just do that if we have time. I'm planning on Harriet and northbound, since they are right by light rail stops. The only frustrating thing, and this is in all cities, when you find 2 or 3 breweries in a similar area and 2 open at noon, while the other opens at 4 or 5. It makes the planning a little bit harder. Oh well, just have to work around it. And moto I will be added to the list.
     
    #41 rturkaly, Feb 21, 2015
  2. DBijnagte

    DBijnagte Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2012 Minnesota

    No such thing in MN!!! feel free to get wasted and bike wherever you please.
     
    #42 DBijnagte, Feb 21, 2015
    mjryan likes this.
  3. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    You sure? I thought you could get a OUI or something for riding a bike drunk.

    In fact, I think my black sheep cousin managed to get one.
     
    #43 nograz, Feb 21, 2015
  4. DBijnagte

    DBijnagte Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2012 Minnesota

    Public intoxication is the only thing they can hit you with if I recall correctly..

    http://m.startribune.com/local/blogs/211294331.html
     
    #44 DBijnagte, Feb 21, 2015
  5. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    #45 nograz, Feb 21, 2015
  6. mjryan

    mjryan Pooh-Bah (1,571) Dec 22, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Great Waters and Tin Whiskers are just fine. I live in St Paul and enjoy both places, though, I wouldn't call them "can't miss". However, iffin yer ridin tha Green Line to it's Saintly terminus, then by all means check at least one of them out. St Paul does however have a couple of world class beer bars within a couple of blocks of each other. The Muddy Pig and the Happy Gnome. Seriously, St Paul and that other city across the river are what I call "beer rich", trying to recommend places is nearly impossible. My 2 cents on other places, Moto-i, yeah, it's ok. I'm not a Sake expert but I'll say the stuff is alright and the foods ok. Herkimer, is the brewery responsible for the Sake, and while I generally don't mind that place, most local BA's dump on it. Harriet, it's cool if you want to check out some live music, and the beer is fine I guess, kind of out of the way I guess. Northbound is the shit though. Great beer and food, can't go wrong there.
     
    #46 mjryan, Feb 23, 2015
  7. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Yeah, Northbound is a definite stop. Harriet maybe, if time allows. But they are both close to light rail stops, so if we hit one, we will probably get the other. I got a feeling we will at least check out one of the breweries in St Paul. With it being right on the green line, I can't see what it will hurt. Muddy Pig and Happy Gnome are both on my list of place to check out, and since they are so close, I can't see not going to both. I think Happy Gnome is always in draft magazines top 100 beer bars, so got to go. And there were 2 other bars, that were listed on beer advocate, in the area: Sweeney's and Tavern on Grand. I haven't really researched them yet, but will probably check into them at some point.
     
    #47 rturkaly, Feb 23, 2015
  8. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    Three days are going to go faster than you'd guess here. The green line is great but takes quite awhile. I'd really consider limiting yourself to Minneapolis. Between many of the great places listed, you'd have plenty of drinking for three days. If you really really feel you must get to the happy gnome, I'd take an uberX and save a ton of time. Then you can walk to the muddy pig and uber it back to Minneapolis. Those are really the only two places in St Paul I'd say you really need to go if you are making the trek over there.

    Northbound is a big meh, though I hear the food is good. Harriet has good beer but the taproom leaves much to be desired and often has a cover, so just know that going in.
     
    #48 MNBeerGeek, Feb 23, 2015
  9. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    As far as St. Paul, even though it's a bit south, is it worth my time to go to Summit? I think it is, but what do you think. I agree with the 3 day assessment, it will go fast. Too many places, not enough time. After looking at the reviews over the weekend, my can't miss breweries are Town Hall, Surly, Dangerous Man, Bauhaus, and Indeed. My probables are 612, Day Block, Fulton, Bang, and Urban Growler. A lot is based on location and reviews from fellow BA's. My 2 possible cab ones are Summit and Steel Toe. I started beer bar reviews yesterday, but will look a little closer over the weekend.
     
    #49 rturkaly, Feb 23, 2015
  10. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    And I forgot, Sisyphus and The Freehouse are on the probable list too.
     
    #50 rturkaly, Feb 23, 2015
  11. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    Went to Sisyphus, not bad, would go back. The bonus about them for me is they are open at 11 on Friday. I guess you have town hall, Surly and bars, but it is nice to have a tap room open early during the week when you are a jobless bum, but have to be home early due to kids.
     
    #51 nograz, Feb 23, 2015
  12. steven

    steven Initiate (0) May 24, 2006 Minnesota

    I think Summit would work for you if you get into the 10 am tour. Otherwise I can see avoiding it.

    If you want to go to Northbound and Harriet, I really do recommend the Nice Ride, unless you perfectly time the train. It's a really short ride.
     
    #52 steven, Feb 23, 2015
  13. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I think I was going to make Sisyphus the first stop. Our flight gets in at 10 and, like you said, it's tough to find a brewery open early during a weekday. I was just going to do Town Hall and Day Block, but since those are open on Sunday, I was going to save those for then.

    I've heard a lot of buzz about the 10am tour at Summit. I'm game, I'll just need to talk my friends into it. We've done a few tours, some good, some not so good. I guess we'd just rather be at the bar sampling. But if they give you 3-4 sample chips, as I've read, then it may not be too bad.
     
    #53 rturkaly, Feb 23, 2015
  14. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    You can also just walk out to get a beer during the tour and if you don't like it you don't have to go back in. I had already been on the tour and my friends wanted to go, so I just drank with my chips while they went :slight_smile:
     
    #54 MNBeerGeek, Feb 23, 2015
  15. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    This is a non-beer related question, but I figured I'd ask for the hell of it. I have a couple of friends that are wing fanatics. So, what would be a good place to go get wings? And it wouldn't hurt if it had a decent tap list too. Any place in the city centers (Minne or St Paul), along the light rail, or close to any of the breweries we will probably go to. Thanks.
     
    #55 rturkaly, Feb 24, 2015
  16. SipIt

    SipIt Pundit (752) Jul 18, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    IMO, hands down best wings I've ever had are at Runyon's, which is located downtown on Washington Ave. They are your traditional style buffalo wings, but so damn good.
     
    #56 SipIt, Feb 24, 2015
  17. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    I know it's somewhat weird, but Green Mill has delicious wings. Their boneless diablo wings (despite the name, not spicy) are excellent. Usually the tap list at green mills leave one wanting.
     
    #57 MNBeerGeek, Feb 24, 2015
  18. Ish1

    Ish1 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2010 Minnesota

    I realize this place is not close to anything, but is the best wings place in the twin cities. Everything fresh, everything made to order. D-spot http://www.eatatdspot.com/
    Your friends will be in heaven. Unfortunately, no tap list.
     
    #58 Ish1, Feb 24, 2015
  19. rturkaly

    rturkaly Zealot (557) Jan 3, 2010 Pennsylvania

    It's funny, when you do a google map of Minneapolis, and type best wings, that Runyon's place comes up. Doesn't look like they have a website. I will have to look into the Green Mill. Good feedback so far.
     
    #59 rturkaly, Feb 24, 2015
  20. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Yeah,... they have a facebook page that has not been posted to since 2012. I guess they're not much into this interweb stuff! :wink:
     
    #60 MNAle, Feb 24, 2015
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