Breweries opening in Minnesota 2015/2016

Wabasha Brewing had their grand opening last night. Anyone else make it out there? I saw a few neck beards...

I don't want to pile on them, because it was their grand opening, but it seemed unorganized to me. The tap room is really small, and there was probably 100 people packed in there like sardines. Apparently they didn't make it clear that the establishment is 21 and over only, so some families with children got turned away at the door.

The beer was underwhelming. First thing I ordered was the IPA. It looked like an IPA, but I'll be damned if it wasn't a cream ale. I noticed they also have a Cream Ale on top...so I thought perhaps the bartender (who seemed extremely flustered with the masses) poured the wrong beer. I looked at a few other reviews on Untappd and talked to a few other people who had the same impression I did...and I'm beginning to think I did get the IPA after all. If that's the case, the recipe definitely needs some tweaking. The porter was better, but nothing to write home about.

Curious what others impressions were.

 

Huh, interesting. Because other than the time of day (and it matters), I've viewed most taprooms as being family friendly.

 

I think it was just a miscommunication and some folks assumed that the taproom was family friendly, like you said many others are.

They posted this on Facebook as kind of an apology:

"We do understand there was some concern regarding entrance of children tonight. Want to apologize to anyone who was inconvenienced by this and for not communicating this policy before your visit. At this time, we reserve a 21-and-over policy strictly due to the size/capacity limit of our current taproom. When we have outdoor events with food trucks, etc., children of all ages will be welcome. Also, once our larger taproom is finished, we'll revisit and more than likely end this policy. Thanks"

 

Makes sense to me, and good on them for getting that bit out there to clear things up.

 

I had virtually the same experience and thought that the bartender had poured me the Cream Ale instead of the Implosion IPA (6.1%) until I spoke with a lady sitting next to me who had ordered the Cream Ale which was much lighter in color. I think the IPA recipe needs more than a little tweaking. I thought the porter was good, the nose was fantastic but the taste didn't meet the expectations I had after the first aroma. I'll wait a while and give them a second try sometime this summer.

 

56 Brewing posted on Facebook yesterday that their Federal TTB license has been granted.

 

There were a couple others supposed to be opening in Rochester soon, right?

Looks like Forager will be right around the corner from the current "brewery".

 

I see that 56 already has 45th Parallel whiskey barrels. I can't recall another brewery barrel-aging from the outset, aside from sour specialists. It looks like 56 is coming out swinging, for better or for worse.

It's too bad that the early reviews on Wabasha, here and elsewhere, are largely negative (I have yet to visit but likely will get around to it soon). Given craft beer drinkers' tastes, IPA is the worst beer to botch. Hopefully Wabasha will turn it around; that does happen sometimes. I remember being thoroughly underwhelmed by my first visit to Fair State about a week after it opened, and just a few months later I consider it one of the best and most exciting breweries in the state.

Upcoming in Rochester: Life's Too Short, Grand Rounds, and Forager

 

I had a similar experience at Dangerous Man. Nothing bad on my first visit, but I was a little underwhelmed. Clearly, they're now viewed very favorably by most.

 

Forager's website gives the impression that they're actually open, and I really like the sound of those beers listed.

I'm passing through Rochester tomorrow. May have to investigate.

 

I'm certainly going to give them the benefit of the doubt and give them another try. Perhaps it felt unorganized because it was opening night (new employees, small tap room, hordes of people), and perhaps the beer was underwhelming because it had been sitting around in kegs for a while - after all they were supposed to launch months ago but got held up at several points by the city.

I wish I had tried the DIPA to see if that was any better. But like you said - an IPA is the worst beer you could botch if you're trying to make it as a craft brewery.

 

LTD in Hopkins had some bad press here the first week. I think they've ironed out whatever their issues were (or my tastes are just different). But I don't drink IPAs, so maybe it's just a style issue. And I'm sure that given time to work out the kinks of operating at a larger capacity, they'll improve and dial their stuff in (which they likely thought was already dialed in) - and they'll figure out how to operate as a brewery.

Or they won't.

 

I was at LTD not too long ago and we, along with people at the table next to us, thought the beers were under carbonated and, well, dull. They've got a great location, though, so I do hope they improve their beer and survive.

 

I was there last Saturday and really liked it. The first time I went, not so much. I will go back...kid friendly.

 

This is a little off topic, but I thought it was of interest and worth sharing here. It's a post that Urban Forage Winery made on Facebook yesterday:

"Looking for your support and involvement:
Right now, farm wineries have big advantages over non-farm wineries. Wineries in urban or suburban areas have to operate under the more restrictive post-prohibition law, and pay much higher fees than farm wineries in order to operate at all and also can' tdo self distribution. The current House Bill : HF520 and Senate Bill: SF1026 would change that. It wouldn't take away any of the lower restrictions that farm wineries currently enjoy, but would allow all wineries in the state to operate on the same level.

If you live or you have friends or relatives in Chaska, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Columbia Heights, Fridley or New Brighton, their legislators are key in getting this passed. If you know someone in one of those districts, and want to help make it easier to start a non-farm winery, please ask them to contact their representative at the email address below and ask them to support and co-author the Craft Winery Bill.
Sorry to bring politics, but this is a big issue that isn't getting any mainstream press coverage and that could have a big impact on the craft cider and wine industry. With your support we can do it.

Rep. Joe Hoppe, Chaska/Carver, email: [email protected]
Rep. Sarah Anderson, Plymouth, email: [email protected]
Rep. Jenifer Loon, Eden Prairie, email: [email protected]
Rep. Dennis Smith, Maple Grove, email: [email protected]
Sen. Barb Goodwin, Col. Hts, Fridley, New Brighton, email:http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/mem…/member_emailform.php

Cheers!"

I now return you to our regularly scheduled discussion. Please enjoy your beers.

 

I agree- everything I have had there lately including double milk chocolate stout, tripel, wee heavy scotch ale and simcoe/citra DIPA were all very good. I would say they have come along way since opening day. And, I did not notice any carbonation issues, everything I would expect in a normal tap beer!

 

I was one of the ones that had a negative review on them that first week, I stopped back in last week and it was much improved. The beer is starting to catch up to the nice space, the DIPA and the stouts were all pretty tasty.

 

I made it to Wabasha Brewery today. Maybe 20 people there when I was there (around 1 PM) which was good, because as has been noted the taproom is on the small side. I had the porter, thought it was fine. Both of the staff there were friendly and chatty. No bike racks yet . But one of the staff saw my helmet and volunteered that they had bike racks on order, but they were delayed for some reason. Sounds like they've really been through the mill on their opening, every time they thought they were a week out, something came up that the architect or others hadn't anticipated.

 

Beaver Island in St. Cloud is open now. They have a really nice tap room and they have made some nice beers so far.

Big Axe Brewing is set to open up later in spring 2015. It is right in downtown Nisswa. I'm looking forward to having another option in the lakes area.
http://www.lptv.org/tag/big-axe-brewing-company/

Not exactly a new brewery, but it's an extension of Schell's. They are building a new faculty for the Berliner weisse series. They just put in the cypress tanks last week.

 

I'll give LTD another chance. I didn't think their beers were bad. But I was completely underwhelmed. The oatmeal stout was basically water to me.