Breweries opening in Minnesota 2015/2016

Galactic Tide
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31165/194137/

I was there today (first time) and agree it was tasty. They had it both on nitro and CO2, I went with CO2. Note the BA link above says it's 4.9% ABV, but the chalkboard had 5.5%, I'm assuming the chalkboard is correct (reported).

 

That was my fault. I didn't make note of the ABV when I was there and used "that one mobile app" as a reference. In my defense, Galactic Tide was added to "that one mobile app" by one of the co-founders so I figured it was a reliable source. Oh welp.

Bad Weather is easily my favorite taproom in St. Paul now. Great space, and so far some really tasty beers. It's now an easy choice for me where to stop before Wild games (sorry Tom Reid's).

 

A few more updates:

- Hamel Brewing Company (aka Hamel Tap on Twitter) now has a website Facebook page.
- Turning Waters (Wabasha) - An existing bed and breakfast (B&B) is adding a small brewery.
- Talking Waters Brewing Company - Indiegogo campaign is live.

 

Nutmeg in Burnsville is having a TBD November date for a soft opening.

 

Able Seedhouse and Brewery opens Nov 6

 

10k in Anoka is having their Kickstarter parties next Friday and Saturday the 6th and 7th. Officially opening later in the evening of the 7th.

 

This one will be located in Eagan*, as it turns out - Bald Man Brewing Co. (he's also on Facebook):
http://myinforms.com/en/a/18295927-eagan-beer-maker-looks-to-open-microbrewery/

* There haven't been any updates on The Cedar Grove plan in over a year.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. The beer wasteland of the southeast metro has toxic soil (good luck to him!).

 

Well, it might not be toxic, but people down south of the river sure do talk slow. Might be something in that water.

Another day, another new plan (and a hattip to @islay):

Blaine - Invictus Brewing L. L. C. Sounds like a microbrewery/taproom with beer garden.

 

Bad Habit in St. Joseph opened today.

 

A new Minneapolis plan - Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative.

 

Two questions:

1. How is a "brewing cooperative" different from a "brewing corporation"? The Broken Clock page congratulates Black Star Co-op brewery in Austin, TX for "Another win for Co-op brewed beer" so someone things a co-op brewed beer is a "thing." But if you take the Fair State "Membership" page and everywhere you see "member" you replace it with "stockholder" it changes nothing as far as I can see. Farmer's co-ops are cooperatives of independent producers to market their products (for example), and electrical cooperatives are cooperatives of consumers to bring a service to them that private business would not (for example, rural electrical service). In the first case, you need to be a producer and you need to be in a co-op with other producers. In the second case, you need to be a consumer that is "left out" of the market in some way, and only members of the co-op can be customers. Neither of those seem to apply, so either there is no difference or I am missing something. Locally, Dakota Electric is a co-op, but without searching, I would expect to find in their history they were a rural electrical cooperative and the growth of the Twin Cities has absorbed much of their "rural" territory.

2. But, the more important question: Is the Broken Clock logo saying it is 2:20 or 4:10? Or, maybe they have found a way for a broken clock to be right 4 times a day!

PS: The first question is not a criticism. I just don't understand the concept of a co-op brewer. And, these questions are not specifically asked of @Chaz ...

 

What do you get when you cross an elephant with a rhino?

Bluenose Gopher is another (roughly?) similar plan which is chugging along towards an opening to the general public, and I have no doubt that still others glean an advantage to naming their yet-to-be revealed breweries as a "co-operative" as opposed to an L.L.C. or other corporate structure.

My best guess is that this is done to capitalize on whatever perception of (both) roots-agrarian and community ethos might obtain to the concept of co-op, especially as Minnesota is a state with deep farming roots (groan at the not-unintended pun).

I wouldn't go so far as to compare this to e.g. 'greenwashing', but I would think it is surely an effective form of naming convention by which to psychologically frame a brewery before a prospective patron even sets foot in the establishment.

P.S. And another new one: Hallock, MN - Revelation Ales (scant information is available at present).

 

Fair State is a members' Co-op in the same way The Wedge is. How this is different from c corporation is a lonfpger discussion. That is. I'll return to this when I've given it more thought.

In the meantime - 10K Brewing has created their Facebook Grand Opening Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1655282681394448/

 

Great observation. Think of who the stockholders are and what their motivation is.

If you have a brewing corporation, it is funded by multinational umbrella corps, a nationwide bank, your uncle Joe etc. They gave you money, and they want it back- with interest. Preferably more interest than the previous year. If that means you need to hire cheaper staff, buy cheaper ingredients, reduce menu choices- you do it. You ultimately answer to outside investors.

If it is a co-op, the monetary return is legally limited in amount. With the smaller return, most big banks and other big investors will not be interested. Instead, the workers or members own the company and a cash return is less of a motivator. It's a low risk, low return investment. A worker won't have to fire themselves because profits were only up 13.2% vs the previous years 13.4%. Local farmers will make another malt sale, uncle Steve will make sure his local watering hole doesn't sell out to a franchise. You ultimately answer to inside investors.

 

Most small businesses are one type of corporation or another. The word "corporation" does not imply Wall Street or global financiers. To put my question another way, how are the members of a brewing co-op different from shareholders in a brewing corporation (assume: same business, same people)?

 

So a 100% employee owned corporation with some type of ESOP program? In that case, there could very easily be an imbalance in power with 2 or 3 individuals owning 90% of the company and the remaining 10% owned by the remaining individuals. Clearly, these 2 or 3 people would steer the company and it's profits as they see fit.

A co-op would essentially be a one share=one vote situation with their by-laws addressing what decisions would require a vote from member-owners.

 

I hate to derail this conversation on co-ops, as riveting as it is...

Anyone heading to Able Seehouse + Brewery on Friday for the grand opening? Trying to gauge how busy it will be and if Saturday is a better choice.

 

Well, I find it interesting... but you are right; it is OT, so I'll stop now.

 

I want to, but I think I will pass. I have noticed new breweries always take a couple months to get into a groove to understand their equipment and make the best beer than can make. I also read an article about them only using commercial malts for the first few months, and the reason I got so excited about this place was because of them roasting and malting their own grains in-house. So once they start doing that I think I will check them out.