Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2020)

there has been 0 publicity about a TRF brewery up here “locally” the only place I’ve heard anything about it is in these forums. For what my opinion is worth

 

I’m not going to jump and skip through the STrib paywall, so I entered a generic search string into Google, and found this (local coverage) from late last year:

https://trftimes.com/news/12562/brewery-to-open-next-year-in-trf

On a wild-ass guess, I’d imagine that their start-up and estimated opening date have been impacted by COVID-19, and the inexorable suckitude of 2020.

 

This weekend I went to ABC Brewing in Battle Lake, MN and they have the equipment in place but haven't started brewing there yet. They are still getting their beer from Ashby. I had a flight of 4 and my favorite was the IPA.

 

Well, apparently St. Paul Brewing has risen from the dead, per their Facebook page:



Saint Paul Brewing
20m ·


It's true! We open this Wednesday! Come celebrate with us and enjoy a cold one on our beautiful patio!

Reserve a table here: https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/stpaulbrewing

Our hours this week are:
Wednesday & Thursday: 3pm - 10pm
Friday & Saturday: 11am - 11pm
Sunday: 11am - 8pm

We are a dog friendly patio

 

Why this brewery has yet to come out with some sort of Hamm's knock-off is beyond me. I'm sure Molson Coors wouldn't even take notice.

 

There’s a pretty long history of Minnesota brewers making versions of “recipes“ (brands) of other Minnesota brewery’s brands, so you’re right to an extent.

I’m not sure whether Saint Paul Brewing (or Flat Earth, previously) had ever brewed a lower ABV pale, adjunct lager, but it couldn’t hurt them to try!

 

So does St Paul Brewing have new owners and new brewers? Cuz they should probably get both if you ask me. Also Ive suggested this place make a "big fresh taste" lager from the "blue waters" well they have on site and for the fact that well they are where they are...duh.

 

To be honest I'm not real confident they could brew a clean version of that. Clean, lager brewing is not what I associate with their beers. Guess you never know.

 

Arbeiter in Minneapolis has a CO and I have been told they have started brewing.

 

South x Southeast Brewing just outside of Pine Island is now open for to-go sales--but seemingly just for those who signed up for their newsletter.

The initial lineup for to go included: a blonde ale, a scotch ale, a peanut butter milk stout, a NE IPA, and an amber ale.

 

Per their Facebook page, they've opened the sales up to the public.

 

They went in the old cheese shop/ homebrew store? I remember hearing something like that around here.

 

Yep, that's the spot. It definitely doesn't look like it used to.

 

That is the only thing I’ve heard on it. But as you stated, that was some time ago now.

You could be right on the effects of covid

 

ANNNDDDD, Surly Beer Hall is closing indefinitely on November 2nd

https://surlybrewing.com/beer-hall-closing-indefinitely/

 

In case anyone's interested, Angry Inch is on the state's Liquor Posting List:

https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2020-09/liquor_posting090220.pdf

 

Whatever one thinks of Surly, this is certainly bad news. If they can’t make it, how can these smaller breweries?

I don’t want to make this some hot topic, but there has to be a tipping point somewhere along the line in which people push back on government and say it’s time to reopen and live. The effects of lockdowns and closures are far outweighing the danger of the virus, and eventually we are going to reach a point of no return. That will likely come this winter when hundreds more local watering holes shutter for good as outside dining
disappears in the cold. We’re on day 150 of “2 weeks to slow the spread” and expect it to drag on for many more months despite declining hospitalizations and deaths.

 

In some ways I would think smaller breweries are better equipped to get through these times. Much lower overhead from a labor/utilities/property standpoint, ability to make smaller batches of beer, ease of pivoting to different styles etc. There are certainly pros and cons for both sides but I can see smaller breweries having an easier time going super lean.

 

Goddamnit, and I liked this thread too.

 

Good lord. They'll have to open it again someday, right? I would think if it's permanent, you'd use that word rather than indefinite.