Ranking MN Breweries (2017 Update #1)

I think over time your list has grown to be a little too heavy. I would recommend being a little more critical of breweries you don't like (although I appreciate your opinion). Of the established breweries you have not included, I suggest checking out Boom Island.

 

I drove by South Fork after a stop by Lupine on Christmas Eve to get growlers filled. It looks like a nice place, too bad their beers are horrible.

 

Correct. I meant to write too top heavy. 56 should have an actual taproom in a month or so.

 

Appreciate the love for what Big Axe has done over the last year and a half. I have them behind Jack Pine for up here, and those 2 decently far ahead of Roundhouse, Gull Dam, and Cuyuna. They've had 2 head brewers in the last year, and both have really upped the quality and styles of the brews. Always look forward to these lists!

 

every time i go in there the beer is different. it's super inconsistent and can either be really solid or really subpar. Their mosaic IPA is usually my go-to, but i don't go often because one day it's well balanced and delicious, and the next it's overly bitter and most of the aroma/flavor has faded. Their steam beer has always been well executed imo, and they had a lager that was pretty clean last time. Taproom environment is great though, solid family spot.

 

I like this thought. Maybe the "Best of the Best" category should be limited to, say, the top 10, (or pick a number) and for another brewery to get into the category, it needs to surpass one that is already there.

However, this is Minnesota, after all (where all of our children are above average)...

 

Hey everyone, this is Mat from Wild Mind, long time stalker. I hard core apologize for this. We should be turning down the music as it gets packed on weekend nights.

We have been getting quotes on sound dampening efforts in the taproom including baffles in the ceiling and padding under the tables.

Feel free to yell at the waitstaff if you encounter this again and tell them I said so.

Cheers,

Mat

 

Thank you Mat. I appreciate it, and I still did get 2 growlers to go Saturday, and one last night. I totally loved your Imperial on tap when I stopped in last night. It was so easy drinking, and delicious, I wanted more, but at 10% I knew better with having to drive.

I will be back, quite possibly Saturday, for a growler fill.

 

It must be the mathematician / engineer / geek in me, but I don't like using "average" to mean what is clearly below average...

But, anyway, here is a list to get the ideas started (not fully satisfied with it, though):

BEST OF THE BEST or CLASS OF MINNESOTA (like World Class, only for MN) - 10
EXCELLENT - 10
VERY GOOD - no more than 15, can be fewer - so "Very Good" and up is the top ~30-35 in the state. Putting in these limits helps avoid "grade inflation."
(no specific limit per category for Good and below... chips fall where they may)
GOOD -
ACCEPTABLE -
MARGINAL -
POOR -
TERRIBLE -

I do like your bottom two category names ... pull no punches!

 

I like what I see here. I agree that 'average' implies there are mathematical calculations going into the ratings, but in reality there aren't. I like the 'acceptable' and 'marginal' categories in place of 'average'.

One thing I'd change is that the Best of the Best category should at most be half the size of the Excellent category.

 

What MNAle posted is a great start.

 

If you can afford it why don't you go back to Blackstack brewing and talk to your friend Scott? He spent some serious coin on his ceiling.

 

Anybody been to Utepils Brewing? Thoughts? I imagine it similar to Boom which is not a favorite of mine.