BlackStack Brewing

I read something remarkably similar to your post on a Facebook group which has become exceptionally acerbic (even moreso than the Midwest forum!) of late. Maybe it's cabin fever?

For many Craft (and before that, Microbrew) hobbyists the hallmark of the market segment is "Batch Variation", which at one extreme means that each brand will be a bit different with each subsequent brew cycle.

From a larger scale* commercial perspective that's a recipe for disaster, whether in today's incredibly competitive market or in yesterday's friendlier, "less competitive" market.

Taprooms do have exactly this type of flexibility with respect to branding, and especially with respect to styles (NEIPA) which have such a small window on e.g. hop varietal availability.

And just an FYI, but I'll leave all the NEIPA for you youngsters to guzzle-down. I'm more of a "Malt Head" (if there is such a thing?), but that reminds me -- Keep It Up! With all the heat on this style, maybe there will be more media coverage and interested onlookers / readers from the hoi polloi of the general, drinking age populace dropping-in to se what all the fuss is about. And THAT translates not just to BlackStack, but to the many new and "recently opened" breweries and taprooms. That's exactly the sort of interest which translates to the literary-metaphorical: "A rising tide lifts all boats."


*Regional scale, production brewery -- think Point or August Schell.

 

Curious if you tried the 755 as well? Galaxy can be a polarizing hop.

 

I did not, only had time for one and I am a huge galaxy hop fan.

 

Here now, 756 is pretty damn decent!! Quote to paint the stack $22k ... lol. Apparently the landlord is back peddling on the agreement to paint it.

 

No bike racks. But one of the employees told me they were supposed to get installed soon.

(Let's hope the landlord doesn't, ahem, back peddle on that one)

 

Sweet bike lane there though!

 

Looking at planning an event for our homebrew club, can anyone put me in touch with someone at Blackstack?

 

Cool space. Beer was good. But I'm going to have a hard time paying $6-8 for pints of relatively standard styles.

 

AGREED . I will pay $7/$8 in a restaurant environment for extremely limited beers or seriously good DIPA's but in a brewerys own taproom this just isn't going to go over well and leaves a lasting impression .

I will drink a lot less and leave a lot sooner if it's $6-8 a beer and this is nothing at all against the quality of beer been produced , paying $24 for 3 IPA's is just wrong to me on principle when u can drive to any number of very closeby brewery's and pay $15. I really think Dangerous Man is genius ~$3 tulip's , great selection, perfect size beers & price and I will drink a lot of them on any visit.

The NEWNESS factor around taprooms wears off after the first couple of months and then it's about building brand loyalty with your customers because there will be plenty more New breweries to open. Is there a valid reason to return is the question ?

I really do want BlackStack to succeed but they should seriously rethink their pricing structure.

 

I always fall back on Russian River's taproom (actually a restaurant). Pints are $4.75 and 13oz Belgian styles are $4. If you have to charge $6-$8/pint in your own brewery, you need a better business model.

 

Exactly. I can go to the Happy Gnome and pay out my behind at those prices...

 

Right. Time, place, product. They all matter. There's a reason why people have been paying $10 for a Miller Lite at a Vikings game. I get it.

But for breweries, they *are* the attraction. I get it's a business, and revenue runs the ship, but as a consumer it just looks greedy when prices creep up too much, especially when the standard is basically $5/pint (or, the horror, less) at most places.

It's especially tougher when you know you can get the same beer at a bar (talking about other breweries more so now) for the same price, which means you already know the brewery is making more money on that pint, which, of course, makes sense.

 

My buddies are I were over there Saturday morning for Can Can Wonderland but checked blackstack out after our round. Per the employer, they get a lot of overflow as people wait to mini golf. They are very lucky to have that attraction essentially in their basement. Not many other taprooms have that draw.

 

It should be noted the brewery has been there for almost three years. One of the reasons why Can Can decided on this location was because of Black Stack brewery. They are a great match. Also, in the summer when people are not inside golfing the brewery will build a huge outdoor rooftop patio over looking downtown Mpls.

 

At $8/pint, better be an Elite patio!

 

Again, I can get bent over at the Happy Gnome for those prices, with a better selection. Their patio is pretty awesome as well...

 

Pioneer Press had a Tuesday article on Black Stack Brewing.

 

BlackStack News

Introducing Spare Grounds Black Lager w/ Cool Brew Coffee. On tap now. Cheers to the first of many collaborations with True Stone Coffee Roasters

"Growlers now available. We will also fill any clean and properly sized growler Monday-Wednesday beginning next week."

 

I'm super curious about the growler prices.