Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2020)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by islay, Jan 2, 2020.

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  1. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    According to a 1-15-19 Facebook post, Iron Exchange Tavern & Brewery, a brewpub in Maple Plain, has released its first house-brewed beer, Hoppy Red Ale.

    Lazy Loon Brewing Company    , Glencoe, Facebook, 1-16-19: "The tap room is now open to the public." Lazy Loon has been open as a brewing operation since 2014 and has an associated bowling alley (which is not technically a taproom) in Norwood Young America called Lazy Loon Lanes.
     
    #41 islay, Jan 18, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2020
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  2. LOWFisherman

    LOWFisherman Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2018 Minnesota

    Late to the party! Thanks for the 2020 thread!
     
    #42 LOWFisherman, Jan 19, 2020
  3. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    Linked is more on Vadnais Heights' pursuit of a craft brewery. I think this would be a legitimately good spot for a brewery, very close to 35E and 694, and it falls neatly into one of the most jarring remaining holes in the Twin Cities metro area brewery map. There are no breweries in the neighboring suburbs of Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Shoreview, or Arden Hills, with over 100,000 residents among them, and there are none in planning to my knowledge.

    Linked is a pleasant article on a couple's quest to visit (almost) every brewery in Minnesota, 191 in total, in 2019.
     
    #43 islay, Jan 19, 2020
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  4. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    I don't think this one has been mentioned yet: Fulton Beer in Minneapolis is renovating its taproom. From a 12-9-19 blog post:

    Minneapolis' first taproom (ours!) is going to go through some pretty significant changes and upgrades in the months to come. We're focused on leveling up our space, service, offerings and expectations and will begin to do so with a remodel that begins soon. The first thing you'll notice is our shiny Airstream is going away. Fulton taproom kitchen food will go away with it, albeit temporarily. Next Spring we'll be delivering up new food favorites alongside familiar and forthcoming beers...all in a spiffy new space that increases our occupancy and your enjoyment.

    That remodel since has begun, and Fulton is open during construction.
     
    #44 islay, Jan 21, 2020
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  5. BeerDrinkinGuy

    BeerDrinkinGuy Devotee (339) Nov 2, 2018 Minnesota

    Anyone mention anything about the "dog park brewery" Unleashed Hounds and Hops that's opening January 30th? Apparently you have to pay to come into the brewery (if you have a dog) Not sure if you get a free beer or not.

    https://unleashedhoundsandhops.com/
     
    #45 BeerDrinkinGuy, Jan 22, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
  6. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    Not a brewery, just a bar
     
    #46 islay, Jan 22, 2020
  7. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sort-of surprised that it took so long for Minneapolis to catch up with the times:
    [​IMG]
     
    #47 Chaz, Jan 22, 2020
  8. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    A 2019 opening but have not heard much talk about it here except that it opened but I visited Fat Pants Brewery in Eden Prairie. I think I have been in that building 3 times in the 20 years that I have worked in Eden Prairie and to my recollection, they kept the layout the same as the failed restaurants. Still have the kitchen and serve food and I have suggested an edit to the entry on this site. Had not heard a lot of good things about the beer previous to my visit. Bad homebrew was an often used descriptor. On my visit the beertender definitely steered me towards the IPAs and I had the Mosaic IPA. I thought it was a good beer. Nice hop flavor and nothing noticeably flawed. Sadly that was all I had time for. They have many 10 bbl fermenters and a lot of taplines to expand into. Went in a few days later and grabbed some lunch..The cheeseburger was alright, not really seasoned, but it did not come off as a Sysco burger either. They have a full restaurant menu, as well as pizza, and is an option for me for lunch. No one seems to know they serve food and are open at 11 AM. I definitely did not know that before this week.
     
    #48 morimech, Jan 25, 2020
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  9. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I visited Oldenburg recently and I thought I finally got my head wrapped around MN brewery rules then comes this place. The way it was described to me is they are a bar with a brewery attached. They can sell off-sale but cannot sell their own beer off-sale. So no growlers or crowlers.They chose to sell bottles of their Chatfield liquor brand and bottles of wine of whatever winery they are featuring only. At the moment it is Cannon River Winery. Did not get around to asking about the establishment being for sale.
     
    #49 morimech, Jan 25, 2020
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  10. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That is very interesting. Would love to learn more about this from people in the know...
     
    #50 ZAP, Jan 26, 2020
  11. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I have never heard of a brewpub in the state being able to sell liquor and wine off-sale before this.
     
    #51 morimech, Jan 26, 2020
  12. gudbrande

    gudbrande Pundit (962) Jul 10, 2009 Minnesota
    Society Trader

    islay infobomb coming in 3, 2, 1...
     
    #52 gudbrande, Jan 26, 2020
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  13. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    This is plausible. I can confirm that Oldenburg sells booze off-sale. Perhaps it requires separated ownership between the brewery and the bar, but the operation is run by a father-son team, which naturally lends itself to such separation. Recall that Hoops Brewing Company in Duluth has an attached full bar called The Split run by separate ownership. The Split doesn't have an off-sale license. However, "on-sale/off-sale combination intoxicating liquor licenses" are available in "fourth-class cities" (basically, cities with under 10,000 population; Belle Plaine, home of Oldenburg, has about 7,000 people). I'm not sure why the brewery couldn't self-distribute crowlers to the bar, which the bar would then sell off-sale. I'm also not positive that this couldn't all be done in the context of a brewpub with single ownership, and Oldenburg has been described as a "brewpub" in every article I've seen. I haven't heard of Oldenburg distributing (which would require a brewery rather than a brewpub license), but it may have a small distribution footprint that I don't know about, and of course many breweries-with-taprooms these days choose not to distribute. If what @morimech describes is what's happening, this is one of the more clever workarounds of Minnesota law I've witnessed in this industry.
     
    #53 islay, Jan 26, 2020
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  14. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A few updates after some recent travels.

    Block North Brew Pub (Aitkin): Excellent facility and space. Food reviews on line were very good. Got the fish and chips and it was a nice sized offering and decent. Beers were subpar across the board. A couple with strong butterscotch notes including their pale ale. Doppelbock was decent enough (middling)...NE IPA was ok....a few others were drinkable but basic stuff a beginning home brewer could do. Really a nice place overall but I would not head here for the beer.

    Klockow (Grand Rapids): I've been very critical of this place in the past and for good reason but this time I came away encouraged. The Hefe actually tasted like a hefe. Nothing off. Had a maple bourbon barrel aged brown ale with wild rice (11.2%) that started off very good and then faded a little. Their smoked chocolate stout was also good. Seem to be tackling some of the styles like Hammerheart where their brewer came from. I had just about written off this place after 4-5 poor experiences but had a 2-for-1 to use and was passing by and now I'm glad I stopped.

    Rapids Brewing (Grand Rapids): As good as Klockow seemed on the palate after the Block North experience, Rapids Brewing was on a whole different level. Everything was top notch. One of those places you can be assured that the brewing quality is a focus and well handled. Brewer apparently worked at Alaskan Brewing. That can mean something or mean nothing. In this case I think it means something. Their Noble Pils was one of the best beers I had this year (lacking in noble hop impressions but a wonderful clean bready maltiness). Had a pint of that and then did the sampler deal to try a wide variety and all were legit ranging from very good to excellent.

    Moose Lake Brewing Company: Picked up two crowlers of their beer while in Grand Rapids. I vaguely remember someone on this forum touting them a little so gave them a shot. Came away very impressed with both beers. Going to have to find a way over to their place.

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48340/354915/?ba=ZAP#review

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48340/459553/?ba=ZAP#review
     
    #54 ZAP, Jan 27, 2020
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  15. JakeJohnson

    JakeJohnson Pundit (897) Jan 30, 2015 Minnesota
    Trader

    #55 JakeJohnson, Jan 27, 2020
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  16. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    That's a chapter 11 filing, meaning that the intent is to reorganize the business and keep operating (as opposed to liquidating the assets). I too hope it works out.
     
    #56 islay, Jan 27, 2020
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  17. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    I've enjoyed their beers (although I don't buy them very often...).
     
    #57 MNAle, Jan 27, 2020
  18. SudsSavant

    SudsSavant Savant (1,038) Jan 9, 2007 Minnesota
    Trader

    #58 SudsSavant, Jan 27, 2020
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  19. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    Linked is more on the Barley John's Brew Pub (New Brighton) Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

    The taproom of Barrel Theory Beer Company in St. Paul has been temporarily closed since Sunday, 1-26-19 due to a plumbing issue. Reopening TBA.
     
    #59 islay, Jan 30, 2020
  20. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    Linked is more on Bear Cave Brewing, in planning for downtown Hopkins.
     
    #60 islay, Jan 31, 2020
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