Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2020)

They can sell liquor for two weeks out of the year. In order to do it breweries need to contact state and local officals to let them know.

Another way to avoid rules is to go the route of liquor store attached with a seperate entrance like what the grocery stores currently do. To be honest I'm surprised nobody has done it yet.

 

I went to the newly opened Lazy Loon Brewing Company tap room in Glencoe. It had a nice tap room feel to the decor, much nicer than the bowling alley where they were. I asked them and they are still open at the bowling alley in Norwood-Young America.
I had a flight of 4 and the best was an Amber Ale called Head Pin. It had a lot of hoppy flavor, but not excessively bitter.

 

Vadnais Heights is very close to where I grew up. Unfortunately, I don't get back there any more since my parents moved.

 

I know it's not in Minnesota, but it's 4 miles across the border.

Pitchfork Brewing in Hudson has announced that today, Tuesday Feb 11, is the last day their original taproom is going to be open. They don't have a date for the opening of the new taproom, but they say it will be soon.

 

They're moving into the development of the former dog track, correct?

 

Swinging Bridge in River Falls, What's the story?

 

Correct.

 

Sounds like they could've used a better project manager.

 

I agree with islay's assessment of Iron Exchange Tavern & Brewery. The Oatmeal Stout was my favorite of the beers I tasted.

 

Thanks for the update. This is a convenient place near my mom's house & wrote them off as sub-par a while back. I'll give them another go.

 

Well technically The Lab isnt really a brewery that brews its own beers, so if the beer is terrible its someone elses recipe, but I then again they have to brew that persons beer correctly...but if the beer is not likable it's not their fault...(The Lab)....know what Im sayin?

 

Went to Lazy Loon Brewing in Glencoe which is west of the metro on Hwy 212 ~30-40 minutes from Eden Prairie. A bit of the usual outstate, small town taproom atmosphere. They have a kitchen so I put in an edit to the entry here. Offered lagers, ales, and an unflavored hard seltzer which the customer is allowed to add as much flavoring of their choice as they wish.No hazy or pastry to be found but otherwise the beer was unremarkable.Better than the beer I had at the bowling alley of theirs in Norwood a couple of years ago. I understand much of the brewing equipment the owner used at his Victoria location is being used here.

 

Thanks for chatting about us. I run the front of house and social media at The Lab. We do actually make some of our own recipes. We can't really disclose if the recipe is ours or if it is from another brewery/company...to keep the blind feedback anonymous. And you are correct, everything that has alcohol, and we serve, has to be made here. We do our best to try not to put anything "terrible" on tap.
There are a lot of moving parts between the taproom, quality control lab and the pilot brewery. We try to explain it as best we can, but there is a lot going on! We are happy to talk about how it all works and try to help the understanding in the public.
We welcome your feedback here, and on Untappd too. We give all that info to the makers to help them make the best product they can.

 

Hey there, thanks so much for helping to explain what we do. I do the front of house and social media for The Lab, I figured I would just reach out and give a little more info. We definitely worked with ONE before they opened, you've got your finger on the pulse of the Cities brewing community! We also worked with Guten, out of Atlanta helping them formulate and brew their new light lager. Matt Hall, our brew master and director of innovation, helped them with their 2018 gold medal and we are sure there's a good chance for the 2020 gold too.
As I said in the comment above, we have made some recipes of our own, and some from other beverages companies. I cannot disclose any of the other "makers" but I did check with our pilot runs manager this morning, and we have worked with just over 20 breweries and beverage companies since opening last May. We also have around 30 breweries or beverage companies that have sent us samples for the quality lab. We are hoping to work with more and more beverage makers as we grow!

 

Across the river, in Hudson, Wisconsin - Pitchfork Brewing, according to their Facebook page, is now open in their new location.

 

Update on 3rd Act Brewing - Recent Visit:

The space is large and inviting. It is on Radio Drive, a bit on the southern edge of Woodbury, though. Large seating areas inside and a good amount of room outside on the patios (although not open, yet - Late February). They make their own pizza and pretzels. I didn't try the food, just was there to try the liquid offerings.

Dance with the Devil (Imperial Stout)
Big and black. Served on nitro. As I first sipped, and swallowed - something is very off. It was super astringent. The kilned dark malts taking over, big time. I finally figured it out, I went onto their website and this Imperial Stout states it has only 14 ibu's. No wonder why it was so astringent - there were no hops! I couldn't finish it.

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of (DIPA / Imperial IPA)
Fairly dark for a DIPA. A lot of Munich malt used? Somewhat turbid.
The flavor is all over the board - piney, tropical, floral. It really didn't work.
Every hop / kitchen sink put together to create a strange flavor...

No Where Near Berlin (Berliner Weisse)
The beer came sparkling clear in the goblet. They filtered it. Why?
The flavor is really bright, crisp and spot on for a Berliner. Nice job.

Looks Like An Angry Lizard (Bohemian Pilsener)
Didn't get past the large amounts of diacetyl - did not finish.