Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2019)

Both Hoops and Town Hall make awesome beer. That's all I know.

 

Indeed grand opening in Milwaukee September 6th

 

Oh man, if only this happens. If there is any town in Northern Minnesota that needs a brewery, it's Hackensack.

 

Forbidden Barrel Brewing Co. in Worthington holds its grand opening tomorrow (Thursday, 8-28-19).

 

They will be serving their own beers for the first time Labor Day weekend.

 

The Growler covers the newly opened Forbidden Barrel Brewing, a brewpub in Worthington.

It also covers the soon-to-open (mid-September, it's claimed) opening of the taproom of Fergus Brewing Co. in Fergus Falls.

... And it covers the recently opened new, larger brewery and taproom of Copper Trail Brewing Company in Alexandria. "[T]hey’ve added a 15-barrel system (previously belonging to F-Town Brewing in Faribault) to their 7-barrel system."

 

"[T]hey’ve added a 15-barrel system (previously belonging to F-Town Brewing in Faribault) to their 7-barrel system."

Did they cut a check to the taxpayers of Rice County?

 

Apparently not. 1st United Bank had the first lien on F-Town's assets and was able to repo the equipment and auction it off partially to cover its own losses. Rice County shared third position after The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. "This is a really high leverage business. There’s not a lot to go around to cover the debts of it."

 

I stopped by Forbidden Barrel Brewing in Worthington. They've been open two weeks. I got a flight to taste their offerings. My favorite was Why Be Sad When You Can Be Hoppy which is an IPA with three Citrus hops. The other 3 were good as well.Third Avenue is a Coconut Porter. Rudys Red Ale was flavorful. Paycheck was a Jalapeño Honey Wheat Ale. The peppers were not over powering.

Good luck to them. They're off to a good start.

 

The Nutmeg Brewhouse in Arden Hills has closed. The restaurant in there now is Namaste India Grill & Brewhouse. They still have primarily Nutmeg Beer brewed in Burnsville but they have brews from other breweries as well. They have been open just a few weeks and know nothing about running a tap room. They had only one copy of their beer list and it was out of date. The waitress didn't know anything about the beers they sold. They have a ways to go.

 

Hit Rapids Brewing in Grand Rapids recently. Everything is top notch. A lot of thought went into this before they opened. Every beer is solid or better. Clean. Good. Pizza was excellent. Taproom is awesome. Everything down to the way they do flights and the type of glasses they use is well thought out and dare I say elite. No NE style IPA's which will deter many but I view that as a refreshing take on the scene and like I said their beers are very solid. Not doubt they would nail that style if wanted....Mango Mama was very light on the mango but good.

We hit Klockow before and as it has been for the four or five times I've visited it was well below mediocre for beer quality. Wit tasted nothing like a wit and the hefe was nothing like a hefe,.....glassware was dirty as well... I think I am done giving this place chances..they'll probably make it with their live music but Rapids Brewing has that too and it's night and day between the two for beer quality.

 

Fergus Brewing Co. in Fergus Falls opened Saturday according to their Facebook page

 

PawPrint Brewing hoping to open soon in Chatfield, MN no official date hoping in November (we know how that goes) my friend from high school has been working on some brick work there. https://www.facebook.com/pawprintbrew/

 

Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley claims on Facebook to be "Opening November 2019," which means I'm projecting January 2020.

 

Does anyone have any update on the LiftBridge Stillwater Destination Brewery ?

They announced this back in April 2018
http://liftbridgebrewery.com/blog/New-Brewery/

Did that plan get frozen due to the market Changes in craft beer ?

Anyone got any info if this plan is going ahead or not and where in Stillwater this is planned if it’s actually happening.

 

Paging @KiddVideo

 

what is the latest word on Arbeiter Brewing opening?

 

Paging @LiftBridge

 

@KiddVideo works spitting distance of the old brewery, and is tight tight tight with these folks, which is why is why I tagged him.

 

From what I have heard from the rumor mill things are on track. What changed? The brewery didn't expect to grow 5 times over their normal sales projections. They have decided to scratch the old brewery and look into financing a different brewery. Last I heard we should hear something by the end of the year.