Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2019)

GrowlerMag covered Rapids Brewing -this place sounds throughly well planned which is great to see.

https://growlermag.com/now-open-rap...-grand-rapids-through-the-brewpub-experience/

 

GrowlerMag Article about Birch's situation in Lowertown:

https://growlermag.com/birchs-lowertown-for-sale/

 

It doesn’t sound like they thought their entire Lowertown plan through too well.

 

So, if I read The Growler article correctly, Birch's:

1. Knew the MN brewery, brewpub, taproom, distribution laws, and
2. Knew (or should have known) the non-event evening traffic patterns in Lowertown, and yet
3. Decided to build another brewery anyway (instead of merely opening a taproom), and, further,
4. Borrowed gobs of money to build a Cadillac facility with so much capacity that it would need a change in the law to become profitable.

Brilliant.

 

Oh stay, O pride of Long Lake! Birch's, stay!
Oh cease thy course, and listen to our lay!
Blest is the brew'ry ordain’d our voice to hear,
The song instructs the soul, and charms the ear.
Approach! thy soul shall into raptures rise!
Approach! and learn new wisdom from the wise!
We know whate’er the kings of mighty name
Achieved at MN Brewers Cup in the field of fame;
Whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies.
Oh stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise!

~ The Lowertown Siren Song

 

The Growler covers the newly opened Inver Hills Brewing Company in Inver Grove Heights. It's the second location of Lakeville Brewing Company.

"Inver Grove is currently serving six Lakeville beers and several guest taps, while waiting for the brewhouse to become operational. The first house-brewed beers should be on tap in early November, which will coincide with a grand opening celebration. The new 20-barrel system with six fermentors and three serving tanks is a big expansion from the 10-barrel system at Lakeville."

Is 20 barrels the largest brewpub system in Minnesota?

I visited the new location in its first week of operation and was impressed by the venue, the service, the food, and, to my surprise, the beer. I had a low opinion of Lakeville Brewing Company's beer coming in, but I haven't visited the original brewery in a couple of years, and I believe it has made great strides. The locals seemed quite enthusiastic about the place. I think Inver Hills is a good and welcome option for residents in the underserved southeast metro area.

Note that Inver Hills opens as the second brewpub in the state* to brew at multiple locations just as the first, Birch's, is admitting failure in its second spot. But I'll go out on what should no longer be considered a limb and say that Inver Grove Heights is a vastly superior strategic location for a brewpub to Lowertown St. Paul.

* Excluding St. Cloud-originated and St. Louis Park-headquartered Granite City, which brews its wort in Ellsworth, Iowa and ferments it at its various "brewpub" sites.

 

Why I wrote "Inver Hills" instead of "Inver Grove," at all let alone twice, I don't know. I must have the community college on my mind. It's "Inver Grove Brewing Company," for the record.

 

We were there not long ago and I posted that it seemed extremely well thought out and I was very impressed with everything about it. Complete opposite of Klockow.

 

We were at Klockow last night. The beer was probably fine, but I couldn't tell because the guy serving beer just started screaming politics at me the second I walked through the door. Pretty much soured the entire experience for me.

 

Have sampled 3 beers from Falling Knife during their pre-opening launch events and they are all excellent, looking forward to seeing what these guys can do.

 

That's too bad, that place is pretty good. Stop by every time we go through the area. Better NEIPA then a lot of breweries in town

 

I've made this comment (I think... ) before, but there is no way I could set foot in that brewery and enjoy anything. Their logo gives me the shivers. Yeah, I know... but it is MY head and I have to live with it!

 

That's what I was thinking. We actually walked across the street to Boulder Tap and had Klockow's Supply Line and thought it was pretty good.

 

Gotta disagree with you boys. Very below average beer at Klockow and that is being kind. I can't specifically comment on Supply Line as I have not had it but I've been there four times since they opened and came away highly disappointed each time. Last time I could barely get down my hefe and the wifes wit which both tasted nothing like they should for style.

Some of their smoked stuff is ok but you can hide a lot of imperfections with smoke.

 

Paw print brewery got their. Ttb license oct 4th . There is still quite a bit of work to do in the bar area. Hoping for late December soft opening. Looking to be open 3 to 4 days a week to start. They did a collaboration with Kinney Creek a wheat with blue agave. It was decent nothing spectacular. The hard seltzer there was a sugar bomb

 

Does anyone know if there is an update on Pig ate my Pizza or Bus Stop Burgers & Brewhouse? They've been saying they're going to be brewing in-house beers for months.

 

PAMP has begun to brew, should see their beers on the lines in a couple weeks.

 

A bit more of a look inside Falling Knife, which opens this Friday October 18th.

http://www.citypages.com/restaurant...4dHgk9mTNkg2RLYfsITWcUwpxY2c0MwMoZYXSE5SYibN0

 

Yes it’s Official , glad to see their brewer worked with Surly and Fair State , that’s a plus ! I wish them well .

This location though **** I’ll shut up & stop right there !

 

Forager Brewery owners Austin Jevne and Annie Henderson are opening a distribution brand called Humble Forager Brewery in Waunakee, WI in partnership with Octopi Brewing. This will allow them to avoid archaic Minnesota liquor laws and distribute their beer for retail and draft purposes.