Duluth

Bent Paddle, 7 West Taphouse, and The Duluth Grill for food (near Bent Paddle).

 

Just returned from Duluth. Bent Paddle Cold Press fresh at the taproom is one of the best coffee beers I have had recently. Outstanding. Reminded me of Coffee Bender the first time I had it at the brewery. The Duluth Grill is the real deal. I will always stop there when I am in town. Did not find anything else really exciting in town. The Bourbon Barrel stout at Fitger's was disappointing. Finn's Finest was great though. The IPA at Canal Park was good. Would warrant a return visit.

 

What is the verdict on Thirsty Pagan in Superior? I've never been but their beers sound interesting.

 

Make it happen! Much better than Canal Park. I went a couple years back and wasn't that impressed but got to talking to someone working the bar at Bent Paddle who split is time also with Thirsty Pagan. He mentioned that they made some big changes (like taking care of their equipment!) and talked me into giving them a second chance. Ended up going on a Sunday on my way out of town and noticed a big taste and flavor improvement since my last visit. Really wish I wasn't still nursing a hangover from the night before to run the gauntlet of their entire tap selection.

I would say better than Fitger's too but I've got a feeling I'll get challenged on that by some folks.

 

I was there last August for a vacation. The beer was solid, but nothing that blew me away. Better than Canal Park for sure, plus the pizza was fantastic. Alone worth the trip.

 

I skipped The Thirsty Pagen instead going to Canal Park and 7 West. I was there 4 years ago and really enjoyed my visit. Different atmosphere compared to the popular Duluth hangouts.

 

The Thirsty Pagan pizza is fantastic. I also enjoy their beer.

 

Now I really can't wait for All Pints North

 

Castle Danger should be open in Two Harbors by then (hopefully).

 

It's been a year but I would in no-way put Thirsty Pagean beer ahead of Fitger's for quality.....maybe for $$ per quality though...Fitgers is soooo overpriced I rarely buy growlers anymore when I am in town but I digress ........

Pagean does have awesome pizza and much improved beer from years ago.....personally I'd go Canal Park slightly over Pagan for just beer but that is arguable in my opinion

 

I still can't figure out why their growlers are 13 or 14 and that's if you have glass already. Seems a bit high, but every year I still bring one home from grandma's weekend.

 

Yeah you tend to buy one when there the last one i bought was The Mayor i just had to take one home

 

I think it's more of a "hey, i'm in duluth already, so why not bring some beer from duluth back to minneapolis" type of thing. It's kind of like a novelty when we have so much great beer down here the way it is. Fitgers makes awesome beers which is why I stop their every trip to Duluth, but I do wish their growlers were priced more like Town Hall's growlers.

 

For sure growlers are overpriced but yeah we are like tourist up there from the TC

 

Food at Duluth Grill is amazing.

Bent Paddle is great. Did the brewery tour the 2nd to last last time I was there. Their double black ale (not sure if this is what they'll call it) was in primary at that time. They had a bunch of Beam barrels waiting to get filled balls deep. The Cold Press Black Ale was awesome.

Also did a brewery tour at Fitger's the 2nd to last time I was there. It was from one of the bartenders. He really knew his shit. Their beer is ok. Starfire is my go to if they don't have any interesting seasonals on. Last time I was up there I had the bourbon barrel Big Boat oatmeal stout... Not very good. I remember really liking the Hoppelujah last summer. I really disliked the barrel aged/brett Breakwater Wit, although some people loved it.

Canal Park brews good, but uninteresting beer. The pub itself is sterile and touristy (duh). I've been there a few times now and their seasonals very rarely change. Their year round beers are solid, but I'll pass.

I haven't been to 7 West, but I've heard it's a lot of the same old stuff you can get anywhere else.

The basement of Tycoon's is pretty cool.

Thirsty Pagan is awesome. I love their pizza. Their year round IPA, India Pagan Ale, is ok. I was up there in mid March and the end of May and both times they had a fantastic brett beer. I will definitely go here every time I'm in the area.

Keyport Liquor is pretty rad, too. They remodeled in between March and May. NG 750 fruit beers were $8.99. Found some other rad stuff. Almost as good selection as Casanova, but a little cheaper. They also do growler fills.


I love this area.

 

It looks like Thirsty Pagan got serious about brewing and installed a better brewhouse. Hopefully they have temp controlled fermentors now. I went there 3-4 years ago, the beer was truly awful stuff. The bartender gave us a tour and they were brewing on a little 2-3bbl? System. There fermentors were right there bubbling away in a room that had to be about 80F, at that point I realized why the beers I tried tasted like rubbing alcohol and pineapples. The bartender was like, yeah the beer is better in the colder months. Haven't been back, but I'll be up there in August and I'll make the trip over.

 

Pagan did upgrade their brewing system big time, plus they have a lot of sour beers aging in their basement. Their pizza is second to none, Canal Park is just in it for money IMO. Fitgers food and beer is the best pound for pound...Bent Paddle prices are the most friendly however

 

when did they upgrade their system. I agree on their pizza and they have cool music in there most nights too....I like hanging out there but thought in the past their beer was not a strong point but workable when factoring in the pizza and music