Heading to Minnesota

Prior Lake has Viking Liquor Barrel. Not great as Blue Max or Four Firkins but it does have Surly cheaper than both.

 

this sounds like you should consider taking trip to new ulm and visiting schells. The beer is above average and not the typical craft brew offerings and the brewery is one of the neatest you will ever visit. This would more tourist than beer fanatic, but still would be something you would probably really enjoy. besides coming from Michigan I don't know that much we have here will be mind blowimg
regarding metro area places I would try to park near Harriett brewing and take the train to the game, better vibe and beer than Fulton IMO,townhall and republic will have everythinglocal worth trying. pour decisions is a favorite of mine that doesn't get much love, they have a bottled lichtenheiner right now that is an oSF combination of sour and smokey, and they have a unique variety of beers thatare all really good. stillwater would be another option for tourism with a side of beer, lift bridge seems to be highly thought of and stillwater is a nest

 

correction from above stillwater is a nice place to visit. although from prior lake stillwater is almost a far as new ulm

 

rock bottom and Fulton are the only real walking destinations from target field. the others are probably bikable if want to use the nice ride MN bikes

 

DAVE'S BREWFARM. So it is technically in Wisconsin. It is WINO (Wisconsin in Name Only). And if you want a unique experience it can't be topped. Hours are limited and it will cost you the better part of a day, but it's worth it.

 

Definitely not a chain, I'm one of the owners We're as Minnesota as it gets as far as food (and beer) goes.

We just changed our website, and we'll have a tap section up eventually...right now we have beers on from Surly, Lift Bridge and Schell's, among other American and European offerings.

 

Devil's Advocate is under-appreciated, IMO. The taps rotate frequently, so perhaps that's why they're not listed on the site (although they should be). It's about a 50/50 split of American Craft and Belgian. I've tried several good beers there for the first time. It's also where I learned to appreciate Sours.

 

I would try to hit various taprooms/brewpubs around the city, town hall, dangerous man, harriet brewing, indeed, pour decisions, steel toe. Maybe pickup some steel toe bottles (size 11 if you can find it in store or at the brewery). I'm sure you could arrange some IP trades with any number of local guys for some Lunker, darkness, war and peace, worthy adversary, or any others that are harder to find but all delicious.

 

there are many great beers brewed in MN and surly in particular gets tons of attention , but if I was going to name one beer that is truly unique and fantastic, I would have to pick auroch's horn or brynhilder's gift. both are fantastic and barely comparable to anything else I've had.