Ranking Minnesota Breweries (March Update)

What @mikevanatta said, @ZAP. I like that you revisit places and the list changes. Kinda like watching your blind tastings unfold. It is interesting to read.

 

I think the inclusion of the big three really indicates what the breweries were built on. Schell's was sustained for century by brewing American lager beer. They made a shrewd business decision to buy grain belt and it payed off big. That and their identity as a German brewery they brew good beers but not styles that will get high ratings on ba.
Summit was founded at the very beginning of the craft beer movement when you line basically had to include a pilsner, pale ale, Porter, Octoberfest etc. You trim off the lower end American light lager but still lacking the real high end whale style double IPA Russian imperial stout styles that really shine with the beer nerds.
Surly basically built their brand on the back of a hop forward non-ipa IPA and a dark roasted malt brew. Throw in an excellent dipa and whale of a ris you basically have a brewery built to cater to the ba beer geek's rating pleasure.

 

ZAP, I'm not feeling like searching other threads to see if you already answered this, so please bare with me when I ask why you feel Bang is below average. For me, below average would suggest flawed or highly inconsistent beers. My impression of Bang (granted, I haven't been there in a year...) was the beer was done well, just victim to availability of organic ingredients and at times pushed limits in regards to style. For example, their pale ale is incredibly dry and bitter, but seemed to be executed as planned.

I guess another reason you fired me up is seeing the other breweries listed as "Below Average", with which I completely agree! Bang would fit better in the average or, in my eyes, the good category.

Regardless, you now inspired me to return to Bang to see what's brewing these days. I'll be back!

 

Donning my own Quixote garment for a moment ... "Average" should mean, well, average. In the middle. At the mid-point.

If, as you say, "below average" means flawed or highly inconsistent, then we must have a whole lot of such brewers, and being "average" on that scale is damning with faint praise.

 

It means they're the best of the lousiest. And the lousiest of the best.

 

Now if we demand more and more for producing less and less while the have-not breweries encourage and inspire and indeed require hard work and maximum effort, if we deify the common beer while they encourage and reward the uncommon ones ... well the end result of such a lopsided race as that is too obvious to require elaboration.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
IALTO

 

where's Surly? Summit? Schell's? (oh, no growlers....never mind.)

 

Great to see where you have Waconia listed. I really think they are underrated in the cities. Most people southeast of Minneapolis seem to be more inclined to go to Enki in Victoria and Excelsior, and I really find Waconia to be above and beyond both of those locations. They brew excellent beer and their taproom is probably the most comfortable I've been to. They also get a bonus for having a popcorn machine.

 

If you want to hit Waconia, Schram, Enki, Lupine, or Birch's, let me know. Would like to meet you.

 

Why Is it that you think larger breweries experiment more? I've always thought the opposite.

 

What do you guys think about Liftbridge? I'm going to look for some this weekend. Any suggestions?