Ranking Minnesota's Breweries

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by ZAP, Jan 30, 2016.

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  1. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I decided to make a list of all the places I have been to or have had a decent amount of off-sale from. This list only includes places that can legally sell growlers so no Surly, Schells, Summit, etc.

    I broke them into levels and then tried to put them in order within the levels but truthfully I am splitting hairs between a lot of these. Overall it shows what I would call a very good beer scene in the state (at least the ones I've tried). I should note this is ranking it only by the beer quality and to a much lesser extent the variety of beers offered. Ambiance of the taproom, service, etc are not factored in.

    BEST OF THE BEST:
    Town Hall
    Fitger’s

    EXCELLENT
    Indeed
    Fair State
    Liftbridge
    Steel Toe
    Dangerous Man
    Bent Paddle

    VERY GOOD:
    Sissyphus
    Hammerheart
    Castle Danger
    Northbound
    Waconia
    Bemidji
    Junkyard
    Birch’s on the Lake
    Lupulin
    Badger Hill
    Bad Weather
    Able Seadhouse
    Beaver Island
    Jack Pine
    Bad Habbit
    Insight
    Great Waters

    GOOD:
    Barley John’s
    Harriet
    Rock Bottom
    Bauhaus
    Canal Park
    Lupine
    Tin Whiskers
    Lucid

    AVERAGE:
    Bang
    F-Town
    Flat Earth
    East Lake

    BELOW AVERAGE:
    612
    Bent
    Big Wood
    Excelsior
    Gull Dam
    Big Axe

    POOR:
    Herkimer
    Carmody
    10K
    Maple Island
     
    #1 ZAP, Jan 30, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2016
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  2. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    Your list makes me think I need to give Able another try. I would have had to create another ranking below your lowest to rank them based on my visit there awhile back.
     
  3. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wow. I had the sampler and thought all the beers were solid. Bought a growler of the IPA and thought it was one of he better IPA's I've had. Right up my alley with tropical, juicy fruitness.
     
  4. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    I had heard they weren't event using their own grain (or whatever they are doing) when you went, not sure if they are yet either. I know you did not enjoy their beer very much, but probably worth another shot once they are doing what they set out to do and go their stuff sorted out.
     
  5. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    Wow. I will give them another try, for real. 2 of us couldn't finish any of the 4 beers in a flight.
     
  6. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Interesting. I've had some experiences like that at a couple places but not here. Not saying they are killing it across the board but I thought they were solid and the IPA was fantastic. The person I shared it with thought the same of it.
     
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  7. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I generally agree with your list but I personally would bump up Harriet and Bauhaus while dropping down Lupulin, Great Waters, and Insight. Fitger's probably would not be in the top tier either.

    Surprised you have not had any Enki.
     
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  8. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Northgate?
     
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  9. accordselux

    accordselux Initiate (0) Nov 26, 2007 Minnesota

    Drop down Insight??? That stuff is delicious.

    I'd put it at average or good, but I love the Maggie's Leap milk stout.
     
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  10. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    haven't had it yet.
     
  11. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah I need to get there. I did have their Hefe which I loved but I didn't want to place them after having just one beer.
     
  12. sjccmd

    sjccmd Initiate (0) Feb 11, 2008 Minnesota

    I second Northgate, and want to add Boom Island. Not all of their beers are amazing, but the saison is one of my favorite domestic saisons. Otherwise I generally agree with the overall trend of your list, though I would personally move a handful of them down (Tin Whiskers, Insight, namely) for attenuation, diacetyl, and yeast autolysis issues here and there in my experience. I also would bump Barely John's up if they just branded their stuff better. I never would have guess they were an English style brewery. Their "Session Ale" is an English Bitter. Call it an English Bitter.
     
  13. Redrover

    Redrover Grand Pooh-Bah (3,676) Jan 18, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The last few times I was at Carmody, the beers were vastly improved. I would think they would be up to average. :wink:
     
  14. SDDLSK

    SDDLSK Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2015 Minnesota

    I would love to see some more feed back on Hays Public House. If people are out in Buffalo, they really need to check it out. I think their beers are excellent, would love to see what others thought. And what am I missing about Beaver Island? I live relatively close, but would much rather make the drive to Lupulin or Hays any day of the week.
     
  15. nograz

    nograz Maven (1,424) Oct 30, 2013 Minnesota
    Trader

    I have only been to Hayes twice, thought they were solid. Loved the Peach ale on nitro.
     
  16. mnbearsfan

    mnbearsfan Initiate (0) Dec 25, 2009 Minnesota
    Trader

    Fulton? Freehouse?

    Def go to Enki before they move to their new spot. Probably one of the best taprooms in town...in an OLD creamery. Also get the porketa at Northbound...awesomeness
     
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  17. Rajaholick

    Rajaholick Zealot (678) Jan 9, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    I would bump f town way down. Tastes like beer from home brew kits gone wrong.

    I'd also bump up hammerhart to the bottom of the excellent pile. I don't think they make any bad or average beers.
     
  18. KarlHungus

    KarlHungus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,315) Feb 19, 2005 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Zap, given your tastes stylewise I expected to see Bauhaus ranked higher. What are your thoughts about them?

    I woukd personally drop Insight down a level due to QC issues. They make good stuff when it is on, but I've been burned with under attinuated beer a couple times.
     
  19. HomeBrewed

    HomeBrewed Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2006 Minnesota

    Lake Monster's new brewery/taproom is very nice. All the beers I tried were solid, except for the sour. I'd definitely recommend checking them out.
     
  20. JakeJohnson

    JakeJohnson Pundit (897) Jan 30, 2015 Minnesota
    Trader

    Barley John's Brewpub in Minnesota calls it an English Bitter. Barley John's Brewery in Wisconsin calls it a Session Ale. Also, I don't think quality is really an issue for Insight. They recently dumped an entire 30 BBL batch of their IPA because it was dry-hopped slightly longer than normal. That takes serious dedication to quality for a young brewery (even ones that were given obscene amounts of money for distribution rights).
     
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