Ranking MN Breweries (2017 Update #1)

Check out the new breweries thread. Utepils is nothing like Boom Island. Utepils does German style beers and Boom Island does Belgian style beers.

 

Thanks! Also wow seems like a crazy amount of taprooms coming soon.

 

Also, Utepils is already making great beer right out of the gate, their Pils is spot on and delicious, and IMHO Boom still doesn't.

 

Get there sooner than later. Forager is making the best beer in MN right now, and I don't think it's that close. Any list of MN breweries without them on it is missing a lot.

 

I'll see your Forager and raise you a Disgruntled!
OK - they are both making great beers along with a number of other outstanding breweries in Minnesota!

 

But Forager is closer... and I live in Albertville!

 

I have to agree. They have put out the best sour series (Twisted Zweig) I've had in the last year (plus all are around 8% ABV), and are currently doing the NE IPA hop game the best (yes, including Disgruntled, although my tune might change once Blackstack opens). They also put out the best porter I've had in the last year (Pudding Goggles). If they start putting out top notch thick stouts (the Sherpa is good but not great), I might have to put a cot in their kitchen.

It's gotten to the point where I go out of my way to try any new beer they drop, because I know it's going to be a winner.

 

I went to Utepils on 2/4. They didn't have their Pils on yet, which bummed me out. I had Copacetic (Kolsch) and it was pretty bad. Butyric in the aroma, although not in the flavor. That's pretty much all I could smell. Flavor was some fruity esters and butterscotch (mild diacetyl).
Ewald The Golden (Hefeweizen) was pretty damn good. This is one of my favorite styles. It wasn't super banana heavy. A nice balance of esters, phenols, and very subtle noble hop aroma. A little sulfur.
Glocal IPA was pretty forgettable. Lacked focus. It'll get better, as all of them will.

 

I take it you haven't tried Magnus yet...

 

Same. I went there a few times a few years ago and was not impressed. Too many places to go to go back to one that I was not happy with.

 

Well, I meant more regularly, BUT they did say they are already barrel aging even more varieties of Sherpa as we speak. Did you want me to get you a cot as well?

 

Man, MN just gives me a big headache. I'm planning on heading up from Missouri to check out some breweries on my bicycle using the bicycle trails in certain areas. Looks fun except for the amount of breweries. Too many to see in a lifetime.

Anyways, these will open up in Google Maps if I did this correctly and well, if I have to say it, these maps may be inaccurate. They are made for someone on a bicycle rather than a car. The blue stuff=bike trails.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oMosKVvK6M1hop1gV6h29pW3ARY&usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NIUPwsPVaViBSkoLBQcfEFRk7Fc&usp=sharing

 

There's also a bike path that goes right behind the Steel Toe brewery. It basically connects from Hopkins near LTD Brewing to the paths you have identified north of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.

 

I looked up the Untappd ratings of every Minneapolis brewery/brewpub/cidery (RIP Harriet) and made a ranking based on average beer rating. Untappd in general isn't known for its thoughtful reviews, but it is a much larger pool than BA or RB. I hope I didn't miss one. I might try to expand this list to the entire metro at a later date. Hopefully this helps narrow down your list.
Surly (3.98)
Dangerous Man (3.93)
Fair State (3.85)
Wild Mind (3.83)
Town Hall (3.82)
Utepils (3.80)
Indeed (3.78)
Inbound (3.78)
Fulton (3.76)
Sisyphus (3.75)
Insight (3.74)
Modist (3.74)
LynLake (3.70)
Bauhaus (3.67)
Boom Island (3.63)
Freehouse (3.63)
56 (3.63)
Lakes & Legends (3.63)
Northgate (3.61)
Able Seedhouse (3.61)
Eastlake (3.59)
Urban Forage (3.57)
Sociable Cider Werks (3.57)
Herkimer (3.51)
Rock Bottom (3.51)
612 Brew (3.43)
Clockwerks (3.39)
Note 1: Utepils doesn't have their grand opening until tomorrow, so their rating may be a little inflated (worth checking again in 2 weeks).
Note 2: Rock Bottom rating is based on national chain.
Note 3: Town Hall has 3 different locations with slightly different names. They all have the same amazing beer.

 

Jonc Fyi, now you have to ad Utelpils. My friend calls them Summit point 2. I corrected him and said with the beer styles it is more like Schells Part 2

 

Nice list, I'll bookmark this page. I have been to Surly and several other places but Surly is the only brewery I have visited. I didn't realize that Town Hall has 3 locations, that one is on my list. I'll look at the other locations. Thanks to the other two postings also. I'll bookmark this thread. I pretty much skip national chain breweries, if I drive to some town I want something local.

Surly is the actual brand of the bike in my avatar.

Thanks everyone!

Jon

 

26inch long haul trucker?!

Gimme a holler when you head up, I've been a bike messenger in the city for 5ish years, I know the trails, shortcuts, routes pretty much anywhere in the metro. I'd love to ride around and grab some beers with you.

 

Yes, it is 26" Long Haul Trucker. I've got a 54cm and the wife has a 50cm. Will give ya a shout!

I found this pretty funny, hanging in Surly (the beer place not the bicycle maker):

 

Looks like the best breweries in the state according to untapped is disgruntled and forager! The twin cities breweries need to step it up a bit!

 

Yup! I also work in the bike industry, both surlys have good relationships with each other.