Twin Cities for 3 months.

[509inc]

My work is sending me to St Paul for 3 months. July 25th - October.

It would be great to meet up with some locals for brewery tour or a brew day. I wonder if the Extended Stay has a policy against brewing at the hotel.

After searching on HBT I have put together a short list of places to visit. Please feel free to add to or advise against the list.

Northern Brewer store
Town Hall Brewery
Williams Uptown Pub
Summit Brewery
Muddy Pig
The Happy Gnome
Surly Brewery
Barley Johns Brew Pub

 

[thataintchicken]

Moto-i sake brewery

The Herkimer ( just 2 blocks from Moto-i IIRC )

Flat Earth Brewing

 

[gingerdawg]

Midwest homebrew supply?

 

[commonsenseman]

I can recommend Northern Brewer & Barley Johns. Haven't made it out to Surly yet, although it's on my to-do list.

What city are you staying in? I'm about 20 minutes north of St Paul.

 

[commonsenseman]

Oh, & if you're looking for a great selection of brews & a place to hang out, check out The Bulldog.

 

[509inc]

I will be in Eden Prairie.

I thought about Midwest Brew Supplies, but I'm a big fan of brewingTV so I'd rather spend my money at Northern Brewer.

 

[cfonnes]

If you are there for 3 months, Flat Earth Brewery is a must.

http://flatearthbrewing.com/home.php

Last fall they had tastings on Tues and Thurs evenings. You can buy growlers there. Check out the website for more info.

 

[gingerdawg]

I will be in Eden Prairie.

I thought about Midwest Brew Supplies, but I'm a big fan of brewingTV so I'd rather spend my money at Northern Brewer.

Work is sending you to St. Paul and you are staying in EP? Nice commute.....

You might be suprised at the size (or lack there of) of NB. For being such a big online supplier, they are floorspace limited. Great full sack grain prices, though. NB is going to open another location soon, somewhere on Lyndale Avenue.

 

[509inc]

Work is sending you to St. Paul and you are staying in EP? Nice commute.....

Actually the work site is in Eden Prairie from what I hear.

 

[gingerdawg]

Oh, I see, the St Paul thing threw me, EP is a Minneapolis suburb. I don't know anything about Compellant, but I know Smetana drive. I even met old man Smetana once a long time ago.

 

[cfonnes]

Spend a Sat or Sun at the Renaissance festival, it is huge.

There is mead there that is heavenly, I cannot remember the name of the meadery.

 

[509inc]

Just left Walmart and there was no beer. This trip is not starting well.

 

[Yooper]

Just left Walmart and there was no beer. This trip is not starting well.

Ah, well then head immediately to Zipps! They have a great selection of Surly. And Blue Max is great, also!

 

[commonsenseman]

Ah, minnesota laws. Aren't they awesome?

Besides not being able to buy beer at Wal-Mart, you can't buy anything but gas-station (3.2%) beer on Sundays. Looks like you'll be waiting until tomorrow, or heading to a bar.

 

[Yooper]

Ah, minnesota laws. Aren't they awesome?

Besides not being able to buy beer at Wal-Mart, you can't buy anything but gas-station (3.2%) beer on Sundays. Looks like you'll be waiting until tomorrow, or heading to a bar.

Oh, yes! I forgot today was Sunday! On MONDAY, go to a good store! They have awesome selections and I find that Surly beer is one of the best selections you could ever choose.

 

[509inc]

Thanks I'll be sure to hit Zipps tomorrow.

 

[commonsenseman]

For sure check out Surly, Summit, Great Lakes, & Leinenkugels. If you can't get it in your area, Surly Furious is one of the best beers I've ever had. Summit makes a few good ones too, including their EPA & their ESB.

Also, dunno if you can get any of Big Sky's brews down there, but they are seriously awesome. They're in Montana, but they have them in most stores here.

 

[509inc]

I know all about Big Sky. We get that in Oklahoma.

Im looking to find some Surly. That Zipps place seems close enough to my hotel in Eden Prairie.

I did bring some homebrew so Im set for tonight, just didn't want to break into my stash this soon in the trip.

 

[luke2080]

Also be sure to hit up the casinos if you are in Eden Prairie. They aren't too far. +1000 on hitting up Summit and Surly.

 

[fungineer]

http://www.thefourfirkins.com/

 

[509inc]

I have been trying for 3 weeks to get signed up for a Surly tour with no luck. At least I got 12 weeks left to try.

 

[509inc]

Just had my first taste of MN beer, Surly Furious. It is great, but I had built it up in my mind to be something more. Can't wait to crack open a Coffee Bender though.

Whats with the traffic up here? Streets are designed crazy and the other drivers can be real dicks.

 

[Supergus]

Check out Liquor Lyle's in the uptown area (in the same area as Williams Pub), nothing much there, just a really cool crowd. (at leat 10 years ago it was)
there was also a place called Sherlock's Home, a really cool brewpub in Hopkins.
local.yahoo.com/info-26257499-sherlock-s-home-hopkins?tab=webreviews#webrev

 

[hagbardceline]

You have to check out Muddy Pig and Happy Gnome. Easily the best beer bars in the twin cities. Both are in St. Paul and just a few blocks apart. Herkimer is great if you are into German beer.

If you are bored on a Sunday I highly recommend taking 94E to Hudson, WI and picking up some New Glarus beer. Their Raspberry Tart is one of the best fruit beers I have ever had. All there other beers are great too.

I mostly shop at NB because I live in St. Paul, but making it out to Midwest is totally worth it. Their new store is massive and pretty fun to check out.

Coffee Bender is one of my faves. You should also check out their Bitter Brewer.

On Washington Ave in downtown MPLS is Town Hall Brewery which is a great brew pub.

If you want any other suggestions or have questions feel free to PM me.

 

[luke2080]

For Surly, I actually only tried the Surly Cynic when I was there. I forget where I had it on tap, but I was impressed. I stuck to Summitt for the most part. (and I'm not totally against BMC type beers, and grew on on Michelob Golden. Can't get it in most places, so I drink a bit too much of that. By far the best light beer from the big boys)

And yes - Twin Cities traffic can be terrible. There are only two seasons there - Winter and Road Construction.

 

[commonsenseman]

Just had my first taste of MN beer, Surly Furious. It is great, but I had built it up in my mind to be something more. Can't wait to crack open a Coffee Bender though.

Whats with the traffic up here? Streets are designed crazy and the other drivers can be real dicks.

Didn't live up to your expectations eh? Perhaps Furious is a bad name for it, it should be called "very well-balanced, but still fairly hoppy ale that doesn't quite fit into any particular style". I love it.

Traffic in MN sucks. It's still not as bad as CA, but people really take the me-first attitude seriously.

 

[509inc]

So the Coffee Bender rocked my girl's and my world.

Anyone a member of a local brew club willing to invite a guest? I brought some homebrew from Oklahoma with me.