clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The Essential Guide to Twin Cities Taprooms, May '13

View as Map

Unless you've been living under a brewery-sized rock, you know that the Twin Cities taproom scene has exploded since the Surly Bill was passed in 2011, making it legal for breweries to serve pints of their beer on-site. But which taprooms are open when? Which food trucks are where? And does such a thing as taproom happy hour exist?

In honor of Minnesota Craft Beer Week this week, we present to you our inaugural Essential Guide to Twin Cities Taprooms, which answers all your questions about what you'll find at which taprooms, where, and when. It will be updated every couple months, as new taprooms open and as current taprooms expand.

Did we miss any essential pieces of taproom knowledge? Let us know in the comments.


Lindsay Abraham

· All Eater Maps [Eater MPLS]

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

612Brew

Copy Link
Located in the historic Broadway building in Northeast, 612's interior features exposed brick walls, an impressive mural, and a bar made with the reclaimed wood from a defunct bowling alley. 612 offers 4-6 beers on tap; get the four half-glass flight for $11 and decide what you like best, or try a pint of the popular Zero Hour American black ale for $5. Growlers are also available for $13-$15 with a $5 deposit on the glass. Food trucks vary but can include Melch's Meat Wagon, Vellee Deli, and Bloomy's Roast Beef. Just in time for summer, plans are being finalized with the city to open an outdoor patio, amphitheater, and rain garden. Hours: Wednesday: 4pm-10pm Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 1:30pm-Midnight Saturday: Noon-Midnight

Dangerous Man Brewing Co

Copy Link
Husband-and-wife owners Rob and Sarah Miller opened Dangerous Man as a "neighborhood taproom hang out". There are six rotating beers available in pints, 10oz pours, and 2oz flight-sizes which make it easy to try them all, especially the signature Chocolate Milk Stout and the Matchbox Coffee Porter, made with coffee from the neighboring Northeast coffeeshop. Growlers are just barely available - they’re currently capped at only 10 per day due to high demand – and will run around $13-18 plus a $5 deposit. Food trucks currently don't stop by, but you can bring in food from nearby Element Pizza and Anchor Fish & Chips, or bring your favorite snacks from home. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 4pm-Midnight Saturday: Noon-Midnight

Indeed Brewing Company

Copy Link
Rachel Anderson, Nathan Berndt, and Tom Whisenand founded this neighborhood taproom in the Solar Arts Building on cobble-stoned Quincy Street. There are four rotating taps on offer, plus one or two cask beers, one of which - Midnight Ryder Black Ale - also has nitro tapped (a special method of dispensing which creates a creamier mouthfeel). Also, look for infusions like the Shenanigans summer ale infused with cherries or Day Tripper pale ale infused with jalapeño. Pours come in 10, 16, and 20oz sizes and range in price from $3.50-$5.50 depending on style of beer. Don’t expect to see grolwers at Indeed; instead, take home beer is available in 750ml bottles or in cans. Pair Indeed's beer with items from frequent food truck visitors like Gastro Truck, Midnord Empanada, and World Street Kitchen. Hours: Thursday: 3pm-11pm Friday: 3pm-11pm Saturday: Noon-11pm

Fulton Brewing Company

Copy Link
Minneapolis's first taproom opened in March of 2012 and it's already hoping to double its capacity this year. Just a 3-minute stroll from Target Field, Fulton opens 2 hours prior to Twins home games. Expect to see four beers on tap, like the popular Sweet Child O' Vine IPA. All pours are $5 and growlers are available for $13-18 plus a $5 deposit. Every Thursday, Fulton taps a different cask conditioned beer to serve through their beer engine (a device for pumping beer from a cask) with a limited number available in growlers. A patio is set to open in the near future which will seat about 80. Check out Fulton's website for their food truck calendar and anticipate offerings from AZ Canteen, Fork in the Road, and Hola Arepa. Hours: Thursday: 3pm-10pm Friday: 3pm-10pm Saturday: Noon-10pm Twins Home games: opens 2 hrs prior to game time

Harriet Brewing

Copy Link
Located in Longfellow, Harriet specializes in European style beers, particularly Belgian ales and German lagers, with four taps on constant rotation in the taproom. Pints are $5 but if you stop in during happy hour (Wednesday-Friday 4-6pm) expect $1 off. Growlers are available for $12-16 depending on the style of beer, plus a $5 deposit. On nice days, a garage door opens to extended seating on a small patio. Check Harriet's website for frequent music acts; usual food trucks include Tollefson Family Pork, Potter's Pasties, and Simply Steve's. Hours: Wednesday: 4pm-11pm Thursday: 4pm-11pm Friday: 4pm-Midnight Saturday: 1pm-Midnight

Steel Toe Brewing

Copy Link
Located west of Lake Calhoun in an industrial office park, this taproom offers minimal interior design with maximum beer drinking. Have a pint of Size 7 IPA or get a flight of four Steel Toe brews for $9. Choose from their 8 taps (4 mainstays, 4 rotating seasonal/limited) with pints running $4-5. Growlers are available for $11-13 plus an initial $5 deposit, or choose a 750 ml bottle of Lunker, an English barleywine aged in Templeton Rye barrels. Usual food trucks include Motley Crews, Nate Dogs, and Heavy Metal Grill. Hours: Wednesday: 3pm-8pm Thursday: 3pm-8pm Friday: 3pm-10pm Saturday: Noon-10pm

Excelsior Brewing Co

Copy Link
Visiting this warehouse brewery in Excelsior owned by John Klick, Jon Lewin, and Patrick Foss feels like hanging out in your friend's garage, in the best possible way. Try any of the four beers Excelsior has on tap, like the Bridgejumper SPA (strong pale ale), which clocks in at 8 percent ABV. Pints are $5-6 and growlers are available for $10-15 plus a $5 deposit. Hungry? Feel free to have a pizza delivered or seek out restaurant options found within a two-minute walk down Water Street, including Jake O'Connor's, Biella, and Yumi's. Hours: Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 4pm-10pm Saturday: 2pm-10pm

Pour Decisions Brewing Co.

Copy Link
Kristen England and B.J. Haun recently opened Pour Decisions in Roseville, specializing in European style beer. Drink beer while playing cribbage and board games next to the giant muskie mural. Growlers range in price from $9-12 with a $5 deposit and pints are $4 from their taproom, including beers like The Pubstitute, a hoppy, light Scottish ale that made its debut at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair. Expect to see 5 taps and even special sodas, like Jamaican Ginger beer and Apple Hojicha soda. Look for food trucks like Little G's Pizza, Messy Giuseppe's, and Stanley's. Hours: Thursday: 4:30pm-9pm Friday: 4:30pm-9pm Saturday: 2pm-9pm

Summit Brewing Company

Copy Link
The granddaddy of local breweries, Summit only opens its taproom on Fridays, but it has a lot to offer. Expect to see ten taps, plus specials like Meridian Session Ale with El Dorado Hops. Each week Summit also has some cask-conditioned and specialty beers crafted in the brewery’s "pilot system". Try a flight for $7, a pint for $4, or add $3 more and keep the glass. The last Friday of every month, you can also try your hand at bar trivia from 6-8pm. Check out Summit’s website to see which specialty beer and food truck are paired each week - for example, B-52 Burgers with Summit Oatmeal Stout aged in whiskey barrels. Hours: Friday: 3pm-8pm

Lift Bridge Brewing Company

Copy Link
Following the signing of the Surly Bill, Lift Bridge was the first brewery in Minnesota to open its taproom. Expect 6-7 beers on tap, including four year-round beers like the flagship Farm Girl Saison. Pours are $4, flights are $6-9, and growlers and bombers are available for $11-15 fills plus a $5 deposit. Snack on free fresh popcorn or hit up whichever food truck stops by, like Home Street Home, RA Mac Sammy's, and Cajun 2 Geaux. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 5pm-8pm Friday: Noon-8pm Saturday: Noon-5pm

612Brew

Located in the historic Broadway building in Northeast, 612's interior features exposed brick walls, an impressive mural, and a bar made with the reclaimed wood from a defunct bowling alley. 612 offers 4-6 beers on tap; get the four half-glass flight for $11 and decide what you like best, or try a pint of the popular Zero Hour American black ale for $5. Growlers are also available for $13-$15 with a $5 deposit on the glass. Food trucks vary but can include Melch's Meat Wagon, Vellee Deli, and Bloomy's Roast Beef. Just in time for summer, plans are being finalized with the city to open an outdoor patio, amphitheater, and rain garden. Hours: Wednesday: 4pm-10pm Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 1:30pm-Midnight Saturday: Noon-Midnight

Dangerous Man Brewing Co

Husband-and-wife owners Rob and Sarah Miller opened Dangerous Man as a "neighborhood taproom hang out". There are six rotating beers available in pints, 10oz pours, and 2oz flight-sizes which make it easy to try them all, especially the signature Chocolate Milk Stout and the Matchbox Coffee Porter, made with coffee from the neighboring Northeast coffeeshop. Growlers are just barely available - they’re currently capped at only 10 per day due to high demand – and will run around $13-18 plus a $5 deposit. Food trucks currently don't stop by, but you can bring in food from nearby Element Pizza and Anchor Fish & Chips, or bring your favorite snacks from home. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 4pm-Midnight Saturday: Noon-Midnight

Indeed Brewing Company

Rachel Anderson, Nathan Berndt, and Tom Whisenand founded this neighborhood taproom in the Solar Arts Building on cobble-stoned Quincy Street. There are four rotating taps on offer, plus one or two cask beers, one of which - Midnight Ryder Black Ale - also has nitro tapped (a special method of dispensing which creates a creamier mouthfeel). Also, look for infusions like the Shenanigans summer ale infused with cherries or Day Tripper pale ale infused with jalapeño. Pours come in 10, 16, and 20oz sizes and range in price from $3.50-$5.50 depending on style of beer. Don’t expect to see grolwers at Indeed; instead, take home beer is available in 750ml bottles or in cans. Pair Indeed's beer with items from frequent food truck visitors like Gastro Truck, Midnord Empanada, and World Street Kitchen. Hours: Thursday: 3pm-11pm Friday: 3pm-11pm Saturday: Noon-11pm

Fulton Brewing Company

Minneapolis's first taproom opened in March of 2012 and it's already hoping to double its capacity this year. Just a 3-minute stroll from Target Field, Fulton opens 2 hours prior to Twins home games. Expect to see four beers on tap, like the popular Sweet Child O' Vine IPA. All pours are $5 and growlers are available for $13-18 plus a $5 deposit. Every Thursday, Fulton taps a different cask conditioned beer to serve through their beer engine (a device for pumping beer from a cask) with a limited number available in growlers. A patio is set to open in the near future which will seat about 80. Check out Fulton's website for their food truck calendar and anticipate offerings from AZ Canteen, Fork in the Road, and Hola Arepa. Hours: Thursday: 3pm-10pm Friday: 3pm-10pm Saturday: Noon-10pm Twins Home games: opens 2 hrs prior to game time

Harriet Brewing

Located in Longfellow, Harriet specializes in European style beers, particularly Belgian ales and German lagers, with four taps on constant rotation in the taproom. Pints are $5 but if you stop in during happy hour (Wednesday-Friday 4-6pm) expect $1 off. Growlers are available for $12-16 depending on the style of beer, plus a $5 deposit. On nice days, a garage door opens to extended seating on a small patio. Check Harriet's website for frequent music acts; usual food trucks include Tollefson Family Pork, Potter's Pasties, and Simply Steve's. Hours: Wednesday: 4pm-11pm Thursday: 4pm-11pm Friday: 4pm-Midnight Saturday: 1pm-Midnight

Steel Toe Brewing

Located west of Lake Calhoun in an industrial office park, this taproom offers minimal interior design with maximum beer drinking. Have a pint of Size 7 IPA or get a flight of four Steel Toe brews for $9. Choose from their 8 taps (4 mainstays, 4 rotating seasonal/limited) with pints running $4-5. Growlers are available for $11-13 plus an initial $5 deposit, or choose a 750 ml bottle of Lunker, an English barleywine aged in Templeton Rye barrels. Usual food trucks include Motley Crews, Nate Dogs, and Heavy Metal Grill. Hours: Wednesday: 3pm-8pm Thursday: 3pm-8pm Friday: 3pm-10pm Saturday: Noon-10pm

Excelsior Brewing Co

Visiting this warehouse brewery in Excelsior owned by John Klick, Jon Lewin, and Patrick Foss feels like hanging out in your friend's garage, in the best possible way. Try any of the four beers Excelsior has on tap, like the Bridgejumper SPA (strong pale ale), which clocks in at 8 percent ABV. Pints are $5-6 and growlers are available for $10-15 plus a $5 deposit. Hungry? Feel free to have a pizza delivered or seek out restaurant options found within a two-minute walk down Water Street, including Jake O'Connor's, Biella, and Yumi's. Hours: Thursday: 4pm-10pm Friday: 4pm-10pm Saturday: 2pm-10pm

Pour Decisions Brewing Co.

Kristen England and B.J. Haun recently opened Pour Decisions in Roseville, specializing in European style beer. Drink beer while playing cribbage and board games next to the giant muskie mural. Growlers range in price from $9-12 with a $5 deposit and pints are $4 from their taproom, including beers like The Pubstitute, a hoppy, light Scottish ale that made its debut at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair. Expect to see 5 taps and even special sodas, like Jamaican Ginger beer and Apple Hojicha soda. Look for food trucks like Little G's Pizza, Messy Giuseppe's, and Stanley's. Hours: Thursday: 4:30pm-9pm Friday: 4:30pm-9pm Saturday: 2pm-9pm

Summit Brewing Company

The granddaddy of local breweries, Summit only opens its taproom on Fridays, but it has a lot to offer. Expect to see ten taps, plus specials like Meridian Session Ale with El Dorado Hops. Each week Summit also has some cask-conditioned and specialty beers crafted in the brewery’s "pilot system". Try a flight for $7, a pint for $4, or add $3 more and keep the glass. The last Friday of every month, you can also try your hand at bar trivia from 6-8pm. Check out Summit’s website to see which specialty beer and food truck are paired each week - for example, B-52 Burgers with Summit Oatmeal Stout aged in whiskey barrels. Hours: Friday: 3pm-8pm

Lift Bridge Brewing Company

Following the signing of the Surly Bill, Lift Bridge was the first brewery in Minnesota to open its taproom. Expect 6-7 beers on tap, including four year-round beers like the flagship Farm Girl Saison. Pours are $4, flights are $6-9, and growlers and bombers are available for $11-15 fills plus a $5 deposit. Snack on free fresh popcorn or hit up whichever food truck stops by, like Home Street Home, RA Mac Sammy's, and Cajun 2 Geaux. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 5pm-8pm Friday: Noon-8pm Saturday: Noon-5pm

Related Maps