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The 12 Best Breweries in Minnesota
The "Land of 10,000 Beers".
Photography courtesy of Bent Paddle Brewing Company
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Despite what people may think of the Midwest, Minnesota is actually a real treasure trove, full of James Beard Award-winning restaurants, renowned music clubs (hello, First Avenue), top-rated taprooms, and Prince.
Enough said.
Okay, I should make a disclaimer here: Although I live in Oakland, CA, I was born in Minneapolis, so I may be biased. However, I’ve seen the city grow so much since I left in 2007, primarily due to an influx of excellent breweries.
The Land of 10,000 Beers
Look, Minnesota earned the nickname “Land of 10,000 Lakes” (it’s actually 14,380, according to the MNDNR database. Although, who’s counting?), but maybe we should change it to “Land of 10,000 Beers.”
As of 2023, according to the Brewers Association, 237 breweries called Minnesota home—good enough to rank 15th in the country for most breweries. Not too shabby for a Midwestern state, huh?
There are plenty of reasons to visit Minnesota.
You could be catching a show at the historic rock venue First Avenue, heading up to the Boundary Waters for a camping adventure along Lake Superior (the second-largest lake in the world by surface area), or going fishing or boating on one of the almost 15,000 lakes.
Or you could be enjoying all the fried food on a stick you can handle at the Minnesota State Fair (the second largest in the country behind only Texas), journeying up to the start of the mighty Mississippi River (fun fact: it takes a raindrop 91 days to travel from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico), or for some crazy reason braving the Minnesota winter to ski or snowshoe.
Regardless of how you spend your time in Minnesota, add one or two of these breweries to your must-stop list.
If you can’t tell by now, I know a lot of random facts about Minnesota because I love my home state. I’d visit for any of the reasons above, but the breweries that have cropped up in the North Star State have now made it a drinking destination in its own right.
But hey, I can’t be the only one, right? Go and see for yourself.
The 12 Best Breweries in Minnesota
Junkyard Brewing Company
1416 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN | (701) 936-5545
Photography courtesy of John A. Paradiso | Hop Culture
One of our “10 Best Breweries to Watch in 2019,” Junkyard Brewing has only continued to impress us over the years with its heavily hopped double IPAs, juicy fruited sours, and pastry stouts.
While the coasts have typically dominated craft beer discourse over the last couple of years, there’s been a renewed focus on less typical destinations.
We’ve personally had the chance to visit places like Rancho Cordova, CA, Bellevue, WA, and even Vero Beach, FL, to name a few.
We completely understand that if you’re going to Minnesota, you’re most likely focusing on the Twin Cities (and maybe up north). But if you’re looking for the next frontier in craft beer, it might be on the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. Junkyard Brewing and Drekker Brewing Co. are less than a three-mile drive apart, with Junkyard on the Minnesota side and Drekker in North Dakota. And the two Midwest spots are among the most sought-after breweries on social media.
To put it simply: Junkyard brews hype beer. Those crazy IPAs, sours, and stouts dominate here.
But there is also a love for nostalgia and decadence packaged in brightly colored labels and stubby crowlers. The difference is that Junkyard succeeds, whereas others falter. We’ve tried plenty of uninteresting, bog-standard New England IPAs and kettle sours. Junkyard’s are genuinely delicious and a ton of fun. Things aren’t taken seriously; there’s no need to overanalyze a Junkyard beer. Simply crack one open with a few friends and enjoy the evening.
BlackStack Brewing
755 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN | (651) 808-0747
Photography courtesy of BlackStack Brewing
Sort of a hidden gem in the craft beer scene, BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN, is owned and operated by the Johnson family. These are warm, genuine, hard-working folks who emulate what it means to be “Minnesota nice.”
Happy people make happy beer. And the beer here is undoubtedly phenomenal, ranging from the crazy to the hype to the classic. For instance, MURK MERCHANTS, one of Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Quadruple IPAs.
Although officially retired, MURK MERCHANTS is the quadruple IPA BlackStack Brewing Co-Founder and Creative Director Murphy Johnson feels BlackStack first hit out of the park. Johnson says for this beer, the brewery started with 69% Briess pils malt, 15% malted white wheat, 8% malted oats, 5% unmalted wheat, and 3% dextrose. The boosted base then got the ultimate hop injections—Citra, Strata, Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo, Simcoe Cryo, Cashmere Cryo, Talus, and Australian Galaxy.
For those who’ve been counting, that’s eight different hops!
Celebrating BlackStack’s 500th batch and third anniversary, MURK MERCHANTS filled every nook and cranny of your mouth with hoppy goodness.
While we’re sad this beer came and went, BlackStack continues to pump out extraordinary versions. If you ever come across a quad IPA from this Minnesota-based brewery, buy it. Thank us later.
But even if you’re not as hop-venturous, there is a house pael ale, house NEIPA, and “extra mountainous pale ale” that will satisfy you.
Plus, the taproom space is exquisite. Built into an old canning factory, BlackStack’s renovated space includes 20,000 sq ft of an “industrial cathedral-meets-modern museum,” the brewery writes on its website. You’ll find board games, trivia nights, live music, and sports games on the giant screen here.
Wandering into BlackStack is like coming home. It’s warm and comforting, and every beer is served with a smile. Happy people make happy beer, and we promise you’ll be happy here.
Castle Danger Brewery
17 7th St, Two Harbors, MN | (218) 834-5800
When you “go up north” in Minnesota, it’s usually because you love the outdoors. I spent almost every spring break as a kid hitting the slopes at Lutsen, one of the state’s best ski resorts. But tons of folks visit the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota for camping, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and more.
Turns out, there are breweries aplenty for your indoor activities, too. As a kid, I had no idea. As an adult, I seek out these watering holes.
Underrated, under the radar, and most importantly, off the beaten trail—all words that could describe Castle Danger. Yes, you’ll probably need to get in your car and drive a few hours for this one. But trust us, it’s worth it.
Located in a tiny town on the North Shore of Lake Superior, Castle Danger Brewery specializes in dangerously good ales. This destination brewery is as much about embracing the experience of Minnesota’s North Shore as it is about enjoying expertly crafted beer from its 30-bbl brewing system.
Castle Danger strives to capture the crash of the waves off the Great Lake, the outdoor adventure in the woods, the millions of stars seen in the sky, the time spent sitting by a campfire at the cabin, or the scenic drive all inside of a can. My parents retired to the North Shore area in Duluth, MN, about a twenty-minute ride from Castle Danger, so we adore this tiny taproom (my dad almost always has something from Castle Danger in the fridge).
Why do we love this place so much? Rarely can a brewery genuinely emulate the iconic spirit of an entire state in all of its beers, but Castle Danger manages to deftly take the life (and crystal-clear water) of Lake Superior and transform it into fantastic beer.
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
1832 W. Michigan St, Duluth, MN | (218) 279-2722
If you’re already in Two Harbors to visit Castle Danger, then Bent Paddle is just a hop, skip, and a boat (or car) ride away.
So the story goes, the Duluth, Minnesota-based brewery gets its name from the bent canoe paddle that co-founder Bryon Tonnis used to mix his mash. Although it launched in 2013, the brewery opened a new taproom in April 2018, making it one of the coolest places to drink around the Great Lakes.
Committed to “sustainability for our business, employees, the environment, and the greater community,” Bent Paddle has a mission we’re excited to support.
We named Bent Paddle one of our “15 Best Breweries to Watch in 2019” because the brewery churns out just really solid beers. You won’t find the hypest IPAs or fruited sours here. Rather, you’ll stumble upon exceptional takes on the classics with a few innovative surprises.
For instance, one of our favorites is 14° Degree, an amber ale almost like an English-style bitter that’s great in the winter around a campfire. Or Roasty Toasty Porter, named best in show in a blind taste-test competition by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild last year. Or Venture Pils, brewed with that gorgeous Lake Superior water for a Minnesota take on a Bohemian classic.
These are honest-to-goodness beers made by honest-to-goodness Minnesotans. What more could you ask for, seriously?
Bauhaus Brew Labs
1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis, MN | (612) 276-6911
Photography courtesy of Bauhaus Brew Labs
I first came across Bauhaus Brew Labs when I ran a race that started and ended at the taproom. A part of the Minnesota Brewery Running Series, the competition sent us running past breweries in Northeast Minneapolis. After the race, we all enjoyed a couple of pints from this German-inspired brewery.
Don’t be fooled, though. While Bauhaus Brew Labs takes inspiration from Germany, you’ll find a whole host of beers pleasing to the American palate. For example, Wonderstuff, a Bohemian-style pilsner, or Lounge Wizard, a hazy pale ale.
They also have a non-alcoholic beer line and gluten-free hard seltzer series.
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
2506 NE Central Ave, Minneapolis, MN | (612) 444-3209
Photography courtesy of Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Fair State follows a unique model. On September 6, 2014, Fair State Co-op became Minnesota’s first cooperatively owned brewery. And only the third in the country. Considered a cooperative, Fair State allows fans to buy into the brewery. Becoming one of the more than two thousand members lets you help design beer recipes, pick products for beers, enjoy an endless happy hour, get exclusive discounts, attend member-only events, have special access to beers, volunteer through the Cooperates program, and become friends with other members and the staff.
Founders Evan Sallee, Niko Tonks, and Matt Hauck, who met while playing rugby for rival teams, wanted the brewery to be a place where consumers could connect with brewers. In essence, they wanted it to be not just a community space but also a community-run brewery.
The result?
Here, you’ll find collaboration across the board. Which becomes readily apparent when you take a look at the tap list. It’s extensive and bursting with almost every style across the map. Everything includes barrel-aged English-style barleywines, IPAs, Belgian-style beers, saisons, hazies, mixed fermentation, barrel-aged stouts, German-style beers, kettle sours, and more.
On a recent visit home to Minneapolis, I nipped into Fair State’s taproom. I’d hoped my trip would coincide with one of their individual kölsch nights, where they do kölsch service.
But alas, no dice.
Still, you can order kölsch service if you sit at the bar any day of the week. I indulged in a few of Fair State’s KÖLD, a lovely crisp, clean version brewed with German ale yeast, clocking in at 4.7% ABV for ultimate day drinking.
Now more than ever, Fair State could use its community’s support. After filing for bankruptcy last year, Fair State has decided to close its St. Paul production facility. The taproom will remain open, so if you’re in the area, get a big group together and drink some beers.
That’s what Fair State is all about. Beer for everyone. Beer for the people.
Fulton Brewing
414 6th Ave N Minneapolis, MN | (612) 333-3208
Photography courtesy of Fulton Brewing
Fulton is an institution in Minnesota. It’s a classic American craft beer story. Started in 2009 out of a South Minneapolis garage, Fulton founders Ryan Petzo, Jim Diley, and Brian Hoffman built the brewery into Minneapolis’ first taproom (when it officially opened in 2011).
Fulton’s one of the top IPA breweries in the state, from its flagship Sweet Child of Vine to the award-winning Hop Kingdom 300.
This is just a damn good brewery that has been around the Northeast Minneapolis block.
Going to Minnesota without stopping at Fulton would be like going to Minnesota without seeing one lake; it’s impossible.
Modist Brewing Co.
505 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN | (612) 454-0258
Photography courtesy of Modist Brewing Co.
One of Minnesota’s most innovative breweries, Modist, wants to buck the trend both with its beers and its taproom. Here, you’ll find bold beers with intriguing ingredients.
“We make alternative beers,” Modist boldly claims on its website.
Such as Blizzard Blast, a tropical fruited sour with pineapple, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry.
Or DREAMYARD, a beer brewed entirely from oats and wheat malts and hopped with Citra and Sultana.
All in a space that makes the impossible possible. Focused on creativity and experimentation, Modist doesn’t follow traditional style guidelines but instead looks to hit a specific flavor or experience with each beer.
That means Modist built a custom brewhouse to make the beers they wanted. For example, the brewhouse includes the region’s first mash filter, a piece of equipment that allows Modist Head Brewer and Co-Founder Keigan Knee to use any grain he wants in any percentage with only a fraction of the water used in a traditional brewery.
This is just an uber-cool brewery at the vanguard of the craft beer scene. We expect big things from Modist in the future.
Summit Brewing Company
910 Montreal Cir, St. Paul, MN | (651) 265-7800
Photography courtesy of Summit Brewing Company
If you’re looking for a staple in Minnesota craft beer, you’ve found it at Summit. Consider Summit the godfather of craft beer in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Long before breweries like Modist or Bauhaus Brew Labs came onto the scene, Summit held down the fort.
With beers like Extra Pale Ale and Oatmeal Stout leading the way, building a foundation for solid brewing in Minnesota.
Still, the brewery keeps up with the cool kids with limited releases, such as a Great Northern Porter, Elderflower IPA, or Cabin Crusher Kölsch-style ale with lemon.
Visit the Ratskeller, Summit’s St. Paul taproom, for unique taproom-only beers and a Minnesota cabin-cum-great-nothern-lodge-type vibe.
Surly Brewing Company
520 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis MN | (763) 999-4040
Most likely, when you think of Minnesota and beer, the name Surly probably comes to mind. In fact, if I asked you to name one brewery in Minnesota, most would come up with Surly.
Some might call it rude how hits like Furious, Axe Man, and the coveted Darkness have incited such a devout following. We call it the mark of a spirited brewery.
Surly just does everything bigger and better.
True to form, in 2014, Surly opened a ginormous 50,000-sq-ft facility, including a full-service restaurant, outdoor beer garden, and patio with yard games.
This is a fun place to hang outside on a beautiful Minnesota summer day or inside on a chilly Minnesota winter night.
Urban Growler Brewing Company
2325 Endicott St, St Paul, MN | (651) 340-5793
The first women-owned craft brewery in Minnesota also happens to be Queer owned. Helmed by partners Jill Pavlak and Deb Loch, Urban Growler is the perfect example of how to break through barriers in this industry.
Pavlak and Loch had a dream: to open a brewery. But banks wouldn’t take them seriously. “We heard ridiculous things like, ‘How will you girls carry those big heavy bags of grain? How will women your age keep those late-night hours? What if you get divorced?’ … Would you ask that of a heterosexual couple?” said Pavlak in an article for October magazine. But, the couple never quit.
They brewed beer, printed t-shirts, sold shares in their future brewery, and raised over $500,000. Still, the banks turned them down. Finally, at the suggestion of a friend, the ladies visited Pioneer Bank in Mankato, MN, and secured their loan. Years later, Urban Growler has become a beacon in the industry. Their annual Pride beer Let’s Dance, a lavender lemon summer ale, celebrates the Queer community. But the story of perseverance and tenacity here makes Urban Growler such a special place.
Well, that, and of course, the flagship Cowbell Cream Ale. Chock-full of specialty malt and flaked maize, this cream ale is a thirst quencher. “A lawnmower beer that will leave you wanting more,” writes Urban Growler on its website. “No worries, just yell “I need more Cowbell!”
We need more beers like Cowbell and more breweries like Urban Growlers in our lives.
Lift Bridge Brewing Company
1900 Tower Dr W, Stillwater, MN | (888) 430-2337
Photography courtesy of Lift Bridge Brewing Company
Lift Bridge exemplifies Minnesota, often harkening back to the state’s rural roots through its beers. For example, Farm Girl Saison, Lift Bridge’s flagship, incorporates golden malts, wheat, and oats for a true taste of the Midwest.
Located in Stillwater, a town sitting on the St. Croix River about a half-hour drive from Minneapolis, Lift Bridge is the perfect place to visit in the summer. Stroll through the Birthplace of Minnesota, hop aboard an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, and end up in Lift Bridge’s taproom to sip on beers as rich in history as the entire town.
About The Author
Grace Lee-Weitz
Currently Drinking:
Fort Point Beer Co. KSA
Grace is the Senior Content Editor for Hop Culture and Untappd. She also organizes and produces the largest weeklong women, femme-identifying, and non-binary folx in craft beer festival in the country, Beers With(out) Beards, and the first-ever festival celebrating the colorful, vibrant voices in the queer community in craft beer, Queer Beer. An avid craft beer nerd Grace always found a way to work with beer. After graduating with a journalism degree from Northwestern University, she attended culinary school before working in restaurant management. She moonlighted as a brand ambassador at 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. on the weekends before moving into the beer industry full-time as an account coordinator at 5 Rabbit Cerveceria. Grace holds her Masters degree in the Food Studies program at NYU.
