The Twin Cities Metro area has a lot to offer for breweries, not just in Minneapolis-St. Paul but even suburbia. There’s a lot of good breweries out in the suburbs of the cities so we decided to give them their own top 5. It’s getting harder and harder to find suburbs without breweries anymore these days. So no matter where you live in the metro you’re not too far from a neighborhood brewery anymore. From Stillwater to Shakopee, from Maple Grove to Hastings we counted 45 suburban breweries and picked our favorites.
Back Channel Brewing – Spring Park
One word – BOWLS. Just kidding, Back Channel is not just about the bowls, the beer is seriously good too. Situated right along the lake, this taproom is a must-stop in the summer especially. During the times we have gone, there is always a great variety of styles on tap and usually at least one collaboration with another brewer or brewery as well. If you’re a Minnesota Vikings fan, they also have their very own Ultimate Vikings Gameday Experience in the taproom with contests, music, and lots of fun. We’ve never been, but it looks like a blast. Seriously thought – if you are at the taproom while they are doing bowl pours (FYI – they only do this for the first week they put any new IPA on tap, so keep your eyes peeled!) you really should go for it. It’s a fun thing to do and has a neat backstory you can read about on their website here.
Steel Toe Brewing Company – St. Louis Park
Old Dependable. Steel Toe Brewing and their Size 7 IPA have been a staple to Twin Cities beer culture since 2011. And don’t forget Provider their golden ale. They’ve been making these beers for years now and I’m sure have never considered retiring them. They haven’t changed with the times but that’s not a bad thing. They still make good beer they want to make and they’ve found their niche in the Twin Cities market. It’s seriously good beer, but since it’s clear it doesn’t get the attention it probably deserves today.
OMNI Brewing – Maple Grove
OMNI was one of the breweries we were pleasantly surprised with when we first visited. We didn’t have any expectations, since we hadn’t heard much about it at the time. We were so impressed with what we had! Their New England DIPA ended up being a favorite of ours and has won a few local awards as well. The various Milkshake IPA beers they have done have been favorites of ours as well.
Badger Hill Brewing Company – Shakopee
If you’re going to Valleyfair make sure to stop in at Badger Hill. They’re right across the street and have been consistently pumping out great beer. Traitor, their flagship IPA, is a great fruit aroma heavy, golden colored IPA that doesn’t get as much play as other IPAs around the cities. And Badger Snack is a great peanut butter milk stout that doesn’t get mentioned often enough when peanut butter beers get brought up. Not only is Badger Hill one of our favorite suburban breweries it’s also on our list of “not talked about enough” breweries.
Pig Ate My Pizza – Robbinsdale
As big fans of the food served at Pig Ate My Pizza, we were waiting with baited breath for their very own beer to finally be served from the moment we heard they had plans to brew beer. There are a variety of styles on their beer menu, along with a few great collaborations with other breweries from time to time as well. We are such big fans that this is where Jesse chose to eat with his family on the day of our wedding. If there are people in your group that are non beer drinkers, they also serve some pretty great cocktails as well. While you should already go for the food, the beer exceeded our expectations and makes the visit worth it alone.
Honorable Mention – HammerHeart Brewing Company – Lino Lakes
Alger Beerventures 