St Paul

Our Top 10 Twin Cities Breweries

/ kcole126 / 1 Comment

There are so many great local craft breweries in the Twin Cities area that it can be a real challenge choosing which ones to visit! Some create more traditional, European style beers, while others concoct some creative brews for the brave! Whatever type of beer you enjoy, there is a brewery for you to enjoy in the Twin Cities metro area.

NOTE– This list is in no particular order. We had a hard enough time narrowing it down to our top 10, and we didn’t dare rank it any further!

Insight Brewing

2821 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Insight has a large indoor taproom with a lot of tables and booths to choose from. There is also a small seating area outside for the few months in Minnesota that it is nice enough for sitting outside.

This is one of those breweries that offers a wide variety of ales for you to try. Our favorites from here are the Dankbot IPA and their seasonal Doe Eyes Saison.

Clockwerks Brewing

25 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

A few short blocks from Target field, you will find Clockwerks Brewing. They have a small taproom that has a steampunk vibe. There are tables, couches and a bar area with plentiful seating. They also have their own custom cribbage boards available to use while you are trying their beers!

Our favorite brews from here are the Clockwerk Orange Witbier, the Amber Alt, and the Equanaut IPA.

Finnegan’s Brew Co.

817 S 5th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Finnegan’s is a great brewery that donates 100% of its profits to charities that work to alleviate hunger!

They have a large taproom with an Irish sports bar theme. There are many large tables and many TVs, which a lot of breweries don’t have.

Try their flagship Amber Ale while you are visiting! The Dead Irish Poet stout is also very good.

Bad Weather Brewing

414 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

Not only is this brewery in a great location- by Cosettas in St. Paul and not far from the river- but they have great brews too! They have a very large, open taproom and lots of outdoor seating when the weather is nice (if you will pardon the pun).

There are a lot of good brews from here including the Sun Pillar Belgian blonde ale. If you like IPAs, try the Green Sky double IPA while you are here.

Summit

910 Montreal Cir, St Paul, MN 55102

Opened in 1986, this is one of the older craft breweries in the Twin Cities. They have had a lot of time to perfect their beers and have done a fantastic job!

This is another brewery with a large Ratskeller (taproom and patio) so it is a great place to visit if you are with a large group.

There are so many great beers here!!! The Keller Pills and the Extra Pale Ale are always good choices from here, but you can’t really go wrong.

Sisyphus Brewing

712 Ontario Ave W, Minneapolis, MN 55403

This is a small brewery that is sort of hidden by the highway, but be sure to stop! It is only a short walk from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, so you can enjoy crafts and craft beers! The taproom is pretty small, but they also do have some outdoor seating available.

Did I mention… they have pinball machines??

The Neverlasting Gobstopper is not only a great name, but is a fruity, flavorful sour beer that I have never had anywhere else. The Peanut Butter stout is also worth a try!

LynLake Brewery

2934 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Located in Uptown right off of Lyndale and Lake street, you will find LynLake Brewery.

If you stop here, you will find a cozy little taproom that is decorated with bikes, Edison light bulbs and lots of board games to play while you are visiting.

This brewery has so many good fruity, seasonal beers it is really hard to say what our favorites are. The Rubbish Red Ale is one of their flagship brews and is a great choice, otherwise the Take 6 IPA is good if you are looking for something a little different.

612 Brewing

945 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

We like 612 because they have a nice large parking lot (free!). They also have a big open taproom and a cute outdoor beer garden with a fountain and lots of seating.

One of my favorites from here is the Honey Blonde. It is crisp, light and refreshing- perfect for the short Minnesota summertime!

Utepils

225 Thomas Ave N #700, Minneapolis, MN 55405

Utepils is one of our favorite breweries of all time. They have a large parking lot, great food truck rotation and an extensive (but very good) tap list.

The style of the taproom is German/Czech old world and is decorated with flags, posters, and huge windows that let in a lot of light. There is also a firepit outside that is usually lit- even when it is freezing outside.

The Czech style pilsner here is fantastic. Paul really likes the Skölsch which is hard for him to admit because he is a huge Green Bay Packers fan.

Fulton Brewing

414 N 6th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Last, but not least, we have Fulton Brewing! This brewery is one of my favorites to visit on warm summer evening. The outdoor patio is so cute and the food truck cooking right next to the patio always smells so tempting.

The Lonely Blonde is a very popular choice and you can find it at a lot of restaurants all over the Twin Cities. In addition to beers, they also make a variety of hard seltzers.

If you do find yourself in the Twin Cities and are looking for some budget friendly things to keep yourself entertained, check out our guides for free things to see and do in Minneapolis or Saint Paul!

Cheers!

10 Free things to do in St. Paul

/ kcole126 / 1 Comment

Saint Paul, Minnesota- the other half of the Twin Cities aka “one of the coolest suburbs of Minneapolis to visit while you are here for the Super Bowl” according to a 2018 news report. All joking aside, the Minnesotan capital is an eclectic city mixing both contemporary amenities with historical charm. St. Paul displays its history on the banks of the Mississippi River through its many museums and architecture, while simultaneously offering modern cuisine and attractions. St. Paul is always bustling with its multitude of sporting events, concerts and exhibitions, but you don’t have to break the bank to see all this city has to offer. Below are our a few of our favorite free things to see in St. Paul.

1. See the animals at Como Zoo

This a great zoo with lots of free parking available (if you don’t mind a little bit of walking to the entrance). There is a box for donations if you feel moved to do so, but it is optional. You can see many different animals from all over the world! Arctic, Jungle, Plains and Desert animals are all available to view year round just to name a few. Every exhibit is very kid friendly, and there are even special exhibits that arrive throughout the year (although a few have had a small fee). A great stop for anyone that wants to embrace their “wild side”.

2. Stroll through the gardens at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

These gardens are located at the same property as the Como Zoo. There are so many cool exhibits here- a sunken garden with plants that change seasonally, a room full of ferns, edible plants and spices, a bonsai tree exhibit and even an outdoor Japanese garden to walk through!

3. Visit the State Capitol

The building was recently restored by the state and looks gorgeous! While admiring the building’s architecture, there is a large park surrounding the building filled with paths and memorials to explore, learn and reflect. Inside, you can take a free self guided tour including the Rotunda, the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers and so much more!

4. Free Brewery Tour

With a plethora of craft breweries to explore around St. Paul, you won’t have a hard time finding a new favorite brew! Summit brewing is one that offers free tours where you can see the facilities and learn all about the brewing process.

5. Visit the Markets

To get your fresh fruits and veggies, check out the St. Paul Farmer’s Market! During the summer months (May- October) you can find the market in downtown St. Paul on most Saturdays or Sundays. Check out the Farmer’s Market website for the schedule. If you aren’t visiting on a weekend, check out the indoor Keg and Case market! This market is in a historic brewery and features local restaurants, shops and breweries!

6. Union Depot

A transportation hub for thousands of travelers, Union Depot is a must see. They offer public tours on Tuesdays at 11am. There are also exhibits that change regularly that you can visit and learn about the history of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and transportation. There is even a scavenger hunt you can do to make sure you don’t miss anything!

7. Stop by the Cathedral of St. Paul

This huge cathedral is rich with history. It showcases beautiful architecture and art while overlooking downtown from a hilltop. There are public tours available Tuesdays- Fridays at 1pm.

8. Walk along historic Summit Ave

This is a gorgeous street with hundreds of preserved Victorian Era homes! You can learn about the history of many of the buildings on the Visit St. Paul website.

9. Visit the Minnesota History Center

If you have a Bank of America card, you can visit this museum for free during the first weekend of each month. There are many exhibits to explore and even a fantastic spot to view the State Capitol!

10. Walk along the Mississippi River by Kellogg Park and Raspberry Island

There are so many great sculptures and trails here that allow you to walk, bike or scooter alongside the Mississippi River. You can also just sit, relax and watch the steamboats go by. A wonderful spot for a picnic!

Have you visited or plan to visit St. Paul soon? We would love to know what you thought about the city!