Your Guide to the Best Beers, Wines, Spirits, and Ciders Made in Minnesota

Twin Cities Breweries

There's no shortage of great brews made in Minnesota's most densely populated region. It's a veritable hotbed for hops. A microbrew Mecca. A taproom Taj Mahal. (I think that's enough.)

Finnegan's Brewery

Deep brews, full-flavored ambers, crisp ales, and a philanthropic mission to boot. Finnegan's Brewery has been fueling – and feeding – the community for more than a dozen years.

Boom Island Brewing

Situated in Northeast Minneapolis, the family-owned Boom Island Brewing exclusively produces Belgian-style beers.

Lift Bridge Brewery

From a basement in 2008 to their brewery in Stillwater, Lift Bridge Brewery – named after a bridge that connects Minnesota and Wisconsin over the St. Croix River – crafts tasty brews to lift your spirits, too.

612Brew

Skewing local-heavy, 612Brew takes its brews and its naming conventions from the Twin Cities that surround it. Try SIX, their summery American pale ale named after the trusty Minneapolis Transit Authority bus that runs by the test brewery.

Steel Toe Brewing

With "big dreams of staying small," Steel Toe packs a punch in each pour with four mainstays – Size 7 IPA, Provider Ale, Rainmaker Double Red Ale, and Dissent Dark Ale – along with seasonal offerings.

Fulton Brewing

One of the most recognizable Minneapolis beers, Fulton's 50,000-square foot Northeast brewing facility churns out local favorites like Lonely Blonde, Sweet Child of Vine, and The Ringer year-round.

Excelsior Brewing Company

For the out-of-towners, the suburb of Excelsior is the epitome of laker life, a Minnesotan tradition that means you've made it – and now it's time to kick back and savor it. Excelsior Brewing Company's Big Island Blond, Bitteschlappe Brown Ale, MinneGos, and more are the perfect complement.

Indeed Brewing Company

Another household name for Minnesota beer fanatics, Indeed distributes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of North Dakota. No wonder – demand for their staples like Day Tripper, Midnight Ryder, and Dandy Lager runs high across the Bold North.

Bauhaus Brew Labs

New only by comparison, Bauhaus quickly established itself as an indispensable local taproom with their core brews – Wonderstuff, Stargrazer, Wagon Party, and Sky-Five – and their distinct, colorful, just-quirky-enough branding design.

Summit Beer

Summit owes their whole operation to what they call their EPA – that's "Extra Pale Ale." Its popularity helped launch their brewery and expand their offerings to seven year-round brews and a bevy of seasonal tastes.

Grain Belt Beer

Somewhere among Prince, First Ave, and the Spoonbridge & Cherry, the Grain Belt Beer sign is one of Minneapolis's most recognizable institutions. The history of the brand is great, but you don't need to know it to enjoy Nordeast, Grain Belt Premium, or Grain Belt Premium Light.

Surly Beer

Years ago, Surly launched Furious – and the rest is history. Passion runs so high for this Minnesota beer brewing company that its patrons helped pass the "Surly bill" allowing brewers to sell pints at their own breweries. Celebrate the "Power of the Pint" with Furious, Bender, Hell, Overrated, or any of their great brews.

Bad Weather Brewing

Never let it be said Minnesotans aren't self-aware. We even came up with a way to say we love Bad Weather. From their Windvane Red IPA to The Hopcromancer American IPA and the classic Belgian blonde Sun Pillar, you could do a lot worse than Bad Weather's brews when clouds gather overhead.

Southern Minnesota Breweries

The beer crowd doesn't thin out as you head south. If anything, competition heats up near the MN/WI border. Check out some of these strong Southern Minnesotan beers for proof.

Northern Minnesota Breweries

Ships aren't the only tall things you'll find up near Duluth and the Boundary Waters – their beer glasses are no pushovers, either. You'll find a variety of brews to enjoy, from blonde, Belgian-inspired flavors to cream ales and sweet seasonal picks.

Twin Cities Distilleries

A nice side effect of urban sprawl is the unique drinks that come with it. From Downtown to Uptown, Northeast to Northfield, these distilleries have cemented their place in the Cities.

Minnesota Wineries

Don't let the brewery boom mislead you: Wine aficionados across Minnesota have plenty to love right here in their home state, too.

Minnesota Cideries

While not as ubiquitous as beer, the cider niche is strongly represented by a few outstanding cider producers in and around the Twin Cities.