5 Craft Beers You Have to Try in Minnesota

2. Third Street Brewhouse, Cold Spring

A photo posted by Third Street Brewhouse (@thirdstreetbrewhouse) on Apr 4, 2014 at 11:12am PDT

The bright and modern taproom, three year-round brews, and a rotating selection of specialty and seasonal beers draw beer fans to tiny Cold Spring, a community of just over 4,000 souls near St. Cloud. Try the malty Lost Trout Brown Ale or visit between November and March to sample Sugar Shack, a sweet, creamy stout made with maple syrup from Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum and Forest, located 12 miles down the road.

3. Brau Brothers Brewing Co. , Marshall

A photo posted by Landon Brown (@lanbron) on Sep 25, 2014 at 9:40pm PDT

The crew at Brau Brothers believe in local ingredients so much, they raise 11 varieties of hops and grow and malt their own two-row barley near their southwestern Minnesota brewery. The comfortable, family-friendly taproom is open daily and offers a surprisingly comprehensive menu to compliment the rotating 12-beer selection. The silky, mellow MoosJoos Oatmeal Milk Stout is a bestseller but Bancreagie, a Sour Peated Ale, offers a slightly smoky change of pace.

4. Mankato Brewery, Mankato

A photo posted by Mankato Brewery (@mankatobrewery) on Jan 16, 2016 at 9:51am PST

The no-frills taproom offers six year-round beers and a handful of seasonal offerings. Try the Imperial Red Ale, with hints of raisin, caramel, and brown sugar or the crisp, hoppy knockout that is the Haymaker IPA.

5. August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm

A photo posted by Schells Brewery (@schellsbeer) on Dec 28, 2015 at 3:04pm PST

This proud brewery has stood along the banks of the Cottonwood River for generations – the first brick was laid in 1860. German craft beer has been produced in this southern Minnesota community of just over 15,000 for almost as long. See the history at the Museum of Brewing, sample a Firebrick (a mild, malty Vienna-style amber), or try Schell’s Pils (a hop forward, European style pilsner).