So, will be traveling up to the Gunflint June 13 and 14.

We’re staying in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin Friday then will finish the drive to the end of the Gunflint Saturday.

What Breweries should we hit for a carry out growler...or 4 and food on the way?

We’re staying in a cabin, so glass won’t be a concern.

Thanks!

In Duluth our favorites are Bent Paddle, Hoops, and Earth Rider. Gotta stop at Castle Danger in Two Harbors, also. Be sure to check ahead as Minnesota restaurants and breweries are still not operating their indoor/outdoor seating at full capacity.

Indyfisher
Sure you don't want to bring 3floyds zombie dust
Best IPA ever made .....well besides permanent funeral..lol
Jmho
Jay
7thinning-thank you for your options I will be stopping at on of your choice next time I head up thanks!

It's unfortunate you will be in Chippewa Falls with Leinenkugel's but they are closed for tours until at least June 25. My wife's aunt and uncle own a little bar called "Ritz on the River" with a full rail of Leinenkugel's. Nice outdoor patio and I'll go ahead and call it a cool little local dive bar.

In Duluth, Bent Paddle is a huge supporter of the Boundary Waters and definitely worth the stop, top notch beers and lots of paddle related decor to browse in the taproom! Grab some food from O.M.C. Smokehouse and you won't be disappointed. Fitger's, Ursa Minor, and Hoops are other favorites in Duluth.

On the North Shore heading to the Gunflint both Voyageurs Brewing in Grand Marais and Castle Danger Brewing in Two Harbors are great stops.

since you are in Chippewa Falls, I hope you are going up 53 to Superior and not making the mistake of going thru TC

check out Superior for eats & brew

Castle Danger can no longer sell Growlers or Crowlers. They hit the barrel producing limit last year and unless the law changes that will be a thing of the past.

inspector13: "Castle Danger can no longer sell Growlers or Crowlers. They hit the barrel producing limit last year and unless the law changes that will be a thing of the past. "

Doesn't that production limit reset every year? They should be able to sell them again this year.

No. They plan to produce more than 20000 barrels this year. The law currently prohibits breweries with that volume from selling growlers from their taprooms. Last year a worker there said they hoped to get the law changed in 2020 since the legislators didn’t address the issue in 2019. Save the growler campaign.

There is also the Thirsty Pagan in Superior WI.

Hex

Come on folks get serious about this, Wikipedia micro breweries in WI

And MN

And for your GPS try POI Factory

As long as a stop in Chippewa Fall is scheduled, a trip to Leinenkugel's is a must do!


butthead

Voyager right in GM will get you into the BW groove. Great beers, great vibe, and they have some nice looking apparel too. I'm not sure their current status about indoor/outdoor seating or ordering at the bar, etc.

Hopefully they will all be open for your trip. Last we stayed in Chippewa Falls and made a stop at Leinenkugels. Didn't take the tour but a stop at the bar for a flight of beer was still worth it.

Bent Paddle was also worth the stop if you have time in Duluth.

The Cedar Lounge in Superior is Earth Rider's tap room. It's an old-timey bar that has been converted. Very nice. Voyager Brewing in Grand Marais has the best apps.

Appreciate the insights to good local brews in the way.

Will for sure hit Bent Paddle and likely the ones along the north shore.

Thanks!

So, is that an app for your phone or appetizers?? I love having something to snick-snack on while trying a flight of beers.

Voyageur Brewing in Grand Marais is now open with limited seating for beer and food, they are taking reservations up to 1-week in advance. Nice way to guarantee you can enjoy a beer upon arrival!

inspector13: "
No. They plan to produce more than 20000 barrels this year. The law currently prohibits breweries with that volume from selling growlers from their taprooms. Last year a worker there said they hoped to get the law changed in 2020 since the legislators didn’t address the issue in 2019. Save the growler campaign.


"

Love the growler as a way to help a "Little Guy" get a foot up. Once breweries earn a level of success that "Little Guy" no longer applies and the crutch is no longer available, celebrate the victory.

Support your favorite breweries by selecting their product at your local liquor store.

OCDave: "

Love the growler as a way to help a "Little Guy" get a foot up. Once breweries earn a level of success that "Little Guy" no longer applies and the crutch is no longer available, celebrate the victory.

Support your favorite breweries by selecting their product at your local liquor store."

I love Castle Danger and I wish I could still buy a growler or crowler but this is kind of the mindset I've taken as well. Instead of lamenting their own growth they should be celebrating the victory. The ability to sell growlers was intended to help small breweries build brand awareness, and guess what it worked.

Let the little guy keep his advantage, hopefully more will be able to follow the path of Castle Danger and build themselves up to the point they have to give up growlers as well.

It was only mentioned once, so I’ll repeat that Ursa Minor should be on the list. They had been doing drive through pick up of crowlers, and it worked well. Their wood fired pizza is also really good. It’s a toss up for me between Ursa Minor and Bent Paddle in Duluth with an occasional Fitgers stop if we are feeling like having a burger. Castle Danger goes so well with Do North Pizza from a block away. Also love Voyageurs.

Not beer, but Vikre is worth a stop for their craft cocktails made with their own spirits, if they have opened back up. I typically only sip whiskey, but their aquavit is recommended. Worth picking up a bottle at a liquor store, if you can’t make it to the distillery.

Do you also like ciders?

MN_Lindsey: "Do you also like ciders?"

Not a fan of ciders...beer and hard liquor...Some wine.

colddriver: "Indyfisher
Sure you don't want to bring 3floyds zombie dust
Best IPA ever made .....well besides permanent funeral..lol
Jmho
Jay
7thinning-thank you for your options I will be stopping at on of your choice next time I head up thanks! "

Yes, Zombie Dust is awesome, but so common now and I can find it so easily here...plus don’t want to haul it that far and want to support the local folks in WI and MN.

7thinningstretch: "In Duluth our favorites are Bent Paddle, Hoops, and Earth Rider. Gotta stop at Castle Danger in Two Harbors, also. Be sure to check ahead as Minnesota restaurants and breweries are still not operating their indoor/outdoor seating at full capacity."

Appreciate the insight and recommendations

Love the growler as a way to help a "Little Guy" get a foot up. Once breweries earn a level of success that "Little Guy" no longer applies and the crutch is no longer available, celebrate the victory.

Support your favorite breweries by selecting their product at your local liquor store."

I'm of the opinion that somebody who makes a product should be able to sell it to customers directly if the demand is there. Beer (most varieties, anyway) is best when it's as fresh as possible, and getting it straight from the source ensures a top quality product. And with growlers, you can enjoy beers at home that the breweries don't can or bottle. Lots of breweries make small batches of beers that they don't ever send to liquor stores. Finally, growlers are environmentally friendly as they require no disposable packaging.

The three-tier system is a protectionist racket. The good distributors and good liquor stores will have no problem surviving direct-to-consumer sales by breweries. The mediocre ones would have to adapt, and that's okay.

By the way, where I live now, breweries of any size can sell not only growlers, but also cans and bottles to go from their taprooms. The liquor stores still run a brisk trade.

The concept of growlers go back in brewing to time before caned beer was produced. It's attraction goes is hand and hand alongside micro breweries, and brew pubs. Most I know have no intention of enlarging or being partnered with any major brewing concern, and the loss of control that goes with such relationships. The newest in Burlington is a nano brewery with roughly a 2.5 barrel batch system which allows changing and tweaking of recipes way past what a 10 barrel batch can do. A big plus is the quality of the food menus often found in micro pubs!

Far as MN brewing and retail laws, that makes me glad to be a cheesehead. Even leinenkugles will fill growlers, they will also fill blends like Berry Wise and Creamy Dark they call a "BlackBear".


butthead

Is Leine's still worth the stop? Aren't they basically a sweet beer/shandy shop at this point? When I was in college that was pretty much our idea of a small microbrewery (even though we knew they were owned by Miller/Coors), but they've been surpassed by pretty much everybody in the game. I took the tour once and they happened to be brewing Berry Weiss that day. It was a bummer, everything we tasted was colored by the pungent aroma of fermenting berries.

The Chippewa Falls brewery is still in full production as of last year (my last visit), with some dark's and a porter in the aging tanks along with the Shandy's. The store has a full selection.
They never were close to what is considered a micro brewery, but the do put some good stuff out.

butthead

wow, 26 hits on a beer thread: you guys like foam, whether it's whitewater or in the glass....

rtallent: "wow, 26 hits on a beer thread: you guys like foam, whether it's whitewater or in the glass...."

I my case yes fer sure!!! Last May Cathy and I took a western road trip, down to Phoenix then up to Missoula and Glacier NP. Planning included eating almost exclusively at micro pubs on the route. Found a lot of interesting places, food, brew, and soda. Along with friendly people. 3 weeks worth!

butthead

There are a number of places a stone's throw from the interstate as you pass Madison - depends on how much of a detour you want. I would recommend:

Karben4
Ale Asylum
The Great Dane (east)
Growlers to Go Go (not a brewery, but it's got a ton of midwest options to fill)
Octopi (in Waunakee, a NW suburb of Madison)