Southern Tier Brewing, Buffalo, NY
They make Pumking, which is an Imperial pumpkin ale and Shawn's favorite beer since Slumbrew stopped producing the Porter Square Porter. Their bartop was constantly changing colors. Great vibe, beer, and food!
Pearl Street Brewing, Buffalo, NY
This brewery had a very brewpub feel. We enjoyed their pumpkin beer enough to get a 4 pack to go. Bryn loved the belt-driven fan system. We were drawn in by their wings and blue cheese graffiti ad on their exterior, which also caused Shawn to order wings.
Good City Brewing, Milwaukee, WI
Their fried cheese curds were exceptional. The vibe was great and all the food was delicious! We appreciated the variety in their beer menu. They were very kind and let us spend the afternoon working at a table. If you find yourself in Milwaukee and need a solid place to work, this is it! There is something for everyone here.
Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, MN
Surly is a very popular spot! We actually had to go next door to O'Shaugnessy Distilling Co. first (a nice bar with delicious, creative cocktails). Surly was crowded but we were lucky to get bar spots! The food menu is surprising (for the Midwest) and there is also great pizza from a separate company with its own menu. Shawn got a pizza and Bryn got a tofu bowl. Both were tasty! The food is rivaled by the great beer selection and quality. Unfortunately, they are limited on the beer we can take to go, only offering crowlers and growlers, neither of which last long. We got a crowler of Petit Ami, a Belgian-style table beer to go. It was one of the best of this style we've ever had!
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN
This brewery is off the beaten path but offers a nice indoor-outdoor space. We went here with friends who wanted us to try the pistachio cream ale. A super unique beer! We tried to get some to go but they were out. So Bryn got some Lavender Lemon THC seltzer instead. Delicious! This was our last stop of the night, so Bryn didn't really drink (she DD'd) and we had already eaten so we didn't partake in the food truck. We wish we had more time to explore this brewery!
Firehouse Brewing, Rapid City, SD
This brewhouse cleverly advertises along I-90 with vintage firetrucks and signs. It is a good touristy stop! The beer is decent, but nothing special. Their IPAs are a little harsh. We did enjoy their "Wings and Rings" appetizer. The upstairs area is well set up for a gameday watch party. It's located in Rapid City's city center, so there are a lot of other bars and restaurants nearby as well.
Sturgis Brewing, Sturgis, SD
This brewery is an odd one. Located in Sturgis, about 30 minutes from Rapid City, this building is quite new with a warehouse/industrial feel. But the décor is so weird! There is a wooden sign for the Original 13 Colonies and their Mug Club is called "The Betsy Ross Mug Club." We even asked the staff about the name, wondering if there was some connection to her that we aren't aware of and there isn't. However, we enjoyed the beer and had some great wings. One of the sauce options is 'honey garlic' which we liked so much we asked for some to go.
Lost Cabin Beer Co, Rapid City, SD
A very Portland ME brewery vibe here, specifically Lone Pine because of its size. Lost Cabin is a few hundred feet from a public park with a small disc golf course. A garage door opens to their patio. They advertise a rotation of food trucks, and the Indian food truck there the night we went smelled amazing. Straight Outta Yankton was a very good IPA, though it is a limited release. They have a great selection of VERY good beer. This might be our favorite stop so far!
Dakota Point Brewing, Rapid City, SD (150 ft. from Lost Cabin)
You can get 6 beers in a flight, and the flights come well presented with very detailed cards about each beer. Excellent amber (Better Half) and peanut butter porter (Itstha Nuts). This brewery is in an industrial style building and feels a little corporate and cold. If you're taking the time to go to Lost Cabin, Dakota Point is worth a stop.
Hay Camp Brewing Company, Rapid City, SD
Their space is a mix between the standard industrial brewery and a wooden pub style vibe. They've got a pool table. The space is very large, clean, and new. The décor is fun and western. They have a large variety of styles and the bar tenders were very cool and friendly. Overall a nice, relaxed space with plenty of room for larger groups.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Bryn's favorite: Lost Cabin. It's cozy and fun with great beer and a good selection of rotating food trucks. The best beer was Jerry the Pidgeon, a saison aged in white wine oak barrels. Lost Cabin's creativity in their brewing process really stands out in this beer.
Shawn's favorite: Pearl Street Brewing. The beer and food were both very good, and the interior was quirky yet cozy like a pub. My favorite beer was Southern Tier's Pumking, though I already knew that before trying it at the brewery.
Our Top Picks:
1) Surly
2) Lost Cabin
Honorable Mention because it seems like just the type of place we'd love, we just didn't have time to try enough beers: Indeed
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