As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it’s time to find ways to stay warm and socialize indoors.
Central Minnesota is home to several independent breweries that can help visitors warm up with a unique drink and connect with friends and family at a series of events.
Aegir brewery
Named after a giant from Norse mythology who ruled the sea and brewed beer for the gods, Aegir Brewing Company’s menu includes both staples and experimental items. There are porters, IPAs and apple beers on tap, as well as a ‘Smokin’ Hot’ beer with peppers and the ‘Bloody Beer’ – Aegir’s version of a Bloody Mary. The brewery also hosts game nights, trivia and karaoke events.
Aegir Brewing Company is open Monday through Thursday from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM at 19050 Industrial Blvd NW in Elk River.
Brewery Bad Habit
Bad Habit Brewing Company, located in downtown St. Joseph, offers customers a variety of drinks to enjoy in the taproom or as a take-out order. Bad Habit Brewing’s menu includes unique items such as the Habitual IPA with tropical fruit flavors, or the Dark Addiction, which uses milk sugars and cocoa nibs in the brew. The brewery also hosts events every month, such as trivia nights, and uses visiting food trucks. Fans of Bad Habit can also participate in the rewards program.
Bad Habit Brewing Company is located at 25 College Ave. N. in St. Joseph. It is open Friday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Tuesday to Thursday from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Beaver Island Brewery
Beaver Island Brewery, near downtown St. Cloud, offers visitors 50 beers and partners with 27 distributors. The menu ranges from hard fruit punch Jamaica Mistaica to Muggsy’s Coffee Cream Ale and Minnesota Classic lager. The brewery hosts events such as trivia and comedy nights, as well as the Tending For a Cause event every other Wednesday, with $1 from every pint sale donated to local nonprofits.
Beaver Island Brewery is located at 216 6th Ave. S. in St. Cloud. It is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Granite City Food and Brewery
Granite City Food and Brewery, headquartered in Bloomington with locations throughout the Midwest, serves an extensive menu of tacos, burgers and pasta, as well as cocktails, wine and original beers. Granite City brews a number of beers in the restaurant itself, while other varieties are brewed in other cities such as Duluth. It also offers a seasonal menu, including the beers ‘Oktoberfest’ and ‘Rainbow Sherbet’, in addition to staples such as lager, ale and seltzer.
Granite City Food and Brewery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 3945 Second St. S. in St. Cloud.
Pantown Brewery
Pantown Brewing Company opened in 2018 in the historic Pantown area of St. Cloud. It features 24 beers on tap, with both fruit beers such as Ma-Coco Mango Coconut and Bluemound Road Mulberry. Pantown also brews IPAs such as Black Flag and Aqua Dementia. Variety is the key at Pantown, where it is running through unique, limited-edition items, including a dill pickle cream beer, and offering a number of food items, including pizza.
Pantown Brewing is located at 408 37th Ave. N. in St. Cloud. It is open on Tuesdays from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Fridays from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
More: Pantown Brewing Company offers unique flavors including Oktoberfest and dill pickle
Sunken ship’s brewery
Princeton brewery Sunken Ship Brewing Company offers visitors 14 beers on tap to choose from. Many have nautical names like ‘Maximum Wake’, ‘Cult of Deep Sea Divers’ and ‘Mermaid’s Charm’. The menu includes stouts, seltzers, dessert beers and the new “Glint of Gold” mango IPA. The brewery is also dog-friendly and customers can bring their own food or have orders delivered.
Sunken Ship Brewing Company is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at 32273 124th St. in Princeton.
Third Street Brewery
One of Minnesota’s first breweries, Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring is home to both the company’s taproom and brewery, which visitors can tour. The drinks menu includes basic beers and fruit beers. Third Street Brewhouse also offers a seasonal menu, including Sugar Shack maple stout and Jack’d Up fall beer. The brewery also hosts “tap takeover” fundraisers, with proceeds donated to the organization sponsoring the event.
Third Street Brewhouse is open Fridays from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 219 Red River Ave. N. in Cold Spring.
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Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in St. Cloud Times: Seven Central Minnesota Breweries to Visit This Fall
