When the Surly Bill became law last May, it opened the floodgates for Minnesota taprooms -- basically bars inside of breweries.
Last November, the Lift Bridge brewery in Stillwater was the first in the Twin Cities area to open a taproom. Fulton followed in March and Harriet Brewing shortly afterward. Harriet's Jason Sowards said pint sales during his taproom's first day in business rivaled a week's worth of growler and wholesale revenue. "Thank God that law passed, so little guys like me can make it," he said.
OK, so the age of the taproom is here. Let's assess.
Taproom style: Industrial warehouse -- but cozy. The Fulton boys have kept their garage-brew aesthetic, with kegs stacked to the ceiling. Only the essentials: shiny concrete bartop, plenty of tables and big windows looking onto the brewery floor.
Owner says: "The taproom gives us that home-brew feeling again," said co-founder Ryan Petz.
On tap: Four beers (all $5), including big guns Sweet Child of Vine and the Libertine. It's also a proving ground for new beers like the Ringer. Serving you beer: One of the owners or a wife (or grandpa). It's a family affair.
Eat this: Food trucks go hand-in-hand with the taproom craze. If the doors are open, one of the Twin Cities' best food trucks will be parked outside cooking something special. Fork in the Road made Fulton beer-cheese nachos a few weeks ago.
Patio: For now, you can hang out on the loading dock. This summer they hope to build a real patio on top of the parking lot and use the loading dock as a live music stage.
