The explosion of breweries and distilleries in the Twin Cites area has leveled off since the pandemic, and sometimes it seems like there are more high-profile closings than openings.
Twin Cities area sees wave of brewery, distillery closures
After a decade-long boom, demand for craft brews and booze has been cooling.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 25, 2024 at 3:50PM
On Wednesday, representatives of the trendy Tattersall Brewing appeared in court, facing eviction from its northeast Minneapolis cocktail room for allegedly owing more than $100,000 in unpaid rent. In 2023, the Minnesota Brewers Guild, which represents most breweries in the state, lost six members. The state’s first women-owned distillery closed its doors in December.
“I definitely don’t think necessarily the bubble is bursting or I don’t think the industry is falling apart by any means,” said Bob Galligan, the guild’s director of government and industry relations. “We are losing more breweries than we’re accustomed to, that’s for sure. But we also are still opening breweries.”
Eight new breweries opened in the state in 2023 and seven more are in the planning stage, he said.
Here’s a list of recent Twin Cities brewery and distillery closures:
2023
Twin Spirits Distillery (Minneapolis)
Lawless Distilling (Minneapolis)*
Dangerous Man Brewing Co. (Minneapolis)*
Stilheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge (Minneapolis)
Lakes & Legends Brewing Co (Minneapolis)
Royal Foundry Craft Spirits (Minneapolis)
Clutch Brewing Co. (St. Paul)
Eastlake Street Craft Brewery (Minneapolis)
612 Brew (sold and rebranded) (Minneapolis)
* Lawless and Dangerous Man are still distilling and brewing, but closed their taprooms.
2022
Able Seedhouse + Brewery (Minneapolis)
Rock Bottom Brewery (Minneapolis)
Tin Whiskers (St. Paul)
The governor said it may be 2027 or 2028 by the time the market catches up to demand.
