Minnesota's Specialty Sips

The beverage scene across the country (and especially in the Twin Cities) is constantly evolving, now more than ever. You no longer need to go to a bar to get a drink. First came the breweries, then distilleries, serve-your-own beer and wine walls, kombucha bars and now the latest trend: nonalcoholic drinks. No matter your taste or preference, these Twin Cities spots–from north to south, east to west–will ensure you won’t leave thirsty.

Nonalcoholic Drinks are Expanding

Goodbye dry January—people want to be able to enjoy nonalcoholic drinks year-round. The top trend in the beverage industry is nonalcoholic drinks. Whether you’re at a bar, restaurant or at the store, consumers have come to expect not only a nonalcoholic drink option but also one that competes with its alcoholic counterpart.

The legal definition of a nonalcoholic drink is a drink containing less than 0.5% alcohol. Marigold in Minneapolis made headlines for being the first store to specialize in nonalcoholic beverages—including wine, beer, spirits, mixers and more. And when it comes to nonalcoholic beers, the state of Minnesota is revolutionizing the industry. ABV Technology of St. Paul introduced a way to create nonalcoholic beers. In the past, people relied on high temperatures to remove the alcohol, but this affects the overall flavor and body of the beer. ABV created a process for brewers to turn beer that has already been brewed into an equally enjoyable nonalcoholic version using equipment that removes ethanol.

Thirty breweries in Minnesota already use this technology, with some local favorites including Bauhaus, Dangerous Man, Wooden Hill and Fulton. And that’s not all. Hairless Dog Brewing—purchased by another Minnesota native, Finnegans Brew Co.—is producing a completely alcohol-free Black Ale, IPA and Citra Lager that are all receiving rave reviews for taste and drinkability.

Another player in this space is Hop Water—carbonated water that is infused with the flavor of hops. Some also have yeast, but since there are no grains, there is no alcohol. Local brewers Fair State and Fulton both have their own varietals, along with global brand Lagunitas.

Mocktails

When it comes to nonalcoholic beverages, mocktails are creating quite the buzz around the Twin Cities. Dry Wit, a nonalcoholic blend of botanicals and verjus, was created by Peder Schweigert who shifted his focus to mocktails after working at Marvel Bar, previously one of the top cocktail destinations in the Twin Cities. There’s also Sober Sallys, a mobile craft mocktail bar, and extensive offerings at bars, restaurants and breweries around town.

North: Hai Hai

This Southeast Asian street food restaurant and bar in Northeast Minneapolis never fails to make you feel like you’re on vacation in paradise, even in the dead of winter. So, it seems only right to try a refreshing nonalcoholic mocktail, like the Mot, Hai, Ba or Yo, all made with tropical ingredients like mangosteen, guava and grapefruit.

South: Khâluna

The minute you step into Khâluna, you are instantly transported to paradise, and the wide range of nonalcoholic drink offerings do not disappoint. With names like Cleanse, Awaken and Relax, and ingredients ranging from ashwagandha, schisandra, dandelion, jujube, calamansi and waterhyssop, you know you’re in for a true taste experience. Offerings also include kombucha-esque ferments, mango lassi and carbon dioxide-infused drinks.

East: W.A. Frost and Co.

It doesn’t get much more classic St. Paul than W.A. Frost’s. An institution in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood since 1975, W.A. Frost’s drink menu features “No-Proof, Low-Proof and Full-Proof Cocktails” and as you’d expect, a fun alcohol-free take on some of the classics, including a negroni, strawberry gimlet and the elegant sounding “Evening at Frost.”

West: Martina

Martina, well-known chef and restaurateur Daniel del Prado’s premier restaurant, features a fusion of Argentinian food with Italian influences. Located in Linden Hills, it also hosts a monthly gnocchi night for those in the know. The beverage program is run by Beverage Director Marco Zappia, a well-known figure in the Twin Cities for creating some of the most impressive drink and bar menus around town. Martina’s nonalcoholic cocktails currently include flavors like lemongrass, raspberry hibiscus and masala chai, but are always changing to include new and seasonal ingredients.

Self-Serve Beer Walls

When breweries with taprooms first emerged as a place to gather in the Twin Cities, they took over the scene. While they are as popular as ever, many trends in the beer industry continue to evolve, including sours, seltzers, hop water and self-serve beer walls. We’ve highlighted a few favorite self-serve beer wall spots around town.

North: First Draft + Burnt Chicken

Located in the North Loop of Downtown Minneapolis, First Draft features 54 taps of cocktails, beer, wine, cider and kombucha, a majority of which are sourced from Minnesota. Make sure to try the burnt chicken!

South: Tap Society

Nestled in South Minneapolis, this neighborhood bar boasts a self-serve beer wall with 26 taps along with an expansive above-average bar menu.

East: Malcolm Yards 

A popular spot at the edge of the University of Minnesota campus with a selection of over 50 self-pour beers, along with several wines that are all frequently updated. The Lab down the street and Union 32 in Eagan both also offers great beer walls.

West: Bear Cave Brewing

With 52 iPourIt self-serve taps featuring craft beer brewed in-house along with hard seltzers and wine, this newer expansive spot in Hopkins features seven zones- from tasting room to rooftop deck- to enjoy your beverage the way you want, when you want.

Wine and Cider

Wineries have been around the Twin Cities for quite a while, but tasting rooms and expanded patios for snacks and flights continue to grow, and some might even have you questioning if you’ve transported to Wine Country. The area’s popular wineries include Winehaven Winery, Schram Vineyards, 7 Vines Vineyard, Cannon River Winery, Saint Croix Vineyards, Carlos Creek Winery and Alexis Bailley Vineyard—many of which offer up new, alcohol-free ways to enjoy wine.

North: Sip Better

Sip Better is a wine shop and so much more. Featuring custom hand-selected wines from a sommelier—as well as wines sourced from family-owned and boutique wineries that value sustainable production methods—this is no ordinary wine club.

South: Urban Forage Winery & Cider House

A cozy little winery in the heart of South Minneapolis, this hot spot offers wine (made from both grapes and an eclectic mix of other fruits and vegetables), mead and hard cider from locally sourced fruit. Samples are available in the taproom.

East: White Bear Meadery

Mead is a honey wine made by combining honey and water, which is then yeast fermented with fruit, spices and other ingredients. It is also rapidly growing in popularity around the country. White Bear Meadery’s tasting room offers a full food menu and a wide assortments of mead to sample that feature locally sourced ingredients.

West: Wineside Wine Bar & Market

Welcome to the wine version of a beer wall! Choose from more than 100 wines and pair your selection with a meal from the menu. Options include charcuterie boards, flatbreads, small plates and more. There is also an attached wine shop and market, so you can pick up a bottle to take home.

Kombucha

While less common, kombucha isn’t just a passing trend, it’s everywhere. So, what is all the fizz about? Kombucha is a black tea that has been fermented with sugar, live cultures and sometimes juice, fruit and other spices. It originally gained popularity because of its known health benefits, as it is typically a rich source of probiotics, which are helpful for digestion. This trend may sound very West Coast, but there are multiple Minnesota brands popping up to jump on the trend.

North: Northstar Kombucha

Created in Northeast Minneapolis, the stunning bottle design on this unique small-batch kombucha made using tea, fruits, herbs and spices can be found all across the Midwest. Less than 2 miles away, also in Northeast Minneapolis, BUCH is trying something a little different with its Hard Kombucha Seltzer—a blend of electrolytes and a 4.5% ABV with flavors like Passionfruit Elderflower, Cherry Rosemary and Lychee Lemongrass. Plus, a taproom is set to open soon!

South: Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha

Located in Apple Valley, Bootlegger makes kombucha with organic tea, evaporated cane juice, “local love” and a 40-year-old culture packaged with Midwestern aesthetic on the bottle. With varieties like Hearty Woodsman Ginger, Lavender Viking and Sturdy Girl Apple Cinnamon, this is a brand staying true to its Minnesota roots. 

East: Deane’s Kombucha

This is the only commercial kombucha in Minnesota that is small-batch brewed in oak barrels and fermented with whole organic fruit and is available in bottles, growlers and kegs throughout the state. The brewery also has B+W Cold Press on Nitro and St. Paul Switchel—a historic farm drink—available in kegs or growlers. Koru Kombucha is available at St. Paul Brewing (among other locations), and J’s Kombucha is another fantastic option brewed in St. Paul.

West: Prana-Kombucha

This South Minneapolis brewer specializes in gently sweet European-style Kombucha teas with flavors like Earl Grey, hops, hibiscus, ginger and hemp. Teas are available on tap or in a bottle, and there’s a home delivery subscription club as well.

THC and CBD

With the passing of the THC bill in Minnesota, many Twin Cities breweries are jumping at the chance to introduce THC-infused beverages. The legal limit in Minnesota is 5 milligrams of THC per serving, and THC beverages cannot include alcohol. But what is THC?
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant—marijuana and hemp are two varieties. While recreational use of marijuana is still up for debate, these Twin Cities breweries are offering up THC-infused libations.

North: Minneapolis Cider Co.

Trail Magic features four different flavors including Lime Margarita, a take on the classic Arnold Palmer and even Hop Water. Fun fact: there’s a real Hiking Club that includes a monthly Trail Magic subscription!

South: Eastlake Craft Brewery

High & Dry THC Seltzer is essentially sparkling water with 5 mg of Minnesota-grown THC per serving—and it is fast acting and long-lasting. It can be purchased in the taproom, several locations around the Twin Cities or delivered for free.

East: Surly Brewing Co.

Take Five is available in cans and is a lime, mixed berry and lemonade THC tonic with 5 mg of THC per can. It features Minnesota-grown hemp derived from STIGMA Cannabis Co. with no calories and no sugar.

West Lakes & Legends Brewing Co.

Hiii has a fun name that comes in several fun flavors like passion fruit, ginger ale and a rotating selection of others. The brewery describes the new orange flavor as “a tangy, refreshing popsicle while laying on freshly cut grass at the end of a warm summer day.” They all feature 5 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBD (cannabidiol, the active ingredient in cannabis).

Juice

Juice is another beverage that has gone through quite an evolution over the last few decades. From the mall Orange Julius, juice bars have been transformed to include cold-pressed juices with organic ingredients, cold-pressed coffee drinks, wellness shots and an overall focus on a healthy lifestyle, beyond simply weight loss, with grab-and-go food items and even cleanses.

North: Nekter Juice Bar

With locations in Shoreview and Woodbury, Nekter has fresh juices made with approximately three pounds of fresh fruit and veggies, acai bowls, superfood smoothies, cold-pressed juice and wellness shots. They also have Classic, Half Day and Celery Detox cleanses.

South: Clean Juice

Featuring a stacked menu of cold-pressed juices, protein smoothies, wraps, bowls, fresh juices, a full line of toasts and even a kids menu. This Edina spot offers a variety of cleanses, including Energy, Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory, and their Brand Ambassador is Tim Tebow.

East: The Dripping Root

As the first and only Black-owned cold-pressed juice bar, they offer a variety of delicious juices, wellness shots, 3-day juice cleanses and smoothie bowls, along with jugs of lemonade and ginger lemon shots in the Howe neighborhood of Minneapolis.

West: Vibe Organic Juice Bar

Offering cold-pressed organic juices made in-house in St. Louis Park, smoothies, wellness shots, acai bowls, dandelion tea, bulletproof coffee, and even sandwiches on Dave’s killer bread.

Whenever and wherever you like to quench your thirst this summer, we encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and try one of these emerging trends. You might just find a delicious new favorite.