Northgate Brewing

Races with beer at the finish are my favorite races.  It isn't just about the beer, it's that, naturally, the people that congregate for a beer-blessed race aren't taking themselves too seriously.  They're enjoying the sunshine, they're trying a new beer, and they're proud of their shiny new pint glass.

I had the chance to experience the new Northgate Brewing taproom as they hosted the latest installment of the Minnesota Brewery Running Series. Kindly starting at 11 am (because who wants to run a 5K at 7 am on a Saturday?), the race wound around the Northeast area between Broadway and Hennepin. After just-over 3 miles, we celebrated with a pint of our choice at the soon-to-be-all-the-way-open taproom.  I tried the Pumpion, a pumpkin spice beer that probably would have been better suited for a chillier day.  But sunshine and warm weather didn't deter me from enjoying the autumnal pint.  Some may find it on the spicy, bite-y side but I really liked it.  Some pumpkin beers are so heavy, and post-race I wasn't looking for a beer I could chew.  This one was pleasantly light but still had a distinct pumpkin aroma and a cinnamon kick. Can't wait to drink it again when I'm wearing a sweatshirt, instead of sweating all over the table.

The taproom itself is laid back and cozy. It's heavy on a diner/kitchen feel, as opposed to the darker woods that some other local taprooms have embraced.  The bench seating makes it feel like the eat-in kitchen of your Cool Uncle, and I mean that in the best possible way because I love all my uncles, the cool and the less so. This is a place you could hang out for hours, happily.

The taproom celebrates its grand opening on October 10th, 4pm to Midnight. The next Brewery Run is the next day, October 11th, at Pracna on Main. Mark your calendars for a beer-centric weekend in October!

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