LynLake Brewery

This place has a great atmosphere with awesome decorations, tons of seating, and super friendly staff. They didn’t have a lot of beers that I was interested in but the bartender was very nice and helpful and let us sample a few before we purchased a glass. I enjoyed the Razzy Rubbish and their in-​house root beer. Only $ 12 for two glasses of fresh beer and a glass of craft soda.
Parking can be a little tight as it’s on a popular, busy street and shares a lot space with Herkimer Brewing next door so take the 21 or 4 bus instead of driving.
I can’t wait to check out their patio this summer!

The beer is pretty decent and the prices not bad for uptown. But the crown jewel of this place is the spectacular rooftop — it actually still has a view of the city, has a bar that is easy to get service, cool fire pits, comfy chairs. The crowd is all types and very relaxed. Great place to hang out during nice weather… but the downstairs is pretty nice too! Very spacious and lots of seating for couples and groups, plus a huge bar.
Food looks good plus they do allow places like Galactic to deliver

Love this place. A non-​Uptown mixed crowd in Uptown. Pleasant staff. Great beer that changes out but keeps a few staples on the menu. Super big screen to watch games. Not too crowded. Street parking is tricky but usually find a spot within a few blocks.

Loving the chill atmosphere and craft beers. They have always have two casks, a nitro, and a variety of beers. Who doesn’t like FREE samples, FREE popcorn, and board games???

Pretty good craft brews and a hipster vibe. They carry all your traditional American Craft beer with their own little twists. It wasn’t very busy for a Saturday night. Probably not a great pickup spot… Lots of dudes and a few girls… just enjoy the beer.

This place is simply constructed, simply decorated, all in order to make you focus on one thing: the beer. And the beer is what this place does the best.
I came here very close to closing time on a Saturday before my flight home the next morning. The inside is a lot of high tops centered around a wrap around bar. Perfect for socializing.
We sat down at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender who promptly recommended selections based on our preferences. I decided to get a 4 beer sampler to try the selection. Was not disappointed with any of the beers! Even the IPA I got, which I’m not a fan of the type of beer. The sideburns was my personal favorite: an oatmeal chocolate milk stout. Fantastic. It was nitro brewed with the cleanest finish.
The price for the beers itself was anywhere from $ 5 to $ 7. Definitely reasonable for Minneapolis.
Overall: a great place to enjoy beer. Hands down.

LynLake Brewery is a trendy, spacious and inviting place to relax with a beer (or two). The décor is industrial and the music is indie-​chill. Both of which I love.
Their «patio» for me was the big-​sell. It’s a rooftop! They have benches and tables with fire rings/​circles for when it gets chilly. There are two separate bars here so you don’t have to make a lot of trips when you’re ready for another round. (Bar on the rooftop and main bar down below).
I spent all of my time on the rooftop patio but I did notice the front of the brewery. The front of the building has open windows at the bar so it’s almost as if you’re sitting on the street patio. Hard to describe, just see it for yourself ! I definitely want to go back.
Oh yeah, and the beer is great!

Food: ⁵⁄₅
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Cleanliness: ⁵⁄₅
Décor & Style: ⁵⁄₅
Wow. Great beer, great, friendly service, and great style & décor. They built this trendy place inside their own brewery. Pretty darn cool! Both downstairs and outside patio is an excellent hangout spot! Extra kudos for the very spacious design.

So I did go back to cash in my deposit on my growler. I call it a «deposit» because that’s what they call it. There’s an enormous blackboard with their beer menus and growler options, and they clearly state you can get a growler for a $ 4 deposit.
Their word, not mine.
I placed the empty growler on the bar, a bartender asked what she could help with, and I said I’d like my four dollars back. She looked confused and said they don’t give that money back. I pointed to her blackboard where they state it’s a $ 4 deposit on the growler, and I don’t remember what she said because it didn’t make sense, but she did call over another bartender who I assume had greater status.
He tried to explain to me that the $ 4 deposit represents a $ 4 discount on all refills. Which means you buy a growler of beer, pay $ 4 for the glass container and more money for the beer that goes in it. For each refill, you just pay for the beer you’re buying: you don’t have to pay another $ 4 for a new glass container because you brought yours back. And that’s a discount.
If that sounds like bad math to you, there’s a reason for that. Also, if you know anything about words (and I’m a copyeditor), «deposit» isn’t the word they should be slinging around, if they mean «you give us money for the container, and when you return the container we keep your money.»
Because that’s what happened. Out of frustration I told the bartender to keep the growler and the four dollars, in a symbolic gesture of cutting all ties with this place.

The LynLake brewery definitely adds a much needed dimension to Uptown. It helps fill out Lyndale in a way such that one could bounce around for hours and successfully avoid Calhoun Square altogether, which for me is ideal. The space is really cool, inside and out. The high ceilings inside and the often times open windows make it feel spacious, even when it’s crowded. They also host pub trivia with Trivia Mafia which I am especially a sucker for, bonus points for that. My favorite spot has to be the rooftop though, some picnic tables are all you really need with this awesome location.
The beers themselves have never really knocked my socks off. I usually get the Rubbish or the Side Burns Stout which are both good enough to order a few of, but I would definitely never buy a growler of. Like, ever. I should give this place five stars based on how often I’m there, but the beers really have to take precedence here, they are a brewery after all.

I don’t know what I love more… the fact that someone did something awesome with the old Lyndale Theater, or the fact that there’s finally a full-​on brewery in Uptown. Thankfully there’s no need to decide… I’m just happy they’re here!
The space is really incredible. There’s a 4-​sided bar in the center of the taproom, counters near the front entry with windows that open straight up to the sidewalk, and the cherry on top of this old theater is an expansive rooftop patio, complete with taps and fires to keep you warm on chilly nights.
The staff is really friendly and service is fast. They don’t have food, but there are plenty of places nearby that deliver (including WSK and Taco Cat), or you can bring your own. They’re open later than some other breweries around town (11pm most nights and 1am Fri + Sat). I have just 2 small complaints with the LLB operation: it’s not dog-​friendly, and they don’t fill non-​LLB growlers (although they only charge a $ 4 deposit).
Other notables: All day «Hoppy Hour» every Sunday w/​$ 4 pints of a particular brew. Trivia Mafia 8pm every Thursday night (prizes include LLB gift cards).
The Beer Lowdown:
LLB typically has a wide selection of beers on tap, including their 4 flagships, a couple casks, a couple nitros and a range of seasonals. Here are a few I’ve tried…
Sideburns Milk Stout — Although I’ve had this flagship brew a few times, my favorite was when I had the coconut cask version… YUM! It was so smooth, rich in flavor, and had just the right amount of sweetness and coconut flavor. I would definitely get a pint any time they have it on tap! I give it a 4.5÷5.
Yea-​Yea APA — Surprisingly this is my second favorite of all of the LLB brews I’ve tried. Surprising because I don’t normally care for beers that are golden in color, but this is not what I would consider a light beer as many of those are. Yea-​Yea is easy drinking pale ale that’s not too hoppy, but still has good beer flavor. I say ⁴⁄₅.
Take 6 IPA — This is another LLB flagship beer, and it’s a pretty standard IPA. It has a fair amount of hoppiness to it, but it isn’t too bitter. My one complaint is that it doesn’t have a stand out flavor profile. For that reason I mark it at 3.5÷5. It would be better if they did an infusion of some sort.
Rubbish Oat Amber — Rubbish is a Scottish amber ale that looks like a red ale and tastes like it’s been aged in a whiskey barrel (but to my knowledge it hasn’t been). This Flagship beer is just ok…3/5.
Y2K Double Black IPA — If I were preparing for an apocalypse, this would NOT be the beer I would stock up on. I personally prefer my dark beers to be smooth, which this is not, and it was too bitter even for my hop-​loving tastebuds. The verdict: 2.5÷3.
If you’re looking to take some of their brews home, they offer growlers, but they only fill their own.
Cheers!

I am a huge fan of taprooms. Which means that I might have a bias in this review. But it ALSO means I am a little critical when it comes to my judgement. So with this place we can go through the checklist and start right at the top: The place is in the thick of Lyn-​Lake. You may take this as being a little heavy on the traffic and a little light on the available parking. But I take this as: should I need to transition from one spot to another — options prevail. But walking up on the joint is pretty nice. It has a marquee similar to a 60’s movie theater which is pretty novel. And if that doesn’t grab you the front windows roll up creating a ‘hightop to tha sidewalk’. The lighting a décor featured bike wheels and unpainted steel pipe.
Reference the chalkboard on the wall (I always am kinda a sucker for good chalk-​wall art/​lettering) for the available taps. I DON’T recommend the flight. Just about every beer available besides the flight beers are better and deserved to be tasted. The tables have what look to be the same type of food adverts you see on the table down at TGIFridays except they have menu’s from local places that will DELIVER. One of those stars up top goes straight to this. Genius guys… GENIUS.
Definitely coming back. (I just realized how many fully capped words there were in this review — I apologize for that)

I have been here on two different occasions. This place is the reason why I decided to begin Unilocaling.
The service sucks. And by sucks I mean, a bartender I had was incredibly rude on my most recent experience. So, a typical Saturday night out in Uptown with drunk people scattered about and a few lonely sober stranglers. We were those two stragglers and we bellied up to the bar to order two beers.
So, we ordered a light beer and a hoppy beer (not even sure on the names) and proceeded upstairs to find sanctuary in a fire pit. The patio is cute but we felt like the oldest couple at the bar (late 20s-​early 30s). We sat on large picnic tables across from a ball-​like fire pit. After we finished our beers and people watched (Uptown is the greatest for that), we decided to close out and head to another bar. We went downstairs where my date’s tab was opened. We sat at the bar trying to attract the attention of the same rude bartender to closeout and leave. While he may have been busy talking trash about the lack of customers and the lack of tips he was receiving to another bartender, he blindly ignored our patient attempts at closing out.
My date ran off to the bathroom and asked if I could close the tab since maybe I will get the bartender’s attention. In fact, within seconds of my date leaving, he came over and asked «What?» and I simply asked to close the tab of my date. Maybe this is a rule I don’t know in the dating handbook but I didn’t know my date’s last name (it was a third date… sorry). So he asked for the last name and refused to close out when I said I didn’t know. I bartered him into trading my card to put the tab on so we could end the bad experience and leave. He did so but I didn’t leave a tip. So I am a fan of appropriate tipping since I believe you should reward good service, but this bartender tainted any good tip he might have been receiving. Not once was he friendly nor did he even say thank you or wish us a good night. For our first stop of the evening it really was a sad experience. Neither one of us would ever go back.
The first time I was here was in the winter and there was NO WHERE to go when all of the tables were full. You couldn’t stand at the bar (kept getting told to move away from the bar) and it was cold in here. In the middle of winter, the heat should be working…

This would probably be my new favorite brewery just for the beautiful rooftop alone, with great people watching and a gorgeous view of the downtown skyline, but LynLake also happens to have some fantastic brews on tap. Add in the fact that it’s within a short taxi ride from my place and you can order Galactic, World Street Kitchen, Taco Cat, and Prairie Dogs directly to your slightly (or completely, I don’t judge) plastered self on said rooftop, and we have ourselves a five-​star brewery and my favorite addition to Uptown since I moved to the Cities.
Even the most radiant taproom space needs good beer to truly shine, and LynLake delivers the goods. I’ve been dreaming of the Apricot Take 6 IPA since I first sipped in its hoppy, fruity goodness. One of the best, most refreshing beers I’ve had in the Cities, and the first brewskie to ever truly make me want an entire growler of it. I could sit in the sun and drink this for hours… which I will certainly be doing on some lazy weekends in the coming months.
Another standout was the Chocolate Sideburns Milk Stout they had on cask. It was like eating a chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin cookie AND drinking a creamy glass of milk all at the same time. I don’t want to be friends with somebody who thinks that doesn’t sound awesome.
The Rubbish Oat Amber Ale was also a winner. Full of caramel and biscuits, this will be my go-​to brew for the crisper, autumn nights that we’ll inevitably get starting in late August (oh Minnesota summers, why must you be so short).
Did I mention LynLake also shows all of the Minnesota United FC games, and their indoor space is absolutely enormous and well laid out? This place is seriously the best, regardless of the season. Thank you, LynLake, for finally bringing craft beer taproom deliciousness to Uptown.

I cannot emphasize how awesome of a space LynLake Brewery is. Other tap room breweries in the area never let me forget that I’m in an industrial warehouse but LynLake has really taken the time and thought to own the former theater location. The lighting is superb and makes it inviting and homey.
I went on a weekend when LynLake was hosting vendors for a pop up shop event. It was a neat idea to bring in different local vendors to the space and get people, such as myself, that may not come specifically for beer to check it out.
While I was there I tried the Ponyboy Gold. I’m not the biggest connoisseur of beer but I thoroughly enjoyed it which is rare for me. It was clean, light, drinkable (a major plus) and hit the spot. Like most other Twin Cities breweries LynLake does not serve food there however you can easily order delivery from many of the restaurants in the LynLake neighborhood.
I’m excited to come back with friends to relax, pay some games, order a bite and check out the roof top patio. I have a t-​shirt from there as well, seriously thee softest shirt I own.

This place is awesome! It is the perfect atmosphere to spend on a Friday or Saturday night with friends. Have had to wait in line both times I went but it did not take long. The ceilings are really high so the place doesn’t feel crowded or loud. We started out with a flight, which comes in a really cool holder. All the beers were good and I could have gone with any of them but I decided to go with the Take 6 IPA and really liked it. We ordered Taco Cat using the instructions on the table and had to wait 45 minutes to get delivered. They have a list of restaurants you can order from that will deliver straight to your table. Then we were able to enjoy good craft beer and great burritos!
Lynlake is in a great location that is in walking distance from a lot of restaurants and bars. It is pretty casual and a great spot if you want to meet up on a date or with friends just for some drinks. You don’t have to deal with the hassle of feeling pressured to order food by a waiter but can order food from an outside restaurant on their list if you really want to.

I finally did it. I went to a brewery with a pregnant woman that also happens to be one of my best friends/​Laotian sista. ***Checks box of «Things To Do In Jon’s Lifetime.»
No, she did not slam any brewskies down her throat (that would also inebriate her baby via umbilical cord), but my girlfriend, brother, and Sarah (the one that’s pregnant) and I had a freaking blast there. You would think she was drunk.
THINGS TO KNOW:
+Large open and airy space.
+Hanging bicycle wheels.
+Very clear menu written on the wall and above the main bar.
+Plenty of toilets, each with individual rooms located in the back. (Everyone has to share a sink, though.)
+Non-​pretentious staff.
+Tons of high-​top tables and decent room at the bar.
+The stairs to the second level seemed blocked off from the general public. Maybe it’s only for private parties? Summer?
ABOUT THE BEER:
I tried one of their flights and several different pints. Overall, I dug most of them. Highlights:
+IPA: Seems like one that’s not too hoppy, which might appease non-​IPA drinkers (like me). It’s not too floral and hoppy, and I liked it!
+Stouts: Solid.
+Amber: Yum!
FOOD:
LynLake Brewery also provides a delivery menu on each table. The food options are Galactic Pizza, Pat’s Tap, and Taco Cat. We ordered two items from Pat’s Tap:
–Fried Walleye Bites: Nomzzz. Awesome and it goes well with LynLake’s beer!
–Asian Style Wings: Not marinated long enough. I wouldn’t recommend it.
Fun place and pretty good beer. Will be back, probably, after my friend has her child.

Solid beer. Amazing space. Great location.
I could not be more excited that a brewery opened up in Uptown! I visited last weekend and tried the IPA, which was a very good representation of the form. My second beer, a smoked amber, was good albeit a bit heavy on the smoke with some metallic notes.
I just cannot be more excited that this place exists! I will for sure be a regular guest!

All above average brews coming out the taps here. Especially for a new brewery, it’s hard to stand out from the other newer taprooms. Lynlake does it. They claimed an old movie theater as it’s own and did a very good job at it. Add extra seating on the rooftop and this brewery is a beacon for success. Located in uptown would be the only pro and con about coming here. It’s near everything, but the parking in uptown sucks.
Ok, onto the brews. Style-​wise they played it safe (to a point) for an opening brewery. The typical IPA’s, only with a twist on them to make them original and delicious. The pale ale wasn’t typical as well. Hoppy. That’s what it’s about. By far the show stealer was the chocolate milk stout. I’ve had plenty of milk stouts, but this was smooth, chocolatey and no hints of coffee (a plus for anyone who doesn’t drink coffee). That was the winner and I wish they had sold growers, because I wanted to go home with that stout!

Awesome new brewery that you NEED to check out. Great beer, great atmosphere (it’s in an old movie theater) and there’s even a rooftop. They do not serve food but they highly recommend ordering to go. Taco Cat anyone?