Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in Minnesota

After an explosion of growth in the craft beer industry, the market is undergoing a shift, causing beer lovers to stay alert to keep track of their favorites.

The last decade saw an explosion of craft breweries that operate on a smaller scale and offer a wider, and sometimes more experimental, selection of beer. In 2024, there were a total of 9,496 craft breweries in the U.S., a 104% increase from 2015.

However, that growth is tapering off. According to the Brewers Association, 2024 was the industry's worst year for brewpub, microbrewery, and taproom closings, with 519 drawing their last pint.

Changing consumer preferences may be contributing to this trend. While beer and cider still have the largest market share of alcoholic drinks, consumers are reducing their alcohol consumption. Gallup found that between 2023 and 2025, the percentage of people who consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours dropped eight percentage points to 28%, while the percentage who hadn't had an alcoholic drink in over a week increased eight percentage points to 40%.

Brewers are also facing another enemy: Climate change. Rising temperatures and drought have caused shifts in the growing season and decreased production in noble hops, an essential beer ingredient. Researchers predict that by 2050, climate change could cause an up to 18.4% decrease in hop yields.

Still, all is not doom and gloom. Although the craft beer industry is facing challenges, new brewpubs, microbreweries, and taprooms keep opening—428 opened in 2024—and brewers keep flexing their creative muscles to develop new beer flavors with the best ingredients they have.

Stacker compiled a list of the breweries with the most beers ranked in the top 100 in Minnesota using data from BeerAdvocate as of August 2025. Any ties were broken by the highest-ranking beer.

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BeerAdvocate

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#22. Drastic Measures Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #89. Ill Intent (Imperial IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#21. Third Street Brewhouse

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #82. Cool Beans Imperial Coffee Porter (Imperial Porter)

BeerAdvocate

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#20. Junkyard Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #74. Simcoe DIPA (Imperial IPA)

BeerAdvocate

4 / 22

#19. Brau Brothers Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #58. Rye Wyne Ale (Rye Beer)

siamionau pavel // Shutterstock

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#18. Castle Danger Brewery

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #23. Fresh Hop Mosaic IPA (American IPA)

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BeerAdvocate

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#17. Disgruntled Brewing

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #11. Stupid Good (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#16. August Schell Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #9. Noble Star Collection: Starkeller Peach (Berliner Weisse)

BeerAdvocate

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#15. Lift Bridge Brewery

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #3. Barrel-Aged Silhouette (Russian Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#14. HammerHeart Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #98. Olaf The Stout (American Imperial Stout)
--- #44. Thor's Smoked Hot Pepper Imperial Porter (Smoked Porter)

BeerAdvocate

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#13. Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #49. Cold Press Black Ale (American Porter)
--- #7. Barrel Aged Double Shot Double Black (American Imperial Stout)

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DisobeyArt // Shutterstock

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#12. Fitger's Brewhouse

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 3
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #96. El Nino IPA (American IPA)
--- #66. Big Boat Oatmeal Stout (Oatmeal Stout)
--- #51. Hoppelujah (American IPA)

BeerAdvocate

12 / 22

#11. Indeed Brewing Company - Minneapolis

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 3
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #100. Wooden Soul: Cherry Dust (Wild Ale)
--- #70. Let It Ride (American IPA)
--- #50. The Queen (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#10. Fulton Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 4
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #65. 300 Mosaic India Pale Ale (American IPA)
--- #40. War And Peace (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #35. Insurrection (Imperial IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#9. BlackStack Brewing

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 5
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #77. Wavy (New England IPA)
--- #57. Loud Pack (New England IPA)
--- #42. Thread Count (Imperial IPA)

BeerAdvocate

15 / 22

#8. Modist Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 5
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #83. Future Pixels (New England IPA)
--- #68. Double False Pattern (American Pale Ale)
--- #38. Double Dreamyard (Imperial IPA)

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BeerAdvocate

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#7. Steel Toe Brewing

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 5
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #25. Lunker (English Barleywine)
--- #20. Sticker Fight (Imperial IPA)
--- #15. Before The Dawn (American Barleywine)

zeljkodan // Shutterstock

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#6. Town Hall Brewery

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 7
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #14. Czar Jack Imperial Stout (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #12. Twisted Trace (American Barleywine)
--- #10. Russian Roulette (Russian Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#5. Forager Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 7
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #17. Pudding Dribbles (Imperial Porter)
--- #8. Magnus (American Imperial Stout)
--- #1. Nillerzzzzz (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#4. Lupulin Brewing

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 8
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #53. Barrel God (American Imperial Stout)
--- #37. Blissful Ignorance (Imperial IPA)
--- #27. Hooey (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#3. Fair State Brewing Cooperative

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 9
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #52. Mirror Universe (New England IPA)
--- #32. Lobster Stuffed with Tacos (American Imperial Stout)
--- #24. Spirit Føul (New England IPA)

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BeerAdvocate

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#2. Barrel Theory Beer Company

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 14
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #29. Magic Man (American IPA)
--- #16. Shooter McGavin (New England IPA)
--- #13. Rain Drops (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#1. Surly Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Minnesota: 18
- Highest ranked beers in Minnesota:
--- #5. Axe Man (American IPA)
--- #4. Darkness (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #2. Abrasive Ale (Imperial IPA)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.