Latest reviews from Rochester
| 84 /100 Jack's Bottle Shop (Beer Store) 909 6TH STREET NW “One of the managers at Forager showed me the coolships and then suggested I visit to Jack's which is just next door. Jack greeted us and gave me a tour of his inventory, of which he is understandably proud. I was most interested in the lambic styles, which featured an entire shelf of 3-F. Spontaneously fermented ciders as well. Extensive selection and great service.“ |
| 94 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Thanks jackl for the recommendation. Gorgeous taproom in an unassuming location. Barrel room is straight ahead when you enter, then a large taproom with multiple rooms, and finally a long bar. 14 taps plus bottles available for in house consumption or take away. I had already had their pastry stouts in Minneapolis so I focused on the coolship beers and saisons, all of which were tasty and characterful with varying degrees of funk. Full food menus but the pizzas came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Paul the manager took me to see the two coolships stored across the parking lot, thanks for that! Worth travling great distances to visit.“ |
| 54 /100 Apollo Liquor (Eastwood) (Beer Store) 1513 12 ST SE “Smallish store tucked in a strip mall across from Cub Foods off of hwy 14 on the east side of town. The craft beer selection here is average. It is convenient for me so I shop here occasionally. Most of the other Andy's locations have a better selection, but it's not terrible.“ |
| 80 /100 Jack's Bottle Shop (Beer Store) 909 6TH STREET NW “Jack's is a high end craft beer store for enthusiasts. Because of Jack's connections he carries a lot of beers you normally can't find in Rochester, so in that aspect they rival some of their counterparts located in the twin cities. A bit pricey, but well worth visiting if you are in town. Right around the corner from Forager brewery, which is also worth your time if visiting.“ |
| 82 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Very unique hippy dippy type of place with a diverse selection of beers. Everything from seltzers to imperial stouts. Friendly service, most of their bees are available to go in crowlers either at Forager or at a small bottle shop 2 doors down. Recommend.“ |
| 74 /100 The Tap House West End (Restaurant) 2365 COMMERCE DRIVE NW “A hundred taps directly across the street from my hotel? Mmkay. Large place, fairly corporate feeling, but nice. Large patio looked nice. I sat at the bar inside and was bombarded by various flying insects from the aforementioned patio. I'm exagerrating a bit... wasn't too bad. 100 taps and I didn't spot any macros amongst them. Quality stuff, and some less common local stuff (got 3 new Toppling Goliath ticks). I'm on a tight budget this trip, but easily could have done 3-4 more 4 beer flights (at $14 each). Lots of locals including some breweries I have not heard of. Asian chicken salad was tasty, also at $14. Near LTS Brewing andf a couple other breweries. Overall nice stop, and worth going out of your way.“ |
| 86 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Nice place. Medium sized and kinda square, but very comfortable. This place had excellent COVID-19 protocols. Bartender was the only person working, and he was very friendly and helpful. Slow just after lunch on a Friday. 16 beers on tap. I tried 5. All were well executed and they represented a lot of different styles (flanders red, pasty sour, IPA, 2 braggots). Tasty local popcorn, and I saw signs that they might have more substantial food, but I didn't spot a kitchen. Prices good. Overall, very nice place. No frills, solid stuff. Name stands for "Life's Too Short." Highly recommended, and if I'm ever in this town again I will be back. EDIT: Reading the earlier reviews, it seems they have stepped up their game.“ |
| 66 /100 Andy’s Liquor (Marketplace) (Grocery Store) 2932 41ST STREET NORTHWEST “Looks like its been 9 years since the last rating. Okay place, but not great. Some decent local ticks, and some growlers from a couple local breweries. Other than that not much to write home about. BYO 6 pack section is overpriced @ 11.99. It was barely stocked and amongst what was stocked I found a pale lager that expired 2 years ago. Prices okay otherwise. Ended up with a 4 pack of a new Lupulin tick. Staff was friendly.“ |
| 46 /100 Northwest Liquors (Beer Store) 3415 55TH ST NW “Very meh. Ended up not buying anything. Prices were good. Staff was friendly. Some locals and some common international stuff, but very little was exciting. No small format singles / BYO. Very few large format singles. Good selection of regionals, but less local stuff than I would expect. Prices were okay.“ |
| 80 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Nice ambiance, good beers and good food. Enjoyed this place. Worth a visit.“ |
| 76 /100 2031 14TH STREET NW “Little Thistle is located in an interesting area. I saw this before construction and let me say, the transformation was pretty incredible. It used to be some kind of storage facility with loading docks off the ground, now it looks nothing like that. Steve and Dawn have done an amazing transformation. Really cool design, it was packed when I visited. Luckily one last spot at the bar or I would have been standing. I like the vibe, the tap handles and backsplash are really cool. Industrial feel, which is the standard. They are located right off one of the main bike paths through Rochester, so cool spot for bikers to stop and the bartender even said they have carrying cases that fit right over your handlebars for crowlers. They had the Twins game on but a lot of customers were outside on this beautiful spring day. Some interesting beers on the tap list, which was expansive for how new they are. Very cool place overall.“ |
| 98 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “One of Minnesota's best breweries! Amazing beers, excellent service, outstanding food, only downside is location - 10 hours away.“ |
| 60 /100 2031 14TH STREET NW “Pretty cool new spot. Several beers on today, just stopped in to try a couple. 4 oz pours available of everything. Parking was easy, WiFi available. The 2 beers I tried were okay to pretty decent.“ |
| 66 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Tap room similar to a lot of other start ups. The building almost looks like an upscale and large mobile home, but the feel is decent. I ordered a flight of beers and while none of the beers were home runs, they all were well crafted for their style. I don't have any complaints about the beer. Nothing mind-blowing, but I enjoyed every one I tried. Worth a stop if visiting Rochester.“ |
| 88 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Forager is a regular stop for my wife and I. The food is delicious and I think where Forager shines the most, though the beer is good as well. Really cool vibe, with lots of live music, usually focused on folk, bluegrass, and alternative. The Forager burger and nachos are otherworldly. Really a must stop in Rochester if you are visiting. I have had quite a few beers here, but rarely rate them. The biggest negative as others have mentioned is the limited parking and the fact that they don't offer flights.“ |
| 90 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Awesome brewpub in Rochester. Probably a mile or so from the downtown area. A nice space that is connected to a cafe/coffee shop. It also has a cafe-like atmosphere, also is family friendly. Definitely a rustic feel as well. The beers were phenomenal and came in multiple size offerings (including 8 oz pours, which is a bit unusual). They had 3 fruited sours on, which were all delicious and super drinkable. The coconut hefeweizen was delicious. My favorite was the Sherpa's Survival Kit, which was a delicious fudgy imperial coffee stout. The food was excellent as well, very rich and filling. I probably ordered too much food, though it was all so good. I got a cup of soup and split the skordalia. Then I got the brunch skillet (potatoes, cheese, eggs, bacon, peppers, and onions) which was really good. Awesome place, would love to go back if I'm in the area again.“ |
| 66 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “Nice brewery in downtown Rochester. Busy at lunch time. Service was decent. Did not try any foood. Tried four of their beers and all were nice. Worth a visit.“ |
| 66 /100 1016 7TH STREET NW “Close to Forager. Limited parking. Good service and fair prices. All of the beers I tried were decent. No food available. Flight was five for ten dolllars. Decent brewery.“ |
| 84 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Visited at noon on a Friday. A lot of people arriving for lunch. Did not try any of the food. Fair prices and goood service. Enjoyed the beers,, ,“ |
| 64 /100 Andy’s Liquor (Crossroads) (Beer Store) 1201 SOUTH BROADWAY “Visited on a Friday morning. Nice store with a nice mid-west selection. No single section. Good local choices. Prices seemed fair. Service was good. No singles was a problem for me.“ |
| 88 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “This is turning into a gem of a spot. Was the first person in the door today, and got incredible service- probably a function of being outnumbered 8-1 or whatever by employees, but I’m calling it for what it was today. Pizza was killer. 12 taps on, flights available. Brewer chatted me up and gave me a bunch of free samples. Beers were extremely well made, including some interesting styles / variants. Very impressive.“ |
| 88 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Not being familiar with Rochester at all, I thought the location here seemed off the beaten path somewhat. Modern-bohemian decor with a coffee shop/counter service cafe occupying half of the space. Beyond this and a few other small town aesthetic quirks, everything else about Forager succeeds at a high level; this place would hold its own anywhere. High quality food prepared with craft and care. The quality of the beer for me is amongst the tiny handful of Minnesota breweries producing world-class quality. I sincerely wish it was in Minneapolis.“ |
| 82 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “The decor strikes me as about 75% Art Nouveau and 25% modern Northwoods, but the vibe feels like it could be in a well-off Minneapolis neighborhood. Busy on a Friday night, solo guitarist playing and singing. The two beers I had were very solid. Didn’t have any food, but whatever the hell the people next to me were having smelled ridiculous. Pricing was fair. Parking was a bit crappy, but worth dealing with.“ |
| 70 /100 Dooley’s Pub (Bar) 255 1ST AVE. SW “This is not an elite beer bar, and since it’s within a stone’s throw of one that is (The Tap House) as well as a brewpub (Grand Rounds), I hesitated to add it to the database. However, on my visit to Dooley’s this past weekend, they had Surly Darkness on tap, which instantly gives it beer cred. They also had Todd the Axe Man and several other notables. With Rochester’s "Historic 3rd Street" having become a haven for craft beverages (it also boasts the craft cocktail bar, The Doggery, and whiskey bar, The Half Barrel), Dooley’s provides an energetic night cap to your cocktail crawl evening, without having to make a craft beer sacrifice. Oh, and they have a dance floor.“ |
| 60 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “Stopped here about 7pm on a Saturday night on a busy youth boys basketball tournament weekend. Two of us put our name in for a table for 6-8 (the rest of the group would soon join us) and stood at the bar waiting to order a beer. And waiting. All but 1 seat was taken at the bar but we were the only standers, and the 2 bartenders walked by us countless times without looking up to take our order. Finally I waved one of them over and briefly voiced my displeasure with their inattentiveness. I get the fact that they were probably slammed (by Rochester standards) and may not be used to standing room only at the bar. But come on guys, this is pretty basic. If not for the host, who did an outstanding job managing our on again, off again table needs, our service experience would have been all negative. Beer wise, the menu listed "rotating double IPA", and they had 2 of them on that night, but didn’t ask me which one I wanted when I ordered it. I later saw beer signs above the bar with the beers they had on tap and the two double IPAs were listed, although both were called IPAs, not double IPAs and their ABVs (in the 6.2%-6.8% range) also indicated they were IPAs and not double IPAs. I ended up having both, and they tasted fairly similar to each other, and only so so. The Hop Bollocks session IPA I liked better; it was bready and more full bodied than most session IPAs you’ll find. The place itself feels a bit cramped, at least on a busy night. They have an attractive back room with a brick wall on one side, that can be used for private parties. Overall, a nice addition to the craft beverage haven that is historic 3rd street, along with the Tap House beer bar, the Doggery (craft cocktails) and the Half Barrel.“ |
| 78 /100 10 HISTORIC 3RD ST SW “About as good a bar as you could hope for in Rochester. The 50 well-chosen taps featured plenty of interesting stuff. A glass of Abrasive set me back something like $6. The ambiance was fairly inviting, boisterous during my 1am visit on a Saturday night. I could certainly see myself spending a lot of time here if I was a local. Overall, a must-visit if you’re in the area. Recommended.“ |
| 70 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “My comments pretty much echo deyholla. It’s a decent spot. The six beers on tap didn’t move me either way. The hoppy stuff certainly wasn’t bad. The large number of TV screens probably make this a good spot to catch a game. Service was prompt, but the bar was practically empty during my late night visit. OK place.“ |
| 52 /100 1016 7TH STREET NW “Brewpub in a somewhat rundown commercial strip. Kinney Creek seems to attract a pretty old crowd, as my group was comfortably 20+ years younger than most other patrons. The beer selection’s expansive and not particularly expensive ($20-some dollars to try 13 beers during my visit). Unfortunately, the beer quality is pretty poor across the board. I doubt that I would’ve been able to finish a pint of any of the beers I sampled (thank god for Danish pours!). Service was decent. Overall, I can’t recommend this place unless you’re purely interested in numbers.“ |
| 90 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Update: 08/17/16 - Visited again last weekend. The beers (especially the sours and hoppy stuff) are phenomenal and the dining experience remains very strong. I’m marking this up. No homering here - Forager legitimately offers one of the best brewpub experiences in the US. New score: 90
Original Review: 03/02/16 - A brewpub experience that far exceeded my expectations. The ambiance is semi-upscale while remaining inviting and warm. The beers and food are pretty on-trend and very well executed. The 11 beers on tap covered a range of styles. I was impressed by their fruited berliner and Belgian-inspired recipes. The food menu feature upscale comfort staples (nachos, burgers etc.) that incorporate local ingredients. Service was a bit slow, but very kind. Given the quality of the beer and food, I thought the prices were more than reasonable. Overall, Forager is truly killing it. It’s easily Rochester’s top destination. It would more than hold its own if it was located in a major city. Highly recommended. Rating: 84“ |
| 68 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Cookie cutter tap room in what looks like a temporary building. The 10 beers on tap included some Belgian styles. I can’t highly recommend the beer, but it certainly wasn’t as bad as some of the stuff being pumped out by other breweries in the region. Food’s limited to some of the saltiest free popcorn I’ve ever had. Prices seemed reasonable. Overall, LTS is worth checking out if you’re on a deep dive of the Rochester scene. If you only have time to check out one or two places in the area, consider scrolling past here.“ |
| 86 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “What a find! This place is pretty much what I dream of when I try to conjure up what I would want the ideal brewpub to look like. Cozy, with multiple alcoves. Dark but not dingy. We arrived on a Friday night with a group of 8 people and our estimated wait time for a table of 20-30 minutes grew when we added 2 more people to the list. Fortunately, they have a hidden back room that they use for private groups and cooking classes, and they sat us there without much of a delay. Not only was I impressed by the interior spaces but also the beer and food. The 3 beers I had were outstanding and the food was memorable as well. The only downside to Forager is the parking. They have a small adjacent lot, and sparse street parking due to the many business driveways. And if you don’t find anything in the small overflow lot good luck, because where they are located there isn’t an adjacent street with parking, so you’ll be walking a ways. But, if you find yourself in that position, know that the walk will be worth it!“ |
| 80 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Showed up at 11am on a Sunday, which was the only time I could go during a brief visit to town. We were the first people there. I really like this taproom; similar to what other commentors said, it’s got an industrial feel to it. The bar is a really sharp looking semi-circular cement slab. Attention to detail was paid to the bathrooms and the varied seating areas. Plentiful windows let in plenty of natural light. There’s a cement slab outdoor patio with tables that looks like it would be an enjoyable, sunny place to throw back some beers. A 4-beer sampler was $6 and pints are $5. Craft sodas available for $3.Located in a newer part of west Rochester, just off of 19th.“ |
| 82 /100 10 HISTORIC 3RD ST SW “A hip beer bar in downtown Rochester. A central bar surrounded by seating with a few TVs above the bar. Service was good and place was busy despite the late hour and bartenders knew the beer. A great selection of 49 taps available with a non-local flavor for most. I did not try any food on my visit and prices were decent. A surprising find in Rochester.“ |
| 70 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “Smallish brewpub in an L-Shaped space in downtown Rochester with a few TVs. Very dimly lit. Service was solid but it was quite slow late at night. 6 of their own beers on tap plus a few guest beers. Samplers were available. I did not try the food on my visit. Prices were decent. A pretty run of the mill brewpub.“ |
| 82 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “A cool brewpub with a rustic feel and a vintage shop attached. A small bar but plenty of restaurant seating and a small coffee bar as well. Overall place has a nice feel. Service was a bit slow but place was jumping on a Saturday night. 11 beers on tap with 6 oz pours available. Food was very good, really liked the nachos! Prices weren’t too shabby either. A pretty cool brewpub!“ |
| 56 /100 1016 7TH STREET NW “A smallish taproom in a shopping center next to an Asian grocer. A small bar but a good amount of seating. Place was busy and service was a tad slow. Tap list on a TV. 13 taps with samplers available. Quality of the beer was not very good. Free popcorn was the extent of the food. Prices were decent. Quality of the beer is a bit of a drag overall.“ |
| 70 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “A pretty standard tap room on the out skirts of Rochester. A smallish bar with a good amount of seating with tables throughout the place. Service was solid and bartenders knew the beer. 9 beers on tap plus 4 craft sodas. Samplers available. Free popcorn available but that is it from a food perspective. Prices were decent. A pretty standard brewery taproom.“ |
| 78 /100 10 HISTORIC 3RD ST SW “Really excellent selection. 49 beers on tap, all quality. Cool atmosphere, TVs, music, younger crowd compared to the rest of the city. Conveniently located next to Grand Rounds Brewpub. $5-7 depending on what you order, fairly priced“ |
| 58 /100 4 THIRD STREET SW “Visited late Saturday night, pretty empty. 6 of their own beers on tap, a few guest taps as well. They serve food but I didn’t look at the menu. Nice enough place, had TVs with sports on.“ |
| 80 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Stopped in on a Saturday night for dinner and beers. 11 beers in tap, well thought out styles and a thorough explanation of each beer offered. Menu featured pizza and sandwiches with apps, soups and salads as well. Beer was very good, $9 for 3 6oz pours. Cool place, upscale rustic vibe, plenty of other non-beer drinks. Best brewery in Rochester by a long shot.“ |
| 46 /100 1016 7TH STREET NW “Visited on a Saturday night. 13 beers on tap, $24 for a sample of all of them. Cool vibe, older crowd. Free popcorn! Beers were anywhere from vomit inducing to mediocre. Cool enough space but the beer was just so bad.“ |
| 66 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Taproom was very industrial. 9 beers on tap, $6 for flights of 4. Free popcorn! Place was packed but service was pretty quick. Beers were anywhere from ok to good. Not the best place in Rochester but certainly not the worst.“ |
| 46 /100 2001 32ND AVE NW “Kind of a drab taproom in an industrial space. Beers weren’t very good. 10 on tap, flights available. Servers seemed ’slammed’ by the line that was 5 deep. Hmmm.“ |
| 74 /100 1005 6TH STREET NW “Pretty excellent new spot. Awesome classic rustic vibe but upscale feeling at the same time. 8 beers on - no flights but 5.5 oz pour sizes available. Didn’t eat, but it looks like they take their food seriously here as well. Free parking in a lot. Beers were quite good.“ |
| 50 /100 Northwest Liquors (Beer Store) 3415 55TH ST NW “Good changing selection of imports and domestic craft beers.“ |
| 82 /100 Apollo Liquor (Northwest) (Beer Store) 4040 HWY 52 NORTH “I had the chance to order online. Great service! The range of beers is not that wide, but you can find a lot of rare local ones sometimes.“ |
| 74 /100 3120 WELLNER DRIVE NE “There are two locations in Rochester. This is the "North" location. Located in a strip mall. Large interior with a bar side to the left and restaurant to the right. Didn’t even see the restaurant side until we were seated in the bar area. A little divey and not particularly cozy; the one somewhat negative I would say about this place is it doesn’t really feel overly clean. Aside from that, the beer selection is quite good. Didn’t count the number of taps but 16 sounds about right. I had Indeed Hot Box, the first time I’ve seen that anywhere on tap. The bottle selection is where this place truly shines. Had a rueben sandwich which was simply outstanding. I will definitely seek out this place on future visits to Rochester,“ |
