Falling Knife Brewing Company’s Northeast Minneapolis taproom is one of the best (and most hip) places to find craft beer near campus.
Casual beer drinkers need not be intimidated by Falling Knife. While Falling Knife is known for their IPAs, they have great options in the taproom for those who have not yet acquired a taste for specialty beers with a high alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage.
A couple of their options include a light lager on tap called “Tomm’s” and hard seltzer slushies are available in raspberry and grape – both great tasting options without a strong taste of alcohol. The taproom is great for beer geeks who want to indulge but also for those who are new to craft beer.
“Tomm’s” is an inoffensive but tasty lager available on tap – the closest thing, in taste, to a standard domestic lager beer available at Falling Knife. For casual beer drinkers, this is a satisfactory drink that is not too strong on taste, yet is a great stepping stone for those wanting to branch out further into the brewery’s tap selection.
In addition to its lighter options, Falling Knife offers memorable IPAs with a unique flavor profile.
The “Hypebeast” IPA, a collaboration with BlackStack Brewing, is the ultimate team-up between two highly regarded Twin Cities breweries. While a no-brainer choice for an IPA aficionado, the Hypebeast even works as an entry-level IPA, providing notes of sweetness adding up to a flavor that is not overbearing, despite its relatively high ABV (8.5%).
Another great option is the baseball-themed “Let’s Pitch” IPA. With an apple juice-hued appearance in the glass, this beer is lighter and sweeter than the “Hypebeast” with a noticeable smell and taste of citrus.
While the brewery appeals to those who enjoy all kinds of alcoholic drinks, they do not cater as much to those who prefer an outing without drinking alcohol. One main drawback of Falling Knife is they do not have much to offer when it comes to non-alcoholic options. They have some sodas and kombucha, but no non-alcoholic beer. Falling Knife could improve in this area by adding an option like hop water to the menu, which is already being served by competing Twin Cities breweries.
Falling Knife has a couple amenities that give it a hip atmosphere. One is their CD jukebox located to the right of the bar. The jukebox is free and is stocked with a plethora of albums from all genres.
From alternative-rock legends Sleater-Kinney and The Smashing Pumpkins, to modern R&B stars Frank Ocean and Childish Gambino, as well as some ‘90s hip hop classics “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” by Lauryn Hill and “The Chronic” by Dr. Dre. All you need to do is find the album in the jukebox, pick a song and type in the corresponding code into the queue – for free! It is a much more pleasant experience than spending money on TouchTunes.
The other fun aspect of the taproom are the pinball machines located behind the bar area. Giving the brewery a arcade-bar feel, allowing for extra entertainment during a night out enjoying drinks with friends.
Falling Knife Brewery is a great place to get specialty beer close to the Como neighborhood. With its drink options and engaging entertainment options it serves as a great spot for an exciting night out.
