Brutus on Brewpubs - Copper Trail and 22 Northmen
Though there are scores of taprooms in the Twin Cities, we rarely have time to take Brutus out to a couple of them in a day. On vacation at the cabin, though, there's more leisure time, and so we could head out to a few. Brutus was All In for this turn of events:
We first hit Copper Trail, which has been a reliable standard for us in Alexandria over the year. It used to be located in an industrial park, which was kind of ... industrial park-y. But late last year they relocated to a more central site, and this was our first time to visit the new place. Brutus approved:
In comparison to city covid-cleanliness standards, theirs were a little lax, and the patio seemed somewhat thrown-together. But the beer was good — Patrick had a Belgian and I a hoppy IPA, though we actually switched — and it was nice to all sit and enjoy some vacation beer-and-patio time. We give it a solid 3 out of 5, maybe higher.
Besides, afterwards we could walk over to the Big Ole statue — because what's a beer without a runestone legend?
From there we headed over to 22 Northmen, which is the Nordic-style beerhall located at the sprawling Carlos Creek Vineyard; I have heard it rumored that the beer hall itself is based on the show "The Vikings"). We've liked Carlos Creek for a long time — though their wine is, at best, serviceable, the location is kind of magic, with lots of outdoor seating, live music, little gazebos, chess sets, cute seating areas, etc.
When they added the beer hall and wood-fired pizza last year, though, we have come to really like it and it has become a "must-visit" when at the cabin. With the spacious grounds, you can sit outside and feel the buzz of being near people, while properly separated. In general, their protocols are very good (though I am a little dismayed that they have made the bullish*t call that the pizza section is "too hot" for the employees to wear masks). Here, Patrick had the "Black is Beautiful" beer and I had the "Norwegian Farmhouse," so perhaps we were feeling especially ethnic.
Brutus especially enjoyed the chess game.
We first hit Copper Trail, which has been a reliable standard for us in Alexandria over the year. It used to be located in an industrial park, which was kind of ... industrial park-y. But late last year they relocated to a more central site, and this was our first time to visit the new place. Brutus approved:
In comparison to city covid-cleanliness standards, theirs were a little lax, and the patio seemed somewhat thrown-together. But the beer was good — Patrick had a Belgian and I a hoppy IPA, though we actually switched — and it was nice to all sit and enjoy some vacation beer-and-patio time. We give it a solid 3 out of 5, maybe higher.
Besides, afterwards we could walk over to the Big Ole statue — because what's a beer without a runestone legend?
From there we headed over to 22 Northmen, which is the Nordic-style beerhall located at the sprawling Carlos Creek Vineyard; I have heard it rumored that the beer hall itself is based on the show "The Vikings"). We've liked Carlos Creek for a long time — though their wine is, at best, serviceable, the location is kind of magic, with lots of outdoor seating, live music, little gazebos, chess sets, cute seating areas, etc.
When they added the beer hall and wood-fired pizza last year, though, we have come to really like it and it has become a "must-visit" when at the cabin. With the spacious grounds, you can sit outside and feel the buzz of being near people, while properly separated. In general, their protocols are very good (though I am a little dismayed that they have made the bullish*t call that the pizza section is "too hot" for the employees to wear masks). Here, Patrick had the "Black is Beautiful" beer and I had the "Norwegian Farmhouse," so perhaps we were feeling especially ethnic.
Brutus especially enjoyed the chess game.
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