Plan Your Own Twin Cities Brewery Taproom Bike Tour

The Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area is known for two things, cycling and craft beers.   With our bike infrastructure and a boom of new microbreweries, this give cyclists a great opportunity to bike to a multitude of taprooms around the Twin Cities.  So many breweries with taprooms are scattered throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul that you should be able to plan several bike tours without hitting the same ones twice, unless you are compelled to visit your favorites.  Ride with friends, in the era of social media it shouldn't be hard to put together your own group taproom bike tour.  If you prefer that someone else do the navigating, check in with Bike to Beer in Minneapolis for upcoming bike tours of local microbreweries.  To help you better plan your own brewery taproom bike tours, I have created a Twin Cities Taprooms by Bike map.

View Twin Cities Taprooms by Bike in a larger map

Open this map on your smartphone to help you reach your taproom destinations or use it to plan out a ride using your favorite cycling/mapping app or GPS software.  Use the Bicycling map layer available in Google maps to show trails, bike lanes and bicycle friendly roads to plan the most bike-friendly routes from taproom to taproom.  

Taproom hours* vary, so plan out your route in accordance with those that are open on the day of your ride.  Below is a list of the brewery taprooms on this map with hours and website links.

*Taproom hours subject to change.  Visit brewery website or call for updated taproom hours. 

945 NE Broadway St., Ste.188, Mpls
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-10 pm
Friday 2:30-Midnight
Saturday Noon-Midnight
Sunday 11:30 am-9 pm
612-217-0437

 

4571 Valley Industrial Blvd S, Shakopee

Taproom hours:

 Tuesday 3-7pm

Wednesday 3-10pm

Thursday 3-10pm

Friday 3-11pm

Saturday 12-11pm

Sunday 12-8pm

952-230-2739

2320 Capp Rd., St.Paul

Taproom hours:

Friday 4-10pm

Saturday 2-8pm

 1315 Tyler St NE, Mpls
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-11 pm
Thursday 4-11 pm
Friday 3-11 pm
Saturday Noon-11 pm
612-276-6911

 1744 Terrace Dr, Roseville
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-10 pm
Friday 2:30-11 pm
Saturday Noon-11 pm
Sunday Noon-7 pm
844-TRY-BENT

2222 4th St., White Bear Lake
Taproom hours:
Tuesday 4-10 pm
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-10 pm
Friday 3-11 pm
Saturday 1-11 pm
612-360-2986

 2014 Washington Ave. N.,Mpls
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-9 pm
Thursday 4-9 pm
Friday 4-9 pm
Saturday 1-9 pm
Sunday 1-6 pm
612-227-9635

 

1750 Thomas Ave. W., St. Paul
Taproom hours:
Thursday 4-9 pm
Friday 4-10 pm
Saturday 2-10 pm
Sunday 2-6 pm
651-444-8882

1300 2nd St. NE, Mpls
Taproom hours:
Tuesday 4-10 pm
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-10 pm
Friday 3 pm-12 am
Saturday 12 pm-12 am
612-209-2626

920 East Lake Street #123, Mpls
Taproom Hours:
Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-12am
612-217-4668 

7929 Victoria Dr., Victoria
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-10 pm
Friday 4-10 pm
Saturday 12-10 pm
Sunday 12-6 pm
952-300-8408

421 3rd St., Excelsior
Taproom hours:
Wednesday 4-10 pm
Thursday 4-11 pm
Friday 4-11 pm
Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-6 pm
952-474-7837

2506 Central Ave NE, Mpls
Taproom hours:
Monday-Thursday 4-11pm 
Friday 4pm-12am
Saturday 12pm-12am
Sunday 12-9pm
Taproom: 612-444-3574

 

 688 Minnehaha Ave E, St. Paul

Taproom hours:

Tuesday 3:30-6:30 pm

Thursday 3:30-6:30 pm

Friday 3:30-6:30 pm

Saturday 12-6:30 pm

651-698-1945

 414 6th Ave N, Mpls

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 3-10 pm

Thursday 3-10 pm

Friday 3-11 pm
Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-6 pm

Home Twins games

612-333-3208

 7785 Lake Dr., Lino Lakes

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 2-10 pm

Thursday 2-10 pm

Friday 2-10 pm

Saturday 2-10 pm
Sunday 12-8 pm

651-964-2160

 3036 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls

Taproom hours:

Tuesday 4-10 pm

Wednesday 4-11 pm

Thursday 4-11 pm

Friday 4 pm-12 am

Saturday 1 pm-12 am
Sunday 2-9 pm

612-315-4633

112 1st St. S., Buffalo

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 5-10pm

Thursday 5-10pm

Friday 3-10pm

Saturday 3-10pm

Sunday 2-7pm

hayespublichouse@gmail.com 

 711 NE 15th Ave., Mpls

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 3-11 pm
Thursday 3-11 pm

Friday 12-11 pm

Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-8 pm

612-843-5090

2821 E Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Taproom hours:

Monday-Thursday 3-11pm

Friday 3pm-12am

Saturday 12pm-12am

Sunday 12pm-11pm

612-722-7222  

 

1900 Tower Dr W., Stillwater

Taproom hours:

Tuesday-Thursday 5-10 pm

Friday-Saturday 12-10 pm

Sunday 12-6 pm

888-430-2337

725 Mainstreet, Hopkins

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 4-10 pm

Thursday 3-10 pm

Friday 2 pm-12 am

Saturday 12 pm-12 am
Sunday 12-7 pm
952-938-2415

248 River St. N., Delano

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 4-10pm

Thursday 4-10pm

Friday 4-11pm

Saturday 2-11pm

Sunday 2-6pm

763-333-1033

2934 Lyndale Avenue S., Mpls

Taproom hours:

Tuesday 5 pm-12 am
Wednesday 5 pm-12 am

Thursday 5 pm-12 am

Friday 2 pm-1 am

Saturday 12 pm-1 am
Sunday 12-10 pm

612-326-1999

712 Ontario Avenue West, Mpls

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 3-10 pm

 Thursday 3-10 pm

Friday 12 pm-1 am

Saturday 12 pm-1 am

612-321-8324

1500 NE Fillmore St., Mpls

Taproom hours:

Thursday 4-11 pm
Friday 4-11 pm

Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-9 pm

612-758-0105

221 2nd St. N., Delano

Taproom hours:

Thursday 4-8pm

Friday 4-10pm

Saturday 2-10pm

Sunday 11am-6pm

 4848 W 35th St., St. Louis Park

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 3-8 pm
Thursday 3-8 pm

Fridays 3-10 pm

Saturday 12-10 pm

952-955-9965

910 Montreal Cir., St. Paul

Taproom hours:

Friday 4-9 pm
Saturday 4-9 pm

651-265-7800

520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Mpls

Taproom hours:

Sunday-Thursday 11 am-11 pm
Friday-Saturday 11 am-12 am

763-535-3330

 125 E 9th St #127, St. Paul

Taproom hours:

Wednesday 4-10 pm

Thursday 4-10 pm

Friday 3-11 pm

Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-5 pm
651-330-4734

2325 Endicott Street, St. Paul

Taproom hours:

Tuesday 3-10 pm
Wednesday 3-10 pm

Thursday 3-10 pm

Friday 12-11 pm

Saturday 12-11 pm
Sunday 12-8 pm
651-340-5793

 255 W Main St, Waconia
Taproom hours:
Monday 4-9pm
 Tuesday 4-9pm
Wednesday 2-9pm
Thursday 2-9pm
Friday 2-10pm
Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 1-8pm
612-888-2739

Minnesota High School Cycling League Introduces "Try It Out Sessions" For Student Athletes

Image Credit:  Todd Bauer/MN High School Cycling League

The Minnesota High School Cycling League has just announced a new program to introduce mountain biking to middle school and high school student athletes (grades 7-12).  Through a series of "Try It Out" sessions, students will have the opportunity to get on a mountain bike and see what mountain biking is all about.  Experience is not necessary and it is a great chance to meet with team coaches and other racers.

Image Credit:  Todd Bauer/MN High School Cycling League

Thanks to generous support from Penn Cycle and Erik's Bike and Board Shop, the League has a fleet of demo bikes for student athletes to try out and borrow for races.  Helmets, donated by the MN High School Cycling League are also available.  Bring your own bike or borrow one of these demo bikes.  There are a limited number of bikes so e-mail joshua@minnesotamtb.org to make sure one is available for the Try It Out Session you will be attending.

Each Try It Out Session will start at 6:00pm and run until 7:30pm.  Student athletes are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early to register and bring a signed waiver by parents to participate.

Try It Out Session Dates/Locations

• Thursday, May 22 – Salem Hills
• Tuesday, May 27 – Elm Creek
• Wednesday, June 4 – Carver Lakes
• Thursday, June 12 – Murphy – CrankSisters Session
• Tuesday, June 17 – Salem Hills
• Wednesday, June 25 – Elm Creek
• Thursday, July 10 – Carver Lakes
• Tuesday, July 15 – Murphy
• Wednesday, July 23 – Salem Hills – CrankSisters Session
• Thursday – July 31 – Elm Creek

Credit:  MN High School Cycling League

Crank Sisters Try It Out Sessions

The Crank Sisters outreach initiative encourages girls to join the League and become racers.  There will be two Crank Sisters Try It Out Sessions for girls-only that will have open skill sessions with former pro mountain bikers Jenna Rinehart and Kyia Anderson.  No racing experience is necessary.  Helmets are required and bikes are available for use from the League's demo fleet for girls that need to borrow one.  There are a limited number of bikes so e-mail joshua@minnesotamtb.org to make sure one is available for the Crank Sisters Try It Out Session you will be attending.  A waiver signed by parents is required to participate.

 Crank Sisters Try It Out Sessions Dates/Locations

• Thurs. June 12 – Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
  15501 Murphy Lake Road Savage, MN 55378
  Recommended student-athletes show up 15 minutes early.
  Instructor: Jenna Rinehart
• Wed. July 23 – Salem Hills (Harmon Park) – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
  Inver Grove Heights area. Directions: Take I-494 to the Robert Street Exit #67.  Turn Right onto South Robert Trail/MN-3 South.  Turn Left onto Upper 55th Street East.  Asher Avenue will be on your right – take this road directly to the parking lot.
  Recommended student-athletes show up 15 minutes early.
  Instructor: Kyia Anderson

If you have additional questions or for teams outside of the Twin Cities Metro Area that would like to request a Try It Out Session, please send an email to joshua@minnesotamtb.org.

Twin Cities Bike Shop Group Rides

Now that Spring has finally arrived and temperatures are beginning to warm up, bike shops all over the Twin Cities are starting their weekly group ride schedules.  I have compiled a list of shops I've come across that are hosting rides and included links to more details.  If you are a shop that is hosting group rides this Summer and would like yours listed in this post, send me an email about your ride(s) including a link to more information (Facebook page or website) or shop phone number.

 

Monday Night Road Ride

Penn Cycle Blaine - 6:00pm

Tuesday Night Tours

Penn Cycle Bloomington - 5:30pm

Tuesday Night Road Ride

Penn Cycle Woodbury - 5:30pm

Wednesday Night Tours

 Penn Cycle Bloomington - 5:30pm

Wednesday Night Fast Road Ride

Penn Cycle Eagan - 5:30pm

Women's Mountain Bike Ride

Wednesdays - 6:00pm

Ride locations include:

Salem Hills, Lebanon Hills, Terrace Oaks, Murphey-Hanrehan,

Elm Creek & the Minnesota River Bottoms

Various meet locations. 

Thursday Night Road Ride

Penn Cycle Eagan - 6:00pm

Tuesday Night Beat-Down Rides - Eden Prairie - 5:30pm

Wednesday Night Road Ride - Midtown - 5:45pm & West Bank - 6:00pm

Thursday Night Road Ride- Midtown - 5:45pm

Sunday Morning Road Ride - Eden Prairie - 7:30am

Sunday Night Theo Wirth MTB Ride - 6:30pm

(weather permitting)

Check the Freewheel Bike Facebook page for ride status updates.

Ride Details

Sunday Brunch Rides fueled with Cheeky Monkey

Sundays 8am

Women's Road Ride - Mondays 6:00pm

301 Cedar location

Women's Casual Ride - Mondays 6:00pm

301 Cedar location

Relaxed Ride - Various Sundays 12:30pm

Road Ride - Mondays 5:30pm & Thursdays 6:00pm

Fitness Ride - Tuesdays 6:00pm

Challenge Road Ride - Wednesdays 5:30pm

Mountain Bike Ride - Saturdays 9:00am

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Ride Details

Many rides from various Erik's locations.

Rides are held 7 days a week.

Ride Calendar

Michael's Cycles Mountain Bike Riding Group
Wednesdays 6:00pm (weather permitting)
Updates on the Michael's Cycles Facebook page

Great Scott Cycling Club Rides
Mondays & Thursdays 6:15pm (6:00pm starting in late August)

Various ride levels and days of the week.

Ride Calendar

Sunday Slow Ride - Sundays 4:30ish

Pink Express - Mondays 10:30am

Gopher Wheelmen Social Ride - Thursdays 6pm

Gopher Wheelmen Training Ride - Tuesdays 6pm

Ladies Road Bike Ride
Mondays & Wednesdays 6pm

Synergy Club/Team Tempo Ride
St. Paul Location
Tuesdays 6pm 

NOW "Women-Only" Thursday Night Rides!
St. Paul Location
Thursdays 6pm 

Nice Road Ride
St. Paul Location
Thursdays 6pm 

Original "Old Man" Ride
Arden Hills Location
Thursdays 6:00pm

Synergy Club/Team Base Mile Ride
 St. Paul Location
Saturdays 9:00am 

The Sunday Morning Ride - "SMR"
Various starting locations
Check Facebook page for updates

Weekend Wind Down - AKA "When Bike Shop Employees Go Riding
St. Paul Location
Sundays 5:30pm

Ride Details

Tour of Filmore Features Gravel Roads of the Root River Valley

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

From the gravel enthusiast that brought you the Dickie Scramble comes a new event that showcases the beauty and challenge of gravel roads in the Root River Valley around Lanesboro, the Tour of Filmore.  Drew Wilson was inspired by a few great rides over the last couple of years and enjoyed riding the valleys and climbs of this scenic area.  "Then some friends suggested putting together a 'shorter' gravel event and it seemed like a great fit.   After working on the route a bit it I can confirm that.  This is 65 miles that I am extremely excited about (although I reserve the right to improve the route at any time).  There are also 7 or 8 really hard hitting climbs out there which should make for some challenging racing and a real sense of accomplishment at the finish line." Drew told me.

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

This fun event allows those that decide to take on the challenge to make it as competitive as they like.  "This is a ride for anyone who is interested in riding a great route and doing so for free." 
The Tour of Filmore will take place on Sunday, October 5th and will tentatively start and finish at Sylvan Park in Lanesboro.

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

Cue cards and CRS/GPX files will be provided and water will be available on the route, but no drop bags or food.  There will be opportunities to buy food near the midpoint of the ride.  A BBQ setup may be available at the finish line, more details will become available as they are worked out. 

Tour of Filmore 
(tentative route)

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRide

Registration is informal and can be done by sending an email to drew@cyclocarbon.com or by visiting the Tour of Filmore Facebook event page and select "Going".  Drew asks those that register, "please do not say you will attend and then not".  The number of registrations will determine the planning of this event.  Registration will run until 8:30 day-of the event unless more than 150 people have registered prior to that date.  Assuming 150 riders has not been hit before the day of, all riders who show up will be allowed to ride.  More detailed information to come.

If you would like to volunteer your time to help make this event a success, Drew could use your help.  Contact him via the email above or at the Tour of Filmore Facebook event page. 

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

This should be a great event in a beautiful area of southern Minnesota with Fall colors to make it even more scenic.  Spread the word to friends and family that would like to take on the challenge of the Tour of Filmore and I will see you there this October.  

Resources To Help You Plan Your Minnesota Summer Biking Trips

Root River State Trail

Now that the weather is beginning to warm up and summer is fast approaching, you may be thinking about planning your Minnesota biking trip(s).  With so many biking destinations around our great state, you may want to get more information to help you decide where to go and where to stay.  There are so many resources available at your fingertips that planning your trip has become easier than ever.  Cities and regions around Minnesota are competing for your travel dollars this summer and they have made it easy to find more information about their destinations to attract you.

Willard Munger State Trail

A great place to start is the Explore Minnesota website.  There is a lot of information here to help you plan the kind of rides you would like to take.  It contains an array of brochures that you can download, view online or have mailed to you.  Quite a few free regional brochures are listed for all areas of the state that can also be selected for mailing.  Go to the Explore Minnesota Travel Guides page to access these brochures.  There are also planning tools beyond just the website, Explore Minnesota Tourism staffs a travel information center with travel counselors that will help you with customized information (by phone, mail or e-mail) for planning your trip.

Red Jacket Trail

One brochure you may find particularly useful is the 2013/2014 Explore Minnesota Biking Guide.  It contains maps of bike trails, trail information by region (Southern, Central, Northeast, Northwest and Twin Cities area), on-road touring and information about Minnesota's best mountain biking destinations.  The Trail Listings segment informs you about the trails, area businesses and scheduled monthly bike rides complete with website links to bring you more details.  Another useful source of Minnesota cycling information is the Pedal Minnesota website that is filled with upcoming events, places to ride, trail information and trip planning resources.

Lake Wobegon Regional Trail

If you have a destination in mind for your trip, try heading to the tourism or visitor's bureau website for that area or city.  Sites like Visitduluth.com, Minneapolis.org, Cuyunalakes.com and Lanesboro.com are full of information that will help you find lodging, dining, attractions, events and area trails.  Visit my MN Tourism Resources page for a huge listing of online resources throughout the state.

Afton State Park

Minnesota has an abundance of State Parks with scenic trails for biking, mountain biking and hiking.  These State Parks are scattered throughout Minnesota and chances are there is one near you or your vacation destination.  The Minnesota DNR provides a lot of information on it's website about our State Parks and all they have to offer.  Go to the Minnesota State Parks page to find out more.

Summer is right around the corner, so use the wealth of information available on the internet to make planning your next biking trip a breeze.  For easy to find trail maps and trail information for the Twin Cities Area, Southern MN, Central MN, Northern MN and MN MTB Project Trails, don't forget about MN Bike Trail Navigator.  I have already done the research to find the links so you don't have to.

2014 Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide Now Available in Print & e-Version

The 2014 Minnesota Edition Bike/Hike Guide is now available at bike shops, libraries, tourism centers and community centers throughout the state.  This year's edition includes even more bike related event listings, maps for bike-friendly areas around the state, a kids section and helpful biking tips.

This handy pocket guide also contains an extensive listing of bike shops in the Twin Cities and around the state, bike clubs & race teams in your area and city & regional tourism resources.

The Bike/Hike Guide is full of regional maps that highlight bicycling road routes, paved trails, gravel trails and mountain bike areas.  These regions include:

• Twin Cities Gateway
• Apple Valley/Rosemount
• Lakeville
• Faribault
• Winona
• Root River Trail Towns
• Albert Lea
• Mankato
• Western Minnesota Prairie Waters
• Willmar
• Cuyuna Lakes
• Brainerd
• Mesabi Trail Towns
• Little Falls
• Itasca Trails Area
• Wisconsin areas of Menomonie, La Crosse, Chippewa and Trempealeau Counties.

Pick one up today or page through the e-Version.  The e-Version of the Bike/Hike Guide also contains links to more information from the listed resources.  Scan the QR code with your smartphone, tablet or digital device to view the e-Version now or click here.