This past weekend, Dangerous Man Brewing Co. hosted a “soft opening” in Minneapolis, quietly opening the doors and pouring beer to a small group of patrons.
The spacious floor plan centers around a long community table. A rough wood-planked bar stretches the length of the room and conceals the massive copper and stainless brewery tanks used to make their tasty beer.
Rob Miller, head brewer and the face of Dangerous Man (a face so nice they used it for the logo), poured four beers for the soft opening: a milk stout—soft and exceedingly drinkable; an ipa—all hopped up and bitter as a Minnesota winter; a cream ale—the lightest selection of the bunch; and a Belgian strong ale—thick and heavy on the booze with a nearly 10% alcohol content. On tap, as well, were three sodas made with local favorite Malone’s Simple Syrups.
Also on the menu at Dangerous Man—absolutely nothing. The straightforward brewery and taproom serves beer and craft quality soda only, with food acting as a bring-your-own option. The tables are lined with takeout menus from the numerous surrounding restaurants, like Anchor Fish and Chips, Modern Café, and Element Pizza. Pizza boxes, sub sandwiches, and cartons of take-out Chinese food lined many of the tables for the opening, giving the scene a kind of pick-nick vibe and added to a general sense of fun. People, especially at the community table, peered at their neighbors, checking out each other’s meals with potential lunch box trades in mind.
Look for Dangerous Man to officially open to the public on January 25, 3 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. There are plans for longer hours in the near future.
