PHOTOS: Locals Flock to Northern Brewer's New Minneapolis Location

Northern Brewer opened the doors to it's new flagship store in Minneapolis, just over the Richfield/Minneapolis border on 60th Street and Lyndale Avenue, on Black Friday just in time for the holidays.

Northern Brewer has been selling home brewing equipment and supplies since 1993 when it opened it's first store in St. Paul. Since then they have added a large mail order component to their business and have opened up another retail store in Milwaukee.

According to Northern Brewer Marketing Director, Jake Keeler, the Lyndale location was chosen for a number of reasons.

"We wanted a west metro location conveniently located for the Twin Cities homebrew community," Keeler told Richfield Patch Friday. "We also wanted a location that fit our needs for parking, classroom, and plenty of retail show space. And, to be honest, we really liked the sound of, 'We have stores in St. Paul and Minneapolis.'"

Keeler said home brewing in the area and across the country is on the rise.

"Home brewing has been on the rise for the last five to six years. We've been seeing this growth across the nation, and especially here in the Twin Cities," he said. "Couple that with the growth of craft beer over the last five years or so and you have a recipe for mainstream interest in this hobby. I don't think it's overly-optimistic to think that home brewing could be as popular as gardening some day in the near future."

Patch also caught up with Richfield resident Chris Simenson, a member of a local home brewing club "Richfield Engineers of Hops and Barley" (R.E.H.A.B.). Simenson was waiting in the parking lot behind the store before the doors opened and was excited to have a homebrew shop so close to home.

"Having a homebrew store in such close proximity to Richfield with the resources being provided by Northern Brewer like staff expertise and demonstration classes ... not only will help improve the quality of the recipes that I create but everyone that participates in the hobby in the area."

The store was clean and laid out very well. The building's classroom even had two different beers being brewed Friday, with classes soon to come.

To a person who is new to home brewing, all the ingredients in bins could look a bit intimidating but thanks to the Internet and Northern Brewer's knowledgeable staff, the process quickly becomes clearer. Keeler pointed out that both home wine-making and home brewing are very easy to get started in.

"The journey can start casually, and down the road you brew [or] vint as you see fit, but the potential to make excellent wine, mead, cider and beer of all styles is at your fingertips."

For most brewers and vintners, the hobby goes beyond just the physical product that you end up with.

"Making six gallons of wine or five gallons of beer from a kit once a month, or once year, can fill you with a sense of accomplishment and achievement," Keeler said. "Plus, you can share what you make with your friends and loved ones, and that's something special."

The new Northern Brewer location is located just across the border from Richfield at 6021 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis.