Barrel Theory Beer Company

This place is stellar. They are celebrating 🍾 their anniversary party. Staff is solid, the brewery is in a great place in uptown Minneapolis

Best hazy IPA of St. paul & Minneapolis! Great selection on draught, the smoothie sour was pretty tasty as well. Nice taproom

Wow! Quaint little brewery in St. Paul. The beer is so good here. IPAs, stouts, sours...all fantastic. The staff is very friendly. Keep up the good work!

Hands down my favorite brewery. Phenomenal beers, great atmosphere. It's never a bad time! If I'm near St Paul I will drive out of the way to stop in for a taste or to take some to go. I highly recommend a visit! Edit- Just stopped in for the Shadows in Time 👨‍🍳🤌

Benjamin was a great help in finding some beers for our group. We had 9 so it was less than easy to find something for everyone but he was able to field all of our questions and then some. The beers are all solid with many IPAs to try and even a few funky options for the craft beer nerd in your group. Next door is Dark Horse tavern which will bring food over for you if you go next door and order with them. Overall great night out in St. Paul!

The Barrel Theory Beer Company has one of the delicious craft beers I have ever tasted in my life. I only got to try the Lip Smackers, Raspberry Lemonade, and Boat Shoes. All three beers were smooth and savory against my taste buds. The vibe was very chill and the employees are very hospitable. This brewery is a nice place to go to with friends and colleagues. All of the drinks here are priced well and location-wise is excellent within the area of downtown Saint Paul.

My best friend and I headed to Barrel Theory to enjoy this year's version of their sour MPG. Was not disappointed. Barrel theory used to have many sours, but lately they have morphed into more of a juicy NE IPA and hazy IPA Brewery. In the summer, the small patio is nice, and inside the atmosphere is always lively and fun. Sometimes it can get kind of loud. EDIT: I dropped in to BT a couple of nights ago. It was hopping crowded. Mask policy is strictly enforced (as of Feb 15, 2022). Tried their "Black Lotus" a heavy milk stout with coconut (10.1 ABV) which was a "sipper" and delicious, and also tried the "Raspberry Lemonade" a kettle sour with raspberry and lemons (dah). It was also nicely tart and crisp (for a berliner weisse sour) and had a nice kick of fruit too. Color was an outrageous pinkish, like lemonade! See my photos. I am happy that BT is again open for later hours, and seems to have survived the corona disaster. It was crowded. Staff was, as usual, awesome.

Maybe the best IPA selection and flavor/ingredient profiles that I've found to date. So many delicious choices. Pair that with the space.. open, exposed brick and beans, artsy and with the great staff. A+. 100% will return one day.

the best beer. we've been drinking their hazy ipas (our favorite) for a while and finally made it over. our mustached beertender was a class act, made a special birthday outting even more special!! we will definitely be back. cheers!

A rather small space but a great selection of beers & GF selections & slushies. Lots of kids w/ their parents which seemed odd but perfectly acceptable. You do need to order at the counter & ,if you keep your tab open, they keep your card until you close out.

I have traveled the country trying great beers. These guys NAILED it!! On top of that the gentleman at the bar - Josh was awesome at explaining beers to the patrons who were not sure what to get. This place is a GEM on MN! Highly recommend!!!

Our pubpass brought us here on a late week day afternoon. Loved the vibe - with brewing vats in the back, pin ball machines, mod art on the walls, and lots of energy in the place. I ordered the Everything is Fine to start. It had a nice hoppy flavor. We then split a flight so we could try a bunch of the hazy IPAs. Rude Awakenings and No Hard Feelings were my fav of the four. There was no aftertaste in these and they had a nice fresh hoppy flavor that would definitely go well with a nice summer day (will winter ever end in MN!?!). Staff was very helpful, even turning the TVs to the Twins Game upon our request. Street parking was a bit scarce but we found one a block away. Great stop.

Great beer and fun atmosphere! This was another stop on our beer passport, where I got the "One Way to M.I.A" super fruity and juicy, and a little bit sour, which I loved. Parking was definitely scarce on a Saturday night, but the yummy beer and board games definitely made up for it!

Good beer but pricey Service is typical of breweries but not above and beyond Ambiance is ok

Wow I don't even like IPA but I love love the Juicy IPAs here!! The colors of the beer is amazing. The beer iso robust in flavor and the hoppy aftertaste was just nice. There are plenty of seating in this brewery and lots of street parking. The bartenders are friendly and even the frequent patrons chat us up while we were hanging out at their patio. It's so cool to hear from them that there are so many choices now in the Twin Cities in terms of beer and this is still their fav! It's right in downtown St Paul not far from the freeway entrance. Come here and you will not regret it!

We were staying at a nearby hotel and thought to check out Barrel Theory. It wasn't too busy on a Saturday afternoon, so we were able to find a seat at the bar right away. We liked that there was a variety of beers - many IPAs, but also some sours and darker beers. The taster sizes are great because we got to try a bunch!

Barrel Theory has some of the best flavored beer in the cities in my opinion. Love the artwork inside and the bartenders are great. Only been here twice, but plan to frequent here more often when in downtown St Paul area.

Had a great time this weekend out at @barreltheory, who was hosting the @mnhomebrewers. Barrel Theory shared their philosophy, their story, and their beers as the homebrewers got a chance to ask questions. I enjoyed a couple of their IPAs while at the brewery: Full Send (Pictured) - a Hazy IPA with Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops. A great hazy that really takes the grape-like Nelson hop and compliments with the citrus from the Citra. Two Words - a Tripe IPA with Nelson Sauvin, Vic Secret, & Amarillo Cryo hops. Another great example of a beer with Nelson hops. This IPA joins the multi-faceted Vic Secret hops with Nelson with a backdrop of the Amarillo to round it out.

It's SO HAZY in here it's unbelievable!! 6 Hazys on tap, I highly recommend Shredder McGavin. Great flavor! Let Benjamin be your guide to all thing delicious around town.

Love this place. Terrific beer and a very cool tap room. I'll have to take pictures on my next visit. Their beer list focuses heavily on ipas, but they also make some very good other styles. Their Pilsner and lite beers are very good, for example. They generally have a couple of sours on, which are also very good. Small place in general, but good use of space. Lots of seating around the bar. They have a patio for additional seating during the warm months. Great place before or after a Saints baseball game. A short walk away. Sometimes they also have barrel aged stout bottles offered for on site consumption, and they do a great job with that style of beer. Friendly service and a welcoming vibe. One of my favorite beer spots in the Twin Cities

This spot has a great atmosphere! The bar has a good variety of beers on tap and lots of seating. Close to a lot of food options so this is a good stop for pre or post-lunch/dinner drinks! The staff was really friendly and advised us on a good beer when we didn't know what to order. I am a fan of sours so I ended up getting the spotted tiger which is a Berliner with strawberry, tangerine, blood orange, and citrus.

This place will be loved by ppl who love IPA. They have lot of IPA beers on their menu. I tried a pilsner and it was good. The place has pinball machines to play with. Ambiance was good and they have a huge place. I normally don't like IPA but its good to try this place out.

So glad we stopped in here and checked it out. No food just great beer. Service was great. Beers were amazing. Highly recommend the raindrop ipa (heavenly)! Both their sours were really bomb too. Cheers friends!

You're the best! Around! Nothing's gonna keep you down. You're the best in town. My two favorite styles of beer are IPA's and sours. Barrel Theory seems to specialize in both of them. They also rotate pretty heavily so there is almost always something new. Never any trouble getting your uniques up here. Unfortunately, it seems many people think as highly of the place as I do. It is usually very crowded. Oftentimes, there are no stools to be had at the bar. For their sours, I have really enjoyed the Gucci Piñata and the Purple Lamborghini. In the IPA department, my favorites have been Mo Peach Mo Problems and Mugatu. They rotate so much, though, that it can be difficult to find the ones you liked when you go back again. Bartenders are some of the friendliest anywhere as well. If you are a beer geek like me and haven't been yet, I urge you to get there in a hurry.

This is one of the few breweries where I can find something I always like, which is difficult for me because I only drink sours and stouts (I'm weird, I know) and the fact that their selection is always changing. The one downside of having an ever rotating menu is that if you find something you love, you might never get to drink it again after you leave :( Please bring back the Purple Lamborghini! All the beers I've tried are bold and creamy (stouts) or juicy and fruity (sours). I'm sure their other beers are great too, but the other styles are not my cuppa tea. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. I also love their fun names for the beers. This is a great stop before a Saints game at CHS Field. Another things to note: not dog friendly inside or on their patio since you have to go inside to get to their patio. This is such a bummer because I would probably come here all the time in the summer if it were dog friendly.

Other than Wild Minds (which I just wrote a review for), this is our new favorite beer spot in the Twin Cities. The guys here really can brew some beer. My favorite right now is Java Oats, which is their coffee stout. It is the most delicious coffee stout I think I have ever had. Better than Coffee Bender. Yeah, really. The coffee flavor is so strong but not overpowering, mixed with that lovely oaty stout flavor (hence the name I guess). Their sours are good, and I enjoy the super fun names of beers. It also seems like while they have some staples, they change out the rotation pretty quickly. So always something new for everyone! The taproom itself is totally great. Big long wood benches along one side, with tall tables and a fun atmosphere. We did accidentally visit once during a big game, and I don't think I'll make that mistake again -- too loud for my liking. But absolutely fine during non-game times. The bar staff is friendly and helpful. A+. Oh, and Buttered Tin is right across the street, so now my new favorite thing is to go for brunch at Buttered Tin and then hop across the street for some beers. A perfect weekend day.

Promising entry into the local craft beer scene. Limited but well balanced list of options should keep patrons satisfied and curious to return in the future to see what's new on the menu. Highlights from my visit includes the Purple Lamborghini and Tear Drops IPA. Review loses at least one and half stars for their food/dine-in option. Either horribly ill-conceived or half-baked. Maybe both. Upon arriving you will find two menus on your table: (1) menu for Barrel Theory; (2) food menu for Dark Horse which is next door. If you happen to decide you would like food with your brews, you need to call to order food from Dark Horse on your own phone and then run over to pick up when ready. Why bother even having the menu and pretending this is a viable food option? It would be a way better customer experience to say there is no food menu. Pretty much every over craft brewery in the expansive state of Minnesota has figured out a better way to address food in way more effective manner. Not to beat a dead (or dark) horse, but this would have been a four or five star review but for the laughable experience trying to order food.

Have lived here three months and this hands down my fave beer and I have tried MANY in the Twin Cities. Mainly because well they mostly have my two fave styles- sours (talking pucker up those cheeks and lips sour!!) and really cool IPAs. Today I had a crazy imperial stout there which was a collab. They sell Crowlers to go but be sure to check the close off time - went on a Friday for example and while they were open til 11 the can sale had to end at 10 (state law I believe) so we were disappointed! I have been back a few times and I see it as a really nice treat for myself because the beer is so, so good. Nice merch too. If anyone wants to send a Midwest Exotic shirt my way please do!!

If you're into IPAs, I would definitely keep barrel theory on the list! I do not like IPAs. I don't care how good you think you're IPA is... I won't like it. So personally for me, barrel theory is not my go to brewery as I was more limited on what to pick. However, my fiancé enjoys IPAs and really enjoyed his beer and can't wait to go back! Service was great. Street parking was easy to find.

My husband is what I would consider a beer snob and this is by far our favorite breweries to go to. Full transparency, I'm not super into craft beer but this place is turning me! Prices are very reasonable as they are at most breweries and the atmosphere is fun and full of life. It never fails that we strike up a conversation with the people next to us as most always this is their favorite brewery as well. Employees are always friendly and helpful. I only wish they served food but the restaurant next door (Dark Horse) is great so I'm okay with it. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great breweries in MN.....but this one is at the top of the list!

After we found paid meter parking across the street on a Friday afternoon we got settled in right at the bar. Ordered rain drops then the DDH version very top quality beer. Moving on we sampled every else on the board , line scooter sour was so tasty. Ordered food from Dark Horse next door while we talk beer to the staff that day. It was the best beer I had on the trip, would like to see more cans out instead of crowlers at brewery.

Given the background of those that opened Barrel Theory it's really no surprise that they've been knocking it out of the park since the get-go. The focus is heavy on IPAs, sours and stouts, which is perfect for this guy. While most of the sours thus far have been kettles, they've still been quite good and you can expect to find a few on tap at any given time. The IPAs generally lean toward the hazy variety, but are also consistently great. Honestly, there hasn't been a beer here that I haven't thought was at least good, many have been fantastic. You can only find their beer in the taproom, but you can always grab some crowlers to go if you're feeling antisocial. Staff have always been friendly, the space is cozy and you can order/bring your own food if feeling peckish. While they're still relatively new to the brewing scene, BT is one of the best around in my opinion.

My friend Mindy has been raving about Barrel Theory for forevs, so when we were leaving the St. Paul Food Truck Fest @ Mears Park, we HAD to stop in. Not to mention I had just paid $25 for stupid marked-up event parking so I was going to suck the value out of it. First of all, kudos to Barrel Theory having so much seating and natural light! But onto the beer... we got the Agua Fresca (tropical sour), Robo Trippin' (cherry sour) and Boat Shoes (IPA). When I was asked what my favorite was, I had to think hard because they were all pretty damn good. The Agua Fresca had amazing summery tropical notes, without coming off as too sweet. Robo Trippin' was flavorful and not too sour. I usually don't even like IPAs but Boat Shoes had almost a slight creaminess to it that helped mellow it out. I'm so glad I got my butt out of MPLS to try this great STP brewery!

Heard this brewery was the new hot spot and I was only about a year late to check it out. Still working on getting over to St. Paul more often. Baby steps. We went on a Saturday night before dinner. At about 6 pm it was so packed and standing room only. The selections of beer flavors made up for it because I wanted to try one of everything. I really like sweet beers and they had no shortage. I tried the patio season and spring break '98. That's the other thing about this place - the beer names are so witty and hilarious. They also had two TVs with basketball games on. This is always huge points for a brewery when my husband joins. What's not to love?!

I love trying new beers, new takes on styles, new breweries...I would have given this place 5 stars without input from my wife as she typically only likes fruity sours. However, after trying 10? different beers here and my wife liking every one we are raising the bar on this review to a double 5 star review! :) Everything was enjoyable from the seating to the layout to the beers and lighting and service. If you haven't visit go with a few friends and try and share everything they have on tap and buy some crowlers to take home! One of the best I've been to in the U.S. Cheers!

My friend and I decided to come to his brewery since both of us haven't been to this one. We went on a Friday evening around 6:30 pm. When we got arrived, there was a good amount of people already as expected-- on a Friday. The place is really trendy and hipster vibes; great atmosphere! I'm so glad they had a patio! The weather was great, and it's nice to enjoy beer with great company! The patio has about 4 big tables, however I wished that they also had some tables and chair (one small table, 2 chairs) or some type of bar out there people could stand and put their drinks on. Despite that, we shared a table with some people (I didn't mind.) The beer was great! I tried blue steel and afterschool snacks. I love the hints of fruit flavors! We both got 10 oz and got rounds for each other. End up paying about $11 for both the two beers. My friend didn't think the stout beers were as great compared to previous stouts she's tried at other breweries. Nevertheless, we had a great time at this brewery-- well worth checking it out if you're interested and in the area!

The best brewery in St. Paul. Disclaimer 1: I like hoppy beers. IPA's, from any coast or region, pale ales and the like. If you have similar tastes in beer, this is an excellent choice. In fact, if I just wanted to drink beer, all things being equal, this would be my first choice. The atmosphere is nice & cozy too. They do not have food, but you can order from Dark Horse next door which has pretty good food (the mock duck bowl and ghost pepper wings come to mind). Parking can be tough, but this is a close and great option if you're headed to CHS field for a baseball game. Disclaimer 2: I like almost all beer styles so Fair State gets a nod over this one if you like more than hoppy beers.

The beer is amazing but unfortunately it was warm! So disappointed. We're there Sunday before the Saints game

Absolutely a gem. Beers are creative and delicious. Staff is so helpful and friendly. We had an amazing time there - will be back soon!

Hands down my new favorite spot to grab a beer in St. Paul. The beer, friendliness and knowledge of the staff, atmosphere, outdoor seating and the overall good vibes are a win in my book. "Rain Drops" IPA and "Shooter McGavin" are phenomenal and they have a few others that won't disappoint. (Bonus points for naming a beer after Happy Gilmore) I've been to over 80 breweries in Minnesota now and in my opinion, they rank in the top 3 for the beer they are producing. If you don't trust me and trust UnTappd, you'll note that most of their beers rank 4+ which is incredibly rare...Most breweries I've been to either have one beer or none above the 4 ranking. Keep it up, Barrel Theory!

For a place called Barrel Theory their offerings were....unexpected. There were about 10 beers on tap and at least 6 were IPAs. And nothing was Barrel aged. wut? Inside finish was nice - not all concrete and glass- though the layout wasn't great and it seemed like things kind of bottlenecked between door and ordering. Loved the beer names though!

I went with the Tear Drop. A very good, cloudy IPA. Excellent flavor and just the right amount of subtle hoppiness. If the managers or owners are reading this, some feedback on the decor and lighting. Love the decor (toasted wood everywhere). The light fixtures above the tables are WAY too bright. Same with the lighting under the bar. It kills the mood a bit when you feel like you have to squint to save your corneas. The lighting above the bar is PERFECT. Go with that.

These are the beers you've been looking for. Honestly, if you are at all into newer IPA styles with DDH versions and new hop varietals, you will NOT be disappointed. Yes, it's a little trendy and hipster-ish, but these beers are ON POINT. They also have killer sours regularly on tap. No food. Cool atmosphere and nice tables and long bar. Overall great experience... but those beers! Rain Drops was phenomenal.

Decent beer. Terrible service. I go to breweies to try new beer, not have some millennial yell, "what do you want" and throw a menu at me. Then proceed to not tell me anything about the beer. Also, no samples? You're going to lose a good chunk of biz with that model. Great to try once, but not worth going back.

It is a truism in Minnesota these days that every neighborhood must have a brewery. Or two. Or like... two dozen, if you're Northeast MPLS. Lowertown is no exception, and for an up and coming neighborhood of fast-risers and over-achievers, Barrel Theory fits in VERY nicely. Like IPAs? Don't worry, Rain Drops is maybe my favorite IPA I've tried in years. It's bright, citrusy, and floral, with the patented IPA bitter flowing comfortably under the surface of the balanced and delicious top notes. It's a wonderful summer IPA. They also have the slightly more robust Magic Man, and the extremely hoppy double IPA, Why Go Hard When You Can Go Home? But if that was all they had, it'd be disappointing. I, for one, am sick of IPAs. Thankfully, Barrel Theory has a much wider selection of crowd pleasers. The After School Snacks tastes about like you'd expect a Tangerine & Blood Orange Berliner to taste. It's a crisp and refreshing "sour" beer that even the most diehard sour haters will enjoy. Mainly because it isn't all that sour. It's flavors are delicate and refined, and a joy to drink on their patio. Then, there's the Java Oats. Hoo boy. Talk about a punch in the mouth. The Java Oats is a coffee-oatmeal stout and you taste every single bit of it. The coffee flavor especially is front and center, whalloping your nose before you even take a sip. The taste fills your mouth with the first bit of beer, and under it you can taste the oatmeal stout that forms this beer's base. It's like breakfast in a glass, and is truly first class. Barrel Theory is my favorite "new" brewery in town.

This was one of my favorite breweries we tried during a recent visit to the Twin Cities! I'm a fan of stouts and sours, and I was in heaven here! Lots of interesting, unique sours to choose from. I LOVED the After School Snacks (tangerine and blood orange Berliner) which had amazing natural fruit flavor that complemented the beer really well. I also enjoyed the Saber Tooth Tiger, which was delicious, fruity and wonderful in a similar way (only with hints of guava, passion fruit and citrus) and the Key Sublime, which was amazing -- between the combination of vanilla, cinnamon and lime flavors, it tasted like a pie! The atmosphere is also great. It's a smallish space for a taproom and also a popular spot, which makes it lively and convivial. Everyone we encountered, from staff to other patrons, was friendly and up for a chat, which was fun and welcoming. The location in St. Paul is great, near other shops and restaurants.

The MPG sour is unreal! Passion fruit is definitely the strongest flavor. Best sour I've ever had - not watery and not too sour either. The Rain Drops IPA is super smooth and even non-IPA lovers can enjoy it.

Barrel Theory: 1. Respects men. 2. Respects women. 3. Doesn't respect throwing your pizza behind the bar when you're belligerent. I'd say this place is friendly, had great service, and treats all patrons with respect ... unless you are the type that thinks being blackout and rude is cute. Also, the beer is phenomenal

Came here in recommendation from door man at Surly. No regrets. Friendly bar staff. Key Lime pie Berliner Weiss was worth the trip. Wish I could have taken home crowler.

A lot of nice darker beer options were available. We all decided to have the cinnamon bun choice. Not disappointed. Thriving and energetic vibe in a warm wooden yellow lighting space. Lots of space so you can mingle and move about. Prices are competitive with other breweries.

If you only have time to sample one brewery in Saint Paul, this is really the best option. When a bunch of talented brewers from other places decide to do their own thing, you should expect something unique and exemplary. Barrel Theory has only been open for just over a year in their current location, and it's not uncommon to see a line out the door and down the block when they release a new brew. My favorite is the Key Sublime, a lime sour with notes of vanilla and graham cracker, as if you're eating a piece of key lime pie. Their Rain Drops is one of the best IPAs I've ever tasted, and while I am not usually an IPA fan, I will order this one every time. The rest of the menu is simply awesome. I haven't had a beer there I didn't like, if not love. The staff are incredible and the space is large, though usually crowded. But hey, that's a good problem to have for a new brewery. I'd love to see them expand, find a second location, etc. And I'm so happy they finally started barrel aging! They were a huge hit at their first anniversary bash, and I hope there are more to come.

You are never too good to provide good service. Unfortunately the staff at Barrel Theory has yet to learn this lesson. Snarky and unhelpful they failed to recommend a drinkable beer and I ended up giving away both of the beers I purchased. This was in part due to the fact that they do not let you sample beers and also in part due to the sour beers not being properly labeled as such. The tasters averaged just less that $1 per ounce which is ridiculous in my opinion and they don't have paddles which they deemed "silly". Our Pub Club will not be visiting again. If you don't offer samples at least offer knowledgeable and polite staff.

Good beers, great ambiance! Tried this for the first time yesterday. Owned by a former Surly employee so it has to be good right? Yeah it is. about 20 beers on tap, and you can take growlers home with you. Great selection of Ale's, Stout's, IPA's and a few others. The ONlY bummer is no food. But... you can go right next door and order from the Dark Horse and they will bring it to you! Good stuff. Try this place out!

We had 4 beers total between hubby & I: DDH Raindrops- his fave CryptoCurrency- IPA Enigma- Pale Ale Afternoon Snacks- Gose w/ tangerine & blood orange- very good, I think even someone who isn't a sours fan would enjoy it All of our beers were really well done. If you're here and in search of food, definitely ask for a menu for Dark Horse next door and do yourself a favor and order their wings and fries- Thank me later!

Great place with great ambience. We were 4 of us and we got the Rage Quit (Pilsner), the Stormbreaker (Imperial Stout) and the Java Oats. One of my friends claims it is the best imperial stout he has ever had. Frankly, the pilsner was just okayish but the feel of this place is really good and they had a patio access which allows customers to go outside and enjoy the weather. My friends had the "beyond hazel eyes" (imperial stout) the first time they came here and they told me it was the best they have ever had. But I guess it keeps getting better. I wish they had more lager and pilsner options rather than an IPA dominated menu. Great place if you are into breweries. Must try!

Pros: Fantastic beer. I was really excited to try this brewery due to the Surley brewmaster relationship. The beer did not disappoint. There's also cool merch for you to buy, and the beers have fun names. Cons: Expect the ultimate hipster service...or lack thereof. Not friendly, not social, not helpful. The bartenders I'm currently watching are 100% focused on talking with their friends, though, so that's cool for them. There are zero samples, as they ask you buy 3 oz pours for $4. Each beer description is literally one incomplete sentence that tells you what hops or main ingredients are included. Also expect to pay $7 per pint, making the $5 ten ounce pour seem appealing. There's practically nothing to do here. Tables, music, beer, and that's it. Very minimal. Maybe that's your thing. I know this pace is new, and I hope it levels out. But for now, it's boring, sterile place with similar employee personalities, but it has fantastic beer.

The first time I came here, I saw Jesus. Awesome beer after awesome beer. I left elated that such an amazing place was in St. Paul. I preached Barrel Theory. I told everyone about it. I fantasized about returning. Visit #2...either I remembered such awesomeness that reality could not match, or something slipped a little, I'm not sure. But while everything was good, Jesus wasn't there. Lots of other bearded folks, but not Christ. So, I will give it a third chance (and probably a fourth and a fifth). I look forward to returning. Space is great (though it gets loud).

I recently came into town from San Diego (20-yr high reunion) and wanted to check the local craft beer scene. A friend recommended I visit a new place in St. Paul (Barrel Theory). I noticed BT does fewer types of beers, which is a good sign. Do fewer, but do them well (like any credible restaurant). It just so happens they had my favorites on the menu: IPAs and sours. I definitely could see the beer quality was very high. The MPG (mango, passion fruit, guava berliner) was outstanding. BT is adjacent to Dark Horse, a great local eatery, and even has a window where you can order food (eventually). In the meantime, you can order from the menu at BT. This is a huge plus because there's nothing worse than going to a tap room and getting the hunger itch without means to scratch it. The service and atmosphere is solid. Roomy space with friendly and knowledgeable staff. The management approached me unsolicited and was warm. Overall, I'm very impressed. Highly recommend.