Gabriel G.
Yelp
Right off the bat, let me start off by saying this since I just learned about it from reading other reviews, it is great that they do not allow kids inside their taproom. I understand that some of the negative Yelp reviews come from that, but I actually respect them for that decision. I've visited over fifty breweries in Minnesota and taprooms are just not a place for children. There is nothing more irritating than having children screaming and running around in a taproom. A place meant for adults of drinking age to hang out and socialize with fellow adults, not children. Also taking into account the fact that the max capacity at this cozy taproom is sixty-one people, it makes zero business sense to allow children inside. That's just my two cents.
I hate that I don't remember his name but the bartender who helped us on an early Sunday afternoon was fantastic! He was friendly, he had suggestions for beers to try out, he even brought out our flight to the table and we were able to pay from there too. Too often in the craft brewery scene you have these bartenders working that come off as uninterested or pretentious, so whenever someone goes out of their way to make me feel welcomed I will remember it. Good job, dude!
Wabasha is not reinventing the wheel of brew-making and they don't have to because what they do they are doing it right. I had a flight with their West Side Popper Jalapeno Cream Ale, Implosion with Mango IPA, China Doll White Stout, and Brown Eyed Woman Brown Ale. I like trying weird things when it comes to beer and having had "spicy" or "jalapeno" beers and ciders in the past, they have not gone my way, yet I still order them for some reason. Thankfully, the West Side Popper was the most drinkable of the kind that I've tried. It carried a bit of heat but nothing unmanageable. It tasted like a jalapeño flavored beer. I'm sure it would pair well with some tacos. Getting a smaller pour of it is still probably the way to go, as I could see the heat building up with a pint or two of it. I've never tried their Implosion IPA alone, but the mango take on it was exactly what you'd expect. The mango made it a smooth drinker, balancing out the hops. Brown Eyed Woman is typical, nothing mind-blowing, but if you are a fan of brown ales you will enjoy it. I got some toffee taste on first sip and a bit of plum for aftertaste. The absolute winner and the best beer I tried at Wabasha was China Doll. The white chocolate white stout combination is delicious and I'm sad I did not grab a pint of it before leaving because it's worth having more than just a small pour of it. It tastes like white chocolate, plain and simple! It's light and easy to drink. Anyone who has a "sweet tooth" should enjoy this beer.
Their flights are only a flat $10 regardless of which four beers you choose and there are no exceptions to which you can pick. For an even better deal, on Thursday's they have "happy hour" which means $7 flights. Now that is a steal! On the West Side of St. Paul, this is a perfect spot to check out if you are in the area and want to avoid the crowds and parking hassles of downtown. Good prices, good service, good beer. You got me as a customer. That easy.