'Taproom' Trend Booming In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A taproom trend in the Twin Cities is giving people who enjoy beer a whole new experience.

In 2011, the so-called "Surly bill," which lets brewers sell their pints directly to customers, went into effect. Because of that law, taprooms have been popping up at small breweries -- from Excelsior to Stillwater.

The real boom, however, is in Minneapolis.

When the law changed to allow taprooms at breweries, Harriet Brewing became one of the first to put the beer drinkers within yards of the beer brewers. They turned an adjacent garage into the taproom, adding music and artwork for a comfortable, lounge-like feel.

"Look right behind you. You see the work, you see it being done right in front of you," said customer, Bob Steward.

Like the other Twin Cities taprooms, there's nothing else but beer on the menu. The beer is why they're here.

Rob Miller loved craft beer so much, he went into the business. After years as a home brewer, he just opened up Dangerous Man in northeast Minneapolis.

The taproom has an open, industrial feel that he hopes encourages conversation between the customers and with the brewer.

"To have that one-on-one interaction with the brewer, the person that designed the recipe, that created the recipe, I think is pretty unique and a pretty cool experience for customers," said Miller.

Miller says conversation is the key to the craft beer culture. In fact, a few of the other local breweries invited him in, showing him the ropes before he opened.