Looking for an underrated beer adventure? Tucked away in the vast plains of Minnesota and North Dakota sits a tiny destination known and Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. You may not find the number of breweries that their southern neighbor of Minneapolis boasts, but if you're looking for a high quality, relaxing, slow pace beer adventure then head north!
What Makes Fargo and Moorhead Stand Out?
We will save the best for first and fill you in on the splendor that is Brewhalla by Drekker Brewing. Directly next to and adjoining the brewery (which we will get into later) is the market/hotel created by Drekker. This PUTS DREKKER ON THE NATIONAL MAP when it comes to brewery destinations. The brewery itself may have that honor, but when you add this mega structure of an experience to the brewery experience, you have a once in a lifetime, must visit destination. The name Brewhalla describes this perfectly!
Once you book your room and checkin (all done virtually on your phone with no lobby or front desk to speak of) head on up to the private 3rd and 4th floors where you will enter your custom hotel room. I say custom because each room is themed after a Drekker Brewing beer! The hotel room comes complete with a full size fridge with a few beers included, high end glasses for beer drinking, neon "Brewhalla" sign, a funky bed layout with a unique paint job from the can art, and even a balcony to take in those brisk winter evenings.
The first floor of this complex features the market where several shoppes, mostly food and beverage, offer their products. From coffee, to wine, to seafood and pizza...this is your one stop shop for it all. Also on the first floor is a full size Drekker bar with a ridiculous amount of draft offerings from the brewery. The 2nd floor has another bar, which is the same size, plus plenty of seating. Keep in mind, this is simply the market! We haven't even stepped foot inside the brewery yet.
Drekker Brewery
Take a very short stroll down the hall, pass the brew house, and you enter the taproom of the Drekker Brewery. Unlike Brewhalla, which is more of a modern and open architectural design, the brewery is more rustic and artsy with high wooden beams and ceilings, exposed brick and concrete, and a steam punk, folk art vibe. Completely different atmosphere from just a few steps away in Brewhalla. The beer remains the same, however. Mouth puckering, fruity, juicy sours are the go-to here, however, Drekker offers some fine IPAs and a few traditional styles like Oktoberfests and other lagers and lighter ales.
One thing we noticed was the amount of pinball machines in this region of the country and Drekker is no exception. About a quarter of the taproom is lined with pinball machines for maximum amount of fun. More of an outside beer drinker? The biergarten, complete with a human skull in the fire pit, is your place to go! Take in the rustic views of the exterior of the brewery as long as it's not too chilly. Drekker is certainly the MUST VISIT brewery of your Fargo-Moorhead trip.
Junkyard Brewing
Not very far behind Drekker for us is Junkyard Brewing. Actually, some may prefer Junkyard, or any other brewery in town. All depends on your preference. For THEbreweryauthority, Junkyard was definitely one of the higher end breweries in the entire region of the county. Moorhead MN features the original location of Junkyard Brewing and is everything you want in a brewery. If you like Drekker, Junkyard is for you. The same styles dominate the menu, however, IPAs seem to be the main focus here.
The taproom is a modest size with fun, funky art adorning the walls. If you happen to visit during one of the very few warm months you can sit out front in the biergarten, but the relaxed taproom will always be our choice.
The recently opened Junkyard taproom in West Fargo inhabits a former bank building and ups the ante when it comes to size. This multi level taproom features a bar both upstairs and down and definitely has a more modern theme than the original taproom across the river in Minnesota. However, like the original, the West Fargo location has that same relaxed atmosphere. Definitely worth visiting BOTH locations to experience the unique atmospheres.
Fargo Brewing
When in Fargo ND how could you not visit the brewery with this name? Before you even enter the taproom you are going to want to get a snapshot of the "Fargo" mural outside near the front entrance. Fargo Brewing offers more traditional style beer, if you're in the mood for a pilsner, dry Irish stout, a doppelbock, or something similar. Another brewery with a low-light, calming atmosphere where you are meant to slowly sip a brew while reading a book or perhaps playing a card game with a friend!
Swing Barrel Brewing
Back in Moorhead you have the friendly neighborhood brewery of Swing Barrel Brewing where the actual brew house pokes it's head up from the basement floor. Quite a unique feature you don't often see! Like Fargo Brewing, this brewery offers a full and diverse menu of beers that include many traditional styles. Nothing fancy or over the top here (except the brewhouse!), just a simple taproom with a light hearted atmosphere.
Wild Terra Cider Bar
Not in the mood for beer or need to change it up after all those heavy sours from Drekker or luscious IPAs from Junkyard? Visit Wild Terra where they put unique spins on all their ciders such as berry/habanero, spiced donut, caramel apple, and even a Skittles cider! And the taproom makes you feel like your sipping in a rustic cabin or lodge way up north...even more north than it is! Even though the taproom isn't massive, Wild Terra still managed to fit in a second level that looks down on the bar and lower taproom area. Great place to visit if you need a change up from the same old beer styles.
More Than Breweries
Fargo and Moorhead don't have as many breweries as their southern neighbor of Minneapolis, but if you've visited all the breweries and STILL need more than there are a few beer bars you can head to for that night cap. These range from food joints that happen to have a great beer line up to high energy nightlife spots.
One great, but small, place to check out is JL Beers which specializes in amazing burgers in addition to their stellar craft beer lineup. They've actually been rated best burger many years in a row!
Pixeled Brewing Company isn't actually a brewery any more, but they still have a quality draft lineup and TONS of arcade games to keep you entertained all night! Add Front Street Taproom to that list as well if you're looking for another place with high quality food and a bountiful craft beer lineup. Würst Bier Hall offers a unique experience with a German beer hall style taproom with you guessed it...German food and even more beer!
Do yourself a favor and download the Crafts and Drafts Pass for Fargo and Moorhead. Checkin to as many breweries and beer bars as you can and you can get some great swag like a T-shirt or hat! Get rewarded for your adventure!
The list of places can go on and on, but there's only so much time in the day. Fargo and Moorhead may not have the sheer amount of breweries other large cities like Minneapolis have, but here you get a high quality experience without the big city hassle and that's something THEbreweryauthority absolutely loves....and so will you!
Cheers!
🌹thanks for everything