Best Of

Best Spring Beers In Minnesota

March 24, 2016 / 7:00 AM CDT / CBS Minnesota

We come out of our caves, from the dark beer depths, from the warming life of porters and stouts and winter ales, searching for something fresh, something alive. Spring beers celebrate the coming warm weather without calling for the beaches of summertime, and these are a few of Minnesota's finest.

Paddle Break
Bent Paddle Brewing
1912 W. Michigan St.
Duluth, MN 55806
(218) 279-BPBC
www.bentpaddlebrewing.com

This is the lighter beer you take with you when you can finally hit the water again for some recreation, which makes sense, as it comes from Duluth, a port city situated on the largest inland body of water in America. It's the beer for the outdoors man or woman in you, and it is the perfect compliment to any open-air adventure, just make sure you have a designated driver, even for your watercraft. Available come April and into the summer, this refreshing blonde celebrates the melting snow and warmer weather.

Big Island Blonde
Excelsior Brewing Co.
421 3rd St.
Excelsior, MN 55331
(952) 474-7837
excelsiorbrew.com

A little hoppy, a little citrusy, the Big Island is easy to drink and a great beer to come out of hibernation with. This is the kind of beer you think of when you're looking for something cold, yellow and awesome. It's also great for those "I'm not sure if I like beer" friends; the Big Island Blonde is something complex with enough depth to set itself apart, but still infinitely accessible and refreshing. Certainly a good choice for that first day you get out the grill, you can drink this brew all afternoon without getting too full or sleepy.

Migration
Bad Weather Brewery
414 7th St. W.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 207-6627
www.badweatherbrewery.com

German hops and German malts keep this spring brew balanced and pleasant. Easily drinkable at a not-too-potent 5% ABV, with rose hips added to the already delicately almost sweet brew, you can practically taste the flowers bursting through the ground. With a brand new taproom in St. Paul, just a stone's throw from the Xcel Energy Center, you can enjoy this brew come spring through the summer.

Related: Best Sour Beers In Minnesota

Spotlight IPA
Third Street Brewhouse
219 Red River Ave. N.
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-3690
www.thirdstreetbrewhouse.com

Spring is even better when you crack open an India Pale Ale. For some, spring beer means hoppy, and it's hard to disagree. There's a little citrus to this one and an addicting finish that has just the right amount of spice. This beer reminds you that the birds are chirping, the snow is almost gone and those months of warmth have only just begun.

Maibock
Summit Brewing
910 Montreal Circle
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 265-7800
www.summitbrewing.com

In the growing, changing world of craft beer, the godfather of Minnesota's craft beer scene sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. But Summit's spring brew has earned a place on this list as a delicious post-winter celebration. It's been a consistent springtime choice since its inception and is a classic example of a Maibock, the German's tribute to warming weather ("Mai" is German for May, and "bock" is their deep-bodied brewing style). The commitment to quality ingredients keeps this beer on the list. An added bonus, you can now get this brew in cans, ideal for a cookout or any outdoor outing, thanks to the brewery's expansion last year.

Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.