BlackStack Brewing was stop #59 on the quest of visiting every single MN brewery (follow along at IG: @bettyeatsthecity). It didn't take long for it to become one of my instant favorites and definitely in my Top 3 list of breweries in St. Paul. First of all the space is humongous and beautiful. The vibes were so fun and relaxing from the second we stepped foot in the door. Although the decor of the warehouse is fairly simple and cool toned, they have ton of greenery and plants just spread out all over, adding a pop of color to the space and making it feel super tropical. There are many tables everywhere as well as whole bunch of couches and sofas for more of a lounge feel. Even though the place was packed, it didn't take us long to grab a table. The gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light, brightening and freshening up the feel of the taproom. One of my absolute favorite things about BlackStack is their enormous board game shelf. It's really multiple tall shelves stacked together creating almost an entire wall of games. I've never seen anything like this and quite frankly I probably never will anywhere else. BlackStack just puts every other brewery to shame when it comes to entertainment. I love playing games with friends over a nice cold beer and since there are so many choices here, it's not too hard to spend hours and hours here having fun. For added entertainment, they also have a giant projector in the back playing sports etc. When it comes to the brews, they have a nice variety of specialty beers and fun creations as well as more simple pours but all of them overall really excellent. We shared a few flights and pints and enjoyed everything we've tried so far. Amongst my favorites was the Soul Lao'd - an IPA made in collaboration with the Soul Lao'd food truck. It's made with lemongrass & chillies and creates an unforgettable experience. Super delicious. I also totally loved People Person aka the amazing, fruity Berliner. Peach, pineapple, and passion fruit are all a part of this beer making it the best tropical, juicy, refreshing beer you'll have. It even had some pulp in it since they were getting to the bottom of the keg, as we learned from the beertender. The service was good; beertenders were friendly but since it was super busy during our visit there wasn't quite enough time to chat and ask questions. They were focused on getting the line down which I would also appreciate as a patron who knows what they want. As far as food options go, BlackStack does not have a kitchen but it is located in the same building as CanCan Wonderland so you can grab your food there and bring it over. They also have a regular food truck schedule and usually special offer deals like the $10 personal pizza & pint on Sundays when the Blue Fire Pizza is here. Or same deal for wings when Soul Lao'd is on site. You can also totally buy small snacks & sodas at the bar. I already cannot wait to go back because I know I'm pretty much guaranteed to have a good time. I also know that there will be delicious brews waiting, ton of fun games to choose from, and a place to sit or lounge....it's just a good feel hang out place that I know I will be returning to! read more

See all

Made it here apparently a couple of weeks after opening. Its in the MASSIVE building that apparently used to be railroad related in some fashion. Its in an enormous old, but freshly renovated space with large windows that allow a lot of light to pour in. There are a lot of tables and a great bar with all the brewing equipment directly behind that. It has a nice open feel to it. Parking can be an issue on the street, but there is also underground parking that they share with Can Can Wonderland. It can get a bit dicey on the weekends trying find a space, but I guess you could find a spot on the street or be lucky enough to find one in the smaller outdoor lot. The beer is fantastic. Ordered a really nice IPA (not too bitter, just right). The name escapes me since I neglected to right it down. Also sampled the Ratify which is great if you are into the whole Belgian coriander and orange peel thing. The number of selections is small compared to other places, but I expect that to be changing. What they do have is high quality. Check the food truck schedule to see who is there on any particular day. The staff was cool, particularly on the day we were there and they were swamped. All in all a great addition to the brewery scene. It might still have that new brewery smell when you go there. read more

See all

BlackStack stands out because of their beer styles! As it should be! I did one of their flights of four, which their prices vary depending on the beers you select, mine was around $11.50. I went with the Soul Lao'd, People Person, Stilettos, and Fast Casual. The Soul Lao'd IPA (a collab with local food truck of the same name) features lemongrass and chilies that perfectly compliment each other, while still maintaining a kick of hops. Its complexity make it a very unique beer worth trying more than once. People Person, a peach-pineapple-passionfruit blast is one of the lighter and more refreshing Berliner styles that I've had. It tasted like a tropical juice, with the tart characters more understated, which is a good thing in my book (fun fact: the pour I had of this in my flight was heavy on pulp, which I later learned happens at the backend of the keg for this particular beer.) Fast Casual had those delicious, fruity hops that make it an easy-drinker while still clocking in at over 7.0% ABV. I JUST FREAKIN' LOVE HAZY/JUICY/FRUITY IPAs. Come at me old-school beer drinkers. Stilettos was probably my least favorite out of the four tasters, but even then it was not a bad brew. The Italian-style pilsner was spritzy and dry, a fantastic option for the warm months. It doesn't taste like a simple, boring pilsner. On a Sunday afternoon this place was packed. Walking through its door, I had no idea the space would be so airy. We luckily were able to grab one of the last few open tables they had when we arrived. Their endless amount of board games at the entrance will make you easily lose track of time and spend hours hanging out there if you pick one out to play with friends. The lounging chairs and couches all around the space make for a more relaxing atmosphere while kicking back some delicious brews. The only reason they are only getting 4 stars is that the service was just fine. Perhaps it had to do with how busy they were, but the bartenders just seemed to wanna grab you what you wanted and move along. They were not rude by any means, but the service had no personal touch. I'm sure on a more calm day that may differ. The beers that BlackStack is releasing right now are worth keeping an eye on. They are doing some great stuff and it's not going unnoticed by the serious craft beer aficionados in the cities. They seem to be coming out with something new every week and that's awesome. The Minnesota beer scene is so vast that keeping a constant rotation of new and fresh ideas is a must and BlackStack is doing an excellent job at that. If you are looking for something out of the norm and unique as a drinker, definitely check out BlackStack. If you prefer a more classic approach to beers, probably not the brewery for you depending on what they have on tap at a particular time. From the beer to the way they have utilized their taproom space, BlackStack is a winner. read more

Great new brewery with amazing space and even better beer. The New England IPA is one of my new favorites. They will be showing Minnesota United FC and EPL soccer matches soon. Owners are really friends and helpful. Would highly recommend making the stop and trying all of the beers! read more

See all

Parking in the lot seems to be an issue. Not sure how they resolve that. I understand there is also a below level parking area. I actually parked on the street, which was pretty convenient. Once inside, a very open space. Lots of light. Friendly staff. As I write this, they have been open for a couple weeks. Lots to like here. As for beers .... Ratify - This seems to be a beer along the way to becoming a sour. What I'm saying is that this has some similar taste to some really good sour beers I've had without being sour, hope that makes sense. Local 755 w/ Citra. Wow! This is an awesome beer. Very smooth, not as bitter as a typical IPA. Definitely highly recommend this beer and one main reason I'll be back. Local 755 w/ Gravity. Also awesome. Changed keg while I was here. A little dryer, a little more bitter taste ( at least to me, but in a good way). Ends Meet - Belgian beer taste. Medium Brown. Quite tasty. I'm not a big Belgian beer fan. But, this is quite good. Spare Parts - Dark beer. They say it's an easy drinking beer. Agreed, it is. Pretty tasty. Not too heavy a beer. You'll figure out the parking. :) read more

See all

Finally made it out here, on the good excuse that I can work from anywhere and they open at Noon on Fridays. The beer selection was a bit limited (6 beers I think), but they had the 755 NEIPA on tap, so I'm not compainin'. Talk about a big space! Yuuuge two-story-floor-to-ceiling windows along the east wall (not quite sure if they open in the summer?) with tables to seat a few hundred at least. There are comfy couches along the windowed east wall that maybe seat another 40 customers. Not surprisingly, the music is blaring a bit too much to take a business call; even when I was the only one in here at 2 pm. I love microbreweries. This is my 61st, at least according to my Yelp bookmarks. Supposedly I have 80 to go in the MN/WI/IA region, but that number seems to grow faster than I can visit them! read more

BlackStack is our favorite brewery in the area. We go here frequently because there is always seating in their huge taproom, they have tons of board games to play, and they do lots of trivia nights which always has a large turnout! They also show big sporting events on their huge projector screen sometimes (we went here for a Vikings playoff game). There is usually a food truck outside, but you can also bring in food - our fave is to order Pizza Luce right to the brewery (they have free delivery!) They don't have a huge beer selection, but that is totally fine! The staff is always friendly and overall it has a great atmosphere. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!! read more

BlackStack Brewing - Love their open taproom with tons of seating & natural light! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This brewery is a pleasant surprise for beer drinkers out there. The location is odd, but you can make an afternoon or evening out of visiting with a round of mini golf at Can Can Wonderland downstairs. All the beer is crisp and clean tasting. You won't be disappointed! Given the taste of the beer and the industrial chic dining area, it reminds me alot of Modist Brewing in downtown Minneapolis. They do not serve food, but there is usually a food truck hanging out right outside the front door if you get hungry. If you find yourself in the area or in the mood for mini golf, do not skip Blackstack! read more

BlackStack is your average brewery, however the stand out for BlackStack is the space. It's a large space and great for groups. This is definitely the go-to brewery for large groups and get togethers. BlackStack also has a large selection of games (3x as much as I've seen at other paces). Beer is good and they have a decent selection/variety. Not my favorite, but worth buying. Parking is alright and it's close to the green line. You also have Can Can Wonderland so you can hop back and forth. I wish there were more food options. They do have the occasional food truck, but I still like having some good snacks. read more

While waiting for breweries to open later in the day killing time at a local bottle shop I hit the search button for breweries to see if one happened to be open earlier than 3pm that afternoon. With elated joy and high spirits I double check to find out that they opened at 8am as they double as a coffee shop. I cannot begin to tell you how cool that is as someone who is up at the ass crack of dawn on a working day or leisure. I've often criticized breweries for opening too late wether selling to go beer or people wanted their pints early for day drinking. Bravo on your business hours ! Then once I get myself set up the beer scene in here is amazing from the DDH DIPAS to the 13%ABV cinnamon and coffee stouts. Tons of room tons of space with plenty of couches to lounge upon and enjoy yourself & chill.... Lots of board games here to play while you sample the flights of beers. Another wonderful brewery in Minnesota, one of my new favorites. Thanks for thinking outside the box and letting adults have fun on their own time frames. From: The Rick ( Lover of beer and food) !!! read more

Had some downtime between my training class and my flight home. Nice place, friendly staff, good beer, nothing more to say on this one. read more

BlackStack Brewing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Wonderful ambience and great brews!! We'll be back!

Nice addition to the Twin Cities brewery scene. Huge, wide-open space with a variety of seating options. Beer is great! Parking can be an issue as the brewery shares a building with Can Can Wonderland, a popular indoor miniature golf course. Just be aware that, in addition to the small lot, there is underground parking and street parking. read more

BlackStack Brewing - Open space - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Really cool local brewery in St. Paul next to FlannelJaxs. Good selection of IPA, Gose, wheat beer! They have every board game known to man so come on in have some beer and kick back with your friends and kick their ass playing Pictionary or monopoly as you try some local craft brews in St. Paul. The inside is huge. The bartenders are super cool and they have some tasty food trucks that show up for some grub. read more

See all

This is my favorite brewery to come to when I'm in the Twin Cities. The space has an industrial mid century modern feel. Big and bright with plenty of sofas to lounge and kick it with friends. There are board games to play and good music. Yummy creative beer and True Stone coffee and La Croix if you're not a drinker. Food trucks out front to satisfy your hunger. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the beer. All around the perfect spot! read more

BlackStack Brewing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've been to BlackStack a few times now and it's always been a pleasant experience. It's about 5 minutes away from my apartment so definitely convenient. The brewery is in an area of town which isn't too busy and is also attached to CanCan Wonderland so if you want to make a night of things and go mini-golfing or do some karaoke it's right there! They have free street parking, an outdoor parking lot (which is often full), and an underground lot as well which people don't always notice so it's pretty often that I will find an open spot down there. The brewery itself is very open with lots of space...multiple big tables and couch spaces, whatever your preference. They also have a lot of board games and other fun things to pass the time. I have seen a lot of kids running around too, so fairly family friendly for a place that's main staple is alcohol. The brewery also offers some fun events for the patrons...on St Patrick's day they had a group of Irish dancers perform and then another Sunday that I went there was bingo and a meet raffle. They also have a large projection screen that they were showing the NCAA March Madness games on which got the crowd going. Although I'm not as big of a beer person, I do enjoy quite a few of their brews. My favorite is probably the Grand Cru which is a unique imperial white beer. Always fun to try a few different ones though, so why not get a flight? Happy to continue to come back, especially great place to come with a bigger group of friends! read more

Nice large brewery tucked away from the hustle and bustle of St. Paul. They have a nice selection of beers, a ton of games to play and many seating options. I did not love my beer like some of the breweries but would be willing to go here to hang with friends. read more

Fucking AWESOME. This is a city full of phenomenal brewing, but BlackStack definitely wears the belt. BlackStack: it really whips the llama's ass. read more

Trending upward! I wasn't that impressed my first trip to Blackstack, but the more beer I've tried from there the better it got! They have made some really good IPA's and sours in the last year. Belly Dance, the beer they made for Ansari's 10th Anniversary, is probably one of my favorites from here. Blackstack has moved in my top 5 breweries in the Twin Cities. read more

Overall a great brewery and really friendly staff. I've been here on three occasions. The first two visits were additions to our can can wonderland excursion. There is underground parking and free WiFi available which are two huge pluses in my book. Atmosphere is perfect for good beer, good friends and a good board game. Unfortunately the brewery doesn't serve food but usually has a food truck outside. read more

Great place, large, open room with lots of couch and cozy chairs to sit in. Many round tables to sit around in groups, relaxing atmosphere. Their beer selections are typlically very good, with a nice mix of varieties to choose from. Lots of available parking, easy access to both STP and MPLS. Great place for events, bands, game night, etc. Current beer selections as of 1-29-19 are FANTASTIC. New IPAs are best in town. New Stout is also, better than anywhere else in town. MUST TRY. read more

Beautiful space! It's like a modern 70s living room with all the comforts of home, plus beer. Tons of board games to choose from and cute little areas that feel like mini living rooms. There were a couple of large groups on a Saturday including one that looked like they were having a serious meeting and nearby was a group setting up for a birthday party. The most memorable part of visiting blackstack was the space. The beer was just okay. read more

Horrible place. The bartenders think that are all that but they can't make a rum and coke. They are Rude and pathetic read more

BlackStack Brewing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Best beer in the twin cities hands down. If you like DDH/TDH beers or you're simply an IPA lover, black stack is the place for you. Beautiful atmosphere with huge plants throughout the interior. Plenty of seating room. Lots of board game options. They could improve their apparel game. read more

Great ambiance, and so nice and cool inside. Has board games and usually a food vendor there serving tacos etc. For $10 I got a beer and three tacos. Pretty sweet deal! As for the beer, it was ok, nothing really to write home about. I enjoyed their blonde though, especially when it was so hot out. I would definitely go their again and try other beer and just chill and play board games. Very family friendly and just a fun space with lots of loungy couches sections off and regular tables. read more

I rather enjoyed this brewery. Tip to start: the parking lot outside looks small but if you enter, there is an entrance for underground parking that is free and pretty sweet! We came on a Saturday night at 8pm and they were just starting to get busy. I tried the IPA and Wheat beers and they were both very good and filled with hoppiness (which makes me smile). The tap room is very large, filled with couches and plenty of tables and chairs. It is right next door to Can Can Wonderland so you could definitely make this a fun night out spot with friends. Not a huge selection in beers but the ones they have they are making well. Tons of space here and it would be great for an event. read more

BlackStack Brewing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I'm rooting for this place. I love a good taproom. The space is cool and the service is friendly with good conversation banter. Great concept in being in the same building as Can Can Wonderland. Good marketing forethought. Here's my reservation...the beer. Nothing new here to separate themselves from the other numerous breweries within a three mile radius (i.e. Surly, Urban Growler, Bang Bros, Lake Monster). I tried the IPA, the black Lager and the Ratify wheat beer. There's also a Dark Saison on tap, which I did not sample. The IPA is like any other. Good citrusy aftertaste but nothing that says, wow. Not even close to how distinctive Surly Furious is. I did very much enjoy the black lager which not many other places are brewing. I think this was my favorite. The dud of the three was the Ratify. Tastes like a Blue Moon with an added orange, which for me is meh. Drinkable but nothing I would ever buy again. If this place can brew some more beers with originality that separates themselves from the competition I'll be back. If it's more of the same, I'll come back if I'm visiting Can Can Wonderland, which means not very often. read more

Fantastic beers, friendly staff, and an incredible space. This was my first visit and I'll be back again. And again. And agin.

Ugh...nothing other than IPA's on tap. If you love IPA (I don't) you will love this place. Unfortunately, I'm a fan of toasty and malty styles. Henry Halfshell food truck was here, which I like a lot. read more

I won't be coming back. Showed up ordered a couple beers... waited waited, "oh kegs empty", a while later we get mediocre overpriced beer. We asked them to turn up the game ... which they did for 5 min (sort of) then proceeded to crank Bob Dylan because another patron requested it subsequently. The unfriendly bartender basically said "too bad". Fair enough, we ordered the overpriced cheese steak wraps for dinner because they were out of everything else... our friend shows up 5 min later, they say "no food for you" despite continuing cook and prep sandwiches for others. Recommend the managers have a talk with their staff about customer service. read more

Checked out this new brewery, and I have to say, the environment is awesome! Super comfortable Loft-like style and great music from the guy pouring the craft. They didn't have a wide variety of beer to choose from, however, the two beers that I did try were pretty good! I was recommended mixing two of their beers, which was a nice change from a brewery! I would definitely recommend, in trying out a new place. read more

See all

Love the chill vibe inside! A coffee house meets brewery. Parking is underground nearby. read more

BlackStack Brewing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Cool spot, fun atmosphere but no changing table in the mens bathroom was a real buzz kill as a parent. Expected better from such a kid friendly spot. read more

I'm biased. They're about 1000 feet from my house. Nevertheless, it's a sweet taproom that I'm proud to call my neighborhood watering hole. It's a huge space with a long bar with plenty of stools, receptacles below the bar with USB plugs to charge your device, usually great music playing in the background, very friendly and conversational servers, and just a great positive vibe altogether. Prices are a slightly steep at $7/pint (the IPA), but their beer is so good. I love the 755, their IPA. You can taste the peaches and mango. Just a spectacular fusion of flavor. read more

This is one great place to get a beer. Got a raspberry sour and it was delicious. Great atmosphere as well.

Oh boy. I rarely write negative reviews, but the beer is, simply put, an extremely subpar product. The atmosphere is great, which is an unfortunate waste. Hopefully they employ a new brewmaster (or at least drastically new techniques) in the very near future. read more

Alright so beer selection is pretty low. I'm used to a wide variety of beers and at least a hefty bar staff to answer all questions. They definitely lacked staff here, and it showed. Ambiance is cute, warehousey with some greenery here and there to liven it up, and board games to keep you entertained. The food truck situation is also a bit off since you have to go out the entrance to get to it, and end up blocking the incoming traffic as a result. All in all it's OK. Nothing to write home about. read more

The space is amazing! Huge inside, wonderful seating, and really cool lighting via the mega windows on the east side. Arguably the most comfortable brewery to sit in and chat with friends in the MSP area, and I've been to most of them. The beer was good, but nothing blew my mind. A fairly short list of options, but everything on there was solid. People were digging the cream ale, and I enjoyed the black lager in the summer heat. We'll be back. read more

I wanted to give this place a good review. I review almost every place I go because I rely on these reviews to decide if it's a place I want to spend money as well as let others know if they should. My first impression was it was a nice brewery with friendly staff. The guy pouring beers was good. I was however, disappointed because we were under the impression they had food. My sister checked website and food trucks were advertised. None. We asked and said we could order in but no recommendations and told to google. Ok..... thanks. We ordered some drinks and found a place to order food in so we did. We were then Told we exceeded out time limit and although we ordered food we could not eat in establishment. Why? Because Covid restrictions did not allow longer than 90 minutes due to CDC and air circulation. Wtf! DO NOT MAKE UP RULES!! If 90 minutes is a rule are you switching up staff every 90 minutes?This is not a rule! The place was about half full with at least 7-10 empty tables And nobody waiting. So basically we could not stay even though they had open space but if I walked to parking lot and made a new reservation we could then stay. I was too lazy and pissed to do that. We were told we could drink until food came but had to go after that. They apologized for it but I kindly paid, tipped and left. I totally get the rules of Covid and please don't insult me by saying it's an air circulation deal. People take flights longer than 90 minutes. People work in offices for longer than 90 minutes. People go to restaurants and eat for longer than 90 minutes. In a pandemic when establishments fight for customers and to stay open don't ask me to leave when I have an open credit card with money to spend and NO ONE waiting for a table. I explained as I paid that leaving was unnecessary due to the many open tables and lack of people waiting to be seated that this was a miss for them. We left and went .2 miles down the road and spent our money. Not cool Blackstack staff. Whoever owns this place should school the staff on implementing the rule when appropriate. We won't be back and won't recommend. There are a million craft breweries in Minneapolis and St. Paul and to have to beg to stay is not an attraction. **btw I frequent lots of places in MN due to my job and this is the first time I have ever been told to leave even though there was nobody waiting. I get it if people are clamoring to get In but that was absolutely not the case. I guess making money is not the priority here. Go to another brewery. This isn't special. Sorry. read more

Pretty cool spot to grab a beer. The space is very open and there's tons of seating. The decorations are simple, but create a good ambiance with huge plants and retro furniture. I went here on a Friday night and it was very busy, but the service was good and we still found a place to sit. I had a coffee ale that was awesome. Overall a chill place with good beer. read more