Lakes and Legends Brewing Company has been open for only two years in the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. Its location is only a few blocks away from Orchestra Hall, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and Nicollet Mall (and the Hyatt where the NFL brass will be staying for Super Bowl 52). Needless to say, this locations will be teeming with life during the festivities.
Lakes and Legends is inspired by traditional farmhouse ales and Trappist history that became a historical aspect of brewing. The brewery features the farm-to-table view and supports local Minnesota farmers with their ingredient sourcing. In addition to focusing on farming, the brewery proudly serves as a community gathering space for various events.
We sampled several of their recipes. In addition to farmhouse ales, stouts and barrel-aged recipes are dominant. The one IPA we tried was so unique and approachable that it didn’t even taste very hoppy. This is a great spot for someone in your life who isn’t a beer fan.
To highlight their commitment to Minnesota farmers, their St. Gail Raspberry Braggot sources Minnesota honey. This beer really put them on the map in the brewing community. The Silky Stout remains a classic Lakes and Legends recipe. Their other dark beer, Winter Warmer, is available in two forms. The first is just the regular dark beer, but the second option is called the Year Two, which is aged in rye whiskey barrels as a celebration of their second anniversary.
Overall, the brewery is a refreshing revamp of the traditional startup brewery. The typical IPA focus is replaced with an exciting new focus on Belgian and barrel recipes. This is definitely a niche idea, but given the market saturation with hoppy styles, Lakes and Legends offers a safe haven for a hesitant or community-minded beer drinker.
Shearon Suds 