Ian Bronson
Minnesota’s river towns are steeped in brewing history that dates back to the 19th century. Beneath these charming towns lies a network of caves that once served as the backbone of local brewing. These hidden havens tell the story of how early brewers used natural landscapes to perfect their craft. Let’s uncover 10 beer havens.
Wabasha Street Caves In St. Paul
These sandstone caves, carved in the 1840s, were an important part of St. Paul’s brewing history. Their naturally cool temperatures made them perfect for storing and aging stout. Years later, they became a secret gathering spot during Prohibition.
Schieks Cave Beneath Minneapolis
Hidden under Minneapolis, Schieks Cave gave early brewers a cool place to ferment their brew. This large cave was shaped by erosion and mining, and it helped local breweries thrive in the 19th century. It shows how brewers once relied on nature to create great lager.
Joseph Wolf Brewery Caves In Stillwater
Stillwater’s Joseph Wolf Brewery was founded in 1868. It relied on its hillside caves to store and age its ale, mainly lagers, which were highly popular then. The brewery thrived for decades and became a cornerstone of Stillwater’s economy and culture.
Brownsville Brewery Caves In Brownsville
Carved into the bluffs of Brownsville, these caves served as storage for the town’s mid-19th-century breweries. Although the breweries eventually closed, the caves remain as enduring symbols of early brewers’ methods to overcome technological limitations.
Minneiska Brewery Caves In Minneiska
The Minneiska Brewery operated in the late 1800s. It made extensive use of natural caves for aging and storage. The brewery produced lagers and ales that were well-regarded locally, with the caves playing a significant role in ensuring their quality and consistency.
Caves of Faribault In Faribault
Faribault’s caves, initially used by Fleckenstein Brewery in 1856, were critical for an aging brew before refrigeration was available. It was, however, later repurposed for cheese aging. These sandstone caves demonstrate how natural spaces serve diverse purposes.
Jordan Brewery Caves In Jordan
The caves at the Jordan Brewery were essential to its operations in the 1860s. Dug into the hills, they maintained steady temperatures year-round. The brewery produced popular ales that gained local recognition, and the caves played a key role in ensuring their quality.
Historic Brewery Caves In Hastings
Dating back to 1856, Hastings’ brewery caves served as essential storage for one of the state’s earliest breweries. They maintained ideal temperatures for fermentation and aging. These vaults played a key role in producing high-quality stout that supported the local industry.
Sugar Loaf Brewery Caves In Winona
Beneath Winona’s iconic Sugar Loaf bluff, these caves provided vital storage for ale brewed in the 1860s. Their limestone structure ensured the right conditions for aging, and they remain a physical reminder of Winona’s brewing legacy.
Schmidt Brewery Caves In St. Paul
During the late 1800s, Schmidt Brewery relied on these caves to perfect the lagering process. The brewery was one of Minnesota’s most iconic ale producers, and its success helped establish St. Paul as a central hub in the state’s burgeoning brew industry.
