Boom Island Brewing Co. Minnetonka, MN
- 4 Paws Marketing
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 19
Boom Island Brewing Co. is a go-to after the sun goes down…something about those old-school Edison bulbs that provide a vibe I love. The addition of string lights on the ceiling give off an "outdoor patio" feel, which is especially welcome in Minnesota this time of year when we’re all desperate for a taste of summer.
The crowd was decent, aside from a few kids under ten (I’ll discuss that more later). There’s a variety of seating options—plenty of tables, a cozy corner booth, some comfy chairs, even a stage for live music. The night we visited featured the “Initials Game,” which was a first for us in the bar setting. We clearly need practice. I like to hit up a good trivia night now and then, but we sucked at this one. Even my husband, usually a trivia guru, was off his game. Guess I’ll stick to Bingo and other games of pure luck—I have a much better chance!
Drinks:
Not bad! The hubs had Wake Up Call Blonde Ale, which I assume was good, considering he got a second!
The sour on tap at the time of our visit was Give ‘Em the Ol’ Razzle Crazzle. As the name suggests, it’s pretty cranberry forward with a good balance of tart and sweet.
Sour selection rotates from time to time at this location, so I’ll have to keep an eye out for what’s up next. Tropical Layover Guava Passionfruit is one that stood out on Untappd, and I think I need to try it—there’s just something about guava sours that always wins me over (though I’ve never actually eaten an actual guava fruit). They are also sours -Warhead! and Fruit Punch Sour Ale listed, both of which sound right up my alley. I do wish more breweries kept more than one sour on tap at once—I’d happily spend all night sampling! As the popularity grows, maybe this will become more of a thing…let’s home. Guess I’ll be stalking their social media to see when they change over so I know when to visit next.
Food:
No full kitchen, but they do offer a decent pizza and the usual brewery snacks - popcorn, pretzels, you know the drill. The pizza they offer is “never frozen” - but I’d compare it to a perfectly cooked Jack’s pizza (which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion). It’s made daily at a local Italian mom and pop shop - Sorrento Cucina, and brought over to be cooked in their pizza oven. If you’re like me and are cool with a Jack’s-level pie, it’s a solid choice.
Dog Friendliness:
No dogs spotted today, but it’s March, it’s only 50 degrees outside in MN so not many are ready to brave the patio. Hard to tell if dogs are allowed inside, but I was bummed not to see any furry friends.
Typically it seems that breweries with pizza ovens (instead of full commercial kitchens) allow dogs inside, but no luck this time.
Good thing I left Harley at home, she might’ve ended up in the truck, though she wasn't happy to be left behind this time.
Atmosphere:
Is it just me, or is it a little weird to bring babies to a brewery? I get it—new parents need to get out without having to pay for a babysitter, and if the baby is snoozing in a car seat, well…fine. But this time, that was not the case. The screeching kids made me extra grateful that my youngest is 15. I come to breweries to escape parental responsibilities, not bask in them. And listen, kids are cute… if they’re your own. Even happy squeals can be a bit triggering to this middle-aged lady! The only real disappointment of the night (besides the baby concert) was the lack of dogs. I could’ve forgiven the chaos and annoying kids if there had been a pup or two to distract me!
Boom Island Brewing Merch & More:
Decent merch selection! They’ve got unique Hawaiian button-down shirts (not sure who’s pulling those off, but hey, no judgment), a solid variety of t-shirts, and—my favorite—pint glasses for sale. We love collecting pints from different breweries for our home bar—it’s a great way to remember all the places we’ve been.
A quick shoutout to the ladies' restroom—they provide free feminine products, and not just the flimsy cardboard ones. Extra points for that.
Overall:
Boom Island Brewing Co. has a nice atmosphere, decent pizza, and a selection of what seem to be interesting sours on rotation. While I could have done without the kids, I’ll definitely be back to see what new flavors are on the tap list. Hopefully, next time, I’ll also get a fix of brewery dogs!
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