Insight Brewing & Taproom, Minneapolis, MN
- 4 Paws Marketing
- Apr 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11
To be honest—I picked Insight because they allow dogs inside, which, as you know by now, is a major win in my book. We also had an extra mission that night: a meet and greet with our foster pup, Millie. I’d much rather meet up at a brewery than a pet store—way better vibe and drinks are a bonus.
What I didn’t realize was that our visit was happening on their 4/20 celebration. Oops. Let’s just say it was a bit more “festive” than I expected for a quiet spring evening. But, even with the crowd, we still found plenty of seating, and the energy was still fun.
The space itself is tucked just off Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis, in one of those old buildings with exposed brick, big beams, and industrial touches. Lots of character.
Drinks:
There was only 1 options for sour on tap, but luckily it was pretty tasty. Called “Bracket Buster” it’s listed as a “limited release” but if they still have it in the future, I’d definitely go back for it. It’s flavored with prickly pear and pineapple, which was a nice break from the raspberry or mango lineup I feel like I’m seeing everywhere lately. It was refreshing, slightly sweet, and had that tart kick I love
This one gets a 3.5 out of 5, it was rather enjoyable! I would've considered grabbing a few to bring home if they had it in regular size cans!
Food:
Since dogs are welcome inside, it only makes sense that their food option is a food truck outside. They change food truck vendors so check the schedule on their website (it’s nice when places are organized like that, so you can plan ahead). La Cochinita was on site the night we were there - hard to beat street-style Mexican food and a sour, especially when it’s this good.
I'll give them a 4 out of 5 in this category, the food we ordered was quite tasty!
Dog Friendliness:
Dogs are allowed everywhere—inside, outside, and there are water bowls available - always extra points from me. Millie was a big hit (obviously, since she’s so adorable), and we got lots of comments and compliments from other visitors. It was a great place for a meet and greet—but now it’s going to feel weird going back there without her! She might’ve been the best brewery date ever.
You can only assume that they get a solid 5/5 from me here. I love walking into a brewery with a variety of dog visitors, it just adds a whole new level of awesomeness in my book.
Atmosphere:
Love the atmosphere, it’s got a cozy, relaxed feel to it, and not just because it was a 4/20 celebration. The old-school brick exposed buildings with restored wood floors that I really love. There were also tons of plants everywhere, and each one had its own name tag. That just made me smile. It’s those quirky little unique touches that give each brewery its own personality.
With a wide variety of seating options, you’re bound to find a great place to sit and enjoy your drink. The patio is nice and big, but even inside, there’s plenty of space for a large crowd.
This place has a cozy and easygoing feel to it. Tons of charm with the exposed brick and wood floors, and something I really loved—there were plants everywhere, and each one had its own little name tag. That just made me happy. It’s quirky little touches like those that give a brewery its own personality.
There’s a great mix of seating: booths, couches, high tops, outdoor patio tables. Even with a bigger crowd that night, it didn’t feel too packed, and it was easy to find a good spot to sit and enjoy our time there.
Insight deserves a 4.5/5 for sure!
Merch & More:
Their wasn’t a huge merch section, but there were some cool t-shirt options (and, bonus: tie-dye shirts for the 4/20 celebration, I almost gave in, but luckily they closed down before we left). No barware though—I did find out from the bartender that they stopped selling branded glasses because too many people were stealing them. Pretty sad, right? Way to go Minneapolis.
They had a pretty decent selection of board games and cards on hand, though only one cribbage board and deck, and we’d forgotten our own. No problem though—we were content just enjoying our drinks with the pup. They do host a number of fun events and activities throughout the week, which I could see us going back for, Growler Mondays (fill your growler for just $10), Bingo night, trivia, and game night, as well as the occasional special event.
Overall:
Insight definitely falls into the “hidden gem” category, you wouldn’t typically just find this place, unless you’re looking for it. Though not super convenient for us in Maple Grove, it’s one I’d go back to if we’re already in the area. Not sure I’d make a special trip just for this spot, but for a night out with the dog (or our next foster pup!) it's a great choice. Fun vibe, good drinks, dog-friendly...what more can you ask for?
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