OMNI Brewery & Taproom - Maple Grove, MN

For someone who’s lived in Maple Grove basically forever, I sure took my sweet time getting to OMNI Brewing—even though it’s just minutes from home. Part of the reason? My first visit was back when I was more in my cider-and-seltzer phase, and their lineup at the time just didn’t do it for me. Then came visit number two, after I had seen that a sour was recently on tap—but bad luck for me, it was gone by the time I got there. Strike two.

This time, I decided to call ahead. Confirmed: a sour was officially on tap. Third time’s the charm? That was my hope!

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Drinks:

The featured sour during this visit was part of their “Melt” series—a raspberry and passionfruit smoothie sour, clocking in at 6.3% ABV. This one has some history in the brewery, it was one of the first sours they brewed back in 2019. It’s fruity, a bit thicker than some (hence the “smoothie” part), and it is tart—but unfortunately, it didn’t exactly wow me. Raspberry-forward sours are everywhere these days, and while this one wasn’t bad (I admittedly went back for a second), it didn’t quite hit the “must try” category.

Bonus points for having multiple sours on tap in such a tiny town. And yes, I brought some home for the fridge.

Sour Score: 2.5/5 – It's a solid, go-to, but if you’re like me and looking for something unique or multi-layered, this might not be it. That said, if you’re new to sours or like the smoothie-style, it’s a safe bet.

2.5 out of 5

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Food:

No, let’s chat about food. Omni has a permanent on-site food truck, they make a nice wood-fired pizza and one of the best soft pretzels I’ve had at a brewery in a while. The pretzel alone is worth the visit. The pizza? Tasty, with some fun and unique topping combos. Next time, I’m hoping to branch out from the boring pepperoni and try something different like “The Big Dill” or “Break ’n Egg.” Best part is, if you visit on a Tuesday, you get a free beer with each pizza ordered. 

Also tried out their everything pretzel. Pretty tasty as well! Might go with the regular one next time, but really good!

4 out of 5

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Dog Friendliness:

Dogs used to be allowed inside, but now it’s patio-only (thanks a lot Maple Grove). Luckily, their patio is a nice size and gets covered in the winter, which helps keep it at least semi-usable year-round. That said, the day I went was windy and cold… not ideal patio weather.

Dog Score: 2/5 Harley and Storm don’t mind being outside, but I miss the option to have them with us indoors. Still, it’s doable if the weather is decent.

2 out of 5

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Atmosphere: 

At first glance, Omni’s main taproom looks like your standard Minnesota craft brewery setup—clean, cozy, industrial-ish, with a good mix of tables and bar seating. But once you hang out for a bit, you start to notice the little touches that make it more than just a beer hall.

On Tuesdays they feature live music, and they regularly host community events like maker markets and a summer music series on Thursdays. So, while the atmosphere is pretty “basic,” there’s is more going on beneath the surface.

Atmosphere Score: 3.5/5

3.5 out of 5

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Merch & More:

The merch setup here is pretty good. T-shirts, hats, glassware, even baby onesies if you want them to rep the brewery, start ‘em young!. There’s also a clearance rack for a few good deals.

But the fun part is, Omni isn’t just about beer anymore. They now brew coffee too. They open early with espresso drinks and pastries, and then shift into beer mode later in the day. It’s a pretty cool combo, and I’m definitely planning to swing by in the morning sometime to check out the coffee side of things.

Merch Score: 4/5 Bonus points for the all-day operation and the coffee-brewery hybrid concept.

4 out of 5

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Overall:

For me, the real kicker for this one is the convenience—Omni is no more than 10 minutes from home and two minutes from the volleyball facility where I am constantly doing pick-up and drop-off. It may not be a destination brewery for sour lovers like me, but it’s a solid neighborhood spot with good food, decent vibes, and some entertainment.

Overall Vibes: 3/5 Would I go out of my way to hit Omni if I didn’t live nearby? Probably not that often. But would I grab a pizza, sip a sour, and enjoy live music on a Tuesday night during volleyball practice? Absolutely. And next time, I’m trying the coffee.

3 out of 5